Outgoing mayor congratulates winners, candidates in city election

“Congratulations to the winning candidates,” outgoing Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima said Nov. 8, the day after the recent municipal elections.

After serving four terms as mayor, Miyagishima announced earlier this year he would not run for re-election. That paved the way for the open race for the mayor’s position, in which Eric Enriquez defeated Kasandra Gandara in a seven-person contest.

“I appreciate them stepping up to the plate to serve our community,” Miyagishima said. “I know there can only be one winner, but to those who did not make it, please stay involved, we need residents who wish to serve in other capacities.

“To my colleagues, Mayor Pro Tempore Gandara and Councilor (Tessa) Abeyta, I will cherish the time we worked together on the many issues facing our community,” Miyagishima said. “I hope for the best in your future endeavors; please keep in touch.”

Abeyta, the incumbent in City Council District 2, was defeated by Bill Mattiace, who served as Las Cruces Mayor from 2003-7.

“To our city residents, I am confident in Mayor-elect (Eric) Enriquez,” the mayor said. “He will make a great leader to this special city of ours!

“I appreciate the trust you have given me for the past 16 years as mayor, and also the additional 14 years as city councilor and county commissioner,” Miyagishima said. “I don’t plan on going anywhere. I hope to volunteer some time in our city in the future after a short siesta.”

Ken Miyagishima turned 60 in May. As a member of the Doña Ana County Commission and the Las Cruces City Council, he has served 30 years – one-half of his life – in elected office in Las Cruces. He is the longest-serving mayor in the city’s history, first elected in 2007 and re-elected in 2011, 2015 and 2019.

Candidates’ comments

"I'm humbled by the voters who placed their trust in me as city councilor for District 1 and will work to make sure that trust is deserved,” said Councilor-elect Cassie McClure. “This campaign was absolutely a team effort – that I could not have done alone – with so many volunteers who also believe in a brighter future for our city. I felt incredibly lucky to see and champion the democratic process alongside Mark O'Neill, Patrick Potter, Jason Estrada, and Daniel Buck. I look forward to working with residents so that their voices can be heard and action can be taken on issues that are important to them and to all of us."

“I'm proud of the campaign we ran,” said Councilor Johana Bencomo, who was elected to a second four-year term. “We knocked on over 2,000 doors, made calls, sent mail, and texts to voters across district 4. It paid off in the end and we won in the second round. This was truly a people powered campaign and I am so grateful to voters, my team, and all of my supporters.”

“It has been an honor to serve these last four years,” Councilor Tessa Abeyta said. She lost her District 2 seat to former Las Cruces mayor Bill Mattiace by 56 votes out of 2,408 cast.

“I am proud of what we have accomplished in the last four years,” Abeyta said, “and I appreciate the voters of District 2 who voted for me. Unfortunately, the race did not end up with the results that we wanted. I will always love Las Cruces, and I am ready to work in any way that I can to tackle the big issues in our city – including public safety, economic development and infrastructure projects. These things need to keep moving forward.

“I would like to thank my team – Matthew Gloudemans, Danielle Guerrero, Councilor (Becki) Graham, and Todd. You were amazing, and kept me going! Equally as important, I would like to thank my incredible team of volunteers who knocked doors every weekend, put up signs, made calls, and supported me in this race. I appreciate you more than you’ll ever know. A special thank you to members of our local Fire Union and Police Union for their active support. This race has never been about me, it’s been about the people of Las Cruces. Together, we’ll finish the infrastructure revitalization on the El Paseo corridor, Tony Gomez and Frenger Park.

“Finally, I’d like to congratulate William Mattiace on his win,” Abeyta said. “We both know what it means to run competitive campaigns. I will work to ensure a comprehensive transition for the benefit of our district.”

Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin said 22,389 people voted early and in person in the Nov. 7 election, which is 18.3 percent of those eligible.

It was a larger turnout than in 2021, the last municipal election, when 14,440 voters, when 11.8 percent of those eligible, turned out, López Askin said.

Unofficial election results will be certified by the county commission the week of Nov. 13, she said, and by the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office later in November.

To see unofficial municipal, school board and conservation district election results in the county, visit   https://electionresults.sos.state.nm.us/resultsSW.aspx?type=CTYALL&map=CTY&cty=07&name=Do%C3% B1a%20Ana You can also visit www.NMVote.org to see election results throughout the state.