Tracy Armijo (I)
Age: 55
Current occupation (If retired, from what field): I have been employed by Sandia National Laboratories for nearly 20 years. I am currently a production planning control specialist.
Highest level of education: Master of Science Homeland Security
Previously held elected office: I was appointed to the Belen City Council in January 2023.
Have you ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain.
“No. I hold a Department of Energy security clearance and, as such, I am held to a very high standard of conduct.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“I am a current city councilor. I hold a B.A. in Criminal Justice, where I developed a deep appreciation for justice and public safety. I have also earned a M.S. in Homeland Security, equipping me with the skills needed to address the safety and security concerns of my constituents.”
- What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
“Crime and public safety, infrastructure, flood control and economic growth. Please visit my website, tracyarmijo.com for more details about my goals as a city councilor.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the community, and how do you propose to address them?
“Flood control: Maintain holding ponds to capture excess water during heavy rainfall. It’s imperative to work with the MRGCD to ensure the maintenance and improvements be made to the Highline Canal, among others.
Crime and public safety: Crime, homeless and homelessness in Belen; I am committed to addressing these challenges.”
- What programs would you advocate for to help address the underlying causes of crime in the community?
“The city of Belen (and county) needs more resources to address the homeless population. At the same time, the city is also in dire need of mental health/addiction resources.”
Rudy M. Espinoza
Age: 64
Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Retired Army and current as the regional security director for a major financial institution.
Highest level of education: Two years college
Previously held elected office: None
Have you ever been arrested, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, misdemeanor, or felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain. “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“As a retired Army veteran, former Albuquerque reserve police officer, FBI Citizen’s Academy, and current security director, I have had a full spectrum of experiences that make me a well-rounded candidate. I am a 1978 BHS graduate, raised three children, volunteered as a coach and local events in Belen. ”
- What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
“Assist the Belen Police Department in becoming accredited, and ensuring they have adequate personnel and equipment in place for a safer community. Communicating a message to corporate America that Belen is open for business encouraging franchises to invest here. Supporting our veterans and Veteran’s Memorial plans for growth and expansion.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the community, and how do you propose to address them?
“Growth, crime and safety, and flood control. Working with the Belen Police Department to bring them necessary resources to ensure the safety of our residents, thus encouraging people to move here. With this growth, franchise businesses will invest in Belen. I will aggressively pursue real solutions for our flooding challenges.”
- What programs would you advocate for to help address the underlying causes of crime in the community?
“Neighborhood Watch programs, Weed and Seed programs, working to ensure a fully staffed and supported Belen Police Department, and as part of what I do now as a regional security director, offer personal safety/security presentations and workshops for the residents of Belen and law enforcement.”
Debra Gabaldon
Age: 59
Current occupation (If retired, from what field): Belen Parks
Highest level of education: 3.5 years college
Previously held elected office: None
Have you ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor or any felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? If so, explain. “No.”
- What in your experience, education, etc., makes you qualified for this position?
“I don’t have education in this field or experience; however, I have lived in Belen all my life and have seen the growth and changes as well as the stagnation of the city. I have attended planning and zoning as well as city council meetings, and am aware of things that are happening within the city.”
- What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
“I hope to help the city grow by helping to bring more businesses that would promote growth and give our community opportunities for more employment.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the community, and how do you propose to address them?
“We have a few challenges within the community they are drugs, homelessness and lack of job opportunities. I’m hoping that we can work together to resolve these issues. We need some kind of rehabilitation for the homeless who are on drugs as well as individuals within our community.”
- What programs would you advocate for to help address the underlying causes of crime in the community?
“As stated above, we have an issue with crime due to drugs, homelessness and lack of job opportunities. We need to offer rehabilitation and better job opportunities.”
Lawrence L. Padilla
Age: 49
Current occupation: General manager at the Range Café Restaurant, Los Lunas location
Highest level of education: Belen High School graduate, Class of 1992.
Previously held elected office: None
Have you ever been arrested, charged with or convicted of drunken driving, or any misdemeanor or any felony offenses in New Mexico or any other state? If so, please explain: “I was charged and convicted of driving while intoxicated in 2008 in Bernalillo County. I complied and completed all the required instructions given to me by the courts. Of course, my actions are regrettable, and I have learned from that unfortunate choice and have since then learned that I made a horrible mistake and one that would never be repeated in the future.”
