Recount in 2 Las Cruces city council ends with same results
Wednesday’s recount of ballots cast during the Nov. 3 Las Cruces municipal election confirms the winners of two city council races.
Ballots were recounted in six of the 15 voting convenience centers.
Following the canvassing of results at 4 p.m. today, Kassandra Gandara was confirmed the winner in the District 1 council race, defeating Melecio Guzman by 18 votes. In the District 4 council race, Jack Eakman remained victorious, defeating Richard Hall by 11 votes.
The recount took place in the presence of a state district judge’s designee, the interim city clerk and the chief deputy county clerk.
Las Cruces City Attorney Rusty Babington told ABC-7 on Nov. 10 that 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.
On Nov. 10, Guzman and Hall filed for the 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.
All winners in the Nov. 3 election were sworn-in and presented their certificates of election at the Nov. 16 City Council meeting.
NMSA Sec. 3-8-68 allows for a recount of ballots within 10 calendar days of the filing. The recount was 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.
