A hearing has been set for Wednesday morning on the matter of whether Jeff Armijo will remain the Democrat’s candidate for state auditor on the General Election ballot.
Last week, the Democratic Party and Armijo both filed lawsuits, and hearings on both were held Tuesday. (Read Armijo’s lawsuit by clicking here and the Democratic Party’s by clicking here.)
At a hearing held at 9 a.m. in Albuquerque, District Judge Ted Baca ordered the secretary of state’s office to delay printing ballots until the matter is resolved, said Armijo’s attorney, Paul M. Kienzle.
“It’s put on hold for now,” he said.
Then, at a hearing at 3 p.m. in Santa Fe, District Judge Tim Garcia decided that he, not Baca, will be the judge to hear the matter from now on because the Democratic Party’s lawsuit in his court was filed first. Matt Farrauto, executive director of the party, said that was appropriate because the Democrats, Armijo and the secretary of state’s office are all included as parties in that lawsuit.
Armijo’s lawsuit in Albuquerque did not include the Democrats.
Garcia has set a hearing for 10 a.m. Wednesday, and will likely hear testimony. Farrauto said there was discussion that the hearing might last more than a day, but Kienzle said the parties will likely aim to complete the hearing Wednesday to allow for a quick appeal to the Supreme Court by either side.
Armijo announced that he would drop out of the race in late August because of allegations that he made unwanted sexual advances toward a campaign volunteer. Though he claims the allegations are false, Gov. Bill Richardson pressured him to drop out.
Armijo changed his mind before last week’s deadline to officially withdraw and announced he would not file the signed, notarized withdrawal letter that had typically been required by the secretary of state’s office. The governor’s office and Democratic Party argued that Armijo’s prior public statements and actions constituted a withdrawal, and the secretary of state took his name off the ballot, leading to the lawsuits.
A hearing has been set for Wednesday morning on the matter of whether Jeff Armijo will remain the Democrat’s candidate for state auditor on the General Election ballot.