![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/DonaAnaCountyLogo.jpg\" "\\"DonaAnaCountyLogo\\"")
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By order of state statute, each of New Mexico\u2019s 33 counties is required to \u201credraw district boundaries\u201d after each decennial census (every 10 years).<\/p>\n
As in all cases of redistricting, government is making an attempt to keep a balance for each of the districts, using, among other things, changes in population as a guide line in order to try and keep a balanced level of constituents for each county commissioner.<\/p>\n
Do\u00f1a Ana County\u2019s redistricting in 2011 was guided by an advisory committee and a consultant based in Albuquerque that made recommendations offering new boundaries, and the changes were approved by the current commissioners after some public hearings.<\/p>\n
This has resulted in an interesting paradox for District 5, which is now hosting a Democratic primary election pitting two current commissioners against each other \u2013 Scott Krahling, who currently represents District 4, and Leticia Duarte-Benavidez, the current representative for District 5. Both have been in office since 2008.<\/p>\n
Roughly speaking, District 5 covers the northwest part of the county, while District 4, similar in size, geographically takes in the northeast section.<\/p>\n
Demographically, the population of each district hovers at about 70,000, with a margin of deviation of about 2 percent. Hispanics, according to the 2010 census, far outnumber the total of Anglos and other groups, carrying about 62 percent of the District 5 population.<\/p>\n
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So, who has the advantage in the primary? Is it Duarte-Benavidez, who has lived her whole life in Do\u00f1a Ana County and is a retired grant administrator for the county? Is it Krahling, a New Mexico native who attended NMSU and worked to achieve a double major in mass communications and government and has worked locally in marketing and real estate?<\/p>\n
Or could it be the third candidate, Benjamin (Benjie) Luchini?<\/p>\n
Both Duarte-Benavidez and Krahling have or had spaceport ties. She serves as a district director, while Krahling recently resigned<\/a> his position on the N.M. Spaceport Authority after butting heads with Gov. Susana Martinez when he wrote an op-ed piece<\/a> noting some issues concerning the spaceport\u2019s visitor\u2019s centers.<\/p>\n District directors work with the Spaceport America Regional Spaceport District (SARSD), which includes Do\u00f1a Ana and Sierra counties and oversees and facilitates the use of monies generated by the tax revenues from initiatives that were passed in both counties.<\/p>\n As current sitting county commissioners, neither has been in the news much except for Krahling\u2019s Spaceport resignation and Duarte-Benavidez\u2019s near censure in 2011<\/a> for her alleged involvement in county personnel issues<\/a> involving her husband and a former campaign manager.<\/p>\n In general, the county seems to have been chugging along okay for the last few years, and thus far, the campaigns for all three candidates have remained low-key. Only Krahling has been more active online with a website<\/a>, several social media links and some online advertising. Any electronica for the other two candidates was not to be found, except for Luchini\u2019s busy Facebook site<\/a>, which oddly makes no mention of his campaign.<\/p>\n Scott Krahling<\/p><\/div>\n Krahling\u2019s website has an issues link that covers a wide range of subjects from colonias and \u201csmart growth\u201d to PTSD awareness for veterans and public safety.<\/p>\n \u201cThe campaign has been going good,\u201d Krahling said when contacted by phone. \u201cI have a record of accomplishments and have good support.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked about his chances of winning, Krahling admitted that he didn\u2019t know how to gauge this race, but noted, with gentle amusement, \u201c33 percent.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere are three candidates, and the people I have spoken to have been responsive, but I don\u2019t want to be overconfident,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Krahling also noted that it has been a difficult campaign so far, since the redistricting has essentially made him a \u201cfirst-time\u201d candidate despite his almost four years of experience.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s like running for the first time. I have a responsibility to be working with the residents in the East Mesa (District 4), but have to work to let the people in the north county know who I am,\u201d he said. \u201cI haven\u2019t a record there, as I do on the East Mesa, where I worked on issues such as a new flood control plan.\u201d<\/p>\n Krahling notes that even though they aren\u2019t flashy issues, the next set of county commissioners will need to do a lot of work with comprehensive planning and zoning issues.<\/p>\n Benjamin (Benjie) Luchini<\/p><\/div>\n In a brief phone interview, Luchini, a newcomer to the political arena whose father was a county commissioner for 18 years, felt assured that he would win the primary and was running a low-key and small-budget campaign.<\/p>\n \u201cI really think that it is time for a change in county commissioners,\u201d he said. \u201cThere are lots of problems in the county from above to below.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Scott](\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Krahling-Scott.jpg\" "\\"Krahling,")
Krahling: \u2018It\u2019s like running for the first time\u2019<\/h3>\n
![\"Benjamin](\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Luchini-Ben.jpg\" "\\"Luchini,")
Luchini wants \u2018to do a good job for the people\u2019<\/h3>\n
![\"Leticia](\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Duarte-Benavidez-Leticia.jpg\" "\\"Duarte-Benavidez,")