Paul Wymer will be Rio Rancho’s next mayor, and he’s already thinking about what comes first when he walks into City Hall on May 1. The District 4 city councilor defeated retired teacher and former Sandoval County Democratic Party chair Alexandria Piland in Tuesday’s runoff election, 10,394 votes (63%) to 6,096 (37%), according to unofficial […]
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Continuity wins: Wymer elected Rio Rancho mayor in runoff victory
It was a windy election day in Rio Rancho Tuesday but it wasn’t the winds of change that were blowing. Rio Rancho voters chose continuity Tuesday, electing District 4 City Councilor Paul Wymer as the city’s next mayor in the April 14 runoff election. As of 8:50 p.m. Tuesday, Wymer was ahead of retired teacher […]
This time, it’s a ‘no’
Village councilors in Tijeras Monday officially rejected a zoning change they had previously chosen to set aside in the face of overwhelming public pushback. Mayor Jake Bruton told the Route 66 Independent the council erred by letting a public hearing on rezoning 58 acre property near I-40 and State Route 14 conclude without taking a […]
Sam Bregman’s campaign laid off staff ahead of finance deadline
By Pat Davis — In the days leading up to a critical fundraising deadline, Sam Bregman’s campaign for governor laid off staff in areas of the state key to Bregman’s early strategy to win the Democratic primary for governor. Sources close to the campaign reached by New Mexico Political Report on Tuesday confirmed that several […]
Local firefighters arrested, held in assault on mentally ill man in Estancia
By Pat Davis –– Two Estancia residents are facing serious felony charges after allegedly taking justice into their own hands and severely beating a homeless man last month. On the evening of March 25, 2026, an Estancia man, who is also a supervisor in the county fire department, allegedly attacked a male, who is described […]
Suspect in custody after shooting, manhunt shuts down Rail Runner, cancels Bernalillo school
A man is in custody after an early-morning shooting near U.S. Highway 550 in Bernalillo triggered a multi-agency manhunt Tuesday that shut down Rail Runner service and forced Bernalillo Public Schools to cancel classes for the day. Bernalillo police responded around 4:49 a.m. after a 911 caller reported someone firing at their vehicle on westbound […]
Opinion: New Mexico’s disability laws get important updates, and more still needed
By State Representative Kathleen Cates — In 2023, New Mexico unanimously passed HB 131, becoming the first state in the country to mandate private insurers to cover prosthetics and orthotics. Since then, 11 other states have filed similar laws. State Rep. Kathleen Cates was first elected in 2022 to represent State House District 44 […]
Corrales council moves to end vague ‘that’s how it’s always been’ road decisions
Village councilors in Corrales are seeking to make their decisions on road projects clearer. The agenda for Tuesday’s meeting includes possible approval of a policy governing road paving, repair and maintenance procedures for the village. The topic moved to the forefront of Corrales debate in February, after several residents of Perea Road took issue with […]
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 […]
Rio Rancho runoff on pace to top March turnout — if Election Day holds
Rio Rancho’s mayoral runoff is on pace to exceed total turnout from March’s six-candidate municipal election — a potentially historic result for a race that typically draws far fewer voters. The city clerk’s office reported 10,230 early votes cast in the runoff, representing 12.5% of the city’s 81,919 registered voters ahead of Tuesday’s election. That […]



