OPINION: Bringing a career of accountability to City Hall

I know firsthand what it’s like to juggle life’s competing priorities. When I talk to my neighbors and others from the community, I hear most of us are. I am raising my daughter here on the West Side while also helping care for my mom, who lives with dementia in a memory care home — a difficult but necessary decision for our family. Like so many families, I’m part of the “sandwich generation,” caring for both a child and an elder while working and running a small business. My lived experiences and conversations with others shape how I see our city’s challenges and fuel my commitment to building immediate and lasting solutions that will improve the quality of life for all of us.

When I talk about public safety, I don’t just mean crime. I mean neighborhoods where families feel secure and supported, where kids can walk to school safely, and emergency response times are faster, making sure our first responders have the resources, staffing and tools they need. We should also expand our Albuquerque Community Safety department so that more trained professionals can respond to calls about mental health, homelessness or substance use. Real and proven policy on safety includes well-lit sidewalks, stable housing, youth programs that keep kids engaged and out of harm’s way, and access to behavioral health care before a crisis becomes a tragedy.

Housing is one of the most pressing issues we face. Too many neighbors are priced out of their homes, and too many elders are left without the stability they need to age in the communities they want to stay a part of. Albuquerque is one of the fastest-aging metro areas in the country, yet we lack the infrastructure to support seniors. At the same time, too many of our young people leave the city in search of opportunity. I will fight for affordable housing, renter protections and apprenticeship-to-retirement programs that prepare workers while keeping talent here at home.

As a small business owner, I understand the barriers entrepreneurs face. Hispanic women like me are the fastest-growing group of business owners in the country, often creating opportunity out of necessity, especially when traditional work hours don’t align with school schedules or family needs. But we need more support. I will prioritize small, family-owned, minority-owned, women-owned and LGBTQIA+-owned businesses by expanding access to city contracts, technical assistance and fair financing. When our local businesses thrive, our community thrives.

And I bring something rare and needed to our city government: A career built on ethical accountability.

As a certified fraud examiner and former director of government accountability in the New Mexico State Auditor’s Office, I’ve uncovered waste, exposed abuse and protected your taxpayer dollars. I know how to follow the data, ask the tough questions and ensure every dollar is used for the public good, not special interests.

I’m running for City Council because I believe Albuquerque can do better. We can build a city where families thrive across generations, where safety means dignity and opportunity, and where government serves the people with integrity. This campaign isn’t about ambition — it’s about responsibility. Together, we can build the Albuquerque we deserve.