Stephen Burnett Secures Reelection in Alamogordo’s District 2, Defeating Reform Challenger Evan Ross

In a closely watched race that underscored competing visions for Alamogordo’s future, District 2 City Commissioner Stephen Burnett won reelection on Tuesday, November 4, capturing 58% of the vote against challenger Evan Christopher Ross, who earned 42%, according to unofficial results from the New Mexico Secretary of State. 

What is most impressive of this election is in 2021 only 426 votes were cast in the district in this years election 750 votes were cast. The vote total was Burnett 433 and Ross with 317. The increase in turnout for this district followed a city wide trend of increased voter turnout from the prior 2021 municipal election. In 2021 14.55% of Otero County residents voted this year the increase led to 18.39% of the voters casting ballots.  In 2021 only 4988 individuals votes in all of Otero County and in Tuesdays 2025 municipal elections across Otero County 7346 individuals voted. Early numbers show the largest increase in voters came from Democrats and Decline to State Voters coming out in record numbers verses 2021. That shows a strong ground campaign to get voters to the polls by a few campaigns. 

Burnett, originally appointed to the commission in 2021, ran on a platform of stewardship and continuity, emphasizing his commitment to “getting Alamogordo back to the good times.” His campaign leaned on his record of civic involvement and his insider knowledge of city operations. At the October 27 candidate forum hosted by Alamogordo News, Burnett acknowledged the city’s limited leverage in attracting affordable housing, but pledged to continue advocating for economic development and infrastructure improvements.

One issue that drew scrutiny during the campaign was Burnett’s connection to Echo Johnson, his sister-in-law and owner of Xtreme Amplitude, a local business that recently applied for a $1.9 million LEDA grant. Burnett publicly committed to recusing himself from any commission votes involving the grant, citing ethical transparency.

“I am thankful for everyone that took the time to vote and support me. Thank you to my opponent for a fair and respectful race,”  Burnett said at Wednesday's commission meeting.

Ross, also known as Evan Christopher Lambert, brought a grassroots energy to the race, positioning himself as a reformer and community advocate. A nonprofit founder, Ross emphasized local spending, fair wages, and housing equity, and proposed the creation of a public trade school to boost workforce development. His campaign was marked by door-to-door outreach and a message of neighborly care and civic listening.

Ross in a statment to AlamogordoTownNews.org congratulated his opponent on the win and said he is still focused on grass roots service to the local broader Alamogordo community and will be even more visible in community outreach via Community Power New Mexico and via civic engagement to enhance community.

According to some in district 2 the race was more than a contest—it was a collision of philosophies. Burnett represented institutional continuity, while Ross championed bottom-up reform and civic innovation.

In other commission races:

Robert Pattillo ran unopposed in District 1 and will take office for the first time. Pattillo’s background includes community organizing and support for small business development.

Josh Rardin, first elected in 2021, was reelected unopposed in District 4, continuing his focus on infrastructure and youth engagement.

With the election concluded, Alamogordo’s city commission now faces pressing challenges, including housing affordability, economic diversification, and governance transparency. The reelection of Burnett signals a vote of confidence in the current trajectory, while Ross’s strong showing suggests a growing appetite for reform-minded leadership.

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