Last updated: Thu, Sep. 18.
Every election cycle has its defining issues—the ones that reveal not just where candidates stand, but how they weigh community, economy, and fairness. In 2025, one of those issues is short-term rentals (STRs).
This survey captures the views of mayoral and city council candidates on STRs. Each profile includes a summary and candidate responses to the key survey questions.
📌 Live updates: This is an ongoing survey. New responses are added as they come in. For the full dataset, see the live spreadsheet of candidate responses.
Mayoral Candidates (Albuquerque)
Alpana Adair
Profession: Hotel HR/Business Consultant & Filmmaker • Affiliation: Independent
Website: votemayoradair.com • Contact: info@votemayoradair.com | 505-304-0064
District/Area: Southeast Albuquerque
Summary:
Supports STRs mainly in higher-density or mixed-use areas. Prioritizes balancing property rights with neighborhood character. Strong advocate of a study-first approach (House Memorial 52).
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
No. “All STRs should follow one uniform standard.” - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
STRs do not meaningfully affect the housing market. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Implement STR registration with caps to prevent over-saturation, zoning restrictions, incentives for long-term rentals, and transparency through disclosure and enforcement. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. Reclassification would unfairly raise property taxes and harm homeowners. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. “By examining economics, taxation, and regulation of STRs, we can make informed decisions. Rushed legislation risks unintended consequences.” - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Open to ongoing collaboration.
Darren White
Affiliation: Republican • Website: darrenwhiteformayor.com
Contact: dwhiteformayor@gmail.com | 505-400-4437 • Area: City of Albuquerque
Summary:
Frames STRs as a property-rights issue. Opposes new STR-specific taxes, arbitrary caps, and rushed legislation; favors market-driven policy and a study-first approach.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
No. One uniform standard. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal impact. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Let the market guide supply; minimal regulation. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. Evidence-based policymaking prevents rushed rules. - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Supportive.
Mayling Armijo
Profession: Executive Director, Elevated Lending CDC • Affiliation: Democratic Party
Website: armijo4mayor.com • Contact: contact@armijo4mayor.com | 505-633-5713
Area: City of Albuquerque
Summary:
Supports fair taxation and transparency; opposes corporate consolidation of STRs; would allocate STR tax revenue to affordable-housing strategies.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Yes. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal statewide impact, but hotspots feel pressure. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Direct STR revenue toward housing equity, neighborhood caps when data show displacement, and involve STR community in policy. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. STRs remain primarily residential. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. Need to understand broader ripple effects on economy and jobs. - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Strongly supportive.
Patrick Sais
Affiliation: Nonpartisan • Website: sais4mayor.com
Contact: sais4mayor@yahoo.com | 505-584-9075
Summary:
Supports STRs as a property right but signals openness to modest fees, caps, and enforcement funding.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Open to further study. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal effect. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Modest STR-related fees for housing initiatives; flexible caps by need. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. Equal rules for all STRs. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. Open to study before decisions. - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Supportive.
Louie Sanchez
Affiliation: Democrat • Website: Louie4ABQ.com
Contact: candidate@louie4abq.com | 505-401-4882 • Area: City of Albuquerque
Summary:
Supports STRs with “good-neighbor” standards, owner-occupied incentives, and a statewide framework allowing local flexibility. Opposes reclassification and favors study-first.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Yes. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal overall, but some hotspots show impact. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Create statewide framework, allow local adjustments, enforce noise/trash/parking standards, fair taxation without reclassification, and targeted caps on clusters. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. Unfair to homeowners renting occasionally. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. “Smart regulation should come from evidence, not knee-jerk reactions.” - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Strongly supportive.
City Council Candidates (Albuquerque)
District 1 — Joshua Neal
Affiliation: Republican • Website: nealfornm.com
Contact: nealfornm@gmail.com | 505-457-8142
Summary:
Strongly supports property rights; emphasizes that housing supply is constrained more by construction delays than STRs.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Yes. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal; bottleneck is city permitting and construction delays. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Simple licensing, strong enforcement for nuisance properties, fair lodging taxes, more housing supply. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. “We need facts instead of fear-driven policy.” - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Strongly supportive.
