On Wednesday September 13, 2017 early voting began in the Albuquerque mayoral and city council elections.

There are 12 early voting locations and they will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. from September 13, 2017 to September 29, 2017.

There are eight mayoral candidates and the candidates are as follows:

• Former state Democratic Party Chairman and private attorney Brian Colón.
• Republican Bernalillo County Commissioner Wayne Johnson.
• Republican Ricardo Chaves and founder of Parking Company of America.
• Democrat Augustus “Gus” Pedrotty, recent UNM graduate.
• Independent Susan Wheeler-Deichsel and founder of the civic group Urban ABQ.
• Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis.
• Democrat first term New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller.
• Independent Michelle Garcia Holmes, a retired Albuquerque police detective.

There are five City Council seats that are on the ballot and they are as follows:

City Council District 1:
1. Three term Incumbent Democratic City Councilor Ken Sanchez, accountant. (Secured public financing)
2. Progressive Democrat Javier Benavidez, co-director of Southwest Organizing Project. (Secured public financing)
3. Independent Sandra Mills, Albuquerque native and retired IBM employee. (Private financed)
4. Independent Johnny F. Luevano, retired Marine Captain and Presbyterian Health plan employee. (Secured public financed).

City Council District 3:

1. First term Incumbent Democrat City Councilor Klarissa Pena (Secured public financing)
2. Democrat Christopher Sedillo, Albuquerque native, retired from navy after 26 years having served as a navy paratrooper and numerous tours of duty in Iraq, Kuwait, Persian Gulf and Viet Nam. (Private financed candidate)

City Council District 5:

1. Republican Robert Aragon, private attorney, NM Board of Finance member. (Private financed cnadidate)
2. Democrat Cynthia Borrego, retired city planner. (Secured public financing)
4. Independent Catherine Trujillo, provider of workforce placement. (Private financed)
City Council District 7:
1. First term Democrat incumbent Diane Gibson, retired Sandia National Laboratories employee. (Secured public finance)
2. Republican Eric L. Lucero, retired New Mexico Army National Guard and Air Force. (Private financed)

City Council District 9:

1. Three term Republican Incumbent Don Harris, private attorney (Secured public finance)
2. Libertarian Paul Ryan McKenny, Air Force veteran, college student, (Private financed)
3. Democrat Byron K. Powdrell, Albuquerque native and general manager of radio station and Albuquerque native. (Private fianced)
The regular election will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2017 with polls open from 7:00 am to 7:00 pm.

Early voting is taking place at the following locations:

98th and Central (Bernalillo County Rental), 120 98th NW, Suite A5
City of Albuquerque Records Center, 604 Menaul NW, 87107
Office of the City Clerk, 600 2nd NW, 87102
Alamosa Community Center, 6900 Gonzales SW, 87121
North Domingo Baca Multigenerational Center, 7521 Carmel NE, 87113
Don Newton/Taylor Ranch Community Center, 4900 Kachina NW, 87120
Petroglyph Plaza, 8201 Golf Course NW, Suite D1, 87120
Cesar Chavez Community Center, 7505 Kathryn SE, 87108
Los Altos Plaza, 4200 Wyoming NE, 87111
Daskalos Plaza, 5339 Menaul NE, 87110
Caracol Plaza, 12500 Montgomery NE, 87111
Manzano Mesa Multigenerational Center, 501 Elizabeth SE, 87123
To vote in a city election you will need a photo identification (ID).

Acceptable IDs include:

* Government-issued card containing the voter’s name and photo
* Driver’s license
* Student identification card
* Credit or debit card
* Insurance card
* Union membership card
* Professional association card
* City Clerk-issued identification
* Other membership cards with the voter’s name and photo

I encourage everyone to get out and vote for the candidate of your choice.

Also on the ballot is the mandatory sick leave ordinance as well as increasing public financing for candidates for Mayor from the current $380,000 to $630,000.

Thank you, Albuquerque Journal, for publishing my guest editorial column “Nonpartisan mayoral election is a farce; The reality is that partisanship rules for mayor and city council” (See September 12, 2017 Albuquerque Journal, page A-13).

Following is my published guest editorial column:

To say Albuquerque has a form of “nonpartisan” municipal government is a farce when it comes to reality and how the Mayor acts and the city council really works and votes.

The New Mexico Constitution provides that all municipal elections be nonpartisan and that is why it is in our city charter and not because the framers of our city charter thought it was a great idea.

Albuquerque’s municipal elections are held in odd number years and voter turnouts are miserably low like four years ago when voter turnout was 19% of registered voters.

It is important that Albuquerque City Councilors cooperate with each other and the Mayor as I did when I was on the city council but there are indeed limits to cooperation.

As a City Councilor, I worked and cooperated with the entire city council and Mayor when it came to issues like passage of the quality of life tax, passage of the vehicle emissions program and the creation of the Independent Council Office to review citizen complaints against APD and the creation of the Internal Audit Department.

However, there is a significant difference between cooperating and working with other elected officials from the opposite party and being hypocritical and going against your own basic political philosophy of what you believe to be true and what you stand for as an elected official.

What I am sick of are Democrats trying to act and talk like Republicans, and Republicans trying to act like Democrats, especially after they get elected to positions like Mayor and City Council and arguing that they are being “nonpartisan”.

City issues many times are partisan such as minimum wage, the mandatory sick leave initiative, public financed elections, late term abortions, equal pay for woman, sanctuary city and marriage equality.

I was criticized for running as a Democrat for Mayor and told by many Democratic Party officials they would not help because the race was non-partisan.

The Republican Party has been extremely involved in Albuquerque’s nonpartisan elections.

For the last 8 years, we have had the most partisan Mayor in Albuquerque history especially when the Republicans controlled the City Council by a 6 to 3 margin four years ago.

