Rio Rancho veteran Frank Smith launches bid for Sandoval County

Frank Smith, a Rio Rancho resident and longtime veterans advocate, announced his campaign this week for the District 3 Sandoval County Commission seat. Smith framed his run around his work on behalf of New Mexico's veterans and military families and said he would make local safety, fiscal responsibility and service central to his platform.

A former Marine and current chair of the New Mexico Veterans and Military Families Caucus, Smith laid out priorities that directly respond to worries among Northern Meadows and Rio Rancho residents about Project Ranger, a proposed hypersonic missile facility near the community. He said his campaign would push for an "early warning system" to monitor air, water and soil around the facility, aiming to give neighbors data and reassurance about environmental impacts.

Smith also pointed to his involvement in state-level fiscal changes as evidence of effectiveness, saying he has a "track record of delivering tangible results for New Mexicans," including work on a large property tax reduction. He cast his candidacy as a bid to "protect our families, our water, and our property values," tying those concerns to both environmental monitoring and taxation issues that affect household budgets and local real estate.

The District 3 seat is open this election cycle because incumbent Mike Meek is running for mayor of Rio Rancho. The vacancy has prompted several potential candidates to emphasize community-level oversight and local services. For Sandoval County residents, the commission seat influences land-use decisions, zoning, county public health responses and property-tax administration — all areas that intersect with the debates over Project Ranger and broader development in the county.

Smith's pitch seeks to straddle two core themes: the potential for defense-related projects to bring jobs and investment to the region, and the need for transparent environmental protections and fiscal safeguards for homeowners. Those tensions are familiar in communities that host or neighbor federal projects; local elected officials often serve as the forum where national priorities meet neighborhood concerns.

For voters in District 3, the campaign will likely focus on measurable proposals: who can secure monitoring and oversight for the proposed facility, how county government will respond to environmental information, and what steps will be taken to protect property values and reduce tax burdens. Smith's military background and caucus leadership frame him as a candidate versed in both service and policy advocacy.

The takeaway? If you live in District 3, expect the Project Ranger debate and property-tax impacts to be front and center in this race — check candidates' plans for environmental monitoring and fiscal management before you vote. Our two cents? Ask candidates how proposed protections will be funded and enforced so promises turn into practical protections for your family and your wallet.