Election preview: Two state executive officials on the ballot in New Mexico

### June 4, 2012

By Ballotpedia's state executive team

SANTA FE, NM: Two state executive seats on the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission are up for election in New Mexico this year. The PRC is responsible for regulation of public utilities, transportation companies, transmission and pipeline companies, insurance companies and other public companies. While such commissions tend to draw little attention from the public in most states, New Mexico has been an exception.

District 1
Democratic candidates

* Al Park
* Cynthia Hall
* Karen Montoya

Republican candidates

* Christopher Ocksrider

District 3
Democratic candidates

* Brad Gallegos
* Danny Maki
* Valerie Espinoza
* Virginia Vigil

Republican candidates

No Republican candidates filed for office

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Democratic incumbent Jason Marks has held the 1st District seat since 2005 and is prevented by term limits from seeking another term. The Democratic primary will be a three way race between current state Rep. Al Park, PRC staff attorney Cynthia Hall and Bernalillo County Assessor Karen Montoya. Attorney Christopher Ocksrider is running unopposed for the Republican nomination.

Incumbent Douglas J. Howe (I) was appointed to District 3 by Governor Susana Martinez on November 7, 2011 to replace Jerome Block.[1] Howe, who was appointed as an independent, originally said he would run for a full term as a Democrat, but changed his mind, stating, "I don't know how to be a politician. I'm not one. I might be able to learn. But I need a lot more than two months to do it. I finally came to the conclusion that it is an insurmountable task."[2][3]

With Howe out of the race, the Democratic primary will be a five-way battle between Brad Gallegos, Danny Maki, Valerie Espinoza, Virginia Vigil and Ronald L. Rees. Martin Suazo was running as a Democrat, but as of this morning is listed on the Secretary of State's site as not submitting nominating petitions.[4] No Republicans filed in the race.

## See also

* New Mexico state executive official elections, 2012
* New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner faces allegations of car theft, abuse of state gas card August 15, 2011
* New Mexico House to consider impeachment of Public Regulation Commissioner August 24, 2011
* New Mexico public regulation commissioner pleads guilty to felony charges; tenders resignation October 7, 2011

## Footnotes

1. ↑ The Republic, "New Mexico governor chooses Santa Fe consultant to fill vacancy on regulatory panel," November 7, 2011
2. ↑ Roundhouse Roundup, "Howe Now?" January 27, 2012
3. ↑ The Republic, "New Mexico candidates for the Legislature, PRC and other offices face filing deadline," March 20, 2012
4. ↑ New Mexico Secretary of State, "2012 PRC Final List," accessed March 21, 2012 (dead link)

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