Monday, February 16, 2009

Española Mayoral Election

The Española election won't occur till next year, but their are a few rumors to who will run for Mayor. Current Mayor Joe Maestas may not run for re-election due to the fact he is looking for higher offices. Maestas ran for Public Regulation Commission in 2008 to replace Ben Ray Lujan, who ran for Congress. Maestas lost in a six-way race, including himself, to Jerome Block Jr., son of former Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Sr. Block Sr. had been previously on the State Corporation Commission, the predecessor to the Public Regulation Commission. Block Sr.'s. father the late John Block had been on the Corporation Commission in the late 50's. John Block was mayor of Española before being elected to the Corporation Commission. Now if you see there is a connection between the two. Anyway Maestas is rumored to run for a higher office, maybe County Commissioner. Current County Commissioner Dist. 1 Elias Coriz will have to leave the commission in 2010 due to term limits. It is rumored Mayor Pro Tem Alice Lucero will run to replace Maestas. Lucero was City Clerk in the early 90's and famous because she sued the city for a large undisclosed amount of money. Lucero won and in 2002 was elected to the City Council. Lucero is a sister to the late Connie Valdez, whom was a school board member who passed away and was succeeded by Joe Romero (see below post). Lucero also is a sister to Bennie Alarid-Salazar whom her late husband Eutimio "Tim" Salazar was a 18 year member of the school board. Tim Salazar was the younger brother of John Block (mentioned earlier in post). Fairview Elementary in Española was later renamed Eutimio "Tim" Salazar Elementary. Now as I said there is a another connection between the names of all the people mentioned above. Who knows what the election year of 2010 has in store for us all.

New Los Alamos, Pojoaque, and Española School Board to be sworn in at next meeting

The new Los Alamos, Pojoaque, and Española school board are to be sworn in at their next meeting. Los Alamos school board president Steve Girrens did not seek re-election and Melanie McKinney of White Rock ran un-opposed for the seat. Board Member Allison Beckham also did not seek re-election to the school board and Thelma Hahn of White Rock ran un-opposed as well to gain a seat on the school board. Pojoaque will be getting  two new members to their school board. Paula Roybal Sanchez decided not to seek re-election to the Pojoaque School Board and Jon Paul Romero, a Santa Fe County Planner, and Claudine Armenta, a member of the Parent Advisory Council sought her seat. Romero easily beat Armenta in the election. Longtime incumbent Lilliemae Ortiz ran against Sharon Dogruel, a former teacher at Pojoaque Valley High School. Lilliemae had held the seat since 1997 and her seniority of her opponent didn't pay off and she lost the election to Dogruel.
Española as well held their school board election, Board President Joe Romero decided not to run for re-election to the school board and Joe "Coco" Archuleta filed for the seat with no opposition. "Coco" Archuleta was the husband of longtime Española District Superintendent Patsy Archuleta. Floyd Archuleta since appointed to the position by the vacancy created by longtime board member Joe Guillen left the Board to become director of the New Mexico School Boards Association. Floyd ran un-opposed to retain his seat on the school board.