The mayor of Las Vegas, New Mexico is David G. Romero. He took office in December 2024 and won a full term in the November 4, 2025 general election, defeating two other candidates. The position is the city’s chief executive officer and the presiding officer of the city council.1City of Las Vegas. Mayor of the City of Las Vegas
Who David G. Romero Is
Romero is a lifelong Las Vegas resident and a graduate of Robertson High School. Before winning the mayor’s office, he served on the city council and on the local school board, which gave him hands-on experience with municipal budgets and public policy.2City of Las Vegas. Executive Office
His civic work runs wider than elected office. He has served on the La Plaza Little League Board, the West Las Vegas Head Start Policy Committee, and the New Mexico School Board Association Policy Committee. He also sits on the North Central New Mexico Economic Development District and the Northern Area Local Workforce Development Board, roles that tie the city into regional economic planning.2City of Las Vegas. Executive Office
What the Mayor Actually Does
Under New Mexico law, the mayor presides over the governing body and votes only to break a tie.3FindLaw. New Mexico Statutes Chapter 3 Municipalities 3-11-3 The Las Vegas city charter builds on that: the mayor runs council meetings, serves as chief executive officer, and holds the administrative and executive powers the charter does not assign to the city manager.4eCode360. City of Las Vegas NM Code Chapter 14 Administration of Government – Section 14-2 Duties
The tie-only vote often surprises residents. On a routine 3-1 council vote, the mayor has no say. The mayor’s vote matters only when councilors split evenly, and the charter does not give the mayor a veto over ordinances the council passes.5eCode360. City of Las Vegas NM Charter – Article III Mayor
The real executive power sits on the personnel side. State law gives the mayor authority to appoint all officers and employees other than elected officials, subject to governing body approval. The mayor also supervises employees, investigates complaints against them, and can suspend an employee until the next council meeting, where the council must approve or overturn the suspension by majority vote.6Justia Law. New Mexico Statutes Section 3-11-6 (2025) Day-to-day operations of city departments fall to the city manager, Robert Anaya, who was appointed by unanimous council vote.7City of Las Vegas. Robert Anaya Appointed City Manager of Las Vegas by Unanimous Vote
Term, Elections, and Who Can Run
The mayor is elected at-large to a four-year term. Every registered voter in the city votes for the office regardless of ward. Municipal elections in Las Vegas are non-partisan, so no party label appears on the ballot.8City of Las Vegas. City Election Information
Since 2019, New Mexico has consolidated local races into November of odd-numbered years. The charter also provides that the mayor stays in office until a successor is elected and sworn in, so there is no gap between terms.5eCode360. City of Las Vegas NM Charter – Article III Mayor
Candidates for mayor must be qualified electors who live inside the city and are registered to vote there no later than 90 days before the election. A qualified elector in New Mexico is a U.S. citizen, at least 18 years old, and registered in the municipality. The 90-day residency window is specific to the Las Vegas charter; other New Mexico cities set their own.5eCode360. City of Las Vegas NM Charter – Article III Mayor
Mayoral Pay
The mayor earns $10,000 a year, paid in monthly installments. Councilors receive the same. Benefits are available as state law allows, and elected officials who are retired members of the New Mexico Public Employee Retirement Association remain subject to PERA rules on contributions.9eCode360. City of Las Vegas NM Charter – Article II Governing Body
The Water System Rebuild on the Mayor’s Desk
The dominant project of Romero’s tenure is rebuilding the city’s drinking water system after the April 2022 Hermits Peak/Calf Canyon fire, the largest wildfire in New Mexico history. The fire was caused by two botched federal prescribed burns, and the debris flows and flooding that followed devastated the reservoirs the city depends on.
Congress appropriated nearly $4 billion to compensate those affected. Of that, $140 million was designated for Las Vegas water system repairs, and FEMA has authorized $98 million specifically to replace water treatment facilities. The schedule runs about six years from authorization: 12 months of planning, 23 months of design, 3 months of bidding, and 34 months of construction. The first phase of the new treatment plant is expected to break ground in summer 2026. The city must submit detailed scopes of work and meet with the federal claims office every 30 days, and additional funding may be needed as designs are finalized.
How to Reach the Mayor
City Hall is at 1700 North Grand Avenue in Las Vegas, and the main administrative line is 505-454-1401.10City of Las Vegas. City of Las Vegas Government11Municipal Online Services. Contact Us – City of Las Vegas NM The mayor’s office is supported by administrative assistant Hailey Lucero, who handles scheduling and inquiries at 505-454-1401 ext. 1004 or hlucero@lasvegasnm.gov.2City of Las Vegas. Executive Office City council meetings include a public comment period, which is the standard route for raising concerns about utilities, public works, or zoning directly with the mayor and council.