During his time in office, Mayor Berry appointed numerous Republican political operatives to six figure plus salaried positions with contacts to Republican Governor Martinez and Jay Mc Clusky and good examples include Republicans Darren White appointed Chief Public Safety Officer, Rob Perry appointed Chief Administrative Officer and Gordon Eden appointed APD Chief.

When Mayor Berry had the chance to appoint two city councilors to vacancies in predominantly Democrat seats, he chose to appoint two Republicans who later lost to Democrats.

For a supposedly nonpartisan race, Berry’s 2013 contributors list was top heavy with prominent Republican donors and players including the Republican National Committee.

The Republican Party is again getting involved in this year’s Mayors race by filing a complaint to investigate the only Democrat who qualified for public financing.

The press, especially the Albuquerque Journal, likes to point out party affiliations of candidates running for municipal office, even though the races are supposed to be non-partisan.

The first question that the Albuquerque Journal asks in their candidate questionnaire is what party affiliation are you?

What I have also seen over the years, and seeing today, are candidates, both Democrat and Republican, who are downplaying their party affiliation when running for municipal office to get votes and donations only to show their true colors once elected.

This happens especially in Council districts that are predominantly voters from the opposite party.

The New Mexico legislature needs to allow municipal elections to be conducted in the same year as federal and state elections and make them partisan to enhance voter turnout.

We need to be honest with our municipal elections and allow the City Clerk to print ballots with party affiliation of candidates for Mayor and City Council.

They say that timing in politics is everything.

It is being reported that Legacy Church Pastor Steve Smothermon issued and endorsement of Republican Dan Lewis for Mayor.

The endorsement comes the same day as early voting starts and exactly three weeks before the October 3, 2017 election for Mayor.

(See Albuquerque Journal “Pastor: Lewis won’t support homosexual agenda”)

https://www.abqjournal.com/1062574/pastor-lewis-wont-support-homosexual-agenda.html

Legacy Church has a membership of 20,000 and if they vote, could influence who gets in a runoff.

Legacy Church pastor Steve Smothermon’s endorsement comes with a caveat when he said:

“I wholeheartedly support Dan Lewis for mayor. He’s the one true believer in the race, and could never in anyway support the homosexual agenda. He will bring business to our city and he will reduce crime.”

Who is Smotherman to say who is a true believer?

It was Pope Francis who said “Who am I to judge?”

What is meant by the term “homosexual agenda” other than bigotry against someone who is born the way they are?

In the past, Smothermon has criticized Gov. Susana Martinez for appointing a gay man to the state Public Regulation Commission and he has previously taken issue with Mayor Richard Berry for signing a proclamation supporting the annual gay pride parade.

City hall insiders claimed eight (8) years ago that Smotherman and Berry had a dispute when Berry hired a gay man to work as a public information officer and who later left a few months after he was hired.

Dan Lewis is an ordained Baptist minister and said the nation is being ripped apart by divisive personal agenda politics, “driven mostly by the media,” something he said weakens us.

I guess the massacre of over 50 gay people at the “Pulse Bar” in Florida just a few years ago was “driven mostly by the media”.

I also recall that Dan Lewis has been nowhere to be found during Albuquerque’s gay pride parade, nor did he show up to give support to Albuquerque’s gay community during the many vigil’s that were held when the Pulse mass shooting occurred.

I think actions and how one treats people, not words, reflects people’s true philosophy.

Lewis was asked if he would hire a gay person in the mayor’s office if he wins or whether he would be open to signing a proclamation for the gay pride parade, Lewis said he would and said:

“As mayor, I would never refuse to hire someone for a job based on their sexual preference. Not only is it unconstitutional, it is just plain wrong to set such a condition to get a job”.

As a candidate for Mayor, Lewis should have said he does not accept endorsements with any conditions or caveats and should have said “thanks, but no thanks” to pastor Smotherman, but that no doubt would have alienated a large core of Dan Lewis’ constituency.

It’s been just over four (4) years that marriage equality was recognized by New Mexico Courts and a few years by the United States Supreme Court.

Baptist Minister Dan Lewis needs to be asked if he recognizes same sex marriage or if he still believes that marriage can only be between a man and a woman.

Baptist Minister Dan Lewis also needs to be asked if he would ever perform a same sex marriage and welcome gays into his congregation.

Will Mayor Lewis allow city facilities be used for same sex marriages?

It is never good to mix religion and politics.

The last thing we need is a Mayor who will take religion into consideration when forming policy for the city.

The Republican Party of New Mexico and Republican candidate for Mayor Wayne Johnson have filed complaints with the Board of Elections and Campaign Practices challenging the cash “in-kind” donations received by Tim Keller as being a violation of the public finance laws prohibiting Mr. Keller from soliciting any further cash donations after accepting public financing.

(See September 9, 2017 Albuquerque Journal, page A-1 “GOP seeks inquiry into Keller campaign; Critics question use of in-kind donations; campaign manager calls complaints frivolous)

At the heart of the allegations are that Tim Keller’s political consultants or manager solicited cash donations from donors and then reported those cash donations as “in kind” donations for goods and service to the campaign.

Charges of “laundering money contributions” are being made against Mr. Keller by the Republican Party and Republican candidate for Mayor Wayne Johnson that just may stick.

THOSE “IN KIND” CASH DONATIONS

The August 11, 2017 Tim Keller for Mayor finance reports reflect that $24,615 of “in kind” donations reflected in cash amounts were made to the Keller campaign.

