APS board election attracts 24 candidates

But only four seats are on the ballot in February’s election

Twenty-four people will vie for four seats on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education in February, an unusually large turnout.

The candidates formally filed with the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office on Tuesday, streaming through the office at a steady pace, according to Jaime Diaz, deputy county clerk.

“What we are seeing in this election is virtually every district or position that is up for re-election is being contested by many candidates rather than two or three,” Diaz said. “I have never seen it fill up like this.”

The race includes two incumbents, President Dave Peercy and Vice President Lorenzo Garcia, who are both seeking third terms.

Former board president Don Duran is not running again in District 6, while Steven Michael

Quezada of District 5 is moving on to become a Bernalillo County commissioner, leaving their seats up for grabs.

Diaz said he hopes the large field of candidates will bring more voters to the polls Feb. 7.

School board elections are notorious for low turnout, often ranging from 3 percent to 10 percent, among the worst for any type of race.

For instance, in 2015, the most watched battle — Peggy Muller-Aragón vs. incumbent Kathy Korte — attracted just over 3,000 voters. Muller-Aragón prevailed with about 2,000 votes.

APS board members serve four-year terms, playing a critical role by approving the district budget, creating policy and hiring a superintendent.

Money woes should be a major focus during the board election, with a new round of cuts on the horizon at the upcoming legislative session.

APS Superintendent Raquel Reedy has said the district could lose up to $29 million — 4 percent of the $1.3 billion budget — during the current fiscal year.

Another perennial issue is the board’s relationship with the New Mexico Public Education Department.

During the past few years, PED instituted the rigorous PARCC exam, as well as a controversial teacher evaluation system, generating outcry from some board members.

With four of the board’s seven seats in contention, APS could move closer to the state or establish a deeper division.