District 12 representative needed

The application process is underway to fill a vacant Albuquerque-area seat in the New Mexico Legislature.

The Bernalillo County Commission is looking for candidates interested in replacing Rep. Patricio Ruiloba in District 12 until his current term ends Dec. 31.

Ruiloba, a Democrat who had represented the South Valley-area district since 2015, announced he is resigning to run for Bernalillo County sheriff.

Ruiloba’s bid for another term in the Legislature hit a major snag earlier this year when a judge ruled he had not followed proper procedure when collecting his required signatures and barred him from the June primary election ballot. He announced earlier this month he was resigning the seat.

Nominations from interested individuals in Bernalillo County will be accepted until 5 p.m. Sept. 1. Applicants should submit a cover letter and résumé to the Bernalillo County Manager’s Office, Attention: Julie Morgas Baca, County Manager, Suite 10111, 1 Civic Plaza, NW, Albuquerque, NM, 87102 or via email to: manager@bernco.gov.

To qualify, applicants must be at least 21 years old and live in District 12.

The County Commission will address the District 12 replacement at the administrative meeting on Sept. 8.

Two candidates are vying for the District 12 seat in the Nov. 3 general election: Brittney Barreras, an independent who describes herself as progressive, and former Bernalillo County Commissioner Art De La Cruz, a Democrat who’s running as a write-in candidate.