Journal North’s picks for SF County contested races
Early voting has started for the June 2 primary election. People using absentee ballots, to practice social distancing or for other reasons, can return them as soon as they receive them.
Today, the Journal makes its first set of endorsements for the primary, beginning with the three contested races for Santa Fe County positions in the Democratic primary.
COUNTY COMMISSION, DISTRICT 5: HANK HUGHES
For the seat being vacated by incumbent Ed Moreno that represents Eldorado and other areas, Hughes is the best choice. He’s executive director of the New Mexico Coalition for the Homeless, and has devoted most of his career to advocating and working on behalf of the homeless, including as executive director of St. Elizabeth’s Shelter.
But he’s also an environmental engineer who has served as a water resources specialist and is committed to trying to mitigate the impacts of climate change.
This makes Hughes well positioned to take on such major issues as homelessness, affordable housing and water security. He’s shown with his life’s work that he cares about his community, and that he’s also got the skills and background to take on the political and leadership roles of a county commissioner.
COUNTY TREASURER: LUCINDA MARKER
Marker is a non-conventional candidate for the treasurer’s job. She has worked as a high school teacher, business manager for an Off-Broadway theater and managing director of a theater in Taos.
But she was also vice president of investor relations for an international real estate investment firm, president of a broker/dealer company, owned a financial advisory office and was director of client service for an investment management firm. All of that experience could prove valuable for an office that oversees the investment of county funds.
Marker wants to provide easy public access to detailed investment information to allow for tracking performance and disbursement of funds, and better communicate changes in tax payments to the public.
Jennifer Manzaneras, current chief deputy treasurer, is another good choice in this race.
COUNTY CLERK: SARAH GUZMAN
Underdog Sarah Guzman has the background to do a good job of taking over for outgoing County Clerk Geraldine Salazar, who has done a commendable job.
She has a degree in government and foreign languages, with an emphasis in Spanish, from New Mexico State and a master’s degree in information systems from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh.
She has worked as a management consultant for nonprofits and as an analyst for key committees in the state Legislature, and she and her husband have a small retail business. Like all the candidates in the race, she’s in favor of measures to make it easier to vote and wants more Spanishlanguage materials at polling places. Her status as a selfdescribed “data nerd” would come in handy in the most highprofile job in the clerk’s office, namely running elections.
Katharine Clark, another candidate, has key endorsements from the likes of incumbent Salazar and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver. She certainly has relevant experience and Salazar praises Clark’s “strong ethical instincts.” But it may be just a bit too soon for Clark to move from running high-profile campaigns, such as those of Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard and state Rep. Christine Chandler, to actually running the elections.