Incumbent, challenger square off in partisan West Side City Council race

West Side voters will decide a partisan contest Nov. 4 between City Councilor Dan Lewis, a Republican seeking his fourth term, and his challenger, Athenea Allen, a Democrat and federal security professional.

Allen, 46, who is married to Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, leads security operations at Kirtland Air Force Base, overseeing a staff of 40 at the Air Force Research Laboratory. She began her career as a background investigator at both of New Mexico’s national laboratories.

Lewis, 55, served two terms on the City Council from 2009 to 2017. He vacated his seat to run for mayor and earned a spot in a runoff election against Tim Keller, who won the runoff with about 62% of the vote to secure his first term as mayor.

Lewis regained the District 5 seat in 2021 by defeating then-Councilor Cynthia Borrego.

Development and roads are a key issue in District 5 in Albuquerque’s far northwest, where congestion and long commutes are part of daily life for many.

Allen said that housing development on the West Side has outstripped transportation needs and alleged that Lewis’ “combative” style has limited funding for West Side roads and infrastructure development.

“I just don’t think (Lewis) works as closely with our legislative partners as he should for the betterment of the West Side,” she said.

Lewis rejects the criticism and takes credit for bringing $150 million in infrastructure funding to the West Side in the past four years.

In particular, Lewis points to the $62 million Unser and Paseo del Norte construction project that will add traffic lanes, improve the intersection and add bike lanes and trails with the intention of alleviating congestion. Major construction will begin later this year, according to the city.

“I’ve worked every day the last four years on getting that project across the finish line, and we’re finally building it this fall,” Lewis said.

Lewis also cites several completed projects in District 5, including the $4 million McMahon Boulevard expansion, $10 million Westside Boulevard improvements and a new Cibola Loop Multigenerational Center.

The race also features partisan sniping between the candidates.

Lewis repeatedly criticized Keller during a recent Journal interview and painted Allen as “hand-picked by Tim Keller,” alleging she favors “the same failed policies of the last eight years of a failed mayor.”

Allen responded that she is “a strong, independent woman” who makes up her own mind on issues.

“I can’t tell if (Lewis) is running against me or Tim Keller,” Allen said. “He’s more focused on the mayor than what he should be doing as a councilor.”

Allen alleged that Lewis’ combative style with Democrats harms West Side residents. She also alleges that Lewis’ role as executive director of the Asphalt Pavement Association of New Mexico creates a conflict of interest for the incumbent.

Lewis reached a settlement with the New Mexico State Ethics Commission in 2024 in which he agreed to recuse himself from future votes involving the Air Quality Control Board.

The settlement emerged after commission staff investigated a complaint that Lewis introduced legislation affecting the Air Quality Control Board that conflicted with his role as head of the association.

Lewis said he would have recused himself from any action involving the Air Quality Control Board regardless of the settlement agreement.

“I’ve been in the public eye for 16 years, and it’s never been found that I violated any ethics charges,” he said.

The candidates also clash on their approach to city cooperation with federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials.

Lewis also said he wants to roll back Keller’s executive orders that he contends have turned Albuquerque into a sanctuary city. Lewis also wants to grant federal officials access to the city’s police transfer center, where people are booked at the time of arrest.

“I believe that that is a balanced way to protect people’s civil rights and at the same time have a public safety benefit to cooperating with all federal law agencies,” Lewis said.

Allen said she opposes giving ICE officials access to city records under any circumstances. Victims of crime and domestic violence need to be willing to report attacks without fear of immigration consequences, she said.

“That’s counterproductive to what we’re trying to do when we’re trying to get criminals off the street,” Allen said. If witnesses are afraid to come forward, “we can’t get those cases prosecuted appropriately or efficiently because those people don’t want to come forward and be a witness to those crimes.”