November 7 is election day for Albuquerque City Council and Albuquerque Public School Board. Four Albuquerque City Council seats and three Albuquerque Public School Board positions are on the ballot. Also on the ballot are seven general obligation bond questions that could provide $200 million for public safety, affordable housing, parks and other projects. According to the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office, 44,628 early and absentee voters, or 10.5% of eligible voters, had already cast their votes as of Friday, November 3.
ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL CANIDATES
The November 7 election will result in at least three, and possibly 4, new City Council members. Progressive Democrat City Councilors Pat Davis, and Isaac Benton and Conservative Republican Trudy Jones chose not to seek reelection this year. Only one incumbent City Councilor, Conservative Republican Brook Bassan is seeking a second term in District 4 in Northeast Albuquerque. She is opposed by Abby Foster, a small business owner, attorney and mediator who practices adult guardianship law.
District 6 in Southeast Albuquerque which includes Nob Hill and the International District has 4 candidates on the ballot who are all progressive Democrats seeking to relace Progressive Democrat Pat Davis. Progressive Democrats Nichole Rogers, Jeff Hoehn, Kristin “Raven” Greene and Abel Otero are listed on the ballot but Otero announced last month he was ending his campaign. A candidate must garner at least 50% of the vote to win outright. If no candidate wins a majority of the vote, a runoff election will be held in December.
The two other City Council races are in District 2, where moderate Democate Loretta Naranjo Lopez is opposed by Progressive Democrat Joaquín Baca and Independent Moisés González. District 8 has Moderate Democrat and former State Representative Idalia Lechuga-Tena running against Republican Dan Champine, a retired APD officer and now real estate mortgage lender.
DISTRICT 2 (DOWNTOWN, OLD TOWN, PARTS OF THE NORTH VALLEY AND WEST SIDE)
- Joaquin Baca, Progressive Democrat: Water rights program manager at the U.S. Forest Service, member of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District, President of the ABQCore neighborhood association. (Qualified for $40,000 public financing.)
- Loretta Naranjo Lopez, Moderate Democrat: Retired city planner and current President of the Santa Barbara and Martineztown neighborhood Association Neighborhood Association and former Board of Directors member of NM Public Employees Retirement Association. (Qualified for $40,000 public financing.)
- Moises A. Gonzalez (Independent): Documentary filmmaker, former teacher and community activist. (Privately financed candidate.)
DISTRICT 4 (NORTHEAST HEIGHTS)
- Brook Bassan, Conservative Republican: Incumbent City Councilor and a stay-at-home mom. and incumbent councilor. (Qualified for $40,262in public financing.)
- Abby Foster, Progressive Democrat: Small business owner, attorney and mediator who practices adult guardianship law. (Privately financed candidate and according to most recent finance report has raised $77,900.)
DISTRICT 6 (NOB HILL, INTERNATIONAL DISTRICT)
- Jeff Hoehn, Progressive Democrat: Executive director of Cuidando Los Niños. (Privately financed candidate.)
- Abel Otero, Progressive Democrat: Owner and operator of Fonzy’s barbershop. (Qualified for $40,000.00 public financing.)
- Kristin Greene, Progressive Democrat: Tattoo artist and Burlesque dancer. (Qualified for $40,000.00 public financing.)
- Nichole Rogers, Progressive Democrat: Office manager and independent contractor for Primerica Financial Services. (Qualified for $40,000.00public financing.)
DISTRICT 8 (NORTHEAST HEIGHTS AND FOOTHILLS)
- Dan Champine, Conservative Republican: A retired police officer and current mortgage lender. (Qualified for $44,577.00 public financing.)
- Idalia Lechuga-Tena, Moderate Democrat: Vice president of Meals on Wheels of New Mexico former NM House representative for District 21. (Qualified for $44,577.00 public financing.)
ALBUQUERQUE PUBLIC SCHOOL BOARD
Also on the ballot are three of the seven APS Board seats. The only incumbent seeking reelection is in District 2 where incumbent Peggy Muller-Aragón is facing challengers Adrian Nogales and Ronalda Tome-Warito. The other district races and candidates are:
District 1: Janelle Astorga, Robert Trujillo and Verland Coker.
