About Pete Dinelli

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.

No Clear Cut Winner Of Mayoral Debate; Trajectory Of Race Remains Same With Likely Runoff Between Keller And White

Posted on October 16, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

On October 15, Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Louie Sanchez, Darren White, and Alex Uballez appeared on KOAT TV for the only televised debate in the 2025 Mayors race. The four were deemed by the station as the front runners based upon an Albuquerque Journal poll. Excluded because of low polling numbers and low campaign fundraising were challengers Mayling Armijo, Eddie Varela and Daniel Chavez with Chavez having withdrawn from the race. KOAT TV news anchor Doug Fernandez acted as the moderator with KOAT TV news reporter Shelley Ribando, Albuquerque Journal Reporter Dan Boyd and radio talk show host Bob Clark asking questions.

The four candidates answered an array of questions on Albuquerque’s problems including the homeless, crime and the city’s sanctuary city or immigrant friendly status and economic development with the four clashing over how they would handle the issues and their solutions to the city’s problems. The three most discussed issues in the debate were crime fighting, how the city is dealing with the homeless and the city’s immigrant friendly policy.

CRIME FIGHTING

Mayor Keller touted his administration’s creation of Albuquerque Community Safety Department. The department is the first of its kind in the country and uses civilians and social workers to divert people in crises and other “calls for service” from the Albuquerque Police Department. Keller also emphasized APD’s use of crime-fighting technology such as the ShotSpotter system, which sends an alert when a gunshot is detected across the city as well as “speed cameras” to detect speeding and issue civil citations.

City councilor Loui Sanchez, a retired police officer, for his part called Keller’s crime fighting methods “reactive, not proactive.” He said the only way to bring down crime is to hire more officers and enforcing the law even when it comes to low-level crime. Sanchez said the city needs 1,600 sworn police to deal with the city’s crime rates. APD currently has 900 sworn police.

Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White said he would choose a new police chief for the Albuquerque Police Department and focus on proactive policing, directing officers to do more patrols and make more traffic stops. White noted that traffic stops are key to apprehension of people who have committed other crimes or who have outstanding warrants and that sworn officers, not technology, can do hands on investigations during traffic stops.

Former U.S. Attorney Alex Uballes proposed streamlining the 911 process by creating a “unified dispatch center” shared by the city and county. Uballez also said he would focus on helping inmates re-entering society from jail or prison to stop recidivists from returning to the criminal justice system.

NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYMENT TO DEAL WITH CRIME

Mayor Keller said he sees Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s deployment of the New Mexico National Guard to Albuquerque to help with addressing the city’s crime problem as “forward-thinking” and that it was cooperation between the city and state. Keller said he and the governor anticipated Trump’s decision to deploy the National Guard and by making the first move blocked any attempt to do so in New Mexico. Keller argued that the public misunderstands the National Guard’s role in Albuquerque. Keller noted the National Guard doesn’t do law enforcement, but helps APD officers with cumbersome and time-consuming tasks outside of making arrests.

All three of Keller’s opponents took issue with the National Guard being deployed to the city. They called it offensive and a political farce and compared the action to President Donald Trump’s deployment of the National Guard in Los Angeles, the District of Columbia, Portland and Chicago.

Darren White said that deploying the Guard to do support services and paperwork makes a mockery of the serving men and women serving in the military. White said this:

“These are people who are trained as fighters for our military. … We deployed them here in Albuquerque in such a way that they were put into polo shirts and khaki pants — that’s not the uniform of our military.”

Louie Sanchez said he was upset that the National Guard were taken out of their traditional role by having military personnel wear polo shirts and doing support work and services for APD.

Alex Uballez compared Keller and Lujan Grisham to Trump’s actions and said the move “set a terrible precedent.”

THE HOMELESS

Solving the city’s homelessness crisis was heavily debated by the candidates. All four candidates proposed everything from providing shelter, making arrests and expanding social services.

Keller pointed to the his development and creation of the Gateway System, a group of homeless shelters and social services, as a step in the right direction. According to the city shelter bed tracker, between 800 and 1,000 people sleep in city-affiliated homeless shelters each night. The 2024 annual survey of the homeless known as the “Point In Time” counted 2,750 chronic homeless, with and 18% increase over last year, with other estimates being as high as 5,000.

Sanchez called the Keller’s Gateway System of shelters for the homeless an ineffective use of taxpayer funds, saying “$300 million spent and look at the streets, they are not changing.”

White said that law enforcement needs to take a stricter approach to the homeless population and make arrests for illegal camping and drug use.

Both White and Uballez criticized Keller’s encampment sweeps. White called the estimated 200 sweeps conducted each week by the Solid Waste department unproductive. Uballez called the sweeps “cruel.” Uballez alleged that city solid waste workers have disposed of personal belongings like ID cards and, in one case, cremated remains.

SANCTUARY CITY DEBATE

EDITOR’S NOTE: Albuquerque is not nor has it ever been a “sanctuary city.” For the last 23 years, and by city council enacted ordinance, the city is an “immigrant friendly” city. A “Sanctuary City” requires local government to essentially shield the undocumented from federal authorities and from federal detention and arrests. “Immigrant friendly” cities enact policies that allow the undocumented city services like all other citizens and does not allow its local law enforcement to investigate federal immigration law violations nor detain nor arrest for violations of federal immigration laws. Immigrant friendly cities allow local law enforcement to make arrests of the undocumented only for violations of local ordinances and state laws.

The most spirited topic of the debate was over the city’s immigration policy and if it is a sanctuary city or an immigrant friendly city.

City Councilor Sanchez launched an aggressive attack on Keller’s immigration policy, decrying the city’s status as a “Sanctuary City” and pointing at Keller and declaring: “You want to protect criminals!”

The problem for Sanchez is that he voted against a proposed amendment to Albuquerque’s immigrant-friendly policy, which required police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The decision was part of a Council debate on the city’s stance towards immigration enforcement.

Keller shot back at the Sanchez accusation and said this:

Louie, you literally voted for my policy. Like, literally. And no one is protecting murderers. We will arrest anyone who commits murder and we will prosecute them. . .so look at your own voting record.

Darren White responded agreeing with Keller and said this:

Louie that law was very clear that you voted on. That change would have said if you were in this country illegally and you were charged with a violent crime . . .it would have required the APD to turn that information over to (federal authorities). You voted against that. You were the deciding vote. So the truth is you voted against it.

CANDIDATE CLOSING STATEMENTS

The four candidates made the following closing statements that are a good summation for all 4 candidates:

MAYOR TIM KELLER

“Number one, you’ve heard a lot about people talking about the problems, about what they want to do or blaming the problems on different things. That’s easy. That’s not leadership. What leadership is, is actually explaining how to solve the problem. That is the real work. That is the problem solving that I’ve been doing. The second thing is you’re going to hear how the last eight years wasn’t that great. And I will tell you, that’s not what this election is about. It’s about who is best equipped in these tough times to lead us and hold us together for the next four years. That’s why we need strong, experienced leaders.”

DARREN WHITE:

“Before you cast your vote, ask the simple question. What is Tim Keller done in 12 years? That he’s not going to do that he hasn’t done in eight. If I’m elected, I’m only going to serve four years. I’m not trying to pad my political resume or punch my ticket to higher office. I want to go in day one, roll up my sleeves, get to work and clean up the mess. Mayor Keller is running to save his political future. I‘m running to save our city. I’m Darren White, and I respectfully ask for your vote.”

LOUIE SANCHEZ:

“Thank you. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and over. And it’s expecting different results. I’m running for mayor to stop the insanity. This is unbelievable. I am a retired law enforcement officer. I’m a city councilor and a small business owner. I know what it is to sign paychecks, and I know what it is to sign policy. We need new leadership. We need experience. And we need accountability and transparency back in City Hall. I’m Louie Sanchez , and I’d love to earn your vote.”

ALEX UBABLLEZ:

“The mayor is a temporary custodian of a position that belongs to you. The people. You don’t have to decide between going backwards with these challengers and going nowhere with the incumbents. My first 100 days, I will lay the framework for public safety that’s responsive and gets you the answer that you need quickly. That deals with homelessness in a humane way that has built economic development and possibility for our kids. Because this office, it’s not a right, it’s a responsibility, and it’s an Albuquerque that will work for you. My name is Alex Uballez, I respectfully ask for your vote.”

The link to the full transcript of the debate is here:

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-mayoral-debate-2025-election/69041960

Watch the entire debate on KOAT‘s Youtube channel here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNmjW_7vEBk

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

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_9aade1b0-5094-4186-92fc-e1f9f47e5963.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

https://www.koat.com/article/combative-koat-mayoral-debate-puts-spotlight-on-keller-as-early-votes-pass-4000-analyst-sees-likely-runoff/69050037

POLL RESULTS

On Sunday, September 28 the Albuquerque Journal published the results of its opinion poll on the Albuquerque’s Mayor race.

Following are the poll results:

Tim Keller: 29%
Darren White: 16%
Alex Uballez: 6%
Louie Sanchez: 6%
Mayling Armijo: 1%
Eddie Varela: 2%
Daniel Chavez: 1%
Undecided 37%
Decline To Say 2%

TOTAL: 100%

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_bf155bf7-2226-486b-ac34-07ca23e0173b.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Given the apathy of voters when it comes to municipal elections, it is more likely than not that very few actually watch the debate, except perhaps “political junkies” and candidates supporters and campaign staff. One thing is for certain is that KOAT -TV did a major disservice to voters with the exclusion of Mayling Armijo and Eddie Varela given the fact the Albuquerque Journal poll showed that 37% of the voters are undecided. The station could have very easily allowed another 30 minutes for the debate to include them or simply cut back on questions and concentrated on the three major issues.

In the final analysis, there was no clear winner of the debate. The debate likely did not sway very many undecides nor anyone’s opinion on who they will vote for. The trajectory of the race remains the same as reflected in the Journal poll with Mayor Tim Keller and Darren White in runoff.

Early voting commences on October 18 and ends on November 1Under Albuquerque’s city charter, the two top finishers in the mayor’s race will face off in a run-off election if the top finisher does not receive 50% or more of the votes cast. If it’s necessary, this year’s run-off election would take place December 9.

The link to a related article is here:

Seventh Campaign Disclosure Statement Filed in Mayor’s Race; Keller Spends $476,000 Of $757,000 With $281,000 Remaining; Other 5 Candidates Continue To Lag Behind; Emerging Republican Support For Democrat Louie Sanchez

Seventh Campaign Disclosure Statement Filed in Mayor’s Race; Keller Spends $476,000 Of $757,000 With $281,000 Remaining; Other 5 Candidates Continue To Lag Behind; Emerging Republican Support For Democrat Louie Sanchez

Posted on October 15, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

The Albuquerque City Clerk has qualified the following 7 candidates to run for Mayor who will appear on the November 4 ballot but with one dropping out of the race:

Tim Keller, incumbent two term Mayor seeking third term.
Darren White, the former sheriff of Bernalillo County and former CEO of medical cannabis company PurLife.
Louie Sanchez, a retired APD police officer and current city councilor.
Alex Uballez, the former U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico.
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.
Daniel Chavez, president of Parking Company of America was the very first to qualify for the ballot, but on September 29 he dropped out the race.

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 public finance. The remaining five candidates are privately financed.

