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Albuquerque native Martin J. Chávez earned a Bachelor’s Degree from the University of New Mexico and a Juris Doctorate from Georgetown. He was the founding Director of the Workers’ Compensation Administration in 1986, and from 1989 to 1993 served in the New Mexico State Senate, where he championed legislative initiatives from early voting, ethics reform, to urban forestry and workers compensation.
From 1993 through 1997 Chávez served as Mayor of Albuquerque in a term that featured a city-wide clean up, lower crime rates and the construction of the long-sought Montaño Bridge. Chávez also initiated a highly successful water conservation campaign and led the fight to protect Kirtland Air Force Base from closure.
Since returning to the Mayor’s Office in 2001, Chávez has restored fiscal discipline and supported well planned growth, rebuilt the public safety infrastructure and broken ground on an historic surface water project that puts Albuquerque’s long range prospects on a par with those of every other major city in the country.
Under the leadership of Mayor Chávez, Albuquerque has enjoyed a 17% reduction in crime, a 33% reduction in water use, and a job creation rate that is the envy of the rest of the state and most of the nation. The city has begun enjoying national prominence in a number of studies and reports for factors ranging from business climate to cultural amenities. American Style, Forbes and Inc. magazines, USA Today and the Milken Institute’s Best Performing Cities Index are just a few of the publications where Albuquerque has begun to shine.
Going forward, Mayor Martin Chávez plans to make further improvements to public safety, build on environmental sustainability initiatives such as modern street-car, and further support what has been described as one of the nation’s fastest urban revitalizations. He has also upgraded the Balloon and Bio Parks, restored historic Tingley Beach and brought the amazing Explora Museum to Old Town. Further, Chávez has expanded partnerships with public education, and initiated social services reforms to more effectively serve the most vulnerable of our community, from the mentally ill and the homeless to those faced with the specter of domestic violence and substance abuse issues.
The Chávez vision is one of an attractive and exciting city where everyone feels safe and where young people can realize their personal dreams and professional aspirations without ever having to leave Albuquerque.