On the November 2 election ballot will be the 5 odd numbered city council districts of 9 city council seats. The council seats up for election are City Council seats 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.
Albuquerque City Councilors are paid $30,600 annually and the Council President earns $32,600 annually. They are also eligible to join the Public Employees Retirement Association (PERA) and earn a pension after they have served 5 full years. Health Insurance is also made available to them.
From May 31 to July 5, 2021, publicly finance candidates for city council are required to collect both nominating petition signatures and well as $5.00 qualifying donations for public financing. .
On Friday June 11, the Albuquerque City Clerk updated the petition and qualifying contribution tally in the city council races. Following are those tallies:
PROCESSED PETITION SIGNATURES:
All City Council candidates must gather 500 qualifying signatures from registered voters within the district the candidate wishes to represent. As of Tuesday June 14, following are the City Clerk numbers for Processed Petition Signatures in each of the city council districts
DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCIL
EDITORS NOTE: Petition signature tallies for Victor Segura are no longer listed by the City Clerk as a candidate and he has ostensibly dropped out the race.
LAN SENA (Incumbent)
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 61
Rejected Petition Signatures: 9
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 439
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 12%
DISTRICT 3 CITY COUNCIL
KLARISSA PENA (Incumbent)
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 113
Rejected Petition Signatures: 32
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 387
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 23%
BENJAMIN TELLES
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: -0-
Rejected Petition Signatures: -0-
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 500
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: -0-
ANTHONY ZAMORA
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 23
Rejected Petition Signatures: -0-
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 477
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 5%
DISTRICT 5 CITY COUNCIL
CYNTHIA BORREGO (Incumbent)
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 59
Rejected Petition Signatures: 6
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 441
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 12%
DAN LEWIS
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 295
Rejected Petition Signatures: 13
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 205
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 59%
PHILLIP RAMIREZ
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 8
Rejected Petition Signatures: -0-
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 492
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 2%
DISTRICT 7 CITY COUNCIL
EMILIE DE ANGELIS
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 70
Rejected Petition Signatures: 17
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 430
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 14%
TAMMY FIEBELKORN
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 111
Rejected Petition Signatures: 9
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 389
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 22%
TRAVIS KELLERMAN
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 86
Rejected Petition Signatures: 18
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 414
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 17%
MAURO WALDEN-MONTOYA
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 70
Rejected Petition Signatures: 4
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 430
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 14%
ANDRES VALDEZ SR
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 108
Rejected Petition Signatures: 22
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 392
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 22%
DISTRICT 9 CITY COUNCIL
ROB GRILLEY JR
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 47
Rejected Petition Signatures: 1
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 453
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 9%
RENEE GROUT
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 125
Rejected Petition Signatures: 24
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 375
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 25%
PROCESSED QUALIFYING CONTRIBUTIONS
From May 31 to July 5, 2021, the same time frame for gathering nominating signatures, publicly financed candidates for City Council must gather the $5.00 qualifying donations. The number of qualifying donations required and the amount of public financing given vary in each city council district based on the population of registered voters.
DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 1 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $41,027.
EDITORS NOTE: Qualifying donation tallies for Victor Segura are no longer listed by the City Clerk as a candidate and he has ostensibly dropped out the race.
LAN SENA
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 411
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 52
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 359
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 13%
DISTRICT 3 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 3 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $40,000.
KLARISSA PENA
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 89
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 8
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 226
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions:28%
BENJAMIN TELLES
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 315
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
ANOTHONY ZAMORA
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 17
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 298
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 5%
DISTRICT 5 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 5 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given: $50,489.
CYNTHIA BORREGO (INCUMBENT)
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 70
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 6
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 435
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions:14%
DAN LEWIS
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 311
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 9
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 194
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 62%
PHILLIP RAMIREZ
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 501
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1%
DISTRICT 7 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 7 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $44,194.
EMILIE DE ANGELIS
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 14
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 428
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3%
TAMMY FIEBELKORN
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 18
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 229
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 54%
TRAVIS KELLERMAN
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 60
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 382
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions:14%
MAURO WALDEN-MONTOYA
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 51
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 391
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 12%
ANDRES VALDEZ SR
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 79
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 12
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 364
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 18%
DISTRICT 9 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 9 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $41,791.
ROB GRILLEY JR
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 418
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 32
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 386
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 8%
RENEE GROUT
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 418
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 119
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 23
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 299
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 28%
MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEE FORMED TO PROMOTE AND OPPOSE CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES
Under the City of Albuquerque’s campaign finance laws, a Measure Finance Committee 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 within five (5) days once they have raised or spent more than $250 towards their purpose. 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.
