Proposed Constitutional Amendment - Term Limits County Officials

Established long ago, the citizens of New Mexico voted to amend the New Mexico Constitution, limiting the amount of time people elected to county office could hold positions.  County elected officials are limited to two four year terms and at the end of eight years these people are ineligible to run for elected office for two years – a sit out period.  So, for example, commissioners, clerks, treasurers, assessors, probate judges, and sheriffs are limited by law from serving more than eight years total.   

In Torrance County and many other counties, “we have a system where the terms limits actually have very little meaning” said Representative Stephen Easley at a town hall meeting this past Saturday. 

Representative Easley went on to explain that the county Clerk, Treasurer, and Assessor, are elected, and they are allowed to appoint a deputy.  In most cases the appointed deputy was the former termed out elected official.  Representative Easley continued,  “they flip flop the jobs for many, many years and it goes on and on.  This make it very difficult for any body else to run against them because it becomes a life time job for the people that are in this. “

The District 50 Representative was approached by a number of people who he said  “talked to me” believing “that this was unreasonable if we are going to have term limits at all.”  "If we are not going to have term limits, then fine, go do that, but since the citizens long ago in the state decided that there are term limits on these jobs it seems that we probably ought to enforce those term limits.”

When ask by Torrance County Republican Party Chair Rick Lopez why the proposed amendment excluded the legislature, the response was that the legislature itself would not even consider application of term limits to their seats unless directed by a citizen referendum.  Representative Easley stated that he fully supports term limits for legislators and suggested that Republican Chair Lopez spear head a referendum. 

Bernalillo County and the Association of Counties are very unhappy with the proposed bill as are the many seated elected officials so the chance that it will even make it out of committee is pretty small.  You can see the proposed House Joint Resolution by clicking here:

http://www.nmlegis.gov/Sessions/13%20Regular/resolutions/house/HJR05.pdf

HJR5 is scheduled for committee on February 5, 2013 in the House, Health, Government, & Indian Affairs Committee.  For or Against?  Sound Off – contact information for bill sponsor(s) and committee members is listed below:

Bill Sponsor;  Representative Stephen Easley, District 50 (D)
                       Capitol Room: 205B
                       Office Phone:  505-990-2044
                       Home Phone:  505-699-5516
                       Email:  stephen.easley@nmlegis.gov
 

 

COMMITTEE MEMBERS: HEALTH, GOVERNMENT & INDIAN AFFAIRS

Representative  James Roger Madalena, Chair (D)

Capitol Room:  312B

Capitol Phone:  505-986-4840

Home Phone:  575-834-7005

Email:  james.madalena@nmlegis.gov
 

Representative Nick L. Salazar, Vice Chair (D)

Capitol Room:  413E

Office Phone:  505-663-5849

Home Phone:  505-852-4178

Email:  None Listed
 

Representative Alonzo Baldonado, Member (R)

Capitol Room:  203A

Office Phone:  505-363-6214

Email:  alonzo.baldonado@nmlegis.gov
 

Representative Kelly K. Fajardo, Member (R)

Capitol Room:  202B

Capitol Phone:  505-986-4220

Home Phone;  505-573-0471

Email:  kelly.fajardo@nmlegis.gov
 

Representative Nate Genrty, Members (R)

Capitol Room:  125

Capitol Phone:  505-986-4757

Home Phone:  505-508-0782

Email:  natefornm@gmail.com
 

Representative Yvette Herrell, Member (R)

Capitol Room:  206B

Capitol Phone:  505-986-4248

Home Phone:  575-430-2113

Email:   yherrell@yahoo.com
 

Representative Emily Kane, Member (D)

Capitol Room:  203BN

Capitol Phone:  505-986-4464

Home Phone:  505-890-4319

Email:  emilykane4nm@gmail.com

 

 

Representative Rodolpho “Rudy” S. Martinez, Member (D)

Capitol Room:  204A

Capitol Phone:  505-986-4235

Office Phone:  575-537-8609

Home Phone:  575-537-3105

Email:  rodolpho.martinez@nmlegis.gov
 

Representative Terry H. McMillan, Member (R)

Capitol Room:  203GN

Capitol Phone:  505-986-4450

Office Phone:  575-635-0534

Email:  docmcmillan@gmail.com
 

Representative Elizabet “Liz” Thomson, Member (D)

Capitol Room:  203AN

Capitol Phone:  505-986-4255

Home Phone:  505-239-1781

Email:  liz.thomson@nmlegis.gov
 

Representative Luciano “Lucky” Varela, Member (D)

Capitol Room:  304C

Capitol Phone:  505-986-1292

Email:  lucky4st@msn.com