Swisstack elected mayor again

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Tom Swisstack took an overwhelming lead in the Rio Rancho mayor’s race and voters approvee of a quarter-cent gross receipts tax increase to fund infrastructure for a new University of New Mexico campus in Tuesday's municipal election.

Mayor Mike Williams appeared poised to reclaim his District 1 city council lead, posting a 270-vote lead with one precinct in his district remaining.  District 6 incumbent Marilyn Salzman made a runoff with newcomer Kathy Colley but finished 40 votes behind the challenger.

In a third race, incumbent Howard Balmer trailed Steven Shaw by 156 votes after early and absentee voting totals were posted.

With 13 of 17 precincts plus the early and absentee reporting, Swisstack had 3,786 votes, far outdistancing former mayor Jim Owen with 1,164. Newcomer Tim Crum was third with 823 votes, followed by Bill White (330), John McKinney (207), Kim Rytter (180) and Stephen Meyer (78).

The higher education initiative to pay for infrastructure for a new UNM campus was on its way to passage. With just four precincts left, the quarter-cent gross receipts tax increase was being approved by voters 4,036-2,488.

MORE TO COME