LAS CRUCES (AP) — A District of Columbia clerk and a supervisor refused to accept a New Mexico man's state driver's license as he sought a marriage license because she and her supervisor believed New Mexico was a foreign country.

Gavin Clarkson, a candidate for secretary of state, and resident of Las Cruces went to the District of Columbia Courts Marriage Bureau last month with his fiance to apply for a marriage license.

However, the clerk refused Clarkson's New Mexico driver's license thinking he was from out of the country.

She then requested Clarkson provide an international passport to complete the paperwork.

In a post on Facebook, Clarkson stated, "You know you are from flyover country when you are applying for a marriage license, give them your New Mexico driver's license and they come back and say 'my supervisor says we cannot accept international driver's license. Do you have a New Mexico passport?' They went back to a supervisor to check if New Mexico was a state... TWICE!"

Clarkson told the Las Cruces-Sun News that after about 20 minutes the clerk apologized and the situation was resolved.

Clarkson says he and his wife Marina see the humor in the situation.