Notable “in kind” cash donations to the Tim Keller campaign include:

Former New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish ($1,000) who ran for NM Governor with Brian Colon as her running mate for Lt. Governor, New Mexico State Senator Mimi Stewart ($200), John Badal ($1,000), Scott Goodman, Goodman Realty Group ($2,500), Art Gardenshwartz ($1,000), Paul Cochran ($5,000), Joinie Griffin, Griffin & Associates the firm handling the public relations for the ART bus project ($1,000), Adam Harrington, HB Construction ($1,000), IATSE Local 423 ($1,000), William Sabatini ($500), City of Albuquerque Union AFSME Council 18 ($220), APD Police Oversight Board member William Kass ($1,000), Sam Field (1,000), Caporale Consultants ($1,000), Jim Collie ($1,000), Jason Harrignton ($1,000), Debra McFarlan ($500), Virginia Scharff ($500), Polly Jackson ($500).

The September 8, 2017 finance report reflects $3,000 of “in kind” donations in cash amounts were made to the Tim Keller campaign which includes a single “in kind” donation of $2,500 from Ashley and Mathew Proctor.

Most of the checks for the “cash donations” were made out to the political consultant firm Rio Strategies, Mr. Keller’s longtime political consulting firm, but the finance reports list the purpose of the donations as “professional services” with no further explanations.

The cash donations were made after Mr. Keller qualified for public finance and after he was given $342,952 in taxpayer money to run his campaign.

What makes the “in-kind” donations to Mr. Keller’s campaign for “professional services” listed as “cash” donations troubling is that there is no definitive rule or regulation that it is improper, but the solicitation of such donations by Mr. Keller’s campaign manager at the very least undermines the intent and spirit of the public finance laws.

Channel 4 did a lengthy interview with Keller’s campaign manager where she was asked repeatedly about the propriety of the in-kind cash donations for “professional services” but she gave answers that were evasive and at best questionable.

http://www.kob.com/investigative-news/tim-keller-mayoral-campaign-manager-soliciting-monetary-donations-despite-public-financing-rules/4597420/

To compound the appearance of impropriety or wrongdoing during the TV interview, Keller’s longtime political consultant Alan Packman with Rio Strategies stood off to the side, unaware he was on camera, fidgeting and swaying back and forth and visibly upset by the line of questioning no doubt realizing the damage that was being done by the campaign manager.

PUBLIC FINANCE AND HOW IT WAS SPENT

To secure public financing from the city, Mr. Keller had to collect 3,802 $5.00 contributions to the city from registered Albuquerque voters and he collected 6,000 which was very impressive and a task he has every right to be proud of by anyone’s standards.

Upon being qualified for public financing, Mr. Keller agreed in writing to spending caps.

Mr. Keller by agreeing to public financing is strictly prohibited from soliciting and using donations from any other source to run for Mayor.

The July 14, 2017 Tim Keller Campaign Finance Report states that on April 3, 2017 the Keller campaign was given $342,952 by the City of Albuquerque in public financing.

The Keller for Mayor Campaign Finance Report filed on July 14, 2017 listed total expenditures of $130,863.63 with $101,978 paid to “Rio Strategies” for “staff salaries and campaign management” and paid $15,000 to “GBA Strategies” for “RESEARCH”, leaving a closing balance of $232,446.09.

The Keller for Mayor August 11, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $232,446 and the closing balance for the second reporting period is $227,229.88.

Mr. Keller is using the same political consulting firm “Rio Strategies” to run for Mayor that he used to run for State Auditor and paid $101,978 to “Rio Strategies” for “staff salaries and campaign management” to run for Mayor out of the $342,952 taxpayer money given to him to run his campaign for Mayor.

FAMILIARTY OF BIG MONEY AND CONSULTANTS IN POLITICS

Tim Keller is very familiar with big money in politics and the use of highly paid political consultants to run for political office.

Mr. Keller in his successful campaign for New Mexico State Auditor in 2014 received contributions of $487,276.66 and had expenditures of $545,372 according to the campaign finance reports filed with the New Mexico Secretary of State.

https://www.cfis.state.nm.us/media/CandidateCandidateList.aspx?es=17&fn=Tim&ln=Keller

Under the New Mexico Campaign Reporting Act, New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller is required to file “Reports of Expenditures and Contributions” biannually and report any contributions solicited and received in his capacity as New Mexico State Auditor.

According to campaign finance and expenditure reports filed in 2016, from January 20, 2016 to December 19, 2016, Mr. Keller paid political consulting firms “Rio Strategies” and “Full Arsenal Strategies” $53,311.30 in “consulting” fees and “retainers” with both firms associated with Mr. Keller’s longtime political consultant Alan Packman.

According to the New Mexico Secretary of State First Biannual “Report of Expenditures and Contributions” filed on April 10, 2017 for the reporting period, Mr. Keller had $22,665.00 total monetary contributions with total expenditures of $30,711.39 and paid $18,951 to his political consulting firms.

IT IS THE APPEARANCE OF IMPROPRIETY THAT LOOKS SO BAD

Tim Keller in his capacity as New Mexico State Auditor has been very public and has garnered extensive state-wide publicity as a government watchdog championing accountability and transparency when it comes to the collection and expenditure of taxpayer money by government agencies.

In his January announcement for Mayor, Tim Keller said “Let’s elect a Mayor without the big money we’ve come to expect in politics. That’s why we are running a community-driven, publicly financed campaign that fits the future of Albuquerque.”

Using high paid political consultants and paying them $101,978 of $342,952 of taxpayer money and spending another $15,000 of taxpayer money for research and polling is not necessarily running a community driven campaign.

It is the appearance of impropriety that looks so damaging coming from a New Mexico State Auditor that has earned a compelling reputation of holding people and government accountable for expending taxpayer money.

When Mr. Keller qualified for public financing, he agreed to a spending cap and agreed not to solicit any cash donations.

An audit can be performed by the city’s Campaign and Election Auditor which is provided for under the election code, rules and regulations to monitor all campaign disclosure statements, but three weeks before the election may not be enough time for a definitive ruling.

