I Identify With Underdogs

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http://www.freeabq.com/2017/04/03/mayoral-field-likely-to-shrink/

As this story notes, I agree and predict City Councilor Dan Lewis, State Auditor Tim Keller, attorney Brian Colón, former Bernalillo County Commissioner Deanna Archuleta and County Commissioner Wayne Johnson will secure the required signatures to get on the ballot mainly because of their experience running for office, their organizations and their fundraising ability.

I added retired Albuquerque police officer Michelle Garcia Holmes, University of New Mexico student Gus Pedrotty and Old Town resident Stella Padilla to my list of those who I think will make the ballot because of the “hustle” and hard work I have seen from all three of these candidates.

There is still a lot of time to gather qualifying signatures, and I hope all the 14 announced candidates make it on the ballot, but I acknowledge that is not likely.

To me, the more choices we have, the better for the City.

The more candidates we have will encourage a healthy discussion of issues and it will improve voter turnout.

Four years ago, only 19% of eligible voters voted in the election.

Political commentators all too often discount motivated candidates who are hardworking, that are clear underdogs and who have some very good ideas.

Simply put, I tend to identify with underdogs and voters at times prove political commentators wrong .

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About

Pete Dinelli was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is of Italian and Hispanic descent. He is a 1970 graduate of Del Norte High School, a 1974 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a 1977 graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. Pete has a 40 year history of community involvement and service as an elected and appointed official and as a practicing attorney in Albuquerque. Pete and his wife Betty Case Dinelli have been married since 1984 and they have two adult sons, Mark, who is an attorney and George, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Pete has been a licensed New Mexico attorney since 1978. Pete has over 27 years of municipal and state government service. Pete’s service to Albuquerque has been extensive. He has been an elected Albuquerque City Councilor, serving as Vice President. He has served as a Worker’s Compensation Judge with Statewide jurisdiction. Pete has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has served as a Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney and as a Deputy City Attorney. For eight years, Pete was employed with the City of Albuquerque both as a Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer overseeing the city departments of police, fire, 911 emergency call center and the emergency operations center. While with the City of Albuquerque Legal Department, Pete served as Director of the Safe City Strike Force and Interim Director of the 911 Emergency Operations Center. Pete’s community involvement includes being a past President of the Albuquerque Kiwanis Club, past President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board, and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.