APS candidate forums to be held today, Thursday

With 19 candidates vying for four seats on the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education, the district will host community forums over two nights rather than one.

The public meetings, set for tonight and Thursday in the APS administration building, will introduce the diverse field of candidates for Districts 3, 5, 6 and 7. Forums will be broadcast live on KANW 89.1 FM and online at KANW.com.

“This is one of the largest groups of school board candidates we’ve seen in recent years, with four seats open, including two in which the incumbents aren’t running for re-election,” said APS spokeswoman Johanna King.

The field actually dropped from 24 on Dec. 20, the last day to declare candidacy.

District 6, currently held by Don Duran, has the most competition. Six people are running to fill the seat representing the East Mountains, which was vacated by Duran, a former board president who is not seeking re-election.

Also open is District 5 representing the West Mesa. “Breaking Bad” actor Steven Michael Quezada won a seat on the Bernalillo County

Commission and is not running for a second term on the APS board.

Incumbents Dave Peercy and Lorenzo Garcia are seeking third terms in District 7, representing the far Northeast Heights, and District 3, representing the North Valley and Downtown, respectively.

Early voting begins Jan. 18 and runs through Feb. 4. The election is Feb. 7.

Eligible voters may cast ballots at any of 12 locations.

For a list of schools in each board district, go to aps.edu.