2 city council candidates want recount in Nov. 3 Las Cruces election
Two candidates who lost in the Nov. 3 election in Las Cruces are seeking a recount.
City council candidates Melecio Guzman and Richard Hall’s application for a recount was filed Tuesday afternoon with Las Cruces Interim City Clerk Linda Lewis.
Las Cruces City Attorney Rusty Babington told ABC-7 a candidate pays the cost of a recount if the recount does not result in the candidate winning. Babington says the cost of a recount could be anywhere from $2,500 to $3,500.
Guzman lost by 18 votes to Kassandra Gandara in the District 1 city council race. Hall was defeated by Jack Eakman in the District 4 city council race by 11 votes.
Both men are seeking a recount of ballots cast in the following voting convenience centers: Las Cruces City Hall where early and absentee voting took place, and election day voting convenience centers Henry Benavidez Center, Jornada Elementary School, Thomas Branigan Memorial Library and the Doa Ana County Government Center.
A total of 15 voting convenience centers were used on Nov. 3.
NMSA Sec. 3-8-68 allows for a recount of ballots within 10 calendar days of the filing. The recount will be conducted by the precinct board of each of the five voting convenience centers. The board consists of the precinct judge, election judge and the election clerks.
The recount must take place in the presence of a state district judge or designee, the interim city clerk and county clerk.
