SALES TAX IS GOING UP IN ALBUQUERQUE. VOTERS IN TUESDAY’S MUNICIPAL ELECTION APPROVED THE ONE-EIGHTH CENT TAX HIKE TO PAY FOR BIOPARK RENOVATIONS. VOTERS ALSO APPROVED CHARTER AMENDMENTS ALLOWING THE CITY COUNCIL TO HAVE FINAL SAY ON THE MAYOR’S CHOICES FOR THE POLICE AND FIRE CHIEFS … AND TO REQUIRE INITIATIVE PETITION PROPOSALS TO GO ON THE BALLOT IN REGULAR ELECTIONS INSTEAD OF COSTLY SPECIAL ELECTIONS.
IN CONTESTED CITY COUNCIL RACES: PAT DAVIS WILL REPLACE ALBUQUERQUE COUNCILOR REY GARDUNO IN DISTRICT SIX. DAVIS BEAT HIS OPPONENTS WITH MORE THAN 67 PERCENT OF THE VOTE. INCUMBENT BRAD WINTER … WON RE-ELECTION IN DISTRICT 4 OVER ISRAEL CHAVEZ.
BUT NOT MANY VOTERS WENT TO THE POLLS A LITTLE OVER EIGHT PERCENT TOOK PART IN THE ELECTION … DOWN FROM 12 PERCENT IN 2011. CITY CLERK NATALIE HOWARD HAD HOPED FOR HIGHER THAN 12 PERCENT.
