32 candidates file for primary election in June

The primary candidates are off to the races with 32 filing for elected offices ranging from Valencia County sheriff to state representative on Tuesday, March 10.

Republicans are going to have a wealth of choices this year, with four candidates duking it out for their party’s support for sheriff, three for the District 1 county commission seat and four vying for the Division III magistrate position.

Qualified candidates will be placed on the June 2 primary ballot where voters from the major parties — Republican and Democrat — will get the chance to narrow the field to one candidate, assuming more than one person even filed.

The races on the ballot locally include that of Valencia County sheriff, two Valencia County commission seats, Valencia County assessor and probate judge, as well as all three Valencia County magistrate judge divisions and New Mexico State Representatives.

If candidates did not file on Tuesday, they can declare as write-in candidates between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, March 17, at the Valencia County Clerk’s office, 444 Luna, Ave., Los Lunas.

Valencia County Sheriff

Democrats

Alan Fredrick Montano, 55, works for the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office.

Gabriel Trujillo, 50, is a self-employed high school graduate.

Republicans

Joe Griego, 59, is an officer with the Belen Police Department and retired from the Los Lunas Police Department. He graduated from high school and the New Mexico Police Academy.

Joseph Eugene Rowland, 49, is a lieutenant with the Valencia County Sheriff’s Office. He has an associate of science degree in criminal justice from Cochise College. Rowland is a graduate of Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command.

Preston Wade Smith, 40, is a police officer and graduated from high school.

Kevin Marcos Vega, 32, is a police officer and has his high school diploma.

Valencia County Commission

District 1

Democrats

Sharalaina Piro-Rael, 36, is a music store manager. She has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of New Mexico.

Republicans

Christopher Steven Garcia, 40, is a teacher. He has a masters degree in education.

Helen Saiz, 56, is a retired government employee and a customer service representative for United Airlines. She previously served as the District 1 Valencia County commissioner for one term.

Christopher K. Williams, 52, is an emergency planner. He holds a seat on the University of New Mexico-Valencia advisory board and has an associate in science in nuclear engineering technology.

District 3

Democrats

Karla J. Laurie, 60, is a retired first responder. She graduated form high school and has earned 70-plus college credit hours. Laurie is also a member of Phi Theta Kappa.

Republicans

Morris R. Sparkman, 30, is completing his first term as the District 3 commissioner. He is a mechanical engineer with a bachelor of science in mechanical engineering.

Sharon L. Smith, 73, is retired from the New Mexico Department of Corrections. She has a high school diploma and some college credits.

Valencia County Assessor

Democrats

Torres G. Leyba, 50, is a political analyst and has an associate of applied science from UNM

Republicans

Burgandy Bree Casias, 38, is a mortgage loan officer.

Celia Dawn Dittmaier, 51, is the current Valencia County Assessor and in her first term. She has her high school diploma and is International Association of Assessing Officers state certified.

David A. Hyder, 49, is in facility operations. He holds a bachelor degree and served as the District 3 commissioner for two terms.

Valencia County Probate Judge

Democrats

Pedro Rael is an attorney and semi-retired from the New Mexico Department of Transportation Aviation Division. Rael is a former district court judge for the 13th Judicial District and former Valencia County commissioner.

Republicans

Wendy Wallace, 55, is the current probate judge, finishing her first term in office. She is a real estate qualifying broker and small business owner for 30-plus years. Wallace attended the University of Phoenix.

Valencia County Magistrate Courts

Division I

No Democratic candidates filed for the Division I seat on Tuesday.

Republican incumbent Miles Ross Tafoya, 39, did file. Tafoya has a bachelors in business administration.

Division II

No Democratic candidates filed for the Division II seat on Tuesday.

Republican incumbent John R. Chavez, 59, filed. He has been the Division 2 magistrate since February 2014. He has a bachelor of arts in history from New Mexico State University, a master of arts in human resources from Webster University and a master of strategic science from the U.S. Army War College. Chavez retired from the U.S. Army in 2013 as a colonel.

Division III

Democrats

Rorik S. Rivenburgh, 71, is retired from UPS and is currently a tour guide. He has a bachelor of science in business management.

Republicans

Y. Danielle Gonzalez, 46, is a trial court administrative assistant. She is a paralegal and has an associate degree.

Eric Montano, 58, is retired and holds a masters in business administration.

Andrew Milton Owen, 49, is the retired chief of police for the village of Bosque Farms. He graduated from high school and has some college credits.

Denise A. Vigil, 55, is finishing her second term as Valencia County Sheriff. She graduated high school and completed some college courses.

New Mexico State Representatives

District 7

Democrats

Rickie Allen Gonzales II, 47, is a graphic designer and marketing consultant. He has an associates degree in graphic design.

Republicans

Tanya Mirabal Moya, 51, is a teacher at Belen High School and has held the District 7 seat since 2023. She holds masters of science degree in athletic administration and coaching from Liberty University and a bachelor of science in health and wellness from Kaplan University.

District 8

Democrats

Katherine Joanna Gauer, 37, is a stay-at-home parent and a former retail manager and nonprofit advocate. She has a bachelor of arts in criminal justice from New Mexico State University.

Republicans

Brian G. Baca, 55, is a retired educator from Los Lunas Schools and has held the District 8 seat since 2022. He has a bachelor of arts and master of arts degree from the University of New Mexico.

District 49

Republican incumbent Gail Armstrong was the only candidate to file for the District 49 seat on Tuesday. Armstrong has held the seat since 2017. She is self employed.

District 69

Two Democrats filed for the District 69 seat — incumbent Michelle Paulene Abeyta and Harry Garcia. Abeyta and Garcia faced off in a three-way primary in 2024, with Abeyta taking the win.

Abeyta is a lawyer and has a bachelor of arts in Native American studies and geography from University of New Mexico and a juris doctorate with a certificate in Indigenous People’s Law and Policy from University of Arizona James E. Rogers College of Law. She served on the To’hajiilee Community School Board of Education.

Garcia held the District 69 seat from September 2016 to the end of 2024. He is a retired business owner and graduated from high school.

No Republican candidates filed on Tuesday.