District 3 — Christopher Sedillo
Affiliation: Democrat • Website: votechrissedillo.com
Contact: votechrissedillo@gmail.com | 505-677-1913
Summary:
Favors reasonable oversight protecting property rights; opposes reclassifying STRs as commercial.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Yes. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal overall, hotspots matter. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Collaborative policymaking, voluntary longer-term rental programs, and study-driven oversight. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. “Brings all stakeholders together for a fair solution.” - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Supportive.
District 3 — Teresa Garcia
Affiliation: Democrat • Website: teresafordistrict3.com
Contact: teresa@teresafordistrict3.com | 505-903-2570
Summary:
Calls for caution and fairness; emphasizes the need for data before durable policy.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Open to study. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Unclear; more data needed. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Modest fees for housing, zoning adjustments, community-informed policymaking after study. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No blanket approach—differentiate homeowners from large-scale operators. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. “Without data, I cannot guide decisions for my district.” - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Open to dialogue.
District 5 — Dan Lewis
Affiliation: Nonpartisan city election
Contact: lewis4abq@gmail.com | 505-615-6507
Summary:
Supports STRs as property rights; favors minimal government involvement.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Open to study. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal impact. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Supply/demand balance; minimal regulation. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
No. Only basic review needed. - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Supportive.
District 9 — Renee Grout
Affiliation: Republican • Website: vote.reneegrout.com
Contact: reneefordistrict9@gmail.com | 505-440-2550
Summary:
Backs STRs as a property right; supports lighter rules for owner-occupied rentals; opposes extra STR-specific taxes.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Yes. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
Market-driven balance. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
No. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. Warns against reckless policymaking without data. - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Ongoing dialogue.
District 9 — Colton Alan Newman
Affiliation: Moderate Democrat
Contact: coltonnewmanfornm@gmail.com | (505) 506-3701
Summary:
Supports transparency and a study-first approach; favors registry and reporting to balance property rights with housing goals.
Key Highlights:
- Should owner-occupied STRs have lighter requirements?
Yes. - How do STRs affect housing availability and affordability?
Minimal overall; hotspots acknowledged. - What is your approach to harmonizing STRs with community needs and housing goals?
STR registry and reporting, neighborhood caps when data supports, zoning adjustments, exemptions for primary residences. - Should STRs be reclassified as commercial for tax purposes?
Targeted: investor-operated STRs may be; owner-occupied/occasional hosts should not. - Do you support the study-first approach (HM52)? Why or why not?
Yes. “Communities experience STRs differently; we need real data.” - Would you collaborate with the STR community?
Yes. Supportive.
Additional Respondents Outside Albuquerque
- David Montoya (Santa Fe City Council, District 1): Supports owner-occupied preference, strict enforcement against unpermitted STRs, fixed caps, local-resident preference in permitting; skeptical of HM52’s relevance for Santa Fe.
- Fox Guinn (Mayor, Eagle Nest): Supports STRs as property rights; one uniform standard; pay lodgers’/GRT tax; opposes reclassification; supports collaboration.
- Matthew Elias Gonzales (Cimarron Councilor): Advocates property rights, lighter requirements for owner-occupied STRs, incentives for rural housing revitalization, opposes blanket reclassification.
- Michael L. Brandenburg (Maxwell Councilman): Supports STRs as property rights; uniform standard; believes STRs act like hotels and should be taxed fairly; open to study.
- Colin Tawney (Cimarron Village Council): Lighter rules for owner-occupied STRs; supports modest STR fees for housing initiatives and uniform tax policy; favors study-first.
📌 Live Updates
For the full, continuously updated survey results, check here:
👉 Google Spreadsheet of Candidate Responses