City Races in Española Test Democratic Strength Among Norteños

While city council races in NM are non-partisan, most people know where the candidates are coming from, so a partisan flavor influences many city council and mayoral races.

Not since perhaps the 1950's have Republicans controlled city hall in Española, a bastion of Democratic strength at all levels for many decades.  Tomorrow's city elections could change that.  The most iffy race here to make this happen is between former coach  Richard Martinez (not the former Senator), a Republican, and Nanette Smith Rodriguez, presumably a Democrat.  

Martinez coached the level 5-A state Española Valley High School men's basketball team to a state champtionship in 2016.  In a controversial move he was placed on administrative leave shortly thereafter, and an administrative mess followed for the next two years.  Initially, many students believed he was in trouble for praying with players prior to games--something students said was voluntary and a frequent practice on athletic teams.  School Superintendent Bobbie Gutierrez then fired Martinez, but the school board immediately fired her, and her replacement, Eric V. Martinez (no relation), reinstated him as coach.  School board elections were held again in 2017 and Gutierrez became school superintendent again.  But by that time Martinez had lost his teaching and coaching licenses as part of an agreement with PED.  Parents had filed a lawsuit against the coach, alleging physical abuse and retaliation against players.  This was settled to the tune of $200,000 in 2018, paid for by the NM Public School Insurance Authority.

Smith Rodriguez  is Director of Adult Services in the Las Cumbres Community Services agency, with a longstanding regional presence in El Norte, now expanding into the US-Mexico border area, including Cd. Juarez.

In another city council race Democrat Aaron J. Salazar is challenging incumbent John L Ricci.  An interesting twist here is that Ricci was initially elected as a Democrat but switched to Republican.  Ricci, a successful businessman is from the Sonoma Valley in California, but moved to Española in 1993, managing the AutoZone franchise before going into business for himself.  Aaron Salazar is Operations Supervisor at NM Gas.  He is not a member of the politically influential Salazar family in Española, so there is not that sub-text operating here.

Incumbent councillor Justin Salazar Torres was also elected as a Democrat but switched to Republican in 2019.  In 2020 he ran unsuccessfully for HD seat 40, won by Valverde resident Roger Montoya, a Democrat.  Salazar Torres is a technician at Los Alamos Labs and also works at his family's funeral business.  He is running unopposed.

Denise Benavides is running unopposed for District 3.

Bottom line:  If Ricci and Martinez win, the city council will have three Republican incumbents, out of five.