On October 13, the six remaining candidates for Mayor filed their Seventh campaign disclosure statements. The report covers the time period of September 9 to October 13, 2025. Following is a summary review of finance reports:

TIMOTHY KELLER

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $757,147 (Same as before.)
Total Expenditures $476,323 (Previously $103,101)
In-Kind Contributions $2,427 (Previously 2,427)
In-Kind Expenditures $3,008 (Previously $248)
Current Cash Balance $280,823 (Previously $654,046)
Current Debt Balance $0.00 (Same as before.)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

City of Albuquerque $733,968 (Public Financing)
Tim Keller $2,500
Duke City Commercial $781
Garcia Realty $781
Tim Keller $650
Ona Porter $615

Tim Keller lists 191 contributors for a total of $733,968.

ANALYSIS: Mayor Tim Keller is the only candidate to qualify for public financing. His reelection campaign has given $733,968 in public funding on July 17. He ends the period with $280,823.80 on hand to spend during the 3 weeks remaining in the campaign. The Keller expenditures for the reporting period included $31,883 to Nineteen Sixty Campaigns, a full service politcal consulting firm, and $12,945 to Holguin Consulting, the firm owned by his campaign manager Neri Holguin.

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

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

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

2. LOUIE SANCHEZ

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $306,391 (Previously $222,488.)
Total Expenditures $237,977 (Previously $58,519.69
In-Kind Contributions $1,000. (No Change )
In-Kind Expenditures $0 (No change)
Current Cash Balance $68,414 (Previously $163,969.14)
Current Debt Balance $152,500 (No change)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Sanchez, Louie $150,000
Sanchez, Louie $10,000
Peterson Properties $6,000
Thomas P. Tinnin $6,000
Alarid, Vanessa $6,000
Howard Gogel $6,000
Jewelry Market Supply $6,000
Annie Sanchez $6,000
Jalapeño Corporation $6,000
Ty Hise $5,000
Peggy Mueller-Aragon $4,155

LOUIE SANCHEZ lists 111 contributors for a total of $222,488.83 in contributions.

ANALYSIS: City Councilor Louie Sanchez has raised $306,391.92 with $160,000 of that coming from money Sanchez loaned himself for the campaign in June. His current cash balance stands at $68,414.80 .

Jalapeño Corporation is listed as donating $6,000. Jalapeño Corporation is an oil and gas company owned by former State Republican Party Chairman and National Republican Party Committeeman Harvey Yates.

Click here to review the financial disclosure statement and to download all filed contributions and filed expenditures for Louis Sanchez.

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

3. DARREN WHITE

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $271,872 (Previously $198,583)
Total Expenditures $117,735 (Previously $68,210 )
In-Kind Contributions $20,867 (Previously $17,821)
In-Kind Expenditures $25 (Same as before.)
Current Cash Balance $154,136 (Previously $130,373)
Current Debt Balance $20,000 (Same as before.)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Darren White $20,000
Progress Healthcare, Inc $10,000
Darren White $8,765
RGL Investments $6,000
Peterson Properties $6,000

Darren White lists 653 contributors for a total of $198,583 in contributions.

ANALYSIS: Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White has raised $271,872 total, with a current balance of $ $154,136 . White raised $73,019 this period. New cash donations include $5,000 each from Rebecca Weh of Maestas Development Corporation and CSI Aviation, an air charter service and deportation contractor for the federal Department of Homeland Security, and Deborah Maestas, formerly of CSI Aviation and one of the President Trump’s “fake electors” from New Mexico in 2020. Accountant Mary Ann Okeefe and Mountain Run Partners, a real estate firm owned by The Downs Racino owner Paul Blanchard also donated $5,000 each to White.

White has loaned himself over $28,765. White’s largest contributors also include $6,000 from Pierre Amestoy, a local developer, and $5,000 each from entities associated with the Pitre family’s automotive businesses, cannabis companies Truforia and Elevated Labs, and Peterson Properties run by Doug Peterson. White also reported a $10,000 donation from Progress Healthcare based in Louisiana, though the city’s limit for contributions to mayoral candidates is $6,000. White told the on line news outlet City Desk the extra $4,000 has been returned. White reported spending of $117,735. White reported paying his longtime friend and political consultant or campaign manager $63,661.

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

4. ALEXANDER M.M. UBALLEZ

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $193,977 (Previously $197,940)
Total Expenditures $138,016 (Previously $76,139)
In-Kind Contributions $24,674 (Previously $8,738)
In-Kind Expenditures $0.00 (Previously $0.00)
Current Cash Balance $110,369 (Previously $121,801)
Current Debt Balance $50,000 (Previously $50,000)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Alex Uballez $50,000
Michael Cassidy $5,250
Organizers In the Land of Enchantment $5,000
OLE $5,000
Attorney Antonia Roybal-Mack $5,777
Attorney Darren Cordova $5,777
Aleli Colon $3,610
Haley Murphy $2,407
Brian Colon $1,203
Diane Cox $1,203
Gabriela Gomez $1,200
NM Voters First PAC $1,000.

ALEXANDER M.M. UBALLEZ lists 503 contributors for a total of $197,940.71 in contributions.

ANALYSIS: Alex Uballez ended the reporting period having raised $193,977.68 with a Current Cash Balance of $110,369. Uballez’s single largest donor is himself having donated $50,000 of his own money. Contributors also include $962 from Miranda Viscolli, leader of the nonprofit New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence, $1,203 each from Brian Colón, former state auditor and managing partner of the Singleton Schreiber law firm’s New Mexico office, and his wife Aleli Colón and multiple donations under $500 from local attorneys.

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

5. MAYLING ARMIJO

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $137,277 (Previously $108,133)
Total Expenditures $78,900 (Previously $47,433)
In-Kind Contributions $2,257 (Same as before.)
In-Kind Expenditures $0.00 (Same as before.)
Current Cash Balance $58,376 (Previously $60,700.)
Current Debt Balance $15,175 (Same as before.)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Mayling Armijo $15,175
Stephen Poe $6,000
Beelien Armijo $6,000
Mia Armijo $6,000
Walter Grodahi $6,000
Joseph J. Armijo $6,000

Mayling Armijo lists 131 contributors for a total of $108,133.

ANALYSIS: Navy veteran and former Sandoval County deputy manager Mayling Armijo has raised $$137,277, with $58,376. Armijo’s funding includes a $15,175 loan to herself. Almost half of her total donations came from Armijo family members, including $6,000 each from Joseph, Mia and Beelien Armijo, all of Albuquerque. Her largest non-Armijo donor was $6,000 from Walter Groadhi, a housing developer based in Oregon. She has $60,700,15 cash on hand when before she had $37,727 .

The link to a relied upon or quoted news sources are here:

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

6. EDDIE VARELA

COMBINED FINANCIAL TOTALS

Total Contributions $22,333 (Previously $20,676)
Total Expenditures $13,926 (Previously $10,819)
In-Kind Contributions $22,028 (Previously $17, 442)
In-Kind Expenditures $1,300 (Previously $300)
Current Cash Balance $8,406 (Previously $9,856)
Current Debt Balance $10,000 (Previously $10,000)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Eddie Varela $10,000
CIPGAW $4,000
Penfold Live, LLC $3,000
Eddie Varela $2,827
Jose C. Lopez $2,000
CIPGAW $1,500
Angie Custom Design $1,300
Chester & Diana Stewart $1,000

Eddie Varela lists 58 contributors for a total of $20,676 in total contributions.

ANALYSIS: Retired Albuquerque Fire Chief Eddie Varela shows $22,333 in total contributions, including a $10,000 donation to himself, and $8,406.

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

MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEE FINANCIAL REPORTS

There are three measured finance committees (MFA) formed to promote 3 individual candidates for Mayor. On October 13, the 3 committees filed finance reports with the City Clerk as follows:

ASEND ALBUQUERQUE MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEE

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 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 $200,550.00 (Previously $155,350)
Total Expenditures $41,256 (Previously $35,019)
In-Kind Contributions -0- (No Change)
In-Kind Expenditures – 0- (No Change)
Current Cash Balance $160,369 (Previously $120,330)
Current Debt Balance $0.00

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Council of Carpenters, Brotherhood of Carpenters $20,000
New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council: $20,000
Fresquez Concessions, Inc $15,000
Sangre De Cristo Hotel Investment, LLC $10,000
IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund $10,000
Curtis & Company Law Firm $10,000
NCRA Architects $5,000
Scott Goodman $5,000
Attorney Randi McGinn $2,500

ANALYSIS: Included in major donations to Ascend Albuquerque are donations from those who do business with the city. Fresquez Concessions, Inc along with one of its principal owners Lenny Frequez, manages all the concessions at the airport. The partners of the law firm of Robles, Rael & Anaya donated $30,000. The law firm over any years has been contracted by the city to represent it in civil rights lawsuits. Two brothers of the prominent Garcia family each donated $5,000 and their family are the owners of car dealerships as well as being major downtown developers. The Garcia’s have also made contributions to Mayor Keller’s city endowment fund.

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

2. Safer Albuquerque Committee (KATRINA TRACY)

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 $221,080.00 (Previously $145,080)
Total Expenditures $218,327.61 (Previously $140, 519)
In-Kind Contributions 0.00 (No Change)
In-Kind Expenditures 0.00 (No Change)
Current Cash Balance $2,752.39 (Previously $4,560.08)
Current Debt Balance $0.00 (No Change)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Katrina Tracy $121,000 (Previously $65,000)
Chauling Mary Armijo $40,000
Four Winds Mechanical HTC/AC $40,000
Charles Rolison $80.00

The city link to review the Financial Disclosure Statement for Safer Albuquerque Committee (Safer ABQ) is here:

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreCommitteeDetail/M3FjOgNU2Z3h9u5VXBTrEgpRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/null/null/2/2025

3. 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 $39,000 (No Change)
Total Expenditures $39,000 (No Change)
In-Kind Contributions: -0- (No Change)
In-Kind Expenditures: -0- (No Change)
Current Cash Balance: -0- (No Change)
Current Debt Balance: -0- (No Change)

TOP CONTRIBUTORS

Hat Mesa Oil $39,500
Bradley William Day $7,500

The city link to review the Financial Disclosure Statement for CIPGAW: Committee to Elect Eddie Varela Mayor of Albuquerque is here:

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

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

With 3 weeks before the November 4 election, it is not at all surprising that Mayor Tim Keller has spent the most to get elected to a third term. Following is a breakdown of what each candidate has thus far spent:

Tim Keller $476,232
Louis Sanchez $237,977
Alexander Uballez $138,016
Darren White $117,735
Mayling Armijo $78,900
Eddie Varela $13,928

Following is a breakdown of the cash on hand and what the candidates have left to spend:

Tim Keller $280,833
Darren White $117,735
Alexander Uballez $110,319
Mayling Armijo $78,900
Louis Sanchez $68,414
Eddie Varela $13,928

Mayor Keller continues to have an overwhelming financial advantage over his opponents and it is likely he will finish first and be in the runoff.

Ascend Albuquerque, the measured finance committee formed to support Tim Keller, is also sitting on another $160,369 that will likely be used over the next 3 weeks to promote Keller or be used in the run off.

EMERGING REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR DEMOCRAT LOUIE SANCHEZ

The biggest question at this point is will Republican Darren White be in the runoff with Tim Keller? What is beginning to emerge is that Democrat City Councilor Louie Sanchez is beginning to peal away significant Republican support from Darren White and it is having an impact on Darren White’s fundraising.

