On the 2025 Albuquerque Municipal ballot are the 5 odd number city council races in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 with 14 candidates running . Albuquerque’s mayoral and city council races elections are technically “nonpartisan” races where party affiliation of the candidates are not identified on the ballot. The major parties do get involved with the nonpartisan races often providing volunteers for canvassing and support to candidates with endorsements and for that reason this article identifies party affiliation of the candidates. Following is a break down of each of the 5 city council races.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1
District 1 City Council District is currently represented by first term Democrat City Councilor Louie Sanchez who did not seek reelection and who is one of 7 candidates running for Mayor. City Council District 1 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 Peña.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.
Four candidates running in 4 District 1 City Council have qualified for the ballot having collected 500 or more of the nominating petition signatures. The 4 City Council Candidates who have qualified for the ballot are:
AHREN GRIEGO
Democrat Ahern Griego is 55 years old and was born and raised in Albuquerque. He is a lifelong West Side resident of the city who retired after 23 years of service as a captain and station commander with Albuquerque Fire Rescue. He was educated at John Adams Middle School and is a graduate of West Mesa High School. He describes himself as a “tough on crime” but “smart on prevention” candidate on his campaign website. He says he would seek more funding for police and firefighters and target recruitment at schools at all levels. Griego hopes to address homelessness, foster small businesses and improve roads and other public infrastructure. Greigo says Albuquerque needs to encourage the state to invest in mental health and substance abuse treatment in rural areas. He says Albuquerque needs to increase housing density as a means of addressing the housing shortage, including allowing casitas more widely throughout the city.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_c2ab57cd-1f66-4333-a925-d9c90727a4ab.html
DANIEL LEIVA
Democrat Daniel Leiva is 29 years old, an Albuquerque native and has lived on the West Side for 25 years. He says on his campaign website that he has worked in roofing with his grandfather and uncle and operates a small business . Leiva graduated in May from the University of New Mexico School of Law and has worked nearly four years for the city’s Economic Development Department. Leiva says the city can help encourage the development of more affordable housing by amending Albuquerque’s Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), allowing a greater variety of housing, including dorm-style apartments for young people. If elected he hopes to address public safety, help small businesses and improve public infrastructure.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_e2eb1ed1-d0f3-4894-8229-a375429399e3.html
JOSHUA TAYLOR NEAL
Republican Taylor Neal is 29 years old. He is a civil engineer and a graduate of New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology. He says he has helped design projects such as subdivisions, commercial centers and large industrial sites, including the Netflix studios. Neal said he has helped companies apply for building permits and site plans, and he wants to make the process more efficient. He has helped bring housing developments to New Mexico communities, according to his campaign website. Neal proclaims in a social media post that Albuquerque has “serious issues” with crime, homelessness and economic development, all of which would be his focus, if elected. Taylor Neal describes himself on his Facebook page as a Christian, hydrologic engineer and land developer, humanitarian relief worker and outdoorsman. Neal ran as a Republican in 2024 for the New Mexico House of Representatives in District 17, but lost in the general election to Rep. Cynthia Borrego. He ran for the same seat two years earlier, losing the Republican primary.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_c2ab57cd-1f66-4333-a925-d9c90727a4ab.html
STEPHANIE TELLES
Democrat Stephanie Telles initially was found by the City Clerk to have failed to collect the required 500 qualifying donations by 7 and she appealed for her disqualification. On August 28, 2025, the Bernalillo County Clerk notified Stephanie Telles by letter that the Bernalillo County Clerk had in fact qualified her Declaration of Candidacy and petition signatures and notified her that her name will appear on the ballot as a candidate for City Council District 1.
Telles worked for former New Mexico State Auditor Brian Colón from 2019 to 2022 as director of the Government Accountability Office and previously as an internal auditor for Wells Fargo & Co. from 2013 to 2019. In 2023, she founded Otoño Consulting, which specializes in fraud risk management and fraud examination and prevention, according to her campaign website. She also teaches fraud examination and forensic accounting as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico’s Anderson School of Management, where she earned her MBA.
