Mayor Chavez to seek reelection

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez announced Sunday that he will seek the Duke City's mayoral office for a fourth term. 

"Well I'm putting my hat in for mayor, I'm excited about the prospects for Albuquerque. I'm excited about what we've done," Chávez said.

The mayor said that he plans to bolster public safety by increasing the Albuquerque police force by 100 officers in the next 18 months.

Chávez also said thriving in the tough economy is one of his plans for the Duke City.

"We are in a recession, and I want to make sure that we emerge in all the right ways," he said. "The greening of our economy, bringing alternative technology and renewed emphasis on small businesses are all going to be really critical."

Chávez has been the Mayor since 2001, and he spent a four year stint as the city's leader from 1993-1997.

In 1997, Chávez chose to leave the office to run for governor. He would eventually lose the race to incumbent Gov. Gary Johnson.

Chávez's three terms as mayor haven't been without controversy. Some claim that he has turned Albuquerque into a safe haven for illegal immigrants and others have criticized rocky relationships with city councilors.

The mayor has a list of challengers anxious to take the city's top job. Republican State Rep. Richard "RJ" Berry and former Senate President Pro-Tem Richard Romero are considered will pursue the office.

Community activist Donna Rowe is running as a write in candidate.

The election will take place on Oct. 6, and a run-off election has been scheduled for Nov. 24. The run-off election will only take place if a candidate fails to earn a majority of the votes.