Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima formally announced his re-election bid on Tuesday – a move that shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone.
Miyagishima had already said he would probably run again and had started a campaign website and a Facebook page for his re-election campaign.
In a news release announcing his re-election campaign, the mayor said Las Cruces “has made great strides over the past four years. A lot can get done when we all work together.”
He said the key achievements of his first term as mayor were careful financial stewardship, steady economic growth and enhanced public safety.
“Despite one of the most severe recessions in recent history, Las Cruces has continued to move forward,” Miyagishima said. “Over 600 new businesses have been registered in Las Cruces in the last year alone, creating over 2,000 new jobs. This is a remarkable achievement for our city and its people.”
He said Las Cruces’ downtown is “rapidly revitalizing” and quality of life is improving in Las Cruces. He attributed the success to a team effort.
“The current council is one of the best we’ve ever had,” Miyagishima said. “They are hard-working and deeply committed to improving the lives of city residents. Our staff, from City Manager Robert Garza on down, are doing everything they can to make this a great place to live.”
In an attempt to increase openness and transparency, Miyagishima said he and councilors have held frequent neighborhood meetings around the city, televised and webcasted council meetings and posted a new strategic plan on the city’s website.
“We want the public fully engaged in city decision-making,” Miyagishima said. “That has been our promise from the beginning. It may take a little longer, but in the end everyone has a chance to contribute. That’s how good policy is made.”
Miyagishima faces District 2 Councilor Dolores Connor, political activist Michael Ray Huerta and newspaper delivery worker Michael Fleming in the Nov. 8 election.
Miyagishima was a Las Cruces city councilor for 6 years before being elected mayor in 2007. He’s also a former Doña Ana County commissioner. He is married to Susana Chaparro of Las Cruces, and they have two children.