On June 7, a Measured Finance Committee Registration was filed with the City Clerk identified as Albuquerque Ahead:
STATED PURPOSE: “To support those candidates for city council who will move Albuquerque ahead and oppose those who will not.”
The Chairperson is identified as Jill Michel, the Treasurer is identified as Andrew Thornton and the alternate contact is identified as Maralyn Beck.
On June 9, Albuquerque Ahead the required third financial state for the time period of May 4, 2021 to June 7, 2021
CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: -0-
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIUTIONS FOR PERIOD: $2,100
TOTAL EXPENDITURES FOR PERIOD: -0-
CLOSIING BALANCE: $2,100
MAJOR DONORS
Taylor Hall, Dallas, Texas, Food Services (SODEXO): $300
Azeez Hindi, Not currently employed: $200
Lois Hindi, Not currently employed: $1,000
Greg Bendis, Reviticell, Office and Adminitrative Occupations: $100
James Grout, Phoenix, Arizona, Financial Investments: $500
https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/OrganizationDetail.aspx?OrganizationID=7127
MAJOR EXPENDITURES TOTAL: -0-
The link to the third 2021 Campaign Finance Report for Albuquerque Ahead is here:
https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/Reports/FetchReportToPDF.aspx
ISSUES FOR CANDIDATES TO THINK ABOUT AND TO BE ASKED ABOUT
Before signing any petitions or donating to candidates, voters should know where candidates stand on the issues they care about and what they will do if elected. A few questions and issues candidates for City Council need to think about and disclose their positions on include any of the following:
CITY PERSONNEL AND SERVICES
1.As an elected city councilor, you will be tasked to vote on and on and approve the Mayor’s major appointments. Should the current Chief Administrative Officer, City Attorney, Chief of Police, Fire Department Chief, Chief of Staff, Chief Operations Officer and all other current department directors be replaced?
2. Are you in favor of a state “right to work statute” that would impact or eliminate city employee unions?
3. Should city unions be prohibited from endorsing candidates for municipal office?
4. Are you in favor of privatizing city services or work such as public safety, the 311 call center operations, the bus system or the maintenance and repair work done at city facilities such as the Bio Park?
APD AND CRIME:
1.What is your position on the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) consent decree and mandated reforms?
2. The city and APD have been working under a federal court approved settlement agreement for 6 years after the Department of Justice found a “culture of aggression” and the use of deadly force. The city has spent millions a year on the reforms and the city is no closer to the dismissal of the case. Is it time to have APD placed in receivership of the federal court or should the case just be dismissed?
3. What would you do to enhance civilian oversight of APD and the implementation of the Department of Justice mandated reforms?
4. Should the APD Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chiefs and APD command staff be replaced with a national search and replaced by “outsiders”?
5. Should a national search be conducted for a new law enforcement management team to assume control of APD and make changes and implement the DOJ consent decree mandated reforms?
6. Should the function of Internal Affairs be removed from APD and civilianized under the city Office of Inspector General, the Internal Audit Department and the City Human Resources Department?
7. What are your plans for increasing APD staffing levels and what should those staffing levels be?
8. Since 2010, there have been 41 police officer involved shootings and the city has paid out $50 million to settle deadly force and excessive use of force cases. Should the City return to a “no settlement” policy involving alleged police misconduct cases and require a trial on the merits or a damages jury trial?
9 What are your plans or solutions to bringing down high property and violent crime rates in Albuquerque?
10. Should APD personnel or APD resources be used in any manner to enforce federal immigration laws and assist federal immigration authorities?
11. Should APD and the Bernalillo County Sherriff’s Office be abolished and consolidated to form one regional law enforcement agency, combining resources with the appointment of a governing civilian authority and the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Safety?
THE ECONOMY
1.What strategy would you implement to bring new industries, corporations and jobs to Albuquerque?
2. Albuquerque’s major growth industries include health care, transportation, manufacturing, retail and tourism with an emerging film industry. What programs would you propose to help or enhance these industries?
3. Do you intend to keep the current Director of the City’s Economic Development Department and support staff?
4.The current budget for the Economic Development is $7.5 million out of a $1.2 Billion Budget, would you be in favor of more than tripling the budget to allow for investment grants?
5. To what extent should tax increment districts, industrial revenue bonds and income bonds be used to spur Albuquerque’s economy?
6. What financial incentives do you feel the city can or should offer and provide to the private sector to attract new industry and jobs to Albuquerque, and should that include start-up grants or loans with “claw back” provisions?
