Maestas Has Two Chances to Win, Luevano One

Antonio "Moe" Maestas

Albuquerque lawyer and Representative Antonio “Moe” Maestas filed a court challenge to the “residency” of his opponent Johnny Luevano yesterday. If successful the challenge would pave the way for Maestas to be unopposed in his bid to retain his House seat in District # 16.
Under the veneer of technicalities, the questions facing the courts are all about the rights of active duty military servants. Luevano has been an active duty Marine until he recently retired. He has owned the property in question and paid taxes on it for several years while serving in the military and moving from one assignment to another in various places. Expecting to move into his newly built Albuquerque-area home months ago, the bureaucracy at the City of Albuquerque dragged its feet in issuing the final occupancy permit to Luevano. Coincidentally just a few days AFTER the official residency deadline, Luevano did receive his final permit. The question of Luevano's eligibility was immediately put before Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver by progressive political activists earlier this month. Their efforts to throw the election to Maestas failed when Toulouse Oliver made the decision to certify Luevano’s candidacy and put him on the ballot.

Johnny Luevano

The hearing for the latest Maestas challenge is set for April 9th. This hearing will be of interest to all veterans, all New Mexicans who are serving on active-duty in the military, just recently completed active duty, and all others who appreciate the service and disruption to life facing active duty military people. The case has the possibility to set a precedent to roll back basic rights surrounding active-duty military servants and their efforts to establish permanent residences. What is New Mexico's approach to those in military service who maintain their hometown residency for voting purposes and then build homes for permanent residence here after their tour of duty is over?
Instead of pondering that question and all it entails, it seems that for Representative Maestas it is all about securing as many chances to win as possible. First the progressives took their shot at the County Clerk. As a lawyer, Maestas understands he has an opportunity take Luevano into court after the Bernalillo County Clerk certified Luevano's candidacy. In doing so, Maestas has a relatively inexpensive shot at convincing the court to ignore the complications of military service and how the transition from active duty to retirement can affect the seemingly simple task of establishing permanent residency. Maestas is no dummy. This will be his second shot at winning the District #16 House seat. If he loses in the courtroom in April, he will still have one more shot, when District #16 finally gets to vote in November. Other than making running for office even more complicated for those who risk life and limb for their country, it's a pretty darn slick campaign strategy.

Maestas Has Two Chances to Win, Luevano One