Joaquín commenced his public career when Navarrese Carlism recovered from post-war crisis and came to dominate the provincial politics. Following the example of paternal Arraiza cousins, Baleztena commenced his public career in local municipal elections and was successfully voted a Carlist concejal to the Pamplona ayuntamiento in the first decade of the 20th century, re-elected also afterwards, at least in 1913. About the same time, also influenced by his kinsfolk, he got engaged in Sociedad Protectora "La Conciliación", one of the first Catholic trade unions in Navarre, and became active in its Junta Directiva.