Curry , Roosevelt, and Quay Counties were just a few of the counties in New Mexico to hold school board elections Tuesday. Voter turnout was low but each county attributes the cold and snowy weather for playing a roll in the turnout.
In Clovis voters approved a two-mill levy by more than a two to one margin.
The Clovis News Journal reports that the levy is a renewal tax and keeps current property taxes the same. A property tax, the two-mill levy is a $2 tax per each $1,000 valuation of a home.
Clovis schools Director of Operations Gene Bieker told the paper the passing of the two-mill levy is wonderful. "That's the one that supports us district wide."
About five percent of voters braved the cold Tuesday to vote in Curry County. Clovis voters approved the levy with 465 votes for and 198 votes against. Voters also chose Paul Cordova in District 3 for the Clovis Municipal Schools board of education over incumbent Rodney Muffley.
Charles Guthals took the District 4 seat unopposed and Terry Martin retained his District 5 seat.
Curry County Clerk Lo Lyman believes that the weather affected the turnout for the election but it's important to not that turnout for school board elections is never high.
In Melrose, voters approved a $1,100,000 bond and two-mill levy by an almost three to one margin. Jubal Pierce was elected for Position 1 on the school board of education beating incumbent Kenneth Jacobs. Scott Dickerman took Position 2 unopposed, and Neal Delk was also unopposed in Position 3.
Texico voters elected Tim Foote for Position 2 for its school board over Harrison Hamer. In Position 1 Cary Crist was unopposed as was Jim Pena in Position 3.
To view additional election results in Curry County click here.
In Portales, incumbents and two-mill levies won in Tuesday's school elections. The results are unofficial until the canvas is completed Friday morning.
The Roosevelt County Clerk's office also said the cold, snowy weather helped to contribute to low voter turnout. The county reported that only about 4.8 percent of registered voters showed up at the polls.
The Portales News Tribune, says that the Municipal Schools two-mill levy, which pays for maintenance, repairs, remodeling and equipment in the district, passed 357 to 72.
Superintendent Randy Fowler told the paper, "We were extremely pleased with the support of the community of Portales provides to our school district."
In the school board's District 1, incumbent Rodney O. Savage won with almost 68 percent of the vote over Noelle Joy Bartl.
District 5, incumbent Mary Lou Rowley beat out Laurie M. Stone by garnering almost 70 percent of the vote.
In District 2, Inez F. Rodriguez ran unopposed, as did District 4 Antonio R. Sanchez Jr.
For more results from Roosevelt County click here.
In Quay County, the Quay County Sun reports that about seven percent of the voting population, braved the cold to cast their votes.
The only contested school board position was Logan School District's Position 1. Lynn S. Birch defeated Bobby D. Hines for the position.
Tucumcari's general obligation bond and San Jon, Logan and House's capital improvements tax levy were all approved by voters.
For more about the Quay County election results click here.
