16 Candidates Run For 5 City Council Seats; Only One Incumbent Runs Unopposed; 13 Candidates Seek Public Finance, 3 Are Privately Financed; Links To Candidate Information And Finances; Calendar Deadlines

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On November 4, 2025, the municipal elections for Albuquerque Mayor and City Council will be on the ballot. Of the nine-member city council, the 5 odd number City Council Districts 1,3,5,7, and 9 will be on the ballot. There are a total of 16 candidates  running for the 5 City Council seats with 13 seeking public finance and 3 privately financed.

This  article highlights and provides the information on the candidates as provided by the City Clerk. The information includes stating if the candidates are seeking public finance, their addresses and links to the following on each candidate:

  • Campaign email
  • Campaign website
  • Campaign finance

By clicking on the individual candidate campaign finance links provided below, the candidates disclose the following information:

  • Total Contributions
  • Total Expenditures
  • In-Kind Contributions
  • In-Kind Expenditures
  • Current Cash Balance
  • Current Debt Balance
  • Top Contributors

CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE CALENDAR DEADLINES

The “exploratory period” for City Council Candidates was from April 17, 2025 to June 1, 2025. During this time period, candidates were required to make an appointment with the City Clerk and  they registered as a candidate and campaign rules and regulations were outlined to them.

The “seed money period” for candidates to collect campaign donations  for City Council is from April 27, 2025 to July 7, 2025.

All Candidates for City Council must gather 500 verified nominating petition signatures from registered voters within the district the candidate wishes to represent. The nominating petition collection period is from June 2, 2025, at 8:00am to July 7, 2025, at 5:00pm.

The Public Finance qualifying contribution period for city council candidates is from June 2, to July 7, 2025 where candidates are allowed to collect $5.00 donations to qualify for public financing. The number of $5.00 qualifying donations for public finance varies in each council district based upon the number of registered voters.

Applicant candidates for public finance must receive Qualifying Contributions from 1% of the registered voters in the district the candidate wishes to represent. The actual amount of public finance given to a candidate by the city if they qualify for public finance varies in each council district and an amount is given for each registered voter.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1

The District 1 City Council District is currently represented by first term Democrat Louie Sanchez who is not seeking re election and who is running for Mayor.

District 1 City Council District is the centrally located Westside District between City Council District 5 on the North represented by Republican Dan Lewis and  City Council District 3 on the South represented by Democrat Klarissa Pena. The geographical borders  generally include Central Avenue on the South, Coors and the Rio Grande River on the East and “zig zags” on the North to include  Atrisco Dr., Tesuque Dr. and Buterfield Trail  and with the West border  jetting outwards to the city limits and vacant land.

According to the 2023 redistricting report, the following are the demographics of the district:

  • Total Population:   65,323
  • HISPANIC:  37,135  (56.8% )  
  • WHITE: 19,659  (30.1%)
  • NATIVE AMERICAN  2,970  (4.5%)  
  • BLACK 1,948  (3.0%)  
  • ASIAN 1,441  (2.2%)
  • OTHER 2,170 3.3%

The seed money contribution limits that can be collected by each candidate in District 1 is $250 from individuals and an aggregate of $11,262.25.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 1 is 450.

The amount of public finance and spending cap for District 1 is $56,311.25.

CANDIDATES LISTED

There are four candidates running for District 1 City Council.  The links to the candidate campaign web pages and financial disclosure information are here:

DANIEL GILBER LEIVA

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: KENNETH EDWARD SCOTT

STEPHANIE TELLES

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: SARAH R. NEWMAN

JOSHUA TAYLOR NEAL

  • Publicly Financed
  • Campaign address: 4320 Spanish Broom Avenue NW, Albuquerque, NM 87120
  • Campaign phone number: 505-457-8142
  • Campaign email: nealfornm@gmail.com
  • Campaign website: N/A
  • Campaign finance: View Candidate Disclosure

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: MICHAELA CHAVEZ

AHREN GRIEGO

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: TYA WATTS

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3

District 3 is currently represented by Klarissa Peña and she is running for a fourth term. The district is considered safe democrat. The geographic borders  are generally “Old Coors Road” on the East and the Valley area, Central on the North, and Dennis Chavez Road on the South, with the West side border jetting out to the city limits and mostly vacant area.

According to the 2023 redistricting report, the following are the demographics of the district:

  • TOTAL POPULATION:  65,343   
  • HISPANIC:  53,314 (81.6%)  
  • WHITE:  6,766  (10.4%)
  • NATIVE AMERICAN     1,865 (2.9%)   
  • BLACK 1,554 (2.4%)  
  • ASIAN 612 0.9%
  • OTHER 1,232 (1.9%)

The seed money contribution limits that can be collected by each candidate in District 3 is $250 from individuals and an aggregate of $8,373.00.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 3 is 335.

The amount of public finance and spending cap for District 3 is $41,865.00.

CANDIDATES LISTED

There are 4 candidates running for District 3 City Council. The links to the candidate campaign web pages and financial disclosure information are here:

CHRISTOPHER R. SEDILLO

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: WANDA HARRISON

KLARISSA PEÑA (Incumbent)

Chairperson: No one listed. Treasurer: VIVIAN WEIDNER

NATALIA SALDANA

Chairperson: No one listed. Treasurer: MARIA G CARRASCO

TERESA GARCIA

Chairperson: No one listed. Treasurer: CYNTHIA LIZZETTE CANUQUEO

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5

District 5 is the city’s northwest quadrant council district which is currently represented by Dan Lewis who is seeking a fourth term on the city council.

