Michael W. Davidson
Elections and appointments
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Contact
Michael W. Davidson is running for election to the Mayor of Portales in New Mexico. He is on the ballot in the general election on November 4, 2025.[source]
Davidson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.
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Biography
Michael W. Davidson provided the following biographical information via Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey on September 17, 2025:
- Birth date: November 22, 1955
- Birth place: San Diego, California
- High school: Portales High School
- Gender: Male
- Religion: Christian: Nondenominational
- Profession: Management
- Incumbent officeholder: No
- Campaign slogan: Your Voice - Your Vote - Our Future
- Campaign website
- Campaign Facebook
Elections
General election
The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.
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Ballotpedia survey responses
See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection
Michael W. Davidson completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Davidson's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.
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My name is Michael W. Davidson, and I am running for Mayor of Portales in 2025. My family has deep roots here, my great-great-great grand uncle, Joshua Elliot Morrison, founded Portales in 1898, built the first home and business, and donated land that we know as Morrison Park. That history doesn’t qualify me for office, but it fuels my commitment to see Portales survive and thrive.
I’ve spent my life in business and service, with more than 55 years of experience in retail and office-machine management. Since retiring, I’ve devoted my time to community service, chairing the Public Works, Water Advisory, and Cemetery Committees. These roles gave me firsthand knowledge of our city’s challenges and the importance of leadership that listens, asks questions, and acts with transparency.
Portales has given me a home, a livelihood, and lifelong friendships. I want to give back by helping restore pride, strengthen infrastructure, and secure the water future our city depends on. - Water Security – Protecting Portales’ future by finishing the effluent water project, expanding potable water storage, and making conservation a community priority.
- Sanitation & Cleanliness – Reducing inefficiencies like hauling trash to Clovis, creating a transfer station, cleaning streets, controlling weeds, and restoring pride in public spaces.
- Moving beyond patchwork repairs to a structured resurfacing plan, buying equipment, and building a local road crew to save money and improve safety.
I am most passionate about water policy, because without a secure water supply every other part of our city’s future is at risk. I am also passionate about water conservation, because the water we save is the most efficient of all. it has already been discovered, treated, and delivered. Protecting and conserving this resource is essential to Portales’ future.
Honesty, transparency, and accountability are essential. An elected official must listen, explain decisions clearly, and put the community’s interests above personal or political gain.
The mayor’s core responsibilities are to preside over council meetings with fairness and decorum, represent the people to city staff and council, and represent the city government to the community. The mayor serves as the hub that keeps communication and accountability moving between all parts of local government.
I started shining shoes at a local barbershop when I was 10 years old, working after school and on weekends. At age 12, I went to work for my grandfather in his typewriter and office machine shop, which gave me an early start in business and taught me the value of hard work and responsibility.
To me, leadership means listening, setting clear priorities, and making decisions openly and honestly. A mayor should set the tone for how the city operates with respect for the people’s voice, and a steady focus on solving problems rather than avoiding them. Treat the problems not the symptoms.
The mayor’s primary responsibility is to conduct city council meetings with proper parliamentary procedure and decorum. The mayor represents the people to the council and city staff, and in turn represents the city government to the people. In many ways, the mayor serves as the hub that keeps the wheel of city government turning, ensuring that communication, accountability, and direction are consistent.
In Portales, the mayor is primarily a representative. The council is the legislative body, and the city manager leads the executive body. The mayor’s role is to keep all these parties talking, ensure cooperation, and represent the city both to new business interests and to our residents.
My great-great-great grand uncle founded Portales in 1898, so I’ve always been fascinated by its history and feel a deep connection to its roots. I love our laid-back lifestyle, low crime, and affordable cost of living. Most of all, I have a strong desire to see Portales flourish for future generations.
Water, water, and water. We face a multiplex of water problems that must be addressed if Portales is to have a secure future. Alongside water, we must also tackle deteriorating roads, sanitation challenges, the lack of recreational facilities, and declining public spaces. These issues affect both our quality of life and our ability to grow as a community.
The ideal relationship is one of cooperation and advocacy. Portales must have a strong voice in Santa Fe to ensure we receive our fair share of resources, infrastructure support, and water funding. As someone who has chaired the Public Works, Water Advisory, and Cemetery Committees, I’ve seen firsthand how much depends on state partnerships and how easily a city can be overlooked if it doesn’t speak up. The state should see us as a partner, and our city leadership must actively make sure Portales’ priorities are both understood and supported.
The federal government is a vital partner in funding and supporting infrastructure, water security, and public safety. The ideal relationship is proactive, not waiting for help to come, but actively pursuing grants and programs that can benefit Portales. From my work on the Public Works and Water Advisory Committees, I’ve learned that federal partnerships often determine whether a project gets off the ground or stalls. We need leadership that makes sure Portales is at the table, not left behind, and that federal resources are used to strengthen our community.
Our officers need the tools and resources to do their jobs effectively, and the public needs confidence that law enforcement reflects our community’s values of fairness and safety. The mayor’s role is to support law enforcement while also ensuring transparency and maintaining open dialogue with the community they serve.
I was honored to be nominated for Best Mastering Engineer in the State of New Mexico three years in a row. I didn’t win, but being recognized alongside the other nominees was a privilege and a highlight of my professional life outside of civic service.
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See also
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