District 4: Heather Benavidez and Stephen Cecco.
GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS SUBJECT TO VOTER APPROVAL
There are 7 major categories of general obligation bonds on the ballot for voter approval. Following are the General Obligation Bond questions with totals listed for the projects:
- Public Safety bonds: $25 million
- $1 million toward the Albuquerque Community Safety facility
- $8 million for new fire stations and $2 million for existing station renovations
- $6 million for rehabilitation of and upgrades to the Albuquerque Police Department
- Parks and Recreation bonds: $35 million
- $1 million to Balloon Fiesta Park improvements
- $5 million to the North Domingo Baca Aquatic Center
- $4.9 million for Little League fields rehabilitation
- Senior, family, community center, homeless, affordable housing, metropolitan redevelopment and community enhancement bonds: $36 million
- $5 million for the Gateway Center
- $7.5 million for affordable housing
- A total $5.8 million for the Highland Senior Center, Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center and Cibola Loop Multigenerational Centers
- Energy and water conservation, public facilities and system z modernization bonds: $24 million
- $6 million for energy conservation
- $1 million for city vehicle replacements
- Storm sewer system bonds: $14 million
- $5 million for Southeast Heights Green Stormwater improvements
- $2 million for Pueblo Also Mile-Hi Flood Mitigation
- Street and transportation bonds: $50 million
- $1.9 million for renovations at the Transit Department’s Yale Facility
- $4.3 million for major street and intersection reconstruction
- Library, museum and cultural facilities bonds: $16 million
- $3.2 million for library materials
- $2 million for the Tijeras Arroyo BioZone Education Center
- $4 Million for Unser Racing Museum
A complete and detailed breakdown of the city’s 2023 general obligation bond program with detailed project descriptions and amounts can be reviewed in the city’s 46 page “2023 General Obligation Bond Program and Capital Implementation Program” at the below link:
Click to access 2023-bond-program-entire-book.pdf
COMMENTARY
With only 10% of registered voters having already vote, the final outcome of all the races remains still very much up in the air. As the old saying goes, if you fail to vote, you forfeit your right to complain about who is elected.
If you have not already voted, please vote today.
ELECTION DAY VOTING CONVENIENCE CENTERS
The following 72 polling places are open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at locations across Bernalillo County where voters may cast votes in person or hand-deliver completed absentee ballots:
98th & Central Shopping Center – 120 98th St NW, Suite B101 & B102, 87121
Andalucia Shopping Center – 5600 Coors Blvd NW, Suite C-5, 87120
Bernalillo County Visitor Center – 6080 Isleta Blvd SW, 87105
Caracol Plaza – 12500 Montgomery Blvd NE, Suite 101, 87111
Central Mercado – 301 San Pedro Dr. SE, Suites B, C, D & E, 87108
Clerk’s Annex – 1500 Lomas Blvd NW, Suite A, 87104
Cottonwood West – 10131 Coors Blvd NW, Suite C-02, 87114
Daskalos Center – 5339 Menaul Blvd NE, 87110
Desiderio Community Center – 117 Tribal Rd 7036, To’Hajiilee, NM 87026
Four Hills Shopping Center – 13140 Central Ave SE, Suite 1420, 87123
Holly Plaza Shopping Center – 6600 Holly Ave NE, Suite B-6, 87113
Isleta Elder Center– Building 79 Tribal Rd 40, Isleta, NM 87022
Los Altos Plaza – 4200 Wyoming NE, Suite B-3, 87111
Los Ranchos Villa – 6601 4th St NW, Suite U, 87107
