Dennis Tim Salazar is the next mayor of Española.

Salazar beat incumbent John Ramon Vigil and write-in candidate Joann Salazar at each of the city’s three polling locations on Tuesday night, as well as in early voting and absentee ballot numbers.

Dennis Tim Salazar wrote in a statement that the results show people overwhelmingly want to see the city go in a new direction.

“We are ready to move past the last four years of stagnation, controversy and mismanagement of the budget,” Salazar wrote. “Change will be difficult, but the people of Española deserve a better place to live, grow and work. We ran on the platform to restore fiscal responsibility, accountability, and confidence in the city government. We have a lot to prove to the people of Española, and we will meet that challenge. I am honored that the people of Española have bestowed their trust in me.”

Vigil and Joann Salazar did not return phone calls Tuesday seeking comment about the race.

Salazar received 857 votes, Vigil received 566 and Joann Salazar received 334.

While Dennis Tim Salazar had been contemplating a run for mayor, his decision to go for it in this election cycle was due to happenstance. Former mayor Javier Sanchez planned to face off against Vigil for a second time, after losing to him by 64 votes in 2022, but pulled out on filing day due to what he called an “ambiguous technicality.”

This prompted Dennis Tim Salazar to jump into the race, and endorsements quickly followed. Sanchez, Assistant Fire Chief John Wickersham, District 4 Councilor Samuel LeDoux, the International Association of Fire Fighters Local 4339 and former city employees all supported his candidacy.

LeDoux celebrated with Dennis Tim Salazar at the Apple Valley Kitchen on Tuesday night. He said the feeling was tense as people were waiting for election results, but excitement and relief spread across the room when they found out that Dennis Tim Salazar won.

“I think that for too long, City Hall has been about personalities and personal picadillos and not about the things that actually matter,” LeDoux said.

Having a less divisive mayor will mean councilors can tackle the big issues facing the community, he said, like crime, homelessness and economic development.

“I think people are finally ready to move on,” LeDoux said.

During his term as mayor, Vigil has faced allegations of sexual assault, harassment and discrimination.

Last year, a city employee filed a report with New Mexico State Police alleging Vigil sexually assaulted her at a Santa Fe restaurant in 2024 in front of then-city manager Eric Lujan. NMSP officers interviewed Lujan, several other elected officials and city employees as part of its investigation, but ultimately declined to file charges against Vigil.

There are currently three active lawsuits against Vigil in his capacity as mayor, which include allegations of discrimination based on race and gender, sexual harassment and other misconduct.

Vigil has denied all allegations levied against him.

Dennis Tim Salazar’s administration will inherit these lawsuits, along with a projected $4 million budget deficit, a list of unfinished capital projects, vacancies in the Social Services Department, questions about the use of the opioid settlement funds and more.

Other Races

Incumbent District 1 Councilor Aaron Salazar beat challenger Jacob Torres with a tally of 189 to 163 votes. Aaron Salazar is a long-time Jemez Mountains Electric Cooperative employee. This will be his second term as councilor.

Former municipal judge Stephen J. Salazar beat his opponent, former city councilor Michelle Martinez, 266 to 172.

In District 3, two former city councilors faced off. Manuel Martinez won the race against Floyd Archuleta, 250 to 260.

District 4 Councilor and Mayor Pro Tem Justin Salazar-Torrez ran uncontested and garnered 393 votes. Salazar-Torrez is the only council candidate who did not participate in the mayoral candidate forum hosted by the Española Chamber of Commerce, Rio Grande SUN and Los Alamos Daily Post the Saturday before the election.

District 2 Councilor Peggy Sue Martinez will retain her council seat, after attempt to unseat current municipal judge Joseph Madrid.

Madrid won the race 1,177 to 565.

Election Irregularities

Española City Clerk Carla Martinez did not return a phone call or emails regarding election results. She also failed to answer an email with questions regarding security cameras in voting areas.

Dennis Tim Salazar said in a telephone call Tuesday that poll watchers with his campaign were denied access to City Hall as votes were being tabulated.

City clerk employees told them something about filling out paperwork to be able to enter City Hall, but Dennis Tim Salazar said he was unaware of this requirement prior to election night.

“I even went back to Carla’s previous emails,” he said. “There’s nothing at all even remotely like that in there It seems like they’re making up the rules as they go.”

This year, Carla Martinez made the decision to not share daily voter rolls with any candidate during early voting.

Vigil said in a telephone call on Sunday that he requested these daily documents right as early voting started, but she never provided him the information.