Copyright © 2020 Albuquerque Journal
In an election cycle that will determine three of five seats on the Bernalillo County Commission, Tuesday's primaries appeared to catapult two political newcomers and a veteran. Longtime progressive activist and first-time candidate Adriann Barboa was leading a three-way Democratic primary for the commission's District 3 seat late Tuesday, according to unofficial results. The winner advances to the Nov. 3 general election without a Republican challenger. Barboa said she ran because the current climate calls for leaders who know and have worked in the community. She touted the broad support she received during her campaign, citing the 540 donors who contributed to her campaign and the nearly 100 phone bank volunteers. "I can relate to all different sectors of our families and communities because I've grown up here, and value our families and all our neighborhoods," said Barboa, who had more than 41% of the vote as of late Tuesday night, topping opponents Adrian Carver and Marcos Gonzales. The District 3 winner will succeed Jim Collie, who was appointed earlier this year, but said he would not run for the seat that represents parts of Southeast Albuquerque, the University of New Mexico area and more. Another first-time candidate, businessman George "Walt" Benson, was leading Tuesday's Republican primary for the commission's District 4 seat. The field included former County Commissioner E. Tim Cummins, Tina Tomlin and Sean Kesani. The winner faces Wende Schwingendorf, the lone Democratic candidate, in this fall's general election. Benson said New Mexico's population flight compelled him to run for elected office, saying too many people he knows have left in search of safer communities and better job opportunities. District 4, which includes parts of Albuquerque's Northeast Heights and West Side, is the only district currently represented by a Republican. Benson says his goals for the community transcend party. "I get along well with people regardless of political perspective," he said. "I definitely want to see Bernalillo grow in terms of economic vitality and I want to see the crime decrease, and I assume that I can find common ground with my Democrat colleagues at least on those areas." Elsewhere in commission races, incumbent Steven Michael Quezada was leading Frank Baca, a retired attorney, in the Democratic primary to represent the South Valley and the rest of District 2. He will have no Republican opposition on the Nov. 3 ballot. Quezada said in a written statement that Tuesday's results reflected his first-term efforts to work across constituencies. "Voters were paying attention to the great work achieved by my office and they are very aware that I represent everyone – from people who voted for me or not, are citizens or not, business community or not ... everyone," he wrote. In other results, incumbent Bernalillo County Treasurer Nancy Bearce appeared headed for victory in the Democratic primary. She had more than 39% of the total vote in a four-person field that included former state lawmaker Bernadette Sanchez and former County Treasurer Patrick Padilla. The winner of the Democratic primary will have no Republican opposition on November's general election ballot. Bearce said she believes her first term restored public trust in the office that previously had been mired in controversy. "I think that was the base that said, 'We want a change; we want to go in a different direction with this office,' " she said.