BREAKING NEWS: Torres puts co-chair of elections task force in charge of November election

Lynn Ellins, co-chair of the Doña Ana County elections task force, has been hired to run the November election.

County Clerk Rita Torres made the decision this afternoon to hire Ellins, a Democrat, as the elections supervisor on a temporary basis. John Caldwell, the county’s head attorney and interim human resources director, said Ellins will serve though the November election.

Torres fired the previous elections supervisor, Mari Langford, shortly after the June primary and placed her chief deputy, Cecilia Madrid, in charge of the elections bureau. At the time, Torres, who suffers from health problems that have affected her job performance, said she would not hire an elections supervisor before November. Many were pressuring her to hire one, and Torres told commissioners Tuesday she would do so.

The county anticipates that Ellins will start Monday, Caldwell said. His salary is still being determined.

Ellins is co-chair of the county task force charged with investigating problems with the June primary and recommending changes to improve elections. He is also the chair of Southern New Mexico Common Cause and sits on two other county committees.

Ellins is an attorney who still practices part-time in Colorado, and is a former deputy secretary of state for Colorado.

He could not be reached for comment Friday.

Here’s Ellins’ résumé:

LYNN J. ELLINS

Las Cruces, NM

Employment

· 1997 – present Private law practice, emphasizing business and government law (currently practicing part-time for Colorado clients – not admitted to practice in New Mexico).

· 1995 State of Colorado, Deputy Secretary of State.

· 1993 – 1997 Partner, November Associates, a Denver-based political consulting firm.

· 1970 – 1992 Senior Group Counsel for State and Federal Government Operations, JCPenney Company, Inc., Denver, Colorado.

· 1962 – 1969 Private Law Practice.

Public Service

· 2006 – present Co-Chair, Dona Ana County County Commission Task Force on Elections.

· 2006 – present Commissioner, Dona Ana County Planning and Zoning Commission.

· 2005 – present Dona Ana County Extra-Territorial Zoning Commission Ad Hoc Committee, Alternate Member (to re-draft ETZ Zoning Ordinance).

· 2005 – present New Mexico Third Judicial District Childrens’ Court, Court Appointed Special Advocate (“CASA”) for neglected and abused children.

· 1985 – 1991 Member, Board of Regents, University of Colorado (Chair – 1989-1990).

· 1980 – 1996 Member, State of Colorado Council of Advisors on Consumer Credit.

· 1983 – 1986 Member, Boulder County Parks and Open Space Advisory Committee.

· 1966 – 1970 Counsel, New York State Senate Committee on Crime and Corrections; Counsel, New York State Senate Sub-Committee on Credit Card Fraud.

· 1957 – 1959 United States Naval Officer.

Directorships

· 2006 – present Director, Picacho Hills Property Owners Association.

· 2005 – present Director and Secretary, Barcelona Ridge Estates Neighborhood Council.

· 2004 – present Director, State Governing Council, Common Cause of New Mexico; Chair, Southern New Mexico Common Cause.

· 1999 – 2002 Director and President, Erie, Colorado, Chamber of Commerce.

· 1992 – 1998 Director, University of Colorado Foundation.

· 1988 – 1997 Director, National Western Stock Show Association.

· 1972 – 1992 Director and Counsel, Colorado Retail Association.

Education

· 1962 Doctor of Jurisprudence, Columbia University Law School.

· 1957 Bachelor of Arts, Columbia University.