By Marty Mayfield
KRTN Multi-Media
Regular Local Election Day in New Mexico has come to a close with statewide turnout at 20%, but the Northern NM counties of Colfax and Union doubled that with turnout over 40%. Races were tight, in particular, two races in Raton were very close with only one vote apart in the Raton City Commission race for District 3. Unofficially the results showed Mark Honeyfield with 510 votes to incumbent commissioner Ron Chavez’s 509 followed by Roy Manfredi with 417 votes. The other very close race was in the Raton School Board race where there were three positions up for election and the top three vote-getters will get at-large positions. Brenda Ferri received 953 votes followed by Ted Kamp with 831 votes and Dustin Walton with 665. The incumbent Kathy Honeyfield received 652 votes.
In the other City Commission race for District 1, incumbent Lori Chatterley received 660 votes followed by Jason Bennet with 528 votes and Joe Bustos with 244.
For Raton Municipal Judge, Christine Piancino received 666 votes followed by Amy Avila with 450 and Vincent Gatti with 286.
The one issue that many people were waiting to hear about was the Raton School Bond Issue. The Bond for $8 million will put Raton School District at its bonding capacity with the state, which has said it will kick in the remaining $80 million plus, to construct a new k-12 school campus. The Bond question had failed in two previous attempts, but passed on Tuesday by an overwhelming margin of 1301 in favor to 479 opposed.
The Colfax County Commission will canvas the ballots on Tuesday, November 14 at 8:30 a.m. in a Special Meeting.
Other election results can be found at https://electionresults.sos.state.nm.us/default.aspx?eid=2858%20