However, the damage has been done to the Keller campaign which was done by his own high paid political consultants.

CONCLUSION

The state Republican Party going after Tim Keller should not come as any surprise, except perhaps those who think Albuquerque municipal elections are nonpartisan.

Four years ago, I had to endure the incumbents $910,000 media campaign versus my $340,000 in public financing campaign all the while the Republican Party smeared me as much as they could while Republican operative Jay Mc Clusky managed the incumbents campaign and ran negative ads.

I was told by too many Democratic elected and party officials that it was a nonpartisan race and they would not help.

My biggest disappointment four years ago was that my own party did very little next to nothing to help my campaign, but that’s politics for you.

The question that remains to be answered is if the Democratic Party will do anything to defend Mr. Keller?

Mr. Keller now needs to decide if his longtime political consultants are worth the money he has paid them or if they have done more damage than good.

How Mr. Keller handles this controversy will go a long way in revealing what kind of Mayor he will be if elected.

If Mr. Keller does not make it into the runoff, I suspect he will know who to blame.

The third Campaign Finance Reports for Mayor of Albuquerque were filed on September 8, 2017 with the Albuquerque City Clerk for the reporting period of August 11, 2017 to September 7, 2017.

(See: https://www.cabq.gov/voting-elections/candidate-information/2017-mayoral-candidates)

There are (8) candidates running for Mayor.

If no candidate secures 50% or more of the vote, a runoff I will be held between the top voter getters, which is more likely than not given recent polling data.

There are seven (7) privately financed candidates, one (1) publicly financed candidate, and one (1) measured finance committee for the one publicly financed candidate.

There are three (3) weeks remaining until the October 3, 2017 municipal election.

TIM KELLER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

Democrat Tim Keller is the only “publicly finance” candidate for Mayor.

Upon being qualified for public financing, Mr. Keller agreed in writing to spending caps and he is strictly prohibited from soliciting and using donations from any other source to run his campaign for Mayor.

The July 14, 2017 Tim Keller Campaign Finance Report states that on April 3, 2017 the Keller campaign was given $342,952 by the City of Albuquerque in public financing.

The Keller September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $226,761.94, that $107,954.50 was spent and the closing balance for the third reporting period is $118,807.44.

The August 11, 2017 finance report reflects that $24,615 of “in kind” donations reflected in cash amounts were made to the Keller campaign and notable “in kind” cash donations for goods and services to the Tim Keller campaign include:

Former New Mexico Lt. Governor Diane Denish who ran for NM Governor with Brian Colon as her running mate for Lt. Governor, ($1,000), New Mexico State Senator Mimi Stewart ($200), John Badal ($1,000), Scott Goodman, Goodman Realty Group ($2,500), Art Gardenshwartz ($1,000), Paul Cochran ($5,000), Joinie Griffin, Griffin & Associates the firm handling the public relations for the ART bus project ($1,000), Adam Harrington, HB Construction ($1,000), IATSE Local 423 ($1,000), William Sabatini ($500), City of Albuquerque Union AFSME Council 18 ($220), APD Police Oversight Board member William Kass ($1,000), Sam Field (1,000), Caporale Consultants ($1,000), Jim Collie ($1,000), Jason Harrignton ($1,000), Debra McFarlan ($500), Virginia Scharff ($500), Polly Jackson ($500).

Notable expenditures for the Tim Keller campaign include $15,691 to PUTMAN PARTNERS of Washington, DC, for “MEDIA”, $88,371 to BUYING TIME of Washington, DC for “MEDIA” and $2,000 to CONCEPT FLUX of Albuquerque, New Mexico for Media.

It is interesting to note that on the campaign trail Mr. Keller has emphasized the importance of the City of Albuquerque to give priority to local businesses but his media work is being performed by Washington, DC firms.

If Mr. Keller gets into the runoff, his campaign will be given approximately $118,000 more in public finance funds.

The September 8, 2017 finance report reflects $3,000 of “in kind” donations in cash amounts were made to the Tim Keller campaign which includes a single “in kind” donation of $2,500 from Ashley and Mathew Proctor.

The Republican Party of New Mexico and Republican candidate for Mayor Wayne Johnson have filed complaints with the Board of Elections and Campaign Practices challenging the cash “in-kind” donations received by Mr. Keller as being a violation of the public finance laws prohibiting Mr. Keller from soliciting any further cash donations after accepting public financing.

(See September 9, 2017 Albuquerque Journal, page A-1 “GOP seeks inquiry into Keller campaign; Critics question use of in-kind donations; campaign manager calls complaints frivolous)

What makes the “in-kind” donations to Mr. Keller’s campaign for goods and services listed as “cash” donations troubling is that there is no definitive rule or regulation that it is improper, but the solicitation of such donations by Mr. Keller’s campaign manager at the very least undermines the intent and spirit of the public finance laws.

It is the appearance of impropriety that looks so damaging coming from a New Mexico State Auditor that has earned a compelling reputation of holding people and government accountable for expending taxpayer money.

When Mr. Keller qualified for public financing, he agreed to a spending cap and agreed not to solicit any cash donations.

An audit can be performed by the city’s Campaign and Election Auditor which is provided for under the election code, rules and regulations to monitor all campaign disclosure statements, but three weeks before the election may not be enough time for a definitive ruling.

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE

The state Republican Party going after Tim Keller should not come as any surprise because he is considered the front runner, except perhaps those who think Albuquerque municipal elections are nonpartisan.

Four years ago, I had to endure the incumbents $910,000 media campaign versus my $340,000 in public financing campaign all the while the Republican Party smeared me as much as they could while Republican operative Jay Mc Clusky managed the incumbents campaign and ran negative ads.

My biggest disappointment four years ago was that my own party did very little next to nothing to help my campaign, but that’s politics for you.

I was told by too many Democratic elected and party officials that it was a nonpartisan race and they would not help.

