Measured Finance Committees (MFC’s) Formed To Promote 3 Candidates For Mayor; Keller’s MFC Raises $107,700; Armijo’s MFC raises $120,080.00; Varela’s MFC Raises $7,500.00; “ANYONE BUT KELLER” Movement Is Real And All The Money Spent To Elect Keller To Third Term May Not Matter; Write In Candidates Still Possible

Posted on July 17, 2025 by

On Friday, June 20 the City Clerk verified that 7 candidates out of 11 total candidates for Mayor successfully gathered 100% of the 3,000 qualifying nominating petition signatures from Albuquerque registered voters. All seven will appear on the November 4 municipal ballot. If no one of the 7 candidates secures 50% plus one of the vote, the two top vote getters will face each other in a run off election which must be held within 45 days of the November 4 election.

All 11 Candidates for Mayor had from April 19, 2025 to June 21, 2025 by 5:00 pm, 64 days, to collect the required 3,000 verified signatures. The seven candidates who have qualified for the ballot gathering more than 3,000 nominating signatures are:

Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller qualified for the ballot after securing 4,786 signatures, the most of all the candidates.
Eddie Varela, a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief, qualified after securing 3,973 signatures, the second most among candidates.
Alex Uballez, the former U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico, qualified after securing 3,643 signatures.
Louie Sanchez, a former police officer and current city councilor, qualified after securing 3,588 signatures.
Darren White, the former sheriff of Bernalillo County and CEO of cannabis company PurLife, qualified after receiving 3,562 signatures.
Daniel Chavez, president of Parking Company of America was the very first to qualify for the ballot after securing 3,427 signatures.
Mayling Armijo, the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County, qualified after securing 3,370 signatures.

The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_a6f5a27d-e7d3-4ea0-b0f2-87a2b96431c5.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

The city link to review the City Clerk’s total raw data tabulations of verified petition signatures and rejected petition signatures for each of the 11 candidates is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1/2025-petition-qualifying-contribution-tally

On July 14, all 7 of the candidates for Mayor file with the City Clerk their fourth Mayoral Campaign Finance report on campaign contributions raised. Following are the total amounts reported by each candidate:

Tim Keller total contributions: $23,179.57
Mayling Armijo total contributions $38,136.65
Eddie R Varela total contributions $6,089.96
Darren White total contributions $73,999.95
Alexander M.M. Uballez total contributions $79,320.46
Louie Eusebio Sanchez total contributions $215,741.88
Daniel Chavez total contributions $113,875.00

EDITOR’S NOTE: City Councilor Louie Sanchez contributed $160,000 to his own campaign and Daniel Chavez contributed $100,000 to his own campaign.

The link where you can review the candidates finance statements is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1

On June 20, the City Clerk determined that Mayor Tim Keller was the only candidate to qualify for public finance and he was given $755,946 in city financing for his campaign which has yet to be reflected in Keller finance statements.

The links where you can review the city clerks tabulations for public finance s is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1/2025-petition-qualifying-contribution-tally

MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEES FORMED TO PROMOTE KELLER, ARMIJO VARELLA CANDIDACIES

Under the City of Albuquerque’s campaign finance laws, a Measure Finance Committee (MFC) is a political action committee (PAC), person or group that supports or opposes a candidate or ballot measure within the City of Albuquerque. Measure Finance Committees are required to register with the City Clerk. Measure finance committees are not bound by the individual contribution limits and business bans like candidates. No Measure Finance Committee is supposed to coordinate their activities with the individual candidates running for office, but this is a very gray area as to what constitutes coordination of activities, and it is difficult to enforce.

The fact that measure finance committees are not bound by the individual contribution limits and business bans like candidates is what makes them a major threat to warping and influencing our municipal elections and the outcome. Any Measure Finance Committee can raise and spend unlimited amounts of money and can produce negative ads to destroy any candidate’s reputation and candidacy.

All Measure Finance Committees must register with the Albuquerque City Clerk, regardless of the group’s registration as a political action committee (PAC) with another governmental entity, county, state or federal. Measure finance committees must also file financial “Campaign Finance Reports” reporting monetary contributions, loans, in kind donations and expenditures. Under existing law, it is illegal for any candidate for office or their campaign committee to coordinate their campaign efforts with any measured finance committee.

Three measured finance committees (MFA) to promote 3 candidates for Mayor have been formed. On July 14 the 3 committees filed finance reports with the City Clerk as follows:

Safer Albuquerque Committee (Safer ABQ)

Safer Albuquerque Committee (Safer ABQ) is the measured finance committee formed to “advocate for Mayling Armijo’s candidacy for mayor during the Albuquerque 2025 mayoral race and align with values that reduce crime, reduce homelessness, and promote job growth.”

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions: $120,080.00
Total Expenditures: $61,321.63
In-Kind Contributions: $0.00
In-Kind Expenditures: $0.00
Current Cash Balance: $58,758.30
Current Debt Balance: $0.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Tracy, Katrina $40,000
Armijo, Chauling Mary $40,000
Four Winds Mechanical HTC/AC Inc $40,000
Rolison, Charles $80.00

CIPGAW: Committee to Elect Eddie Varela Mayor of Albuquerque

CIPGAW: Committee to Elect Eddie Varela Mayor of Albuquerque is the measured finance committee which has been formed “for the purpose
to Elect Eddie Varela Mayor of Albuquerque.”

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions: $7,500.00
Total Expenditures: $5,524.83
In-Kind Contributions: $ -0-
In-Kind Expenditures: $-0-
Current Cash Balance: $1,975
Current Debt Balance: $-0-

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Day, Bradley William $7,500

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreCommitteeDetail/feXJuXAYkFJVGJBhl95rMZP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/null/null/2/2025

ASEND ALBUQUERQUE MEASURED FINANCE COMMITEE

Ascend Albuquerque is the measured Finance Committee which has been formed for the sole purpose “to support the election of Tim Keller as Mayor of Albuquerque.” On July 14, 2025, Ascent Albuquerque filed it fourth financial disclosure statement as required by the City’s election code. Following is a summary of the Financial Report for Ascend Albuquerque:

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions: $101,700.00
Total Expenditures: $26,175.68
In-Kind Contributions: $ -0-
In-Kind Expenditures: $ -0-
Current Cash Balance: $75,524.32
Current Debt Balance: $0.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Western States Regional Council of Carpenters, United Brotherhood of Carpenters & Joiners of America: $20,000
New Mexico Building and Construction Trade Council: $20,000
Fresquez Concessions Inc: $15,000
Sangre De Cristo Hotel Investment LLC $10,000
IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund $10,000

The city link to review the Financial Disclosure Statement for Ascend Albuquerque is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreCommitteeDetail/VMQvJiHXaP1z-Iz2eL_papP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/null/null/2/2025

SEPTEMER 2 ONLY DAY FOR WRITE IN CANDIDATES TO FILE

Although the time frame for candidates to announce and qualify for the ballot for Mayor has come and gone, there is still an option for people to declare as write in candidates. In 2023, the New Mexico Legislature enacted a law that allows for write in candidates in all regular local elections which includes municipal elections. The link to the statute is here:

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/chapter-1/article-22/section-1-22-8-1/

A person desiring to be a write-in candidate for Mayor must file with the Bernalillo County Clerk a declaration of intent to be a write-in candidate because it is the Bernalillo County Clerk who oversees the election and counts the ballots under the Local Election Act. Write in candidates are given only one day to file a “declaration of intent to be a write in candidate” for Mayor. The City Clerk’s Candidate Calendar published on the City Clerk’s web page states the filing date for write-in-candidates is Tuesday, September 2.

The “declaration of intent to be a write in candidate” must be accompanied by a nominating petition containing the same number of signatures required of candidates for Mayor which is 3,000 signatures. Under the law, a write-in candidate is considered a candidate for all purposes and provisions relating to candidates in the Local Election Act, except that the write-in candidate’s name shall not be printed on the ballot nor posted in any polling place.

City of Albuquerque nominating petition forms to collect signatures to nominate a candidate for Mayor as a write in candidate may be obtained from City Clerk Ethan Waston whose email address is ewatson@cabq.gov. The City Clerk’s office is located in the Plaza Del Sol Building, 600 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, NM 87102 and the phone number is (505) 924-3650.

Instructions on how to use the petitions can be found at this link:

How to use the Petition Form for Mayoral Candidates

There are examples of petitions on the City Clerks training page which can be found here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/training-videos

EDITORS NOTE: Alpana Adair, who failed to secure qualifying nominating signatures and the qualifying $5.00 donations, is now claiming she is a write in candidate. Adair will have to file her declaration to be a write in candidate with the Bernalillo County Clerk on September 2 and also submit 3,000 verified nominating signatures from registered voters who reside within the city limits.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Mayor Tim Keller is seeking a third consecutive four-year term despite the fact he has a very low approval rating. Keller’s approval rating is believed to be in the 30% to 33% range based on past polls. Notwithstanding Keller’s low approval ratings, he will likely make it into a run off, either first or second, because of his loyal base of progressive Democrats he has relied upon every single time he has run for office including New Mexico State Senate, New Mexico State Auditor and twice as Mayor.

The fact that Keller is the only candidate to secure $755,946 in public finance and a measured finance committee that has raised another $101,700.00 to promote him for a grand total of $857,646 is a testament of the power of incumbency and is clear evidence Keller is running against a very weak field of candidates given that Keller was the only one to qualify for public finance. Given the involvement of two well-known, respected progressive Democratic fundraisers, the measured fiancé committee will likely raise thousands more to promote Keller and to tear down his opponents.

Some politcal pundits and columnists are saying that if Keller’s opponents are unable to raise sufficient campaign donations, there is a possibility that Keller could capture 50% of the vote and avoid a runoff election between the top two finishers. That is likely wishful thinking. Keller will need every penny of his public finance and the measured finance committee promotion to deal with his low approval ratings as the campaign drags on over the summer and into the fall and his opponents hit him hard on the issues until November 4.

Mayor Keller is a known quantity with extremely low approval ratings and no amount of money spent on his behalf to get him elected to a third term may be enough to reform his image in the eyes of voters who have simply had enough of him and his self promotion ways with very little results to point to. Notwithstanding, all of Keller’s opponents are relegated to scrambling for private financing unless they are wealthy enough to self-finance. Only Daniel Chavez is believed to be able to self finance.

FINAL COMMENTARY

Eight years of Tim Keller as Mayor has been more than enough. Simply put, Albuquerque needs a new Mayor. Keller is completing 8 years as Mayor and he is still struggling with the very issues he dealt with 8 years ago: high violent crime rates, drugs, the homeless crisis and a corrupt APD. Things have not gotten any better under his leadership and some would say the city is worse off today than when he was first elected in 2017. What can he really accomplish with another 4 more years when he has had 8?

“ANY ONE BUT KELLER”

There exists a serious undercurrent of dissatisfaction with all 7 candidates, especially Mayor Tim Keller. Although City Hall observers and political pundits are saying the election is Keller’s to lose, what they fail to take into account is the “any one but Keller movement”. It can also be called “Keller Fatique” which is what happened with “Chavez Fatique ” when Democrat Mayor Marty Chavez attempted to seek a third consecutive four year term in 2009 and he lost to Republican Richard Berry. Simply put, people want change.

The “any one but Keller movement ” comes into sharp focus when the local news stations publish stories on FACEBOOK where Keller is interviewed at length about his candidacy and literally hundreds of public comments are made that are all negative and berating Keller for his failure to address and solve the city’s problems. Candidates who are running for city council and who were going door to door to collect nominating signatures and $5.00 for their own candidacies reported they were encountering strong anti-Keller sentiment at the doors with them being asked questions if they support Keller for reelection.

It is doubtful any of the 6 running against Keller will be able to raise the kind of money that will be spent to get Keller elected to a third term. But that may not matter given Keller’s high negatives. No amount of public finance money spent by Keller and the Ascend Albuquerque MFC may be able to overcome his high negatives and reform his image. Simply put, Keller has overstayed his welcome and voters want change. Hope springs eternal that over the course of the campaign that one of the six running against Keller will in fact raise enough money to emerge as a viable candidate and succeed in removal of an entrenched politician.

Given the overall dissatisfaction and disappointment with the six candidates running against Keller, and the overall voter dissatisfaction with Keller himself, there is a chance that there will be one or more write in candidates that could take advantage of the “any one but Keller movement”. There is still time to collect the 3,000 signatures needed to be a recognized write in candidate and to file a declaration of candidacy as a write in on September 2.

It’s fully understood that write in candidacy’s are considered long shots, but given the nature of the times and voter dissatisfaction in general with city hall, success could be achieved by a write in candidate. With the new state law, community leaders, neighborhood associations, civic organizations, activists and those in the business community who are dissatisfied with the 7 candidates now still have the option to recruit one of their own of like mind.

If not, it is likely we will have another 4 years of disastrous policies, either under Mayor Tim Keller as he continues with his disastrous policies or one of the 6 others running against him who will implement their own disastrous policy’s.

