RELATING TO FLOOD CONTROL; AMENDING THE ARROYO FLOOD CONTROL ACT TO PROVIDE FOR ELECTION OF DIRECTORS FROM SINGLE-MEMBER DISTRICTS.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO:
Section 1. Section 72-16-10 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1963, Chapter 311, Section 10) is amended to read:
"72-16-10. ELECTION OF DIRECTORS.--
A. At each general election, directors shall be elected from single-member districts in which they reside. The board shall ensure that the districts remain contiguous, compact and as equal in population as is practicable, assessing the existing districts following each federal decennial census to accomplish that objective. A redistricting shall be effective at the following regular board election. Incumbent board members whose residences are redistricted out of their districts may serve out their term of office.
B. The qualified electors of the authority shall
elect similarly one or two qualified electors as directors to
serve six-year terms as directors and as successors to the
directors whose terms end on the first day of January next
following each election. Nothing herein may be construed as
preventing a qualified elector of the authority from any
single-member district from being elected or reelected as a
director to succeed himself."
Section 2. Section 72-16-11 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1963, Chapter 311, Section 11, as amended) is amended to read:
"72-16-11. NOMINATION OF DIRECTORS.--Not later than
forty-five days before a proposal to incur debt is first
submitted to the taxpaying electors or at the first general
election next following the effective date of the Arroyo
Flood Control Act, whichever occurs first, written
nominations of any candidate as director may be filed with
the secretary of the board. Each nomination of any candidate
shall be signed by not less than fifty taxpaying electors who
reside within the district for which the candidate has been
nominated, shall designate therein the name of the candidates
thereby nominated and shall recite that the subscribers are
taxpaying electors of the district for which the candidate is
nominated and that the candidate or candidates designated
therein are qualified electors of the authority and reside
within the district for which they are nominated. No
taxpaying elector may nominate more than one candidate for
any vacancy. If a candidate does not withdraw his name
before the time established by the county for purposes of
absentee ballots or as set forth in the Election Code,
whichever is earlier, his name shall be placed on the ballot.
For any election held after November 6, 1984, nominations
shall be made by qualified electors in accordance with the
procedures and limitations of this section, except that such
nominations shall be filed with the secretary of the board
not later than the fourth Tuesday in June preceding the
general election."
Section 3. Section 72-16-12 NMSA 1978 (being Laws 1963, Chapter 311, Section 12) is amended to read:
"72-16-12. FILLING VACANCIES ON BOARD.--Upon a vacancy occurring in the board by reason of death, change of residence, resignation or for any other reason, the governor shall appoint a qualified elector of the authority who resides within the district where the vacancy exists as successor to serve the unexpired term."
HB 222
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