Election 2023: Critic of high-density development leads Los Ranchos mayoral race

Voting returns in the Los Ranchos de Albuquerque election for mayor and two trustee positions appear to indicate residents are voting their will to slow down or reject high-density development projects in the village of 6,000 people.

At the Journal’s deadline, Joe D.

Craig, president of Friends of Los Ranchos and among the most vocal critics of high-density development and the village’s present administration, was leading in the mayor’s race with 35% of the vote.

Following Craig in order were village trustees Gilbert Benavides, 31%, and George Radnovich, 21%, and incumbent mayor Donald T. Lopez, 13%

Los Ranchos was incorporated in 1958 for the purpose of retaining a rural and agricultural lifestyle.

But for nearly a year and a half the village has been embroiled in a turmoil created by several high-density projects approved for the Fourth Street and Osuna Road area, most notably the Palindrome development, a 204-unit affordable housing project now under construction at the southeast corner of Fourth and Osuna.

Angry residents accused the village administration and village officials of circumventing ordinances requiring public hearings in order to push through development projects.

This election is considered by many to be a referendum on the village’s future. More development or more open space.

In the race for two open trustee seats, Jennifer Kueffer was leading with 46% of the vote, followed by Frank Reinow, 36%, and Shelleen Ann Smith, 18%.

That would mean Kueffer and Reinow will take over the trustee posts previously held by Sandra Pacheco, who chose not to seek reelection, and Allen Lewis, who recently resigned his trustee position.

Kueffer and Reinow campaigned on a ‘keep Los Ranchos rural’ platform. Smith, a relatively new resident of Los Ranchos and a member of the village’s Planning and Zoning Commission, touted her consensus-building ability.

Benavides and Radnovich’s terms as trustees do not expire until 2025, so they may retain those seats.

Craig felt confident he had won the mayor’s race.

He said the voters had expressed their dissatisfaction with the lack of communication with the present administration and their desire to retain the village’s semi-rural lifestyle, to support the village’s destination businesses and preserve the urban forest.

Election 2023: Election night coverage 2023 in Albuquerque