Johnny Luévano (Courtesy photo)
‘My opponent, Moe Maestas, no longer has a challenger. People deserve a choice, and a voice,’ Luévano says.
Republican Johnny Luévano says he will appeal a judge’s decision to disqualify him from the N.M. House District 16 race.
Luévano made the announcement earlier today. In a news release, he said, “people shouldn’t be punished for serving their country.”
As NMPolitics.net reported previously, while Luévano’s retirement home was being built, he used the address to register to vote and vote. He says that was his best option for retaining residency while an active-duty Marine. Police are investigating.
And Luévano filed to run for the House seat currently held by Democrat Antonio “Moe” Maestas, D-Albuquerque, who challenged his candidacy based on the fact that he didn’t move into the home in District 16 until days after the deadline to live there.
Last week, a district judge kicked him off the ballot, agreeing that with Maestas that Luévano had to live in the home before the deadline to do so.
Luévano’s news release states that his “place of residence is protected by federal law – a protection put in place for active duty service men and women so they are not disenfranchised and penalized while deployed on active duty.”
“By removing my name from the ballot, ten thousand voters in House District 16 will not have a choice for their representation,” he said. “My opponent, Moe Maestas, no longer has a challenger. People deserve a choice, and a voice. The district deserves better than some slick lawyering from a representative who is afraid to campaign on the issues.”
Luévano is a former NMPolitics.net columnist.