Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima sailed to a big win in Tuesday’s election, becoming the rare candidate to win a third term in office. Municipal Judge Kieran Ryan also handily beat his challenger, William Kinsella, to win the race for presiding judge. The city council races were much closer…but in every case, progressive candidates came out on top. KasandraGandara is the new city councilor in District 1. Jack Eakman takes the District 4 seat. And incumbent Greg Smith was re-elected in District 2.
In the mayoral race, Ken Miyagishima had 52%; Miguel Silva 33%; and Gina Montoya Ortega 16%.
In District 1, Kasandra Gandara won with 48%; Eli Guzman 47%; and Steven Calderazzo, who withdrew from the race, garnered 6% of the vote.
In District 2, incumbent Greg Smith won with 54%. His challenger, Philip VanVeen, had 46%.
In District 4, Jack Eakman won with 44%. Richard Hall had 43%, just 11 votes shy of Eakman. Gilbert Vasquez got 13%.
The biggest margin of victory was in the presiding municipal judge race. Kieran Ryan defeated William Kinsella 66% to 34%.
