Voters in towns throughout the Estancia Valley exercised their constitutional rights to choose new leaders. Each of the municipalities will see at least one new face on their governing boards; and voters also selected two new mayors.

Businessman Ted Hart will take over the reins in Moriarty and Chester Riley Jr. was selected to serve as Mountainair's mayor. In Edgewood, former council member Chuck Ring, who gave up his seat two years ago to run for mayor, was chosen to serve again. In Estancia, Ivonne Riley will take a place at the table.

It's obvious that this new crew of mayors and councilors face challenges. With the unemployment rate in Torrance County growing to more than 10 percent and with gross receipts revenue on a steady decline, our new leaders probably will face more scrutiny from the electorate than their predecessors. To a person, each said in their campaigns that the their top priority will be jobs.

Fulfilling those promises will be a difficult task with less help available from the state, which seems ready to place more of a burden on cities and towns.

So to those who won, congratulations!

And good luck. A lot of people will be counting on you.