“Her level of expertise in managing multiple stores for Radio Shack, and the stuff that she’s done before, more than qualifies her for any seat in this particular council. Rosemary has always had the skill set. She’s not normally been involved in this kind of thing, but when we found that he was the only guy that is playing it made absolutely no sense to allow the city of Rio Rancho to be exposed to this guy for any longer than we have to.
“We have somebody who has never been promoted in his life who has that seat. I think it would be criminal to allow him to walk in unopposed.”
Williams was incredulous at Owen’s comments.
“Promoted in his life? Promoted to what? I guess captain (in the U.S. Coast Guard Auxiliary) doesn’t mean anything, but that’s O.K.” Williams said. “First of all, there is somebody else in District 1 that is running, so that shows he’s ill-informed. Two, he doesn’t know what he’s talking about. Three, he has never done anything for this city.
“And four, have at it. You can say as far as I’m concerned, opinions are like rear ends, and he’s got the biggest one.”
Since candidates don’t officially file until Tuesday, the city clerk’s office could not confirm or deny that a third candidate was in the race.
Rosemary Owen did not return a phone call seeking comment.
Owen and Williams have been long-time political enemies dating back at least five years to when Owen was elected mayor in 2002. Public disputes over a proposed ethics ordinance and the location of the Mayor’s Ball outside of the Rio Rancho city limits more than overshadowed private disputes and accusations on several fronts.
Owen was defeated for reelection in 2006 by Kevin Jackson, while Williams finished a distant third in the race. But when Jackson resigned in July after alleged financial improprieties, Williams, who had been voted in as Deputy Mayor by his peers on the council, took over as acting mayor for a month until he was selected to fill the position in August.
The council subsequently appointed Fay Davis to fill Williams’ seat on the council, and she has said she will not stand for election.
Meanwhile, Glenn Walters, a former candidate for the New Mexico House of Representatives who resides in District 1, said he will not turn for either the city council or mayor.
“I’m not interested in that particular race. I’m interested in the results,” Walters said. “If I’m going to run at all, it will be for the state position. That’s kind of where I’ve always been at and probably will be.”
Walters said among he reasons he would not run is that he will be part of a 200-member delegation traveling to China in early March representing various chambers of commerce from around the state. The city election is March 4.
Owen reiterated he has not made a decision about his own political future and won’t until Tuesday’s filing day.
“I haven’t decided yet,” Owen said. “I’m still waiting to see if anyone else of any significance shows up.
“It’s like I told the city clerk when we were picking up Rosemary’s stuff yesterday: We’ll see. Tuesday is Tuesday.”