Telles has said on her campaign website that she hopes to improve community safety through civilian intervention programs such as the Albuquerque Community Safety Department, create more affordable housing, support programs for young people and seniors, boost economic development and upgrade roads. Telles describes herself as a caregiver, educator and small business owner. She founded a consulting business that works with nonprofits, businesses and government agencies. Her campaign is privately financed.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news sources are here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_9ca93eee-e3c9-4be0-a251-f50f04295cce.html
https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_c2ab57cd-1f66-4333-a925-d9c90727a4ab.html
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FINANCE CANDIDATES
The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 1 was 450. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 1 is $56,311.25. Ahren Griego and Daniel Leiva have qualified for public finance. Candidates Joshua Neil and Stephanie Telles are privately finance candidates.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
Three candidates are running to represent Southwest Albuquerque’s District 3. 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.
KLARISSA PEÑA
Democrat Klarissa Peña, 58, is the current District 3 City Councilor and she is running for a fourth term. She is a 1984 graduate of Rio Grande High, she is married, has 6 children and 15 grandchildren. She is Self-employed. Peña was the City Council president in 2019 and now serves as the vice president. Prior to her election, Peña served as the executive director for the West Central Community Development Group and was a city of Albuquerque planning commissioner. Peña has qualified for public finance funding.
If re-elected, Peña will focus on neighborhood infrastructure projects, like parks, outdoor spaces and community centers, she said in a social media post announcing her campaign. She believes public safety requires prevention, intervention, and strong behavioral health services. She sponsored the creation of the Community Policing Councils to empower residents and support community policing. She supports fully funding for public safety departments.
Peña says Albuquerque’s economy can be diversified by emphasizing the technology, healthcare, film, and green energy industries while supporting emerging sectors. She says offering targeted incentives will create quality jobs, attract investment, and build long-term resilience. She wants a diversified economy to provide opportunities for Albuquerque residents, stabilize growth, and ensure our city remains competitive in the future.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_7b83ccda-26e1-4f4b-ac7d-5048fc62f05e.html
TERESA GARCIA
Democrat Teresa Garcia is 37 and the mother of two young men ages 15 and 17. She has a Bachelors of Science Majoring Biology Minor in Chemistry and 2 Associate Degrees from CNM. She is employed as a Digital Marketing Communication Specialist at the Maryland Network Against Domestic Violence Coalition. Garcia is the chair of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission, and former chair of the Southwest Community Policing Council.
Garcia says the biggest issue facing Albuquerque is public safety, especially gun violence. She says we must hold violent offenders accountable while preventing crime by investing in youth, housing and jobs. She says her strategy for improving public safety is rooted in both accountability and prevention. She says she will expand accessible, streamlined access to mental health, substance use, and homelessness services in collaboration with community nonprofits for wraparound support. She says she wants to ensure APD receives training in de-escalation, trauma-informed practices, and cultural sensitivity.
According to Garcia, Albuquerque should target industries that create sustainable, good-paying jobs and align with our community’s needs, including jobs in healthcare, renewable energy technology and construction trades. She says she supports incentives for locally owned businesses and large employers committed to hiring locally, paying fair wages, and reinvesting in our community.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_468a5c9e-bc0c-4656-933b-cc154718d0cc.html
CHRISTOPHER SEDILLO
Democrat Christopher Sedillo is 62 years old, he grew up in the South Valley and graduated from Rio Grande High School. Sedillo served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years, and since retirement has worked in advocacy for LGBTQ+ service members and other veterans’ groups. He is running for a second time for District 3 city council having run the first time four years ago.
Sedillo says the biggest issues facing the city are public safety, housing, homelessness, and economic opportunity and that all 3 are connected. If elected to city council, he wants to address the root causes of crime including poverty, drug addiction, and mental illness, while strengthening community policing.
Sedillo wants new leadership at APD and security guards-for all city buses. Sedillo wants to expand community-based policing and crisis intervention teams, recruit and retain quality police officers and increase the number of service aides and increase youth engagement programs to prevent crime. He wants to expand the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) department.
