City of Alamogordo, New Mexico

An Election will be held in the City of Alamogordo on Tuesday, March 2, 2010 for the purpose of electing four City Commissioners, one Municipal Judge and considering the proposed city charter amendment questions, and a question of extending the imposition of the Municipal Infrastructure Gross Receipts Tax dedication for economic development purposes. In only Districts 2, 4, & 6 will the ballot contain a position for City Commissioner. The election will be Citywide (Districts 1 through 7) and all ballots will contain the Municipal Judge candidates, city charter amendment questions, and a gross receipts tax question as they are listed below:

Elected Officials

A. Three City Commissioners (for a four-year term) for the districts listed below along with the candidates who have filed for the positions:

1. District Two (2) - Aaron D. Rance

2. District Four (4) - Joshua W. Rardin

3. District Six (6) - Ed Cole

B. Municipal Judge. The candidates who filed for the position are:

Steven O. Lee

Ronald Banerji

Questions that will appear on the ballot

A. Extension of the sunset provision for the economic development tax. The question that will appear on the ballot is as follows:

MUNICIPAL INFRASTRUCTURE GROSS RECEIPTS TAX QUESTION

Shall the City of Alamogordo continue to impose one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) Municipal Infrastructure Gross Receipts Tax until December 31, 2015, with the revenues from the tax being dedicated for economic development purposes?

FOR continuation of the tax        []

AGAINST continuation of the tax  []

B. Amendments to the City Charter. Four amendments are being proposed. The amendments, as they will appear on the ballot, are as follows:

Amendment No. 1 – Summary for Ballot

Proposal to amend the City Charter to provide that when a vacancy occurs on the City Commission, the Commission will declare by resolution within fifteen days of the vacancy that a vacancy exists and thereafter appoint an eligible person to fill the vacancy after thirty days of declaring the vacancy. If the Commission fails to do so, the Mayor must appoint an eligible person.

Amendment No. 1

Proposing to amend the City Charter by amending Article VI, Section 3.B, Vacancies, to read:

B. If a single vacancy occurs on the City Commission after completion of one-half of that Commissioner's term, the Commission shall appoint a person qualified under Article V to fill the vacancy, but in all other cases a special election must be called to fill the vacancy. The Commission must declare by resolution that a vacancy exists. The Commission must adopt the resolution declaring the vacancy within fifteen days of the vacancy. The Commission must appoint an eligible person by majority vote to fill the vacant office at the first regular meeting following the expiration of thirty days after the adoption of the resolution. If the Commission fails to make the appointment at that meeting, the Mayor must, within fifteen days, appoint an eligible person to fill the vacancy. The Commission may by ordinance establish the specific procedures for selecting an eligible person to fill a vacancy.

FOR the amendment 

AGAINST the amendment 

AMendment No. 2 – Summary for Ballot

Proposal to amend the City Charter to increase the reimbursement for expenses received by the Commissioners for each regular meeting from its current level of $50 to $250. The increase in reimbursement would become effective after July 1, 2012.

Amendment No. 2

Proposing to amend the City Charter by amending Article VII, Section 6. Compensation, to read:

Section 6. Reimbursement for Expenses.

Effective July 1, 2012, Commissioners shall receive two-hundred fifty dollars ($250.00) reimbursement for expenses for each regular meeting attended and for each regular meeting not attended by reason of official City business. This reimbursement shall not be changed unless the proposed change is submitted to, and approved by, the electorate at a regular City election.

FOR the amendment 

AGAINST the amendment 

amendment No. 3 – Summary for Ballot

Proposal to amend the City Charter to provide a new section which prohibits Commissioners from simultaneously holding a second elected office.

amendment No. 3

Proposing to amend the City Charter by amending Article VII, The Governing Body, to add the following new Section:

Section 7. Incompatibility of Offices.

No member of the Commission may hold any other local, state, or federal elected office. Acceptance of the second elected office constitutes an automatic resignation from the position of Alamogordo City Commissioner, and the vacancy thereby created shall be filled in the same manner as other vacancies on the City Commission are filled.

FOR the amendment 

AGAINST the amendment 

Amendment No. 4 – Summary for Ballot

Proposal to amend the City Charter to provide that an organizational meeting will be held after each Regular City election at which time the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem will be elected. Both the Mayor and Mayor Pro-Tem would then serve until the next organizational meeting unless otherwise removed or the office become vacant.

AMENDMENT No. 4

Proposing to amend the City Charter by amending Article VIII, Section 1.A, [Selection; Term; Removal], to read:

A. An organizational meeting shall be held as soon as practicable after each Regular City election in which Commissioners are elected.

FOR the amendment 

AGAINST the amendment 

Absentee Voting

Absentee voting on paper ballots through the mail will be available for this election and can be obtained by contacting the office of the City Clerk. Absentee voting applications can be mailed beginning at 8:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 26, 2010, and Early Voting in person on electronic voting machines begins at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, February 10, 2010. Absentee voting on paper ballots and Early Voting by machines ends at 5:00 p.m. on Friday, February 26, 2010.

Absentee voting will be conducted in the Office of the City Clerk at City Hall, 1376 E. Ninth Street, during regular business hours, which are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. THERE WILL BE VOTING DURING THE NOON HOUR.

Election Results

Did you know… You can join us on the evening of March 2nd to learn the results of the Election. Beginning at 7:00 p.m. when the polls close the Clerk’s office staff along with the Media, Candidates, Commission members, Staff, and Citizens gather at City Hall (1376 E. Ninth St.) in the Commission Chambers to learn what the results are. We will be live on the 91.7 KUPR FM Radio with Ronny Diaz and we will have live video coverage through www.alamogordolive.net (which was formerly known as www.everythingalamogordo.com). We also publish the unofficial Election Results on the City Website at http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us.

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