Senator Kent Cravens Replacement: A Democrat

Lisa Curtis

Capitol Report New Mexico - Democrats seem to have check-mated Republicans and Gov. Susana Martinez when it comes to naming a replacement in the state Senate … and the GOP is angry about it. Comissioners in Sandoval as well as Bernalillo counties have each put forth the same name – Lisa Curtis, a Democrat who is president of the state’s trial lawyers association — as a replacement for state Sen. Kent Cravens, a Republican who recently resigned from his seat. And there doesn’t seem to be any recourse for Martinez but to accept her. Here’s why: Cravens’ district included parts of Bernalillo and Sandoval counties and under the rules for replacing a legislator, the governor can name a replacement — but the replacement has to come from a list chosen by the county commissioners in the respective counties the former legislator represented. Sandoval County commissioners recently selected Curtis as their choice to replace Cravens — even though Curtis doesn’t live in Sandoval County – and last night (Nov. 8th) in a heated session, the Bernalillo County Commission also selected Curtis on a 3-2 vote. All three Democrats on the commision voted for Curtis and both Republicans voted against her. So where does that leave Martinez? Apparently, out of luck. “I don’t see anyway around it,” one Roundhouse staffer with knowledge of legislative procedure told Capitol Report New Mexico. “In theory, the governor could ask the counties to reconsider and come up with some additional names but if the counties come back and say, ‘no, we’re done,’ you’re done.” Read full story here" News New Mexico

Senator Kent Cravens Replacement: A Democrat