Reader votes surge in fourth contest

Participation surged in the fourth annual Albuquerque Journal Readers’ Choice Awards.

A total of 4,547 readers voted on this year’s 144 categories, up from last year’s 2,700. More than 42,000 single votes were cast.

“Our contest is truly a readers’ choice,” says Journal Marketing Director Melissa Stock. “All voters write in their favorites — it’s all independent thinking. So if you are a winner placing first through third, it actually means something, and is real proof of the business’s popularity.”

And it’s clear readers have favorites, with several winning for a fourth year. Among them: hometown favorites Neil Patrick Harris and Holly Holm, the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta, Rudy’s Country Store & Bar-B-Q, Betty’s Bath & Day Spa, American Home Furniture, Defined Fitness and Dillard’s.

There are some firsttimers, too, including aaahh ChiroSpa, columnist Joline Gutierrez Krueger, Effinbar and Grill, Western Commerce Bank, local politician Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham, True Grit Tattoo and Silva Lanes.

Winning has value, too. With more than 465,000 readers a week and 1.056 million unique digital viewers a month, the Journal can hear the thoughts of a large market audience.

“Because Readers’ Choice is an unbiased contest, it functions as a real resource,” says Stock. “It is often kept for the year for quick referral on what to do, where to go, who to see and where to dine.”

All the finalists were honored at a reception.

Winners were determined with an electronic count of online ballets received during a monthlong voting period.