Petroglyph Plaza – 8201 Golf Course Rd. NW, Suite D-1, 87120
South Valley Multipurpose Senior Center – 2008 Larrazolo Rd SW, 87105
The Shoppes at 6001 San Mateo – 6001 San Mateo Blvd NE, Suite B-3, 87109
Tijeras City Hall – 12 Camino Municipal, Tijeras NM 87059
University of New Mexico– Student Union Building, Louie’s Lounge, 87131
West Bluff Center – 5211 Ouray Rd NW, Suite B, 87120
Montoya Elementary School– 24 Public School Rd, Tijeras, NM 87059
Adobe Acres Elementary School – 1724 Camino Del Valle SW, 87105
Albuquerque High School – 800 Odelia Rd NE, 87102
Arroyo Del Oso Elementary School – 6504 Harper Dr. NE, 87109
Bandelier Elementary School – 3309 Pershing Ave SE, 87106
Bellehaven Elementary School – 8701 Princess Jeanne Ave NE, 87112
Chaparral Elementary School – 6325 Milne Rd NW, 87120
Cibola High School – 1510 Ellison Dr. NW, 87114
CNM Workforce Training Center – 5600 Eagle Rock Ave NE, 87113
Del Norte High School – 5323 Montgomery Blvd NE, 87110
Double Eagle Elementary School – 8901 Lowell Dr. NE, 87122
Duranes Elementary School – 2436 Zickert Rd NW, 87104
Eisenhower Middle School – 11001 Camero Ave NE, 87111
Eldorado High School – 11300 Montgomery Blvd NE, 87111
Forest Meadow Baptist Church – 54 Hwy 217, Tijeras, NM 87059
Garfield Middle School – 3501 6th St NW, 87107
Hayes Middle School – 1100 Texas St NE, 87110
Herman Sanchez Community Center – 1830 William St SE, 87102
Highland High School – 4700 Coal Ave SE, 87108
Holiday Park Community Center – 11710 Comanche Rd NE, 87111
Hubert H Humphrey Elementary School – 9801 Academy Hills Dr. NE, 87111
Jackson Middle School – 10600 Indian School Rd NE, 87112
Jefferson Middle School – 712 Girard Blvd NE, 87106
Kennedy Middle School – 721 Tomasita St NE, 87123
La Cueva High School – 7801 Wilshire Ave NE, 87122
La Mesa Elementary School – 7500 Copper Ave NE, 87108
Lyndon B Johnson Middle School – 6811 Taylor Ranch Rd NW, 87120
Madison Middle School – 3501 Moon St NE, 87111
Manzano High School – 12200 Lomas Blvd NE, 87112
Manzano Mesa Elementary School – 801 Elizabeth St SE, 87123
McKinley Middle School – 4500 Comanche Rd NE, 87110
Montezuma Elementary School – 3100 Indian School Rd NE, 87106
Mountain View Community Center – 201 Prosperity Ave SE, 87105
North Star Elementary School – 9301 Ventura St NE, 87122
Onate Elementary School – 12415 Brentwood Hills Blvd NE, 87112
Pajarito Elementary School – 2701 Don Felipe Rd SW, 87105
Polk Middle School – 2220 Raymac Rd SW, 87105
Raymond G Sanchez Community Center – 9800 4th St NW, 87114
Rio Grande High School – 2300 Arenal Rd SW, 87105
Rudolfo Anaya Elementary School – 2800 Vermejo Park Dr SW, 87121
Sandia High School – 7801 Candelaria Rd NE, 87110
Taylor Middle School – 8200 Guadalupe Trl NW, 87114
Truman Middle School – 9400 Benavides Rd SW, 87121
Valle Vista Elementary School – 1700 Mae Ave SW, 87105
Valley High School – 1505 Candelaria Rd NW, 87107
Van Buren Middle School – 700 Louisiana Blvd SE, 87108
Ventana Ranch Elementary School – 6801 Ventana Village Rd NW, 87114
Vista Grande Community Center – 15 La Madera Rd, Sandia Park, NM 87047
Volcano Vista High School – 8100 Rainbow Blvd NW, 87114
Washington Middle School – 1101 Park Ave SW, 87102
West Mesa High School – 6701 Fortuna Rd NW, 87121
Zuni Elementary School – 6300 Claremont Ave NE, 87110
Links to relied upon news sources are here:
https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/voters-to-decide-on-aps-funding-improving-classrooms/
https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-voter-guide-2023/45036897