Unofficial returns show state representative taking early lead in bid for Albuquerque mayor

Albuquerque, NM, voters cast ballots for mayor

ALBUQUERQUE — State Rep. Richard Berry has taken an early lead in his bid for Albuquerque mayor.

Poll workers began counting ballots in the municipal election Tuesday night.

Unofficial returns with 21 percent of the precincts reporting show Berry leading with 40 percent of the votes. Mayor Martin Chavez has nearly 36 percent, and former state Senate President Pro Tem Richard Romero has 24 percent.

Chavez is seeking an unprecedented fourth term.

He paved the way for his campaign by asking a judge to overturn the term-limits law in the city charter. His candidacy has been compared to that of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who asked the City Council to reverse term limits so he could run again this year.

One candidate in the Albuquerque race must get 40 percent of the votes to avoid a Nov. 24 runoff between the two top finishers.

THIS IS A BREAKING NEWS UPDATE. Check back soon for further information. AP’s earlier story is below.

ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — Albuquerque voters will decide Tuesday whether to give the mayor an unprecedented fourth term.

Mayor Martin Chavez paved the way for his campaign by asking a judge to overturn the term-limits law in the city charter. His candidacy has been compared to that of New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who asked the City Council to reverse term limits so he could run again this year.

Chavez is in a tight three-way race with state Rep. Richard Berry and former state Senate President Pro Tem Richard Romero.

Chavez was mayor from 1994-1997 and was elected again in 2001 and 2005 in Albuquerque, a city of about 500,000 people.

One candidate must get 40 percent of the votes to avoid a Nov. 24 runoff between the two top finishers.