Sedillo says the specific industries the city should target with economic development incentives include clean energy, technology, affordable housing, veteran-owned businesses, and sustainable manufacturing that create long-term, high-quality jobs. Sedillo says his economic development strategies for boosting small, local businesses include offering financial incentives like grants, low-interest loans and tax breaks. He wants to streamline the City’s zoning and permitting processes and reduce red tape and improve permit turnaround times.
Sedillo said the steps he would you take to increase affordable housing and address homelessness include updating restrictive zoning regulations that have blocked multi-family housing developments and allow apartments to be built on commercially zoned land and use public land for affordable housing. He supports providing safe outdoor spaces where the homeless can camp with basic facilities and wants the city to partner with nonprofits to provide wraparound services for the un-housed, including mental health, and transitional housing.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_8af9d0a6-8e6e-468a-86ed-27854cf56fc1.html
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 PUBLIC AND PRIVATE FINANCE CANDIDATES
The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 3 was 335. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 3 is $41,865.00. Only incumbent Klarissa Peña qualified for public finance having collected more than the 335 qualifying donations and she has been given $41,865.00 in public finance. Candidates Christopher Sedillo and Teresa Garcia are privately financed candidates.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
District 5 is the city’s northwest quadrant council district in the northwest corner of the city and west of the river. The incumbent city councilor for District 5 is Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis. He is being challenged by Democrat Athena Allen.
DAN LEWIS
MAGA Republican Incumbent City Councilor Dan Lewis is 55 years old. He has a secondary Teaching Degree from Wayland University (2007), a MDIV from Southwestern Theological Seminary (1996) and B.A. from Grand Canyon University (1992). Lewis was the Founding Pastor of Soul Rio Community Church, where he served for over 15 years. As President of Desert Fuels, Inc., he helped the company become one of Albuquerque’s fastest-growing businesses and one of New Mexico’s top private companies. Lewis later founded Refined Fuels Transport, a successful transportation company that employed over 20 people in New Mexico. After selling the company, Dan Lewis took on the role of Director of Operations at Davidson Energy in 2019. Most recently, in January 2024, he was appointed Executive Director of the Asphalt Pavement Association of New Mexico, where he works with contractors, producers, and suppliers to improve the state’s roads and highways.
Lewis has served three terms on the city council. Lewis first served two consecutive terms from 2009-2017, then ran for Mayor in 2017 losing to Progressive Democrat Tim Keller in a landslide runoff. In 2021 he ran again and was elected to a third term to city council. Ahead of a potential fourth term, Lewis has four key priorities: community safety, road improvements, community infrastructure and economic growth, according to his campaign website. The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 5 was 446. Councilor Dan Lewis qualified for public financing and has been given $55,065.10 to run his campaign.
Lewis says the biggest issue facing the city of Albuquerque is “unprecedented crime.” He says he has work with the North West Area Command to ensure neighborhood watches on every street in the district and that he has ensured that uniformed officers and marked police cars are proactively policing in every neighborhood and enforcing every law. He wants to make it policy for APD to enforce all laws and respond to all crimes from loitering to homicides. Lewis says he wants to hold the administration and APD brass accountable for their failed leadership.
Lewis believes Mayor Keller’s executive orders have turned Albuquerque into a Sanctuary City. He believes federal law enforcement should have access to our police transfer center, regardless of race or nationality of those arrested. Lewis says he wants to reverse Mayor Keller’s executive orders that have made Albuquerque a Sanctuary City for illegal immigrants who commit crimes.
Lewis says the best economic development is community development and ensuring a safe and fair place for business and job creation. He says the city needs to focus on strengths and help our home-grown businesses expand such as our creative economy, directed energy, big data, health and bio-sciences, data visualization, and other industries with great potential for exponential growth.
