Busy Field for 2 PRC Seats

Three Democrats and a Republican filed their candidacies Tuesday for Jason Marks’ District 1 seat on the Public Regulation Commission.

Six Democrats, meanwhile, filed for the District 3 position, held by Doug Howe who was appointed to fill the remaining term of Jerome Block. Block resigned last fall after pleading guilty to six felonies, including fraudulent use of a state credit card.

One of the District 3 candidates, Martin Suazo, was listed on the secretary of state’s website Tuesday as not qualified since no nominating petitions were submitted.

Marks, who is completing his second term on the commission representing the Bernalillo County area, cannot run again because of term limits. Howe announced earlier this year he would not seek election.

Tuesday was the filing date for individuals to formally declare their candidacies. The primary election is June 5.

According to the Secretary of State’s Office, vying for the Democratic nomination for the District 1 seat are Bernalillo County assessor Karen Montoya; Cynthia B. Hall, a former PRC associate general counsel and staff attorney; and Al Park, an Albuquerque attorney and District 27 state representative.

The lone Republican in District 1 is Albuquerque attorney Christopher Ocksrider.

Seeking the Democratic nomination for District 3 in the north-central part of the state are Virginia Vigil, who chairs the Santa Fe County Commission; Valerie Espinoza, the Santa Fe county clerk; Brad Gallegos, a mortgage broker from Santa Fe; Daniel “Danny” Maki, a former aide to Rep. Ben Ray Luján, D-N.M., and director of development at the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Fe; and Ronald L. Reese of Rio Rancho. Suazo is a Las Vegas businessman. There are no Republican candidates for the District 3 seat.

The commission consists of elected members from five districts to oversee public utilities, insurance, transportation and other regulatory matters. Terms are for four years.