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Taos certifies local election results; tied municipal judge race decided by coin toss
Summary
The Taos Town Council received and accepted the official Nov. 4, 2025 election canvas, which reported a 34% turnout and certified the mayor and council races. A municipal judge race triggered an automatic recount and, after a 276-276 tie, the winner was determined by lot (a coin toss) as permitted under state law.
The Taos Town Council on Jan. 20 received the official canvas of the Nov. 4, 2025 regular local election and accepted the report presented by Deputy Clerk Mikaela. The canvas shows 1,795 votes cast in the town out of 5,280 registered voters, a 34% turnout, about 4 percentage points lower than the 2023 regular local election.
Deputy Clerk Mikaela read the certified vote totals for the contested seats, including the mayor’s race and two open council seats. The certified mayoral totals recorded Daniel R. Barone with 901 votes, Marietta S. Fambro with 607, Candace S. O’Donnell with 163 and Judith Y. Cantu with 124. For the two council seats, the top vote-getters were Billy Romero (959) and Tetsuro Namba (691); other county-level totals were read for additional candidates.
Mikaela told the council that the municipal judge race triggered an automatic recount because the margin met the statutory threshold. “Under New Mexico statute, NMSA 1978 §1-13-11, a tie vote must be resolved through a process to determine the winner by lot,” she said, describing typical methods used in prior contests (draw of cards, coin toss, drawing a name or rolling dice).
Following retabulation, the recount returned a 276-276 tie between Richard Gavino Chavez and Eddie A. Lucero for municipal judge. The county and clerk’s offices convened parties in district court for an official determination by lot; the candidates agreed to a single coin toss and Richard Gavino Chavez prevailed.
Mikaela commended the Taos County Clerk’s Office and the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office for their handling of the canvas and recount, saying both offices demonstrated “fairness, impartiality and professionalism.” With no council discussion requested, the council accepted the canvas and moved on to the evening’s appointments.
What happens next: The certified results will be reflected in town records and any post-certification processes (such as taking office) will follow the statutory schedule and certifications already issued by the county.
