Bernalillo County Commissioner Eric Olivas, whose district includes Uptown and the East Mountains, was selected to be the head of the commission on a 4-1 vote Tuesday evening.
Commissioner Walt Benson, the body’s lone Republican, cast the vote against Olivas, instead nominating newly elected Commissioner Frank Baca. Baca declined, noting that it was his first meeting.
Olivas takes the gavel from outgoing chair Barbara Baca, who nominated him after he served as the vice chair in 2024.
“I think that we are all better off for having you and your wisdom and your expertise and your steady hand here to guide us over the last two years,” Olivas said of Barbara Baca.
Olivas, a Bernalillo County native and small business owner, was elected in 2022 after beating Republican challenger Judy Young and assumed office in 2023. His term ends in 2027.
Olivas nominated Commissioner Adriann Barboa to be his vice chair, and she was also voted by commissioners to assume the position.
Barboa was reelected in November. Tuesday night marked the first meeting of her second term.
