CIBOLA COUNTY, N.M. – Final recount totals from the Nov. 4 Regular Local Election were released late Tuesday, Dec. 2, bringing a resolution to the two races close enough to trigger a full hand tally: Grants City Council District 1 and the Village of Milan’s two trustee races, listed by the Secretary of State’s office as “Village Councilor.”
Because of how late the election data was released, the Citizen was unable to get more information about the specifics in the recount. The newspaper understands the time crunch the Cibola County Clerk’s Office is under with this information and appreciates the professionalism of the office.
The recount was a fullday process involving ballot authentication, paper-trail verification, and crosschecking against machine tabulators. County officials confirmed that every ballot cast in the two races was physically reviewed.
Grants District 1 Recount The recount affirmed the original results in the 2025 Grants District 1 race.
• Dolores P. Vallejos — 133 votes
• Zachery T. Gutierrez — 130 votes Total votes counted in the race: 263 Ballots cast (including undervotes): 348
The final tally confirms Vallejos’ three-vote victory — one of the closest margins in recent memory for a Grants City Council race.
Milan Trustee (Village Councilor) Recount
The recount in Milan focused only on the top two finishers, a standard practice for New Mexico recounts when determining which candidates will fill available seats. There were two open seats.
The confirmed totals were:
• Virgil Brumbelow — 78 votes
• James A. Mercer — 76 votes Total votes included in the recount: 154 Ballots cast (including undervotes): 244 Though five candidates originally appeared on the ballot, the recount procedure only revisits the highestplacing candidates necessary to determine the winners of the available seats. The race remained extremely close, with just two votes separating Brumbelow and Mercer.
The Secretary of State’s office confirmed to the Citizen that the position historically known in Milan as a “trustee” is listed as “Village Councilor” in statewide election reporting.
Under recount rules, only the candidates in contention for the number of seats being filled are included in the hand tally – which is why the recount featured the top two finishers rather than all five original candidates.
Ongoing Questions in Grants District 1
The recount comes as the apparent winner, Dolores Vallejos, continues to face a residency controversy over whether her current address meets charter requirements for District 1 representation.
The Grants City Council has discussed the matter in recent months, and the city attorney has been consulted regarding whether the issue constitutes a violation of the Grants City Charter. However, each time the topic appeared on the council agenda, the item was either tabled or removed.
As of press time on Dec. 12, no further discussion or action on the matter appears on the city’s upcoming agenda.
2025 Cibola County Election Winners (Final, Pending Certification from the state.)
CITY OF GRANTS City Council – District 1 Dolores P. Vallejos
Winner by 3 votes (133– 130), confirmed in recount.
City Council – District 3 Fred E. Rodarte Unopposed.
VILLAGE OF MILAN Village of Milan Mayor Felix Orlando Gonzales Unopposed.
Village Municipal Judge William H. Cunningham
Unopposed.
Village Trustee (Village Councilor)
(Two seats available)
1. George E. Knotts — Highest vote total in original count (89 votes).
2. Virgil Brumbelow — Recounted 78 votes, confirmed as second-place finisher. Note:
• The recount covered only the top two candidates because only two seats were to be filled.
• James Mercer finished third (76 votes) — confirmed in recount as 2 votes behind Brumbelow.
GRANTS/CIBOLA COUNTY SCHOOLS School Board Member — District 1
No qualified write-in votes counted.
Vacant seat until appointment (depending on district policy and statutory deadlines).
School Board Member — District 2 T. Walter Jaramillo Winner 360–249.
School Board Member — District 3 Courtney Charles Clawson Unopposed.
Quemado Soil & Water Conservation District Dustin Patrick Armstrong
Winner by 1 vote (30– 29).
Lava Soil & Water Conservation Board (two seats)
1. Bernadette L.
Hiles — 1,017 votes 2. Joseph C. DeSoto — 899 votes
BLUEWATER WATER & SANITATION BOARD Water & Sanitation Director Steven N. McCoy Winner 51–45.
COUNTYWIDE BALLOT QUESTIONS Hospital Mill Levy (Countywide) PASSED — 79% YES (1,925–523) GCCS 2-Mill Capital Improvement Tax PASSED — 72% YES (1,541–588) Quemado School Bond (Countywide within QISD) PASSED — 75% YES (38–13)
(Totals reflect Cibola + Catron combined; Cibola portion only was 5–2.)