A Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request was sent to the Lea County NM Clerk & Election Division on February 5, 2025. The request, made by our team at Enchantment State News, sought detailed information about the candidates running in the upcoming spring elections.
We asked for a comprehensive list of all candidates participating in the election. This includes their first, middle and last names, the office they are running for, and their party affiliation. We also requested details about the jurisdiction of each office being contested.
In addition to this basic information, we sought contact details for each candidate. This includes their address, phone number and email address.
As a media organization committed to providing comprehensive and accurate news coverage on local governmental affairs, access to public records is essential for us at Enchantment State News. It enables us to fulfill our professional responsibilities which include holding public institutions accountable and providing transparency to the public.
Given our role in disseminating information to the public, we believe we are eligible for a fee waiver as a media professional under the New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, 14-2-1 NMSA 1978 et seq.
We await a response from the Lea County NM Clerk & Election Division regarding our request.
