Rustin Porter
Rustin Porter
Age: 41
Occupation: Chief procurement officer for Valencia County
Education: AA – Liberal Arts
Previous elected political offices: None
Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“I have over 10 years of experience in state and local government, including the last six years as the chief procurement officer for Valencia County. I have gained knowledge for the operation of local government especially as it relates to budget and finance.”
- How can the county clerk’s office better streamline its services to assist the public?
“Educating the public on the resources available online to assist community members in understanding the services offered and outline what documents they would need to complete certain transactions in the clerk’s office.”
- What initiatives would you implement to increase voter awareness and participation?
“I would bring a strong presence in the community at local events and setup booths to promote and bring awareness to voter registration and participation.”
- How would you ensure the voter rolls in Valencia County are kept up to date?
“I would ensure all protective measures are in place in line with the state and federal laws as related to the upkeep of voter rolls.”
Carlos Aragon
Carlos Aragon
Age: 35
Occupation: Valencia County commercial appraiser
Education: High school
Previous elected political offices: NA
Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“With over a decade of experience in the clerk’s office, I have developed a deep understanding of the legal framework that governs our elections. As a proud resident of Valencia County, where I was born, raised, and am now raising my own family, I am committed to ensuring the integrity of our democratic processes.”
- How can the county clerk’s office better streamline its services to assist the public?
“The current mail-out era is outdated and inefficient, leading to wasted time and resources. By moving the clerk’s office online, we can modernize the process and better serve our community.”
- What initiatives would you implement to increase voter awareness and participation?
“The current staffing limitations in the clerk’s office hinder the ability to effectively engage with voters. I plan on increasing staff to prioritize voter education, outreach, and transparency, resulting in higher voter satisfaction and trust.”
- How would you ensure the voter rolls in Valencia County are kept up to date?
“I will make certain that all deceased voters are removed and out-of-state transfers are accurately transferred. With my 13 years of experience working with our various voting software systems, I am confident in my ability to ensure that our voter rolls are accurately updated and maintained.”
Michael E. Milam (I)
Michael E. Milam (I)
Age: 61
Occupation: Valencia County Clerk
Education: Graduate, New Mexico Military Institute, associate degree in applied science, Oilfield Training Center, Roswell
Previous elected political offices: Current County Clerk
Have you ever been arrested or convicted of a felony or DWI in New Mexico or in another state? “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“During my first term as county clerk, I became a New Mexico Certified County Clerk, a Certified Public Official and a Certified Advocate of Public Ethics. I have been involved in creating legislation that ensures fair and transparent elections, and continue to modernize systems in the clerk’s office.”
- How can the county clerk’s office better streamline its services to assist the public?
“During my first term as county clerk, upgrades to our records program were implemented, allowing the public to research online at their convenience. During my second term, further enhancements to the program will allow the public to print documents online.”
- What initiatives would you implement to increase voter awareness and participation?
“Heavily utilize social media to inform the public of election related information, such as election dates, polling locations and hours, and reminders to review and update voter registrations.”
- How would you ensure the voter rolls in Valencia County are kept up to date?
“Per federal guidelines, voter rolls are regularly reviewed, and ineligible voters are promptly removed.”
VOTING INFORMATION
Absentee by mail
The deadline to request an absentee ballot for the June primary election is Tuesday, May 21. Absentee ballots can be requested by visiting nmvote.org.
If they are not returned by mail, absentee ballots can be returned in person at the following locations by 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 4:
- Valencia County Clerk’s Office, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
- Any of the early in-person or alternate early voting locations.
- Any of the 15 Voting Convenience Centers open on Election Day throughout the county.
- Any of the three secure absentee ballot drop boxes
- Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Early, in-person voting
8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Tuesday, May 7, through Friday, May 17, Monday through Saturday
Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Alternate, early voting
10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday, May 18, through Saturday, June 1, Monday through Saturday
- Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen,
- Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Pueblo of Isleta Veterans Center, 4001 N.M. 314, Isleta
- Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Voting Convenience Centers
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Tuesday, June 4
- Ann Parish Elementary, 112 Meadow Lake Road, Meadow Lake
- Belen Community Center, 305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Belen Public Library, 333 Becker Ave. Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library, 1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Century High School, 32 Sun Valley Road, Los Lunas
- Del Rio Senior Center, 351 Rio Communities Blvd., Rio Communities
- Don Jose Dolores Cordova Cultural Center, 426 Jarales Road Jarales
- El Cerro Mission Community Center, 309 El Cerro Mission Road, El Cerro
- Logsdon Hall, 19676 N.M. 314, Los Chavez
- Los Lunas Schools Administration, 119 Luna Ave.,, Los Lunas
- Meadow Lake Community Center, 100 Cuerro Lane, Meadow Lake
- Pueblo of lsleta Veterans Center, 4001 N.M. 314, Isleta
- Tomé Adelino Fire Department Valley Station, 2755 N.M. 47, Tomé
- Town of Peralta Town Hall , 90A Molina Road, Peralta
- UNM-Valencia Workforce Training Center, 1020 Huning Ranch, Los Lunas
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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May 16, 2024