Democrats need to wake up and wake up fast to what is happening in Albuquerque.

See also my blog article “Party Divisions Playing Out In Mayors Race” at https://www.petedinelli.com/…/party-divisions-playing-out-i…/

THE TIM KELLER MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEE CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

ABQ FORWARD TOGETHER is a measure finance committee, registered with the City Clerk’s office, formed for the purpose “to support Tim Keller’s bid for Mayor”.

Measured finance committees are not bound by the individual contribution limits and business bans like a candidate.

The September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance report for “ABQ FORWARD TOGETHER” reflects that it had a beginning cash balance of $77,172.92 from the last reporting period, it had monetary contributions of $102,995.00 for the current reporting period, spent $6,135.66 and has a balance of $174,032.26 left to spend as it sees fit to promote Mr. Keller.

Cash donations to “ABQ FORWARD TOGETHER” that are noteworthy include:

$20,000 from AFSME council 18, $10,000 from IAFF Local 244, $5,000 from IBEW PAC Voluntary Fund, $2,500 from Ironworkers Local 495, two $2,500 donations from Center For Civic Action, $3,000 from NMHS PAC, $1,000 from DPA Action Fund, $2,000 from Richard Schneider, $2,500 from Edward Garcia, Garcia Auto Dealership, $2,500 from Julian Garcia, Automundo De Garcia, $2,500 from Sandy Buffett, $2,000 from Tim W. Allisonhatch, $1,000 from John B, Strong, $1,000 from Susan Palmer, $1,000 from attorney Kate Fenlic, $1,000 from Joanie Griffin, Griffin & Associates, the public relations firm for the ART Bus project, $600 from NM State Senator William Tallman, $250 from Josh Anderson with AFSME and $500 from Bond Attorney David Bucholtz.

It is clear from the donations made to ABQ FORWARD TOGETHER that Mr. Keller has substantial support from organized labor which will translate into significant volunteer help and even more contributions from union members and union organizations.

ABQ FORWARD TOGETHER can raise money up and through to the election day and beyond for a runoff election if Tim Keller gets into the runoff.

In his January announcement for Mayor, Tim Keller said “Let’s elect a Mayor without the big money we’ve come to expect in politics. That’s why we are running a community-driven, publicly financed campaign that fits the future of Albuquerque.”

Mr. Keller has the best of all political campaign finance world’s by first getting public financing to the tune of $342,952 and claiming he is “walking the walk” and running a “grassroots campaign”, and now having $118,807.44 left in public financing while at the same time receiving assistance from a measured finance committee that has $174,032.26 available to promote him and is chaired by a former political consultant who has worked on his past campaigns for the New Mexico State Senate.

BRIAN COLON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

From review of the finance report of contributions and expenditures, Democrat Brian Colon has expended the most since the last reporting period and his fund raising was diminished for the period.

The Colon September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $535,579.82 and the closing balance for the recent reporting period is $219,514.85 and spent $362,241.97 during the reporting period.

Brian Colon raised an additional $46,177 during the reporting period.

Notable individuals or businesses that made cash contributions reported in the September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Colon for Mayor include the following donors:

P.G. Enterprises, $5,150, ALB Living Inc, $5,150, Consolidated Solar Energies, $5,150, Nathan Corn, Kauffman’s West, $800, Gary Padilla, $3,850, SSA Auto Sales, $2,500, Rudolfo Law Firm, $1,500, Attorney Mark Rhodes, $2,000, Beatrice Beserra, $1,000, Cordelia Trimble, $1,000, Stephen Toll, $1,000, Aldo Vaio, $1,000, Tim Fresquez, $1,000, Attorney and forme APS Board memeber Martin Esquivel, $200, Former Bernalillo County Commissioner Art De La Cruz, $500, private attorney Michael F. Hart and brother of County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, Former Court of Appeals Judge Ira Robinson, $200 and Bond Attorney David Bucholtz, $500.

Notable expenditures listed in the August 11, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for the Colon for Mayor include:

CANAL Partners Media, Atlanta Georgia, three expenditures of $77,075, $77,075 and $72,275, Bouchard Gold Company, Austin, Texas, $45,000 and $2,905 for media and photography, IRICK Productions, Albuquerque, $45,600, Switchboard, Washington DC, Digital Advertising, $12,500, Three Point Media, Washington, DC, $4,572, POTOMAC WAVES, Washington, DC, $12,000.

It is interesting to note that on the campaign trail Mr. Colon has emphasized the importance of the City giving priority to local businesses for work but his media work is being done with out of state firms in Georgia, Texas and Washington, DC.

DAN LEWIS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

The Dan Lewis September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $169,289.37 and the closing balance for the current reporting period is $194,501 available to the campaign until the October 3, 2017 election.

Republican Dan Lewis raised an additional $55,317 during the reporting period and had expenditures of $30,104.50 during the last reporting period.

Total “in-kind” contributions to Dan Lewis for the reporting period was $7,550.00 which includes $3,000 from Tinnin Hunt for fundraising.

Notable individuals or businesses that made cash contributions listed in the September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Dan Lewis for Mayor include the following donors:

National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP), $5,000, Jeff Garrett, Garrett Development, $5,000, AAA Roofing, $2,500, Tim Gorham, Bode Aviation, which operates out at the City’s Double Eagle II airport, $2,500, John Bode, Bode Aviation, $2,500, Guzman Construction Solutions, $2,500, J&M Discount Towing, $1,000, Premier Consulting, $1,000, Steve Downe, $1,000, Tim Turner, $1,000, Attorney David Strandridge, $1,000, John Paul Espinoza, $1,000, Zachery D. Graham, $1,250, Michael Winkeljohn, $1,000, Larry Rainoseck, owner of Frontier Restaurant, $1,000, Bill Joiner, Joiner Construction, $250, David King, nephew of former Governor Bruce King, $500, former Chanel 7 TV news anchor Richard (Dick) Knifing, $500.

