Former city councilor routs Española mayor in municipal election, unofficial results indicate

ESPAÑOLA — Dennis Tim Salazar, a former five-term city councilor, appears on track to return to political office as the new mayor of Española.

Tabulator printouts from the Española City Clerk's Office showed Salazar routed incumbent Mayor John Ramon Vigil handily, along with a third write-in candidate, Joann Salazar, the chair of the Rio Arriba Democratic Party and Española Community Development Commission.

Voters in this northern New Mexico city of roughly 10,000 residents also elected four city councilors, one of whom ran unopposed, as well as a municipal judge.

On the city council, District 1 City Councilor Aaron Salazar retained his seat, beating opponent Jacob Torres; Stephen Salazar won a seat in District 2 after defeating Michelle Martinez; Manuel Martinez beat Floyd Archuleta in the race for District 3; and Justin Salazar-Torrez retained his seat in District 4 after facing no challengers, according to the early results.

A series of complaints alleging sexual harassment and discrimination, as well as lawsuits, loomed over Vigil's re-election efforts during his single term in office. Former City Manager Jordan Yutzy and former development director are among those who have taken legal action against the city on the basis of mayoral misconduct since Vigil took office in 2022.

Critics noted that the mayor's legal troubles have weighed down Española's finances, contributing to a $1.7 million general fund deficit in 2025 and a projected $4 million deficit in the current fiscal year, according to budget information provided at a Board of Finance meeting on Feb. 23.

"The city sent a clear message that they want change," District 4 City Councilor Sam Ledoux told the Journal Tuesday night. "They want stability, and they want less drama at City Hall. I think that's basically the reason why Dennis Tim (Salazar) won so overwhelmingly."

Salazar, Vigil's cousin, served on the Española city council for five consecutive terms, from 2004 to 2024.

In statement provided to the Journal Tuesday night, he described the election results as a referendum on Vigil's performance in office for the past four years, saying his incoming administration would have to work to regain the trust of city residents.

"We are ready to move past the last four years of stagnation, controversy and mismanagement of the budget," he said. "Change will be difficult, but the people of  Española deserve a better place to live, grow and work.

"We ran on the platform to restore fiscal responsibility, accountability and confidence in city government," he added. "We have a lot to prove to the people of Española, and we will meet that challenge."

In an interview last week, Salazar told the Journal he would consider asking voters to include Española in New Mexico's statewide local election, held in November of odd-numbered years.

John Miller is the Albuquerque Journal’s northern New Mexico correspondent. He can be reached at jmiller@abqjournal.com.