A Top State Democratic Party Official Resigns After NM Election Snafus

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) – The executive director of New Mexico’s Democratic Party has resigned in the wake of the state’s problem-plagued Super Tuesday caucus.

Laura E. Sanchez resigned Tuesday, her replacement, interim executive director Josh Geise, confirmed Wednesday. Sanchez did not immediately return a call to her cell phone Wednesday.

Sanchez was one of a handful of party officials who helped plan and run the caucus. The Feb. 5 caucus was plagued by long waits at some polling places and a shortage of ballots that forced some to cast ballots on scraps of paper.

Sanchez and state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colon came under severe criticism during the prolonged counting of ballots, which ended Feb. 14 – nine days after voting.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)