The City of Albuquerque shared on Sept. 6 that the city council had given its approval to OC-23-38, appointing Isaac Padilla as the director of City Council Services, according to a press release. In this role, Padilla will be responsible for overseeing the performance of city council employees and managing the city council office in consultation with the president and city councilors.
Padilla served as the state capital and policy liaison/cannabis equity manager, director of policy and government affairs and policy analyst in the City Council Services Department between 2007 and 2022. Padilla holds a Bachelor of Arts in economics and political science from the University of New Mexico. His appointment follows the departure of the former director, Chris Melendrez, who vacated the position in May 2023.
“Per our Council rules, we conducted a process to recruit, screen and interview numerous candidates for the director position,” said Council President Pat Davis. “Mr. Padilla’s experience and vision for the future of the City Council Office made him the best choice for the job.”
“Mr. Padilla brings vital experience of working for the city and other government agencies for numerous years, including the City Council Office,” said Councilor Dan Lewis. “We’re excited for him to get started and move our office forward.”
The city council functions as a legislative body responsible for proposing and passing laws that govern the city. This Council consists of nine councilors, each elected to staggered four-year terms. Within the council, the Office of Council Services operates under the leadership of the director of Council Services and comprises three organizational units: Legislative/Council Support Services, Constituent Services and Community Relations and Policy Evaluation and Development Services. These divisions collectively handle various key responsibilities within the council's operations.