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The League of Women Voters is cohosting two candidate forums so voters can get to know better the people running for local elections.
Beth Bardwell, vice president of the League, told the Bulletin that these forums, which allow voters to ask questions of the candidates, are important because local elected officials impact our daily lives.
“We believe live forums are some of the best ways for voters to learn about the candidates running for office. Voters will have the opportunity to hear from the candidates’ own mouths what issues are important to them, and it will help voters identify who is the best to elect into office,” she said.
Historically, voter turnout can be low in years when candidates are not running for national office. But Bardwell said turning out for local elections is important because decisions such as general bonds, mill levies, soil and water conservation, how children are educated and issues of public safety, conditions of the roads, affordable housing and how Las Cruces grows as a community are all, essentially, “up for election on November 4.”
Early voting begins on October 7. For early voting, visit Doña Ana County Government Center from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Monday through Friday, until Friday, October 31, 2025.
The League of Women Voters is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that focuses on educating the public and strengthening democracy. Bardwell said some issues the League has recently worked on include healthcare in New Mexico and the provider shortage, affordable housing and supporting libraries in southern New Mexico.
The League is co-hosting the candidate forums with the NAACP and the American Association of University Women. The first forum will be held from 6:30 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, September 24 at the Karen M. Trujillo Administration Building, 505 S. Main St. in the Loretto Towne Centre.
The candidates who will be participating in the initial forum are running for Las Cruces School Board. Those candidates are: District #2 are Pamela Cort and Kristina L. Moore. In LCPS District #3 are Natalie R Chadborn, Adrianna Maria Garcia, Paul Kevin Paar and Robert C. Wofford. Running unopposed in LCPS District #1 is candidate Patrick D. Nolan.
The second forum will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025, from 6:30 to 8 p.m. at the Las Cruces City Hall Council Chambers, 700 N. Main Street. This forum will be for candidates running for city council seats.
Nine candidates have thrown their hats in the ring for City Council Districts #3, #5, and #6. Candidates in District #3 are Michael James Harris, Paul Kevin Paar and Isaiah Paul Tellez. Paar is a write-in candidate on the election ballot.
The two candidates running in District #5 are Becky Ann Corran and Ronnie M. Sisneros. The four candidates in District #6 are Ramona Bataneant, Tommy Black, John P. Muñoz, and Richard J. Reynaud.
The forums are free and open to the public. The candidates will be able to talk about themselves, then will answer questions from the hosts and then will be available for questions from the public.
The League of Women Voters will also have an online database available for voters who want to research the candidates. It will go live on October 2: www.vote411.org. The League will also provide a printed voter’s guide for all of Doña Ana County. It will be available in the Bulletin itself and also in numerous locations around the county.
