THE POLLS ARE OPEN IN ALBUQUERQUE FOR THE CITY'S MAYORAL AND CITY COUNCIL ELECTIONS. REPUBLICAN MAYOR RICHARD BERRY IS HOPING TO BE ELECTED TO A SECOND TERM DESPITE HOW HE'S HANDLED A SCANDAL-PLAGUED APD AND A LACKLUSTER ECONOMY. REGARDLESS OF THAT, HE'S PLEASED THAT HIS OPPONENTS … DEMOCRAT PETE DINELLI AND REPUBLICAN PAUL HEH … HAVE FOCUSED MUCH OF THEIR CAMPAIGNS ON PUBLIC SAFETY. HE ALSO HAS MAINTAINED A COMMANDING LEADER OVER HIS CHALLENGERS IN RECENT POLLS.
THE CITY COUNCIL RACES ARE IN DISTRICTS 1, 2, 3, 5, 7 AND 9. IN DISTRICT ONE, KEN SANCHEZ IS RUNNING UNOPPOSED. THE RACE IN DISTRICT THREE IS BETWEEN TWO INCUMBENTS: ISAAC BENTON AND ROXANNA MEYERS. DISTRICT THREE IS A NEW FORMED DISTRICT THAT INCLUDES THE SOUTHWEST MESA. IT PITS NEWCOMERS KLARISSA PENA, RONNIE GARCIA, AND TANIA SILVA AGAINST EACH OTHER. IN DISTRICT 5, INCUMBENT DAN LEWIS IS BEING CHALLENGED BY ELOISE GIFT. IN DISTRICT 7, DIANE GIBSON AND MATT BIGGS ARE RUNNING AGAINST JANICE ARNOLD JONES, WHO WAS APPOINTED TO THE DISTRICT BY MAYOR BERRY. AND IN DISTRICT 9, LOVIE MCGEE CHALLENGES INCUMBENT DON HARRIS.
THERE ARE ABOUT 10 BOND QUESTIONS ON THE BALLOT, RANGING FROM WATER AND SEWER IMPROVEMENTS, UPGRADES TO LIBRARIES, AND CAPITAL PROJECTS FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