The fact that Dan Lewis received a $5,000 donation from NAIOP and other construction companies is a clear indication that Lewis is the beneficiary of Mayor Berry’s primary bastion of support within the construction industry and the real estate development community that do millions of dollars in construction work for the City of Albuquerque.

If Mr. Lewis makes it into a runoff, it is likely he will get significant support within the business community including members from organizations like the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, NAIOP and perhaps the Economic Forum.

Notable expenditures listed in the September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for the Dan Lewis for Mayor include:

The Stoneridge Group, $10,000 and$11,363, 4700 Lincoln, LLC for office space, $2,600, Stewart Bragg, Lewis for Mayor, $2.000.

The Stoneridge Group is a political campaign marketing firm based in Alpharetta, Georgia, with offices in Louisville Kentucky and provides services to pro-life, Republican campaigns, associations, and non-profits including voter contact mail, website design and online campaigns, print and collateral items, and strategic consulting.

Dan Lewis has cash on hand of $194,501.87 to run a traditional media political campaign on TV and radio.

Notwithstanding, Dan Lewis is running a “social media” campaign for Mayor.

Republican Dan Lewis continues to produce and release commercials on FACEBOOK.

There are severe doubts that a “social media” campaign will reach older, conservative and most likely to vote people who are 50 years of age or older who do not use social media such as FACEBOOK.

Mr. Lewis has not polled well and two recent polls show him first polling at 11% and then 7.8% respectively.

Republican Wayne Johnson is competing for the same conservative Republican votes of Republican Dan Lewis and according to a recent poll they are tied at 7.8%.

WAYNE JOHNSON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

The Wayne Johnson September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $207,770.61 and the closing balance for the recent reporting period is now $219,738.25.

Republican Wayne Johnson raised an additional $48,365.00 during the reporting period.

The Wayne Johnson for Mayor campaign reported spending $36,397.36 during the last reporting period.

Notable individuals or businesses that made cash contributions listed in the September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Wayne Johnson for Mayor include the following donors:

National Association of Industrial and Office Parks (NAIOP), $5,000, (NOTE: NAIOP also donated $5,000 to Dan Lewis), Albuquerque. Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry, $500, Kursten Johnson, two $5,000 donations, Mechanical Control Systems, Gizelle Alvarez, City of Albuquerque, two $2,000 donations, $2,500, Stan Hubbard, Hubbard Broadcasting, $1,000, Beverly Sanchez, $1,000, Doug Clark, $1,000, Gene Hinkle, Hinkle Investments, $1,000, Don Mc Cleod, Mc Cleod Business Group, $1,000, Associated Contractors of New Mexico, $1,000, Jim Gianelli, $1,000, Nancy Ekern, $500, Robert Bolton, $500, Clark High Street, $500, Charles Johnson, $500, Steve Siligman, $500 and realtor Shirley Rich, $500.

Notable expenditures listed in the September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for the Dan Lewis for Mayor include:

Vista Media (Wayne Johnson), $4,263, Wyatt Bortsch, $2,000, SRCP for media placement, $1,077.87, DIRECT EDGE CAMPAIGNS, a direct mail firm, $785, $7,767, $5,102, EKERN Company, Anne Ekron for consulting, $5,000, $2,419 and $1,274. (NOTE: EKRON is a political consulting firm that also advised Mayor Berry’s campaign in 2013.

The Wayne Johnson campaign for mayor had $1,387.83 of “in-kind” donations during the last reporting period of which $1,142 was from the Gilmore Mosely Group.

Republican Wayne Johnson is competing for the same conservative Republican votes of Republican Dan Lewis and according to a recent poll they are tied at 7.8%.

Republican political operative and Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry has donated to Wayne Johnson and Perry will probably want to keep his $195,000 job under a Johnson administration.

Republican Wayne Johnson has been endorsed by Republican Political operative Sherman McCorkle and Ed Lujan, who have both done FACEBOOK testimonials for Johnson, indicating Johnson has made serious inroads into the Dan Lewis Republican base.

Sherman Mc Corkle was Mayor Berry’s transition team chairman eight (8) years ago and is heavily involved with the Albuquerque Greater Chamber of Commerce, the Hispano Chamber of Commerce and the Albuquerque Economic Forum.

RICARDO CHAVES CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

Ricardo Chaves is a “self-financed” candidate for Mayor.

The Ricardo Chaves July 14, 2017 Campaign Finance Report revealed that he loaned his campaign for Mayor $500,000.

Mr. Chaves reported in the July 14, 2017 report that he spent $134,666.27 for campaign consulting, management and petition signature gathering to get on the ballot and he had $373,981.53 remaining in his campaign account.

The Ricardo Chaves September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $373,228.34 and the closing balance for the recent reporting period is now $298,174.64.

The only notable expenditures listed in the September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for the Ricardo Chaves for Mayor is another $75,000 paid to Robert E. Cornelius as a consulting fee.

Mr. Chaves reported he received and $1,858.92 “in kind” contribution from himself for office rental and warehouse space.

The fact that Mr. Chavez has personally loaned his campaign $500,000 and that he still has $298,174 indicates he is a serious candidate with enough money to run political commercials or send out mailers that will impact the race or his entire candidacy has been a ruse and he has no intent on spending anything more of what he has left and will be just reimbursing himself.

MICHELLE GARCIA HOLMES CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

The Garcia-Holmes September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states a cash balance from the last reporting period of $33,300.06 and a closing balance for the recent reporting period as $11,158.36.

The September 8, 2017 financial report reflects Michelle Garcia Holmes reported cash contributions of $9,145.00 with expenditures of $31,286.70 and a closing balance of $11,158.36.

