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Ballot-access law causing headaches for Democrats

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During the 2007 Legislature, the powers-that-be quietly pushed through a change in state law that made it more difficult for many major-party candidates to get on the ballot. The scramble that has resulted from U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici’s retirement has that law causing headaches for Democratic leaders. Under the previous law, a Democrat or Republican could get on the ballot by receiving the votes of 20 percent of delegates at their party’s preprimary nominating convention or, if they failed in that attempt, by submitting petitions containing enough signatures to qualify. The change got rid of the second provision, and was designed to increase the power of those who control the major parties. However, as reported today by The Santa Fe New Mexican’s Steve Terrell, getting rid of the alternative path to the ballot is causing headaches for Democrats. Continue Reading

New council reflects a community split over growth

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Las Cruces Mayor Bill Mattiace and District 1 Councilor José Frietze and their supporters should have seen the writing on the wall in April, when Doña Ana County voters shocked many by only narrowly approving a gross-receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America. If they didn’t understand the situation then, it should have become increasingly clear in May, when a galvanized group of Las Cruces residents cried foul over the city council’s approval of a 6,000-acre development on the East Mesa without as much public involvement as they wanted. There were strong signs that a growing number of Las Cruces residents weren’t on board with the vision shared by Mattiace, Frietze and others. They believe the city’s growth is either too fast or happening without rules to ensure adequate infrastructure and services are being provided. They don’t like the idea of paying a tax for a spaceport in Sierra County when infrastructure in their neighborhood is lacking. Continue Reading

Campos, Tinsley confirm congressional runs

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State Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, and GOP restaurant-chain owner and rancher Ed Tinsley are both confirming that they are running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. Campos confirmed this morning in an e-mail that he’s running. “I am running for congressman in N.M.’s Second Congressional District because I believe I have both the skills and the experience necessary to make a positive difference in Southern New Mexico,” Campos said. “…I am the only candidate for this congressional seat that fully understands the intricacies of county, city and state government. I’ve been a county commissioner, and I am currently a mayor and a state representative.” Tinsley made his announcement in a news release this morning. “I understand what makes our district so near and dear in the hearts of Southern New Mexicans,” Tinsley said, “from the oil and gas fields of the southeast, to the tourism and hospitality industry of the mountains, to Las Cruces – one of the fastest-growing cities in the southwest, to the rich farming lands in the lower Rio Grande Valley, to our forest lands throughout the district, and ranching. Continue Reading

Voters give Miyagishima a chance to make changes

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By Vicki Nisbett Las Cruces Mayor-elect Ken Miyagishima ran on a platform of slowing the city’s growth and increasing public involvement. Now he’ll get a chance to make that happen. “I feel very good,” Miyagishima said after he learned on Tuesday that he had defeated Mayor Bill Mattiace by 74 votes out of 11,416. “It really hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s a credit to everyone who’s worked so hard for me.” At a gathering for Mattiace, meanwhile, sullen supporters consoled the mayor after it became clear that he had been defeated. Continue Reading

Final results from Las Cruces municipal election

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Here are the final, unofficial results from the 2007 Las Cruces municipal election. The City Council is scheduled to certify the results at 5 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers at City Hall. Mayor Ken Miyagishima: 5,745 votes, 50.3 percentBill Mattiace (i): 5,671 votes, 49.7 percent Presiding municipal judge Melissa Miller-Byrnes (i): 6,410 votes, 58 percentConrad Perea: 4,694 votes, 42 percent Council District 1 Miguel Silva: 625 votes, 45 percentJosé Frietze (i): 504 votes, 36 percentRon Gurley: 144 votes, 10 percentConrado Guerra: 116 votes, 8 percent Council District 2 Dolores Connor (i): 831 votes, 52 percentVince Boudreau: 777 votes, 48 percent Council District 4 Nathan Small: 600 votes, 42 percentSteve Montaño: 489 votes, 34 percentIsaac Chavez: 335 votes, 24 percent Total votes in mayoral race: 11,416Voter turnout: about 24 percent Continue Reading

Clerk confirms tally; Miyagishima declares victory

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The City Clerk’s Office is now confirming that District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima has defeated Mayor Bill Mattiace by 74 votes, and Miyagishima is declaring victory. The final total from the clerk matched the total I already reported. Miyagishima finished with 5,745 votes, or 50.3 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,671 votes, or 49.7 percent. “I want to thank the people of Las Cruces for exercising their right to vote, and I promise to serve them to the best of my ability, include them in all my decision-making, raise the level of public input… and serve everybody, not just a select few,” Miyagishima said. He said he had not spoken with Mattiace. Continue Reading

Miyagishima not declaring victory yet

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District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima, who defeated Mayor Bill Mattiace today by 74 votes, said he’s not ready to declare victory. I’ve already reported that Miyagishima finished with 5,745 votes, or 50.3 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,671 votes, or 49.7 percent. “I’d like to see it official, but your numbers, they add up,” Miyagishima said. The City Clerk’s Office has yet to post results from Camino Real Middle School, but Miyagishima finished at that polling place with 427 votes to Mattiace’s 384 votes, according to the receipt that was posted on the door of the school. That increases Miyagishima’s lead from the 31-vote lead the city clerk’s Web site currently gives him. Continue Reading

Miyagishima wins mayoral race, unseats Mattiace

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With all votes counted, Ken Miyagishima has unseated Mayor Bill Mattiace by 74 votes out of 11,416. Miyagishima finished with 5,745 votes, or 50.3 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,671 votes, or 49.7 percent. Those numbers are slightly lower than those I reported in my last article. I checked my math and found a slight error, but it didn’t affect the percentages, and the numbers reported in this article are correct. The question now: will there be a recount? Continue Reading

Mattiace cuts Miyagishima’s lead to 60 votes

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Ken Miyagishima is ahead of Bill Mattiace by 60 votes with 11,624 counted. My count, which includes one polling place the city’s does not – Camino Real Middle School – has Miyagishima with 5,842 votes, or 50.3 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,782 votes, or 49.7 percent. Based on my count, there is one polling place left – Sunrise Elementary School. Continue Reading

Miyagishima’s lead increases to 67 votes

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Ken Miyagishima is ahead of Bill Mattiace by 67 votes with 11,341 counted. My count, which includes two polling places the city’s does not – Highland Elementary School and Camino Real Middle School – has Miyagishima with 5,704 votes, or 50.3 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,637 votes, or 49.7 percent. Based on my count, there are two polling places left – Sunrise Elementary and Hillrise Elementary. Continue Reading

Miyagishima up by 22 votes

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Ken Miyagishima is ahead of Bill Mattiace by 22 votes with 10,692 counted. My count, which includes two polling places the city’s does not – Highland Elementary School and Camino Real Middle School – has Miyagishima with 5,357 votes, or 50.1 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,335 votes, or 49.9 percent. Based on my count, there are three polling places left. Continue Reading

Miyagishima up by 56 votes

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Ken Miyagishima is ahead of Bill Mattiace by 56 votes with more than 10,000 counted. My count, which includes two polling places the city’s does not – Highland Elementary School and Camino Real Middle School – has Miyagishima with 5,074 votes, or 50.28 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,018 votes, or 49.72 percent. Based on my count, there are four polling places left. Continue Reading