- What in your experience, education, etc. makes you qualified for this position?
“My profession is in the hospitality industry. I enjoy serving people for a living. I would like to continue doing this on a greater scale for the citizens of our community as an elected official. I am also a lifelong and private citizen of Belen, who is humble and down to earth, and I feel the need to be able to communicate and be transparent with all our citizens.”
- What do you hope to accomplish if elected?
“I plan on working in unity with the current governing body and to represent our community in hopes for more growth, better infrastructure, quality of life for our citizens and of course public safety. Our community deserves a better future and more opportunities.”
- What are the most important challenges facing the community, and how do you propose to address them?
“One important challenge is to work closely and united with our current governing body in order to accomplish important and realistic goals. I would like to visit more with various city departments in order to get a better understanding of which direction our city is headed into.”
- What programs would you advocate for to help address the underlying causes of crime in the community?
“I think that there must be a good relationship within our law enforcement and our citizens. I’m very concerned about the fentanyl crisis and how it affects our youth. Homelessness has become somewhat of an issue in our city, but more importantly, we must address the crime that comes with it.”
Important dates
Tuesday, Oct. 10
- Voter registration closes for all mail and online registrations.
New Mexico does offer same-day registration, so eligible voter can register to vote or update their voter registration and then vote on the same day at the county clerk’s office, at all early voting locations and any voter convenience center on Election Day. SDR cannot be used for absentee voting; it is only available for voters voting in person, on the same day they register or update their registration.
To use SDR bring one of the three following:
- New Mexico driver’s license or New Mexico identification card issued through the motor vehicle division of the taxation and revenue department
- Any document that contains an address in the county together with a photo ID card
- A current valid student photo ID card from a post-secondary educational institution in New Mexico, accompanied by a current student fee statement that contains the student’s address in the county.
- Absentee by mail/early in-person voting begins.
To request an absentee ballot application, go to portal.sos.state.nm.us, or call the Valencia County Clerk’s Bureau of Elections at 505-866-2080. Applications must be submitted by Tuesday, Oct. 24, either by mail or in person at the clerk’s office, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Absentee ballots must be completed and returned by 7 p.m., Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7.
Ballots can be returned by mail, in person at the clerk’s office, at any of the early voting locations, at one of the Voter Convenience Centers on Election Day or in one of the following three secure ballot dropboxes in the county until 7 p.m. on Election Day.
Ballot dropbox locations
- Belen Community Center
305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library
1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Valencia County Administration Offices
444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Early in-person voting
Early in-person voting will be from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, from Tuesday, Oct. 10, through Tuesday, Oct. 24, at the Valencia County Administration Building, 444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas.
Saturday, Oct. 21
- Alternate early voting begins
Early voting at alternate voting sites begins on Saturday, Oct. 21, and runs through Saturday, Nov. 4. The three sites are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday.
- Belen Community Center
305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library
1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Valencia County Administration Offices
444 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
Voter Convenience Centers
7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Election Day, Tuesday, Nov. 7
- Ann Parish Elementary School
112 Meadow Lake Road, Meadow Lake
- Belen Community Center
305 Eagle Lane, Belen
- Belen Public Library
333 Becker Ave., Belen
- Bosque Farms Public Library
1455 W. Bosque Loop, Bosque Farms
- Daniel Fernandez Intermediate School
32 Sun Valley Road, Los Lunas
- Del Rio Senior Center
351 Rio Communities Blvd., Rio Communities
- Don Jose Dolores Cordova Cultural Center
426 Jarales Road, Jarales
- El Cerro Mission Community Center
309 El Cerro Mission Road, El Cerro Mission
- Logsdon Hall
19676 N.M. 314, Los Chavez
- Los Lunas Schools Administration
119 Luna Ave., Los Lunas
- Peralta Town Hall
90A Molina Road, Peralta
- Pueblo of Isleta Veterans Center
4001 N.M. 314, Isleta
- Tomé Dominguez de Mendoza Community Center
2933 N.M. 47, Tomé
- UNM-Valencia Workforce Training Center
1020 Huning Ranch East Loop SW, Los Lunas
The Valencia County News-Bulletin is a locally owned and operated community newspaper, dedicated to serving Valencia County since 1910 through the highest journalistic and professional business standards. The VCNB is published weekly on Thursdays, including holidays both in print and online.
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April 25, 2024