The link to a related article is here:

4th Mayoral Campaign Finance Report Filed; Candidates Contribute Significant Amounts To Own Campaigns; Councilor Louie Sanchez Contributes $160,000 To Own Race; Daniel Chavez Contributes $100,000 To Own Race; Tim Keller Only Candidate To Secure Public Finance Of $755, 946; Public Finance Favors Incumbents

4th Mayoral Campaign Finance Report Filed; Candidates Contribute Significant Amounts To Own Campaigns; Councilor Louie Sanchez Contributes $160,000 To Own Race; Daniel Chavez Contributes $100,000 To Own Race; Tim Keller Only Candidate To Secure Public Finance Of $755, 946; Public Finance Favors Incumbents

Posted on July 16, 2025 by

The seven candidates for Mayor who have qualified for the November 4 ballot are:

Tim Keller, Incumbent Mayor
Mayling Armijo,the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County.
Eddie Varela,a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief.
Darren White,the former sheriff of Bernalillo County and CEO of cannabis company PurLife.
Alex Uballez,the former U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico
Louie Sanchez,a former police officer and current city councilor.
Daniel Chavez,president of Parking Company of America.

On July 14, all 7 of the candidates for Mayor were required to file with the City Clerk their fourth Mayoral Campaign Finance report on contributions and expenditures. Following is a summary review of those reports:

TIMOTHY KELLER

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS: $23,179.57
Total Expenditures: $16,314.66
In-Kind Contributions: $1,396.25
In-Kind Expenditures: $248.16
Current Cash Balance: $6,864.91
Current Debt Balance: $0.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Keller, Tim $2,500
Garcia Realty $2,500
Keller, Timothy $650
Porte, Oroana $615
Wellborn, Charles/Jeanette $500

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Mayor Tim Keller:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/yoees8S9dosDI1OaCKWi1JP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

Mayor Tim Keller lists 28 contributors for a total of $23,179.57.

Mayor Tim Keller’s 4^th financial statement fails to report that he has qualified for $755, 946 in public finance. On June 20, the City Clerk determined that Tim Keller was the only candidate to qualify for public finance in the amount of $755,946. The following are the processed public finance qualifying donations for Tim Keller verified on Friday June 20:

Required Qualifying Contributions: 3,780
Verified Qualifying Contributions: 4,046
Rejected Qualifying Contributions: 361
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed: -0-
Percentage of Verified Qualifying Contributions Met: 100%

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1/2025-petition-qualifying-contribution-tally

MAYLING ARMIJO

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions: $38,136.65
Total Expenditures: $35,327.84
In-Kind Contributions: $2,257.72
In-Kind Expenditures: $0.00
Current Cash Balance: $2,808.81
Current Debt Balance: $15,175.65

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Armijo, Mayling $15,000
Armijo, Chaling $6,000
Tracy, Katrina $6,000
Four Winds Mechanical $6,000
Green Castle Media Inc $1,508

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for MAYLING ARMIJO:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/lRnEYQd4H9z-h4QAAWqHPZP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

Mayling Armijo lists 28 contributors for a total of $38,136.65.

EDDIE VARELA

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions: $6,089.96
Total Expenditures: $4,600.36
In-Kind Contributions: $2,300.00
In-Kind Expenditures: $300.00
Current Cash Balance; $1,441.90
Current Debt Balance: $0.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Varela, Eddie R. $2,827
Angie Custom Designs $1,300
Stewart, Chester & Diane $1,000
MDG Entertainment $500
The Grill $500

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for EDDIE VARELA:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/Z9RllTzngK2bi6GfQSm9AJP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

Eddie Varela lists 29 contributors for a total of $6,089.96 in contributions.

DARREN WHITE

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions: $73,999.95
Total Expenditures: $57,081.77
In-Kind Contributions: $14,329.16
In-Kind Expenditures: $25.00
Current Cash Balance: $16,918.18
Current Debt Balance: $20,000.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

White, Darren $20,000
White, Darren $8,765
Morrison, Gregory $5,000
Morrison, Grady $5,000
Doug Peterson Investments $1,700

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Darren White:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/L7j64Ew1a0rWwbrOJFbL4JP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

Darren White lists 429 contributors for a total of $73,999.95 contributions

ALEXANDER M.M. UBALLEZ

Total Contributions: $79,320.46
Total Expenditures: $27,960.76
In-Kind Contributions: $88.70
In-Kind Expenditures: $0.00
Current Cash Balance: $51,359.70
Current Debt Balance: $0.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Colon, Aleli $2,407.27
Murphy, Haley $2,407.27
Cox, Diane $1,203.22
Gomez, Gabriela $1,200.00
Maldonado, Agnes $1,000.00

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Alexander M.M. Uballez:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/YjD7dBPe243VBfqRi2eazQpRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/2/null/2/2025

ALEXANDER M.M. UBALLEZ lists 307 contributors for a total of $79,320.46 in contributions.

LOUIE EUSEBIO SANCHEZ

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions: $215,741.88
Total Expenditures: $34,115.55
In-Kind Contributions: $1,000.00
In-Kind Expenditures: $0.00
Current Cash Balance: $181,626.33
Current Debt Balance: $152,500.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Sanchez, Louie $150,000
Sanchez, Louie $10,000
Peterson Properties $6,000
Thomas P. Tinnin $6,000
Alarid, Vanessa $6,000

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Louie Eusebio Sanchez:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/t4aI25Nr9EiUnEI8lwunGApRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/2/null/2/2025

LOUIE EUSEBIO SANCHEZ lists 106 contributors for a total of $215,741.88 in contributions.

DANIEL CHAVEZ

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions: $113,875.00
Total Expenditures: $100,979.87
In-Kind Contributions: $0.00
In-Kind Expenditures: $0.00
Current Cash Balance: $12,895.13
Current Debt Balance: $0.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Chavez, Daniel $100,000
Chaves, Karthleen $6,000
Peterson Properties LLC $6,000
Bataglia, Ava $1,000
Martin, John Bradley $600
Perterson, Douglas $200

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Daniel Chavez:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/3XlNxpvg2kPbP3TGLUHobwpRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/2/null/2/2025

Daniel Chavez lists 9 contributors for a total of $113,875.00 in contributions.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Originally, the candidates who made the ballot and who were privately financed candidates were:

Mayling Armijo
Daniel Chavez.

Originally, the candidates who made the ballot and who were public financed candidates were:

Mayor Tim Keller
Eddie Varela
Darren White
Alexander M. M. Uballez
Louie Eusebio Sanchez

Mayor Tim Keller was the only candidate to secure public finance and his six opponents are all now privately financed candidates. Louie Sanchez, Darren White, Daniel Chavez, Mayling Armijo have all made significant personal contributions to promote their candidacies. The biggest question is if Keller’s six opponents will be able to match to any degree Keller’s extreme financial advantage to run viable campaigns.

PUBLIC FINANCE FAVORS INCUMBENTS

Albuquerque’s public finance system has come under sever criticism in the Mayor’s race as favoring incumbents who have high name identification and a volunteer network. In the Mayor’s race, public finance candidates had to collect 3,780 donations of $5.00 to the city from registered voters to qualify for the city to give them $755,946 in city financing for their campaigns. The time frame to collect both nominating petition signatures and $5.00 qualifying contributions was the same and it was from April 19, 2025 to June 21, 2025, a mere 64 days.

Originally 8 out of 11 candidates for Mayor declared themselves to be “public finance” candidates and they were Alpana Adair, Alexander Uballez, Darren White, Tim Keller, Louis Sanchez, Edie Varella, Patrick Sais and Adeo Herrick. Soon, 7 of the 8 candidates abandoned their efforts to qualify for public finance. Only Mayor Tim Keller qualified for public finance and was given $755,946 in city financing for his campaign.

Alpana Adair withdrew from public finance after collecting only seven verified $5.00 contributions. Patrick Sais withdrew after collecting only two.

Eddie Varela withdrew after collecting 95 of the 3,685 donations or 3%. Varela had this to say:

“I was of the belief that [public finance] would help just a regular guy or gal run for office and would be a great benefit to everybody. … I don’t believe that anymore. I believe it’s flawed, and it needs to be revisited.”

On May 30, former United States Attorney Alexander Uballez abruptly ended his efforts to seek public finance. Uballez said this:

“I’m the fourth candidate to make this decision. When the only candidate who appears on track to qualify for public financing is the incumbent, it’s a clear sign that this isn’t working as it should.

On June 2, City Councilor Louie Sanchez became the fifth candidate to withdraw from public finance and become a private financed candidate.

https://www.cabq.gov/clerk/documents/sanchez-withdrawal-as-an-applicant-candida

Sanchez said this of his withdrawal from public finance:

“One of the things that I’ve found out about public finance is that it’s extremely difficult. When you get into the realm of public financing, there is a lot of things that play in. We’re noticing that in this day and age, not everybody has a five-dollar bill, our volunteers don’t have change. … Since it’s online, or the online link, it takes several times or several tries to get the cumbersome process going.”

On June 8, former Bernalillo County Sherriff Darren White became the sixth candidate to withdraw from public finance by filing with the city clerk a withdrawal notice. White said this:

“Despite our tireless grassroots efforts, it became clear that we would not be able to meet the remaining 1,800 qualifying $5 donations within the two-week deadline. … The only person who has qualified for [public finance] in the past two elections is Tim Keller. And so what does that tell you? It tells you that the system is, as I said, it’s an incumbent protection plan.”

The Keller campaign said qualifying for public financing isn’t supposed to be easy. In a statement, Keller took issue with all his opponents’ claims that the public finance rules favor incumbents. Keller said this in a statement:

“Complaining that public financing doesn’t work is like blaming the ref because you can’t hit your free throws — it’s not the system’s fault you’re falling short. The real issue isn’t the rules; it’s a lack of grassroots support, campaign credibility, and the organizational strength to lead.

FINAL ANALYSIS

The fact that only incumbent Mayor Tim Keller qualified for public finance this election year is clear evidence that the public finance system has been set up for candidates to fail and that it favors incumbents. The fact that the 4 incumbent City Councilors were also the only ones who qualified for public finance is further evidence that the system favors incumbents and discourages opposition.

Some have argued, especially Mayor Keller and his staunchest supporters that public finance is a system that is “supposed to be hard”. Keller and his staunchest supporters are essentially saying public finance is designed to “weed out” candidates who are incapable of mounting serious campaigns or who have little or no political support. But building political support by newcomers to the political process is what political campaigns are all about and that can only accomplished with adequate funding.

Increases to the amount of public finance over the years were done to allow public finance candidates to compete with private financed candidates. But the problem is the system allows candidates to publicly finance and then allows their supporters to just turn around and set up measured finance committees so they can have the best of both worlds which is something Mayor Tim Keller and his enablers have perfected.

Making it so hard that no one qualifies for public finance but incumbents is a mockery of the purpose and intent of public finance which is to encourage qualified people to run who cannot afford to run and who are not independently wealthy and who are not politically connected.

Darren White’s Florida Residency Claim In 2022 To Get Out Of Paying Florida Property Tax Does Not Disqualify Him From Mayor’s Race; White Became City Resident In 2024 Moving From A Luxury Home In County To An Apartment In City Enabling Him To Run For Mayor; All Of White’s Flaws Matter Not To Staunch MAGA Republicans Who Will Vote For Him

Posted on July 14, 2025 by

On Sunday, June 29, 2025, the Albuquerque Journal ran a front-page banner headline story complete with a flattering color photo of Darren White. The article was entitled “Mayoral Hopeful Claimed Florida Tax Break Meant For Full Residents.” The link to read the unedited full Albuquerque Journal article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_e21410a0-00dc-4b77-99a2-5c721ff19922.html

Darren White is the controversial former Bernalillo County Sherriff who is one of seven candidates who have qualified for the November 4 ballot, including Mayor Tim Keller, who is seeking a third four-year term. White secured the 3,000 required signatures to secure a ballot position to appear on the November 4 ballot. Initially, White was also seeking public financing but failed to secure the required 3,780 donations of $5.00 to the city from registered voters and he is now a privately finance candidate. Mayor Tim Keller is the only candidate out of 7 candidates to qualify for the $755,946 in public finance by collecting the required qualifying donations.

FLORIDA PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION

Following is an edited and quoted version of the Journal article written by Journal Staff writer Justin Garcia:

“Darren White took a $50,000 Florida property tax exemption on a beachside home he owns in a small Florida town that resulted in him saving a few thousand dollars in property taxes. Government documents show White purchased the property in 2019. The house is a single-family home located in Port St. Joe, a town in the Florida panhandle with a population of approximately 3,775 residents.”

According to a Zillow search, homes in St. Joe sell for upwards of $500,000.

https://www.zillow.com/home-values/20024/port-saint-joe-fl/

“[The controversy for White is that] the property tax break requires the property owner to be a Florida resident. [According to the Journal story] emails available to the public, voting records and property records shared with the paper by an out of state Republican political consulting firm, and independently verified by the Albuquerque Journal, show that White has claimed a house in Port St. Joe, Florida, as his primary residence since 2022.”

