A candidate running for Valencia County Assessor has neglected to file required campaign finance documents during his run for office.

Late last week, the News-Bulletin was alerted to the absence of campaign finance reports on the New Mexico Secretary of State’s finance system portal from Democrat Torres Leyba. A review showed no reports filed by Leyba during the primary race or so far in the general.

When contacted for an explanation on Monday, Sept. 21, Leyba owned up to not submitting the proper financial filings, calling himself “a stupid candidate. I just received a message from the secretary of state that I have to file, even if it’s zero.”

Leyba said as a candidate, he doesn’t solicit funding and explained the last time he ran for public office in 2012, the campaign finance rules were different.

“There’s no excuse for it though. It was wrong of me,” Leyba said. “I’m working with the SOS to make this right and they are walking me through how to fix this. I will be online and reporting shortly.”

By a little after 1 p.m. that same day, Leyba had submitted his candidate campaign committee registration to the SOS and it was available on the finance portal.

“I don’t ask my supporters for money. I’m not a vending machine. You shouldn’t have to put in money to get answers from me as a candidate or an elected official,” he said. “I do apologize to your readers and my supporters.

“I didn’t realize I should have been filing the reports because I received zero. I am asking people for transparency and accountability, and this is completely on me.”

There are a handful of campaign signs for Leyba throughout the county, which he paid for himself, he said. During the primary race, in which Leyba was the only Democratic candidate, he said he worked doing DoorDash to raise extra money to purchase campaign signs, which he is still using in the run up to the general election.

“I’m also asking the SOS how to document that on my reports as well,” he said.

Candidates are required to report campaign contributions of both cash and in-kind donations, as well as campaign expenditures on a regular basis throughout the primary and general election cycles.

The second general report from candidates is due Tuesday, Oct. 13, for contributions and expenditures made from Sept. 8 through Oct. 5. Candidate’s second bi-annual report is also due that day for campaign activity from April 7 through Oct. 5.

The third and fourth general reports are due Oct. 29 and Jan. 7, 2027, respectively.

According to the SOS campaign finance portal, Leyba’s opponent, Republican Burgandy Bree Casias, has received a total of $14,892 in cash and in-kind contributions and has spent $14,419.49.

Campaign finance reports for candidates across New Mexico can be viewed on the NMSOS campaign finance system at login.cfis.sos.state.nm.us/index.html#/index.

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Assessor candidate fails to report campaign finances