It is now known that prominent republicans Harvey Yates, former State Republican Party Chairman and Carla Sonntag, President of the New Mexico Business Coalition and former Republican Mayoral candidate Michelle Garcia Holmes and former Chief of Staff to former Attorney General Gary King are now throwing their support behind conservative Democrat Louie Sanchez. Republican Darren White is known to use his radio show to criticize the state Republican Party and candidates backed by Harvey Yates.

Michelle Garcia Holmes is a retired APD police officer and she in particular has been very aggressive in opposing Darren White and pointing out all of his political baggage and his controversial history. Garcia Holmes has said White can not win in a runoff with Tim Keller. She has taken to social media encouraging Republicans to vote for conservative Democrat Louie Sanchez believing he can ultimately defeat progressive Tim Keller.

FINAL COMMENT

Candidates going forward must file new campaign finance reports every Monday until the election day November 4.

Keller’s Positive, “Feel Good Ad” On His Record Deflated By Sanchez And White’s TV Ads On Keller’s Failed Record As Mayor; Will It Make A Difference?

Posted on October 13, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

Mayor Tim Keller, City Councilor Louie Sanchez and Darren White are now up and running television commercials for Mayor.

TIM KELLER TV AD

On October 1, Mayor Tim Keller released his first TV ad in the 2025 Albuquerque Mayor’s race. The ad features a very young Hispanic woman posing as a “bubbly” and smiling news reporter as she announces in a classroom setting a YES or NO “pop quiz”. The ad then moves on to her walking leisurely side by side with Tim Keller down the streets of Albuquerque as she announces his accomplishments as Mayor with “True or False” flashed across the screen. Keller for his part is casually dressed in a shirt with rolled-up sleeves and genes as he grins throughout, waives or nods his head up and down and he says nothing. They appear at various locations to highlight what Keller has accomplished. They are shown walking by a building, walking on a sidewalk in a quiet neighborhood as a police vehicle slowly drives by, standing in the middle of a playground as children run by them in all directions playing, walking in front of apartments that are ostensibly affordable housing, standing in front of the Gateway shelter on Gibson, and ending standing in front of an “ICE” storage vending machine. Keller says nothing until the very end of the ad and then takes a shot at the news media saying the media has not reported all of what he has accomplished.

Following is the transcript of the ad:

YOUNG WOMAN ALONE IN A CLASSROOM SETTING:

“ Pop Quiz. True or False.”

YOUNG WOMAN WALKING WITH KELLER:

“Tim Keller created the nations first community safety department with mental health responders.

So police are freed up to fight crime.

He created before and after-school programs for over ten thousand children.

Twenty-five hundred affordable housing units.

And shelter with addiction treatment for 1,000 homeless.

He’s also blocking ICE if they don’t have a warrant.”

TIM KELLER:

“We’re getting a lot more done than the news media is telling you about!”

The link to review the Keller ad is here:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/1486960282587111

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS ON KELLER AD

Mayor Tim Keller’s first TV ad and its narrative and positive tone are a far cry from his campaign pitch he has made including in his “State of the City” event held at the bio park zoo and in public forums before business and civic groups where he has acknowledge the city’s serious problems including high crime rates and the homeless crisis.

Keller publicly proclaims aggressively that his leadership and what he has done over the last 8 years as Mayor is finally “getting traction” and making a difference but he says there is far more that needs to be done. Keller has said he needs four more years to complete his work.

It’s down right laughable that Keller’s ad takes a shot at the media saying the media has not reported on what he has accomplished. Keller on a daily basis does news conferences and he is known for his ongoing self promotion of all things Keller has supposedly accomplished.

Keller’s first TV ad went unanswered by his 6 opponents as they went dark for a full 10 days, until now. Both Louie Sanchez and Darren White are running commercials labeling the Keller record a failure.

LOUIE SANCHEZ TV AD

On October 9, 2025, City Councilor Louie Sanchez announced the release of his new campaign ad entitled “Our Own Eyes”. The advertisement boldly proclaims Mayor Keller is lying and argues that Mayor Tim Keller says things are getting better but makes the point “we can see with our own eyes” what the truth is. The Sanchez ad is in sharp contrast to Keller’s up beat ad. Dispersed throughout the Sanchez ad are dramatic and disturbing images of the streets of Albuquerque inhabited by the unhoused with their belongings and congregating or sleeping on the streets of the city.

The narrative of the ad is as follows:

“Do you believe a failed politician [when Keller says] we have made real progress or your own eyes?”

Tim Keller is lying, we can see it with our own eyes!

And now he says “That’s why we need a little more time.”

Eight years has been enough!

We Deserve better.

Louie Sanchez has a plan to clean up our city.

Safe streets, more jobs, and a government that works.

Vote for change.

Vote Louis Sanchez for Mayor.

The link to review the entire Sanchez ad is here by clicking on the ad when Keller’s image pops up:

https://www.louie4abq.com/?fbclid=IwY2xjawNYo6JleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETF0Z1ZQTmJvYWxxTTZkZVZ5AR76uwn9df0w8DV_9ogMUV19NHGXdC54Uw0JlJ26XPONQ87jDFzPFPJMCruYxw_aem_sLSG8uMA-_v6Ix0mzZJhjg

In a press release releasing the TV ad, City Councilor Louie Sanchez said this:

“Too many Albuquerque families already know firsthand that we’re experiencing skyrocketing violent crime, open-air drug use, homelessness spiraling out of control, and a city government that has lost the trust of its people. … Tim Keller has spent eight years telling us everything is improving. … But by every objective measure, things have gotten worse. Families don’t feel safe. Businesses are closing. Homelessness is worse than ever. The only thing that’s grown under Keller is the gap between his political spin and the reality on the ground. … This election isn’t about fancy speeches or campaign slogans. It’s about telling the truth and fixing what’s broken. Albuquerque deserves a leader who will stop sugarcoating failure and start delivering results.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS ON SANCHEZ AD

The Sanchez ad is a blunt, no-nonsense message accusing Mayor Tim Keller of lying and of pretending that his 8 years have somehow made the city better. The ad proclaims Keller has been a failure.

The Sanchez ad is a very effective illustration of Keller’s failed record on public safety, homelessness, and accountability. It effectively challenges voters not to trust a politician’s campaign speeches, but to trust what they are seeing and experiencing in the city they live in every day.

The Sanchez ad is now live across digital platforms, broadcast television, and cable. Sources have confirmed the 30 second commercial is airing on broadcast and cable channels with $30,000 being spent initially for its airing.

DARREN WHITE TV AD

Darren White has also produced a hard-hitting TV ad. The White commercial attacks Keller for the 750 homicides that have taken place during his eight years as well as the homeless. White singles out the homeless encampments calling them “tent cities” and says he will take them down on “day one” reminiscent of Donald Trump. The ad ends with declaring White to be a Republican when the race for Mayor is non partisan.

White says this in his TV commercial ad:

“Eight years of failure is enough.

No more sanctuary for criminals and the tent encampments come down on day one.

Over 750 homicides, homeless tent cities everywhere. We need change now.”

Ending comment: “Republican Darren White for Mayor.”

The Darren White ad can be viewed here:

https://www.facebook.com/reel/665888349913519

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS ON WHITE AD

The White ad is not as effective nor as well produced as the Sanchez commercial. It is an obvious attempt by White to consolidate the Republican vote because he ends by being identified as a Republican.

This is not the first time Darren White has taken issue with the homeless. When White was the city’s Chief Public Safety Officer under Republican Mayor Richard Berry, he was reckless when he declared it was time for the city to “take the gloves off ” when dealing with the homeless. Two homeless sued the city for actions it had taken and White’s words and actions resulted in payment of a $100,000 settlement by the city.

JOURNAL POLL RESULTS RECALLED

On Sunday, September 28, the Albuquerque Journal published the results of its expected opinion poll on the Albuquerque’s Mayor race.

Following are the poll results:

Tim Keller: 29%
Darren White: 16%
Alex Uballez: 6%
Louie Sanchez: 6%
Mayling Armijo: 1%
Eddie Varela: 2%
Daniel Chavez: 1%
Undecided 37%
Decline To Say 2%

TOTAL: 100%

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_bf155bf7-2226-486b-ac34-07ca23e0173b.html

On September 29, candidate for Mayor Daniel Chavez dropped out of the race saying he did not see a viable path forward. While Chavez is dropping out, he will still appear on the ballot. Six candidates remain in the running.

Although the Albuquerque Journal Poll found that Mayor Tim Keller has the lead in his bid to win reelection to a third term as Albuquerque’s mayor, the poll also found that less than half of city voters approve of the job he’s done over the last seven-plus years. A total of 47% of voters surveyed expressed disapproval of Keller’s job performance, while 42% approved of the way he has handled being mayor. The remaining voters were unsure or declined to say.

KELLER’S OVERWHELMING FINANACIAL ADVANTAGE

What overshadows all the poll numbers is Mayor Tim Keller’s overwhelming financial advantage in the mayor’s race. Mayor Keller was the only candidate to qualify for $733,968.00 in public financing while the others failed to secure public finance and have failed with their efforts to raise sufficient private financing to compete.

As of September 8, Mayor Keller reported he had $654,046.56 in public financing still left to spend and a measured finance committee formed to promote his candidacy reported having another $120,000 in cash.

On September 8, Darren White reported having $130,373.73 in cash on hand, Louie Sanchez reported $163,969.14 cash on hand and Alex Uballez reported $121,801.56 cash on hand with all three having made significant contributions of their own money of $50,000 or more.

FINAL COMMENTARY

Keller’s opponents have been relegated to carry on a “social media” campaign because of lack of funds to telecast TV Commercials. Alex Uballez and Louis Sanchez in particular have been using FACEBOOK to post repeatedly their stands on issues or to level criticism against Keller. Its very uncertain if a social media campaign is at all effective.

The Sanchez and White ads represent the very first negative campaign commercials against Mayor Tim Keller on TV as Keller’s campaign spends the considerable amount of cash on hand it has left. The biggest questions are does Sanchez and White have enough money to make a media buy to have any real impact and change the dynamics of the race given the recent Albuquerque Journal poll and will more negative ads be released by the other candidates?

The first phase of early voting started on October 7 with absentee ballots being sent out to voters and in-person voting opening at the Downtown Clerk’s Annex, 1500 Lomas NW. Expanded early voting will then begin on Oct. 18, and will end three days before Election Day on November 4.

Please vote!

Metro “Out Reach Court” Must Do More To Remove Unhoused Who Are A Danger To Themselves And Others From Streets; Concentrate On Civil Mental Health Commitments; DA And City Attorney Should Form Joint Specialized Unit; Gibson Gateway Shelter Should Be Used For Metro Court Order Commitments For Treatment Of The Unhoused Who Suffer From Mental ILLness And Substance Abuse

Posted on October 10, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

The Albuquerque Journal Editorial Opinion pages feature 5 types of opinion columns submitted for publication: those by the paper’s Editorial Board, those by the paper’s Community Council, those by Syndicated Columnists, those by Local Columnists and those by Local Voices.

“Local Columnists are tasked with carrying a heavy load of responsibility to help readers scrutinize issues impacting them, their community and their country. It is the Journal’s goal to publish columnists from all walks of life and varying political viewpoints to give readers exposure to all sides of local issues.”

On October 6, the Albuquerque Journal published on its editorial opinion page the below “Local Columnist” opinion column by Bernalillo County Metropolitan Judge Arsa Elliot who presides over the court’s “Outreach Court” that deals with the homeless.

