Santa Fe County Clerk Valerie Espinoza and Bernalillo County Assessor Karen Montoya won the Democratic primaries Tuesday for seats on one of the state's most powerful, highest paid and most scandal-plagued commissions.
Espinoza won the Democratic primary for the northern New Mexico District 3 seat on the Public Regulation Commission while Montoya won the District 1 seat.
Espinoza took 38% of the vote to Santa Fe County Commissioner Virginia Virgil's 32%. Mortgage banker Brad Gallegos had 18% and Danny Maki, director of development for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Fe, had 13%.
In Albuquerque's District 1, Montoya took 36% of the vote. PRC staff attorney Cynthia Hall had 33%, while state Representative Al Park trailed with 31% of the vote.