State utility regulators advance transfer of Torrance County water company that ran dry last year
—Joshua Bowling, Source New Mexico
New Mexico utility regulators on Thursday approved an expedited process for reviewing a potential takeover of a small-town water company that suffered a “complete” water outage in 2025.
For much of this year, the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission has received regular updates about Melody Ranch Water Co., a utility that serves a small town outside of Edgewood. One of the company’s primary wells didn’t produce enough water to keep up with demand last year, resulting in a widespread water outage. In a 2025 email to the commission, company representatives said they had depleted much of their financial reserves to address the problem.
The commission unanimously voted Thursday to accelerate its review of a proposal that would let the Estancia, Moriarty, Williard and Torrance County Regional Water Association take control of Melody Ranch Water Co.’s operations. The commission will notify Melody Ranch customers by Nov. 9 and give interested parties until Nov. 16 to weigh in.
The commission could consider a final decision as soon as Dec. 3, according to a PRC news release.
If approved, the regional water association would take control of Melody Ranch’s water system, wells, equipment and water rights at no cost, but would not assume the company’s debts or add new fees to customers’ bills. It would also let the association build a new well and connect Melody Ranch’s system to Moriarty’s with a pipeline. Earlier this year, the state Legislature dedicated $4 million to water infrastructure improvements.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham had previously signed an executive order that facilitated hauling water to the community. However, that agreement is set to expire at the end of the year.
While commissioners voted on the expedited review with little discussion, they said finding a permanent solution — such as connecting Melody Ranch to Moriarty with a pipeline — is a top priority.
“I share the sense of urgency…for me, it’s just making sure that whatever we do sticks,” PRC Chair Pat O’Connell said during Thursday’s meeting.
Melody Ranch officials have already signed a transfer agreement with the regional water authority, according to a recent PRC filing, and in 2025 requested PRC support in expedited measures to restore service.
Less than a month after resigning, former Rep. Andrea Reeb says she'll rejoin the Legislature
—Dan Boyd, Albuquerque Journal
Former state Rep. Andrea Reeb reversed course Thursday, saying she would rejoin the Legislature in January after winning election to an eastern New Mexico-based state House seat.
The announcement comes less than a month after Reeb abruptly resigned from the state House after a federal judge in a case involving actor Alec Baldwin ruled Reeb was violating state law by simultaneously working as a special prosecutor and as a legislator.
The Republican former district attorney said Thursday she had to act quickly in response to the judge’s ruling so as not to jeopardize victims in criminal cases she was involved with.
“I just don’t feel like I’ve done anything wrong,” Reeb said in an interview, while adding she is still considering appealing the judge’s ruling.
For more information on this story, visit the Albuquerque Journal website.
After historic victory in race for governor, Haaland shifts focus to transition
– Dan Boyd, Albuquerque Journal
Still sleep-deprived a day after posting a decisive victory in New Mexico’s open race for governor, Deb Haaland began the quick turnaround Wednesday to prepare to take office in just 57 days.
The Democratic nominee, who this week became the first Native American woman elected governor in U.S. history, told reporters she planned to start interviewing potential Cabinet picks in the coming days.
She also launched a transition website with information for prospective job seekers, while vowing to “hit the ground running” as governor.
“We didn’t know we would win until last night when the results came in, and I’m not the type of person to put the cart before the horse,” she said during a lunch stop at the iconic Barelas Coffee House in Albuquerque.
For more information on this story, visit the Albuquerque Journal website.
Navajo Nation elects first female president; opponent says he won’t concede as only 1,115 votes separate the two
– Santa Fe New Mexican
A legal battle is brewing on the Navajo Nation after voters seem to have selected Crystalyne Curley as their next president.
The Santa Fe New Mexican reports that as of Wednesday night, unofficial results showed Curley received close to 51% of the vote. If elected, she would be the first woman ever to hold the office.
Curley currently serves as speaker of the Navajo Nation Council.
Curley’s opponent, attorney Justin Jones, is not conceding the election. At his watch party Tuesday night, Jones said he intends to pursue legal challenges to the outcome.
The margin between the two is just over 1,100 votes, according to the Navajo Election Administration. The Navajo Nation Code says election results cannot be certified until 10 days after an election.
New Mexico opts in to federal school choice tax credit program
– Natalie Robbins, Albuquerque Journal
Despite her initial opposition to a federal school choice program, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s office announced Wednesday that New Mexico will join more than 30 states that are participating.
Starting Jan. 1, the Federal Scholarship Tax Credit will allow taxpayers to claim a federal income tax credit of up to $1,700 a year, or $3,400 for joint filers, for any donation made to a nonprofit scholarship-granting organization, or SGO.
The SGOs, which will be approved by the governor, will distribute the money to private and public schools for expenses such as tuition, tutoring, technology, before- and after-school programs and supplemental programming.
“At a time of diminishing federal investment in education, New Mexico must take advantage of every dollar we can to bolster public education and continue our state’s upward trajectory in literacy and student achievement,” Lujan Grisham said in a statement. “By participating in the FSTC, we will give New Mexico taxpayers the chance to keep some of their federal income taxes in New Mexico to support New Mexico students.”
For more information on this story, visit the Albuquerque Journal website.
New Mexico Forward Party candidates lose Election Day races, promise more campaigns in 2028
– Joshua Bowling, Source New Mexico
Three New Mexico candidates running for office with the state’s newest minor political party lost their races Tuesday evening, but New Mexico Forward Party officials say they’ll continue to field candidates in the next election.
The centrist New Mexico Forward Party ran candidates for the Public Education Commission and for magistrate judgeships in Santa Fe and Luna counties. Other candidates seeking to run for U.S. Senate and Office of the State Auditor did not gather enough signatures to qualify for Tuesday’s general election ballot and lost subsequent legal challenges to gain ballot access.
Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang co-founded the national Forward Party in 2022 with former Republican New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman. The Forward Party’s tenets include treating “everyone with dignity and respect.”
Despite the party’s losses Tuesday, Chair Bob Perls in a statement said the candidates’ presence on the ballot signaled a growing appetite among voters to move away from the two-party political system.
“The two major parties are satisfying their donors and pandering to their voting base rather than building broad-based governing coalitions to solve our wicked-complex problems,” he said.
Prior to Election Day, the New Mexico Forward Party endorsed four candidates seeking public office: Republican James “Jim” Ellison for state treasurer; incumbent Democrats Kathleen Cates and Meredith Dixon for the state House of Representatives; and independent Zachary Withers for the state House of Representatives.
Cates and Dixon won their reelection bids, according to results from the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.
Perls said that Forward Party officials will focus on fielding candidates for the state Legislature in the 2028 election cycle.
“Half of all state representatives had no competition this election cycle. This is no way to run a democracy,” he said. “Voters need choices and desperately want something and someone thinking beyond the vise grip that the two legacy parties have on political thought and political candidates today.”
Taos voters vote 'Yes' on economic development tax
– Taos News
In Taos, unofficial results from Tuesday’s general election show voters approving an increase in gross receipts taxes, with revenue from the increase going toward economic development.
The Taos News reports that as of late Wednesday, “yes” votes held a margin of 195 over those against the proposal. If passed, businesses would see a 25-cent increase on every $100 taxed.
In nearby Angel Fire, unofficial totals show an identical .25% economic development tax passing by a slim margin.
The Taos News reports that totals as of Wednesday have the “yes” votes leading by a difference of 227 to 210.
