Low turnout predicted for election
Voters to decide on UNM-G bond, area school board seats on Feb. 1

By Bill Donovan
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Early voting is under way for the school board and tax elections but election officials don't expect a major turnout for the Feb. 1 election.

County voters will be going to the polls to decide whether to approve a bond proposal and tax levy. Some in the county will also be voting to fill vacancies on either the McKinley County or Zuni school boards.

County election director Rick Palochek said he would be happy to see a turnout of 15 percent but that's not very likely. The last school election saw a turnout of just less than 10 percent.

These kinds of elections usually get only those who have strong feelings one way or another for one of the candidates or one of the tax proposals.

School officials are asking voters to approve a general obligation bond proposal that would allow UNM-Gallup to borrow up to $16 million during the next several years to build new facilities and renovate some of the old ones. The school is also asking voters to approve a mil levy that would increase property taxes by about $33 for someone with a house that is valued at $100,000.

This is the first UNM-Gallup bond issue to be brought before the voters since 1977. School officials said all of the projects that were funded through that bond have been completed.

Beth Miller, director of the college, said of the tax payments, the UNM-Gallup portion of the total tax bill is about 10 percent.

In the county school board races, Dr. Bruce Tempest is unopposed in the District 5 contest but in the other city position, it's a replay of the last one with incumbent Bill Bright facing off against former school board member Joe DeLao.

The District 2 race, which is within the county, has incumbent Johnny R. Thompson up against two challengers Charles Long and Chee Smith Jr.

In the only vacancy on the Zuni School Board, incumbent Pamelia Chimoni was the only one to file by the deadline.

Three people have filed for a seat on the University of New Mexico-Gallup Branch school board, which will also be decided on Feb. 1.

Running for the position set aside for county representation are Gloria Skeet, Tom Payton and Edwin J. Begay.

All three are running for the position now held by Bright, who decided not to run again, although he is supporting Skeet.