“The Florida Gulf County Appraiser’s Office, which oversees property assessment duties for Port St. Joe, confirmed that White has received the homestead exemption since 2022. White has also paid taxes on the house since buying it in 2019. An email from 2022 between White and the Appraiser’s Office shows that White confirmed he wanted the property tax exemption.”

“To be given the Homeowners tax exemption, the Appraiser’s Office had to receive copies of utilities bills, bank information and a Florida driver’s license to establish Florida residency. The Florida county’s Appraiser’s Office confirmed they had received all three of the required documents from White and White confirmed in an email that he had a Florida driver license at one point.”

“Gulf County Appraiser’s Office website listed White’s Florida residence as receiving a homestead exemption. On June 18, White told the Journal he planned to withdraw the property tax and as of June 25, the Florida County Appraiser’s Office listed the property as no longer receiving it.”

“When contacted by phone by the Journal, White confirmed that he owns the house in Florida but stated it is not his permanent residence and that he would contact the appropriate appraiser to have the $50,000 exemption removed. White further argued that the situation amounted to nothing more than a “simple oversight” when asked if he felt like he should reimburse Florida State Gulf County.”

White offered the following explanation:

“I briefly lived in Florida but moved back in 2022 and changed my voter registration accordingly. I still have a home in Florida that is now a rental property. The property tax designation was inadvertent. It has been corrected, and all my taxes are up to date and paid in full. … We are confident voters care more about crime in Albuquerque than property tax technicalities in Florida.”

ALBUQUERQUE RESIDENCY REQUIRED TO RUN FOR MAYOR

New Mexico Statute 1-1-7 (2024) states that for a candidate to qualify for an office they are running for, the candidate must file in the district where they reside. Residency for candidates is determined by the rules outlined in Section 1-1-7 NMSA 1978. For City Councilor candidates, this means they must reside in the specific city council district they are seeking to represent. For Mayor, they must reside within the city limits itself. This statute also allows candidates to change their residency up to the filing date, as long as the district remains within the same boundaries.

The link to the New Mexico statute regarding residency is here:

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/chapter-1/article-1/section-1-1-7/

New Mexico Statutes Section 1-22-3 (2024) outlines the requirements for candidates in regular local elections. Specifically, it states that a person must physically reside within the district they wish to represent and be a registered voter in that area on the date the election is called.

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/chapter-1/article-22/section-1-22-3/

Article II of the City of Albuquerque Charter governing municipal elections can be found here:

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuqcharter/0-0-0-144

There is no minimum amount of time that a person must be a resident in the city for a person to run for Mayor of Albuquerque. All that is required for a person to run for Mayor of Albuquerque is:

A person must be a registered qualified elector on the date they file their declaration of candidacy with the city clerk. (A person must be 18 years or older to register to vote.)
Be a resident of the city of Albuquerque.
File with the City Clerk a petition containing signatures of three thousand registered city voters to be placed on the ballot.

Darren White meets all three requirements to run for Mayor.

CITY CLERKS ASSERTS RESIDENCY CONTRADICTION

“White claiming a Florida residency for a tax exemption creates a contradiction as to his residency status. Albuquerque City Clerk Ethan Watson, [who is also a licensed attorney], declined to specify whether it might apply to White’s case. Eligibility questions are district court matters to decide. A city clerk spokesperson said this:

“The City cannot comment on issues that could come before the Board of Ethics or other adjudicatory bodies.”

The Albuquerque Journal found that White currently does indeed have an address in Albuquerque as well as a long voting record in local elections and he has no history of voting in Florida. Voting records show that White has a history of being a New Mexico voter. Bernalillo County Clerk records reveal that White voted in the 2022 general election, the 2024 primary election, and the 2024 general election. There are no Florida records that show White voted in Florida elections.

White said this about his residency:

“I am very clearly a resident of Albuquerque — and live and pay taxes here.”

CANIDATES DENOUNCE WHITE’S CONDUCT

Democrat Alexander Uballez, III is the former United States Attorney for New Mexico. He is one of the six candidates running for Mayor against Tim Keller. Uballez was quick to question White’s conduct of claiming a Florida property tax exception and said this:

“While our neighbors are struggling to afford rent or keep up with property tax, Darren White was avoiding paying his fair share on his beachfront home in Florida. Especially right now, we need a mayor with a track record of serving the public good, not dodging their responsibility to contribute to it. Among a long list of disqualifications, this raises the question of whether this is the quality of leadership we deserve.”

On social media, Mayor Tim Keller’s campaign posted the following:

“Dear ABQ Neighbor, Did you catch the story. . .about Republican Darren White claiming a $50,000 tax break meant only for full-time Florida residents?. . . White declared his beachside house as his primary residence–even while voting in New Mexico and now running for Mayor. He submitted a Florida driver’s license, utility bills, and bank records to make it official. That’s not just a “simple oversight.” It’s classic tax-dodging–and it raises real questions about Darren White’s honesty, integrity, and legal compliance. And let’s be honest: it’s straight out of the Trump playbook. Dodging taxes, playing both sides, and expecting no consequences.”

ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

WHITE BECOMES ALBUQUERQUE RESDENT IN LATE 2024

Darren White’s candidate address listed in his campaign disclosure statement filed with the City Clerk and which is public record lists 6701 Tennyson ST NE, #7004, Albuquerque, NM 87122 as his home address. The apartment is within the City limits.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1

Voter registration rolls as of March 10, 2025, which are public record, reflect Darren White’s last known primary residence as of December 16, 2024 is also the apartment located at 6701 Tennyson ST NE.

It is true when White says he is “clearly a resident of Albuquerque — and live[s] and pay taxes here”. He is a Bernalillo County registered voter as he voted in the 2022 and 2024 election cycles. What Darren White has not disclose is that he has only resided within the city limits ostensibly since November 14, 2023.

According to Bernalillo County property records, Darren White’s primary residence until November 14, 2023 was a custom made, 3,727 square foot, single story home located in North Albuquerque Acres at 11620 Signal Ave, NE which is located in unincorporated area of Bernalillo County and not within the City limits. The home has 4 bedrooms, 4 baths with a living room and dining room, an office with a wet bar, and gourmet kitchen with duel built-in refrigerators.

The home in North Albuquerque Acres was listed for sale 2 times, once on September 21, 2023 and re-listed on September 24, 2023. White’s county home sold on November 14, 2023 for $1,000,000 (MLS # 1041884) to a Mark S. Sanchez. Upon information and belief, Mark Sanchez is the Executive Director of the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (ABCWUA).

White admitted he briefly lived in Florida in 2022. He was a Florida resident at the time when he secured the Florida tax exemption, but he said he moved back in 2022. White ostensibly bought the North Albuquerque Acres home and changed his primary residence and voter registration back to New Mexico. He purchased the home in North Albuquerque Acres, which is in Bernalillo County, later sold it on November 14, 2023 and then moved into an apartment located within the city limits. It appears that Darren White sold a $1 million dollar, 3,727 square foot luxury home in the county and then moved into an apartment located within city limits enabling him to run for Mayor of Albuquerque.

The law mandates that White live within the City limits to run for Mayor and he could not run for Mayor if he lived in unincorporated Bernalillo County. Upon his return to New Mexico and changing his residency, White had the obligation to notify Florida tax authorities that he was no longer a Florida resident, no longer qualified for the tax exemption and that his primary residence was in New Mexico. White did so, but only after it was reported by the Albuquerque Journal.

Simply put, what happened in Florida remains in Florida. The tax exemption and his cessation of primary residency in Florida is between Florida authorities and Darren White and not New Mexico nor the City of Albuquerque. It will be very difficult to prove in a court of law that White’s primary residence is a Florida residency to disqualify him from running for Mayor and being removed from the ballot. White’s Albuquerque primary residence centers on his personal intent and he will likely be found by any New Mexico State District court that his primary residence is within the Albuquerque city limits, he is a registered New Mexico voter with a voting record, he pays bills and taxes here and he has legitimately qualified for the ballot as an Albuquerque resident.

DARREN WHITE RUNS FOR MAYOR

It was on March 6, former Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, Former Bernalillo County Sheriff and former Albuquerque Chief Public Safety Officer Darren White announced that he is running for Mayor of Albuquerque. White made the announcement by uploading a slick campaign video to the social media website X. White called himself a fiscal conservative and vowed to crack down on crime and the homeless in Albuquerque

White joined the race with a vow to be a “proven leader,” “tough on crime” and a “champion for change.” In his announcement, White asserts that there have been 660 murders during Keller’s years in office, that an alarming number of businesses have had to close because of crime and that Keller has made Albuquerque a “sanctuary city.” White proclaimed in his announcement:

“Mayor Keller has presided over the most murders in Albuquerque’s history. His weak approach to crime and homelessness has failed and it’s time for change.”

In a fund raising letter, White vilifies “illegal immigrants” and falsely proclaimed this:

“One of Keller’s first acts as Mayor was too make Albuquerque a Sanctuary City for illegal immigrants who commit crimes. Now we have case after case of violent crimes being committed by illegal immigrants, many of who have been arrested multiple times but turned back onto the streets by this Mayor’s backward policies. As Mayor, I will end the Sanctuary City law immediately.”

Albuquerque is not a “Sanctuary City” as White mouthed off. A “Sanctuary City” is a jurisdiction that prohibits local law enforcement from enforcing and arresting for violations of immigration laws leaving that work exclusively to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). A “Sanctuary City” requires the local government to protect the undocumented from federal authorities.

“Immigrant Friendly” cities on the other hand enact policies that are favorable to undocumented people to allow services and its local law enforcement personnel do not make arrests for violations of federal immigration laws and only make arrests of undocumented people for violations of local ordinances and state laws. Albuquerque’s Immigrant Friendly ordinance prevents city resources from being used for immigration enforcement or for sharing information about an individual’s immigration status, unless legally required. City employees, including law enforcement, and all city departments are not allowed to ask for a person’s immigrant status, and no department is allowed to maintain statistics on immigrants.

It was in 2001, long before Keller became Mayor, that the city council declared the city to be an “Immigrant-Friendly City” by City Council ordinance originally sponsored by former Republican City Councilor Hess Yntema who represented the South East Heights area, including the International District. The ordinance declares the City Of Albuquerque to be an Immigrant-Friendly City. It establishes City Of Albuquerque policies regarding immigrants and their families, regardless of immigration status and establishes a city immigrant resource program.

https://cabq.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=1256769&GUID=C68CF8DC-7161-498C-A997-FF2D664B7E0E&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=R-2001-009&FullText=1

White said he will provide officers with resources and support they need to take action against homeless encampments after a Supreme Court decision in 2024. White said this:

“The Supreme Court has given cities the authority to clean up these tent cities, but Mayor Keller has refused to do so. That will change when I am elected mayor.”

When White was Chief Public Safety Officer under Mayor Richard Berry, White said it was time to “take the gloves off when dealing with the homeless” in order to remove the homeless from downtown Albuquerque. Three of those arrested later sued the city and the city settled the cases for $98,000

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/12/what-works-albuquerque-homeless-solution-housing-policy-214527

Mayor Tim Keller has established the Albuquerque Community Safety Division Department which employs teams of two trained professionals with experience in behavioral health and crisis intervention. They are dispatched to deal with the unhoused and to get them off the streets and reduce APD police calls for service. According to Keller, the city does hundreds of sweeps a month to remove homeless encampments.

https://www.cabq.gov/acs/services

DARREN WHITE’S HISTORY OF CONTROVERSY

In 1987, White moved to New Mexico and joined the Albuquerque Police Department Academy. White holds a B.A. in Management from the University of Phoenix and has one son, Darren II. After his graduation from the APD Academy, White was assigned and served in the department’s Field Services Bureau, Motorcycle Patrol Unit and Crimes Against Children Unit. He reached the rank of Sergeant. While with APD, White joined the department band “The Force” as the lead singer with the band performing in their APD uniforms to school children warning them about the dangers of abusing drugs and bellowing out in rock style lyrics “Just Say No!”

In 1995, Republican Governor Gary Johnson appointed White to head the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. At 31, White was the youngest state public safety director in the country. White also chaired Johnson’s cabinet council on crime and corrections.

While serving as secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, members of the New Mexico State Police Officers Association voted 243 – 31 “No Confidence” against White. The state police officers accused White of improperly supplying equipment and cars to its officers, which they felt was an officer safety issue.

https://www.police1.com/police-administration/articles/nm-police-have-no-confidence-in-safety-director-nQZQa5iQFpN4EEU3/

White had a very sudden and dramatic parting of the ways with Governor Gary Johnson over Johnson announcing his support for the legalization of all drugs. White resigned in a “puff” as cabinet secretary saying he could never support the legalization of drugs.

