The five Las Crucens who filed last week to run for the open District 6 seat on the Las Cruces City Council all qualified to appear on the ballot, Las Cruces City Clerk Esther Martinez announced today.
Candidates must submit 25 signatures of registered voters living in District 6, and themselves be registered voters living in the district, to qualify for the ballot.
The candidates are former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Curran; Lawrence Joy, the owner of a direct mail advertising firm and the voice of NMSU’s marching band; Berchard Ray Shipley, who has a background in the military, commercial property management and community planning; Sharon Thomas, former head of the Quality Growth Alliance; and Karen Trujillo, a real-estate broker and president of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces.
Candidates will draw for ballot position at 5:01 p.m. today.
The election is Jan. 15. Absentee voting by mail begins Dec. 19. In-person early voting begins Dec. 26 and will be held at the City Clerk’s office, located in the basement of City Hall, 200 North Church Street. Early voting will be held Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on three Saturdays – Dec. 29, Jan. 5 and Jan. 12 – from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Polls will be open on Election Day from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.