Las Vegas Optic from Las Vegas, New Mexico • Page 1

Established 1879 t7th Year No. 216 Wednesday November 3. 1976 Home Owned--Home Per Copy Schmitt wins; Carter defeats Ford Plane seized This 1973 twin-engine Cessna, 8-seater 402, was seized yesterday by federal and local law enforcement agents at Las Vegas airport. The plane allegedly was used to smuggle marijuana from the Arizona area into New Mexico! Two men were also seized for alleged drug smuggling. Investigation into the case is continuing.

(Optic photo by Eileen Hardgrave) a's tenure i By BILL FEATHER Associated Press Writer ALBUQUERjQUEAE)43yFormer astronaut who campaigned for 14 months as being the man for the future in New Mexico, has ended U.S. Sen. Joseph M. Mohtpya's 20-year tenure in Congress: New-Mexico voters turned out in record numbers Tuesday and gave 'the 41-year-old Schmitt a landslide margin of support. Schmitt carried all but eight of New Mexico's 32 counties and led Montoya by about "56,000 votes statewide.

For the first time in 60 years, New have two Republicans representing it in the United States Senate. When Congress reconvenes in January, Schmitt will join U.S. Sen. Pete V. Domenici, in Washington, B.C.

The state's two incumbent congressmen, Reps. Manuel Lujan in Dist. 1 and Harold Runnels, in Dist. 2, won re-election easily, as expected. Congressman Lujan won his fifth term by defeating Democrat Raymond Garcia of Albuquerque by nearly 100,000 votes.

Runnels, for the second straight time, whipped Republican Donald Trubey of Portales. Runnels' win-, ning margin of more than 70,000 votes was about 25,000 votes higher than two years ago. New Mexico voters, while expressing a preference for Republican candidates in three of the four top offices on the ballot, soundly rejected. a controversial con-' stitutional amendment proposal which, had it passed, would have allowed Gov. Jerry Apodaca to seek re-election in 1978.

Defeat of the succession amendment should cause some reassessment of the political plans of several current office holders during the next two years. The Schmitt-Montoya senate race had been surveyed as being too close to pall on the day before the election. But as results were tallied Tuesday night it became obvious early that Schmitt had won, and by a substantial margin. Montoya, who was after his third term in the Senate, conceded defeat within three hours after the polls closed. "The people have spoken and I accept their verdict," Montoya told ahugecrowdof tearful and cheering supporters who had gathered at the Four Seasons Hotel in Albuquerque.

"I congratulate my opponent for having won a splendid victory." Montoya was gracious in defeat, and urged his backers to support Schmitt as a U.S. Senator. In 40 years of elective public service, the'61 year-old Montoya has been defeated only once before. In 1950 he sought the Democratic nomination for Congress but 'years-later Montoya was Congress following the death of Rep. Antonio Fernandez, He served eight years in the House of Representatives before being elected to the Senate in 1964.

Montoya said Tuesday night after conceding defeat that he was not going to retire from public service. "I am offering myself to the people of New Mexico for any endeavor to which be a contributor to the welfare of this great Montoya said. Schmitt took his victory calmly, and said he will begin immediately to put together a staff and decide how to organize his New Mexico and Washington offices. "I have a tentative plan to make a statewide tour just before Thanksgiving to say thank you to everybody. Then before Christmas I want to meet with groups around the Mora favors Democrats MORA (Special)--The Mora County, electorate voted for all Democratic candidates in national, state and local races.

"The only Republican coming close to winning the county was U.S. Rep. Manuel Lujan who lost the county to his Democratic opponent Raymond Garcia by the slim margin of 1,119 to 1,146. Early today, Republicans requested 40 absentee ballots impounded, according to the Optic Mora reporter Ricky De Herrera. lt was in the absentee ballots that Garcia emerged as a narrow victor over Manuel Lujan.

The remaining contests for county honors were clearly Democratic victories. Presidential candidate Jimmy Carter beat President Gerald Ford 1,438 to 904, and U.S. Senator Joseph Montoya beat Republican challenger Harrison Schmitt 1,382 to 854. Democratic Corporation Commission -candidate John Elliott defeated Republican Jimmie Glenn 1,379 to 951. La Raza Unida candidate Sam Sanchez received eight votes.

Supreme Court candidate Dan Sosa a Democrat, carried the county over Republican John Donnell 1,434 to 820. The other Judicial candidates, running unopposed, received, Mack Easley, and Ramon Lopez, 1,449. Mora County voters were' split over the seven constitutional amendments, favoring three and opposing four. 'They voted against amendment one, 383 to 594; four, 280 to 438; five, 280 to 438, and seven, 262 to 412. The voters favored amendments two, 671 to 489; three, 563 to 380, and six, 348 to 342.

