Albuquerque businessman and teacher, Dan Lewis, announced that he is running for City Council District 5 on Albuquerque’s West Side, expecting to succeed City Councilor Michael Cadigan who is vacating the seat.

Dan Lewis Candidate for City Council District 5

“During this period of economic turmoil, I will fight hard to keep the West Side healthy, growing, and economically stable. Our City needs to facilitate private sector job creation, protect families and neighborhoods, and improve and expand the network of West Side roads,” Lewis said.

“I promise to serve ethically and to foster a mindset of service and integrity on the council,” said Lewis. “I have the fiscal discipline to cut wasteful government spending so that taxpayers can keep more of their own money.”

Lewis, 38, is a long time resident of Albuquerque’s West Side where he and his wife Tracy, a third grade school teacher at Seven Bar Elementary School, are raising their two children, Madison age 13 and Jensen age 11.

As a small business owner and local employer, Dan oversees two growing businesses in Albuquerque: Rio Grande Foam Inc., a leading distributor of polyurethane foam and upholstery products, and Rio Grande Rustics Inc., a large online rustic furniture company.

Lewis also said he wants to work with the county and state to create more space for parks and sports facilities for Little League Baseball, soft­ball, soccer, and football programs. Dan is an avid supporter of children’s sports, fitness, and outdoors activities, having served as baseball coach at Cibola High School and on the Board of Directors of the Paradise Hills Little League where he coaches a team.

Lewis was born in San Jose, California and received a Masters Degree with a communications concentration from Southwestern Theological Seminary, and his Bachelor of Arts from Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. He is certified as a teacher as well as a coach in New Mexico, and has taught language arts at Cibola High School on the West Side. In addition to his family and business responsibilities, Dan volunteers regularly at his children’s schools, and provides assistance weekly to the homeless at “Noonday” in downtown Albuquerque. Lewis is also a member of the National Kidney Foundation, and is a living kidney donor.

Dan and his wife also founded the West Side’s Soul Rio Church, where for many years they have helped counsel troubled marriages, encouraged and supported parents, and promoted strong families. The church began ten years ago as a small group that met in Dan and Tracy’s West Side home, and is now a congregation of hundreds of adults and children where Dan serves as Pastor.

Dan believes in an open-door “I work for you” policy, and is taking his message door-to-door, expecting to visit over 5,000 West Side homes over the months leading up to the October 6 election. Dan encourages those interested in finding out more about him and his campaign to contact him directly at 615-6507, or email lewisforABQ@gmail.com.

Dan’s Website is www.electDanLewis.com.