WHITE WAS AGAINST POT BEFORE HE MADE MONEY OFF POT

White’s previous public statements and actions against marijuana reform have been extensive. In 2007, when medical marijuana became legal in New Mexico, White was vehemently opposed to it. White said this:

“I’ve never supported medical marijuana. … I’m very sympathetic to the patients – I watched my father die of cancer, and it’s the most difficult thing in the world – but I don’t think you have to smoke marijuana to gain the comfort and relief that’s provided by the THC.”

In 2002, as executive director of Protect New Mexico, White lobbied against both a medical marijuana bill and Johnson’s effort to decriminalize marijuana. When the state Legislature rejected Johnson’s decriminalization bill, White said it was “a victory to our children and our neighborhoods.”

On a 2002 medical marijuana bill, White told the Albuquerque Journal at the time that the issue needed more research.

https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2015/09/02/green-and-white-former-sheriff-wants-in-on-medical-marijuana/

When Republican Governor Susana Martinez became governor, Darren White changed his tune on the legalization of marijuana and benefited from a state license he was awarded by the Martinez Administration to sell medical marijuana. White showed what a hypocrite he is when following his career in law enforcement he started his own cannabis dispensary company call PurLife. He served on the Board of Directors and CEO of Purlife, a medical marijuana distribution company. Despite lobbying against state medical cannabis legalization efforts, White changed his stance on the substance and ran his medical cannabis company, which sold just before New Mexico legalized recreational use.

SEE Pure Life Management Group., LLC, Business ID number 5545730 at

https://enterprise.sos.nm.gov/search/business

WHITE THE “NEWSHOUND”

After resigning his cabinet position with Johnson, White joined the news staff at KRQE-TV, Albuquerque’s CBS affiliate. White was a crime reporter at the station for two years. He left the station in 2002 to run for Bernalillo County Sherriff.

https://www.gaar.com/images/uploads/ld-darren_white_bio.pdf

WHITE THE BERNALILLO COUNTY SHERIFF

White was elected Bernalillo County Sheriff in 2002 and reelected in 2006. As Bernalillo County Sheriff, Darren White helped TruTouch Technologies secure a sole-source contract in the amount of $379,995 to “supply alcohol screening and testing prototype equipment.”

White notified the County Commission that “the Sheriff’s Department fully supports the Sole Source contract award to TruTouch Technologies of Albuquerque.”

White was also running for US Congress at the time and received campaign contributions from TruTouch officers during a prohibited time.

https://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/democracy_for_new_mexico/darren-white/

WHITE THE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE

In 2008, White was the Republican nominee for US Congress in New Mexico’s 1st congressional district facing then Albuquerque City Councilman Martin Heinrich. Heinrich defeated White in a landslide with Heinrich elected with 55.5% to Whites 44.5%. White has said in the past that he was a Republican Conservative long before Donald Trump ever was. White has the signature of Ronald Reagan tattoo on his ankle that he is very proud of and is known to show off to others.

WHITE THE ABQ CHIEF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER AND DIRECTOR OF SAFE CITY STRIKE FORCE

In December 2009, White was appointed Albuquerque’s Chief Public Safety Director by Republican Mayor Richard J. Berry who had just been elected for his first term. White replaced former Albuquerque City Councilor and Former Chief Deputy District Attorney Pete Dinelli as the City’s Chief Public Safety Officer and Director of the Safe City Strike Force.

Simply put, Republican Darren White blew it when he was Chief Public Safety Officer and Director of the Safe City Strike Force under Republican Mayor Richard Berry and together they did irreparable damage to the city’s safety and the Albuquerque Police Department.

SAFE CITY STRIKE FORCE

The Safe City Strike Force was responsible for taking aggressive action against nuisance property’s and took code enforcement action against both commercial and residential properties that were determined to be magnets for crime. For a period of seven years during which time Marty Chavez was Mayor, the Safe City Strike Force, took enforcement actions against 6,500 + properties throughout the city. The Strike Force cleaned up Central taking enforcement actions against dozens of run-down motels along Central and tearing down 8 motels and closing violent bars deemed a nuisance. The Strike Force was recognized nationally as a best practice program.

City hall confidential sources confirmed Mayor Richard Berry ordered the dismantling of the Safe City Strike Force because of demands by the business community sector and slum lords who were opposed to aggressive city code enforcement that held them accountable for code violations. Darren White carried out Berry’s orders and code enforcement actions ceased because Darren White was not a licensed attorney and he did nothing when it came to code enforcement against nuisance properties.

WHITE’S “NO CONFIDENCE VOTE” BY APD

Darren White, as a former Bernalillo County Sherriff, had no problem with the political appointment by Mayor Richard Berry of Republican Gordon Eden as APD Chief. Eden had no experience working within APD an no experience managing a large law enforcement department. When Berry and White first took over APD, it was the best trained, best paid and best equipped in department in its history. APD had in December 2009 a total of 1,100 full time sworn police officers, the largest number in its history.

Eden was a poor choice for APD Chief and the Department went into a complete meltdown. Under Berry, Edens and White’s leadership, APD sworn personnel plummeted, and it hit low of 850 because they could not keep up with retirements.

APD moral plummeted under White’s leadership. Darren White was given a vote of “no confidence” from the APD union because he took away the take home vehicle policy for cops and he stopped the pay increases negotiated with the union contract. White also imposed severe pay cuts he implemented in violation of the police union contract negotiated in good faith by the police union.

https://www.koat.com/article/police-union-to-vote-no-confidence-in-darren-white/5035368

WHITE INSERTS SELF INTO MARY HAN DEATH CASE

One of the most disgraceful things Darren White did when he was Chief Public Safety Officer involved APD’s investigation into the 2010 death of prominent Civil Rights and Defense attorney Mary Han who was often at odds with both the Albuquerque Police Department and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, including when Darren White was Bernalillo County Sherriff. Initially, the Office of the Medical Investigator ruled her death a suicide, but her family never bought it. A few years back, then District Court Judge David Thomson ordered OMI to change the manner of death from “suicide” to “undetermined.”

When the call was made to APD reporting that Mary Han was found dead in the seat of her car in her garage, then Chief Public Safety Director Darren White and city spokesman T.J. Wilham dispatched themselves to the scene along with then APD Deputy Chiefs Beth Paiz, Paul Feist, Allen Banks, then Valley Area Commander Rae Mason, then-City Attorney Rob Perry, and then police crime lab director Marc Adams and four sergeants, including a designated APD spokeswoman.

White and his APD subordinates dispatched themselves to the scene ostensibly to “investigate” and to view Han’s body. They were all given free access to the scene thereby interfering with the investigation. An Attorney General investigation found that APD mishandled the investigation and reached several “principal findings”. Those findings include:

The large number of APD personnel given access to Han’s home “materially interfered with the investigation process”.
“Significant”items were either removed from Han’s death scene or were “otherwise missing,” further complicating the case by thwarting scientific analysis and evidence collection.
A high-ranking APD official made a “precipitous decision” to label Han’s death a suicide before any investigation had been conducted.

The Han family sued the office of medical investigator and succeeded in having Mary Han’s death certificate cause of death change from suicide to undetermined.

WHITE’S “RETIREMENT” FROM CITY

On July 15, 2011, Darren White announced what he called his “retirement” from the city a little more than a week after he showed up to the scene of a car crash involving his wife where he took her from the scene and then drove her to the hospital. First responders never gave Kathy White a blood test even though a police report indicates she showed signs of impairment. Darren White released his wife’s urinalysis results that showed a drug screen came back negative. Documents show the test was roughly five hours after the accident which called into question the accuracy of the test White released. A blood draw test is much more comprehensive than a urine test, but a blood test was never performed.

White’s retirement came shortly after a City Council meeting in which a five-person committee voted to start compiling a list of outside investigators who could be called on to review White’s actions during his wife’s car accident. White maintained that he did nothing wrong and violated no policies but none the less he retired. The Police Oversight Commission exonerated White of any wrongdoing in the incident later that year.

https://www.koat.com/article/darren-white-retires-from-city-post/5036906

WHITE THE “RACINO MANAGER”

In July 2012, Darren White was appointed as the New Downs General Manager. According to the Response to RFP submitted by the Downs on August 25, 2011, the General Manager position “has been created in anticipation of the new facility”. In other words, White was given a job that did not previously exist. The Downs General Manager is “responsible for the day-to-day operations of The Downs, including implementing and monitoring policies, establishing and managing the budget, hiring and training the management team, ensuring managers are actively monitoring compliance with all regulatory requirements and providing overall operational support.”

The problem was Darren White had no gaming management experience when he was named the New Downs General Manager. The new Casino had not yet been built so there was nothing to manage. White’s only involvement with the racino before was as a “security consultant” helping the Downs at Albuquerque prepare its response to the RFP. White then briefly worked as the Project Manager at the Downs for the construction of the updated racino.

Confidential sources report that Darren White was given the job because of his close personal friendship and association to Jay McCleskey, then Governor Martinez’s political consultant who involved himself in the award of the racinos lease by the state, and his very close ties to Downs lobbyists/lawyers Pat Rogers and Mickey Barnett. During her first year in office, Republican Governor Susana Martinez was alleged to have been involved with a “play to play” controversy involving the award of a $1 Billion-dollar, 25-year, Albuquerque Downs Racetrack contract, dubbed by politicos as “the Dirty Downs deal”.

https://www.abqjournal.com/335335/buster-screwed-us.html

https://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/democracy_for_new_mexico/darren-white/

WHITE THE RADIO TAKE SHOW HOST

For several years Darren White has hosted a radio talk show on KKOB and has become an outspoken critic of Mayor Tim Keller and the Albuquerque Police Department. White caters to a decidedly right wing, MAGA Republican audience. As a result White has been able to nourish a strong base of support increasing his name identification as he takes on divisive issues such as the unhoused and undocumented immigrants.

FINAL COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Immediately after the Albuquerque Journal story broke about Darren White’s claim for a Florida property tax exemption, well known political pundits, gossip columnists and city hall observers were quick to proclaim that the news story seriously “wounded” White’s candidacy and that it could slow his fundraising as potential donors hesitate over his candidacy. That would be very wishful and foolish thinking on their part. According to the June 9 finance report White had raised $40,867 and new finance reports will be filed on July 14. It is possible Darren White could self finance given his past ownership of the cannabis dispensary company PurLife.

The link to Darren White’s financial disclosure is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/L7j64Ew1a0rWwbrOJFbL4JP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/2/null/2/2025

Before the Journal report, conventional wisdom was that White was the odds on favorite to get into run off with Tim Keller. He still is. If no candidate wins 50% of the vote at the November 4 election a month later a run-off election would be held between the top two vote-getters. White and Keller remain the odds on favorites to make it into a runoff.

Simply put, White’s reputation has been solidified for a number of years. Voters already know who he is and what he represents. White is appealing to the MAGA voting block as he runs for Mayor and as he assails Keller’s weaknesses on crime reduction, vilifies the homeless and vilifies undocumented people declaring Albuquerque “sanctuary city”.

In a real sense, White is following Donald Trump’s game plan of sowing hostility and mistrust to win an election. It just might work against a Mayor who has extremely low approval ratings of between 30% and 33% but still has a solid base of Democrat Progressives that will likely get him into a run off. White’s past controversial conduct is likely to be totally ignored as irrelevant by his base of radio talk show listeners and Republican MAGA supporters who after all ignored Trump’s character flaws and voted for the first convicted felon for President of the United States.

Attorney Rudolph “Rudy” Chavez Second Attorney To Plead Guilty To Federal Charges In Bribery And Conspiracy Case To Dismiss DWI Cases; 8 Law Enforcement Plead Guilty; 2 Ring Leaders Plead Guilty; 20 Law Enforcement Implicated; No One Sentenced Yet

Posted on July 11, 2025 by

On July 10, private criminal defense attorney Rudolph “Rudy” Chavez plead guilty to a federal extortion charge admitting he bribed an Albuquerque police officer in 2023 to help get his client’s drunken driving case dismissed. Chavez plead guilty to one count each of interference with commerce by extortion and lying to FBI agents investigating the payoff in March 2024.

The Chavez guilty plea is the latest in the largest corruption and bribery scandal involving the state’s 3 largest law enforcement agencies of APD, the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and the New Mexico State Police. The corruption and bribery scheme involved law enforcement officers from all 3 agencies who conspired to take bribes and dismiss DWI cases with criminal defense attorney Thomas Clear III and his investigator Ricardo “Rick” Mendez. It was Clear and Mendez who were the ring leaders who orchestrated the massive scheme to bribe officers not to appear in court in order to get DWI cases dismissed. The Bernalillo County District Attorneys Office was forced to dismiss 275 DWI cases because of the law enforcement officers implicated and who were handling the DWI cases.

Chavez sometimes teamed up on DWI cases with now-disbarred DWI defense attorney Thomas Clear III and his former legal assistant Ricardo “Rick” Mendez who orchestrated the bribery of law enforcement officers, all of whom have retired, resigned or have entered guilty pleas. None have been sentenced, as the FBI continues its investigation.

