Miller-Byrnes up big; Small, challengers hold steady

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The newest numbers include 11 of 28 polling places, including previously reported polling places, Hermosa Heights Elementary School in District 3 and the Munson Senior Center in District 4. Mayoral race: Ken Miyagishima, 3,296; Bill Mattiace, 2,972 Municipal judge: Melissa Miller-Byrnes, 3,486; Conrad F. Perea, 2,596 Council District 1: Miguel Silva, 420; José Frietze, 341; Ron Gurley, 98; Conrado Guerra, 89 Council District 2: Vince Boudreau, 281; Dolores Connor, 255 District 4: Nathan Small, 486; Steve Montaño, 379; Isaac Chavez, 284 For those who might be confused about the discrepancy between my count and the city’s, I’m far ahead of the city at this point, with 11 of 28 polling places counted, including early voting. The city only has four polling places and early voting counted at this point. Continue Reading

Leads grow for Miyagishima, Silva, Boudreau, Small

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Here are the newest numbers. They include previously reported polling places, the American Legion building in District 6 and early voting, so we’re up to nine of 28 polling places. Mayoral race: Ken Miyagishima, 3,126; Bill Mattiace, 2,735 Municipal judge: Melissa Miller-Byrnes, 3,285; Conrad F. Perea, 2,401 Council District 1: Miguel Silva, 420; José Frietze, 341; Ron Gurley, 98; Conrado Guerra, 89 Council District 2: Vince Boudreau, 281; Dolores Connor, 255 District 4: Nathan Small, 418; Steve Montaño, 302; Isaac Chavez, 245 Continue Reading

Small and Miyagishima pull ahead

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Here are the newest numbers. They include previously reported polling places, Highland Elementary School in District 5 and the City Office Center in District 4, so we’re up to seven of 28 polling places. Mayoral race: Ken Miyagishima, 1,532; Bill Mattiace, 1,492 Municipal judge: Melissa Miller-Byrnes, 1,628; Conrad F. Perea, 1,296 Council District 1: Miguel Silva, 312; José Frietze, 248; Conrado Guerra, 67; Ron Gurley, 64 Council District 2: Vince Boudreau, 137; Dolores Connor, 126 District 4: Nathan Small, 300; Steve Montaño, 180; Isaac Chavez, 175 Continue Reading

Mayor’s race is tight; District 4 also close

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Here are the newest numbers. They include previously reported polling places, Picacho Middle School and Camino Real Middle School, so we’re up to five of 28 polling places. Mayoral race: Ken Miyagishima, 983; Bill Mattiace, 941 Municipal judge: Melissa Miller-Byrnes, 1041; Conrad F. Perea, 822 Council District 1: Miguel Silva, 312; José Frietze, 248; Conrado Guerra, 67; Ron Gurley, 64 Council District 2: Vince Boudreau, 137; Dolores Connor, 126 District 4: Isaac Chavez, 60; Nathan Small, 52; Steve Montaño, 46 Continue Reading

Miyagishima takes the lead, Frietze falls behind

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Here are the newest numbers, with the most glaring points being that incumbents Bill Mattiace and José Frietze have fallen behind. This includes results from previously reported polling places and Alameda Elementary School in District 1. Mayoral race: Ken Miyagishima, 479; Bill Mattiace, 474 Municipal judge: Melissa Miller-Byrnes, 511; Conrad F. Perea, 430 Council District 1: Miguel Silva, 312; José Frietze, 248; Conrado Guerra, 67; Ron Gurley, 64 Council District 2: Vince Boudreau, 137; Dolores Connor, 126 District 4: No results yet Continue Reading

Early numbers reveal close races

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Early numbers reveal some tight contests, particularly in the mayoral and presiding municipal judge races. Results from two polling places – Las Cruces High School in District 2 and Booker T. Washington Elementary School in District 1 – have incumbent Bill Mattiace beating challenger Ken Miyagishima by 20 votes, 255 to 235. In the municipal judge race, incumbent Melissa Miller-Byrnes is beating challenger Conrad F. Perea by one vote, 244 to 243. In the council District 2 race, incumbent Dolores Connor is losing to challenger Vince Boudreau by 11 votes, 137 to 126. And in the District 1 race, incumbent José Frietze has 94 votes, while challenger Miguel Silva has 72, challenger Conrado Guerra has 45 and challenger Ron Gurley has 17. Continue Reading

