While most UNM students are busy acclimating themselves to class schedules and part-time jobs, one is kick-starting his political career by throwing his hat into a nearby town's mayoral race.
Senior Mario Sanchez, who is studying political science, is one of three candidates in the March 5 Belen mayoral election. He says he decided to join the race, despite a heavy class load, because he felt that economic development was non-existent in his hometown, about 30 miles south of Albuquerque.
"I see the growth that has been going on around the state in the past year, but Belen just stays stagnant," Sanchez said. "I grew up here, my family grew up here. I don't want to see families start leaving and turning it into a ghost town."
Sanchez, a member of Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity and avid trumpet player, said balancing the demands of school and an elaborate mayoral campaign can be challenging.
"I'm kind of on alumni status because of my schedule," he said of his fraternity. "Last semester's been crazy - we've been campaigning every day. I go to class, then run to my car and bolt back to Belen."
Sanchez said his ideas for Belen, which include working with nearby cities to boost tourism, seeking ideas and feedback from the community and accountability, are attracting considerable attention. Much of the city's problems, he said, stem from efforts by current leadership to retain a small-town feel in the city of 6,000, which has suffered in recent years as it lost its major railroad hub status.
Get content from The Daily Lobo delivered to your inbox
"Our leaders had good intentions, but the only thing we brought in in the last four years is Wal-Mart, and that just made a lot of small businesses go out," he said.
He said he has met with the management of the Wal-Mart, as well as leaders of other surrounding communities such as Albuquerque and Los Lunas, to discuss ways to bring economic development to Belen.
His staff of volunteers, many of whom are aspiring politicians from Belen High School and the UNM Valencia campus, work up to 11 hours a day to pass out flyers, talk to local businesses and update his campaign Web site. And more are interested in getting involved, he said.
"We've been registering people left and right," he said. "Young people have been indifferent, especially after this last election, but this state needs young, dedicated people with new ideas."
Sanchez said he has wanted to be a public servant since childhood.
"When I was little, I had posters of Martin Luther King Jr. and Kennedy on my walls instead of Superman and Batman," he said, adding that this was the first time he had run in a campaign. He has previously worked as a campaign volunteer and researcher for lobby groups.
"I was going to wait until I graduated to get started, but when I look at the city, I see it's my obligation to make our city a little better for everybody," he said.
