Matt Hutchinson wins GOP primary in Eddy County sheriff's race

Eddy County Undersheriff Matthew Hutchinson was the apparent winner over Victor Martinez, Jr. by more than 900 votes in the Republican primary for Eddy County Sheriff, according to unofficial results.

Hutchinson, current chief deputy and undersheriff under Mark Cage, took on Martinez, a former Pecos Valley Drug Task Force (PVDTF) captain and retired Eddy County sheriff's deputy.

Hutchinson received 3,278 votes to Martinez's 2,376, with all 54 precincts reporting, according to New Mexico Secretary of State election night results.

“My campaign, my team, we were projecting a vision and a point of view for the sheriff's office. We thought that was what the community saw and wanted. Obviously the numbers support it,” Hutchinson said during a telephone interview Wednesday morning.