Kubiak, O’Malley Win Nominations for County Commission

Attorney Simon Kubiak and City Councilor Debbie O’Malley will face off this fall for the right to join the Bernalillo County Commission for a two-year term.

Kubiak won the Republican nomination without opposition Saturday during a meeting of the county Republican Party’s central committee. O’Malley won the Democratic nomination in the afternoon over several other candidates, including former City Councilor Miguel Gómez.

Kubiak and O’Malley are campaigning for the right to fill the unexpired term of Michelle Lujan Grisham, who resigned from the County Commission this month to focus on her run for Congress. The winner will take over in January to finish her term.

Lujan Grisham’s immediate successor will be appointed by Gov. Susana Martinez, a Republican. That person will serve through the end of the year.

Kubiak said he’s interested in the appointment and that he hopes Martinez takes into account his unanimous support in Saturday’s meeting. City Councilor Dan Lewis and County Commissioner Wayne Johnson supported his nomination, he said.

Lujan Grisham, a Democrat, represented commission District 1, which covers much of the West Side and North Valley.

I’ll have more, including comments from the candidates, in tomorrow’s paper.