Lewis says economic development strategies for boosting small, local businesses includes eliminate small business regulatory licenses and fees charged by the City. He says the city’s regulatory ordinances and our small business office should be entirely focused on helping small businesses start, grow, and thrive in the city.
As for the steps Lewis would you take to increase affordable housing and address a growing homeless population, Lewis sponsored 0-25-69 passed by the Council this year that changed all major corridors in the City to permissive use zoning allowing multi-housing & duplexes. Lewis supported City Council approving over $60 million dollars per year for homeless services including housing vouchers.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_be386828-2991-4442-91ca-83ffc318c08b.html
ATHENEA ALLEN
Democrat Athenea Allen is 46 years old and she has aB.A. degree in political science/law emphasis with a minor in Spanish from New Mexico Highlands University (2001). Athenea Allen has 18 years’ experience as a Senior Investigator specializing and conducting federal background investigations for numerous federal agencies including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. She has 5 years of experience with Northrop-Grumman as a Security Lead and Program Specialist. She is currently the Site Security Lead/Security Lead Manager at General Dynamics Information and Technology. Allen is the wife of Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen and the couple have one son. As an elected city councilor, Athenia Allen hopes to address public safety, improve roads, and help working families. Athenea Allen is privately financed and she is conducting a “grass roots” campaign going door to door and conducting fund raisers.
Allen says that crime is the biggest issue facing the city today. She says to address crime, the city needs more police officers, proactive policing and a judicial system that more quickly brings justice and accountability. She says that to address gun violence, juvenile crime, addiction and behavioral health requires a comprehensive approach of prevention, enforcement and community investment. Her strategy for improving public safety includes investing in technology such as ShotSpotter, smart surveillance, and AI-powered tools while addressing root causes of crime, ensuring faster response times, safer streets and strong accountability for violent offenders.
When asked “Do you support Albuquerque’s current immigration policies in light of the U.S. Department of Justice’s determination it is a sanctuary jurisdiction?” Allen said this:
“Crime is crime. I will address all crimes, holding all criminals accountable regardless of their residency status. Our current immigrant-friendly policies help create a safe environment for people to report crime. I oppose local law enforcement working as federal agents. Police resources should focus on crime prevention and community safety.”
Allen says specific industries the city should target with economic development incentives include ones that create good local jobs and reduce West Side commutes and include clean energy, advanced manufacturing, health care and technology. She believes incentives must also support small businesses, neighborhood services and mixed-use centers and believes that investing in job training and local talent will keep growth rooted here, strengthening Albuquerque’s economy and communities.
Allen’s economic development strategies for boosting small, local businesses include pushing to streamline permitting, cut red tape and invest in West Side infrastructure. She wants the city to partnering with Central New Mexico Community College and local industry ensures workforce pipelines. She says addressing crime and homelessness creates the safe environment businesses need to thrive.
Allen said the steps she would take to increase affordable housing and address a growing homeless population include expanding mixed-income housing, fast-tracking workforce housing projects and leveraging city-owned land through public-private partnerships. On homelessness, she said the city must pair enforcement with services: mental health care, addiction recovery, shelters like Gateway and long-term housing solutions.
Allen believes for West Side families, quality of life means safe, walkable neighborhoods and less time in traffic. She wants to tackle congestion by promoting infill and mixed-use development, bringing jobs and services closer to home. According to Allen, smarter growth, streamlined permitting and better transit will reduce costs, strengthen our tax base and keep neighborhoods thriving.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_c3aa97e9-d99e-4a3c-937b-cf9cce8b4366.html
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7
District 7 is the mid heights city council district currently represented by first term Progressive Democrat City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. 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.
TAMMY FIEBELKORN
Progressive Incumbent Democrat City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn was first elected to the City Council in 2021 in a runoff election. Fiebelkorn was born in Grants, NM and has lived in District 7 for over 20 years. Prior to being elected to the City Council, she worked with the City of Albuquerque on numerous projects, including funding and implementing low-income energy efficiency retrofits in disadvantaged neighborhoods, updating the city’s Energy Conservation Code, developing coordinated positions on energy and transportation cases before the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, and managing the Mayor’s Energy Challenge which helps small businesses reduce their energy burden and environmental impacts.