Polls now closed in Las Cruces municipal election

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Polls are now closed in the Las Cruces municipal election. I’ll have complete coverage this evening, so check back frequently. In addition, the election results will be televised live tonight on the city’s public access channel, Comcast channel 20, and on the city’s Web site (click here). The city expects to have final results by 8:30 or 9 p.m. Candidates and members of the public can gather inside the council chambers at City Hall, 200 N. Church Street, to view election results on projection screens. Continue Reading

Late voter surge reported at some polling places

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There are reports this evening of late voter surges at some polling places, at least on the East Mesa, in the Las Cruces municipal election. I just checked it out for myself at Highland Elementary School in District 5, where the line to vote was out the door. I’ve also heard reports of people having to wait almost an hour to vote at some polling places this evening. Polls close in about 40 minutes. If you haven’t voted, now is the time. Continue Reading

New Richardson book released today

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Gov. Bill Richardson’s new book, Leading by Example: How We Can Inspire an Energy and Security Revolution, was released today. The book, timed to coincide with the home stretch of his campaign to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, is published by Wiley and has a suggested retail price of $25.95. It outlines Richardson’s plan to lead America to energy independence and details how that will make Americans safer. “We need to make a major commitment to energy reform – a man-on-the-moon effort,” Richardson said in a release. “Baby steps are not going to cut it. Continue Reading

Denish leads by example on campaign disclosure

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When the opportunity presents itself, I like to praise public officials for leading by example, especially when it relates to ethics reform. I recently praised House Minority Leader Tom Taylor for going out of his way to avoid the appearance of impropriety with a land donation. Lt. Gov. Diane Denish set another great example today. She has decided to publicly release quarterly finance reports for her 2010 gubernatorial campaign even though state law only requires that such reports be filed once a year in off years. You can view the report her campaign released today, for the July-September reporting period, by clicking here. Continue Reading

At this point, it’s difficult to determine voter turnout

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It’s difficult to determine at this point how voter turnout in today’s Las Cruces municipal election compares to the 2003 election, the last time the same offices were up for grabs. If my small sample of polling places is any indication, the city isn’t on track to match the turnout from 2003, the last time the mayor’s office, presiding municipal judgeship and city council districts 1, 2 and 4 were up for grabs. Voter turnout that year was 29 percent – 10,753 out of 36,648 registered voters. But I’m not going to predict that voter turnout will be lower. About 2,400 people voted early this year, compared to 1,581 in 2003. Continue Reading

Election Day has arrived in Las Cruces

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Election Day has arrived in Las Cruces. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Las Crucens will go to the polls today to cast votes in races for mayor, presiding municipal judge and city council districts 1, 2 and 4. To find your polling place, click here. To view a map of council districts, click here. To get information from the city clerk’s office, click here or call 541-2115. Continue Reading

Election is about the candidates, not Philippou

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Philip Philippou has been vilified in some circles since his 6,000-acre development, The Vistas at Presidio, was approved by the Las Cruces City Council in May. In fact, approval of that development was the catalyst for the movement to oust the mayor and those councilors many view as having led the city to out-of-control growth. Even for those who believe the city’s growth is way out of bounds, it’s important to remember, as voters go to the polls on Tuesday in the Las Cruces municipal election, that Philippou is not the enemy. This is not a defense of Philippou. There are a lot of outstanding questions about his land donations to a non-profit run by District 1 City Councilor José Frietze. Continue Reading

Pearce formally announces Senate run

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., traveled around the state this weekend to formally announce that he’s running for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. The above video is from his announcement in Mesilla. You can also read from local media about Pearce’s stops in Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Clovis, Roswell and Santa Fe. A couple of points I found interesting from visiting with Doña Ana County Republicans in Mesilla on Sunday. Though he’s represented them in Congress for years, many aren’t sold on Pearce. Continue Reading

Chávez beating Pearce and Wilson in new poll

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A new poll of potential general-election match-ups in the U.S. Senate race finds that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has gained a lot of ground in the last month. SurveyUSA’s October poll, conducted for KOB-TV in Albuquerque, had Chávez losing to U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce by 21 points and to U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson by four points. But the newest SurveyUSA poll, conducted for the Washington publication Roll Call and released today, has Chávez beating Pearce by five points and beating Wilson by four points. The poll is good news for a campaign that has had some recent setbacks: Confusion has surrounded Chávez’s finance committee since his campaign listed at least two people as members who, at the time, had not agreed to join. In addition, U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is trying to put the pieces together for a serious challenge to Chávez in a Senate primary. Continue Reading