JOURNAL EDITOR’S HEADLINE – “OUT REACH COURT: A SMALL PIECE OF THE PUZZLE”

BY ARSA ELLIOT, LOCAL COLUMNIST

“Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court’s Outreach Court, previously known as Homeless Court, provides people who are unhoused or precariously housed an opportunity to resolve pending misdemeanor cases, outstanding warrants and unpaid fines, which can pose barriers to housing and employment opportunities and hinder progress toward self-sufficiency. Outreach Court has been gaining the attention of our city and county leaders, law enforcement agencies and members of the public as our community struggles to find solutions for the complex problem of homelessness. As the judge presiding over Outreach Court, I am grateful for the community interest in the program and hope to provide helpful information about how the program works and can be best utilized.

Outreach Court is unique from the Metropolitan Court’s other specialty courts because it is designed to reward and support participants who have already taken the first steps to reclaim their lives and resolve outstanding cases; defendant buy-in is a prerequisite. This self-motivation is critical because participation in Outreach Court is voluntary. Success is dependent on participants’ own momentum toward further progress and stability, rather than completion or compliance with certain requirements imposed by the court.

The program accepts a variety of misdemeanor cases already pending in Metropolitan Court — generally, the types of cases precipitated by homelessness, like unlawful camping, trespassing, parking tickets and administrative vehicle offenses that often follow when a person has been living on the streets or in a vehicle. While Outreach Court seeks to assist as many motivated individuals as possible, each case and defendant are subject to individual review, including consultation with possible victims or affected parties, prior to acceptance. Certain misdemeanor cases or defendants are automatically disqualified from participation in Outreach Court, including DWI cases and defendants who have a violent felony conviction within the last seven years or an outstanding warrant in another jurisdiction.

Referrals to Outreach Court must be initiated by a community provider already assisting the defendant with housing, employment, education, behavioral or substance use treatment, or another social support program. Once accepted into Outreach Court, participants work with their case manager from the community provider to design a plan to move toward self-sufficiency.

The Outreach Court review team, which includes the prosecutor and defense attorney, meets monthly to review each case manager’s report on their assigned participant’s background, efforts in the program over the course of 30 to 90 days, improvements in their life, and goals for further participation and progress. Based on the case manager’s report, and upon agreement of the Outreach Court review team, the court acknowledges the participant’s efforts and progress by either dismissing the case or accepting the participant’s work in satisfaction of any remaining financial obligations and closing the case.

Although the court was unable to hold graduation ceremonies during the pandemic, we were happy to announce the resumption of in-person graduation ceremonies in 2024. The ceremonies typically involve 10 to 20 participants and their guests, graciously hosted by a volunteer community provider. The court personally recognizes each participant’s accomplishments in reclaiming their lives and their value as members of the community. Participants are presented with their signed dismissal paperwork, certificate of completion of Outreach Court and a small gift.

The graduation ceremonies are heartwarming but can be nerve-wracking to prepare for — knowing and remembering each participant’s story is a way of conveying the court’s appreciation of their efforts. Participants often arrive dressed in their best and accompanied by proud friends, family and children, and case managers. They mingle over food and refreshments in an unassuming, tiled community room equipped with folding cafeteria tables. Meeting the participants in person, witnessing their pride in themselves, and having the opportunity to publicly recognize their accomplishments and progress is tremendously gratifying. Their gratitude is incredibly humbling, and, if I am lucky, a participant might even ask me to be in a photograph with them. The issues of homelessness and intersecting crime pose a complicated and confounding puzzle. Outreach Court on its own cannot solve the problem, but it is a small piece of the puzzle the court can deliver.

Arsa Elliott is a judge in Division I of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. For more information about Outreach Court, please visit the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Cout’s website:

https://metro.nmcourts.gov/bernalillo-county-metropolitan-court/specialty-courts/outreach-court/.

BEHAVIORAL HEALTH CARE REFORM PACKAGE

During the 2025 regular session of the New Mexico legislature, the Behavioral Health Reform Package was enacted. On February 22, the New Mexico legislature gave final approval to 3 Senate Bills that make sweeping changes to how New Mexico’s mental health and drug abuse treatment programs are run statewide. All three bills taken together are known as the Behavioral Health Reform Package.

On February 27, 2025 Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham signed into law the Behavioral Health Care Reform Package. The following is a description of each of the enacted Senate Bills:

Senate Bill 1: This bill creates the Behavioral Health Trust Fund for the state of New Mexico to support mental health and substance abuse treatment, prevention, and intervention programs throughout the state. The behavioral health trust fund will be invested by the State Investment Council. The trust fund will distribute 5% of its annual value to fund the programs and support investments in necessary infrastructure, technology, and workforce development to facilitate the expansion of services. The fund could also help New Mexico unlock matching funds from federal, local, and private sources. One major change made to Senate Bill 1 was removing a $1 billion appropriation for the new proposed trust fund. Money for the new fund is now expected to be provided in a separate budget bill during this year’s 60-day session.

Senate Bill 2: This bill allocates $200 million to expand regional behavioral health services such as crisis response and outpatient care. The bill appropriates the funding to the New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts and various state agencies to set up a new framework for behavioral health programs statewide.

Senate Bill 3: This bill requires regional plans be crafted for providing mental health and substance abuse treatment. The plans would be overseen by the state judicial branch and would include time lines and regional funding priorities.

The Behavioral Health Reform Package had a total of 19 bipartisan sponsors, led by Senators George Muñoz (D-Gallup) and Liz Stefanics (D-Cerrillos). During the 2025 Legislative session, House and Senate Democrats worked together to make record investments in behavioral healthcare and substance use treatment programs to give New Mexicans the help they need when they need it. Speaker of the House Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque) said this:

“Throughout the interim, we worked closely with our colleagues in the Senate to develop a multi-faceted plan to address our state’s behavioral healthcare needs and improve public safety statewide. … This session, we have worked quickly and thoughtfully to deliver on our promise to advance meaningful legislation that will make our communities safer right away and address long-standing gaps in services for this generation and the next.”

JUDICIARY IN CHARGE OF NEW MENTAL HEALTH CARE MODEL

Under the passed legislation, the new mental health care model places the state judiciary in charge of planning while leaving the state Health Care Authority largely in charge of overseeing funding. This is a significant change from the current system that largely falls under the executive branch’s jurisdiction.

The legislation increases accountability by requiring regional plans outlining priorities for providing mental health and substance abuse treatment. The new trust fund will provide annual funding to support the regional plans, which would largely be overseen by the state’s judiciary.

CIVIL MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENTS VIABLE OPTION

During the 2025 regular session of the New Mexico legislature, the legislature enacted House Bill 4 referred to as the Omnibus Crime Package. It included 6 bills, one of which is the criminal competency legislation. It specifically requires that competency evaluators determine whether defendants are dangerous to themselves or others.

The enacted Omnibus Crime Package gives prosecutors more options to involuntarily commit people into a locked psychiatric facility if they are found to be dangerous to themselves or others and unable to stand trial.

Under House Bill 4, when a court determines that a defendant is not competent to proceed in a criminal case the court shall determine if the defendant is dangerous. A defendant who is not competent is dangerous if the court finds clear and convincing evidence that the defendant presents a serious threat of:

(1) inflicting great bodily harm, as defined in Section 30-1-12 NMSA 1978, on another person;

(2) committing criminal sexual penetration, as provided in Section 30-9-11 NMSA 1978;

(3) committing criminal sexual contact of a minor, as provided in Section 30-9-13 NMSA 1978; (4) committing abuse of a child, as provided in Subsection D of Section 30-6-1 NMSA 1978;

(5) violating a provision of the Sexual Exploitation of Children Act;

(6) committing human trafficking, as provided in Section 30-52-1 NMSA 1978;

(7) committing a felony involving the use of a firearm; or

(8) committing aggravated arson, as provided in Section 30-17-6 NMSA 1978.

The link to review House Bill 4 is here:

https://legiscan.com/NM/text/HB4/2025

After a competency hearing, and if a defendant is found not to be competent, a judge then decides whether the defendant poses a threat to themselves or others. Based on that determination, a defendant is either ordered to attend an assisted outpatient treatment program or sent to the state Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas, New Mexico. The problem is there is a shortage of available facilities to send those committed for treatment with funding to build such facilities in the Behavioral Health legislation.

METROPOLITAN COURT TO DETERMINE COMPETENCY

During the recent Special Session of the New Mexico legislature that ended on October 2, the legislature enacted legislation which allows the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court to determine competency which previously only allowed District Court involvement. A recent report by the New Mexico Justice Reinvestment Working Group found that 65% of individuals who enter the state’s criminal justice system have a behavioral health need and the criminal justice system cannot provide necessary medical treatment and facilities.

As noted by Metropolitan Judge Arsa Elliott in her Albuquerque Journal guest opinion column, the “Outreach Court” provides people who are unhoused with the opportunity to resolve pending misdemeanor cases, outstanding warrants and unpaid fines, all of which can pose barriers to housing and employment opportunities and hinder progress toward self-sufficiency. The “Outreach Court” can and should do more when it comes to the homeless who suffer from severe mental illness or who are drug addicted and are a danger to themselves and others.

During last year’s 2024 Special Session, legislators appropriated $3 million to ramp up court-ordered assisted outpatient treatment programs for individuals with mental illness in three judicial districts. The behavioral health legislation puts the judiciary in charge of planning while leaving the state Health Care Authority largely in charge of overseeing funding.

The City of Albuquerque has a spent a staggering $300 Million over the last three years and is spending upwards of $60 Million a year to provide assistance to so few, estimated to be between 3,000 to 5,000 unhoused. However upwards of 75% of the chronic unhoused refuse services. There has got to a better way than just throwing money at the problem.

The blunt reality is Albuquerque is now New Mexico’s capitol for the homeless service because of referrals made from throughout the state and thanks to Mayor Keller’s 5 integrated shelters known as the GATEWAY system and the Albuquerque City Council acquiescence. The City is managing the homeless who are from far beyond the city’s borders. The City and the State’s unhoused numbers are getting worse and not better after spending millions.

A 2025 report by the city found 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness self-report having a serious mental illness, 25% self-report having a substance use disorder and around 66% experience some form of mental health condition. The biggest problem is that upwards of 75% of the chronic, emergency unhoused simply refuse city services, yet the city continues with spending millions a year to benefit few.

FORM SPECIALIZED UNIT

It is likely that the Albuquerque Police Department and the city Community Safety Department know who the “frequent flyers” are and who need to be taken immediately off the streets because they pose and immediate threat to themselves and others. Both departments could and should assist the District Attorney or the City Attorney with civil mental health commitments of the unhoused and file civil mental commitment actions.

The Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office and the Albuquerque City Attorney should form specialized unit to deal exclusively with civil mental commitment actions in the Metropolitan Court’s “Out Reach Court” with the state or courts providing funding and medical services through the the Behavioral Health Trust Fund provided for in the Behavioral Health Reform Package.

It is understood The Gateway Shelter on Gibson, which is the former Lovelace Medical Center and Hospital, is still largely vacant and has upwards of 200 patient rooms that are vacant. The Gateway Shelter on Gibson should be utilized for referrals by the Metropolitan Court’s “Out Reach Court” with the State providing mental health services to those committed for mental health and substance abuse treatment.

