Students ‘meh’ about election

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@ChloeHenson5

While the mayoral campaign season continues, many UNM students have not yet caught on to the hype.

On Monday, mayoral candidates Richard Berry, Paul Heh and Pete Dinelli went head–to-head in a forum to discuss their stances on multiple subjects, including economic development policies in Albuquerque.

The candidates answered questions such as whether they support public-private relationships, whether they support continuing to allocate bonds and whether to consider performance-based regulations instead of mandated ones.

Dinelli, the sole Democratic candidate, repeatedly said in his opening statement that he was running because of his “deep love for his community.” Berry, on the other hand, condemned the other candidates for not being straightforward in answering questions. Heh called out Berry and said the incumbent’s words were “bullshit.”

Still, UNM students are not showing much interest in the race.
Clayton Olsen, a freshman majoring in mechanical engineering, said he is not keeping up with the mayoral campaign.

“Honestly I don’t pay enough attention to it,” he said. “I ought to.”

Jesus Del Rio, a graduate student studying business administration, has also not kept up with the candidates’ campaigns. But while he has not paid much attention to the race, he said he does have an idea for what he wants from the city’s next mayor.

“(I want the mayor) to educate the police,” he said. “They’re being really nasty lately. I’ve seen them. I don’t have a problem with any of them, but I’ve heard comments and seen what they do.”
Billy Chung, a freshman studying psychology, continues to be unaware about the candidates’ platforms, but he said he wants a mayor who “knows what he’s doing” and is “committed to the city.”

But Cesiah Juarez, a freshman majoring in business, said the government helps out a lot of businesses. But she said she is uninterested in the campaign.

“I’m not sure,” she said. “I’m not really into that stuff.”