Voters Pass 4 NM Amendments, Reject 1

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) – New Mexicans approved four constitutional amendments, but rejected a fifth that would have allowed mid-term pay raises for elected county officials.

That amendment would have let county commissioners provide salary increases for elected officials such as sheriff, clerk, and assessor and themselves in midterm.

Voters approved an amendment letting the governor name a lieutenant governor if a vacancy occurs in the office.

Right now, there’s no provision if the lieutenant governor dies in office, resigns or becomes governor.

Other amendments that passed will increase the size of Albuquerque’s school board to nine members from seven, require the Senate to confirm heads of cabinet-level state agencies at the start of each term of a governor, and let school board elections to be held on the same day as nonpartisan elections.

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