In his plea agreement Chavez admitted he contacted Clear’s assistant Recardo “Rick” Mendez after he was hired by his client who had been arrested in April 2023 by Albuquerque Police Department DWI officer Honorio Alba Jr. Through Mendez, Chavez paid Alba to intentionally not appear in court on the DWI case. Chavez admits this in his plea agreement and said this:

“I admit that when coordinating the scheme, I knew that Alba was a necessary witness and because Alba planned to fail to appear, I knew that the case and proceedings would likely be dismissed.”

The trial for Chavez’s defendant client in the drunken driving case was set for January 17, 2024, but DWI officer Honorio Alba Jr. contacted the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office that day to say he “had worked the night before and was too tired to attend the court setting…”. The DA’s office dismissed the case.

Chavez states in his plea agreement he agreed to be interviewed by FBI agents on March 26, 2024. During his FBI interview, Chavez was warned of the potential criminal consequences of lying to federal law enforcement officers. During his interview with FBI agents, Chavez denied knowing Alba was not going to appear in court. In his federal plea, Chavez admits he lied to FBI agents and admits he had phone calls with Mendez ahead of the court hearings to ensure Alba would not attend. Chavez admits in his plea he spoke on the phone with Mendez after the dismissal “during which I thanked him and asked him to thank Alba.”

Chavez is the 11th person plead guilty for their role in the bribery and conspiracy scheme to dismiss DWI cases. Chavez faces up to 25 years in prison and up to $500,000 fines. No date has been set for Chavez’s sentencing.

On April 7, 2 025 Rudolph “Rudy” Chavez agreed to forgo a public hearing on allegations by the New Mexico Supreme Court Disciplinary Board alleging his involvement in the DWI bribery and extortion conspiracy case under investigation by federal authorities after previously denying any criminal involvement in the scheme. Chavez accepted an “indefinite suspension” of his law license.

DEDICATED LOBO ATHELTICS PROMOTER

Rudolph “Rudy” Chavez has been a license New Mexico attorney for over 40 years. Chavez is a well-known fan and financial contributor to University of New Mexico Lobo sports. Chavez is a staunch Lobo basketball athletics fan who has had season tickets for decades. He is known to travel to games and to the Mountain West basketball tournament in Las Vegas, Nevada, each March. Chavez is also on the Executive Committee of the New Mexico Bowl.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_bd101397-640f-4c77-b830-3a22da1e81b2.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/dwi-deception-albuquerque-lawyer-pleads-guilty-to-role-in-scandal/

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-attorney-guilty-dwi-scandal-charges/65372637

https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/albuquerque-police-department-dwi-investigation/second-albuquerque-lawyer-admits-to-role-in-dwi-unit-scheme/

HOW DWI ENTERPRISE WORKED

According to criminal complaints, indictments and plea agreements filed in Federal District Court by the New Mexico United States Attorney and the US Department of Justice, the DWI Enterprise scheme was very simple and straight forward. Arresting officers would give contact information on motorists they arrested to Mendez and Clear. In exchange, the officers would receive cash, gifts and legal services and intentionally fail to show up to required pretrial interviews, court hearings. They would also withhold evidence in cases where the suspects hired Clear. Clear would then file motions to dismiss the charges, and judges had no choice but to dismiss the cases for “lack of prosecution” as a sanction against the prosecution.

Clients whose cases were dismissed would typically pay more in legal fees of between $5,000 and $10,000 depending on if the charges were DWI, aggravated DWI other charges in addition to DWI. Law enforcement officers would be recruited by Clear and Mendez to participate in the scheme over many years. The conspirators would also profile people as to their ability to pay higher fees. Defense attorneys customarily charge between $3,000 and $6,000 to defend DWI cases depending on if the case is a person’s first, second, third or even fourth offense, misdemeanor or felony DWI. There is no charge if a defendant qualifies and is defended by the Public Defender’s Office.

SEVEN APD COPS AND ONE BERNALILLO COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF PLEAD GUILTY AS CHARGED

Seven APD officers and one Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Deputy have plead guilty to federal charges of taking bribes and they are:

On February 7, 2025 former APD Officer Honorio Alba plead guilty to racketeering, bribery, extortion and conspiracy.(Article link: Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.)
On February 7, 2025 former APD Officer Joshua Montaño plead guilty as charge to racketeering, bribery, extortion and conspiracy.(Article link: Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.)
On February 12, 2025 former APD Officer Neill Elsman plead guilty as charged to 5 counts of conspiracy, extortion, and bribery. ( February 12, 2025.)
On March 24, 2025 former APD officer Nelson Ortiz admitted to his role in the DWI Enterprise bribery scandal and pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Interference With Commerce By Extortion Under Color of Official Right. He faces 20 years in prison.
On April 29, 2025 former APD Police Officer Harvey Johnsonplead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit “Interference With Commerce By Extortion Under Color Of Official Right”. He is facing 20 years in jail.
On May 27, 2025 former APD Officer Lucas Perezpleaded guilty to “conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right.” It was on March 24, 2024 that APD announced it has placed Lucas Perez on leave as a part of its internal investigation into its DWI unit and the federal investigation. Perez has been with the department since 2016 and served in the DWI unit to become the unit sergeant.
On June 23, 2025 former APD officer Louis Henckelpleaded guilty in federal court, admitting to his role in the conspiracy with criminal defense attorney Thomas Clear and his paralegal Ricardo Mendez to accept bribes to get DWI cases dismissed. Henckel plead guilty to one count of “conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right.”The maximum penalty is up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
On February 25, 2025, BCSO Deputy Jeff Hammerel resigned from BCSO and plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of extortion and two counts of bribery. (Took a plea deal on February 25, 2025.)

TWO RING LEADERS PLEAD GUILTY AS CHARGED

Former DWI Criminal defense attorney Thomas Clear III and his investigator Ricardo “Rick” Mendez plead guilty as charged to paying bribes to law enforcement to get their client’s DWI cases get dismissed.

On January 24, Ricardo “Rick” Mendez, 53, the investigator for attorney Thomas Clear III, plead guilty to all the charges contained in the criminal Information including racketeering, bribery of an agent receiving federal funds, aiding and abetting, interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right and to conspiracy. Mendez is facing 110 years in prison on the charges. On April 29 Ricardo “Rick” Mendez was scheduled to be sentenced connection with the DWI scandal. In a surprise move on the day of his sentencing it was simply vacated by the federal court. The likely reason for the delay is that Mendez is providing new information about the DWI scandal and identifying more suspects to be charge.

On February 12, DWI defense attorney Thomas Clear III, 67 plead guilty as charged to nine federal charges including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, bribery, and extortion. Clear faces up to 130 years in prison and $2 million in fines. Clear admits in his Plea Agreement that for nearly 30 years he led a criminal racketeering enterprise that paid off generations of law enforcement officers to get his clients’ DWI cases thrown out. Clear admits to running the “DWI Enterprise” since at least 1995. The DWI Enterprise scheme was run out of Clear’s law office.

According to Clear’s plea agreement, prior to 2022, Clear and his investigator Ricardo “Rick” Mendez would arrange for officers to intentionally fail to appear at required pretrial interviews involving DWI offenders the officers arrested. Clear would file motions to dismiss the proceedings, claiming the officers were necessary witnesses who didn’t show up as required. The courts would dismiss the cases as a sanction against the prosecution. Clear has been permanently disbarred from the practice of law by the New Mexico Supreme Court and the Federal Court and a forfeiture action against a home Clear used as his offices has been taken as an asset and as part of the racketeering charge

TWENTY LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS FROM 3 AGENCIES IMPLICATED

Twenty (20) law enforcement officers have resigned, retired, been terminated or federally charged or indicted since the FBI executed five searches in January 2024 at three APD officers’ residences, the home of private investigator Ricardo “Rick” Mendez and the law offices of DWI defense attorney Thomas Clear III. Sixteen APD Officers, three Bernalillo County Sherriff Officers and one New Mexico State Police Sergeant thus far have been implicated in the bribery racketeering enterprise.

16 APD OFFICERS IMPLICATED, CHARGED OR PLEAD GUILTY

During the past year, a total of 16 APD Police officers have been implicated in the largest corruption scandal in APD’s history. APD Commander Kyle Hartsock is overseeing the Internal Affairs investigations. One by one, the accused APD officers have been turning in their badges and resigning or retiring rather than talking to Internal Affairs investigators about an alleged public corruption scheme involving DWI cases. The names and dates of the 16 officers who have resigned, placed on leave, who have been terminated, retired, charged or plead guilty are:

On February 7, 2024 Justin Hunt, who started at APD in 2000, resigned.
On February 29, 2024, Honorio Alba, who started at APD in 2014, resigned. On February 7, 2025 he plead guilty to racketeering, bribery, extortion and conspiracy.(Article link: Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.)
On March 13, 2024, Harvey Johnson, who started at APD in 2014, resigned.
On March 15, 2024, Nelson Ortiz, who started at APD in 2016, resigned. On March 24, Nelson Ortiz admitted to his role in the DWI Enterprise bribery scandal and plead guilty in federal court to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Interference With Commerce By Extortion Under Color of Official Right. He faces 20 years in prison.
On March 20, 2024 Joshua Montaño, who started at APD January 2005, resigned. On Friday, February 8, Montaño plead guilty as charge to racketeering, bribery, extortion and conspiracy. (Article link: Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.)
On May 2, 2024 Daren DeAguero, who started with APD in 2009, resigned.
On May 9, 2024, Matthew Trahan was placed on paid leave as the investigation played out. Trahan has been with APD since 2006, was with the DWI unit from 2014-16 and recently worked as a detective.
On July 30, 2024 APD Officer Neill Elsman, who had worked in the DWI unit within the past several years, resigned before returning to work from military leave. On February 12, 2025 Elsman plead guilty as charged to 5 counts of conspiracy, extortion, and bribery. (Article: February 12, 2025.)
On August 1, APD announced that it fired Mark Landavazo, the APD Commander of Internal Affairs for Professional Standards, who started with APD in 2007 and was with the DWI unit from 2008 through 2013.
October 16, 2024 Deputy Commander Gustavo Gomez placed on paid administrative leave. Gomez was with the DWI unit from 2010 to 2013.
On January 24, 2025 APD announced they placed officers Matthew Chavez on leave.
On February 28, Kyle Curtis announced his retirement after he was placed on leave on February 24 amid being targeted in the Internal investigation involving DWI arrests.
In 2022, Timothy McCarson retired from the Albuquerque Police Department and he has been implicated in the DWI scandal. The last week of January, 2025, the FBI asked that he be added to the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office‘s Giglio list, which classifies potential court testimony as unreliable.
On May 12, former APD officer Steve Hindiwas placed on the Giglio list of officers whose credibility is compromised after being implicated in the scandal.
On May 27,2025 Lucas Perez plead guilty to conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right. On March 24, 2024the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) announce it has placed Lucas Perez on leave as a part of its internal investigation into its DWI unit and the federal investigation. Perez has been with the department since 2016 and served in the DWI unit to become the unit sergeant.
On June 26, 2025 it was reported that former APD Officer Daniel Carr who served with APD for nearly 20 years and who then became a lateral hire and went to work for the Durango Police Department, became the 16th former APD officer to join the ranks of officers listed on the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office ‘Giglio list‘ of officers who are no longer trusted witnesses in court. He was implicated in the DWI bribery and conspiracy case to dismiss cases. Carr immediately resigned from the Durango Police Department after the Department was notified of the action. Carr has not been charged with a crime.

THREE BERNALILLO COUNTY SHERRIFF DEPUTIES IMPLICATED

The names and dates of the 3 BCSO officers who have resigned or placed on leave by Sherriff John Allen or who have plead guilty to charges are:

On February 25, 2025 BCSO Deputy Jeff Hammerel resigned from BCSO and plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of extortion and two counts of bribery.
On February 24, 2025, BCSO Undersheriff Johann Jareno was asked to resign by Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen.
March 7^th, Deputy Jeffry Bartram was placed on leave on after early findings that he may have been involved in the scheme. He has been with BCSO since February 2010 and was on the BCSO DWI Unit from July 2014 to August 2020.

ONE MEXICO STATE POLICE OFFICER

On February 14, 2025 the New Mexico State Police announced it placed Sgt. Toby LaFave on administrative leave after he was implicated by the FBI as accepting bribes in the DWI Enterprise to dismiss cases. Sgt. Toby LaFave is on paid leave as the agency does its own internal investigation into allegations. LaFave was featured for years in state ENDWI campaigns and was referred to as the DWI King.

LaFave, who joined State Police in 2012, said in an online public service promotion video that he has made 3,000 arrests during his 20 years in law enforcement. Court records show LaFave has filed at least 1,300 felony and misdemeanor DWI cases from 2009 to February, 2025. Of the 31 DWI cases where LaFave was the arresting officer and Clear was the defense attorney, 17, or 57%, were dismissed by the courts.

