Candidates Focus on Transparency and Accountability as Part of Their Jobs
By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
On Wednesday evening October 22, 2026, Colfax County candidates met at the Castillo Building in downtown Raton to answer questions and bring forth their plans for the future of their department or the county.
First up on the stage County assessor Candidates Linda Gallegos and Joseph Martinez who both bring several years of experience to the job. Gallegos has been the assessor in Torrence County for the last few years and will bring that experience back with her as well as her time on state boards. Martinez has been in the assessor’s office for many years where he has gained several certifications including a New Mexico Appraiser. Both candidates feel education not only for staff but helping residents understand their assessments.
Rising property taxes are a concern, the assessor’s office doesn’t set tax rates, but the tax assessment is tied closely to those taxes and that assessments have to be made fairly and based also current markets for sales comps are fair and accurate.
Next on the stage was Magistrate Court Judge for District 2 with Linda Baca going over her qualifications for the position and noted that she has been in the office for 14 years. Her experience is what she will pull from to perform her duties as Judge. Warren Walton wants to come back to the bench after being away for a few years. He served on the bench for 21 years and will rely on that experience to do his job.
Impartiality was a question that both candidates felt they could do fairly even though they know many of the people that come before them. It was noted that even though they may know the party in the case they have to ask if any of those involved if they had a problem with either one of them hearing the case then they can proceed.
Repeat offenders being released without consequences is a concern for many and there are several procedures in place that are presented to the judge concerning the repeat offenders. The judge does not have to take the recommendation of the process but often do. Walton noted in 2016 the bail bond act was approved by 73% of voters which made changes to how bail and releases are handled. Walton noted that a judge doesn’t have as much flexibility as they used to.
Next on the stage, candidates for Colfax County Sheriff Beto Dominguez and Cody Ayon. Both candidates have had several years in law enforcement and have worked up through the ranks. Ayon has several years of military experience to add to his resume. Both candidates feel that transparency and accountability are very important. When asked about response time both candidates noted that there are sub stations in the Mareno Valley and Cimarron but with 3700 square miles to cover more deputies are needed. However, budgets will be the deciding factor on how many or whether any deputies can be added to the department. They would like to have deputies that live in each of the communities to be called on in an emergency and to work with other agencies to handle calls when a deputy may not be available.
Education and retention are also an important factor for the department. As deputies get trained, they may see a better opportunity elsewhere and they will move on. Both candidates realize that the budget is a determining factor for not only raises for deputies but if the department can obtain a grant sometimes the grants require match money and if Colfax County is unable to meet that match the grant will have to be let go.
Next on the stage the four candidates for county commission. On the ballot is Robert Thompson and Si Trujillo for District One and Lydia Garcia and Mary Lou Kern for Commission District Two. All four candidates agree that transparency and accountability are a big part of the job. Trujillo and Kern are the incumbents for these positions. Both Garcia and Thompson have been employees within the county. Thompson with the road department where he served as road department foreman where he was responsible for grants to help with road improvements. Garcia worked in the county manager’s office under Whitney Hite and served in the County Treasurer’s office.
Declining population and workforce availabilities are plaguing Colfax County. The candidates feel that education is important to help keep people in the area, Trujillo noted that Colfax County will loose a large number of residents by 2030 simply from aging out.
Garcia wants to see better wages for retention while Kern sees population decline a problem statewide and that we need to invest in public safety and improve infrastructure.
When asked about infrastructure and budget Kern noted that the county has to work within the budge and you can trim fat, but the county needs to go after more grants. Garcia says we can’t just give money away and they need to be accountable and that things are the way they were when she was in the county manager’s office in the 1990s. Trujillo noted that the offices need to be properly funded and he is looking to leverage his contacts in Santa Fe to look for funds in the state and federal government. Thompson agreed that we need to invest in our current employees and education there is important and to look for grants that the county may access.
Transparency and accountability is important to all the candidates with Garcia noting we need to watch are spending and where the money goes. Trujillo noted in his comment when it comes to transparency, he said there is a little joke in NM politics, Will it pass the Larry Barker test. County meetings are online so residents can see what goes on in a meeting with Thompson noting that if we make a mistake we need to own up to it. All the candidates are open and available to constituents. Kern noted that if there is a conflict she is one to bring that up and make it known. Accountability and transparency is the key to the commission.
The county manager is the one employee that the commission has, and Trujillo feels we can’t micromanage that person, but they are responsible for the daily operations of the county. Policies are another part of the commission reasonability, and those policies need to be looked at least every couple of years or more often as needed.
As the forum came to a close all of the candidates noted that one of the biggest challenges for the county will be the budget. Kern noted that Colfax County is fortunate that to have the Moreno Valley where 62% of the property tax revenues comes from for the county. Trujillo noted that population will be a concern as the population drops so does the tax income. The county will need to learn to live within its means.
Early Voting is ongoing at the Clerk’s Office Monday through Thursday and will end on October 31, 2026. Election day, November 3rd polling places will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. that day.
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