8-26-2025 7:56pm

Five Candidates Seek the Position of Mayor of Alamogordo, Additional Candidate Details

Chris Edwards Editor

The candidates are registered and now the campaign will soon begin for the November 2025 General elections for New Mexico. In Otero County and Alamogordo the most interesting race is sure to be the mayors race which seems to have a plethora of candidates seeking voter approval. Five candidates submitted their papers for candidacy. We will be covering each race in separate articles over the upcoming weeks.

Within the City of Alamogordo two contests have multiple candidates the mayors race and the City Commission District 2.

Mayor Susan Payne announced her intention not to seek reelection and to return to the role as a private citizen. With her announcement the field is wide open with three professional candidates experienced in community service and two candidates with limited public name recognition and experience.

The top tier professional candidates seeking your vote includes:

Mayor Pro Tem Sharon McDonald. Mayor Pro Tem McDonald presents well as a bipartisan collaborator. She leads exercising soft power via a professional approach of not needing to be the loudest person in the room. She champions what is best for the people in her district all the while considering the impact to the city as a whole. She is known for subtle behind the scenes arm wrestling and horse trading to drive her inititatives forward. Out of the 5 commission districts in Alamogordo over the last 3 years her district has seen more capital improvement projects, more infrastructure projects and more public and private investment than any other district within the city. From new sidewalks in the inner city neighborhoods, to the revitalization of the Dudely School, to championing community gardens, and the city wide community cleanup; Mayor Pro Tem McDonald is known as a hands on operator. The crown jewel of rehabilitation and transition within her district is the Alamogordo MainStreet overhaul of the 800 and 900 Blocks of New York Avenue. Her focus on new business development and championing of small business in that corridor is a hallmark of her leadership. With a grand reopening slated for the late fall, her passion and dedication to business growth and revitalizing aged buildings will be showcased. Mayor Pro Tem McDonald is the candidate that people find approachable no matter ones party or ideology.

Former Mayor Pro Tem Jason R. Baldwin. Jason R. Baldwin is a multifaceted civic and professional figure in Alamogordo, New Mexico, with leadership roles spanning local government, recreation, and community development. Baldwon served as a City Commissioner for Alamogordo across multiple years from 2017 thru 2021. He served one year as Mayor Pro-Tem with the Alamogordo Public Library Board, indicating a role in city governance and cultural services. He is best known as the lead Golf Professional at Desert Lakes Golf Course, a city-owned facility.He turned gold professional in 2011. Baldwin has worked at Desert Lakes for over a decade. His interests include history, politics, shooting, and cinema positioning him as a top tier candidate for the position of mayor.

Retired Otero County Probate Court Judge LaTanya M. Boyce. Judge LaTanya M. Boyce is a respected civic figure in Alamogordo, known for her decade-long service as Probate Judge of Otero County. She was appointed to the Otero County Probate Court in January 2015 by the County Commissioners. She ran unopposed and was elected in 2016 and ran again in 2022, reflecting strong community trust. She Stepped down in August 2025 after 10 years and 6 months of service. She has been a resident of Alamogordo since 1971, when her family relocated due to her father’s military assignment at Holloman Air Force Base. Similar to the other front runners she attended Alamogordo High School. She has significant experience in the title industry of which she has worked for 26 years before entering public service. She is a well respected community leader, known for her compassionate and faith-driven approach to public service, often expressing hope and encouragement to the community with a reputation for encouraging others to “stay in the race” of life. Judge Boyce’s legacy isn’t flashy—it’s foundational. She kept the gears of probate justice turning with dignity and care.

Not to be discounted but with minor public profiles, two other candidates are in the race also for Mayor of Alamogordo.

Richard R. Cota. Richard R. Cota (age approximately 47) is a resident of Alamogordo, New Mexico. Candidate Cota comes from a family with deep roots in Alamogordo with a rich and colorful history. His documented public impact in terms of politics or business are not well know, his connection to a well-known local family suggests a quieter, more personal influence—through relationships, community ties, and shared history. We look forward to welcoming his contributions to inform our community about his vision for leadership as mayor.

Ted M. Morgan. Ted M. Morgan appears in public records as a longtime resident of Alamogordo, New Mexico, born in 1948 and affiliated with the Democratic Party. While there’s no direct evidence of high-profile public office or major civic leadership, his tenure in Alamogordo suggests some educational and community involvement. There is no publicly documented impact—such as published work, political campaigns, or civic initiatives—linked to him at a broader level. We look forward to hearing more of how he could contribute to the fabric of Alamogordo's political future.

Tomorrow we will focus on the candidates for city commission. In the meantime a complete list of those who submitted paperwork for the 2025 November election can be found below...