The link to a quoted or relied upon news source is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_97483524-eb17-11ef-9c15-8320a7b16191.htm/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

There is absolutely no doubt that APD’s reputation has been trashed to a major extent because of this scandal. APD is viewed by many as again having just another bastion of “dirty and corrupt cops” who have brought dishonor to their department and their badge and to the department’s professed values of “Pride, Integrity, Fairness and Respect”. There is little doubt that this whole DWI dismissal bribery scandal has shaken the public’s faith in our criminal justice system and APD to its core especially with the involvement of the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office BCSO and New Mexico State Police Officers.

The only way that any semblance of faith can be restored and for people to begin trusting APD and law enforcement in general again is if all the police officers involved in this scandal are held accountable and the lawyers involved are held accountable. That will only happen with aggressive prosecutions, convictions, and lengthy prison sentences for the law enforcement officers and attorneys involved in the “DWI Enterprise” scheme. Justice will not be served until all are charged and sentenced.

City Council Ballot Complete For November 4 Ballot; All Four Incumbent City Councilors Qualify For Ballot And Public Finance; 3 Incumbents Opposed, One Incumbent Unopposed; Three Qualify For District 1 Open Seat With 2 Publicly Financed, One Privately Financed; 6 Candidates Privately Financed; One Candidate Falls Short To Make Ballot By 7, Audit Likely Of Rejected Signatures

Posted on July 10, 2025 by

On November 4, 2025, the municipal elections for Albuquerque Mayor and City Council will be on the ballot. Of the nine-member city council, the 5 odd number City Council Districts 1,3,5,7, and 9 will be on the ballot.

Initially, there were a total of 16 candidates running for the 5 City Council seats with 13 seeking public finance and 3 privately financed.

All Candidates for City Council were required to gather 500 verified nominating petition signatures from registered voters within the district the candidate wishes to represent. The nominating petition collection period was from June 2, 2025, at 8:00am to July 7, 2025, at 5:00pm.

A total of 12 out of 16 candidates made the ballot by collecting the required 500 verified qualifying signatures .

Applicant candidates for public finance were required to receive Qualifying Contributions from 1% of the registered voters in the district the candidate wishes to represent. The actual amount of public finance given to a candidate by the city if they qualify for public finance varies in each council district and an amount is given for each registered voter.

The Public Finance qualifying contribution period for city council candidates was also from June 2, to July 7, 2025 where candidates were allowed to collect $5.00 donations to qualify for public financing. The number of $5.00 qualifying donations for public finance varies in each council district based upon the number of registered voters.

A total of 6 candidates qualified for public finance. The 6 who qualified for public finance are all 4 incumbents and two first time candidates in District 1 who qualified for public finance.

A total of 6 candidates are privately financed candidates with 3 running against incumbents who have qualified for public finance,

This blog article provides an update of the status of the city council candidates who have made the ballot and who have qualified for public finance as of July 10 at 6:00 a.m. and as posted by the City Clerk on the city website.

The city council candidates who have qualified for the ballot and public finance in each district are as follows:

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1

District 1 City Council District is currently represented by first term Democrat City Councilor Louie Sanchez who did not seek reelection and who is one of 7 candidates running for Mayor. City Council District 1 is the centrally located Westside District between City Council District 5 on the North represented by Republican Dan Lewis and City Council District 3 on the South represented by Democrat Klarissa Pena. The geographical borders generally include Central Avenue on the South, Coors and the Rio Grande River on the East and “zig zags” on the North to include Atrisco Dr., Tesuque Dr. and Buterfield Trail and with the West border jetting outwards to the city limits and vacant land.

Three out of 4 District 1 City Council candidates have qualified for the ballot having collected more than 100% of the required 500 nominating petition signatures and one candidate appears to have failed to qualify for the ballot having secured 99% of the nominating signatures and falling short by 7. The 3 city Council Candidates who have qualified for the ballot are:

AHREN GRIEGO
DANIEL LEIVA
JOSHUA TAYLOR NEIL

The one City Council Candidate who ostensibly has failed to collect the required 500 qualifying donations by 7 is Stephanie Telles and she will not appear on the ballot. She does have the option to demand an audit of all the signatures the city clerk reject that she submitted in the hopes of finding errors in those signatures rejected. Stephanie Telles also failed to collect the 450 required qualifying $5.00 donations and collected 362 verified donations and 80% of those required falling short by 88.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 1 is 450. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 1 is $56,311.25. Two City Council candidates in District 1 have qualified for public finance having collected more than the 450 qualifying donations and they are:

AHREN GRIEGO
DANIEL LEIVA

The third candidate to make the balot Joshua Neil is a privately finance candidate.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1 TABULATIONS OF VERIFIED SIGNATURES AND QUALIFYING DONATIONS

Following are the tabulations posted by the City Clerk for both nominating petition signatures and qualifying $5.000 donations for public finance for the District 1 candidates:

AHREN GRIEGO (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 729
Rejected Petition Signatures 372
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 450
Verified Qualifying Contributions 507
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 61
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed -0-
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 100%

DANIEL GILBER LEIVA (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 873
Rejected Petition Signatures 620
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 450
Verified Qualifying Contributions 492
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 69
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed -0-
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 100%

3. JOSHUA TAYLOR NEAL (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 545
Rejected Petition Signatures 59
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 450
Verified Qualifying Contributions 18
Rejected Qualifying Contributions -0-
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed 432
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 4%

4. STEPHANIE TELLES (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 493
Rejected Petition Signatures 80
Remaining Petition Signatures 7
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 99%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 450
Verified Qualifying Contributions 362
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 24
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed 88
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions 80%

The link to the City Clerk web page to verify tallies for petition signatures and qualifying donations is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1/2025-petition-qualifying-contribution-tally

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3

District 3 is currently represented by Klarissa Peña and she is running for a fourth term. The district is considered safe democrat. The geographic borders are generally “Old Coors Road” on the East and the Valley area, Central on the North, and Dennis Chavez Road on the South, with the West side border jetting out to the city limits and mostly vacant area.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 3 is 335. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 3 is $41,865.00.

Three out of four District 3 City Council candidates have qualified for the ballot having collected more than 100% of the required 500 nominating petition signatures. The 3 city council candidates in District 3 who will appear on the ballot are:

KLARISSA PEÑA (Incumbent)
CHRISTOPHER R. SEDILLO
TERESA GARCIA

Natalie Saldana failed to qualify for the ballot and is listed by the City clerk as dropping out of the race and not collecting qualifying $5.00 donations.

Only incumbent KLARISSA PEÑA qualified for public finance having collected more than the 335 qualifying donations and she will be given $41,865.00 in public finance. City Council candidates Christopher R. Sedillo and Teresa Garcia are privately finance candidates having failed to collect the required number of qualifying donations and becoming privately financed.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3 TABULATIONS OF VERIFIED SIGNATURES AND QUALIFYING DONATIONS

Following are the tabulations posted by the City Clerk for both nominating petition signatures and qualifying $5.000 donations for public finance for the District 3 candidates:

KLARISSA PEÑA (Incumbent) (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 557
Rejected Petition Signatures 192
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 335
Verified Qualifying Contributions 355
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 49
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed -0-
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 100%

CHRISTOPHER R. SEDILLO (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 610
Rejected Petition Signatures 144
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 335
Verified Qualifying Contributions 154
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 9
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed 181
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 46%

The City Clerk lists Christopher R. Sedillo as withdrawing from public finance and as a private fiancé candidate.

3. TERESA GARCIA (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 520
Rejected Petition Signatures 179
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 335
Verified Qualifying Contributions 73
Rejected Qualifying Contributions -1-
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed 362
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 22%

NATALIA SALDANA

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 34
Rejected Petition Signatures 31
Remaining Petition Signatures 466
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 7%

The City Clerk has stricken Natalia Saldana as a candidate collecting qualifying signatures.

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Natalia Saldana withdrew from public financing and collected no public finance donations.

The link to verify tallies for petition signatures and qualifying donations is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1/2025-petition-qualifying-contribution-tally

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5

District 5 is the city’s northwest quadrant council district which is currently represented by Dan Lewis who is seeking a fourth term on the city council.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 5 is 446. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 5 is $55,718,75.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

Two City Council candidates have qualified for the ballot in District 5 having collected more than 100% of the required 500 nominating petition signatures. The two candidates in District 5 who have qualified for the ballot are:

Republican Incumbent Dan Lewis
Democrat Athena Allen

Republican Incumbent Dan Lewis has qualified for public finance and has collected more than 446 qualifying donations and will be given $55,718,75 in public finance.

Democrat Athena Allen is a privately financed candidate.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5 TABULATIONS OF VERIFIED SIGNATURES AND QUALIFYING DONATIONS

Following are the tabulations posted by the City Clerk for both nominating petition signatures and qualifying $5.000 donations for public finance for the District 5 city council candidates:

DAN LEWIS (Incumbent) Publicly Financed

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 546
Rejected Petition Signatures 6
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 446
Verified Qualifying Contributions 471
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 1
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed -0-
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 100%

ATHENEA ALLEN (Privately Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 550
Rejected Petition Signatures 40
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Athena Allen is a privately financed candidate and therefor collected no $5.00 qualifying donations.

The link to verify tallies for petition signatures and qualifying donations is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1/2025-petition-qualifying-contribution-tally

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7

District 7 is the mid heights city council district currently represented by first term Democrat City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. The district includes the uptown retail business district including the Commons, Winrock and Coronado Shopping Center. The District boundaries are generally Montgomery Boulevard on the North, I-25 on the West, Lomas on the South and Eubank on the East.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 7 is 466. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 7 is $58,205.00.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

Democrat Incumbent City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn is the only incumbent running unopposed. She has secured 100% of the required nominating petitions signatures and 100% of the required $5.00 donations for public finance. Feibelkorn will be given $58,205.00 to run her campaign. The fact she is unopposed would dictate that there is no need for public finance and she should consider declining the public finance funding.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7 TABULATIONS OF VERIFIED SIGNATURES AND QUALIFYING DONATIONS

Following are the tabulations posted by the City Clerk for both nominating petition signatures and qualifying $5.000 donations for public finance for District 7 incumbent City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn:

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 612
Rejected Petition Signatures 38
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 466
Verified Qualifying Contributions 491
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 10
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed -0-
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 100%

The link to verify tallies for petition signatures and qualifying donations is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1/2025-petition-qualifying-contribution-tally

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 9

City Council District 9 is often referred to as the Four Hills area city council district and is currently represented by first term Republican City Councilor Renee Grout who is seeking a second term. Grout has 4 opponents. The District is very condensed and safe Republican. The Northern border is Menaul, the West border is Eubank, the Southern border is Dennis Ave, SE and the East border is the Sandia foothills federal land.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 9 is 416. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 9 is $51,957.50.

Originally there were 5 candidates running for District 9 City Council. Three City Council candidates have qualified for the ballot in District 9 having collected more than 100% of the required 500 nominating petition signatures. The three candidates in District 9 who have qualified for the ballot are:

Incumbent Republican Renee Grout
Democrat Melani Buchanan Farmer
Colton Alan Newman (Party affiliation unknown)

Republican Incumbent City Councilor Renee Grout has secured 100% of the required nominating petitions signatures and 100% of the required $5.00 donations for public finance and she will be on the ballot and will be given $51,957.50 to run her campaign.

Melani Buchanan Farmer has secured more than 100% of the 500 qualify petitions signatures and has qualified for the ballot. Buchannan is a privately finance candidate and therefor collected no qualifying $5.000 donations

Colton Alan Newman has secured more than 100% of the 500 qualifying petition signatures and will appear on the ballot. With only 2% of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions collected, Colton Alan Newman will not qualify for public financing and is now a privately financed candidate.

The two city council candidates who were running and who have been struck as candidates by the city clerk and who ostensibly withdrew from the race are:

Anami Dass
Byron Powdrell

Confidential sources have confirmed that candidate Byron Powdrell withdrew from the race for city council and has decided to run for Bernalillo County Commission against incumbent Eric Olivas.

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 9 TABULATIONS OF VERIFIED SIGNATURES AND QUALIFYING DONATIONS

Following are the tabulations posted by the City Clerk for both nominating petition signatures and qualifying $5.000 donations for public finance for the District 5 city council candidates:

RENEE GROUT (Incumbent) PUBLICLY FINANCED

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 540
Rejected Petition Signatures 9
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 416
Verified Qualifying Contributions 447
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 8
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed -0-
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 100%

MELANI BUCHANAN FARMER (PRIVATELY FINANCED)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 530
Rejected Petition Signatures 39
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Melani Farmer Buchanan is a privately financed and there are no qualifying donations to report.

3. COLTON ALAN NEWMAN (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 520
Rejected Petition Signatures 120
Remaining Petition Signatures -0-
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 100%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 416
Verified Qualifying Contributions 8
Rejected Qualifying Contributions -0-
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed 408
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 2%

Colton Alan Newman qualified for the ballot and collected 100% of the qualifying signatures but he failed to collect the required 416 qualifying donations and is now a privately financed candidate.

