It's Ulibarri for sure

By Helen Davis
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS —  Election results became unofficially official today with the secretary of state confirming all the numbers have been received and the Web site is up to date.

Secretary of State spokesman James Flores said Cibola County election results are correct as posted as of the end of the day Thursday, but nothing will be official until local canvassing is confirmed by the State Canvassing Board.

State Sen. David Ulibarri remains the unofficial winner in the District 30 state senatorial race, with the Secretary of State’s office showing him leading by 5 votes, less than 1 percent, or 1,655 to opponent Clemente Sanchez’s 1,650. The current difference is votes is one-tenth of one percent. Only a simple majority is required to win.

“I’ve tried to stay out of it. I’m a firm believer in the process,” Ulibarri said. He will not accept his win until the results are completed and signed. The state canvassing will begin as soon as the SOS office receives all documentation, which can be as late mid-June, after the Valencia County canvassing.

Opponent Sanchez said there is nothing he can do until after the canvassing and added that there will be a mandatory recount at the state’s expense if the margin remains as narrow after the canvassing.

“I don’t see how anything like this could happen. I shouldn’t be this difficult,” he added. He said he does not know why the numbers keep changing.

Lisa Bro’s reported victory over Kathy Gonzales and Cynthia Arrossa for Cibola County Clerk is now reflected on the SOS Web site, showing Bro with a final count of 1,339, Gonzales with 1,268, and Arrossa with 828. Bro ended up with a 2.1 percent lead.