Aztec commission reelects Padilla, names Jason Cortez mayor pro tem

At its Jan. 7 organizational meeting the Aztec City Commission reelected Mike Padilla to another term as mayor and selected Commissioner Jason Cortez to serve as mayor pro tem. The meeting also advanced a slate of advisory and intergovernmental board appointments that will determine who represents Aztec on regional issues and who advises the commission on local policy.

Padilla is a longtime local official who first served as mayor in the 1990s and returned to the office in 2022. He told commissioners he is "excited to carry the city forward." Commissioners praised his experience during the organizational session as they completed the annual administrative steps that set leadership and board responsibilities for the coming year.

Aztec operates under a commission form of government in which five commissioners are elected at-large and the mayor and mayor pro tem are chosen from among those commissioners. That structure concentrates executive selection inside the commission and places additional significance on advisory and intergovernmental appointments for shaping policy direction on planning, infrastructure and regional cooperation. Who sits on those boards influences how the city coordinates with San Juan County, neighboring municipalities and state agencies on funding, grants and shared services.

For residents, the decisions made at the organizational meeting matter because they affect which voices will weigh in on topics like capital projects, economic development and public works priorities. At-large elections can produce broad mandates, but they also raise questions about neighborhood-level representation and how closely commissioners reflect distinct community concerns around the city.

The commission’s board appointments will determine Aztec’s official contacts for intergovernmental negotiations and advisory input on zoning, utilities and community programs. Those roles are often where policy ideas become plans or stall, so transparency about appointments and meeting agendas will be important to ensure accountability as the new term unfolds.

Voters who want to influence city direction should monitor commission agendas, attend meetings and follow which appointees serve on advisory and intergovernmental boards. Commission decisions set the framework for budget priorities and regional collaboration that will be felt across Aztec in coming months.

The takeaway? Keep an eye on those board rosters and show up at City Hall when the commission meets; staying engaged is the most direct way to shape how leadership choices translate into local action.