Candidate amends disclosures
Southern New Mexico congressional candidate Yvette Herrell has filed amended financial disclosure reports to reflect that a family-owned real estate company has earned lease income from state agencies.
But Herrell also said Friday she never intended to hide the arrangement from constituents, saying she had been complying with guidance given to her by former Secretary of State Dianna Duran in 2013 in filling out the disclosure reports.
Herrell, an Alamogordo Republican who has served in the state House since 2011, came under fire last week from rival candidates for not listing the lease arrangements under a question
about goods and services to state agencies on the disclosure form, which lawmakers and elected officials must submit annually.
She is a partner in the real estate company, Herrell Properties, which is run by her father, but has said she has never pocketed any money from the state.
The amended reports were filed this week — one for each of the past five years — with Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver’s office, which indicated no further action would be necessary.
Herrell is one of four Republicans vying for the party’s nomination for the 2nd Congressional District seat. There are also two Democrats running for the seat, which is being vacated by U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce in order to run for governor.
HOUSE SEAT: County commissioners in three New Mexico counties will soon be sending names to Gov. Susana Martinez for a vacant state House seat.
The House District 22 seat was held by Jim Smith, a Tijeras Republican, but he officially stepped down March 27 after being appointed by the governor to the five-member Bernalillo County Commission.
Now, that county commission — along with commissioners in Santa Fe and Sandoval counties — will send names to Martinez for her consideration. The governor is limited to choosing from among the recommended individuals.
However, it’s unclear whether whomever is selected will actually take part in a legislative session.
That’s because the House District 22 seat — along with the other 69 state House seats statewide — is up for election in November. Three candidates are running for the seat, Republicans Merritt Allen and Gregg Schmedes, both of Tijeras, and Democrat Jessica Velasquez of Sandia Park.
The district encompasses the East Mountains area, Placitas and Algodones, while also stretching into parts of rural Santa Fe County.