NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – The Village of Los Ranchos has named a new mayor months after their previous mayor died while in office. In May of last year, village officials announced the death of Mayor Joe Craig, who became mayor just four months earlier. Now, in a Board of Trustees meeting Tuesday, the village elected former Albuquerque City Chief Administrative Officer Lawrence Rael as the new mayor. Rael served for over 34 years in Albuquerque and retired in 2023. Controversial development in Los Ranchos gets approval from judge "I am interested in working together with you trustees and working with the staff and giving you my 100% commitment to do the best job I possibly can for our amazing community. So thank you so much and I appreciate your confidence," says Rael. Members of the Los Ranchos Board of Trustees voted unanimously to appoint Rael. He is expected to finish out former Mayor Craig's term and will be officially sworn in on February 5.