Mayor Sharon McDonald to Host Historic District 5 Meet-and-Greet and Candidate Forum – Narrated, Live-Streamed Event Set for February 19, 6 pm

Alamogordo, New Mexico – Mayor Sharon McDonald will host a public meet-and-greet and candidate forum for applicants to the vacant District 5 seat on the Alamogordo City Commission. The historic first of its kind event, designed to foster direct community engagement and transparency into the appointment process and is scheduled for Thursday, February 19, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Dudley School Community Center in District 5.

2nd Life Media Alamogordo Town News obtained the names of the three candidates whose complete application packets were received by the City Clerk to date via an Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) request. The applicants, listed in the order their submissions were received, are:

1. Vesta Sherri Edmonds

2. Shelly Dowhanick-Baron

3. Azar Rangel

The forum will be narrated and live-streamed via alamogordotownnews.org and kalhradio.org, ensuring residents who cannot attend in person can participate remotely. Attendees and online viewers will have opportunities to submit questions in advance or during the forum, which will be addressed by the candidates. This interactive format allows District 5 residents and the broader community to meet the applicants, learn about their qualifications, and hear their vision for the district before the formal appointment process.

Mayor McDonald emphasized that this gathering reflects her commitment to openness and resident involvement in city government to include the appointment process to lead District 5. “Since taking office, I have prioritized making local decision-making more accessible and inclusive,” she said. “This meet-and-greet and candidate forum is about empowering our community to have a meaningful voice in who represents District 5.”

If additional qualifying applications are received before the February 13, 2026, deadline, those candidates will also be encouraged to participate in the event.

This initiative marks a historic first for Alamogordo: the first time a commission appointment process has included such a structured, public, narrated, and live-streamed forum hosted by the mayor. It sets a new benchmark for transparency in filling a vacancy, giving community members unprecedented direct access to the candidates ahead of the commission’s vote.

The District 5 seat became vacant after Commissioner Sharon McDonald was sworn in as Mayor in January 2026, becoming the city’s first African American mayor and the first African American woman to serve as mayor in New Mexico. The appointee will serve the remainder of the term through December 31, 2027, contributing to decisions on Holloman Air Force Base partnerships, economic development, infrastructure, public safety, and affordable housing.

The event aligns with the city’s official appointment timeline (per the January 14, 2026, public notice):

• Candidates present in submission order at the February 24, 2026, regular commission meeting (6:00 p.m. at City Hall), where the commission will deliberate and vote.

• If no majority appointment occurs on February 24, Mayor McDonald will make the appointment on March 10, 2026.

Residents are encouraged to attend in person at the Dudley School Community Center or watch the live stream on alamogordotownnews.org and kalhradio.org.

For the latest updates on the appointment process, candidate qualifications (to be presented publicly), or how to participate, visit ci.alamogordo.nm.us or contact City Clerk Rachel Hughs at City Hall.

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