Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Congressional race tops $3M in spending Vol. 123, No. 261 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Candidate committee expenditures in the race for New Mexico’s 2nd congressional district have exceeded $3 million, with incumbent Steve Pearce maintaining more than a half-million dollars in the tank for the closing weeks of the campaign. Pearce, R-Hobbs, and his Democrat challenger, Rocky Lara of Carlsbad, filed campaign finance reports last week with the Federal Election Commission. The “pre-general” reports are the last campaign
finance reports that committees created by the two candidates will file until December, when “post-general” reports are due. The latest campaign finance reports cover the period from Oct. 1 through Oct. 15. According to their latest reports, Pearce, as of Oct. 15, had raised a total of $2,019,355 in his bid for a sixth two-year term in the U.S. House of Representatives, and spent a total of $1,982,044. Lara, as of Oct. 15, had raised a total of $1,341,946 in her bid to unseat Pearce, and had a total of spent
October 30, 2014
THURSDAY
www.rdrnews.com
$1,076,663, according to her latest reports. The two candidates had collectively spent $3,058,707 as of Oct. 15. Between Oct. 1 and Oct. 15, Pearce raised $70,183 and spent $567,150. Lara, between Oct. 1 and Oct. 15, raised $26,722 and spent $229,743. As of Oct. 15, Pearce had $660,785 cash on hand, while Lara had $187,768. As of Sept. 30, Pearce had $1,158,151 cash on hand, while Lara had $392,653 cash on hand, according to their October quarterly reports. The two candidates continue battling it out in tele-
vision ads that both sides say are misleading. Lara and Pearce debated Oct. 15 in Las Cruces at New Mexico State University, and again Oct. 22 in Albuquerque at the KOB 4 studios. The KOB 4 debate may be viewed online at kob.com/article/stories/s3 597655.shtml#.VFFlPnF_To. The two candidates are not scheduled to debate again. Election Day is Tuesday. Staff Writer Jeff Tucker may be contacted at 575622-7710, ext. 303, or at reporter01@rdrnews.com.
Submitted Photo
U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce speaks with Lovelace Regional Hospital CEO Dawn Tschabrun Wednesday morning while meeting with Roswell veterans at K-Bob's Steakhouse. Pearce, RHobbs, discussed reforms of the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, including a pilot project that allows veterans to see local health care providers.
Thousands in Chaves County are voting early
BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
Early voting in Chaves County is picking up with less than a week to go before Election Day, with more than 4,000 Chaves County residents having cast ballots as of Wednesday morning. As of the start of early voting Wednesday, a total of 3,533 Chaves County residents had voted early or absentee in-person, said Chaves County Clerk David Kunko. In addition, 631 absentee ballots had been retur ned to the clerk’s of fice as of Wednesday mor ning, Kunko said, Max Scally Photo meaning a total of 4,164 Election official David Mark helps Jody Alpers with her ballot Wednesday at the Roswell Mall. Early voting continues until Chaves County residents had cast ballots by the Saturday at the mall and at the Chaves County clerk’s office.
start of early voting Wednesday morning. Early voting, which began Oct. 18, continues through Saturday at the Roswell Mall and at the Chaves County clerk’s office. Early voting in Hagerman, at the sheriff’s substation at 7690 Wichita Road, ends at 5 p.m. today. Election Day is Tuesday. Chaves County voters have preferred voting early at the clerk’s office. As of the start of business Wednesday, a total of 2,730 residents had voted early at the clerk’s office, 761 had voted early at the mall and 42 had voted early in Hagerman, Kunko said.
Utilities appeal to Festivals delinquent in reports, refunds city for help with clearing easements BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD CITY EDITOR
City engineer adds requirement of traffic officers for festivals BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD CITY EDITOR
Officials from local power companies have approached the city for help in reclaiming the utility easements in south Roswell. Representatives from Xcel Energy and New Mexico Gas Company asked the Streets and Alley Committee on Tuesday to look into clearing out the required 15-foot utility easement required around meters
and power poles in the residential area that was formerly Walker Air Force Base.