The link to a related article is here:

2025 New Mexico Legislative Update: Legislature Passes Historic Behavioral Health Care Package; Criminal Competency Legislation Passes As Part Of Six Bill Omnibus Crime Package; Sweeping Changes Made To States Behavioral Health Care System 12 Years After Destroyed By Republican Governor Susana Martinez

The Failed Record Of District 7 City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn Is A Record Of “One Bad Idea Deserves An Even Bigger One”; Write In Jaemes Shanley For City Council District 7!; Campaign Video Of Jaemes Shanley; POSTSCRIPT: A Record Of Failure On City Council

Posted on October 8, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

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. The three incumbents in Districts 3, 5, and 9 have challengers who have qualified for the ballot. District 7 Incumbent Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn is opposed by Democrat Jaemes Shanley who has been qualified as a “write in” candidate by the Bernalillo County Clerk who is responsible for administering local elections including the city’s municipal election, the public school board and AMAFCA.

District 7 is the mid heights city council district. The district is predominantly very established neighborhoods surrounding the uptown retail business district including the Commons, Winrock and Coronado Shopping Centers. The District boundaries are generally Montgomery Boulevard on the North, I-25 on the West, Lomas on the South and Eubank on the East.

On July 7, Tammy Feibelkorn qualified for the ballot by submitting 500 nominating petitions signatures. She submitted the required $5.00 donations for public finance and has been given $58,205.00 to run her campaign.

On September 2, Jaemes Shanley filed with the Bernalillo County Clerk his declaration of candidacy as a write in candidate along with the required 500 nominating petition signatures to run for City Council and Jaemes Shanley is a privately financed candidate. His name will not appear on the ballot and voters are required to write in his name in the box provided on the ballot.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Incumbent Democrat City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn was first elected to the City Council in 2021 in a runoff election. Fiebelkorn was born in Grants, NM and has lived in District 7 for 20 years. She is the current Chair of the City Council’s Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee despite having no prior experience nor background in land use law and planning and zoning matters and appeals.

During her city council tenure, Fiebelkorn has concentrated on major land use initiatives and zoning changes. Within the first six months of her term, she focused on gerrymandering her district to exclude predominantly Republican voters to ensure her reelection. Her gerrymandering effort failed. Fiebelkorn then concentrated on zoning changes to the city’s zoning laws to increase density throughout the city by falsely arguing it would increase affordable housing. It will not. She sponsored ordinances affecting renters and property owners rights and remedies, supported virtually all funding of over $300 million for assistance and shelter for the unhoused, and supported city sanctioned safe outdoor space encampments for the homeless. She is considered a vocal and staunch animal rights advocate on the City Council.

The postscript below contains a detailed listing of city legislation Feibelkorn voted for or sponsored reflecting a record of failure.

First term Progressive City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn is considered highly unpopular within City Council District 7 because of her sponsorship or support of controversial major legislation that has failed to be enacted by the city council during her four-year tenure and her advocacy of a personal agenda.

Four years ago, I voted with enthusiasm for Tammy Fiebelkorn as my District 7 City Councilor. The council district is the mid heights area of the city that includes uptown that I represented as a city councilor from 1985 to1989 when it was District 5 before redistricting. I have lived in the district area for 50 plus years.

When I voted for Fiebelkorn, I firmly believed she possessed the necessary talent and skills to represent the best interest of all neighborhoods and all constituents in the district. Boy was I dead wrong. I quickly learned Fiebelkorn promotes her own personal agenda. She simply does not act in the best interests of her district nor of her constituents. She refuses to listen.

During the four years she has been my City Councilor, Tammy Fiebelkorn has exhibited a pattern of downright hostility towards constituents who oppose or who disagree with her votes on policy and legislation to the point she goes out of her way to offend them. She is not at all interested in carrying on with a civil dialog. Although known for attending the District 7 Neighborhood Coalition meetings to give updates on what is happening in the district, she lectures and repeatedly takes issue with those who disagree with her at the meetings and who ask her politely to reconsider positions.

Feibelkorn interrupts her constituents and abruptly says “No, I have made up my mind” and simply refuses to change her mind. She goes out of her way to insult and offend those who oppose her saying she knows what’s good for the district as she professes ignorance. On more than one occasion when questioned about legislation she is sponsoring at the request of Mayor Tim Keller and asked to summarize the legislation, she has said she has not read the legislation and tells her constituents they need to read it for themselves and listen to council debate.

A good example of her offensive attitude is when she told the officers and members of the District 7 Neighborhood Coalition, which boasts membership of 10 neighborhood associations, that the coalition did not reflect the needs and concerns of District 7 and that she knows better than they do. When a male constituent pointed out that one of her responsibilities as a city councilor was to help solve constituent problems and address their concerns, Fiebelkorn said she did not need anyone to “mansplain” to her what she needed to do as a city councilor revealing that she is a sexist. Feibelkorn is known to be very difficult to work with by city council staff and she has had upwards of 5 constituent service assistants who she has either fired or who have just quit.

Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn is the epitome of what is so very wrong with the Albuquerque City Council today and its arrogance. Fiebelkorn is an elected official who will do and say anything to win an election and to get her own way. Once elected, she ignored her constituent’s needs and concerns and advocated her own hidden, personal politcal agenda over the objections of her own constituents. She simply does not listen and does what she damn well feels like doing. Her reputation is one of being highly abrasive, engages in personal insults and is condescending and dismissive with anyone who disagrees with her.

The postscript below delineates with great specifics the failed record of Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn.

VOTE TO ELECT JAEMES SHANLEY DISTRICT 7 CITY COUNCLIOR

It is time that the voters of District 7 thank City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn for her service and refuse to vote for her for a second four-year term as City Councilor. Jaemes Shanley represents a real alternative of substance to Tammy Feibekorn, but it will require a little extra effort by voters to write in his name on the ballot. Under New Mexico law, write in candidates must be allowed for city council, but they must first qualify by collecting 500 nominating petition signatures in order for votes cast for them to be counted, something Shanley accomplished in a few weeks by going door to door in District 7.

Democrat Jaemes Shanley is the President of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association located in the mid heights and is the Vice President of the District 7 Coalition of Neighborhoods which boasts membership of 14 neighborhood associations.

Shanley first arrived in Albuquerque in August 1969, after graduating High School in England, to attend UNM from which he graduated in 1973. His parents followed a year later, and his father retired in Albuquerque after a 30-year career as a US Naval aviator. In 1971, the Shanley family purchased a home in the Mark Twain neighborhood where his mother and father resided for the remainder of their lives.

Jaemes worked a lifetime in the private sector in sales and marketing for various corporations in the United States, Australia, and Japan. His work required extensive travel throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America routinely on the ground in more than 30 countries. Jaemes and his wife returned to Albuquerque in September 2006 to renovate and take up residence in his parent’s Mark Twain neighborhood home where they reside today, becoming actively involved with Neighborhood Associations.

There is very little doubt that Jaemes Shanely will represent the best interests of District 7. All registered District 7 voters are encouraged to write his name in on the ballot.

The Jaemes Shanley campaign has produced a video wherein he expresses why he is running and that outlines his platform. Please click on the below https address to review the video:

https://vimeo.com/1124086966?&login=true#_=_

POSTSCRIPT

THE FAILED RECORD OF CITY COUNCILOR TAMMY FIEBELKORN

When you examine Tammy Fiebelkorn’s legislative record as a city councilor, you quickly discover she promotes her own personal agenda. She does so with little or no concern and many times with no input for what her constituents really want.

Following are the most egregious examples of City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn promoting her own personal agenda over the best interests of her constituents:

ATTEMPT TO GERRYMANDER CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT

2022 was the year for redistricting of all 9 city council districts mandated by the the United States Census. In June, 2022 , a mere 7 months after she was elected to the City Council, progressive Democrat City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn teamed up with then fellow progressive Democrat Pat Davis and sponsored a city council redistricting map that was the most radical of all the six maps submitted and voted upon by the full city council.

The Davis/Fiebelkorn District 6 and District 7 maps reflected a dramatic departure changed drastically the borders of both districts. Their concept map essentially gutted both City Council Districts and carved them up to the benefit of Tammy Fiebelkorn to give advantage to Fiebelkorn for her reelection.

Under the Davis/Fiebelkorn concept map, District 7 would have kept part of its existing Northeast Heights area, but then would have sweep west of District 6 and taken up the Nob Hill area and the Mesa del Sol development area. Both the International District and the Nob Hill areas are considered highly progressive Democrat and are in City Council District 6 represented by then City Councilor Pat Davis.

The Nob Hill area along Central under the Davis/Fiebelkorn redistricting concept map would have been shifted to District 7 and be represented by City Councilor Fiebelkorn and would have jettison south to include the Mesa Del Sol development. The International District in the Southeast Heights would have remained in the newly aligned District 6 but the State Fairgrounds area and the Uptown area including Coronado Shopping Center and Winrock would have been shifted from District 7 to District 6, which many consider Republican. It was the classic definition of “gerrymandering” to protect an incumbent .

The Davis/Fiebelkorn District 6 and District 7 maps were rejected by the city council and came in last on the voting.

SAFE OUTDOOR SPACES

Fiebelkorn is a major proponent and staunch supporter of “Safe Outdoor Spaces” which are city sponsored managed homeless encampments with 40 designated spaces for tents that allows for upwards of 50 people, require hand washing stations, toilets and showers, require a management plan, 6 foot fencing and social services offered. Fiebelkorn voted for the changes to the city zoning laws that allows Safe Outdoor Spaces in all 9 City Council Districts.

Safe Outdoor Spaces became one of the most divisive issues in the city and for the city council with property owners, neighborhoods and neighborhood associations demanding repeal. Three attempts were made to repeal safe outdoor spaces legislation that passed on a 5-4 vote, but were vetoed by Mayor Keller. The city council failed to override the veto with the mandatory 6 votes. Fiebelkorn refused to vote to override Keller’s veto despite efforts made by neighborhood associations to convince her to change her vote.

Fiebelkorn sponsored legislation that failed that would have empowered the City Planning Department to unilaterally approve all Safe Outdoor Space Applications and eliminate the public’s right to challenge and appeal the applications and eliminated City Council intervention.

On June 28, 2025 Mayor Tim Keller announced legislation to make major changes to the city’s Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO) governing Safe Outdoor Spaces. The legislation was sponsored by Progressive Democrat City Councilor Nichole Rogers at Mayor Keller’s request and was openly supported by City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn.

Mayor Keller said he wanted to ease all Safe Outdoor Space requirements to allow expansion of the program with the goal of increasing the number. Mayor Keller said the city needed to “scale up” by allowing smaller encampments all over the city. Keller said there are individuals either who are not ready for traditional shelters or can’t find available housing. Keller said to meet the need, the city may need as many as 100 smaller Safe Outdoor Spaces to accommodate 1,000 homeless.

Major changes to the Integrated Development Ordinance governing Safe Outdoor Spaces Mayor Keller wanted to make were:

Relax the rule requiring 24/7 on-site security a cost that eliminates 99% of people who establish safe outdoor spaces on their property.
Drop the rule requiring on-site showers 24/7. Instead, mobile trailers would rotate between locations throughout the week.
Eliminate the requirement for a dedicated space for service providers.
Establish $100 application fees and $50 renewal fees, with permits lasting 12 months before requiring renewal.