4 . ANAMI DASS (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 27
Rejected Petition Signatures 9
Remaining Petition Signatures 473
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 5%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 416
Verified Qualifying Contributions 2
Rejected Qualifying Contributions -0-
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed 414
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 0%

On July 3, the City Clerk listed Anami Dass as no longer a candidate with all statistical data lined through.

5. BYRON K. POWDRELL (Publicly Financed)

PETITION NOMINATING SIGNATURES

Required Petition Signatures 500
Verified Petition Signatures 234
Rejected Petition Signatures 49
Remaining Petition Signatures 266
% of Verified Petition Signatures Met 47%

QUALIFYING $5 CONTRIBUTIONS

Required Qualifying Contributions 416
Verified Qualifying Contributions 28
Rejected Qualifying Contributions 1
Remaining Qualifying Contributions Needed 388
% of Verified Qualifying Contributions Needed 7%

On July 10, the City Clerk listed Byron Powdrell as no longer a candidate with all statistical data lined through. .

The link to verify tallies for petition signatures and qualifying donations is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1/2025-petition-qualifying-contribution-tally

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

All four incumbent City Councilors have secured ballot positions and have qualified for public fiancé. Three of the incumbent City Councilors have opposition who have qualified for the ballot and with 3 opponents who are privately financed. One City Councilor has qualified both for the ballot and is unopposed. Three candidates who have never run for office before have qualified for the ballot to fill the open District 1 seat with two of those candidates qualifying for public finance. A total of 6 candidates have qualified for public finance and a total of 6 candidates are privately financed candidates.

The fact that all 4 incumbent City Councilors have qualified both for the ballot and public public finance is evidence of the power of incumbency. All four incumbents qualified for public finance as all other candidates seeking public finance struggled and failed in their efforts. It’s a clear indication that the public finance system favors incumbents and discourages opposition.

The campaigns for city council will now completely engage and get serious as each candidates competes for votes. Congratulations to all the candidates who are running for city council and thank you for the time and effort and service to this community. Best wishes to all the candidates.

“State Fairgrounds District Board” Holds First Meeting; Gov. MLG Merely Suggests State Fair May Not Be Moved Contrary To Her Expressed Thoughts; Development Of Master Plans Moves Forward; Highest And Best Use Of Property Is “Expo New Mexico” And Creation Of Year Around Entertainment District With No Affordable Housing

Posted on July 7, 2025 by

On December 3, 2024 Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, accompanied by Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, Mayor Tim Keller and State Fair Commission Chairman Eric Serna and other officials held a news conference at Expo New Mexico. They announced a plan to move the state fairgrounds to a different location and redevelop the 236 acre State Fair property into a mixed-use development. The announcement to move the Fair Grounds shocked surrounding neighborhoods and businesses of the State Fair.

Among the many ideas suggested for the development of the 236 acres of prime property included low income and affordable housing and demolishing the 60-year-old Tingly Coliseum and building a multipurpose entertainment and sports facility. Recommendations for future land use included commercial retail business development.

No new location was announced during the December 3, 2024 press conference, but it was suggested that keeping the State Fair centrally located such as in Bernalillo, Valencia or Torrance County would be beneficial due to the interstates. Governor Lujan Grisham said this:

“We have made the decision preliminarily to ask for folks to focus on the center of the state … but there are a lot of spaces. Though Albuquerque is a bit constrained, there are still plenty of opportunities in Bernalillo County. Imagine, if you will, that Valencia County could offer up some interesting proposals, that the South Valley right here in Bernalillo County [could do the same]. Bernalillo County ought to think about where would a new developed platform in space be. Maybe Torrance County, maybe Edgewood and Santa Fe.

“STATE FAIRGROUNDS DISTRICT” CREATED

On March 21, the New Mexico legislature passed Senate Bill 481, which creates what is known as the “State Fairgrounds District” which is redistricted to the existing State Fair grounds area. It will slightly raise local income taxes and authorizes the state to issue revenue bonds for redevelopment of the property. The bill was signed into law by the governor, and its funding mechanisms are expected to raise $12 million for initial ramp-up efforts.

https://trackbill.com/bill/new-mexico-senate-bill-481-state-fairgrounds-district-act/2670164/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_b361e58f-51de-45d8-ae7d-f705601cf467.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

Senate Bill 481 creates a “State Fairgrounds District” for the 236-acre State Fairgrounds located North of Central Avenue, South of Lomas, East of San Pedro and West of Louisiana and any additional land adjoining it nearby the state may acquire. The legislation empowers the board to issue bonds up to $1billion with the pledge to repay those bonds with Gross Receipt Tax (GRT) from GRT and Gaming Tax with maturity of up to 25 years for the bonds.

The State Fairgrounds District fund would receive “net receipts” attributable to the Gross Receipts Tax from business locations on the state fairgrounds once it is developed to include other year round businesses on the property. The State Fairgrounds District fund would also receive “net receipts taxes” attributable to gaming tax from business locations on land owned by the state fairgrounds.

In addition to classifying the area as a “state district”, SB481 creates a governing board of 5 elected officials and one neighborhood coalition representative to make financial decisions, including the ability to issue revenue bonds of up to $1 billion for development of the property.

The “State Fairgrounds District” created by SB481 establishes a governing board to oversee and govern it and to make appropriations for development of the property. The Board members are the following:

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, chair.
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller
Senator Mimi Stewart, Senate President Pro-Tempore, International District, #17
City Councilor Nichole Rogers whose district the fair grounds is located
County Commissioner Adriann Barboa whose district the fair grounds is located
Dr. Peter Belletto, President, District 6 Neighborhood Coalition

According to the legislation, the board will govern the TIDD for six years.

“STATE FAIRGROUNDS DISTRICT” HOLDS FIRST MEETING

On July 3, the State Fairgrounds District held an organization meeting chaired by Governor Lujan Grisham. Appearing in person were the Governor, Senate Pro Temp Mimi Stewart, City Councilor Nichole Rogers, County Commissioner Adriann Barboa and District 6 Neighborhood Coalition Dr. President Peter Belletto. Appearing by phone were Mayor Tim Keller and State Representative Janelle Anyanon.

The two and a half hour meeting was dedicated to both administrative matters and presentations. Major agenda items discussed included the following:

Adoption of Bylaws for the State Fair District.
Presentation on the history of SB 481, the bond capacity of the State Fair District and how it is to be exercised by the governing board.
Presentation by State Fair Attorney Justin Horwitz, on the history of SB 481, the bond capacity of the district and how it is to be exercised and considered
Report from the General Services Department on the State Fair Master Plan and the Request For Proposal Process (RFP)
Report from Secretary of Transportation Ricky Serna on status of acquisition of properties authorized by the legislature. This included discussion on how the New Mexico State Fair Commission can exercise eminent domain powers to buy out business owners in the South West Corner of the fairgrounds located at San Pedro and Central.
Report from State Fair Manager Dan Mourning on status of placing certain buildings on the New Mexico Historic Register
Introduction and presentation by Santec, the firm hired to design and create the master plan for the fairgrounds. Santec outlined the process it will use to create the master plan and the community engagement process it will use to arrive at its recommendations. The firm was awarded an $844,433 contract for to create and develop the state fair master plan. The entire process could result in the relocation of the New Mexico State Fair.

POWERS OF “STATE FAIRGROUNDS DISTRICT” BOARD

The “State Fairgrounds District” Board is empowered to raise property taxes and issue up to $500 million in bonds to fund future development of the property. The bonds are backed primarily by future gaming revenue taxes generated at the Downs Racetrack and Casino which holds a multi-decade lease on property until 2045 within the fairgrounds perimeter.

According to a report from the Legislative Finance Committee, and based on expected taxes and current interest rates, the State Fairgrounds District Board could raise up to $170 million in bonds to finance the project. The $500 million investment would be in the International District, South of the State Fair Grounds and could include the area located directly East, both long-struggling neighborhoods in the heart of Albuquerque.

Governor Lujan Grisham and State Senator Mimi Stewart, who represents the International District and others have touted the potential dramatic change at the fairgrounds as the way to rescue the adjacent International District, which for decades has been plagued with high poverty and crime rates. Some neighborhood advocates have raised concerns about who will benefit from the investment and whether it will gentrify a working-class neighborhood.

Although it has been insisted that no final decisions has been made about whether the re-envisioning of the Expo New Mexico property will mean the relocation of the fairgrounds, Governor Lujan Grisham said that Stantec will be giving serious consideration to that possibility as it completes options for the master plan. While the governor recently said the master plan could eventually call for leasing or selling portions of state-owned Expo New Mexico to private developers, she suggested the idea during the July 2 meeting that the annual State Fair might not have to find a new venue. Lujan Grisham said this:

“I want to be really clear about that, because you’ll notice I didn’t say a plan to move [the State Fair]”

Governor Lujan Grisham said redeveloping the community is at the core of whether the state fairgrounds should stay or go. Governor Grisham said this:

“This is an area, I’m just going to say it out loud, with incredible people, but it’s a bit depressed. And when you have depressed [areas], this is why downtowns across America have gotten into trouble, because it’s tough to develop a neighborhood around businesses, and then people give up. … This is really about a vehicle to create financial security and opportunity across these jurisdictions, to invest in this community. … This is the way that we make good on our commitment to provide meaningful resources to a community that didn’t have access for decades.”

ABOUT STANTEC

On June 24 the state General Services Department announced that an $844,433 contract with Stantec Consulting Services Inc., which was signed on June 18, was entered into by the State to create a master plan for repurposing the 236-acre tract of land that has since 1938 hosted the annual New Mexico State Fair, also known as EXPO New Mexico. The award of the contract to Stantec Consulting Services Inc. came a full four months after the state abruptly canceled the previous RFP contract solicitation without explanation and restarted the process. The signing followed a public procurement process and the contract spans the next 8 months extending until February, 2026. The master plan will include an economic impact study, development plans and a proposal presentation.

Santec is a multinational consulting firm headquartered in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, with four local offices in New Mexico. This contract isn’t Stantec’s first in New Mexico. The company previously worked with the Department of Transportation to revamp roads and highways in Silver City, Hobbs and Fort Sumner. Stantec also worked with the city of Jal in the southeast corner of New Mexico to produce a community development plan.

Stantec’s portfolio includes major projects across the United States and abroad, such as McGregor Square in downtown Denver, a vibrant entertainment district next to Coors Field, and community spaces in Chicago designed for live concerts, film screenings and outdoor markets. The firm has also worked on developments in Scotland, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates.

STANTEC’S PRESENTATION

The July 3 meeting of the State Fairgrounds District Board was headlined by a presentation from Stantec, the company hired to make a master plan for the property.

Colleen Ruiz, Local Office Lead for Stantec Albuquerque said this:

“We understand that urban solutions are complicated. It’s not just one person, [but] a whole team of people, and Albuquerque has very specific needs. … We’re just kicking it off so right now we’re in the process of acquiring a list of the stakeholders in the community who we’ll meet with and then we’ll meet with them individually, we’ll have kind of some visioning sessions where we’ll ask for their advice, what they like what they don’t like. … [We will start ] with surveying the surrounding neighborhoods and businesses. … What can we do within this very large area to make it maybe a year-round use, or a live-work and play.”

LAND ACQUISITIONS FOR EXPANSION OF EXISTING FAIR GROUNDS

One area discussed that generated much discussion by the new State Fairgrounds District was Expo New Mexico’s forced acquisition of a handful of businesses, including restaurants and a tire shop, on the southwest corner of the property at Central Avenue and San Pedro Avenue.

The state legislature has given the new tax district $14-million to buy out the property at the edge of the Fairgrounds near Central Ave and San Pedro Blvd., which is privately owned today. Much of the commercial office space is vacant. Project leaders said they plan to make offers to those property owners, but they’re also considering eminent domain.

State officials said they will soon approach business owners in the area with offers to buy their properties. The offers will contemplate the value of the businesses, costs relocating and the property themselves. Ricky Serna, the state Transportation Department secretary, said his agency will support Expo New Mexico as it handles the eminent domain process and outlined steps to be taken.

Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa raised concerns about whether the business owners would be fairly compensated and whether buying them out would just result in more vacant buildings in a neighborhood with a lot of them. She pointed out that the nearby Wal-mart and two national pharmacy chains across the street have left.

Former Mayor Chavez described the land acquisition process this way:

“The intent is to acquire the property and hopefully everything will be done, people will say that’s the right amount of money and there’s a lawful process for that and that will be a year or two but the idea is that that real-estate will then belong to the state fair within the next eight to ten months.”

AFFORDABLE HOUSING STILL IN THE MIX

Governor Lujan Grisham said in her December news release touting the redevelopment plan, the area could allow the state to build affordable housing units in a state and city with there is a severe housing shortage. Lujan said this in December:

“This state land in the heart of New Mexico’s largest city presents a unique opportunity to create badly needed new housing for the workforce, while spurring massive private investment.”

Former Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez is spearheading the redevelopment project as the governor’s paid senior adviser. Chavez told news agency Source New Mexico after the July 3 meeting that while the project has never been intended as an affordable housing development, new mixed-income housing is a key component of the new master plan Stantec is working on. Chavez said there is no minimum number of housing units that the firm is required to develop a plan around.

