_The District Court Judicial Nominating Commission has forwarded only one name to Governor Susanna Martinez to fill the vacancy on the Sixth Judicial District Court created by the retirement of Gary Jeffreys.

Sandra Baumann, Coordinator of the Judicial Nominating Commission, said the commission members recommended that Jennifer DeLaney be appointed to the bench.

DeLaney was one of four applicants for the vacancy -- the same four who filed declarations of candidacy for the position: DeLaney and Michael Renteria, who are Democrats, and Jarod Hofacket and Cynthia Patterson, who are Republicans. A fifth applicant, Gerald Byers, withdrew his name from consideration.

DeLaney has been practicing law in Deming for 10 years, and has served as the District Court's Special Master since 2009. She has passed the bar in New Mexico and Florida.

Governor Martinez can either accept the commission's recommendation of DeLaney, or ask the commission for additional names.
Once appointed, the successful applicant will serve on the bench through the end of the year, when the elected candidate assumes the bench.

Tuesday was the deadline for most candidates for state office to file for election, and all local races are contested.

Incumbent Senator John Arthur Smith, a Democrat, drew a fellow Democrat and a Republican opponent in his race for re-election to the Senate District 35 seat. Smith, from Deming, will face Democrat Larry Martinez of Lordsburg in the June primary, with the winner taking on Republican Russell Allen of Las Cruces in the November general election.

Incumbent District 32 State Representative Democrat Dona Irwin of Deming will face Democrat Louis Luna of Deming in the primary, and the winner will take on Republican Thomas Guerra of Deming in the general election.

Three democrats and one Republican filed for Sixth Judicial District Attorney. The Democrats -- Francesca Estevez, Nathan Gonzales and Armand Velez -- will compete in the June primary for the opportunity to face Republican Gabor Zsoka in the November general election for D-A.

And two Democrats and two Republicans filed to fill the Sixth Judicial District Court judgeship vacated with the retirement of Gary Jeffreys. Democrats Jennifer Delaney and Michael Renteria... and Republicans Jarod Hofacket and Cynthia Patterson with be on the primary election ballot for the judgeship.