Mayoral hopefuls have been recruiting young people to help get them on the ballot.
Brian Eagan, a UNM law student, has volunteered on Mayor Martin Ch†vez's last two campaigns.
"I believe in his vision for the city," Eagan said. "I do it for pure love of the cause."
He said he puts in anywhere from one hour to 20 hours a week volunteering.
Ch†vez has about 16 student volunteers who hit the streets of Albuquerque to urge registered voters to sign a petition to get his name on the ballot, said Bridget Cusick, campaign manager for Ch†vez. She said their office has recruited more than 600 volunteers.
Candidates have to gather at least 5,811 signatures to get their name on the ballot for the Oct. 4 election. That number is 2 percent of the city's registered voters.
Student Terri-Nikole Baca said she is volunteering this summer to help get Judy Espinosa elected.
"I don't know why there hasn't been a female mayor," she said. "But it's about time we put a woman in the office."
Baca volunteers about 10 hours on the weekends and a few hours on weekday evenings, mostly gathering signatures for a petition to get Espinosa on the ballot.
Espinosa, who is the director of the Alliance for Transportation Research Institute at UNM, said she enjoys having young people volunteer for her campaign.
"It's been great having them help me get petitions together and talk to folks," she said. "They care about the city and give a lot of excitement and energy to the campaign."
Espinosa said having students volunteer for her campaign also helps give her a better idea of topics that young people care about.
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"Young people know best what is lacking in order to make a good living wage and become a part of the social fabric in the city," Espinosa said.
Baca said one of her main complaints of Ch†vez's administration is his lack of attention to crimes like domestic violence and sexual assault.
"I'm a young woman and I can't go out at night without feeling intimidated," she said. "Judy's made clear to address these things and ask why these crime rates are so high. We don't see that happening with the current mayor."
Ch†vez could not be reached for comment, but Eagan said the mayor has made public safety a top priority in his administration. He said Ch†vez sponsored a legislation that outlawed rape between spouses during his stint in the New Mexico State Senate from 1989 to 1993.
"Before that, it was legal for a man to rape his wife in this state," Eagan said. "He cares a great deal about ending sexual assault."
City councilor Eric Griego, who is also running for mayor, said his staff members mostly range between the ages of 25 and 30. He said getting involved in campaigns is important for college students.
Griego said he has student volunteers ranging from freshmen in high school to recent college graduates.
"As a voter, the best way to learn about the issues is be involved in it directly," he said. As a political science instructor at UNM and TVI, Griego said he used to require his students to volunteer in political campaigns for class credit.
"Students just really need to think about what kind of leadership this city needs," he said.
Tony Pedroncelli, field director of Ch†vez's campaign and a UNM alumnus, said there are some downsides to asking people to sign petitions. He said some can get annoyed, but it is rare.
"People generally treat you how you treat them," he said.
City council president Brad Winter and Environmental Planning Commissioner David Steele are also vying to get on the ballot but could not be reached.