The legislation easing restrictions on Safe Outdoor Spaces was voted down and failed on a 2 to 3 in the Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee chaired by Tammy Fiebelkorn. Progressive Democrats Tammy Fiebelkorn and Nichole Rogers voted “YES” and Republican Council President Brook Bassan, Renée Grout and Dan Champine voting “NO” to ease Safe Outdoor Space requirements. The committee then voted 3 to 2 to send the legislation on to the full city council with a “DO NOT PASS” recommendation.

RESIDENTIAL TENANT PROTECTIONS ORDINANCE

City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn advocated for inclusion of rent control measures in the 2023 City of Albuquerque New Mexico legislative package. Historically, the New Mexico legislature has repeatedly and overwhelmingly rejected rent control measures, and they did so in 2023.

Upset with the New Mexico legislature rejecting rent control measures, Fiebelkorn sponsored her Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance. It failed at city council on a 4-5 vote. The ordinance was a form of rent control and attempted to regulate or eliminate fees that are a part of the application process. Feibelkorn’s ordinance interfered with private contract rights of both landlord and tenants. The ordinance required landlords to disclose to potential applicants all applications and fees which are provided for in the lease agreement.

The ordinance mandated that each time a property owner imposed a fee, they were required to supply documentation proving and justifying their costs to the tenant and the city. The ordinance would have dictated the lease application process and mandated how many applications could be processed at a time. Fiebelkorn herself said this about her Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance:

“Most of the landlords in our city are fair, transparent, very clear with what folks are going to get. It’s the few that are making it really hard.”

What Fiebelkorn essentially said with her sponsorship is she wanted to make the entire apartment rental industry miserable with city fees and bureaucratic mandates because “It’s the few that are making it really hard.”

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-city-council-to-vote-on-renter-protection-ordinance/

RENTER’S EMPOWERMENT AND NEIGHBORHOOD TRANSPARENCY ORDINANCE (RENT ORDINANCE)

The Renter’s Empowerment and Neighborhood Transparency (RENT) Ordinance was sponsored by City Councilor Tammy Feiblekorn at the request of Mayor Tim Keller. The key provisions of Keller’s RENT ordinance were identical to the requirements that were in Fiebelkorn’s original Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance.

Simply put, the new RENT Ordinance was a sneaky and pathetic rewrite and rebranding of Feibelkorn’s rejected Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance that was ultimately rejected and voted down by the City Council. The RENT ordinance represented a major step towards rent control which was rejected by New Mexico legislature in 2023.

Real property rights are favored under the law and the ordinance was an assault on well-established real property rights and remedies. The RENT ordinance would have given renters more rights and remedies over landlords and property owners dictating how rental property is managed. The Keller Administration and Feibelkorn argued that the RENT Ordinance built on the requirements outlined in the state’s Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act. It did not. It expanded the rights of tenants to the detriment of property owner’s rights. It would have increased the rules and regulations for landlords, prohibit what was defined as hidden fees, mandate terms in the lease contracts, and mandate maintenance of rental properties over and above what is required by law. Requiring more of property owners and landlords and less of tenants amounts to interference with property contract rights and obligations.

https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/news/city-introduces-renters-bill-of-rights-to-protect-tenants

The RENT ordinance failed in committee on a 2 to 3 vote with Progressive Democrats Tammy Fiebelkorn and Nichole Rogers voting “YES” and Republican Council President Brook Bassan, Renée Grout and Dan Champine voting “NO”. The committee then voted 3 to 2 to send the ordinance on to the full city council with a “DO NOT PASS” recommendation.

Simply put, there is no need for the RENT Ordinance. The NM Legislature’s enacted Uniform Owner-Resident Relations Act enumerates the duties, responsibilities, rights and remedies of both owners and tenants which are enforced by the Bernalillo County Metro Court. Requiring more of property owners and landlords and less of tenants amounts to interference with property rights and contract rights and obligations between tenants and property owners.

The proposed RENT ordinance was too burdensome and constituted classic government overreaching. The RENT Ordinance is a clear interference with the operation and management of rental properties and it would have a detrimental impact on the rental industry. It would have had the unintended consequence of increasing already high rents as property owners and landlords scrambled to take repeated steps to implement and comply with the ordinance each and ever time a new lease was negotiated or renewed.

RESIDENTIAL RENTAL PERMIT ORDINANCE

Fiebelkorn sponsored the “Residential Rental Ordinance” which provided that “No person shall operate any residential rental property without a Residential Rental Property Permit (RRPP) from the City of Albuquerque”. The city has never required real property owners to secure a permit to rent their residential properties. This would have included owners who owned one single rental home.

The ordinance would have created a new permitting process for all rental units which would include various annual fees for landlords and property owners paid to the city. The permit ordinance imposed daunting disclosure requirements to the city that are a repetition of information contained in documents already on file and easily accessible or in the possession of the city, county and state government.

Requiring disclosure of lease contract information for tenants, property owners and landlords and basic details about each unit amounts to interference with private contract rights and privacy rights. The ordinance failed to be enacted by the city council. The resolution was an attempt to limit and place caps on ownership of short term rentals and enact regulations of the “bed and breakfast” rental industry in the city. It was an effort to force properties to be sold for sale as effort to increase affordable housing.

KELLER’S “HOUSING FORWARD ABQ PLAN”

It was on October 18, 2022, that Mayor Tim Keller announced his “Housing Forward ABQ Plan”. Feibelkorn became the biggest supporter and sponsor of “Housing Forward ABQ Plan” legislation going so far as to appear next to Keller during news conferences to announce his initiatives. It is a “multifaceted initiative” where Keller set the goal of adding 5,000 new housing units across the city by 2025 above and beyond what private industry normally creates each year.

According to Keller and Feibelkorn, the city is in a major “housing crisis” and the city needs between 13,000 and 30,000 new housing units. To add the 5,000 new housing units, Keller proposed that the City of Albuquerque fund and be involved with the construction of new low-income housing. The “Housing Forward ABQ Plan” includes the strategy of “motel conversions” where the city buys existing motels or commercial office space and converts them into low-income housing. It included allowing both “casitas” and duplex additions on existing residential properties.

City officials have said that 68% of the city’s existing housing is single-family detached homes with 120,000 existing residential lots with already built residences. Amendments to the city’s zoning laws would have allowed one “casita” and one “accessory dwelling” unit on all built out lots which could double density to 240,000 housing units or triple density to 360,000 housing units.’

City Councilor Fiebelkorn did not attend a single one of the 5 public meetings sponsored by the Keller Administration on Mayor Keller’s Housing Forward ABQ Plan. Fiebelkorn simply ignored the strong hostility and opposition expressed by hundreds who attended the Housing Forward ABQ Plan meetings

Fiebelkorn supported and voted for major amendments to the city’s zoning laws in Kellers “Housing Forward ABQ Plan” that would have allowed the development of both “casitas” and “duplexes” in all existing residential developments and areas of town as permissive uses eliminating historic appeal rights of adjoining property owners in order to double or triple the city’s density. All the amendments to the city zoning laws Fiebelkorn voted for favored developers at the expense of homeowners and especially historical areas of the city.

OPT IN ZONING LEGISLATION

City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn sponsored R 25-167 which was the “opted in” zoning law ordinance to create a voluntary rezoning process that would let property owners switch to higher-density zoning if they want to build more housing on their residential properties. The Planning Department would have had very broad authority to increase density with adjoining property owners having no rights to object. It would have allow duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods to increase density.

Feibelkorn proclaimed the “opted in” zoning law would increase affordable housing. It would not have. Feibelkorn has a “Field of Dreams” zoning philosophy of “if we rezone it, they will build it,” ignoring adjacent property owner rights, favoring developers and investors. Feibelkorn “opt-in” zoning ordinance was clearly “overkill” that would affect all quadrants of the city favoring developers and investors. It would have destroyed the character of established neighborhoods and lead to gentrification. It would have been developers and investors on the prowl who will purchase existing homes for the development of duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods.

OPPOSED “PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ORDINANCE”

The city council voted 7-2 to enact the amended “Pedestrian Safety Ordinance” which specifically bars individuals from standing in or entering street and highway travel lanes unless they are “legally crossing.” The original ordinance was challenged in court by the ACLU as being too broad violating first amendment rights and it was declared unconstitutional. The ordinance was amended so as not to violate the constitution and was again enacted by the city out of public safety concerns for drivers and panhandles. It has no provision prohibiting drivers from giving handouts.

The new ordinance specifically bars individuals from standing in or entering street and highway travel lanes unless they are “legally crossing.” It also prohibits using or occupying medians on 30 mph or faster roads where there is not a flat surface of at least 4 feet wide having no greater than 8% grade. A city council legislative analysis determined that the ordinance will affect just over 17% of the linear feet of higher-speed arterial roadway medians across Albuquerque. Nonetheless, these are the medians on roadways with the highest traffic flows and highly visible to the driving public. In other words 83% of medians in the city will be available for constitutionally protected free speech activities.

In voting NO to enact the “PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ORDINANCE” Fiebelkorn said this:

“I’ve been an activist for 44 years. … When I’m protesting something or holding up a political sign, it matters where you are. I don’t want to have a political sign three blocks from where I wanted to have it.”

RUBBERSTAMPING FUNDING FOR THE UNHOUSED

The Point-In-Time (PIT) count is the annual process of identifying and counting individuals and families experiencing sheltered and unsheltered homelessness within a community on a single night in January, as defined by the U.S. Housing and Urban Development Department (HUD). HUD requires any community receiving funding from Federal homeless assistance grants to conduct the biennial counts.

Total number of PEOPLE counted during the Albuquerque Point-in-Time counts from 2019 to 2024 are as follows for each year:

2019: 1,524
2021: 1,567
2022: 1,311
2023: 2,394
2024: 2,740

The 2024 Point In Time homeless survey found an 18% increase in Albuquerque’s homeless numbers. The PIT survey identified 2,740 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,231 on the streets, 1,289 in emergency shelters and 220 in transitional housing. The HHH Department’s fiscal year 2026 budget performance measures report emergency unsheltered as 6,103 in 2023, 7,420 in 2024, 7,257 targeted in 2025 and 8,439 targeted in 2026.

During the last four years of Feibelkorn’s tenure as a city councilor, the city has spent upwards of $300 million on homeless shelters, programs and purchasing and remodeling motels for low-income housing. What sticks out is the staggering amount of money of $300 Million already spent and upwards of $60 Million a year being spent to try and provide assistance to so few, estimated to be between 3,000 to 5,000 unhoused, with upwards of 75% refusing services. There has got to a better way than just throwing money at the problem. There must be far more oversight by the City Council than just rubber-stamping what Mayor Keller asks for and wants.

During her entire term on the City Council, Tammy Feibelkorn has rubber stamped any and all funding Mayor Keller has asked from the city council and has never questioned the funding for the unhoused services and shelters. Feibelkorn has never demanded accounting nor questioned the effectiveness of Keller’s initiative to deal with the unhoused crisis.

GREEN STORMWATER INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT

City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn is the major proponent of the Green Stormwater Infrastructure (GSI) “pilot project” in District 7 that proposes to “retrofit” older neighborhoods with a destructive burden strenuously opposed to by area residents. GSI involves extensive excavations of streets the city claims are needed to capture stormwater and infiltrate it to groundwater. Opponents say it won’t and that studies show the bio swales need to be located above the water table within 5 to 18 feet. The water table is too far down for this to work yet millions will be spent.