They voted against the educational bond act, 309 to 344. Mora County had about 74 per cent of the registered voters turn out for the election, with 2,334 of of the counties 3,165 voters casting ballots. JIMMY CARTER SEN. WALTER MONDALE WASHINGTON (AP) President-elect Jimmy Carter's long, once-solitary journey from Plains, will carry him to the White House in January with a victory forged from the traditional Democratic party coalition of the Old South and industrial North. Carter was declared the victor over President Gerald Ford early today when his electoral vote total reached 272, two more than the 270 needed for election.

Wisconsin and Mississippi were the states that established the Democratic candidate's majority in The Associated Press tabulation. Three states-- Oregon and Maine, where Ford held a slim lead, and Ohio, where Carter was ahead -remained too close to call. If Ford were to carry all three, Carter's victory margin would remain just two electoral votes. The lead in California passed back and forth through the night with Ford finally declared the winner near daybreak. Returning to Plains from his election headquarters in' Atlanta, Carter received a tumultuous, emotional welcome from a crowd that included most of the town's 683 residents.

The latest returns showed Carter carrying 22 states and the District of Columbia with 272 electoral votes. Ford had 25 states with 231 electoral votes. Democrats will retain their 62-38 majority in the Senate next year despite a change of party in 14 seats and election of 17 new senators on Mora County voters cast their ballots for a sweep of posts by the Democratic candidates. Elected as commissioners were Democrat Herman Lujan over Republican Ramon Romero, 1,421 to 878; Mauricio Duran over Patricio Martinez, 1,402 to 848, and in- By The Associated Press AIRLINES PETITION ALBUQUERQUE A -Frontier and Texas International airlines are asking that a suit filed against them last month by the city of Albuquerque be moved from district court to federal court. The airlines filed a petition to that effect Tuesday in Albuquerque federal court.

The city's suit asks that the two airline leases at Albuquerque In- national Airport be terminated, claiming the airlines have failed to pay their share of security costs. The suit alleges Frontier owes the city $3,224 and Texas allegedly owes $4,122. Harrison Schmitt Demos win county races Races for county offices saw a complete Democratic sweep, with only one close contest. In the match for probate judge Democratic incumbent Teodoro Saiz edged Republican challenger Bennie Gallegos 4,183 to 3,298. The rest of the races were generally no contest as the Democrats won by about two to one margins.

Democratic incumbent commissioner Arcenio Gonzales defeated Republican William Knell Tuesday. for the district three post with 4,675 Th'e hew Senate will have 18 new to 2,779 votes. faces, the successor tb----In the district Democrat Vice President-elect Walter F. Mondale, D-Minn. There is considerable speculation that Gov.

Wendell Anderson, a Democrat, will resign to be appointed to Mondale's seat. Thirty-three seats were at stake in Tuesday's voting. Only the unlikely appointment of a Republican to Mondale's seat could give the GOP more votes in the Senate than they held in the 94th Congres. state that have specific interests in cumbent George Maes over Donald -i ooo nnn order to understand what they have in mind for the future," Schmitt said. Schmitt had said early in the fall that if there was one central theme of his campaign, it was the future.

"I have time for the future; Sen. Montoya does not," was a statement he made several times during the campaign. A geologist by profession and one of the civilians in the nation's space program, Schmitt was the last man on the moon. He went to the moon in December 1972 on the Apollo 17 flight. Wiggins, 1,388 to 900.

For county clerk, Gloria Griego won over Republican Juanita Romero 1,438 to 884. For treasurer Samuel Lovato beat Republican Frances Santistevan 1,338 to 944, and for assessor, Jose Sanchez won unopposed with 1,474. Palemon Chavez was elected sheriff as a Democrat over Republican George Garcia, 1,454 to 845. Sam Maestas was elected probate judge over Republican Moises Romero, 1,382 to' 909, and Levi Alcon was returned to the post of Magistrate Judge over his opponent Andrew Maes, 1,388 to 913. FORUM SET SOCORRO (AP) The Nev Mexico Energy Institute is sponsoring a day-long public forum on energy research programs for the state Nov.

10 at the Albuquerque Convention Center. The institute said the forum should provide private citizens a chance to learn about past accomplishments, current status and future objectives of the statewide energy research and development program. COMMITTEE MEETS SANTA FE (AP)--The Legislative School Study Committee has scheduled monthly meeting for Nov. 22-23 in room 322 of the Executive-Legislative Building Santa Fe. in Lujan survives Demo flood San Miguel County voters failed to follow statewide leads in the presidential and U.S.

Senate races, with Congressman Manuel Lujan, the only Republican candidate winning in the solidly Democratic vote here. County voters favored incumbent Democratic Senator Joseph Montoya and Democratic presidential candidate Jimmy Carter, while state voters favored Republicans Harrison Schmitt and Gerald Ford. With more than 65 per cent of the eligible area voters casting ballots in this election. Ford received, in unofficial county totals 3,013 votes to Carter's 4,940. In the U.S.

