Albuquerque Certifies its first Municipal Clerk

ALBUQUERQUE – For the first time in city history, Albuquerque has a Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC). City Clerk Ethan Watson received the designation from the International Institute of Municipal Clerks in February 2026, a credential recognized across the United States, Canada, and more than a dozen other countries.

Established in 1970, the CMC program requires candidates to complete a rigorous course of study and demonstrate extensive experience across the core functions of the clerk’s office. In his role, Watson oversees public records requests, campaign finance reporting, the City’s public financing program, administrative hearings and appeals, and the preservation of Albuquerque’s historical records. 

“Earning the CMC is about doing this job better for the citizens of Albuquerque,” said City Clerk Ethan Watson. “The public deserves a clerk’s office that keeps improving, and that means my staff and I keep learning.”

“The Certified Municipal Clerk designation represents a commitment to the communities clerks serve,” said Jaimis "Jai" Ulrich-Lopez, Ed.D., Director of Certification and Conference Programming at IIMC. “City Clerk Watson’s achievement reflects exactly the kind of professional dedication that strengthens local government and the public’s trust in it. We are glad to recognize him during Municipal Clerk’s Week.”

Watson’s certification is being recognized during the 57th annual Professional Municipal Clerks Week, May 3–9. Initiated by IIMC in 1969 and later formalized through presidential proclamations, the week highlights the essential role municipal clerks play in ensuring transparent, accessible local government.

###

The Office of the City Clerk is responsible for the proper preservation, maintenance, and availability of public records. We oversee a fair and equitable public finance program and carry out our mission by abiding by the provisions of federal, state, and local laws.