Berry elected mayor of Albuquerque

Posted at: 10/06/2009 7:22 PM | Updated at: 10/07/2009 7:39 AM
By: Matthew Kappus, KOB.com; The Associated Press

Mayor-elect? Richard "RJ" Berry sounded optimistic about his chances Tuesday

Albuquerque voters opted for change Tuesday, electing Richard "RJ" Berry the next mayor of the Duke City.

"We did it!" Berry told a cheering crowd just before 11:00 Tuesday night.

Berry, a general contractor who's serving his second term as a Republican legislator, ran on a platform of lowering crime and ending Albuquerque's status as a "sanctuary city."

He finished with 43.82 percent of the vote Tuesday. Mayor Martin Chavez, who sought an unprecedented fourth term, picked up 35.02 percent. Former state senate leader Richard Romero got 20.98 percent.

Berry's numbers throughout the night hovered around 40 percent--the number needed to avoid a runoff election.

Republican voters appeared to get behind Berry. Another group of voters that have broken for Mayor Chavez in the past--independents--also seemed to back Berry in large numbers.

At a Chavez gathering Tuesday night, the mayor conceded the election to Berry. He said he plans to give him a first-class transition into city hall.

"The city needs to be behind the mayor," Chavez said.

Chavez had paved the way for his campaign by asking a district judge to overturn term limits in the city charter. She ruled that the two-term limit was unconstitutional.

Chavez's candidacy has been compared to that of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who asked the City Council to reverse term limits so he could run again this year. Chavez was mayor from 1994-1997 and was re-elected to the first of two consecutive terms in 2001.

Romero thanked supporters and volunteers Tuesday. He said he wishes Berry well.

"RJ Berry really surprised a lot of us," Romero said.

The makeup of the Albuquerque City Council won't change much after Tuesday's election

Councilor Ken Sanchez was unopposed in District 1. Council president Isaac Benton defeated Alan Armijo in District 3 and Don Harris also appeared to hold onto his seat in District 9.

Sally Mayer decided not to run for re-election in District 7. Her seat will go to Michael Cook.

But in District 5, incumbent Michael Cadigan has been unseated by Dan Lewis.

All bond issues on the ballot won approval. They include a general obligation bond which gives $8.4 million for projects like fire station rehabilitation and automotive upgrades.

Parks and Recreation will get $34 million for improvements around the city. Voters also passed bonds for energy and water conservation ($16 million), libraries ($5 million) streets ($31 million), affordable housing ($10 million) and storm and sewer funds ($13 million).

Public transportation officials are breathing a sigh of relief after a $7.8 million bond was apparently approved. Greg Payne said many city bus routes would have been cut without extra funds.

Voters passed all 10 propositions on the ballot. They include a measure that puts the mayor and city council's salary in the hands of an independent commission.

Another proposition requires mayoral candidates to get 3,000 signatures and city council candidates to get 500 signatures to get on the ballot.

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