Senate race local voters gave the edge to Montoya over Schmitt, to 3,037. La Raza Unida candidate Ernesto Borunda got 41 votes. With five of the seven proposed state constitutional amendments, local voters followed the rest of the state in their rejection. County voters rejected all the amendments, along with the state educational bond issue and the proposed county ordinance that would have established a hospital fund for the indigent. Voters rejected the ordinance by a vote of 2,172 to 1,545.

Amendment two, which had received support from state officials, especially Gov. Jerry Apodaca, was soundly defeated, both locally and statewide. The proposal would have allowed another four-year term for top a officials. San Miguel voters rejected it 2,514 to 2,035. County voters did follow the stale lead in voting for winners Lujan, John Elliott and Dan Sosa Jr.

U.S. Hep. Liijan, winning reelection, defeated his a i a Raymond Garcia. Lujan received 4,317 votes here to Garcia's 3,263. Raza Unida candidate Jesiis Aragon received 57 votes.

For state Corporation Commissioner Democrat KllioU beat Republican Jlmmie Glenn and La Unida candidate Sam Sanchez, to 2,630 and 82. Sosa defeated Republican John Donnell to 2,470. In three uncontesled judicial races Mack Easley got 4,720 San Miguel votes; II. Vern Payne got and Ramon Lopez received 4,853 locally. Legislative incumbents win election Area legislative contests saw all incumbents returned to office, with the Democrats sweeping another set of positions.

In the closest match, Democratic incumbent David Salman defeated Republican challenger Erminio Martinez for the District 69 House seat 3,392 to 2,564. Salman carried two of the three counties in his district, getting 1,617 votes in San Miguel to 1,379 for Martinez, and winning 1,467 to 875 in Mora County. Martinez took Harding County, 336 to 308. Salman carried two of the three counties in his district, getting 1,617 votes in San Miguel to 1,379 for Martinez, and winning 1,467 to 875 in Mora County. Martinez took Harding County, 336 to 308.

In the District 70 House race Democratic incumbent Sam Vigil defeated Republican Matias Martinez 3,178 to 1,486. In the Senate District Eight contest Democratic incumbent Ray Leger defeated Republican challenger Junio Lopez, former state senator, 5,215 to 3,383. Leger won in all three counties in his district, with the closest vote margin being in San Miguel, 3,202 to 2,284. Leger took Guadalupe County 1,346 to 878 and DeBaca County 667 to 221. With district totals unavailable, State Senator C.B.

Trujillo was returned to the legislature over First New Mexico Party candidate Christopher Vineyard. Trujillo received 314 votes in the district six race from San Miguel, to 18 for Vineyard and 1,442 to 69 in Mora. Results from Taos County were unavailable. i Senator John Morrow, District I Seven, won reelection unopposed, receiving 1,010 in San Miguel. Results from the rest of his district, Union, Harding and Coif ax Counties, were unavailable.

Eddie Flores defeated Republican Frank Dominguez 4,628 to 2,741. The district two match saw Antonio Vigil with 4,484 votes) defeat Republican Donaciano Sandoval with 2,803 votes. The election also saw the incumbent assessor and clerk returned to office, easily defeating their Republican opponents. Judy Martinez was elected to a second term as county clerk, defeating Mary Elaine Vigil, 4,936 to 2,557. Assessor Hilario Gomez also was returned to office, beating Republican challenger Louis Gallegos 4,754 to 2,662.

Elected treasurer was Democrat Gabino Baca, defeating Republican Tony Martinez 4,372 to 3,000. Baca is a former treasurer. Democrat Persiliano Santillanes defeated his Republican opponent Gilbert Gold with a 4,827 to 3,298 vote. All results are unofficial totals, with all 34 county precincts and absentee ballots reporting. County downs amendments i five of the seven i i a amendments San Miguel voters agreed with voters around the state.

All seven of the amendments, plus the educational bond act and the county ordinance proposal that would have set up an indigent fund, lost here. State voters did pass amendments sijc and seven, plus the bond act. County results on the amendments are: One, 1,235 yes, 2,920 no; Two, 2,035 yes, 2,514 no; Three, 1,519 yes, 2,298 no; Four, 1,243 yes, 2,314 no; Five, 1,298 yes, 2,228 no; Five, 1,298 yes, 2,228 no; Six, 1,616 yes, 1,992 no; Seven, 1,492 yes, 1,992 no; Bond Act, 1,660 yes, 1,842 no; Indigent Fund, 1.545, yes, 2,172 no. Bulletin WASHINGTON (AP) President Ford conceded defeat today to Jimmy Carter in the 1976 presidential race. Fair through Thursday with lillle change in temperatures; winds generally less than 15 miles an hour.

Las Vegas low 20s and low 60s..