Stephanie Garcia Richard might have squeezed past two others to earn the right to go on to what promises to be a general election battleground for the next New Mexico Commissioner of Public Lands.
If she hung on to tenuous lead in early returns, in November, she faces two men who have previously held the seat: Libertarian Micheal Lucero and Republican Pat Lyons.
Garcia Richard—who had to choose between running for the statewide post and seeking re-election to her legislative seat that covers Los Alamos and parts of Santa Fe, Rio Arriba and Sandoval counties—edged out Garrett VeneKlasen, who was the leading fundraiser in the race and got the endorsement of two major conservation groups. In the statewide race with the tightest margin of victory, as of midnight she had 40 percent of votes statewide compared to his 37. State Sen. George Munoz saw about 23 percent.
Garcia Richard threw her name into the proverbial cowboy hat after former Land Commissioner Ray Powell tapped out of his campaign for health reasons and endorsed her bid. She's a teacher, and argued she brings a perspective from the classroom, where the office's revenue is supposed to help the most. Munoz has two years remaining on his Senate term representing the area around Gallup. VeneKlasen is director of the New Mexico Wildlife Federation.
The Land Commissioner's office oversees millions of acres that are leased for oil and gas production, grazing and other uses. Garcia Richard, who carried a majority of votes in all but nine of the state's 33 counties, would be the first woman to hold the post.
She pledged on the campaign trail to take immediate steps to require the capture of methane in oil and gas development on state lands, even if the state Legislature won't do it for the whole of New Mexico. She sat on the House budget committee and is familiar with the work she'll need to do as the land commissioner.
Before Election Day, she told SFR she was confident she had the chops to win the final battle.
"I have a history of standing up to well-funded opposition and can come out well," she said. "I have a strong ground game." (JAG)
Editor's note: A previous version of the story gave incorrect information about the Libertarian candidate on the ballot in the general election.
