Luevano kicked off ballot for NM House race, takes shot at Maestas

Johnny Luevano

Capitol Report New Mexico - An Albuquerque judge said he had sympathy with retired Marine Corps Capt. Johnny Luevano and his bid to run for the state House of Representatives but ruled that the Republican candidate is ineligible against Democrat and incumbent Rep. Antonio “Moe” Maestas in this fall’s election. “If intent was the issue, this court would have no problem” ruling in favor of Luevano, District Court Judge Alan Malott said, but pointed out that by statute, a candidate has to have established residence in the district he or she chooses to run in by March 6 of this year and Luevano and his family had not received a certificate of occupancy for their their newly-constructed house on Albuquerque’s Westside until March 13. Therefore, Judge Malott, ruled in favor of Rep. Maestas, who had filed suit to keep Luevano off the ballot. The short hearing had its testy moments. At one point Luevano argued with Maestas’ attorney Ray Vargas while a few minutes later, Luevano’s attorney, Mark Jarmie, called some of the accusations that Maestas made in his formal complaint against the Iraq veteran as “beyond the pale.” After Malott rendered his decision, Jarmie asked the judge to declare that Luevano did not act in violation of a statute regarding the falsifying election documents. Vargas had no objection and the judge said “the court very emphatically” reiterated that Luevano “acted with the best of interests and motivations.” Read More News New Mexico  

Luevano kicked off ballot for NM House race, takes shot at Maestas