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Jan. 2: Editor’s Note: This is one of an ongoing series of interviews with local officials. LeighAnn Melancon is Chief Financial Officer and City Clerk for the City of Clovis. He answered questions about the upcoming elections in the city of Clovis.
Q: Clovis is one of the few communities in New Mexico that elected municipal representatives in November. Explain why Clovis is different.
A: In 2019, House Bill 407, known as the 50-Year Election Act Fine-Filing, was introduced and passed in New Mexico’s normal legislative session.
That established the normal elections, which were for the municipalities and were the ones we just had in November.
In this context, an autonomous community, or any community, may simply participate in ordinary local elections, arranged through the provincial secretary.
If you register, you will still have what’s called the election of city officials, which is the March election.
Currently, thirteen of the 106 municipalities are still following the MOE in March. That is the resolution of the municipal commission.
Several years ago, as a result of a question about the Bylaws, we introduced the requirement for a photo ID, and you may simply not have a photo ID in normal local elections. You can’t say, “Well, you’re doing this, so for this “In this part I want to see your photo ID, but in this part you’re not going to. “
So, our city commission believes that other people voted for a photo ID, so we’re going to continue to hold municipal elections and it’s also about having local control.
Q: When are the Clovis municipal elections and what day can applicants register?
A: The elections will take place on March 5. The deadline for the presentation of programs ends on January 9, from nine to five in the afternoon, at the City Hall, at the Department of Finance.
Q: What positions are open?
A: We have the mayor, who will be elected from among all the citizens.
District 1 — four-year term for commissioner.
District 2 — four-year term for commissioner.
In District 3 we are going to have two positions, one of them is a two-year term to complete the one that Commissioner David Bryant resigned from, and then a four-year term.
District four will serve a four-year term.
Q: Are there more people in the poll besides the candidates?
A: There is nothing else on the ballot.
Q: Can voters register until Election Day? Or what is the deadline to register to vote in Clovis municipal elections?
A: The deadline to log in as a user at the county clerk’s office is February 6, but at the latest under other election rules, we now have same-day registration.
This means they can register the same day for early voting, and this will be the first year that we will also register voters on Election Day.
Q: For those interested in running for municipal office, what is the registration process?Are there any fees?
A: It is based on your voter registration as of December 6. This is the date of the proclamation. Let’s assume that on December 6 they lived at 123 Main, District 2, so if they were to run for commissioner, it would be the District 2 they would sign up for.
If they forgot, maybe they moved six months ago, and they never thought to change their voter registration, the voter registration as of Dec. 6 determines their eligibility to run and where they can run.
There is also an application submission form that you can locate at the New Mexico Secretary of State or in our office, we have records containing those forms and we also have the record on the (city) website.
You fill out the form, if you have someone to legalize it for you, you can make them a notary. If not, don’t point it out and we’ll legalize it when you go to vote.
There’s no fee, and if something happens, and they know they have to leave town on January 9th, there’s also a form that they can fill out and they can ask them to come fill it out for them.
Q: Will there be write-in candidates?
A: Those candidates can sign up Jan. 16. There is a form.
Q: When will early voting begin? And are they the electoral colleges?
A: Early voting begins Feb. 6 through March 2, from 8 a. m. to 8 p. m. 6 p. m. , Monday through Friday, at the Finance Department’s City Hall. And then from February 17, Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m. We will be located in the North Plains Mall.
As soon as we know which location in the mall we will be using, we will be sure that it gets posted.
The City Hall will be open on March 2 from 10 a. m. to 6 p. m. We closed on February 17th for holidays.
Q: And where are polling places on Election Day?
A: Polling places on Election Day are the Colonial Golf Course in the ballroom, Trinity Methodist Church on 21st Street, Roy Walker Community Center, the Youth Recreation Building at Seventh and Sycamore, and Fire Station Five in Brady.
If they need to get an absentee ballot, they can call the Department of Finance or they can go to the New Mexico Secretary of State’s online page and request one.
Q: What are the salaries for positions on the ballot?
A: The mayor is $8,000 per year and the commissioners are $7,000 per year.
Q: Finally, how can we learn more about the municipal elections?
A: We do have a municipal officer candidate packet on the city website, and it provides information on all the forms, all the dates.
We also provide some information about the city budget, the personnel payroll, people can see what positions we have, information about the charter is on there and the duties that they do. Pretty much anything I can think of that somebody who is interested would need.
And of course, you can call me and I’ll be happy to answer any questions you may have.
The city’s is:
http://www. cityofclovis. org/
City Hall is at:
321 N. Connelly Street
Clovis, New Mexico 88102
Phone: 575-769-7827
Fax: 575-763-9316
Email: [email protected]
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