ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a tight race for the only incumbent looking to keep her seat on Albuquerque City Council. Brook Bassan, as of 10:10 p.m., has won her race against challenger Abby Foster by 158 votes.
“Still focusing on the same priorities: we have to work together as a council to reduce crime and to do something for the homeless population in Albuquerque so that we do stuff with drug treatment and behavioral health treatment and provide that rather than try to invent something brand new,” Bassan reiterated her stance on Tuesday.
“I want to see the city reduce in crime, reduce in homelessness, and building more housing. At every income level, we need affordable housing, we need workforce housing, we need market rate housing,” Foster told KRQE Tuesday.
While city council races are nonpartisan, candidates’ political affiliation is usually known through endorsements and ads. Foster, a Democrat, was hoping to flip the seat from a Republican stronghold.
Joaquin Baca is set to the win the race to replace outgoing Isaac Benton in the Downtown and North Valley district. Benton held the seat for the last 18 years.
As for Trudy Jones’ District 8 seat covering the far Northeast Heights and Foothills, former Albuquerque Police officer Dan Champine is set to win after campaigning to tackle the crime problem. Champine faced Idalia Lechuga-Tena, who received more than 45% of the vote to Champine’s 54%.
In District 6, which encompasses the University of New Mexico, Nob Hill, and the International District, four candidates vied to replace Pat Davis. Nicole Rogers, a former City of Albuquerque employee, is leading the pack. However, executive director of a non-profit Jeff Hoehn is closing behind. Because no candidate received more than 50% of the vote, that race is now set for a December runoff between Rogers and Hoehn.
The 2021 council race saw the addition of more conservative members to the nine-person board with Dan Lewis replacing Cynthia Borrego in District 5, and Louie Sanchez replacing Lan Sena in District 1.
