Mike Smith
Artesia Daily Press
msmith@elritomedia.com

Jeff Youtsey, a safety representative for HF Sinclair Navajo Refinery and a 14-year veteran of the Artesia City Council, defeated retired law enforcement official Terrance Todd by just 20 votes Tuesday in the race to succeed outgoing Mayor Jonathan Henry.

Youtsey, 61, had 798 (50.63%) of the 1,576 votes cast in the mayoral election and Todd, 65, had 778 votes (49.37%), according to unofficial results provided by the city clerk’s office.

In addition to a new mayor, Artesia residents chose three new city councilors in the March 3 municipal election and affirmed the candidacies of two incumbent council members who faced no opposition.

Youtsey, interviewed by phone Wednesday morning, thanked his family and supporters who campaigned for him and also thanked Todd for sticking to the issues.

“Terry ran a very good campaign,” Youtsey said. “I’m looking forward to working for the city.”

Todd did not respond to a request for comment Wednesday morning.

Youtsey, who will take office as mayor April 1, said he’s still processing his victory.

“I’m trying to absorb it all,” he said. “It’s going to take a few days to wrap my head around it.”

The mayor-elect said his immediate priorities include meeting with Henry and finding a successor for the District 3 council seat left vacant by Youtsey’s move to the mayor’s office. The city council will appoint a councilor to serve the remaining two years of Youtsey’s term.

Ongoing street projects will top his early-term agenda, Youtsey said.

“We’ve been working on main arteries for 12 to 14 years. I’m looking forward to tying in and redoing lesser traveled streets,” he said.

In Tuesday’s city council races, District 1 Councilor Raul Rodriguez was reelected without opposition and District 4 Councilor Michael Bunt was unopposed in his campaign to retain the council slot he gained by appointment after no candidate filed for the seat in 2024. The term expires in 2028.

Joseph W. Wright defeated Nathan N. Ryno in the race to replace District 2 Councilor George Mullen, who decided not to seek reelection. Wright, 72, a retired site director from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC), prevailed with 144 votes (54%) while Ryno, 50, a teacher in the Artesia Public Schools, had 125 votes (46%).

“Right after the results were posted, I went and gave Mr. Wright congratulations on his victory,” Ryno said in a text message Tuesday night. “I am disappointed of course but I will be back.”

Wright said in a telephone interview Wednesday morning that he wants to listen and learn before being sworn in April 1.

“The first step is to listen. I want to listen to everybody and learn and I will move forward from there,” he said.

Voters returned Allen Kent Bratcher, 68, to the council in District 3, which he served before running unsuccessfully for mayor in 2022.

Bratcher an educational assistant with Artesia Public Schools who defeated write-in candidate Matteo Doporto, 372 votes (79%) to 99 (21%), replaces Wade Nelson who decided not to run for another term.

Former Councilor Terry Hill, 77, won election to the District 4 council seat vacated by Councilor Dickie Townley who did not seek reelection.

Hill defeated Charles Morgan Wagner II, 36, in a race decided by only four votes 214 votes (50.4% ) to 210 (49.5%).

Hill ran for unsuccessfully for mayor in 2022 when his term on the council expired. He had served on the council for 17 years.

“We’ve got a lot of infrastructure that needs to be finished up,” Hill said during an interview Tuesday night at City Hall.

Tuesday’s unofficial results will be canvassed March 10 by the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners in Carlsbad, said Artesia City Administrator Hayley Klein.

Artesia residents cast a total of 1,583 ballots in Tuesday’s election, according to City Clerk Summer Valverde who said the city has 11,018 eligible voters. That means turnout for the election was slightly more than 14%.

Mike Smith can be reached at 575-628-5546 extension-2361.