CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. — The 2025 Regular Local Election is shaping up across Cibola County after a busy Candidate Filing Day on August 26. From city council and school board races to water district seats, dozens of residents have stepped forward to run for public office.
The Cibola Citizen has confirmed a complete list of candidate filings with the Cibola County Clerk’s Office. All filings remain subject to final certification, but as of press time, the following candidates are preparing to appear on Tuesday, November 4, 2025 ballot.
City of Grants: Two Council Races
2025 will see the beginning of what promises to be a long election cycle for the City of Grants.
This year, residents of the city will be electing two city council seats. The winners of this race will be elected during a time that the city is actively re-writing its governing charter.
Council District 1 will be a three-way race between Bob Tenequer, Dolores Vallejos, and Zachery Gutierrez, who was appointed to the council in 2024 following Erik Garcia’s election as mayor.
In Council District 3,
longtime Councilor Fred Rodarte filed just before the deadline. His candidacy was still listed as pending with the County Clerk as of press time but is expected to move forward.
All city council terms are four years.
Editor’s Note: The Cibola Citizen notes that the voter-approved Grants City Charter mandates local elections be held in March. This election will be held in violation of the city charter; the council, including both incumbents seeking re-election, acknowledged this at the August 20 city council meeting.
Village of Milan: Mayor, two Trustees, Municipal Judge
In the Village of Milan, several seats are up for election.
The village has a mayor who leads the administration, a village council made up of four “trustees” who set village policy, and a municipal judge. Because of its size, the village is not broken into districts like its sister city of Grants. Instead, the village elects its trustees using an “at-large” system, meaning candidates with the most votes will win the race.
The Mayoral race has only incumbent Felix Gonzales seeking re-election. Being the only candidate to file, he will win a second term as mayor.
The Trustee race has drawn a five-person field, including incumbents James Mercer and Chris Archuleta, along with George E. Knotts, Virgil Brumbelow, and Jared Clifford Brewer-Windhorst.
Windhorst is the son of former County Commissioner Robert Windhorst and the brother of current Commissioner Tanner Windhorst.
For Milan Municipal Judge William H. Cunningham is the only candidate who filed to run.
Grants-Cibola County Schools Board of Education
Three seats on the Grants-Cibola County Schools Board of Education will be on the ballot.
In District 1, Monica Salazar has filed as a write-in candidate. No other candidates has filed for this race.
In District 2, current board member T. Walter Jaramillo is being challenged by Ronald Calvert.
In District 3, Courtney Charles Clawson filed to replace Ron Ortiz, who did not file for re-election.
In addition to selecting board members, voters across the school district will decide whether to continue a $2 per $1,000 property tax through 2032 to fund school maintenance, technology, activity vehicles, and other capital improvements. The question does not raise taxes but would extend the current rate.
Other Local Districts
Several special district positions will also appear on the ballot.
For the Lava Soil & Water Conservation District: Joseph C. DeSoto and Bernadette L. Hiles are running for supervisor positions.
In Bluewater, two candidates filed for Bluewater Valley Water & Sanitation Board Director: Steven N. McCoy and Micheal Troy Sands.
What Happens Next
All candidates must meet statutory qualifications to appear on the ballot, including residency and voter registration requirements. A separate deadline for write-in candidates passed on September 2.
The Cibola Citizen will provide district maps, ballot language for the school tax question, and details about early voting in the coming weeks.
Sample ballots will also be available from the county clerk as Election Day approaches.
For more information about voter registration, polling locations, or absentee voting, visit NMVote.org or call the Cibola County Clerk’s Office at (505) 285-2541.