Mattiace formally announces re-election bid

Las Cruces Mayor William “Bill” Mattiace announced today, at a news conference on the steps of City Hall, his re-election bid.

He said several months ago that he would seek one more term, but today marked Mattiace’s official campaign announcement.

“I have been honored and humbled to serve this city for eight years, more than four of them as mayor,” he said. “I have enjoyed facing the challenges of leading this council and the people of this city. This job requires more than just encouragement from friends or a simple lifelong dream to be mayor. It requires responsibility, dedication, leadership and diplomacy. I know because I am the mayor. And I want to keep working for you.”

His remarks seemed to be largely directed at challenger Ken Miyagishima, the District 6 councilor who has been extremely critical of the mayor and other councilors and is building a campaign largely based on his assertion that growth is out of control and needs to be slowed.

Miyagishima has said being the city’s mayor is a dream he’s had since childhood and that he decided to jump into the race after widespread encouragement and positive feedback about a possible campaign.

Mattiace said he’s seeking another term for better reasons.

“I seek re-election because we’ve come so far in such a short time,” Mattiace said. “And for someone to come along and start tearing down what this city has accomplished simply because they want to get elected is an insult to our citizens.”

“Some people may want to enter the race at the encouragement of their friends and those who would seek to benefit from the office,” he said. “But I only decided to enter the race after the encouragement of those who pay the price for my service, my family. When those you love, who oftentimes don’t get to see me all day, feel that it’s important that I continue, that says something.”

Mattiace, who is originally from New York, has lived in Las Cruces since 1968. He was the city’s District 2 councilor from 1999 to 2003, when he defeated Miyagishima in a special election to become mayor. Later that year, he defeated Miyagishima and three other challengers in a regularly scheduled election.

Mattiace is married to Wanda Nicolitz Mattiace, and the two own Adventure Travel. They have three children: Michelle, an attorney, William, a senior at New Mexico State University and Lauren, a sophomore at Las Cruces High School.

In listing accomplishments of his first term, Mattiace noted that the city has been named the safest small city in America and that its youth and after-school programs have been nationally recognized. He also said the city has adhered to “responsible growth policies that incorporate community centers, senior centers and rehabilitation of our existing neighborhoods and roads.” Mattiace also cited success in “recruiting new businesses, creating new jobs and improving the jobs we already have.”

“Our growth has always been about becoming better, not bigger. The growth in this city can be measured in our character, not just our number of homes,” he said. “This is very clear in our attention to community services, the care for our senior citizens and our responsible management of utilities and taxpayer dollars.”

A prior version of this posting incorrectly stated that Miyagishima is the District 2 councilor.