ALB Journal Poll: 92% Somewhat Or Very Concerned About Homeless; 76% Very Concerned About Homeless; 63% Say City Is Doing Poor Or Very Poor Job Addressing Homeless; ABQ Is NM’s Capitol For Unhoused Under Mayor Tim Keller; City Needs A New Mayor, New Approach To Deal With Unhoused Crisis

Posted on October 6, 2025 by Pete Dinelli

On October 2, the Albuquerque Journal published on its front page, below the fold, a truly remarkable and revealing report on a poll the paper commissioned with Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc whose President is Brian Sanderoff. Research & Polling Inc is the exclusive polling company for the Albuquerque Journal. For at least the 40 past years, it has polled in New Mexico political races and it is considered the “gold standard” and one of the four top politcal pollsters in the country for is history of accuracy.

The Journal headline was “Majority of voters think the city is doing a poor job of handling homeless”. The article was written by Journal staff reporter Cathy Cook. The article reads in pertinent part as follows:

“Albuquerque voters are more concerned about homelessness than four years ago, and the vast majority do not think the city is doing a good job addressing homelessness, a new Journal poll found.

Of likely and proven voters, 63% think the city is doing a poor or very poor job addressing homelessness, 30% a fair job and only 7% a good or excellent job. That perspective does not vary much across gender, ethnic or educational lines.

Republicans and conservatives feel more negatively about how the city is addressing homelessness than liberals or Democrats.

…

The only surveyed group where more than 50% of people thought the city was doing a fair, good or excellent job addressing homelessness were people who approve of how Mayor Tim Keller is handling his job as mayor. Within that group, 60% thought the city was doing a fair, good or excellent job, while 40% thought the city was doing a poor or very poor job addressing homelessness.

Keller has launched multiple initiatives to address homelessness during his tenure, the most recent a 0% interest loan program to help low-income homeowners make repairs. But if people see homelessness on their way to and from work, “they’re going to assess that little has been done and slam the city government’s performance,” Sanderoff said.

Homelessness in Albuquerque more than doubled from 2022 to 2024, according to the 2024 Point in Time Count, and voter concern about homelessness has also increased since 2021, the poll found.

Overall, 76% of proven and likely Albuquerque voters said they are very concerned about homelessness, compared with 64% when the same question was polled four years ago. The most recent poll found 92% of voters were somewhat or very concerned about homelessness.

…

The Journal line of questioning and the poll data was reported in the form of pie graphs:

OVERALL, HOW DO YOU FEEL THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS CURRENTLY ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS?

VERY POOR: 31%
POOR: 32%
FAIR: 30%
GOOD: 6%
EXCELLENT: 1%

BASE ON POLITICAL PARTY AFFILIATION, HOW DO YOU FEEL THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS CURRENTLY ADDRESSING THE ISSUE OF HOMELESSNESS?

EXCELLENT/GOOD:

DEMOCRAT: 10%
REPUBLCAN: 3%
INDEPENDENT 7%

FAIR:

DEMOCRAT: 40%
REPUBLCAN: 14%
INDEPENDENT 7%

POOR:/VERY POOR:

DEMOCRAT: 51%
REPUBLCAN: 81%
INDEPENDENT 63%

The link to read the full article with images and pie graphs is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_aad71965-565b-4c2f-99a1-c1de44e70a22.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

Ever since being elected Mayor the first time in 2017, Mayor Tim Keller has made dealing with the city’s homeless crisis his first or second major priority of his administration with reducing crime competing at the same time with the unhoused crisis. This blog article is a deep dive into the numbers of the unhoused, the 5 integrated shelter system known as the Gateway system that Mayor Keller has created, and the city’s and state’s financial commitment to deal with the unhoused. Mayor Tim Keller is now seeking a third 4 year term. The ultimate question that must be answered by voters is “Has Mayor Keller made any difference when dealing with the unhoused crisis?”

CITY AND STATE UNHOUSED NUMBERS

The 2024 Point In Time Survey provides a comprehensive breakdown of the unhoused in Albuquerque and the balance of the state. The link to review the entire 62-page 2024 PIT report is here:

Click to access ad7ad8_4e2a2906787e4ca19853b9c7945a4dc9.pdf

ALBUQUERQUE UNSHELTERED DATA BREAKDOWN

The 2024 Point In Time raw data breakdown of Albuquerque’s homeless is as follows:

HOUSEHOLDS COUNTED IN ALBUQUERQUE

The total count of HOUSEHOLDS experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque on January 29, 2024 was 2,248. (Households include those with or without children or only children.) The breakdown is as follows:

Emergency Shelters: 1,018
Transitional Housing: 174
Unsheltered: 1,056

TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS: 2,248

PERSONS COUNTED IN ALBUQUERQUE

The total count of PERSONS experiencing homelessness in Albuquerque on was 2,740 broken down in 3 categories.

Emergency Shelters: 1,289
Transitional Housing: 220
Unsheltered: 1,231

TOTAL PERSONS: 2,740

ALBUQUERQUE’S 2009 TO 2024 STATISTICS

Total number of PEOPLE counted during the Albuquerque Point-in-Time counts from 2009 to 2024 to establish a graphic trend line for the period are as follows:

2009: 2,002
2011: 1,639
2013: 1,171
2015: 1,287
2017: 1,318
2019: 1,524
2021: 1,567
2022: 1,311
2023: 2,394
2024: 2,740

The 2024 Point In Time homeless survey found an 18% increase in Albuquerque’s homeless numbers. The PIT survey identified 2,740 people experiencing homelessness, including 1,231 on the streets, 1,289 in emergency shelters and 220 in transitional housing. The HHH Department’s fiscal year 2026 budget performance measures report emergency unsheltered as 6,103 in 2023, 7,420 in 2024, 7,257 targeted in 2025 and 8,439 targeted in 2026.

BALANCE OF STATE UNSHELTERED DATA BREAKDOWN

The 2024 PIT survey provides the estimated number of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in the Balance of State. (Households include those with or without children or only children.)

HOUSEHOLDS COUNTED IN BALANCE OF THE STATE

The total count of HOUSEHOLDS experiencing homelessness in the Balance of State on January 29, 2024 was 1,547 broken down as follows:

Emergency Shelters: 587
Transitional Housing: 76
Unsheltered: 884

TOTAL HOUSEHOLDS: 1,547

INDIVIDUALS COUNTED IN BALANCE OF STATE

The total count of PERSONS experiencing homelessness in the Balance of the State on January 29, 2024, was 1,909 broken down as follows:

Emergency Shelters: 746
Transitional Housing: 156
Unsheltered: 1,011

TOTAL PERSONS: 1,909

BALANCE OF THE STATE 2009 TO 2023 STATISTICS

Following are the number of unsheltered people counted in the BALANCE OF THE STATE for the odd number years 2009-2023 and 2024 to establish a graphic trend line:

2009: 1,473
2011: 1,962
2013: 1,648
2015: 1,342
2017: 1,164
2019: 1,717
2021: 1,180
2022: 1,283
2023: 1,448
2024: 1,907

GATEWAY NETWORK OF FIVE SHELTERS

For the last 8 years, Mayor Tim Keller has taken an aggressive approach to trying to address homelessness, behavioral health, and addiction treatment. Over the past four years, the Keller Administration has taken steps to build a network of support shelters for the unhoused called the Gateway Network System. Mayor Keller’s reelection TV ads proclaims his administration is providing shelter and services to more than 1,000 men, women, and children nightly through the Gateway Network.

The Gateway Network consists of 5 shelters costing a staggering $300 Million dollars spent over the last 4 years to assist upwards of 3,000 to 5,000 unhoused. The City has become New Mexico’s de facto “homeless capitol” providing shelter and services to the homeless for all communities throughout New Mexico. The problem is that the City and the State’s unhoused numbers are getting worse and not any better after spending millions.

The Gateway Network of support for people struggling with homelessness and addiction consists of the following:

Gateway Center– Campus providing medical, behavioral, and social services including overnight beds, first responder intake, medical sobering and respite.
Gateway West – Safe, supportive 660-bed facility for individuals experiencing homelessness, offering specialized resources and case management. (Annual Impact: 5,700 Individuals. Open 24/7 Since 2019)
Gateway Family – Supportive housing center for families with overnight beds, meals, and case management to help achieve stable housing. (Annual Impact: 987 Individuals Open Since 2020.
Gateway Recovery– 50-resident micro-community offering low-barrier beds, recovery services, and support for 18 – 24 months. Annual projected Impact: 50 – 100. Opening Early 2025
Gateway Young Adult – Housing and support for young adults ages 15-25 experiencing homelessness, tailored to their unique needs. (Annual projected Impact: 120 Individuals. Opening Late 2025.)

The Gateway Center Houses Critical Services And Seven Tenants.

The services provided are:

First Responder Receiving Area – 20 people/night
Medical Sobering Center – 50 people/night
Medical Respite Center – 50 people/night
Women’s Navigation Center – 50 people/night plus additional 50 coming on line
Men’s Navigation Center – 92 people/night with the beds coming on line
Engagement Center – providing connection/access services to more than 1,000 people per year

The Tenants are:

Turquoise Lodge Behavioral Hospital
Haven Behavioral Hospital
Ideal Option Substance Use Disorder Treatment
AMG Hospital
National Alliance on Mental Illness
Vizionz-Sankofa Resource Center
Albuquerque Community Safety – Trauma Recovery Center

The two biggest shelters are the Gibson Gateway and the Gateway West. The Loveless Gibson Medical Center was purchased for $15 million, and the city has spent upwards of $90 million to renovate it. Gateway West provides 450 beds and Gibson Gateway when remodeling is completed is intended to assist upwards of 1,000 homeless and accommodate at least 330 nightly.

STATE DEDICATED FUNDING

During the 2024 and the 2025 legislative sessions, the New Mexico Legislature dedicated more than $300 million to various housing-related measures to different agencies, including revolving loans for builders, down-payment assistance and anti-homelessness programs. The figure includes $140 million lawmakers approved this session.

The Legislature specifically earmarked $110 million in this year’s $10.8 billion budget bill for homelessness assistance programs and affordable housing statewide. That came after lawmakers appropriated more than $20 million for such programs in the previous year. $83 Million of the $140 Million lawmakers approved in the 2025 legislative session is earmarked for projects in the Albuquerque area for the unhoused and housing.

On August 26, City, Bernalillo County and State Officials held a press conference to announce that $60 million of the $80 million will be allocated for homelessness and housing projects in Albuquerque. The $80 Million will be dedicated to trying to get 1,000 unhoused people off the streets by July, 2026.

The roughly $80 million will fund 10 projects in Albuquerque, including seven affordable housing developments and expansions to homelessness facilities and programs. Of the millions in funding, 23% will benefit homelessness projects, including prevention, and 77% will go toward housing.

CITY’S FINANCIAL COMMITMENT TO HOMELESS

In the last three years, the city has spent upwards of $300 million on homeless shelters, programs and purchasing and remodeling motels for low-income housing. In 2021, the city acquired the Lovelace Hospital complex on Gibson for $15 million and has spent upwards of $90 million to remodel it into the Gateway shelter.

In fiscal year 2021-2022, the Family Community Services Department spent $35 million on homeless initiatives. In fiscal year 2022-2023 the department spent another $59 million on homeless initiatives. On June 23, 2022, Keller announced that the city was adding $48 million to the fiscal year 2023 budget to address housing and homelessness issues in Albuquerque.