According to the 2023 redistricting report, the following are the demographics of the district:

  • TOTAL POPULATION:  63,144    
  • HISPANIC:  28,967 (45.9%)
  • WHITE: 24,506 ( 38.8%)
  • NATIVE AMERICAN   2,799 (4.4%)  
  • BLACK 2,079 (3.3%)
  • ASIAN 1,958 (3.1%) OTHER 2,835 (4.5%)

The seed money contribution limits that can be collected by each candidate in District 5 is $250 from individuals and an aggregate of $11,143.75.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 5 is 446.

The amount of public finance and spending cap for District 5 is $55,718.75.

CANDIDATES LISTED

There are two candidates running for District 5 City Council.  The links to the candidate campaign web pages and financial disclosure information are here:

ATHENEA ALLEN

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: KENNETH SCOTT

DAN LEWIS  (Incumbent)

Chairperson: No one listed. Treasurer: ELLIS MCMATH

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7

District 7  is the mid heights city council district currently represented by first term city councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn and she is unopposed.  The district includes the uptown retail business district including the Commons, Winrock and Coronado Shopping Center. The District boundaries are generally Montgomery Boulevard on the North, I-25 on the West, Lomas on the South and Eubank on the East.

According to the 2023 redistricting report, the following are the demographics of the district:

  • TOTAL POPULATION:  64,847     
  • HISPANIC:  25,198  (38.9%)  
  • WHITE: 29,506 (45.5%)  
  • NATIVE AMERICAN  3,424  (5.3%)  
  • BLACK 1,836  (2.8%)
  • ASIAN 1,953 (3.0%)
  • OTHER 2,930 (4.5%)

The seed money contribution limits that can be collected by each candidate in District 7 is $250 from individuals and an aggregate of $11,641.00

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 7 is 466.

The amount of public finance and spending cap for District 7 is $58,205.00.

CANDIDATES LISTED

City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn is the only incumbent who is running unopposed.

The links to the City Clerk’s information on City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn’ campaign web pages and financial disclosure information are here:

TAMMY FIEBELKORN (Incumbent)

Chairperson: No one listed. Treasurer: NANCY ARENAS

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 9

City Council District 9 is often referred to as the Four Hills area city council district and is currently represented by first term Republican City Councilor Renee Grout who is seeking as second term. Grout has 4 opponents. The District is very condensed and safe Republican. The Northern border is Menaul, the West border is Eubank, the Southern border is Dennis Ave, SE and the East border is the Sandia foothills federal land.

According to the 2023 redistricting report, the following are the demographics of the district:

  • Total Population:  60,748    
  • HISPANIC:  22,351  (36.8%) 
  • WHITE: 27,685 (45.6%)
  • NATIVE AMERICAN  2,902 (4.8%)  
  • BLACK 2,080  (3.4%)
  • ASIAN 2,876 (4.7%)
  • OTHER 2,854 (4.7%)

The seed money contribution limits that can be collected by each candidate in District 9 is $250 from individuals and an aggregate of $10,391.50

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 9 is 416.

The amount of public finance and spending cap for District 9 is $51,957.50.

CANDIDATES LISTED

There are  five candidates running for District 9 City Council. The links to the candidate campaign web pages and financial disclosure information are here:

RENEE GROUT (Incumbent)

Chairperson: No one listed. Treasurer: ROBIN SCHRITTER

ANAMI DASS

Chairperson: No one listed. Treasurer: JULIE BETTENCOURT

MELANI BUCHANAN FARMER

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: ROYCE FARMER

BYRON K. POWDRELL

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: Joan Day Baker

COLTON ALAN NEWMAN

Chairperson: No one listed.  Treasurer: Madison Spratto

The link to the City Clerk candidate information web site is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

A total of 16 Candidates are running for 5 city council Seats. The only incumbent city council who is running unopposed is Democrat first term  District 7 City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn.

13 candidates are seeking public finance, including all four incumbents, and  3 candidates are privately financed candidates.

It is interesting to note that all the candidates do not have a chairperson listed yet list a named Treasurer for their campaigns. This is likely due to the fact the candidates are likely managing their campaigns themselves with some having paid political consultants assisting them.

Best wishes to all the candidates as they seek nominating petition signatures and the $5.00 qualifying donations.

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About

Pete Dinelli was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is of Italian and Hispanic descent. He is a 1970 graduate of Del Norte High School, a 1974 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a 1977 graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. Pete has a 40 year history of community involvement and service as an elected and appointed official and as a practicing attorney in Albuquerque. Pete and his wife Betty Case Dinelli have been married since 1984 and they have two adult sons, Mark, who is an attorney and George, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Pete has been a licensed New Mexico attorney since 1978. Pete has over 27 years of municipal and state government service. Pete’s service to Albuquerque has been extensive. He has been an elected Albuquerque City Councilor, serving as Vice President. He has served as a Worker’s Compensation Judge with Statewide jurisdiction. Pete has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has served as a Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney and as a Deputy City Attorney. For eight years, Pete was employed with the City of Albuquerque both as a Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer overseeing the city departments of police, fire, 911 emergency call center and the emergency operations center. While with the City of Albuquerque Legal Department, Pete served as Director of the Safe City Strike Force and Interim Director of the 911 Emergency Operations Center. Pete’s community involvement includes being a past President of the Albuquerque Kiwanis Club, past President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board, and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.