Signature Challenge Filed Against Independent Sheriff Candidate Saint Amid Absence From County

OTERO COUNTY — A legal challenge to the nominating petition signatures submitted by independent Otero County Sheriff candidate Roderick Saint has ignited a dispute over ballot access just months ahead of the November general election, with Saint’s campaign calling the move “dirty politics” while critics say the scrutiny is warranted.

Saint, who is running as an independent for the sheriff’s seat, was unavailable for comment. According to sources close to his campaign, Saint is currently in Florida “on family business with a funeral” and has not issued a direct statement addressing the challenge.

The controversy centers on the nominating petitions Saint’s campaign submitted to the Otero County Clerk’s Office. Candidates for sheriff in the county are required to gather a minimum number of valid voter signatures to qualify for the ballot. Saint’s campaign turned in 406 signatures — more than the 353 required — but an independent review of a portion of the submitted pages found duplicate signatures and other irregularities not typically seen in campaigns that vet their signature-gathering process closely.

Those familiar with the process note that Saint’s campaign could have relied exclusively on the state’s online signature system, which automatically screens out duplicates and verifies voter eligibility requirements at the moment a signature is entered. Instead, the campaign appears to have collected at least some signatures through traditional paper petitions, which do not carry those built-in safeguards.

Sources close to Saint’s campaign characterized the challenge as politically motivated, arguing it amounts to “dirty politics” aimed at knocking a competitive independent candidate off the ballot. Others familiar with the race pushed back on that framing, arguing the scrutiny is justified. They pointed to Saint’s limited time in the county — he has reportedly been splitting his residency between New Mexico and Florida — as well as the broader climate of heightened scrutiny candidates faced during the recent Republican primary, when signature and residency questions were also raised against other contenders.

Martinez Files Challenge, Releases Statement

Republican nominee Geraldine Yazza Martinez confirmed Wednesday that her campaign filed a petition in District Court challenging the sufficiency of Saint’s nominating petitions. In a statement released to supporters, Martinez said her team requested copies of the petitions from the County Clerk’s Office and reviewed them against state statute before deciding to pursue legal action.

Martinez’s full statement read:

“It recently came to my attention that independent candidate for Otero County Sheriff, Roderick Saint, submitted enough signatures to qualify for the November general election ballot.

Throughout my law enforcement career, I’ve learned not to take anything at face value. When questions arise, you look into them. That’s exactly what my team and I did.

We requested copies of the nominating petitions from the County Clerk’s Office, reviewed the statutes governing nominating petitions, and carefully examined the signatures that were submitted.

Based on our review, we learned that Mr. Saint was required to submit 353 valid signatures and submitted 406 signatures.

During our review, we identified what we believed to be several issues, including duplicate signatures, incomplete entries, and signatures or information that we were unable to read. After carefully evaluating what we found, I made the decision to file a petition in District Court challenging the sufficiency of the nominating petitions.

At this point, Mr. Saint is not disqualified and I am not saying that he will be. I am saying that, based on our review, I believe there are legitimate legal questions about whether the required number of valid signatures were obtained. The Court will review the evidence and make that determination.

I believe in honesty, accountability, and transparency. I have a responsibility to share relevant and public information with you and I won’t have anyone jumping through hoops to obtain it.

I’m sharing this with you because I believe you deserve to know what is happening, and I will continue to keep you informed as the case moves forward.

As always, I thank you for your continued support, your trust, and your belief in me and this campaign.”

What Happens Next

Saint has not been disqualified from the race, and Martinez was careful to note that her campaign is not asserting he will be. The matter now moves to District Court, where a judge will review the challenged signatures and determine whether Saint’s petitions meet the statutory threshold of valid signatures required to remain on the November ballot.

Saint’s campaign has not indicated when he is expected to return to New Mexico or whether he plans to respond directly to the allegations. This story will be updated as the case develops.

More News from Alamogordo

• Tularosa Schools Board Tackles Afterschool Care Crisis, Facility Upgrades, and Policy Updates Pressing challenges and a board moving forward…
• New Mexico Confirms Three Cyclospora Cases Amid National Summer Parasite Outbreak: What Otero County Residents Should Know No need to be scared just wash fruits and vegetables well before serving