The fiscal year 2026 approved General Fund budget for the Health, Housing and Homelessness Department is $53.3 million. The sum includes $48 million for strategic support, health and human services, affordable housing, mental health services, emergency shelter services, homeless support services, shelter operations, substance abuse services and $4.2 million for the Gibson Gateway maintenance division.

The fiscal year 2026 approved General Fund budget contains funding for 116 separate services contracts totaling $53.7 million to pay for services provided to the unhoused:

$30.4 million for 32 affordable housing contracts.
$6.3 million for 12 emergency shelter contracts.
$2 million for 16 health and human service contracts.
$5.7 million for 29 homeless support service contracts.
$3.8 million for five Gateway Shelter operating contracts.
$2.2 million for 11 mental health service contracts.
$2.6 million for 11 substance abuse treatment contracts.

NEW FUNDING FOR MORE SHELTER BEDS

According to the city there are currently 1,176 shelter beds in Albuquerque, 807 of which are at the Gateway shelters.

On September 3, the Albuquerque City Council approved two contracts for women’s and men’s services each worth $3.6 million a year. A separate $2.3 million contract to open a 41-bed shelter for young adults won unanimous support.

The approved contract funding will be used to add 141 more beds to the Gateway system of 5 homeless shelters. The last time the Gateway System of shelters was expanded was in 2023 when the first 50 women’s shelter beds opened at the Housing Navigation Center. The new contracts will boost bed capacity for both women and men. The young adult shelter will convert a former hotel into housing for 18 to 25-year-olds, many of whom aged out of foster care. The 141 new shelter beds will serve a population of 2,740 homeless residents that includes people sent from communities across the state.

$3.6 million in funding will be used for operating the Housing Navigation Shelter at the Gateway Center at Gibson and San Mateo SE. Most of the funds will go to staffing, which includes intake specialists, housing support specialists, community outreach personnel and shuttle bus drivers. The funds will also pay for contracted services like security and cleaning, as well as physical supplies.

According to government officials, in Bernalillo County many of the people living on the streets are young, including an estimated 1,200 to 2,300 people between the ages of 15 and 25, according to a 2022 needs assessment. Many of those young people are fleeing domestic violence at home or have aged out of the foster care system, according to the assessment.

The City Council also unanimously approved a $2.3 million operating contract with Youth Development Inc., the operator of a young adult housing program that will house 41 people aged 18-25 who are experiencing homelessness. YDI currently runs the city’s Gateway Family shelter. Gateway Young Adult Shelter will be located at the former La Quinta hotel at San Mateo and Cutler that is currently being renovated. The per-bed operation cost for the youth shelter is more than $56,000.

The expanded shelters will offer case management as well as treatment for mental health and addiction, with the ultimate goal of transitioning people into more stable living situations. The new beds are expected to be made available in the coming months after the operators recruit and train staff.

On September 15, the City Council approved a separate $21.8 million state funding package. The new funding carries strict oversight rules by the state.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_42aba680-62c4-4228-95a2-da72df1a34e1.html

https://citydesk.org/2025/09/10/albuquerque-becomes-new-mexicos-homeless-hub-as-gateway-contracts-add-100-beds/?mc_cid=b9e7b25ad7&mc_eid=001367acf1

CITY IS DE FACTO HOMELESS SERVICE “HUB” TO COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT STATE

On September 3, after voting to approve the contracts, Democrat City Councilor Joaquín Baca said this:

“It’s really well known at this point. A lot of the small towns send their unhoused populations here; we have the services they don’t. …. I think we should get annual appropriations from the state, [because] we’re helping them. How much? That’s an open question. … We should get annual appropriations from the state like they should be. We’re helping them, right?”

The financial strain of serving as the state’s homeless service hub is drawing attention from state lawmakers. In a May 30 letter to Mayor Tim Keller, State Rep. Nicole Chavez (R-Albuquerque) said the city receives a disproportionate share of state homeless funding because of “the concentration of need in the city.”

Representative Chavez noted that the New Mexico legislature allocated nearly $25 million for homeless initiatives this fiscal year, with $19.7 million for statewide programs and $5 million for local projects. “It is reasonable to assume a significant portion will be directed towards Albuquerque” she wrote.

Chavez also raised concern that “despite these substantial investments … the number of individuals living on the streets in Albuquerque continues to rise” and she requested a detailed accounting of the city’s homeless programs.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It should come as absolutely no surprise that the Albuquerque Journal poll revealed so much dissatisfaction with how Mayor Tim Keller and his Administration has dealt with the homeless during the last 8 years. Simply put, voters are sick and tired of seeing everywhere daily the unhouse on our streets, intersections, sidewalks, neighborhoods, finding them in front yards and in parks and seeing the devastating effects of illicit drug abuse and mental illness. The perception is that the crisis has only gotten worse under Mayor Tim Keller despite the millions he has spent to deal with the crisis. The blunt truth is the unhoused crisis has gotten worse because of Mayor Keller’s policies.

What sticks out is the staggering amount of money of $300 Million already spent and upwards of $60 Million a year being spent to try and provide assistance to so few, estimated to be between 3,000 to 5,000 unhoused, with upwards of 75% refusing services. There has got to be a better way than just throwing money at the problem. There must be far more oversight by the City Council than just rubber-stamping what Mayor Keller asks for and wants.

The reality is Albuquerque is now New Mexico’s hub for homeless service referrals throughout the state thanks to Mayor Keller’s 5 shelters and Albuquerque City Council acquiescence. The City is managing the homeless who are from far beyond the city’s borders. The problem is that the City and the State’s unhoused numbers are getting worse and not better after spending millions.

A 2025 report by the city found 30% of individuals experiencing homelessness self report having a serious mental illness, 25% self report having a substance use disorder and around 66% experience some form of mental health condition. The biggest problem is that upwards of 75% of the chronic, emergency unhoused simply refuse city services, yet the city continues with spending millions a year to benefit so few that need assistance.

CIVIL MENTAL HEALTH COMMITMENTS

Civil mental health commitment hearings are in order for those unhoused who are a danger to themselves or others in order to get them into a hospital setting and get them the mental health treatment or counseling they need and get them off the streets, but Mayor Keller is reluctant to do that preferring a more subdued approach of “you can’t camp here so move along”.

During the 2025 regular session of the New Mexico legislature, the legislature enacted what was referred to as the Omnibus Crime Package. It included 6 bills, one of which is the criminal competency legislation. It specifically requires that competency evaluators determine whether defendants are dangerous to themselves or others. After a competency hearing, and if a defendant is found not to be competent, a judge then decides whether the defendant poses a threat. Based on that determination, a defendant is either ordered to attend an assisted outpatient treatment program or sent to the state Behavioral Health Institute in Las Vegas, New Mexico.

The enacted Omnibus Crime Package gives prosecutors more options to involuntarily commit people into a locked psychiatric facility if they are found to be dangerous to themselves or others and unable to stand trial. When a court determines that a defendant is not competent to proceed in a criminal case the court determines if the defendant is dangerous. A defendant who is not competent is dangerous if the court finds by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant presents a serious threat to themselves or others. It is likely that the Albuquerque Police Department and the city Community Safety Department actually know who the “frequent flyers” are and who needs to be taken immediately off the streets. Both departments could assist the District Attorney or the City Attorney with civil mental health commitments of the unhoused.

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court’s has what is known as the “Outreach Court”. It was previously known as “Homeless Court”. The court provides people who are unhoused with the opportunity to resolve pending misdemeanor cases, outstanding warrants and unpaid fines, all of which can pose barriers to housing and employment opportunities and hinder progress toward self-sufficiency.

During the recent Special Session of the New Mexico legislature that ended on October 2, the legislature enacted legislation which will allow the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court to determine competency which previously required district court involvement. A recent report by the New Mexico Justice Reinvestment Working Group found that 65% of individuals who enter the state’s criminal justice system have a behavioral health need and the criminal justice system cannot provide necessary medical treatment and facilities.

KELLER’S “All THE ABOVE APPROACH” TO DEAL WITH UNHOUSED

Mayor Tim Keller has taken an “all the above approach” to deal with the city’s unhoused, but he de facto excludes the court’s, and his approach is a failure. Keller has allowed the unhoused to proliferate city streets, parks and open spaces declining to enforce city and state vagrancy laws and make arrests. The problem is the chronic unhoused refuse to accept city services as Keller continues to throw city resources at the crisis and not accomplishing much. Mayor Tim Keller has essentially proclaimed the unhoused as “wards of the city.”

Mayor Keller’s approach is not sustainable. In a real sense its been more of a failure than a success benefiting the contract providers as opposed to the unhoused. The responsibility to help the unhoused must be undertaken by the state or federal government and the courts. The millions spent to help the unhoused with many refusing services would have gone a long way to finance community centers, senior citizen centers, police and fire substations, preschool or after school programs, senior citizen programs, and police and fire programs.

Mayor Keller is throwing millions at temporary shelter as he fails to make a dent on the underlying causes of crime, mental health and drug addiction. Given the numbers in the 2024 PIT report and the millions being spent on the homeless crisis it should be manageable. Yet the crisis only gets worse and worse each year and it is a continuing major drain on city resources.

During the past few years, the unhoused have become far more dispersed throughout the city thanks to Mayor Tim Keller. The unhoused are more aggressive, camping where they want and for how long as they want. Unhoused who have no interest in any offers of shelter, beds, motel vouchers or alternatives to living on the street force the city to make it totally inconvenient for them to “squat” anywhere they want and must force them to move on.

After repeated attempts to reason with them to move on, citations and arrests are in order and they need to be brought into the court system with civil mental health commitments. Until the problem is solved, the public perception will be that very little to no progress has been made despite millions spent to deal with what Keller proclaims as the “challenge of our lifetime.”

Mayor Tim Keller is seeking a third four-year term as Mayor. There is very little doubt that he will continue with his policies dealing with the unhoused and an unsustainable black hole of expenditures if he is elected to a third 4 year term.

At the beginning of the article, the question asked was “Has Mayor Tim Keller made any difference when dealing with the unhoused crisis in Albuquerque? “ The succinct and final answer is NO! Keller has only made things worse, the city’s unhoused numbers continue to rise and Keller’s approach has made Albuquerque the hub for the state to provide shelter and services to the unhoused. Sant Fe is the capital of New Mexico. Albuquerque is the State’s capitol for the unhoused and the Gateway Center on Gibson is its capitol. The city needs a new Mayor with a far different approach than just throwing money at the crisis. Simply put, we need to elect a new Mayor on November 4. Early voting begins on October 18 and will end 3 days before election day November 4.

___________________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

POLL METHODOLOGY

The Journal poll was conducted September 19 through September 26. The voter sample size of 514 has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.4 percentage points. The margin of error grows for subsamples.

“The Journal Poll is based on a random sample of 514 voters who cast ballots in the 2021 and/or 2023 local government election, and a sample of adults who registered to vote since January 2024 and who said they are likely to vote in the upcoming local government election.

To ensure a representative sample, Research & Polling Inc. sets quotas for race, gender and age, and weights by education level and party affiliation, if necessary, based on traditional voting patterns in local government elections. All interviews were conducted by live, professional interviewers, based in Albuquerque, with multiple callbacks to individuals that did not initially answer the phone. Both cellphone numbers (96%) and landlines (4%) of likely voters were used.”

The link to read the full article with images and pie graphs is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_aad71965-565b-4c2f-99a1-c1de44e70a22.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

NEWS AND COMMENTARY

Author Archives: Pete Dinelli

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