Local boards prepare for upcoming elections

As election season approaches, several local governing bodies across Socorro, Catron and Valencia counties are preparing for key leadership transitions. From school boards to municipal offices, residents will soon have the opportunity to shape the future of their communities.

SOCORRO COUNTY

City of Socorro

The City of Socorro will hold elections for four Councilor positions, which are all four-year terms, as well as a Municipal Judge position, which would be a four-year term.

Incumbents for these seats are Councilors Damien Ocampo, Mary Ann Chavez-Lopez, Michael Olguin, Peter Romero, and Municipal Judge Joseph Gutierrez.

All declarations of candidacy shall be filed in the Office of the Socorro County Clerk on August 26, 2025, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Write-in declarations of Candidacy shall be filed in the office of the County Clerk on September 2, between the house of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.

All Socorro City Council positions are elected at-large, meaning candidates represent the entire city rather than specific districts.

Socorro Consolidated Schools

Socorro Schools will fill three board positions with four-year terms.

Current board leadership ending their four-year terms would be Pauline Jaramillo, current President, and current Vice President Tara Jaramillo. A four-year term vacated by Kathleen Ocampo will also be open.

Magdalena Municipal School District

Two four-year board member positions are open in the Magdalena Municipal School District. The seats are currently held by Lynn Major, who is currently the board president, and Kelby Stephens, who is currently the vice president.

Village of Magdalena

The Village of Magdalena will see a significant reshuffling, with four positions up for election:

Mayor for a four-year term, two trustee seats, each for a four-year term, and one trustee seat to fill the remaining two years of a four-year term. The vote at large will determine which candidates receive the four-year terms and which will receive the two-year term.

Currently holding these seats are Mayor Richard Rumpf and Trustees Clark Brown, James Nelson, and Michael Thompson.

All positions require candidates to reside within the limits of the village of Magdalena. Candidate filing day will be August 26, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., with write-in candidate filing day on Tuesday, September 2, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

All Village trustee positions are elected at-large, meaning candidates represent the entire city rather than specific districts.

CATRON COUNTY

Voters in Catron County will see several local education and municipal positions on the ballot this year. The Village of Reserve will elect two trustees, each for a four-year term. The Quemado Independent School District No. 2 will fill four school board seats, three for full four-year terms and one to complete the remaining two years of a four-year term. Meanwhile, the Reserve Independent School District No. 1 will elect three school board members, all for four-year terms.

VALENCIA COUNTY

All Belen City Council positions are elected at-large, meaning candidates represent the entire city rather than specific districts.

Belen Board of Education

In Belen, voters will decide on several key positions this election cycle, including the mayor’s seat, currently held by Robert Noblin; two at-large city council seats, held by Frank Ortega and Steven Holdman; and the municipal judge’s seat, occupied by Keith Norwood.

UNM-Valencia Advisory Board

Two at-large seats on the University of New Mexico–Valencia Advisory Board will be up for election this year: Position 1, currently held by Eloisa Tabet, and Position 4, held by Roberta Scott.

Scott previously served in Position 4 but lost the seat to Joleen Chavez in the 2021 election. Chavez resigned in August 2024, and Scott was reappointed to the board in March.

The Position 4 seat was scheduled to appear on the ballot regardless of whether it was filled by appointment.