HISTORIC BUILDINGS

Expo New Mexico Manager Dan Morning said during his July 3 presentation to the Board if redevelopment takes place, EXPO New Mexico still has a list of four historic buildings they want to preserve. Those include the Fine Arts and Indian Arts buildings and the Palomino Barns.

NEXT MEETING ANNOUNCED

The next State Fair Tax District board meeting will be August 7, where they plan to discuss the Downs Racetrack and Casino, which also shares the EXPO property.

The links to the relied upon or quoted news source are here:

https://sourcenm.com/2025/07/03/new-state-fair-board-meets-mulling-international-district-revival-and-500m-investment/

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/new-mexico-state-fair-tax-district-discusses-fairgrounds-master-plan/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_5603187b-79be-4701-8ce1-723069aa60c3.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

RECALLING ANGER IN THE INTERNATIONAL DISTRIST OVER MOVING STATE FAIR

The Governor’s proposal of moving the State Fair has been met with opposition from the residents of Albuquerque’s International District south of the Fair Grounds, the very people and the area the Governor proclaimed that the State Fair redevelopment is supposed to help the most. On February 26, Bernalillo County Government held a meeting to discuss and provide information about a county proposed Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) for the New State Fairgrounds. The public meeting was held at the State Fair Grounds Alice Hopes African American Pavilion with over 200 people attending. Most if not all of the public present for the February 26 meeting were extremely hostile to the State moving the state fair and lashed out against moving the state fair to another location.

After a very short slide presentation by the county on its proposed TIDD, former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez, who now works for the Governor as the state-appointed, paid advisor spearheading the effort to repurpose the fairgrounds, was asked to respond to questions. Chavez said this before answering questions:

“About six months ago, the governor approached me and said, ‘Look, what’s going on right now in the southeast part of Albuquerque is not sustainable. … You see it every day: the homicides, the unhoused run over, left dead on the street.”

Chavez mentioned the possibility of moving the State Fair to another location. The audience immediately reacted in anger to moving the State Fair. The meeting quickly disintegrated into confrontation and angry questioning by the audience. Demands were shouted by the audience that the Fair Grounds not be moved. At one point Chavez insisted that no final decision had been made on moving the fairgrounds, suggesting that it was just one of the many options.

Most if not all of the public spoke out against moving the State Fair citing that the large homeless population and crime in the area have driven out other businesses and have destroyed the area. When audience members were given the opportunity to speak, they said that the City and Mayor Keller’s Administration have been a total failure in cleaning up Central and have failed to address the homeless crisis on Central.

Audience members argued that before anything is spent on improving or moving the Fair Grounds, money would be better spent cleaning up Central, dealing with the homeless, drug addicted and mentally ill and providing them with services to get them off the streets.

Speakers cast skepticism on their ability to sway the state to not move the State Fair and how the area would be developed. Audience member Paul Losinski said this:

“They will have already decided the main framework, so all we can do is decide, do we want high-rise buildings? Or do we want low-rise buildings? We have already lost the ability to have input as to what the RFP was for.”

Albuquerque area resident René Horvath said moving the fair won’t solve the problems on East Central and said this:

“LEAVE THE FAIR ALONE, IT’S NOT A PROBLEM! I’m going to be heartbroken if they move the fair.”

One man asked “You’re just wasting money! Who’s pocket is this going into?!”

One audience member said this:

“We have lost Walmart, we have lost Walgreens, we are in a food desert. And you guys talk about doing this, you need to put your money somewhere else!”

Other audience members argued that the funding should be used to help the homeless rather than remove them. An audience member said this:

“You have a community of 5,000 homeless people, 55% of which are veterans who’ve served this country. And this is where our taxpayer money is going? To restructure our fairground or change our fair?”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Governor Lujan Grisham has yet to back off in any meaningful way on her original announcement made on December 3, 2024 that her plan is to move the state fairgrounds to a different location. Ostensibly her goal is the redevelopment and the total repurposing of the 236 acres into a mixed-use development which would also include low-income housing. Selling portions of the property is also on the table for discussion.

Absent is any decision exactly where the new fairgrounds or the cost of acquiring a new location and rebuilding comparable facilities. No new location was announced during the December press conference, but it was suggested that keeping the State Fair centrally located, such as in Bernalillo, Valencia or Torrance County would be beneficial due to the interstates. Over the years there have been at least 3 feasibility studies on relocating the fair. One study concluded that the cost would be more than $1 billion dollars and the cost is likely significantly higher now.

The “State Fairgrounds District” essentially ignores the State Fair Commission and its authority of development and continued operation of the State Fair. There is absolutely no representation on the State Fairground District from the State Fair Commission nor the General Manager of Expo New Mexico. The blunt reality is the State Fair Commission will no doubt take a “back seat” to all the efforts by the “State Fairgrounds District” to move the fairgrounds to accommodate the Governor’s wishes. After all it’s the Governor who appoints the State Fair Commission and heaven forbid they oppose her.

It is truly disgusting there is only ONE appointed member of the public is appointed to the “State Fairgrounds District” by the Governor to represent the interests of the numerous neighborhood associations while all the elected officials for the area have a seat at the table with the Governor. Thousands of residents who have lived in the area for decades, in established neighborhoods, especially the International District, and who truly understand the area and have dealt with all the problems associated with the State Fair are essentially being ignored and cut out and do not have an actual seat at the table with the Governor. Hundreds of affected businesses in the area are also being ignored and do not have a seat at the table with the Governor.

RUSH TO ACHIEVE A LEGACY PROJECT

During the July 3 “State Fairgrounds District” meeting, the Governor reference the fact that she has only 18 months left in office. With that said it’s painfully obvious the Governor is rushing seek to complete a last-minute legacy project she will be remembered for as her term expires in a mere 18 months.

The creation of the “State Fairgrounds District” can only be described as a power move by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to impose her own will on what she thinks needs to done with the New Mexico State Fair property, which is to move the State Fair, and be damned the thoughts and concerns of citizens of Albuquerque, the residents of the International District and the State Fair Commission.

EFFORTS TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

During the Governor’s December 3 press conference announcing plans to move the state fairgrounds, it was pointed out that there is a major shortage of affordable housing in the city and a need for 55,000 houses or living spaces within the next decade. Both Governor Lujan Grisham and Speaker of the House Javier Martinez suggested that affordable housing could be placed on 236 acres of land.

Proposing to commandeer a good portion of the Expo NM State Fair Property for affordable housing is as absurd as it gets. Affordable or low-income housing is not the highest and best use of any portion of the 236 acres of prime property for development in the center of Albuquerque. It would put a small dent in a projected 55,000 shortage of housing.

The Governor’s appointed New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) is already taking major steps to address the need for more affordable housing over the next 10 years and accessing low-cost capital for home ownership in New Mexico cities and counties. The NMFA administers hundreds of millions of dollars each year among 40 programs that range from homeless services to homeownership. It includes new housing, down payment assistance and home rehabilitation.

At its May and June meetings last year, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority Board of Directors approved a $50 million allocation, along with the $34.6 million in state fiscal year 2025 severance tax bond funding. The breakdown includes:

$26.6 million to create more housing.
$20 million for down payment assistance.
$10 million to preserve existing affordable housing.
$1 million to create stable housing environments.
$27 million in reserve to use based on particular demands.

BUILDING A NEW MULTI PURPOSE ARENA

One major project that is being suggested that merits serious discussion is building a new arena as part of the redevelopment of the existing Expo New Mexico property. The new venue would be a modern arena that would have the capacity to support year-round large-scale concerts and events. It would replace the existing Tingley Coliseum. Demolishing the 60-year-old Tingly Coliseum and building a multipurpose entertainment and sports facility with the capacity of upwards 20,000 has been a dream of many a Governor, State Fair Commissions and Fair Managers.

Tingley Coliseum was built in 1957 and has a seating capacity for 11,000 people. Over the years it’s been repeatedly remodeled and upgraded. Tingley Coliseum last year had $2 million worth of upgrades geared toward replacing old seats and fixing the electrical system. The work that began in November permanently removed the benches and outdated 80’s-era seats for new, wider ones. In the process, the coliseum lost roughly 700 of its total 10,000 seats, but officials plan to make up the loss with more standing-room availability.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/tingley-coliseum-undergoes-renovations-as-governor-looks-to-possibly-move-state-fair-site/

The City of Albuquerque for decades has needed a large capacity, multipurpose entertainment venue after demolition of the 30 year old Albuquerque Civic Auditorium in 1986. It was back on February 25, 2019 that it was reported that there is a need for such a facility and EXPO New Mexico was in the final stages of conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a new arena on the state fairgrounds. Absolutely nothing ever happened with the feasibility study and its collecting dust somewhere in the State Fair mangers office.

https://www.krqe.com/news/officials-want-to-build-new-arena-on-state-fairgrounds/

https://www.krqe.com/news/expo-new-mexico-looking-into-new-arena-to-replace-tingley-coliseum/

HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF PROPERTY IS EXPO NEW MEXICO

Expo New Mexico can be revitalized into an Entertainment and Commercial Hub that could revitalize the entire SE Heights and surrounding area with creation of all new commercial property areas leased by the State Fair for shops, restaurants, theaters and entertainment venues that would also be used for operations of the annual State Fair and during the State Fair itself.

There should be no affordable housing and no other housing on the property. No portion of the State Fair acreage should be sold to any developer. The existing walls along San Pedro, Lomas and Louisiana should remain intact for security reasons but develop larger entrances. Efforts to revitalize adjoining neighborhoods would only be undertaken by private developers perhaps with state and city development and tax incentives.

CITY NEEDS TO TAKE AGGRESSIVE ACTION TO DEAL NUISANCE PROPERTIES AND UNHOUSED AROUND FAIR GROUNDS

The City of Albuquerque must and can as it has in the past take aggressive action to deal with nuisance properties that are magnets for crime in the immediate surrounding neighborhoods, especially in the International District. Mayor Tim Keller needs to aggressively enforce the city’s vagrancy laws to deal with the homeless, including making arrests if need be and to provide services to them designed to get them off the streets.

From 2001 to 2009, East Central in the International District was in fact cleaned up before by the Safe City Strike Force with aggressive code enforcement action against Central motels and violent bars that the city tore down or closed. The bars located near the State Fair that were closed or torn down by the Safe City Strike Force included the Blue Spruce Bar (Central and Louisiana), Rusty’s Cork and Bottle (San Pedro and Central) and the Last Chance Bar and Grill (Central and Louisiana). The Safe City Strike Force took code enforcement action against 48 of the 150 motels along central, many near the State Fair grounds and forced compliance with building codes and mandated repairs to the properties.

ALBUQUERQUE DOWNS RACETRACK AND CASINO

The Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino, along with its stables, occupies upwards half of the state fairgrounds and it is not going anywhere anytime soon given that it has year lease until 2045 subject to renewal. Governor Lujan Grisham said this:

“There is a long term lease that is not expiring in the next two years, four or six. So for now, I would expect that the racino stays for a large amount of time.”

Prominent Albuquerque businessman Paul Blanchard is one of the owners of the Downs Race Track and Casino and there is no doubt he will try and have major say on what is to be developed on the remaining fairgrounds areas that may affect the casino or racetrack. But the Fair Grounds is still state property that the state can develop as it sees fit. Perhaps it is the racetrack and casino that needs to be moved to another location and county with a buyout, but not the Fair Grounds.

OTHER VENUES

Getting rid of the “midway” ride area on the South side and replacing it with year-round entertainment venues and facilities is in order. Demolishing existing, aging specialty exhibition halls, such as the Manuel Lujan building and livestock exhibition stables and replacing them with new, larger facilities with multipurpose usages likewise is in order. Removing the flea market and replacing it with a Farmers Market or a permanent arts and crafts shopping area should be in the mix.

There are two major facilities that could be integral parts of an entertainment and commercial district hub: the Downs Race Track and Casino if they want to still be a part of the State Fair and the proposed new multipurpose arena. Part of the redevelopment of the existing Expo New Mexico property would be the building of a new, modern arena to replace Tingly Coliseum that would support year-round large-scale concerts and events. It’s a capital improvement project that needs to go forward. With the continuing historical state revenue surpluses, the building of a multipurpose state of the art arena to replace Tingly Coliseum would be an investment for future generations.

FINAL COMMENTARY

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller, Senate Pro Tempore Mimi Stewart, State Representative Janelle Anyanonu, City Councilor Nichole Rogers and County Commissioner Adriann Barboa who are the elected officials and politicians on the “State Fairgrounds District Board” need to keep their greedy little hands off the State Fair grounds and abandon any effort to move it. Simply put, the surrounding neighborhoods, businesses and their constituents want the State Fair to remain where it is.

Affordable housing is not the highest and best use for the property. The highest and best use of the 236 acres of property is the State Fair itself and keeping it as Expo New Mexico and developing a year-round Entertainment District and to preserve the New Mexico State Fair and Expo New Mexico where it is now.