GRANTS, N.M. — Cibola County Manager Kate Fletcher opened September’s Coffee with the Managers with a lighthearted note about the change of seasons before diving into a packed agenda that included the county’s first-ever Quad County Heavy Equipment Rodeo and a detailed conversation about the upcoming November election.
Heavy Equipment Rodeo Set for October 9
Fletcher announced that Cibola County will host its first annual Quad County Heavy Equipment Rodeo on October 9, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event will bring together road crews from Cibola, McKinley, Catron, and Valencia Counties, along with the City of Gallup and other local partners, for a day of competition, skill demonstrations, and community recognition.
The rodeo will feature five different events testing operators’ skills on heavy machinery, with trophies and bragging rights on the line. Sponsors are donating equipment and prizes, while officials emphasized that no taxpayer funds will be used. Fletcher said the event is designed to honor the county’s road crews, whose daily work often goes unseen.
“We want the public to see what these crews do and to recognize their importance,” Fletcher said. “This is not about contracts or other deals — it’s simply a fun day to celebrate the people who keep our roads open and safe.”
Local elected officials will also be invited to try their hand at the equipment in a special exhibition event. Community members are encouraged to attend and cheer on the participants.
Election Season Underway
Following Fletcher’s remarks, Elections Bureau staff provided an overview of the 2025 Regular Local Election, set for Tuesday, November 4.
Early voting at the County Clerk’s Office will begin October 7 and run through November 1, with additional alternate sites opening October 18. Key races on the ballot include:
• Village of Milan: mayor’s race, five trustee candidates, and a municipal judge seat.
• City of Grants: two city council districts (Districts 1 and 3).
• Grants-Cibola County Schools: three school board seats.
• Bond & Levy Questions:
funding proposals from GCCS and-Cibola General Hospital.
Officials also explained the machine certification process, set for October 29–30. Voting machines are tested under camera surveillance in temperature-controlled rooms, with access tightly restricted.
Concerns about voter integrity were raised by community members. Clerk’s Office staff emphasized that voter rolls are updated monthly with death records and change-of-address notices, but that federal and state certification requirements mean names cannot be removed without official documentation.
“We follow very strict regulations, and the safeguards are in place,” Fletcher said. “The integrity of the process is strong here in Cibola County.”
Transparency and Public Trust
Managers closed the meeting by encouraging residents to stay engaged. They emphasized that elections are administered at the county level under rigorous safeguards, and that community events like the upcoming rodeo are opportunities to celebrate local workers while fostering regional partnerships.
The next Coffee with the Managers meeting will be held the first Thursday of October at 9 a.m. at the Coyote del Malpais Golf Course Clubhouse.