She is the current Chair of the City Council’s Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee despite having no prior experience nor background in land use law and planning and zoning matters. Fiebelkorn has sponsored controversial zoning changes to the city’s zoning laws to increase density throughout the city and in established neighborhoods over her constituent’s objections and the legislation has failed to be enacted by the city council. She has sponsored ordinances affecting renters and property owners’ rights and remedies all of which have failed to be enacted by the city council. City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn supported city sanctioned safe outdoor space encampments for the homeless throughout the city over the objections of many of her constituents. She is considered a vocal and staunch animal rights advocate on the City Council.
The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 7 was 466. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 7 is $58,205.00. Democrat Incumbent City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn secured the required nominating petitions signatures and the required $5.00 donations for public finance and has been given $58,205.00 to run her campaign.
JAEMES SHANLEY
Democrat Jaemes Shanley has been qualified as a is write in candidate by the Bernalillo County Clerk after filing 500 verified nominating petition signatures along with his declaration of candidacy. Jaemes Shanley worked a lifetime in the private sector in sales and marketing for various corporations in the United States, Australia, and Japan. His work required extensive travel throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America routinely on the ground in more than 30 countries. Jaemes Shanley and his wife returned to Albuquerque in September 2006 to renovate and take up residence in his parent’s Mark Twain neighborhood home where they reside today, becoming actively involved with Neighborhood Associations. Shanley is the President of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association located in the mid heights and is the Vice President of the District 7 Coalition of Neighborhoods which boasts membership of 14 neighborhood associations.
Shanley believes the City Council must prioritize issues based on impact, rely on facts rather than rhetoric, and demand measurable results before approving costly programs or ordinances. He wants to revitalize Albuquerque’s struggling business corridors. After surveying 3,800 properties along major streets like Central, San Pedro, and Menaul, Jaemes Shanley found that 21% of commercial buildings are closed or abandoned. He says empty storefronts breed crime, discourage investment, and erode neighborhoods and he says he has a plan to attract and support locally owned small businesses to bring those corridors back to life. He supports responsible housing growth and homeownership. Jaemes Shanley advocates converting underused commercial spaces into higher-density, attainable housing that helps residents take their first step toward homeownership without government overreach like rent control proposals that would stifle investment and reduce supply. Shanley says he wants to confront real problems, not ignore them. From the city’s $300 million “unhoused industrial complex” that has failed to deliver results, to the alarming state of our Rio Grande water supply, Jaemes Shanley says he will push for data-driven action and transparent accountability.
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 a second term. The District is very condensed and is considered 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.
Initially, there were a total of three candidates running against City Councilor Renee Grout. Democrat Byron Powdrell failed to secure the 500 qualifying petition signatures thereby failing to make the ballot. On August 25, first-time candidate Democrat Melani Buchanan Farmer dropped out of the race leaving the district’s incumbent and a lone challenger as the only two candidates. Buchanan Farmer cited “personal and family circumstances” as her reason to step back after having collected the 500 nominating petition signatures.
https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_f99fa519-932b-4e29-b270-bae5fda2b779.html
RENÉE GROUT
Republican Incumbent City Councilor Renée Grout is 64 years old. She attended the University of New Mexico and graduated from Colorado College of Medical and Dental Assistants. She and her husband Jim Grout have been married for 42 years, and she has 3 children and 9 grandchildren. Grout has been the owner and operator of auto repair business in Albuquerque for the past 36 years. According to the city council website, Republican City Councilor Renée Grout has lived in District 9 for more than four decades. City Councilor Grout has held the District 9 city council seat since 2021. She says tackling crime, homelessness and economic development are the city’s biggest priorities.
Grout says the biggest issue facing the city is crime. She says that crime, addiction, and homelessness are so closely intertwined, they count as one issue. She has championed a dedicated shelter for homeless youth and pushed for a system to organize and track housing vouchers. As a city councilor, her strategy for improving public safety in her district has included doubling APD’s Foothills Proactive Response Team where police officers do regular beat patrols and know every neighborhood and homeless person in the area. She supports recruiting and hiring more police officers.
