The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Peter St. Cyr)
A district judge ordered the Secretary of State’s Office to put Democrat Billy W. Moore back on the ballot in the House District 5 race on Thursday.
The reason wasn’t immediately clear, but Deputy Secretary of State Don Francisco Trujillo II confirmed that Moore is back on the ballot, and provided a copy of the judge’s order. Trujillo’s office disqualified Moore last week because he submitted some petition signatures on the major-party form and others on the form for minor-party candidates.
Moore will face incumbent Rep. Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint, and former state Rep. Irvin Harrison, D-Gallup, in the primary. The winner will have no GOP challenger in November.
In other developments:
• The secretary of state will affirm her earlier decision to reject appellate judge candidate Dennis W. Montoya’s application for public financing on the grounds that Montoya provided more seed money to his campaign than is allowed. You can get the details on that from the Albuquerque Journal. Basically, the hearing officer who considered Montoya’s appeal said Montoya didn’t prove that the disqualification was improper.
Montoya is challenging Appeals Court Judge Linda Vanzi in the Democratic primary. He could appeal the ruling to district court, but hasn’t announced whether he will do that.
• The secretary of state has upheld the rejection of Republican District 5 Public Regulation Commission candidate Robert P. Maez’s application for public financing, finding that he didn’t submit enough qualifying financial contributions. Trujillo said Maez fell only a handful short of the 197 contributions needed to qualify in that race.
• The secretary of state kicked Republican House District 23 candidate David Doyle off the ballot last week because he submitted nominating petitions with both counties the district represents listed on each page. His challenge will be heard today in district court.