The Telegraph attempted to send a questionnaire to all five candidates, but Jeremy LaJueness and Frank Anaya did not respond to phone calls. Peter Nieto and Gayle Jones answered the e-mail questionnaire and John Romero gave a telephone interview. All three were asked why voters should pick them over the other candidates.

"I promise you guys nothing in this town," Romero said.

He said he didn't want to make false promises, but said he was frugal during his time as mayor.

"I left a quarter of a million dollars," he said. "Ask what's left. Nothing. Not a dime left in there … they waste money too foolishly."

Romero said he saved that money over eight years by only having one police officer, not having an attorney or a town clerk.

"It's being sensible. You save for a rainy day, you don't wait until its raining and buy a raincoat," he said.

Romero said used to not give interviews but has changed his mind.

"You're supposed to represent the people," he said. "I'm not scared of the truth."

Romero was accused of embezzling money, which was investigated by the district attorney and then dropped. Romero said the accusations were why he didn't win the last election, adding that the money he'd saved was to be used to chip seal the town's dirt roads.

"All they got is wagging tongues, nobody that's got common sense. You gonna believe these idiots?" he asked. "If the shoe fits, wear that sucker."

Romero said his experience in town government gives him an advantage over the other candidates.

Nieto, the former billing clerk for the town, said he does know how the town operates. He also pointed out that, at 23 years old, he is younger than the other candidates,

"Helping the youth has always been a top issue in the municipal elections. I feel that I can better represent the youth of this community because I am still in my youth myself," he said. "The youth of the community is a main issue as well as making the town more beautiful and appealing to current residents, future residents, and tourists. I also want to get the community more involved and help bring out the full potential of the town employees."

Honest, integrity and a wealth of ideas that will help move the town forward are among the other reasons Nieto said voters should elect him.

"I promise to represent the people to the best of my ability and take the entire residents' considerations and opinions into mind when voting on an issue," he said.

Gayle Jones said she believes the town's infrastructure should be addressed.

"We have many problems with a very old sewer system and water system," she said.

She said fixing those problems would help the town attract businesses, but raising the funds required could be a problem.

"In today's economy, money is very tight and I don't see any help from state or federal government with our infrastructure in the near future," she said. "We have to have a mayor and council that is willing to work together on all the issues that Mountainair is facing, whether it be me or any of my opponents. That is where it all has to start."