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• Mayor (Voting)
• City Manager (Non-Voting: Ex-Officio)

		Jon R. Gandy-President Term expires 12/31/2009 Email: JonRGandy@aol.com Jon R. Gandy has lived in Lea County for forty years and graduated from Lovington High School. Gandy is Vice President and employed with Gandy Corporation, a family owned business. Gandy holds an Associate’s in Science Petroleum Mechanics from New Mexico University in Roswell. Gandy is married to Dianna Gandy and they have two daughters: Jamie Gandy-18 years old and Jade Gandy-14 years old. During his tenure as Vice President of the Corporation, Gandy would like to see new residential development in Lovington; the LEDC actively participate in their committee work; and the LEDC take an active role in obtaining and maintaining a beautiful, clean community image.
		Pat Wise-Vice President Term expires 12/31/2011 Pat Wise is the Operations Manager for Zia Park Raceway and Black Gold Casino. Previously, he served the City of Lovington as City Manager for six plus years, after serving as a Lovington City Commissioner and Mayor Pro-Tem. He is a native of Lovington, having grown up there and graduated from Lovington High School. Wise holds a Bachelor's of Business Administration and Finance from Eastern New Mexico University, and has past professional experience in commercial insurance, banking and investments. His professional and civic involvements include serving on the Boards of Directors of the New Mexico Municipal League, the Guidance Center of Lea County, Estacado Library Information Network, Lea County Water Users Assoc., Lea County Economic Development Corp., Southeast New Mexico Economic Development Corp., and the National League of Cities Public Safety Commission. Additionally, Wise has served as Board Chairman of the Lea County Solid Waste Authority, President of the New Mexico City Managers Association, and as Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the New Mexico Self Insurer’s Fund. Additionally, he currently serves as Secretary to the Board of Trustees of the First United Methodist Church. Wise and his wife Sharon have five daughters, with thirteen grandchildren rounding out the family.
		Kenyon Burns-Secretary/Treasurer Term expires 12/31/2009 Kenyon Burns was born and raised right here in Lovington, New Mexico. In 1994, Kenyon graduated from Lovington High School. In 2004, after various employments and a few years as a rodeo cowboy, Kenyon and his wife Lisa moved to Boerne, Texas. In 2005, they moved to Ruidoso following certain oil and gas, and real estate business interests. Eventually, they made their way back to their hometown of Lovington in 2007. Burns is President and part owner of RayEllen Resources, Inc., a family business, which is the parent/partner company of McHeB Energy, Suerte Land Group, and LaGuna Grande Operating all of which participate in the Oil and Gas industry as well as local and regional real estate holdings and development. Burns is also a past chairman of the United Way of Lovington and also participates in various fundraising efforts. Burns is married to Lisa Burns who is also a Lovington native, whom graduated from Lovington High School in 1997. Lisa works part time for the family business but concentrates most of her energy in raising their 13-month old twin boy and girl, Shooter Mac and Sawyar Jean. Lisa also coaches Girl’s Little Dribblers. Burns would like to see Lovington develop into a progressive and aggressive business community second to none in our region of the country; develop and maintain quality residential development to attract a superior workforce; all the while working with the city to help provide incentives to businesses and residents alike to continue the ongoing effort to clean up all of Lovington turning into a vibrant and clean place to work and play.
		Connie Sevier-Director Term expires 12/31/2009 Email: conniesevier@valornet.com Connie Sevier is a Texas import, originally from South Texas. An ‘oilfield brat’, she moved with her family, including 5 children, to Odessa, Texas in 1959. After graduating from Odessa High School, she moved to Lovington, New Mexico in 1972. In 1975, she took a job as a radio ad copywriter for 2 years, where she worked with radio disc jockey, Gary Sevier. Sevier’s insurance career began in 1979 with Alston-Hartgraves Insurance, where she immediately became a licensed agent in property/casualty and life/health. While still working in insurance as a full-time career, she started a childcare center in 1980, at the birth of her son, Brian. From 1987-1989, she also had a snow-cone business, which employed up to 18 kids and many adult volunteers. In 1993, she sold the childcare center. In 1995, Sevier became a self-employed independent life and health agent and worked from home. In 2002, Sevier and her husband, Gary, purchased an office building in the downtown area, and moved the agency to 212 N. Love. Sevier has completed a national 5-year study and is a Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC). Sevier’s education includes courses in Insurance Customer Service and Risk Management. She has served on the following: 2 terms as Lovington Chamber of Commerce president, 2 terms president of the Lovington Economic Development Corporation; current Secretary/Treasurer of Lovington MainStreet; current board member of the Maddox Distinguished Scholarship Foundation; current member of National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors; current member of Independent Insurance Agents of America; current member of Professional Insurance Agents; current member of the National Association of Professional Women; 2006 Lovington Citizen of the Year; past president of Insurance Women of Lea County; past president of Lovington Women’s Golf Association, and past board member of the Lovington Count ry Club. Sevier and Gary are both Master Gardeners and she is a certified scuba diver.
