West Side City Council Candidate Dan Lewis was Albuquerque’s first and so far only City Council candidate to submit to the City Clerk enough signatures to qualify for campaign financing under Albuquerque’s “Open and Ethical Elections Code.”  “We are qualifying in the largest district in the City, which means we had to obtain substantially more qualifying contributions and signatures than any other candidate for City Council in Albuquerque,” explained Lewis, a teacher and small businessman seeking to replace eight-year incumbent, Michael Cadigan.

Under the relatively new election law, a candidate must collect $5 contributions from at least 1% of the registered voters within their district to “qualify” for campaign financing.  In the West Side District 5, which at over 47,300 registered voters has the highest population of the 9 Albuquerque’s Council Districts, a candidate needs at least 473--$5 contributions from validly registered voters.

 “We had about 100 volunteers throughout West Side District 5 talking with neighbors and friends over the last two weeks, and with their help we hit the goal in time for the May 15 submission, the first date within which candidates were allowed to submit qualifying signatures,” explained Lewis.  Candidates must submit their eligible contributions and signatures by May 30, the deadline for the qualifying period under the law.

Lewis is working to replace Michael Cadigan who recently abandoned a run for mayor of Albuquerque, and has recently reversed himself, indicating he will run again for council after first stating he will not seek re-election.  

Lewis continues to stress his themes of ethical service and fiscal discipline, explaining that the tone of the West Side’s representation on the council must be changed and improved if our District, the City’s largest, is to have no impediments to obtaining its fair share of City resources and services. 

“There is a stalemate between Mr. Cadigan and many other public servants and government representatives in Albuquerque,” stated Lewis.  “By his own admission, eight-year incumbent Cadigan has explained that the antagonism between himself and others has left him ‘jaded and cynical’.”  As Mr. Cadigan told me and others in just the last couple of weeks, ’I’m through with this job.  I don’t want to be on the city council any more… it’s time for a new set of eyes to be in the city council position,’ and I could not agree more,” stated Lewis. 

“It really is time for a change, and I am working to demonstrate that I want to serve the people of this District and to establish a fresh perspective and an attitude of collaboration, not a state of ceaseless hostility.  That has and will continue to hurt the citizens and important civic projects needed in District 5, and it will not change unless we make a change,” concluded Lewis.

For Dan’s bio and more on the priorities he will pursue as city councilor, please visit www.ElectDanLewis.com.

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