ABQ businessman to run for state Senate District 11

Albuquerque businessman Michael Padilla has announced that he will challenge state Sen. Linda Lopez in the Democratic primary in June.

“It is more important than ever that state Senate District 11 has a hard-working and experienced leader that gets things done,” said Padilla, 35 and a lifelong Democrat. “Our district needs a leader willing to fully commit the time, energy and courage to make sure we are well represented in the state Legislature.”

Padilla pledged to campaign full-time to reach every voter, and said in the news release announcing his candidacy that he will “provide solid leadership” as a lawmaker to “stay ahead of public safety trends, economic changes, educational requirements, environmental impacts and desperately needed infrastructure enhancements.”

Padilla’s family settled in the district, located on Albuquerque’s west side, almost 100 years ago, he said. He is chairman and CEO of Altivus CRM Solutions LLC, a call-center consulting firm that builds, improves and expands call centers across the United States. That experience, Padilla said, will help him work with business and industry to “bring home high-paying jobs.”

Padilla also helped start Albuquerque’s 311 Citizen Contact Center in 2004, and he managed the center until 2007. The 311 center provides non-emergency services for Albuquerque.

Gov. Bill Richardson appointed Padilla to the New Mexico State Workforce Development Board of Directors in 2004. He has served on the boards of a number of other state associations and non-profit organizations.

Padilla attended the University of New Mexico and University of Phoenix, and earned two labor relations certifications. He was a grassroots organizer for the Telecommunications Act of 1996, which created more competition, lower prices and more reliable telecommunications services for all Americans.

As a state senator, he pledged to focus on safety and security, including brining funding to District 11 for law enforcement and emergency services; economic development; education, including greater support for teachers; water and air quality and other basic services, including modernizing utility infrastructure in the district; and other infrastructure, with a focus on improving streets and sidewalks and better designs to reduce traffic delays.