Sunday, August 18, 2013 THE NEW MEXICAN
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Voting: Outgoing mayor says new voting machines not a priority Continued from Page A-1 ranked-choice voting would be implemented only when software and equipment for automated tabulation was available at a reasonable price. Ranked-choice voting is a way of electing a single winner from a field of candidates when no one gets more than half the votes cast. It works like this: When voters cast their ballots, they rank the candidates in order of their preference. If no candidate has a majority of the first-choice votes, the candidate with the fewest number of votes is eliminated. His or her votes are redistributed, based on each voter’s second choice. The process is repeated until one candidate has a majority. In theory, the system eliminates situations in which electors feel compelled to vote strategically for candidates who are not their first choice. But, “Being that there aren’t any machines with the software available, we won’t be having ranked-choice voting in this election,” Vigil said. She is already preparing for the March 4 election, however, by meeting with potential candidates, putting together calendars and making plans for the city’s 52 voting precincts at 23 polling places. A resolution that formalizes polling locations and other election details must be approved by the City Council in October. Just as in past elections, Vigil will use about 40 state-funded voting machines from Santa Fe County. The county gets voting machines from the secretary of state. Although the state Elections Bureau is reviewing proposals for updated voting machines, it’s unlikely there will be new machines anytime soon. The Voting System Certification Committee is scheduled to meet Aug. 26 to consider three applications for new voting machines, none of which have
software available for rankedchoice voting. Mayor David Coss said he’s not in any hurry to implement the system in the city. He said in a recent interview that he believes those who voted for the concept did so without really understanding what it meant. “I will go on the record and say that I just think they voted for the whole package of charter amendments and that was in there,” he told The New Mexican. “There are two Green Party people that hassle me about that at every election. Nobody else has ever sent me a single email about it.” Coss, whose second term as mayor expires with the election and who is not seeking a third term, said he’s planning to ignore the issue “for at least seven months.” The next mayor might feel differently, he acknowledged, and make ranked-choice voting a priority. But, Coss said, “I have other priorities for whatever funding I might get over my flat budget. I would use it on police, and if I could not use it on police, I would use it on streets, and if I could not do either of those, I would do pay raises. The last thing I would
do is go out and buy new voting machines so that we can do ranked-choice voting because two people in the Green Party want it.” There’s even debate about whether the city could buy its own voting machines. City Attorney Geno Zamora said early in his tenure at City Hall that he believed the city could choose to buy its own machines, but he recently said state law stipulates that the city is required to use the county machines, which are certified and purchased by the secretary of state. Rick Lass, a Green Party activist, noted that 65 percent of the 2008 voters favored establishing the ranked-choice system and said he was surprised by Coss’ comments. “He was actually telling people to vote for it, so why would he say that?” Lass said. “I guess my response is that you could say that about any law or any candidate. ‘Gosh, people who voted for David Coss didn’t really know who they were voting for.’ Is that a fair statement? I don’t think he would agree with that.” Lass has been trying for years to get the city to adopt preferential voting and said it could be especially important in the
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upcoming election, in which a half-dozen people say they are running for mayor. One candidate could win with a plurality of votes. While some advocates have asked the city to try the system out manually, Vigil said, “Given what was in the charter and was voted on, I don’t think it allows for any kind of hand counting. It says we have to have the software and the system to do it.” Vigil said a company called Dominion seems closest to offering machines that would work with other New Mexico systems, but even those machines and software won’t be available until 2015. The company’s regional sales manager, Steven Bennett, said in an interview Wednesday that
Santa Fe County County Open Land, Trails, and Parks Advisory Committee (COLTPAC) Thursday August 22, 2013 at 6:00P.M. County Commission Chambers, 102 Grant Ave. Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners Acting as the Healthcare Assistance Program Board (COUNTY INDIGENT HOSPITAL AND HEALTHCARE BOARD) Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 9:00 am Legal Conference Room, located at 102 Grant Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87504. Santa Fe County Housing Authority Board Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at 10:00am Legal Conference Room, 102 Grant Ave. Health Policy & Planning Commission (HPPC) Tuesday August 27, 2013 at 1:00pm Commission Chambers, 102 Grant Ave. For More information call 505-986-6200 or visit www.santafecountynm.gov
city election calendar is in September, when Vigil said she will release documents to candidates so they may begin collecting signatures on nominating petitions. Those petitions are due back to the clerk in November, with those who qualify for the ballot formally declaring candidacy in December.
