{"id":2273,"date":"2007-09-24T10:56:00","date_gmt":"2007-09-24T16:56:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/09\/las-cruces-2007-city-election-should-be-interesting\/"},"modified":"2007-09-24T10:56:00","modified_gmt":"2007-09-24T16:56:00","slug":"las-cruces-2007-city-election-should-be-interesting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2007\/09\/las-cruces-2007-city-election-should-be-interesting\/","title":{"rendered":"Las Cruces’ 2007 city election should be interesting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>The day before candidates have to file official declarations, the 2007 Las Cruces municipal election<\/a> is already shaping up to be quite interesting. <\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The city\u2019s growth is the primary issue in the mayoral and council races. In the judicial race, a dispute between the judges and city attorneys and police is a key issue.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The outcomes of all races, at this point, are difficult to predict. And on Tuesday, when candidates will officially jump into the race, we could learn of additional candidacies that further shake up the city\u2019s political scene.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Here\u2019s what we know so far:<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Mayoral race<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Las Cruces Mayor Bill Mattiace<\/a> is seeking re-election, but he\u2019s facing two challengers: District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima<\/a> and political newcomer Jon Mercurio<\/a>. Mattiace was first elected in a special election in 2003, and was re-elected to a four-year term later that year. Both times, he defeated Miyagishima, the second time by 15 points.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

This year might be different. Approval in April of the gross receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America<\/st1:country-region> and in May of a massive development on the East Mesa<\/st1:place> have galvanized those who believe the city\u2019s growth is out of control. Those people are putting their support behind Miyagishima, who for the first time is running on a clearly articulated and strong platform \u2013 that the city\u2019s growth is out of control and needs to be slowed.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Mercurio also thinks the city is headed in the wrong direction with its growth policies. Whether he\u2019ll run an active campaign remains to be seen, but some suspect his entrance into the race will take anti-incumbent votes from Miyagishima and boost the mayor\u2019s re-election chances.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Regardless, this will likely be Mattiace\u2019s toughest challenge yet.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

City Council District 1<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Twelve-year Councilor Jos\u00e9 Frietze<\/a> is facing two strong challengers this year: former Do\u00f1a Ana County Commissioner Miguel G. Silva<\/a> and Ron Gurley<\/a>, a well-respected community activist.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Many of the same people who back Miyagishima because they\u2019re unhappy with the city\u2019s growth initially planned to support Silva, but they weren\u2019t anticipating Gurley\u2019s entrance into the race. One thing is certain: Frietze, like Mattiace, has been a champion of the city\u2019s growth. Who will get the support of those who oppose the growth remains to be seen.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

City Council District 2<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Las Cruces Mayor Pro Tem Dolores Connor<\/a>, another champion of the city\u2019s current growth, is being challenged by former Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education member Vince Boudreau<\/a>. He\u2019s running on a platform of increasing public participation and reducing the influence of builders in the city\u2019s development process.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\n

The move to oust the mayor and some of the councilors originated in part with people living in this district. Look for them to make a hard push to unseat Connor.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

City Council District 4<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

With Councilor Steve Trowbridge<\/a> opting against seeking re-election, three have announced their intention to replace him. They are Isaac Chavez<\/a>, a local businessman who ran unsuccessfully against state Rep. Andy Nu\u00f1ez last year; Steve Monta\u00f1o<\/a>, who runs the Las Cruces office of the state\u2019s Economic Development Department; and Nathan Small<\/a>, a member of the county\u2019s Planning and Zoning Commission and an employee of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Because the city\u2019s rapid growth is happening largely on the east side, it might not be as hot a topic in the west-side District 4, but all three candidates are running on platforms related to growth. Small stands apart in having the backing of many who are also supporting Miyagishima, but Chavez and Monta\u00f1o have more experience in campaigning.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Chavez ran a strong campaign last year against Nu\u00f1ez. Monta\u00f1o has worked on Democratic campaigns for years and has the endorsement of Lt. Gov. Diane Denish.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Presiding municipal judgeship<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Las Cruces Municipal Judge Melissa Miller-Byrnes<\/a>, the presiding judge of the court, is seeking re-election. She\u2019s being challenged by Conrad F. Perea<\/a>, a private-practice attorney who was a police officer in Las Cruces<\/st1:place><\/st1:city> for 20 years and is a former magistrate judge.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

\n

This race will be colored by a fight between the city\u2019s judges and police and prosecutors that has lasted several years and recently helped lead the city attorney\u2019s office to begin taking many of its drunken driving and domestic violence cases to district court to avoid the two municipal judges. Since easily defeating a city prosecutor to win the race in 2003, Miller-Byrnes has been reprimanded by the state Supreme Court for falsely stating during a radio interview that no complaints had been filed against her with the Judicial Standards Commission.<\/p>\n

She was also chastised by the court in 2006 for calling a city prosecutor a \u201csmart ass\u201d during a 2004 interview with a newspaper reporter, but the court did not issue a formal reprimand in that instance.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Look for those in the law-enforcement community to actively back Perea, a well-respected cop. Miller-Byrnes is in for a tough fight.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Runoff, special elections possible<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

A candidate must get at least 40 percent of the vote to avoid a runoff, and many are already speculating that the District 1 and 4 races might end in runoff elections, which would be held shortly after the regular election. In addition, if Miyagishima is successful in his attempt to unseat Mattiace, his council seat would be filled in a special election.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Upcoming dates<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Candidates must file formal declarations between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Tuesday at the city clerk\u2019s office, located on the basement level of City Hall, 200 N. Church Street<\/a>. Voter registration for the city election ends at 5 p.m. on Oct. 9.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

The League of Women Voters of Greater Las Cruces<\/a> will hold a televised forum on Oct. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall. It will be broadcast live on Comcast cable channel 20, the city\u2019s government access channel, and on the Internet. Video and audio will be broadcast at www.clctv.com<\/a>, while an audio-only feed will be available at www.las-cruces.org<\/a>.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Absentee ballots can be requested beginning Oct. 10, and in-person absentee voting at the clerk\u2019s office begins Oct. 17. All absentee voting ends on Nov. 3. Hours for absentee voting will be Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. On three Saturdays \u2013 Oct. 20, Oct. 27 and Nov. 3 \u2013 absentee voting will be held from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.<\/p>\n

<\/o:p><\/p>\n

Polls will be open on the first Tuesday in November from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Each seat up for grabs has a four-year term.<\/p>\n

\n

\n

A prior version of this posting incorrectly stated that much of the controversial East Mesa<\/st1:place> development is in District 2 and that Miller-Byrnes has been twice disciplined by the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n

\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The day before candidates have to file official declarations, the 2007 Las Cruces municipal election is already shaping up to be quite interesting. The city\u2019s growth is the primary issue in the mayoral and council races. In the judicial race, a dispute between the judges and city attorneys and police is a key issue. The […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2273","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2273","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2273"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2273\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2273"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2273"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2273"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}