Two lifelong residents with ties to the position vie for Torrance County Clerk

Two lifelong residents of Torrance County with close ties to the County Clerk's office are seeking the Clerk's position in the Nov. 3 election.

The current County Clerk, Linda Jaramillo, along with her deputy clerk, Linda Kayser, are both retiring.

One candidate, Democrat Rubena Miranda, virtually grew up in the County Clerk's office, as her father served in the position from 1979 to 1982, after which he worked as deputy clerk, implementing the county's first computer system. Miranda has worked in Torrance County elections since she was 18.

Yvonne Otero

“All of this experience has prepared me to be the County Clerk because when I get in there, I'm already going to know what I'm doing,” Otero said.

She said she has been trained in every aspect of the office. In addition to that training, Otero said her personality is very detail-oriented.

Otero said she would “plan on carrying on most of the legacy,” but said there are some changes she would make.

“We're upgrading our recording system, so I'm very happy with that,” she said, adding that she would like to bring satellite sites in Encino and Duran.”

Her idea is to go to remote areas every month or two. She would also revive a practice of visiting local high school students to talk to them about voting.

Otero said she would also work to recruit teens as young as 16, who are eligible to work as pollworkers even though they are too young to vote, getting paid for the work experience.

Asked what she thinks about the security and integrity of the vote in Torrance County, Otero said, “I think a lot of the mistrust comes from lack of education. ... Only speaking for our county—there's no way. We account for every single ballot. We have lockboxes. Not the media in our county, but news media at the federal level, they turn things around, and make it out to be a very bad process and it's not.”

If elected, Otero said she would appoint Sylvia Chavez as her deputy clerk. Chavez, formerly a trustee and mayor of Estancia, also works in the clerk's office.

Working in the Clerk's office, Otero said she has a focus on customer service, and makes that a priority.

Asked if she has ever been convicted of a crime, she answered, “The only thing I've been convicted of is speeding. I have a heavy foot.”

The other candidate, Republican Yvonne Otero, has worked in the County Clerk's office for the past 16 years, and has been extensively trained in the department's operations. She also works part-time as assistant to the Torrance County probate judge.

Both women share a confidence in the way Torrance County conducts elections, and a passion for voting and community involvement.

The County Clerk's office is responsible for duties which include running elections, including those of many municipalities, school boards and other entities under the Local Election Act. The office is also the custodian of records for the county, and responsible for record

Rubena Miranda

A variety of flexible jobs allowed her to raise her three sons, while at the same time, “just being out in all areas of the county” gave her familiarity with Torrance County, Miranda said.

Growing up in the office, tagging along with her father to deliver and pick up voting machines gave her a passion for the electoral process, she said. Miranda is a lifelong resident of Torrance County, except for a stint as a Congressional intern.

Her resume includes work as a Census division field supervisor; as a tax preparer and real estate agent; as owner and designer of a flower shop; in the Torrance County Magistrate Court as a court judicial specialist; for the City of Moriarty; for Torrance County as a pollworker and floating clerk for all county offices; for CNMEC as a member services representative; for the Village of Willard as village clerk; for the NM Rural Education Cooperative as a child find coordinator; and as a UPS delivery driver.

“I feel that all of these jobs have been of great advantage to me because I have been able to really interact with a multitude of groups,” Miranda said.

She said she would bring a strong customer service ethic to the position, and a “friendly representation of Torrance County” to the public.

Asked about the security of the vote, Miranda said, “I have never in all these years ever witnessed any type of mishandling of the ballots, any disenfranchising of the ballot process, and will full confidence can say our elections have been run with the highest of integrity. ”

Miranda said if elected, she will appoint another lifelong county resident, Leslie Riley-jaramillo—no relation to Linda Jaramillo—as her Deputy Clerk.

Asked if she has ever been convicted of a crime, Miranda answered, “No.”