Rio Rancho voters choose their next mayor Tuesday — here’s what you need to know before you head to the polls

Rio Rancho voters head to the polls Tuesday to choose the city’s next mayor — and the choice couldn’t be clearer.

District 4 City Councilor Paul Wymer, a licensed architect and planner with more than 40 years in Rio Rancho, faces Alexandria Piland, a retired union teacher and former Sandoval County Democratic Party chair, in the April 14 runoff. Neither candidate cleared the 50% majority threshold in the March 3 municipal election, where Wymer led the six-candidate field with 45% of the vote to Piland’s 27%.

The central question: does Rio Rancho stay the course or change direction?

Wymer, who served six years on the City Council and six years on the Planning and Zoning Board before that, frames himself as the candidate for voters satisfied with the city’s direction under outgoing three-term Mayor Gregg Hull. He has championed infrastructure investment, public safety pay increases and the city’s 2024 Affordable Housing Plan. He is currently employed at UNM Sandoval Regional Medical Center, overseeing construction and renovation projects.

“If you think things are going well in the city, then I’m the person that you should put in the seat,” Wymer told The 528.

Piland argues the city is overdue for a course correction, focusing her campaign on water rates, crumbling roads and requiring developers to meet infrastructure standards before new housing gets approved — what she calls a “growth must pay for growth” approach. A working mom and former small business owner, she says her life experience sets her apart.

“The people that I’ve spoken with are not happy,” Piland said. “The two things that come up the most are roads and water.”

The winner takes office May 1.

Both candidates support moving city elections to November — a shift city staff estimated would save taxpayers roughly $500,000 per cycle — but split on voter ID, with Wymer backing mandatory photo ID and Piland opposing the current standard as an unnecessary cost. On immigration, Wymer supports ICE enforcement while opposing overreach; Piland was the only candidate in the race who did not oppose making Rio Rancho a sanctuary city, though she has acknowledged a mayor alone couldn’t enact such a policy.

Vote Tuesday, April 14 | 7 a.m. – 7 p.m.

Cast your ballot at any of 14 voting convenience centers. Same-day voter registration is available at all locations. Bring a current photo ID.

• Broadmoor Senior Center (Clerk’s Annex), 3241 Broadmoor Blvd.
• Loma Colorado Library, 755 Loma Colorado Blvd.
• Cabezon Community Center, 2307 Cabezon Blvd.
• 2345 Southern Blvd. SE, Suite C2
• The Hub @ Enchanted Hills, 7845 Enchanted Hills Blvd.
• Cielo Azul Elementary, 3804 Shiloh Rd.
• Puesta Del Sol Elementary, 450 Southern Blvd.
• Haynes Community Center, 2006 Grande Blvd. SE
• Esther Bone Library, 950 Pinetree Rd. SE
• Star Heights Recreation Center, 800 Polaris Blvd.
• 4114 Sabana Grande Ave.
• Rio Rancho Middle School, 1600 Loma Colorado Blvd.
• Joe Harris Elementary, 2100 10th St.
• Colinas Del Norte Elementary, 1001 Night Sky Ave.

Absentee ballots must be returned by 7 p.m. to any voting convenience center or the City Clerk’s Office, 3200 Civic Center Circle NE, Suite 150.

Unofficial results will post at rrnm.gov/rrvotes after polls close. Results go to the Sandoval County canvassing board April 22.