Berry, others sign up to run for ABQ mayor

Mayor Richard Berry confirmed that he would run for a second term in office on Saturday.

The mayor, a former state Representative, made the announcement when picking up campaign materials at the city clerk’s office on Saturday. Saturday was the first day that candidates could pick up the information.

It was widely expected that Berry would run for a second term.

Berry said that he would not seek public financing according to the Albuquerque Journal. Instead, Berry will privately finance his campaign.

“We’ve brought the FBI crime rate to the lowest level in decades, we have Paseo Del Norte & I-25 moving forward, we’ve made Albuquerque more business friendly and we’ve brought fiscal responsibility, efficiency and transparency to City Hall,” said Mayor Berry.

Berry joins two others in announcing their run for October’s municipal election. Former City Councilor Pete Dinelli and retired Albuquerque Police Department Sgt. Paul Heh have both announced they would run.

The Albuquerque Journal’s Dan McKay had some others who had picked up literature to run:

City Clerk: Picking up petitions for mayor today were Pete Dinelli, Richard Berry, Paul Heh, Jay Flowers, Margaret Aragon de Chavez.

— Dan McKay (@mckaydan) February 16, 2013

While the race is non-partisan, Berry is a Republican who defeated two Democratic candidates in 2009.

The Democratic Party of New Mexico wasted little time in welcoming Berry to the race.

“After four of the worst years on record, the only appropriate announcement for Berry to make is that he’s stepping down to let someone serious come in and clean up his mess,” said Javier M. Gonzales, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, in a statement. “Berry promised to run Albuquerque like a business. But his record tells a different story: over 3,000 jobs lost while comparable metros are in recovery, a police force in crisis, and his signature ‘ABQ the Plan’ a total failure.”

One top-tier Democratic candidate considering a run is former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish.

According to Peter St. Cyr, Denish says she would also eschew public financing.

Former Lt. Gov Diane Denish tells me if she decides to run for mayor she’ll tap her own donor list and opt for private financing. #ABQ2013

— Peter St.Cyr (@Peter_StCyr) February 16, 2013