Adelicio Moya, March 20, 1914 (New Chilili, NM) - April 1, 1985 (Albuquerque, NM)
VP candidate for People's Constitutional Party (1968)
Running mate with nominee: Ventura Chavez (1926-2013)
Popular vote: 1519 (0.00%)
Electoral vote: 0/538
The campaign:
The People's Constitutional Party was a short-lived political organization limited to the State of New Mexico. It was linked with Reies Lopez Tijerina's activism over land grants being restored to the familes of the original Mexican and/or Spanish owners. The Party also advocated bilingual/bicultural education, investigation of land speculators, civilian police review boards, 18-year old voting age, and an increase in welfare payments.
The Party's efforts to gain ballot status in New Mexico was a hard-fought battle. Their legal challenges to be included alongside the major parties gained more media attention than their actual platform. Eventually they prevailed but after the 1968-1970 elections the state government made it even more difficult for third parties to present themselves as a choice in the voting booth.
Adelicio Moya, the PCP choice for VP, had been arrested at least twice in civil disobedience events along with others (including Reies Lopez Tijerina) just prior to the election, in June 1967 and January 1968. This included a raid on a courthhouse.
Only on the ballot in New Mexico, the Chavez/Moya ticket earned 1519 popular votes (0.46% of the state total) placing 4th. After running a slate of candidates in the New Mexico 1970 election the Party disbanded.
Election history:
1970 - New Mexico State Corporation Commissioner (People's Constitutional Party) - defeated
Other occupations: laborer, farmer, activist
Buried: Chilili New Cemetery (Chilili, NM)
Notes:
Some sources list his birthday as April 20, 1914.
At one point during the 1967-1968 protests, the activists were visited by Corky Gonzales and other
supporters.
His wife Cruzita ran for New Mexico Lt. Governor as part of the PCP in 1968 as well.
