The2001 Albuquerque mayoral election took place on October 2, 2001. Incumbent MayorJim Baca ran for re-election to a second term. He faced a crowded field of competitors, including former MayorMartin Chávez, the Democratic nominee for Governor in1998; former District Attorney Bob Schwartz; City Councilors Mike McEntee and Alan Armijo; and former State TreasurerJames B. Lewis.
Chávez ultimately won the election by a narrow margin, receiving 31 percent of the vote to Schwartz's 28 percent, while Baca came in third with 11 percent.[1]
Baca, a controversial mayor,[11] delayed his announcement that he would seek re-election until June 10, 2001, campaigning on his support of environmental protection and opposition to urban sprawl.[5] At the time that Baca announced his campaign, he was one of the last candidates in the race. Chávez, who served a term as Mayor before running for Governor in1998, emerged as one of the frontrunners in the race, emphasizing his accomplishments as Mayor.[12] Though the race was formally nonpartisan, McEntee and Schwartz were the only two registered Republicans in the race,[13] and McEntee won the endorsement of the Bernalillo County Republican Party.[14]
TheAlbuquerque Tribune endorsed Baca for re-election, praisingdowntown Albuquerque's "tremendous renaissance, buttressed by private business, in which [Baca] has invested substantial time and energy," for supporting a tax increase to repair roads, and for managing the city's growth.[15] TheAlbuquerque Journal, though praising Baca for "accomplish[ing] a great deal in his four years in office," endorsed Schwartz, whom it said "has the potential to remake the office of Albuquerque mayor for the better." TheJournal praised Schwartz's "rare combination of intelligence and public persona" and as "the kind of mayor who will get up in front of people and tell them what he intends to do. If they approve, he'll go; if the people have other ideas, he'll listen and modify his plans."[16]
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