		Kallie Richards-Past President Term expires 12/31/2011 Email: roberts@valornet.com Kallie Richards has lived in Lovington all her life. She attended Lovington Schools for seven years and Tatum schools for five years. She graduated from Tatum High School. Richards has attended New Mexico Junior College and New Mexico State University. Richards was a bookkeeper for over 15 years before obtaining her real estate license. She has been a realtor for the past 12 years. She has been associated with Earlene Roberts Real Estate for the past 10 years. Richards has served on the Chamber Board of Directors, Lea County Rodeo Committee and Lovington Economic Development Corporation. Richards was also a member of the Lions Club and was named Lion of the Year while serving. Richards has two sons, Andy and Trace Wilhoit. Her sons are active participants in the 4H and FFA programs. Richards is an active parent in Boy Scouts and Eagle Scout organizations. Richards would like to see Lovington grow with new housing and businesses. During her tenure as President, she would like to see the LEDC become a viable organization that will help recruit membership.
		Suzie P. Brown-Director Term expires 12/31/2010 Email: sbrown@lcecnet.com Suzie P. Brown is Director of Marketing, Member Services and Collections for Lea County Electric Cooperative, Inc. (LCEC). Brown has worked for LCEC since 2004. Prior to joining LCEC, she was Marketing Manager for Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative. Before relocating to Lovington, Brown spent ten years in the Public/Media Relations Department for Compaq Computer Corporation based in Houston, Texas. Brown received her Associates of Arts at New Mexico Junior College and holds a Bachelor of Science in Marketing from Eastern New Mexico University. In addition to the Board of the Lovington EDC, Brown is a Board member for the Lovington Chamber of Commerce and is President-elect of the Lovington Rotary Club. Brown is married to Robert Brown and they have two children, Emily and Hayden.
		Marsha Groves-Director Term expires 12/31/2010 Marsha Griffin Groves was born in Hobbs, New Mexico. She attended Lovington schools and graduated from Lovington High School. Groves was active in 4-H and FFA. While in school, Groves worked in the service industry. After graduation, Groves worked in several office settings and the oil field industry. She is married to Danny Groves and they have a daughter, Amber Groves. Groves became active in the 4-H and FFA while raising their daughter. Groves and husband Danny own and operate Cross Bow Electric. Groves enjoys sewing, gardening and reading books. Groves has participated in the Master Gardening program and helped revive the Fran Atchley Plaza. Groves hopes to be able to continue to help Lovington grow and see the residents be comfortable in the community.
		Steven O’Quinn-Director Term expires 12/31/2012 Email: stevenoquinn@leaco.net Steven L. O’Quinn currently serves as Superintendent of Schools for the Lovington Municipal Schools. He has over 30 years experience as a teacher and school administrator. Mr. O’Quinn moved to Lovington in 2007 following a successful career in education in Texas. He was named “Principal of the Year” by the Region 17 Association of Secondary Schools Principals in 2005 while he served as high school principal in Plains, TX. Under his leadership, the school was recognized by the Texas Business and Education Coalition as one of the 42 top-rated high schools in Texas in 2006-07 and 2007-08. During his tenure, the school also won twelve consecutive district academic championships, six regional academic championships, and was state runner-up twice. O’Quinn received a Bachelor of Business Administration from Sam Houston State University and a Masters of Education Administration from Stephen F. Austin State University. His wife Rennetta is a teacher in the Lovington Schools and they have two children, Annaliesa, a pharmaceutical representative for Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, and Blake, a junior at Texas A&M University. Besides being a member of the board of the LEDC, Mr. O’Quinn is a member of the New Mexico School Superintendents Association, New Mexico Coalition of School Administrators, Lovington Rotary Club and the First Baptist Church. He has also served on the scholarship committee for Lea County Electric Cooperative’s Education Foundation.