7. What sort of private/public partnership agreements or programs should be implemented to spur economic development?
8. What sort of programs or major projects or facilities, if any, should the city partner with the State or County to spur economic development?
9. What programs can the city implement to better coordinate its economic development with the University of New Mexico and the Community College of New Mexico (CNM) to insure an adequately trained workforce for new employers locating to Albuquerque?
10. Are you in favor of the enactment of a gross receipt tax or property tax dedicated strictly to economic development, programs or construction projects to revitalize Albuquerque that would be enacted by the City Council or be voter approved?
11. What programs can Albuquerque implement to insure better cooperation with Sandia Labs and the transfer of technology information for economic development.
12. On September 6, 2019, a $29 million infrastructure bond tax package was approved by the Albuquerque City Council at the Mayor’s request to be financed by the City’s Lodger’s Tax. The lodger tax bond package was labeled as a “Sports – Tourism Lodger Tax ” because it was to be used for a number of projects around the city labeled as “sports tourism opportunities.” The lodger tax is paid by those staying at hotels and vacation rentals in the city and by ordinance is to be used to promote tourism, not athletics facilities for general population use. Do you feel that this was appropriate?
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
1.What is your position on the rewriting of the comprehensive zoning code which was an attempt to bring “clarity and predictability” to the development regulations and to attract more “private sector investment”? Critics say it has essentially “gutted” sector development plans by the development community and it has repealed all sector development plans designed to protect neighborhoods and their character.
2. Should the City of Albuquerque seek the repeal by the New Mexico legislature of laws that prohibit city annexation of property without county approval?
EDUCATION
1.Should the City of Albuquerque have representation or be included on the Albuquerque School board, the University of New Mexico Board of Regents and the Community College of New Mexico Board?
2. What should the city do to help reduce high school dropout rates?
3. Should the City of Albuquerque advocate to the New Mexico legislature increasing funding for early child care development programs and intervention programs with increased funding from the permanent fund?
4. What education resources should or can the city make available to the Albuquerque school system?
POVERTY AND THE HOMELESS
1.What should be done to reduce the homeless population in Albuquerque?
2. What services should the City provide to the homeless and poor if any?
3. Should the City continue to support the “coming home” program?
4. Should the city be more involved with the county in providing mental health care facilities and programs?
5. The city has purchased the 530,000 square foot Gibson Medical Center for $15 Million. Should the facility be converter to one, single 24/7 homeless shelter facility for 300 or more homeless as a centralized facility or should the city use a “multi-site approach” to the city’s homelessness crisis and have a number of smaller shelters that would only house up to 50 to 75 people?
TAXATION AND PROJECT FINANCING
1.Are you in favor of increasing the city’s current gross receipts tax or property taxes to pay for essential services and make up for lost gross receipt tax revenues caused in part by the repeal of the “hold harmless” provision and that has mandated budget and personnel cuts during the last 7 years?
2. Do you feel that all increases in gross receipts taxes should be voter approved?
3. The City has borrowed over $63 million dollars over the past two years to build “pickle ball” courts, baseball fields and the ART bus project down central by bypassing voters and using revenue bonds as the financing mechanism to pay for big capital projects. Do you feel revenue bonds is an appropriate funding mechanism for large capital projects?
OTHER ISSUES
1. What is your position on the mandatory sick leave initiative known as the “Healthy Workforce” ordinance mandating private businesses to pay sick leave to employees?
2. Should the City and the City Attorney’s office enforce the increase in the minimum wage and mandatory sick leave initiatives?
4. If you qualify to be a public finance candidate, will you truly be a public finance candidate or do you intend to rely upon measured finance committee’s set up to promote your candidacy?
5. Should major capital improvement projects such as the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project, be placed on the ballot for voter approval?
6. What is your position on the ART Bus project and should the line be dismantled and should historic Route 66 be restored to its original number of lanes and the ART Bus platforms dedicated to new uses ?
7. Should Albuquerque become a “sanctuary city” by City Council resolution or by a public vote or not at all?
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
The city cannot afford city councilors who makes promises and who offer only eternal hope for better times that result in broken campaign promises. What is needed are city councilors who actually know what they are doing, who will make the hard decisions without an eye on their next election or higher office, not make decisions only to placate their base and please only those who voted for them. What’s needed is a healthy debate on solutions and new ideas to solve our mutual problems, a debate that can happen only with a contested election. A highly contested races reveal solutions to our problems.
Voters are entitled to and should expect more from candidates than fake smiles, slick commercials, and no solutions and no ideas. Our City needs more than promises of better economic times and lower crime rates for Albuquerque and voters need to demand answers and hold elected officials accountable.