Guest Commentary: Endorsement of Geraldine Martinez by Leo Martinez

To Whom It May Concern,
As former Lincoln County Commissioner, and current business person in both Lincoln & Otero Counties, who has witnessed Otero County’s challenges and triumphs firsthand, I am proud to endorse Geraldine Yazza Martinez as Sheriff. Her commitment to training excellence, accountability, transparency, fiscal responsibility, and community safety is exactly what our County needs. She has a track record to be envied, showing that when she finds a problem, working the solution, including new out reach with precision & care, requires never giving up!

I have been so impressed by how far she has travelled, to every corner of the county, to meet with & listen to the people, solving difficult problems, with diligence and attention to details. Yazza Martinez has been answering questions with steady accuracy, & getting purposeful and precise input about what matters to Otero County residents. HOW? … by going to the people, listening closely to all sides first, mustering options and resources, and being extremely fair and resourceful, and consistent and realistic, over time. She draws in problem solvers who work together, and never gives up, even when extreme patience is required. Where others see systems issues, as problematic, Geraldine sees opportunities for carefully executed, well researched improvements. Yazza Martinez is known for her excellence in out reach, too: she goes over and above, to find ways to move even the most difficult cases, productively, and sensitively, and most important, with procedural correctness, forward.
Yazza Martinez has consistently shown up—not just for formal duties & the bare basics of the job, but in training, readiness and resource acquisitions and use. She is well trusted, liked & received in neighborhoods, across the County, and known to roll up her sleeves and be an integral part of doing the actual work: first there, last to leave. In the area of community building, her reputation promoting justice, accountability, and public trust, precede her: the proof is always right there in front of us all ~ people from all walks of life, comfortably chatting with Yazza Martinez, on the most heartfelt, and sometime difficult and serious of matters.

Geraldine Yazza Martinez is a downwinder supporter & realizes that the RECA $100 000 claims, since opening, are attracting professional, high-level scammers, who keep attempting to skim money off everyday Otero County residents, who are eligible to file their claim packets. She has committed to running educational reminders, once elected, to alert RECA claimants, to avoid being taken advantage of, as they work through accessing their claims information.

Yazza Martinez recognizes many other scammers attempt to take advantage of our rural setting, our elderly, lonely and vulnerable others. She has assisted with supporting elderly and others in reclaiming their funds & doing appropriate reporting.

She is well known for encouraging us all to "have each other's back" when things seem a little off, strange, or too good to be true. She is the only candidate for Sheriff who has such a unique track record for compassion, for those at risk for predation and the pro-active experience to address these matters, thorough both education and pushback, from day one.

Geraldine Yazza Martinez has 23 years working law enforcement, as an Undersheriff for Lincoln County Sheriff's Office, Chief of the Mescalero Conservation Department, Sergeant with the Otero County Sheriff's Office, Twelfth Judicial District Attorney's Office-Criminal Investigator, Major Crimes Unit, Tribal Police Officer and currently serving as the Chief of Police for the Tularosa Police Department.

I strongly urge my fellow residents to support our 2026 best candidate, Geraldine Yazza Martinez:let's vote her into office. Bring your neighbors with you and encourage them to vote June 2nd, 7am -7pm.

She’s not just a candidate—she’s a catalyst for positive change, and she is the living legend we need, and with her exemplary 23 years of service, she is the most highly experienced, and ready to serve from day one. We can be the envy of New Mexico, with Geraldine Yazza Martinez as our Sheriff, because her flawless 23 year law enforcement record brings her to us tried, tested by the people, and resilient, with an amazing ability, to calmly rise above any noise & distractions, roll up her sleeves, and get the job done, safely, consistently, with justice, accountability and public trust.

I endorse her. And I endorse YOU, the people: come out and bring your neighbors and friends to VOTE her in for a new era of justice, accountability and public trust.

Sincerely,
Leo Martinez