Michelle Garcia Holmes and her husband Earl Holmes each contributed $5,000 for a total of $10,000 to her campaign for Mayor.

Notable cash contributions listed in the September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Michell Garcia Holmes for Mayor include the following donors:

Michell Garcia Holmes, $5,000, Joel Jenkins, $2,000, former Attorney General Gary King, $250 and Belinda Drummond. $1,000.

Notable expenditures listed in the September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Michell Garcia Holmes for Mayor include Adelante Mailing Services, $1,087 and $8,750 and KRQE TV, $21,381,75.

Total “in kind” donations for the period were $23, 859 and include the following:

D.J. Heckes, $4,795, AURAE 3 LLC, for media and public relations, $5,000, Joshua Valano with AURAE 3 LLC for media and public relations, $5,150, Mitchelle Garcia Holmes for radio ads, $3495.07, Kathi Cunnigham for media and public relations, $250, Ice Blue Advertising for marketing and ads, $844.

SUSAN WHEELER-DEICHEL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

The Susan Wheeler-Deichel campaign did not file the September 8, 2017 finance report.

The August 11, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Wheeler-Deichel reported a balance from the last reporting period of $341.34, total monetary contributions for the reporting period of $1,685.00, total expenditures of $3,955.63 with a negative balance of $1,929.29.

Notable expenditures were for campaign materials and employee services.

The July 17, 2017 finance report reflected $6,275 in monetary contributions to the Susan Wheeler-Deichel campaign, of which $6,175 was a personal loan to her campaign.

GUS PEDROTTY CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES

Gus Pedrotty is running a social media campaign by making at least three (3) FACEBOOK commercials that he has written and produced by himself with the commercials being well produced and exhibiting great creativity.

The Gus Pedrotty September 8, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $3,091.88, total monetary contributions for the reporting period as $3,272.39, total expenditures of $3,274.79 and the closing balance for the recent reporting period is as $3,089.48.

Most of Mr. Pedrotty’s donations are cash amounts of $5, $25, $50 with a few $100 and $200 donations.

Notable expenditures were to Greetings Etc. for $1,393, $296 and $516 for printed materials and FEACEBOOK for $397 and $250.

Mr. Pedrotty is very articulate, understands the issues and has stood out at all the debates and forums.

RECENT POLLING

On September 6, 2017, KOB reported a second poll in the 2017 Mayor’s race.

KOB reported each of the candidates polled as follows:

Democrat State Auditor Tim Keller – 22.6%
Former Democratic Party Chair Brian Colon – 19.3%
Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis – 7.8%
Republican County Commissioner Wayne Johnson – 7.8%
Independent retired APD Police Officer Michell Garcia-Holmes – 5.8%
Republican businessman Ricardo Chavez – 3.5%
Democrat Gus Pedrotty – 1.9%
Independent Susan Wheeler Diechel – 1.8%

The biggest winner in the KOB poll was again “undecided” at 30% as compared to the 36% of undecided in the KRQE poll reported just one day earlier.

The biggest surprise is that Brian Colon has surged beyond Dan Lewis and Wayne Johnson, each having 7.8%, with Colon at 19.3% and coming in second to front runner Tim Keller, who polled at 22.6% with Colon within the margin of error.
Keller’s poll number in the KOB poll at 22.6% is virtually the same as his KRQE poll number at 22%.

Typically, people dispute polls results, but they tend to be self-fulling prophecies that have the effect of gutting the chances of lesser known candidates and drying up campaign contributions to others.

CONCLUSION

From a historical standpoint, municipal elections are very low voter turnout. The reliable municipal voters tend to be 50 years and older and conservative. Four years ago, only 19% of eligible voters voted in the lowest voter turnout since 1977.

As the saying goes “a week in politics is an eternity”.

Political television ads, especially negative ads, can affect poll numbers and the outcome of the race.

The wild card in this election “House of Cards” is the considerable amount of money sources are saying is being raised and will be spent to run highly negative ads against Keller and Colón.

According to reliable sources, negative ads have already been produced to run against Colón and Keller and will hit the airwaves within a few days.

Even with only three weeks remaining, just about anything can happen.

http://www.freeabq.com/2017/09/08/dinelli-poll-2/

On September 5, 2017 KRQE reported the first poll in the 2017 Mayor’s race and three days later on September 8, 2017 KOB reported a second poll.

Comparing both polls reveals that the race for Mayor is indeed heating up and there is a major shift in the race when it comes to the two front runners.

For many months, political pundits have been predicting that a runoff will occur between Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis and Democrat State Auditor Tim Keller, but that may not occur.

In both polls, both Lewis and Keller have not performed as well as what was being predicted by insiders.

The KRQE poll was one of 500 likely registered voters conducted by automatic phone calls with a margin of error of 5% which reduces accuracy.

The KRQE poll was taken before any of the candidates began to spend on radio and tv commercials.

KRQE reported each of the candidates polled as follows:

Democrat State Auditor Tim Keller – 22%
Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis – 11%
Former Democratic Party Chair Brian Colon – 10%
Republican County Commissioner Wayne Johnson – 8%
Independent retired APD Police Officer Michell Garcia-Holmes – 6%
Republican businessman Ricardo Chavez – 5%
Democrat Gus Pedrotty – 1%
Independent Susan Wheeler Diechel – 1%

The biggest winner in the KRQE poll was “undecided” at 36%.

On September 6, 2017, KOB reported the second poll in the 2017 Mayor’s race.

http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/mayoral-election-race-carroll-strategies-polling-albuquerque/4597439/?cat=500

The poll was conducted by Carol Strategies on September 3, 4, and 5, 2017.

The poll was one of 513 likely registered voters conducted by automatic phone calls with a margin of error of 4.3%.

