Close races in New Mexico primary leave winners smiling
Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly gives his last State of the Nation address to members of the 23rd Navajo Nation Council on Monday, April 20, 2015, in Window Rock. (Times photo - Donovan Quintero)
WINDOW ROCK
Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly gives his last State of the Nation address to members of the 23rd Navajo Nation Council on Monday, April 20, 2015, in Window Rock. (Times photo – Donovan Quintero)
Former Navajo Nation President Ben Shelly failed to go from an elected tribal leader to a state position in Tuesday’s primary election in New Mexico.
Shelly came in last in the total vote count of the four candidates in the Democratic primary for state representative for District 60.
In other contested races, the incumbents proved to be hard to beat.
George Munoz will continue to be a state senator while Sandra Jeff lost her bid to become a state senator, and Doreen Johnson will continue to be a state representative.
Karl Gillson, with very little campaigning, won again as McKinley County District Attorney and Harriett Becenti will continue as McKinley County Clerk.
Former McKinley County Manager Bill Lee won the Democratic primary for a McKinley County Commission seat.
Shelly, in a short statement he released on Wednesday, said he plans now to focus on his business.
“As for future offices, I will consider them,” he said.
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