Tomorrow's Mayoral Election in Española:  Is This the Start of the Old Guard's Comeback?

Javier Vs. Juan Ramón

Incumbent mayor Javier Sánchez has what appears to be a fight on his hands to retain his position of Mayor of Española in tomorrow's city elections.  Sanchez has a non-scandalous incumbency on his side, and prestigious academic degrees from Yale and Notre Dame, as well as a role in running one of Española's political gathering places, the La Cocina restaurant.  On the other hand he is also openly gay and Republican, two potential liabilities in Rio Arriba County that did not stop him from getting elected four years ago during what appeared to be a revolt by citizens against the ruling Democratic power structure in Española and Rio Arriba county.  

In a brief two-year period between 2016 and 2018, many of the keepers of that power structure--Tommy Rodella, Barney Trujillo, Debbie Rodella, Alex Naranjo, and, via what is becoming a career-killer DWI, Sen. Richard Martinez--lost their seats in key positions of power.  The Naranjo-Cook-Salazar-Trujillo coalition that had pretty much controlled politics since the early 1960s under the tutelage of Emilio Naranjo was on the outs.  Predictably, it was just a matter of time until the old families mounted a serious comeback project.  Juan Ramón Vigil, whose mother Carmela Salazar is of the powerful Salazar clan, is the first test case for this project.  Others are coming in primary and general elections this year.  

Juan Ramón is no slouch.  In spite of his almost adolescent youth--he is 26--he served first as a member of the library board at the age of 14.  He served for years on the Española Fiesta Council, and is thought to be the youngest person ever to be elected in New Mexico to a city council position, at the age of 22.  He was appointed to the board of regents of Highlands University by Governor Susana Martinez, while a student there.  So he is, arguably, as experienced as Javier.  A real-estate agent, he has been in a position to meet many locals outside his normal circle of acquaintences.

The campaigns have not focused on the stakes involved in this race vis-a-vis their meaning for the future power structure in Española, even though the race is seen by some as suggesting just that.  Juan Ramón has denied this aspect of the race, focusing on simply improving the quality of life in a city that is proud of its traditional cultural heritage.  Javier has emphasized his accomplishments as mayor.  Both have strong presences on Facebook.

The Rio Grande Sun, owned by Robert Trapp, has a long tradition of fighting the old power structure, and especially what he viewed as corrupt practices enabled by it.  He recently gave a strong endoresement for Javier.  Peggy Sue Martinez, incumbent city council member, has endorsed Vigil, while incumbenr city council member Justin Salazar-Torres (not part of the clan) has endorsed Sánchez.

Up-and-coming campaign strategist Samuel Ledoux, from Nambé, who was recently awarded an MA in political management from George Washington University in Washington, D.C., has been a key figure in Sánchez's campaign, particularly in the areas of social media and campaign strategy.  His presence beefing up Javier's campaign (click here) is a strong indicator of how seriously Javier takes this challenge.  Juan Ramón's facebook) presence also illustrates Vigil's efforts to succeed in the rapidly growing impact of social media in New Mexico politics.