Sunday, December 9, 2012 THE NEW MEXICAN
Principal Capital High School (Bilingual Preferred) Requirements: Must hold or be able to obtain an Administrative License in the state of New Mexico. Specific requirements are referenced on Public Education Department website. www.ped.state. nm.us. Transportation Director of Transportation Lead Bus Mechanic Bus Mechanic helper Bus Driver Substitutes Education Paraprofessionals – Various Locations Must pass the Educational Assistant Paraprofessional exam administered by SFPS OR have specific college level coursework to obtain licensure. Study guides available. Ability to speak Spanish is highly desirable. Many positions work one on one with special need students. Student Wellness School Counselors (Bilingual a plus) for Elementary-Middle School-High School, must hold or be able to obtain a school counselor’s license in the state of New Mexico.
Special Education Teachers: Autism-Elementary K-12, transition (19-22 years of age), Gifted and Talented-High School .6 FTE (needs specific endorsement), Zia Behavior Program SLP, PT, OT & Diagnostician-Bilingual (preferred) Health Aides Teachers Autism Teacher: Elementary Bilingual Teacher: Elementary ESL/Spanish Teacher: Santa Fe High School Math Teachers: Secondary English Teachers: Secondary Data Coach 0.6 FTE: Sweeney Elementary School Reading Teacher-Tier III: Ortiz Literacy Coach Music: Band Student Nutrition Cafeteria workers/substitutes
Application & Resume Deadline Date: December 14, 2012
Health & Human Services Division Director 1 Full Time Position Application & Resume Deadline Date: December 28, 2012
NATIVE AMERICAN & VETERAN PREFERENCE
For more information please contact Pueblo of Tesuque Human Resource Dept. Submit application & resume to: Pueblo of Tesuque Human Resource Department Rt. 42 Box 360T, Santa Fe, NM 87506 Fax (505) 982 -2331 Email: mmoquino@pueblooftesuque.org
Taos Pueblo Seeks applications for the following:
General Services Crossing guards
Health and Community Services Division Director Master’s degree in counseling, psychology, social work, public health or closely related fields with 5 or more years experience either in a clinical setting or in the administration of health programs preferably in tribal communities. Human Services Manager Master’s degree in counseling, psychology or clinical social work, licensed in NM as a professional clinical counselor, independent social worker or psychologist with 5 or more years experience counseling clients with mental health and addictions disorders preferably in tribal communities. Mental Health Counselor Master’s degree in counseling and licensed in NM as a professional clinical counselor with current NM licensure as a LPCC, LPC, LMSW or LISW with 2 or more years experience counseling clients with mental health and addictions disorders preferably in tribal communities. Protective Services Worker Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in social work, psychology or related field with 2 or more years experience in child or adult protection services preferably in tribal communities.
Please check www.sfps.info/jobs for current job posting as the postings change weekly. EOE The Santa Fe Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer and all hiring practices adhere to the School Board Nondiscrimination Policy (201)
APPLY TO www.sfps.info/jobs
Pueblo of Tesuque Gaming Commission Executive Director 1 Full Time Position
Native Americans encouraged to apply
For info call 575-758-8626 ext. 124
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LEGAL NOTICE If you are or were a policyholder under a New Mexico auto insurance policy with comprehensive coverage issued by a USAA company since January 28, 2005, a class action settlement may affect your rights. A New Mexico court has authorized this Notice. This is not a solicitation from a lawyer. This Notice is only a summary of your rights and options. For more detailed information, visit www.poutschsettlement.com. A settlement has been proposed in a class action lawsuit concerning whether United Services Automobile Association and certain affiliates (“USAA”) automatically gave New Mexico auto insurance policyholders a 10% antitheft device discount off their comprehensive coverage if their cars were equipped with a qualifying standard equipment passive antitheft device. The lawsuit is Poutsch v. USAA Casualty Insurance Company, et al., Case No. CV-201101210 (Second Judicial District Court, Bernalillo County, New Mexico). The Court will have a hearing on November 12, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain time) to decide whether to approve the settlement. Who’s Included? You are a “Settlement Class Member” if you have or had a New Mexico auto policy with comprehensive coverage issued by a USAA company from January 28, 2005 through May 28, 2013. “Distribution Class Members” are those Settlement Class Members who, from January 28, 2005 to September 30, 2007, qualified for, but did not receive, at least a 10% antitheft device discount off their comprehensive premium. As explained below, only Distribution Class Members are eligible for a monetary payment under the settlement. For a complete definition of “Settlement Class” and “Distribution Class Members,” please visit our website, www.poutschsettlement.com. What’s This About? The lawsuit claims that the USAA companies did not automatically give certain of their New Mexico automobile insurance policyholders a 10% discount off their comprehensive coverage when they had qualifying passive antitheft devices as standard equipment in their cars. The