A candidate announcing he is running for county commission usually doesn’t make national headlines. But when an actor who played one of the more popular supporting parts on one of the most beloved shows of the past decade announces it, then outlets around the country pay attention.
Steven Michael Quezada is an actor and member of the Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education. He announced that he wants to replace Art De La Cruz on the Bernalillo County Commission. De La Cruz is term-limited and cannot run again in 2016.
Like De La Cruz, Quezada will be running as a Democrat. Quezada has been a member of the APS Board since 2013.
Quezada is an Albuquerque native who acts and performs stand-up comedy. He is best known for his role of DEA agent Steven Gomez on Breaking Bad, the acclaimed AMC drama based and shot in Albuquerque. The show, and resulting prequel Better Call Saul, is perhaps the biggest success story for the New Mexico film and TV industry.
“On the Commission I will fight for funding for education for our children, work day in and day out to bring high-paying jobs to our community, and ensure that we all live in a safe community,” Quezada said in a statement. “One of my top priorities as a candidate for County Commission is to help pass the general obligation bonds that will be on the October city election ballot. These are much needed funds for our community and we will work hard to turn out voters in support.”
De La Cruz has become a controversial figure in recent months in his role as a swing vote for the controversial Santolina planned community west of Albuquerque.
If Quezada wins the primary in June of 2016 and general election in November of 2016, he will presumably be the first actor from the movie Beerfest to win elected office.
