Rio Rancho council mulls moving municipal election dates

RIO RANCHO — Members of the Rio Rancho Governing Body came one step closer Thursday to scrapping municipal elections in March, a move that could extend their terms for another year as part of a broader overhaul in the way the city conducts elections.

The six-member city council unanimously approved a first reading of Ordinance 13, which acts on a staff recommendation that the city hold its municipal elections in November of odd-numbered years as opposed to March of even-numbered years. The opt-in, made possible by a 2018 state law, was recommended to council in response to low voter turnout in March elections, rising costs and the possibility that state lawmakers will try to propose killing March elections after legislation failed earlier this year, according to Rio Rancho Deputy City Manager Peter Wells.

The city could try the new election format, administered by Sandoval County, before switching back to the original way, Wells told councilors Thursday.

If the council gives the ordinance final approval on May 8, Rio Rancho would join almost all of the 106 municipalities in the state that hold their municipal elections during the regular local elections in November of odd-numbered years. That would be in contrast to Bernalillo and Jemez Springs, which continue to hold municipal officer elections during even-numbered years in March.

Consideration of the ordinance comes as half of the six-member council and Municipal Judge G. Robert Cook face re-election in March, and Mayor Gregg Hull has not yet announced whether he will seek a fourth term as the city’s chief executive. Last month, Hull teased a potential run for governor in 2026, with an announcement regarding his intents scheduled for June 2. Hull recused himself from discussion of the proposed ordinance during Thursday’s meeting.

The seats of Hull, Cook, District 2 Councilor Jeremy Lenentine, District 3 Councilor Bob Tyler and District 5 Councilor Karissa Culbreath would be first to be impacted by the ordinance since they would face re-election in March 2026. They wouldn’t run again until November 2027, and their new term would begin on Jan. 1, 2028.

District 1 Councilor Deborah Dapson, District 4 Councilor Paul Wymer and District 6 Councilor Nicole List face re-election in 2028. They wouldn’t run again until November 2029, and their new term would begin on Jan. 1, 2030.

On Thursday, no residents signed up for public comment on the proposed ordinance, but council members spoke following Wells’ presentation.

Wymer said that he is in favor of the opt-in because it would increase voter turnout and save taxpayers money. Wymer also expressed support for extending councilor terms as opposed to reducing them, a recommendation staff made to give candidates more time to organize their campaigns and inform the public.

“Councilor (Karissa) Culbreath said it best: ‘That favors the incumbent,’” Wymer said, referencing an April 10 work session discussing elections.

Wymer said Thursday he believed the city “would get a better pool of candidates” if the incumbents’ terms were not shortened.

Following Wymer’s comments, District 1 Councilor Deborah Dapson expressed support for the ordinance by noting that voter fatigue can impact voter turn out.

“When you have elections practically every year, it seems like people just get tired of voting, especially when you have a run-off,” Dapson said.