Meet the Albuquerque City Council candidates

Albuquerque voters will have four City Council contests to decide in the city’s Nov. 4 election, with three incumbents expected to face challengers and as many as four candidates vying for an open seat in District 1.

The council’s odd-numbered districts — 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 — all will be on the ballot. But first-term Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn will run unopposed in District 7, located in the Near Northeast Heights.

District 1 Councilor Louie Sanchez is vacating his post to run for mayor, leaving his West Side seat open.

Though City Council races are non-partisan, many councilors have political leanings that push or pull against the liberal mayor’s office. Mayor Tim Keller has described the standing council as conservative and said in a meeting Aug. 21 that he hopes this election will bring a change in tide.

“I would like a much more moderate council,” Keller said. “That would fit Albuquerque much better.”

The candidates listed below have announced their intentions to run, though the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office will finalize the ballot on Tuesday.

District 1

Up to four candidates will face off in District 1, a sprawling West Side district north of Central Avenue. Two of the four candidates have qualified for public funding.

Ahren Griego

Griego, a former firefighter, described himself as “tough on crime” but “smart on prevention” candidate on his campaign website. Griego also hopes to address homelessness, foster small businesses and improve roads and other public infrastructure.

Griego described himself as a lifelong West Side resident who retired after 23 years of service as a captain and station commander with Albuquerque Fire Rescue. He has qualified for public campaign funding. Griego said he was educated at John Adams Middle School and West Mesa High School.

Daniel Leiva

If elected, Leiva hopes to address public safety, help small businesses and improve public infrastructure, according to his campaign website.

Leiva graduated in May from the University of New Mexico School of Law and received his bachelor’s degree from UNM in 2017. An Albuquerque native, Leiva has lived on the West Side for 25 years. Leiva has qualified for public campaign funding. He said on his website that he has worked in roofing with his grandfather and uncle, and operates a small business.

Joshua Taylor Neal

Albuquerque has “serious issues” with crime, homelessness and economic development, said Taylor Neal in a social media post, all of which would be his focus, if elected.

Taylor Neal describes himself on his Facebook page as a Christian, hydrologic engineer and land developer, humanitarian relief worker and outdoorsman. His campaign is privately funded. Neal ran as a Republican in 2024 for the New Mexico House of Representatives in District 17, but lost in the general election to Rep. Cynthia Borrego. He ran for the same seat two years earlier, losing the Republican primary.

Stephanie Telles

Telles hopes to improve community safety through civilian intervention programs such as Albuquerque Community Safety, create more affordable housing, support programs for youwng people and seniors, boost economic development and upgrade roads, according to her website.

Telles describes herself as a caregiver, educator and small business owner. She founded a consulting business that works with nonprofits, businesses and government agencies. Her campaign is privately funded.

District 3

Three candidates are running to represent Southwest Albuquerque’s District 3. This includes incumbent Klarissa Peña, who has held the seat since 2013.

Klarissa Peña

If re-elected, Peña will focus on neighborhood infrastructure projects, like parks, outdoor spaces and community centers, she said in a social media post announcing her campaign.

Peña was the City Council president in 2019 and now serves as the vice president. Prior to her election, Peña served as the executive director for the West Central Community Development Group and was a city of Albuquerque planning commissioner. Peña has qualified for public funding.

Teresa Garcia

Newcomer Garcia is running on the platform of protecting immigrant rights, updating infrastructure and promoting economic development, according to a campaign statement.

Garcia is the chair of the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission, and former chair of the Southwest Community Policing Council. She is a first-generation college graduate of UNM and longtime resident of Albuquerque’s Southwest Mesa. Garcia’s campaign is privately financed.

Christopher Sedillo

Challenger Sedillo hopes to promote equality, community engagement and veteran support if elected, according to a campaign statement.

Sedillo served in the U.S. Navy for 26 years, and since retirement has worked in advocacy for LGBTQ+ service members and other veterans’ groups. His bid for election is privately financed. Sedillo grew up in the South Valley and graduated from Rio Grande High School.

District 5

Incumbent Councilor Dan Lewis has drawn a single challenger in his bid for reelection in District 5, in the northwest corner of the city, west of the river.

Dan Lewis

Ahead of a potential fourth term, Lewis has four key priorities: community safety, road improvements, community infrastructure and economic growth, according to his campaign website.

In 2021, Lewis regained the seat he held from 2009-2017. Lewis, currently executive director of a trade association, held the seat for eight years before running for mayor instead of seeking a third term. Lewis received the second-most votes in the crowded 2017 mayoral race but lost a runoff against Keller. He has qualified for public campaign funding.

Athenea Allen

As a leader, Allen hopes to address public safety, improve roads, and help working families, according to her campaign website.

Allen, the wife of Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, describes herself as a national security professional who has conducted background investigations for agencies including the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Department of Defense. Her campaign is privately financed.

District 9

One candidate is challenging incumbent Renée Grout for the District 9 seat, which represents southeast Albuquerque.

Renée Grout

For Grout, who has held the District 9 since 2021, tackling crime, homelessness and economic development are the city’s biggest priorities, according to her bio.

Grout has held the District 9 seat since 2021. According to the council website, Grout has lived in District 9 for more than four decades. Grout has qualified for public campaign funding.

Colton Newman

As Newman sees it, Albuquerque’s biggest issues are the rising cost of living, community safety and building climate resilience, all of which he plans to address if elected, according to an August statement.

Newman is a business manager for UNM’s Center on Alcohol, Substance Use and Addiction, which oversees research to treat substance use disorder. He graduated from UNM with a bachelor’s degree in communications and a master’s degree in project management. Newman’s campaign is privately financed.