James MacCor nack, supervisor of operations in Roswell for New Mexico Gas Company, showed slides to committee members and City Council members Juan Oropesa and Jeanine Cor n Best. Councilors Caleb Grant, Savino Sanchez and Elena Velasquez were also in
The city Occupancy Tax office is still waiting for reports from several of the city’s major festivals, including the UFO Festival, the Filmfest & Cosmicon and the Fiddle & Griddle Festival, Occupancy Tax Board members were told on Tuesday. “I have not yet received a full financial report for the event as required by the contract,” said Janice Self, finance department assistant. The Fiddle & Griddle Festival was awarded $56,250 from the city, and Self has received the financial statement and the backup documentation for the Lodgers’ Tax expenses, she said. Festivals typically apply for Lodgers’ Tax funding to pay for advertising, which is distributed as a reimbursement once the festival organizers provide documentation of expenses, Self said. The city usually will fund only 50 percent of the advertising costs, and
the funding is reserved for events that bring people from out of town and into local hotels, Self explained. In the case of the Fiddle & Griddle Festival, funds were advanced to the organizer, MainStreet Roswell. Funds actually paid to the Fiddle & Griddle Festival amounted to $51,703.72 with $49,838.93 of that amount being spent. “I am expecting a refund of the dif ference, $1,864.79,” Self said. “The last correspondence I have had with Peggy Seskey (of MainStreet Roswell) was on Oct. 7,” Self said. “There have been health issues and a death in the family which has prevented her from providing the requested infor mation and the refund of monies.” The UFO Festival received $75,000 in advance funds from the city, Self reported. The due date for the financial reports, left over inventory purchased with Lodgers’ Tax funds, and any reimbursement back to the city was due on Oct. 6. “Nothing has been received,” Self
National mood flavors NM congressional races
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The battle for New Mexico’s U.S. Senate seat is intensifying as Election Day approaches, and incumbent Democrat Tom Udall and Republican challenger Allen Weh are scrambling to secure the votes of those who remain undecided. The distance between Udall and Weh is shrinking as the retired Marine colonel’s campaign works to capitalize on general frustration with the Obama administration and the lack of progress in Washington on a host of issues.
See EASEMENTS, Page A3
An Albuquerque Journal poll released Monday showed 50 percent of likely voters backing Udall to 43 percent for Weh, with 8 percent undecided. Just a month earlier, Udall had a 13-point advantage. Pollster Brian Sanderoff said Weh was able to slightly improve his support among Democrat voters while adding to his Republican base. Udall has been able to maintain his lead thanks to stronger support from independent voters. “The race narrowed as people began hearing Allen
HIGH 74 LOW 47
TODAY’S FORECAST
Weh’s conservative message, but getting to the point that the race could turn around, that would be a real uphill battle for Allen Weh,” Sanderoff said. Weh will have a chance to spread his message Thursday evening when he squares off against Udall in their first televised debate. Weh has been critical of the incumbent for not agreeing to debate earlier in the election cycle. Weh’s campaign ads have linked Udall to the Obama administration’s often criticized efforts to overhaul
health care. The latest television ad states that a vote to send the first-term senator back to Washington is a vote for President Barack Obama. After accusing Weh of favoring cuts to social programs, Udall’s campaign has shifted focus in the remaining week. In an effort to appeal to female voters, his latest ad touts his work on laws aimed at curbing domestic violence. Udall, a former attorney general and congressman, has a sizeable campaign fund and has used the
• JACK SULLIVAN
• SHIRLEY HOOPER-GARCIA
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A5
Udall
said. “As with the 2014 Fiddle & Griddle, MainStreet Roswell is coordinating this event.” The city has not received any reports back from the New Mexico Senior Olympics State Games, either, Self said. “The amount awarded to the Senior Olympics was $57,000. They requested and received $13,912.98 in advance as in accordance with the contract,” Self said. Any other funds and a financial report were due by Oct. 17, but Self said she has not received any other requests or any financial report for funds expended from the Senior Olympics organizers. “They did not request all the money that they were awarded, but when you get advance money, you are supposed to give me a sheet in writing saying (an) estimate of what you feel you will be paying for,” Self said. Later she requests an actual invoice of what was actually paid to make sure expenses are eligible. See FESTIVALS, Page A3
tightening of the race to make a plea for more money this week. Weh, an Albuquerque business owner, has put up some of his personal fortune to run an aggressive challenge. CLASSIFIEDS ..........B6 COMICS .................A6 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3
See VOTING, Page A3
Weh
New Mexico’s three congressional seats are also up for grabs. In southern New Mexico, 2nd District Rep. Steve
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A2
See RACES, Page A3 OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8