		Richard Soutar-Director Term Expires: 12/31/2010 Rich Soutar is the Chief Information Officer for Leaco Rural Telephone Cooperative, Inc. He was raised in Palatine Illinois, a suburb of Chicago, until he attended and graduated from the University of Illinois with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. He then moved to California and worked in the Defense industry while pursuing a Masters in Computer Engineering. Soutar spent 25 years in California moving into the commercial software industries in Silicon Valley and later in Sacramento. He established a horse farm in California and move to Lovington to set up a breeding farm and raise horses for the excellent breeding and racing industry growing in New Mexico. Soutar has lived in Lovington for the past 3 ½ years and worked for Leaco for almost 2 years. Soutar would like to see the growth of additional business in Lovington and Lea County which could balance the economic cycles in the petroleum industry and lead to long term stability and improve the quality of life for all citizens in this growing community.
		Dixie Drummond-Mayor Email: dixie_dale_2000@yahoo.com In 1966, after graduating from college in Oklahoma, Dixie Drummond moved to Lovington. She came here because of a job opportunity with the Lovington Public Schools. She began her 30+ years of teaching, including teaching in the areas of physical education and history. After retiring, she missed the interaction with students and began teaching at New Mexico Junior College and College of the Southwest. Teaching is her passion in life. Drummond became the Mayor of Lovington after serving on the Lovington City Commission for many years. At that time, Drummond gave up her teaching career and retired for good. Drummond cannot imagine living anywhere else. She fell in love with Lovington from the first year she arrived. Her hope for the community is to fill our vacant stores with thriving businesses and to continue to grow. She wants the community to continue to have “that small town feeling where you know and look out for all your neighbors”. Drummond will continue to do all she can for the people of Lovington.
		Michael Leighton-City Manager Bio coming soon.

		Leticia Kanmore-Executive Director Email: lkanmore@lovingtoncoc.org Leticia Kanmore was born in Carlsbad, NM but raised in Lovington. She attended Lovington schools and went on to complete her Associate’s degree in Office Technology at NMJC. Later she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Sociology w/minor in Criminal Justice (Magna Cum Laude) and Master’s in Public Administration from Texas A & M in Corpus Christi. While attending Texas A&M, she was a member of the Alpha Kappa Delta and Alpha Phi Sigma Honor Societies. She is married to Daniel Kanmore, who is in the Navy and currently deployed to the Persian Gulf. They have 3 children: Stephanie, 19, who is married and lives in Corpus Christi; Lily, 17, an LHS Junior; and Caleb, 9, a third grade student. Her parents, Esiquio and Evangelina Hernandez are also residents of Lovington. She is 1 of 8 siblings, which live across the United States or serve abroad in the United States Armed Forces. Leticia has worked in the public sector for many years; she was most recently employed by the City of Corpus Christi in an economic development position, which included marketing, implementing and monitoring Federal tax incentive programs for economic development projects and staffing of 2 city boards. Before leaving Corpus Christi, she was given the “Serving Above the Call of Duty” Economic Development Award. She has now made her way back to her hometown and hopes to be “reabsorbed back into the community”. Kanmore would like to see the LEDC establish a strong identity in the community.
		Evelyn Holguin Email: evelynholguin@lovingtonedc.org Evelyn Holguin was born on August 24th, 1981 in Hobbs NM but raised in Lovington all her life. She is the youngest of two siblings. She graduated from Lovington High School in 1999, and then went on to attend NMJC for two years in Office Technology. Evelyn joined the EDC staff in July of 2008 and was the Office Manager for the Lovington Chamber of Commerce. Prior to working for the EDC, Evelyn worked in the banking industry. Evelyn is married to Omar Holguin and they have two children, Omar Jr. who is 9 years old and in the fourth grade and Jocelynn Jordan who is nineteen months old. Evelyn enjoys Football and Baseball and is Coach and board member of the Lovington Baseball League. Evelyn is also an active member of Zumba Fitness.