Section 73-20-38 - District supervisors; election and appointment; organized districts.
73-20-38. District supervisors; election and appointment; organized districts.
A. Successors to supervisors whose terms end in a calendar year shall be elected on the first Tuesday in May of that year. Elections shall be called, conducted and returned in accordance with rules adopted and prescribed by the commission.
B. A canvassing board appointed by the commission shall determine the results of a district election, shall certify and publish the results and shall give the commission notice of its canvass within seven days of its completion. A canvass is considered complete when all challenges have been resolved to the satisfaction of the canvassing board.
C. Rules adopted and published by the commission and the election provisions of the Soil and Water Conservation District Act [73-20-25 NMSA 1978] shall be exclusive in the conduct of district elections. The commission may adopt and publish rules to carry out the provisions of the Soil and Water Conservation District Act.
D. By June 15 of each year, the district supervisors may submit to the commission a list of persons interested in the district and who by experience or training are qualified to serve as supervisors. The commission may appoint from the list submitted, or at will, two persons to serve as supervisors if it is the determination of the commission that the appointments are necessary or desirable and would benefit or facilitate the work and functions of the district. In the event a list is not submitted to the commission by the supervisors by June 15, the commission may appoint at will two supervisors qualified to serve by training or experience. Appointed supervisors shall serve at the pleasure of the commission and shall have the same powers and perform the same duties as elected supervisors. Successors to appointed supervisors, or replacement-appointed supervisors in the event of vacancy, shall be appointed by the commission from a list of candidates or at will in accordance with the provisions of this subsection.