The runoff election for the Rio Rancho City Council on Tuesday finally decided who will take the helm for two council seats.
Deborah S. Dapson, a local businesswoman received almost 53 percent of the votes (443 votes) for the District 1 City Council seat beating her incumbent opponent, former Rio Rancho mayor Jim Owen, who received 399 votes.
Nicole Dahn List, whom Mayor Gregg Hull appointed, has retained her seat in the District 6 race with approximately 51 percent of the votes, totaling 416. Her opponent, Edward Lynn Paulsgrove, received just over 48 percent of the votes, with 393 in total.
The runoff election was triggered after none of the candidates received 50% or more of the votes in the March 5 election, as stipulated by the city’s charter.
Both Sandoval and Bernalillo County Canvassing Boards will certify the runoff election on Monday, April 15 as a portion of the city is in Bernalillo County.
There were 1,651 votes cast according to the city clerk’s unofficial results, compared to the 5,139 votes in the March 5 election.
The newly elected councilors will be sworn in on April 25 and will officially take office on May 1.