Specific industries she feels the city should target with economic development incentives have includes supporting Tech businesses in the Sandia Science & Technology Park and she has been working to see the business park expand. She says there are many more new technologies coming out of Sandia and AFRL that need lab and manufacturing space and economic development support.
Councilor Grout’s economic development strategies for boosting small, local businesses includes offering more grant support for small businesses and says she has a plan to increase development incentives in Metropolitan Redevelopment Areas (MRA’s)
To increase affordable housing and address a growing homeless population, Grout supported the development of three affordable housing projects in District 9 while advocating for the protection of nearby residential neighborhoods. She is dedicated to completing a shelter for homeless youth believing it will reduce future homelessness by giving young parentless people a safe space to learn and establish themselves.
Councilor Grout supports the city’s “immigrant-friendly” policy but does not support the city being a “sanctuary city” and says the city should not harbor criminals. Grout believes immigration enforcement is 100% federal responsibility but when someone has committed a violent crime, but she says its “common sense” to inform ICE so the person can be tracked through the justice system and removed upon conviction.
Grout qualified for public campaign funding. The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 9 was 416 and the amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 9 is $51,957.50.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_4cbd13ff-85d7-4f3b-9374-08a7a7f27313.html
COLTON NEWMAN
Democrat Colton Newman is 29 years old. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Communication with a Minor in Sustainability Studies, and Master of Science in Project Management, both earned from the University of New Mexico. He is a business manager for the UNM Center on Alcohol, Substance Use and Addictions (CASAA) which oversees research to treat substance use disorder. Newman’s campaign is privately financed.
According to Colton Newman, Albuquerque’s biggest issues are the rising cost of living, community safety and building climate resilience, all of which he plans to address if elected. He says inequity is Albuquerque’s biggest challenge, leaving too many without access to jobs, affordable housing, safe neighborhoods, and essential services. If elected, he wants to prioritize equitable investment, workforce development, and community-driven solutions to ensure every resident has the resources and opportunities to thrive.
Newman supports a balanced approach to public safety that combines targeted, visible policing in high-crime areas with investments in social services and programs addressing root causes of crime. He believes strengthening partnerships between residents and law enforcement, and focusing on prevention, can make Albuquerque safer for all.
Newman says the city should target economic development incentives to industries that create sustainable, well-paying jobs, including green energy, agriculture, healthcare, technology, and creative sectors. He says supporting these industries will help Albuquerque retain skilled workers, grow opportunity, and strengthen neighborhoods for the long term.
Colton Newman’s economic development strategy for boosting small, local businesses includes reducing red tape, streamlining licensing and permitting, lowering excessive fees, and making inspections easier to schedule and timelier. He says these steps will help entrepreneurs focus on growth, creating jobs, and strengthening Albuquerque’s neighborhoods and local economy.
When it comes to mental health and substance abuse issues, Colton would prioritize accessible crisis intervention, community-based treatment, and recovery support services. He believes expanding timely care, including counseling, outpatient programs, and harm reduction initiatives, ensures individuals struggling with mental health or substance use receive the support they need while reducing strain on emergency services and improving overall community well-being.
Newman says he supports Albuquerque’s sanctuary policies, which prioritize public safety and community trust over federal immigration enforcement. He says he would ensure local police do not assist, aid, or protect ICE or other federal immigration enforcement and says their role should remain focused on keeping residents safe and maintaining trust in the community.
The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_b936b1f1-4397-4603-95f7-e6b9d3c56ca8.html
CONCLUSION
Early voting ends on Saturday November 1. Under Albuquerque’s city charter, in those city council races with three or four candidates, the two top finishers will face off in a run-off election if the top finisher does not receive 50% or more of the votes cast. If it’s necessary, this year’s run-off election will take place on December 9. Please vote November 4!