KOB reported each of the candidates polled as follows:

Democrat State Auditor Tim Keller – 22.6%
Former Democratic Party Chair Brian Colon – 19.3%
Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis – 7.8%
Republican County Commissioner Wayne Johnson – 7.8%
Independent retired APD Police Officer Michell Garcia-Holmes – 5.8%
Republican businessman Ricardo Chavez – 3.5%
Democrat Gus Pedrotty – 1.9%
Independent Susan Wheeler Diechel – 1.8%

The biggest winner in the KOB poll was again “undecided” at 30% as compared to the 36% of undecided in the KRQE poll reported just one day earlier.

The biggest surprise is the fact that Brian Colon has now surged beyond Dan Lewis and Wayne Johnson, each having 7.8%, with Colon at 19.3% and coming in second to front runner Tim Keller, who polled at 22.6% with Colon within the margin of error.

Keller’s poll number in the KOB poll at 22.6% is virtually the same as his KRQE poll number at 22%.

SANDERS VERSUS CLINTON FACTIONS WITHIN DEMOCRATIC PARTY

Tim Keller’s support I would say predominantly comes from the progressive wing of the Democratic party represented by Bernie Sanders supporters based upon my observations at forums and attending Democratic functions.

Brian Colon’s support comes from the more traditional wing of the Democratic party represented by Hillary Clinton and traditional Hispanic Democrats based upon my knowledge of the Democratic party and attendance at Democratic Party functions and the forums.

Many political pundits and insiders were suggesting Mr. Keller had at least 30% or more being reflected in private campaign polling given his high name recognition as State Auditor, his very considerable support within the progressive wing of the Democratic Party, his endorsements and the substantial union contributions to his measured finance committee or PAC.

What Mr. Keller needs to be concerned about at this point is that he may have peaked with any further increase in his poll numbers stymied by his reduced funding as a “public financed” candidate and an inability to get his message out with television commercials.

Keller is running a 15 second TV commercial, but it may not get enough play given his scarce financial resources.

However, there is a measured finance committee set up for Mr. Keller that will be promoting his candidacy and will have at least $100,000 to promote him.

Colon almost double his poll numbers in one week going from 10% in the KRQE poll to 19% in the KOB poll.

Colon’s increase in his poll numbers can be directly correlated to his recent TV commercials featuring popular Attorney General Hector Balderas endorsing him.

Brian Colon ran TV commercials for a full week featuring Attorney General Hector Balderas endorsing him, with no other candidate running commercials.

The Balderas endorsement was critical to help Colon solidify the Hispanic vote as well as the more traditional wing of the Democratic Party which will offset the progressive wing of the Democratic party which is supporting Keller.

TRUMP FACTION AND TRADITIONAL REPUBLICANS

Republicans Dan Lewis, Wayne Johnson and Ricardo Chavez are dividing up the conservative Republican vote, with Wayne Johnson increasing his criticism of Lewis.

Johnson could easily overtake Dan Lewis and giving Johnson the possibility to reach the runoff.

Republican Dan Lewis is drawing his significant support from the more traditional faction of the Republican Party based upon review of his donors and his anti-crime platform to put repeat offenders in jail and his attacks on the judiciary.

Republican Wayne Johnson is far more conservative than Republican Dan Lewis and is drawing significant support of Trump supporters with opposition to making Albuquerque Sanctuary city and drawing significant support from the business community with his opposition to the mandatory sick leave initiative.

Ricardo Chavez remains a viable Republican candidate by self-financing his campaign and willingness to spend upwards of $500,000 of his own money and his appeal to Trump supporters.

I suspect the combined poll numbers reflected by Lewis, Johnson and Chaves are highly reliable conservative voters but if none of these three make it into the runoff, the real question raised is will their voters sit out the runoff election and not vote for any Democrat?

MANDATORY SICK LEAVE INITIATIVE

As is the case with any election, voter turnout will be critical.

The mandatory sick leave will also be on the ballot and just may increase voter turnout, but that will cut both ways as having the potential to increase voter turnout of progressives and conservatives.

A coalition of 27 business organizations has been formed to oppose the mandatory sick leave initiative and has raised over $100,000 to oppose it and you can expect more and an aggressive campaign to defeat it as was done with the “soda tax” in Santa Fe.

From a historical standpoint, municipal elections are very low voter turnout with between 20% and 25%.

The reliable municipal voters tend to be 50 years and older and conservative.

Four years ago, only 19% of eligible voters voted in the lowest voter turnout since 1977.

FINANCING AND NEGATIVE ADVERTISING

Expect large amounts of money spent over the next three weeks on TV and radio ads.

According to the August 11, 2017 Campaign Finance Reports, following are the closing balances for each of the candidates available for advertising and their campaigns:

Brian Colon – $535,579.82
Ricardo Chaves – $373,228
Tim Keller – $227,229.00
Tim Keller Measured Finance Committee – $77,172.00
Wayne Johnson – $207,770
Dan Lewis – $169,600
Michell Garcia Holmes – $33,300
Susan Wheeler Dieshel – $5,955.23
Gus Pedrotty – $3,091

The candidates have no doubt spent and raised more money during the last month and the next fiancé reports are due September 10, 2017.

The wild card is the considerable amount of money sources are saying is being raised and will be spent to run highly negative ads against Tim Keller and Brian Colon.

According to reliable sources, negative ads have already been produced against Colon and Keller and will be hitting the airwaves within a few days.

CONCLUSION

Even with only three weeks remaining, just about anything can happen in the Mayor’s race.

Although Tim Keller and Brian Colon are emerging as the front runners and may be in the runoff together, only time will tell if a Republican gets into the runoff.

If Republican voters get behind and consolidate their support of one Republican it will give a Republican candidate a better shot of being in the runoff.

Stay tuned for a lively three weeks in Albuquerque politics.