Candidate Filing Date is Aug. 29

If you’ve been thinking about becoming a politician, decision time is coming up.

Aug. 29 is the one and only day candidates can file to get their name on the ballot for the municipal election on Nov. 7.

Candidates must be delivered to the Sandoval County Clerk’s office, 1500 Idalia Road in Bernalillo, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on Aug. 29. Anyone missing that deadline can still run for office by filing paperwork on Sept. 5, but they will only be an eligible write-in candidate.

In Corrales, an election will be held for village council positions in districts 2, 5 and 6, as well as municipal judge. Candidates must be registered voters and can only run for positions in districts where they reside. A map of the village’s council districts can be found at www.corrales-nm.org/community/page/election-information.

The declaration of candidacy form needed to file and other information candidates need to know can also be found there.

Village Councilors Bill Woldman (2), Zach Burkett (5) and Stuart Murray (6) and Municipal Judge Michelle Frechette have each told the Comment they plan to run for re-election. But Mayor Jim Fahey says don’t let that discourage you from running.

“The village would like to see more individual citizens opting to run for office,” he said in one of his “Mayor’s Message” emails last month. “It gives the citizens more choices from individuals who have different life experiences and are interested in giving back to the community. There may be fresh, new ideas as well as differing perspectives that may not have been considered by others. Some people are better at problem solving, others more tactful and diplomatic. It is important to have a good cross section of the village so consensus can be reached, and all feel they, and their ideas, have been represented. No experience is necessary, but interest in doing the job is very important.”

The job of village councilor will pay better than it does now. The governing body recently voted to increase the pay of newly elected councilors to $600 per month.