Six candidates vying for Rio Rancho mayor reported raising a combined total of more than $60,000 in the first campaign finance reporting period ahead of the March 3 municipal election, according to reports filed with the City Clerk and reviewed by The 528.
The reporting period covers campaign activity through Jan. 20. The next campaign finance report is due Feb. 3, with a third report due March 2, one day before the election.
Alexandria Piland, the former chair of the Democratic Party of Sandoval County, led all candidates with $30,431.80 in contributions, including a $5,000 contribution from the DPSC and numerous individual donations ranging from $50 to $3,000. Piland’s campaign spent $10,938.13, primarily on printing, signage and postage.
District 4 City Councilor and mayoral hopeful Paul Wymer reported the second-highest fundraising total at $12,538.99, with significant contributions including a $5,000 check from developer Pierre Amestoy and a $2,000 check from Bo Johnson, an Albuquerque engineer. His campaign spent $4,342.88 on signage, advertising and campaign events.
Current Sandoval County Commissioner and former Rio Rancho Fire Chief Michael Meek raised $10,595.70, including a $7,000 loan from himself to his campaign. The Meek campaign spent $8,633.29, with major expenditures going to Edit House for marketing and digital services ($5,873.02 combined) and The Printing Guy for signs and palm cards ($2,078.24).
Corrine Rios, a resident and former state house candidate, raised $3,279.52, with her largest contribution being a $2,304.52 loan to her campaign from herself. The Rios campaign spent $3,006.17 on signs, palm cards and voter information.
Local business owner Aleitress Owens Smith raised $550, including two $250 contributions from business entities, and spent $362.20 on campaign supplies and materials.
Zachary Darden, a conservationist running for office for the first time, raised $250 through a personal contribution and spent $121.56 on signs and permits.
Two city council candidates in a contested race for the District 5 seat reported more modest fundraising.
Incumbent councilor Karissa Culbreath raised $6,030.46, including $1,944.71 she described as “carryover of surplus” from a previous campaign and multiple loans to her own campaign totaling $3,090.46. She spent $1,145.75, all reimbursing herself for campaign loans.
Calvin Ward, a retired military veteran who is vying to unseat Culbreath, raised $751.62, primarily through loans he made to his own campaign, and spent $608.35 on campaign materials and services.
Soon to be three-term City Councilor Bob Tyler, who is running unopposed for re-election to the District 3 City Council seat, raised $5,256.75 and spent $180.30 on permits and website fees. He was first elected to the seat in 2018.
Incumbent Jeremy Lenentine, who is running unopposed for his District 3 seat on the Governing Body, filed a statement of no activity.
Under Rio Rancho ordinance 30.28, all candidates must file campaign finance reports identifying contributions and expenditures made in connection with the election. The reports are available for public inspection at the City Clerk’s office at 3200 Civic Center Circle NE.
The municipal election is scheduled for March 3 with early voting starting Feb. 3.