Two unsuccessful candidates for office in the 2015 Las Cruces municipal election Tuesday filed for a recount of the ballots in five of the 15 voting convenience centers used on Nov. 3.
City council candidates Melecio Guzman and Richard Hall’s application for a recount was filed Tuesday afternoon with Interim City Clerk Linda Lewis.
Guzman, who sought the District 1 city council seat lost to Kassandra Gandara by 18 votes. Hall was defeated by Jack Eakman in the District 4 city council race by 11 votes.
Both men are seeking a recount of ballots cast in the following voting convenience centers: Las Cruces City Hall where early and absentee voting took place, and election day voting convenience centers Henry Benavidez Center, Jornada Elementary School, Thomas Branigan Memorial Library and the Doña Ana County Government Center.
NMSA Sec. 3-8-68 allows for a recount of ballots within 10 calendar days of the filing. The recount will be conducted by the precinct board of each of the five voting convenience centers. The board consists of the precinct judge, election judge and the election clerks.
The recount must take place in the presence of a state district judge or designee, the interim city clerk and county clerk.
Information from city of Las Cruces
