N.M. Stat. § 5-11-9
Appointment of directors; qualifications; terms; resumption
of governance by governing body.
A. The governing body, at its option, may authorize the appointment of a separate
district board. In the case of an appointed district board, three of the appointed
directors shall serve an initial term to expire following a regular local election and not to
exceed six years. Two of the appointed directors shall serve an initial term to expire
following a regular local election and not to exceed four years. The resolution forming
the district shall state which directors shall serve the longer terms and which shall serve
the shorter terms. If a vacancy occurs on the district board because of death,
resignation or inability of the director to discharge the duties of director, the governing
body shall appoint a director to fill the vacancy, who shall hold office for the remainder
of the unexpired term until a successor is appointed or elected.
B. At the end of the appointed directors' terms, the governing body shall resume
governance of the district as its board either directly or through the governing body's
designees or, at the governing body's option, shall hold an election of new directors by
majority vote of the qualified electors or if the election is canceled pursuant to
Subsection G of Section 5-11-7 NMSA 1978, an owner's determination conducted by
ballot shall decide the new directors.