RATON — Colfax County Clerk Freda Baca passed away December 26th in Rio Rancho, NM. Baca’s passing now challenges the Colfax County Commissioners to find her replacement. The commissioners have scheduled a special meeting for January 5 at 9 am to pick a replacement for Baca. Commissioners can choose whomever they feel will best fill the position, and that person will then pick a deputy clerk. With two elections coming up in February and March, this will challenge any new clerk to learn the election process quickly unless they choose deputy clerk Rebecca Hoy who has already been through the election schooling. Springer has a school bond election on February 2nd, while Raton and the other municipalities in Colfax County will have a municipal election March 1, 2016 with a filing deadline of January 5, 2016. Raton will have three city commission openings on the ballot. The county clerk provides city commission candidates with certified voter registration which they take to the city clerk for verification. The clerk’s office also provides voter
rosters as well as providing and certifying voting machines for the municipal elections. An early voting location for the Raton municipal election will be maintained at city hall beginning February 10, 2016. Meanwhile, deputy clerk Rebecca Hoy will step into the position effective immediately to carry on the day-to-day activities of the office. Should she be chosen for the clerk’s position she will fill that role until the end of Baca’s term on December 31, 2016.
