Albuquerque voters will have five City Council contests to decide in the city’s November 4 election. The city council’s odd-numbered districts of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 will all be on the ballot. District 1 is an open seat with 4 running for the seat while the incumbent Democrat has given up his seat to run for Mayor. There are a total of 13 candidates running for city council. The link to a related blog article containing the biographies of all the 13 city council candidates is in the postscript below.
Publicly financed candidates receive campaign financing of $1.25 per registered voter in their districts. In exchange for getting the public financing, public finance candidates must agree in writing to a spending cap equal to what they are given in public financing from the city. Privately financed candidates can raise and spend unlimited amounts with no spending caps.
In City Council District 1 where there is no incumbent, two candidates have qualified for Public Finance and 2 candidates are Privately Financed candidate. The 4 incumbent City Councilors in Districts 3, 5, 7 and 9 have qualified for public financing and all their opponents are privately financed candidates.
On September 8, all the candidates running for City Council were required to file with the City Clerk their sixth City Council Financial Campaign Disclosure Statement on all contributions and expenditures covering the time period of August 11 to September 8. Following is a summary review of those reports:
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 Peña. 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.
The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 1 was 450. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 1 is $55,643.15. Two candidates running District 1 have qualified for public finance and two are privately financed candidates.
Democrat Aheren Grego qualified for Publicly Financing and was given $55,643.15. Griego has raised $56,253.15 when you include “seed money” donated and in-kind contributions. Griego has spent $2,140.44 and has $54,112.71 on hand.
Democrat Daniel Leiva qualified for Publicly Financing and was given $55,643 by the city. Levia has raised $56,258.05 when you include “seed money” and in-kind donations and he has spent $12,465.52 spent and has $43,792.53 on hand.
Joshua Neal is Privately Financed. Neal has raised $22,363.47, he has spent $9,828.77 and has $12,534.70 on hand.
Democrat Stephanie Telles is Privately Financed. Telles has raised $7,065, has spent $7,024.01 and has $40.99 on hand.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 3
Three candidates are running to represent Southwest Albuquerque’s District 3. 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 was 335. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 3 is $36,645.60.
Democrat Incumbent City Councilor Klarissa Peña qualified for Public Financing and was given $36,645.60. Peña has raised $41,835.60 when you include “seed money” raised and in-kind donations raised, she has spent $8,409.59 and has $33,426.01 on hand.
Democrat Christopher Sedillo is Privately Financed. Sedillo has raised $14,489.00, he has spent $8,445.98 and has $6,023.02 on hand.
Democrat Teresa Garcia is Privately Financed. Garcia has raised $5,061, she has spent $1,745.50 and she has $3,315.50 on hand.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5
District 5 is the city’s northwest quadrant council district in the northwest corner of the city and west of the river. The incumbent city councilor for District 5 is Incumbent MAGA Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis. He is being challenged by Democrat Athena Allen.
The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 5 was 446 and the amount of public financing is $55,065.10.
MAGA Republican Incumbent City Councillor Dan Lewis qualified for Public Finance and was give $55,065.10. Lewis raised $55,815.10 when “seed money” and in-kind donations are included, has spent $5,944.36 spent and he has $49,870.74 on hand
Athenea Allen is a Privately Financed candidate. Allen has raised $56,398.25 in private donations, she has spent $10,322.61 and has $45,975.64 on hand.
CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7
District 7 is the mid heights city council district currently represented by first term Progressive 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 was 466. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 7 is $57,251.85.
Incumbent Progressive Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn qualified for publicly Finance and was given $57,251.85 by the city. Fiebelkorn raised $58,131.85 when “seed money” and in-kind donations are included. Fiebelkorn has spent $21,968.17 and she has $36,163.68 on hand
Democrat Jaemes Shanley has qualified to be a Write-in candidate and he is Privately Financed. Shanley has raised $401, he has spent $71.73 and he has $329.27 on hand.
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 MAGA Republican City Councilor Renee Grout who is seeking a second term. District 9 is very condensed and is considered 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 was 416 and the amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 9 is $51,375.40
MAGA Republican Incumbent City Councillor Renée Grout qualified for Public Finance and was give $51,375.40 by the city. Grout raised $51,925.55 when you include “seed money” and in-kind donations. Grout has spent $1,479.50 and she has $50,446.05 on hand.
Democrat Colton Newman is a Privately Financed candidate. Newman has raised $1,134.41 raised, he has spent $63.51 and he has $1,070.90 cash on hand
Recent candidate forums have focused on crime, homelessness, housing shortages and economic development, with business leaders pressing candidates on their approaches to these challenges and their willingness to work collaboratively with the Mayor.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
It is clear from reviewing all the campaign finance reports filed by the candidates for city council, 3 out of 4 incumbent city councilors who are Public Financed candidates have a lopsided financial advantage over their Privately Financed candidates. The fact that all 4 incumbent city councilors on the ballot qualified for public finance is a testament of the power of their incumbency.
The only exception is in City Council District 5 where Republican Incumbent City Councilor Dan Lewis qualified for Public Finance and was give $55,065.10 and he has raised $55,815.10 when “seed money” and in kind donations are included. His Democratic opponent Athenea Allen is a Privately Financed candidate and has raised $56,398.25 in private donations and she will likely raise more and will out spend Lewis. It’s impressive that Democrat Athenea Allen has out raised three time elected Republican City Council Councilor Dan Lewis and its a clear indication that the race is the most competitive city council race and that Allen has the momentum to win.
The two Publicly Finance candidates in District 1, Aheren Grego and Daniel Leiva were each given $55,643.15 in public finance. Privately Finance Opponent Joshua Neal has raised $22,363.47 and Privately Finance Opponent Stephanie Telles has raised $7,065.
With seven weeks remaining before the November 4 election, voters can expect that in all 5 city council races a spike in “door to door” campaigning by the candidates and political campaign mailers will be sent out.
Early voting begins October 8. The next campaign finance reporting deadline is October 13. Election Day is November 4. If no candidate receives more than 50% of votes in any contested race, runoff elections would be held in December.
Links to relied upon or related articles are here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/article_ee3a2715-893f-438b-9bb8-d10fe58491be.html
Thanks to public financing, council candidates still have hundreds of thousands to spend