USAA companies deny that they did anything wrong, and maintain that they have complied with and exceeded their obligations under New Mexico law. The Parties, however, have agreed to settle the lawsuit to avoid the cost, delay, and uncertainty of continued litigation. What Does the Settlement Provide? First, USAA will create a $400,000 Settlement Fund for Distribution Class Members. If the Court approves the settlement, Distribution Class Members who are Current Policyholders will automatically receive a share of the Settlement Fund, after the payment of attorneys’ fees and expenses and any Class Representative incentive award. Distribution Class Members who are Former Policyholders will receive a check for their share of the Settlement Fund if they return an Address Verification Form by December 3, 2013. The exact amount each Distribution Class Member will be paid cannot be calculated until the Court approves the settlement, and the fees, expenses, and total number of participating Distribution Class Members are determined. The maximum amount will be 75% of the antitheft device discount that Plaintiff claims should have been applied. Second, all Settlement Class Members will receive as a benefit of the settlement the following relief, which is in addition to a previous Refund Program that made payments to qualifying Class Members: For a period of two years after the settlement is final, the USAA companies will continue their current practice that, when a policyholder initially requests a New Mexico automobile insurance
policy or adds a vehicle to an existing New Mexico policy, the USAA companies will automatically apply the appropriate antitheft device discount if the policyholder’s vehicle has a qualifying antitheft device, unless the policyholder instructs otherwise. Third, Class Counsel will seek an Attorneys’ Fees and Expense Award not to exceed $254,000, plus reasonable litigation costs. In addition, Class Counsel will ask the Court to award an Incentive Award of up to $1,500 for the Plaintiff, Sarah Poutsch. The Court will decide the amount of any such Awards. The Court has appointed as Class Counsel the law firms of Jacobs Kolton, Chtd. (Chicago, IL); Youtz & Valdez, P.C. (Albuquerque, NM); and Schnader Harrison Segal & Lewis, LLP (Philadelphia, PA). The above is just a summary of the settlement. For more information, please visit our website or call us. What Are Your Options? (1) Get a Payment: Only Distribution Class Members are eligible for a payment. Current Policyholders will automatically receive a payment in the form of a credit to their Property and Casualty Insurance Policies. Former Policyholders must send an Address Verification Form by December 3, 2013 to the Settlement Administrator to be eligible for a payment. (2) Exclude or Opt Out of Settlement: Only Distribution Class Members are eligible to “opt out” of, or exclude themselves from, the settlement. To request exclusion, you must mail a valid exclusion postmarked no later than October 15, 2013 to the Settlement Administrator at the address below. (3) Object: All Settlement Class Members have the right to object to the settlement, by themselves and/or through their own personal attorneys. You must submit any objection by October 15, 2013 by (1) sending the objection to the Settlement Administrator and (2) filing the objection with the Court, at the addresses below: Administrator: Poutsch Settlement P.O. Box 3614 Minneapolis, MN 55403-0614
Court’s Mailing Address: Case No. CV-2011-01210 P.O. Box 488 Albuquerque, NM 87103
If you and/or your attorney wish to appear before the Court at the Final Approval Hearing, you also must follow the procedures for filing an appearance. The settlement website contains more detailed information about your options and how to exercise them. When/Where Is the Final Approval Hearing? The Court will hold a hearing on November 12, 2013 at 9:00 a.m. (Mountain time) to consider whether to approve the settlement, including the Attorneys’ Fees and Expense Award and the Incentive Award. You may ask to appear at the Hearing, but you don’t have to. The courthouse address is Bernalillo County Courthouse, 400 Lomas Blvd. NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102. How Do I Get More Information? The settlement website, www.poutschsettlement.com, contains more detailed information. You also may call the Settlement Administrator toll-free at 1-866-527-4193, e-mail at mail@poutschsettlement.com, or write to the Settlement Administrator at the address above.
For more information, call 1-866-527-4193 toll free, visit www.poutschsettlement.com, e-mail mail@poutschsettlement.com, or write to the Settlement Administrator at the above address.
Investment Committee Meeting Thursday, August 22, 2013 at 2:00 P.M. Legal Conference Room, 102 Grant Ave The La Bajada Ranch Steering Committee Thursday, August 22nd, 2013 3:00 P.M. Nambe Community Center 180 A State Road 503 Nambe, NM
one of Dominion’s systems is already being used for rankedchoice voting in San Francisco and Alameda, Calif. However, new versions of those machines and software need to go through the federal certification process before the company can apply for certification in New Mexico. The official start to Santa Fe’s
Para obtener más información, llame al 1-866-527-4193 en forma gratuita, visítenos en www.poutschsettlement.com, Correo electrónico mail@poutschsettlement.com, o escriba al Administrador del arreglo a la dirección antes citada. LegaL #95617 • PubLished in The sanTa Fe new Mexican on augusT 18, 2013
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