On September 30, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham issued a proclamation convening a special session of the New Mexico State Legislature to convene at noon Wednesday, October 1, at the State Capitol Building in Santa Fe. The Governor is convening the special session  to address the significant challenges of federal funding cuts resulting from President Trump’s  budget reconciliation bill H.R.1, the so-called “One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”

According to the Governor’s press release  announcing the Special Session and its agenda,  the governor’s call to action comes as New Mexicans face unprecedented challenges caused by massive reductions in federal support for critical programs including Medicaid, SNAP food assistance and public broadcasting services. The federal budget reconciliation bill signed into law by  Trump on  July 4 cuts taxes for the rich while slashing discretionary spending through 2034, with devastating consequences for New Mexico families and communities.

Governor Lujan Grsham said this in a statement:

“We’re not going to stand by while Washington abandons New Mexico families. … This special session is about protecting the people who need help most.”

Kari Armijo, the Cabinet Secretary for the New Mexico Health Care Authority, said this:

“While the new federal law brings significant changes, our focus is clear: protecting benefits and services for the 40 percent of New Mexicans who rely on our programs for health care and food assistance.  … We’re committed to maintaining a strong safety net through these challenges.”

SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA

During the special session, lawmakers will consider only the following measures:

• RURAL HEALTH CARE DELIVERY FUND EXPANSION: Amending the Rural Health Care Delivery Fund to allow for grants to health care providers and facilities in high-needs geographic health professional shortage areas and stabilize the provision of existing health care services.
• HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE ELIGIBILITY: Adjusting eligibility requirements for participating in the New Mexico health insurance exchange.
• VACCINE STANDARDS: Requiring rules for the immunization of children attending school or child care to be based on the recommendations of the New Mexico Department of Health, allowing the Department of Health to set vaccination standards for adults, and requiring vaccines purchased pursuant to the statewide vaccine purchasing program to be recommended by the Department of Health.
• FEDERAL BUDGET CUTS RESPONSE: Appropriating funds to respond to recent federal budget cuts.
•  WESTERN NEW MEXICO UNIVERSITY BOARD OF REGENTS: Confirming regents to the Western New Mexico University Board of Regents.
• AMENDING COMPETENCY PROCEDURES: Amending competency laws to allow metropolitan courts to determine competency.
• BEHAVIORAL HEALTH LEGAL PROCEEDINGS: Appropriating funds to the Administrative Office of the Courts for a competency pilot program and behavioral health support for parties in legal proceedings.
• APPROPRIATION CONTINGENCY FUND: Transferring funds into the Appropriation Contingency Fund to ensure New Mexico has money set aside for emergency response.
• REGULATION AND LICENSING DEPARTMENT FUNDING: Appropriating funds to supplement the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department’s budget.
• INTERSTATE MEDICAL LICENSING COMPACT: Studying and preparing for the implementation of any interstate medical licensing compact.
• LEGISLATIVE EXPENSES: Appropriating funds for the expenses of the Fifty-Seventh Legislature, First Special Session, 2025.

HOUSE AND SENATE LEADERSHIP REACT

Both the  New Mexico House and Senate Majority leadership have approved the Governor’s call for a Special Session and as well as the agenda.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth said this in the Governor’s call  statement:

“The cuts coming from Washington are not theoretical, they are happening now and will directly harm New Mexican families who are struggling to put food on the table or cannot afford healthcare. … This special session allows us to respond immediately to Washington’s dysfunction and take the first critical steps to protect our state’s progress.”

House Speaker Javier Martínez said this in the Governor’s call statement:

“Deep federal budget cuts and continued chaos in Washington, D. C. are making life harder and more expensive for New Mexicans now. But New Mexico’s leaders are ready for this fight, so we’re stepping up to address the most pressing issues facing families: skyrocketing healthcare premiums, seniors losing food benefits, and rural healthcare providers on the brink. … This special session is about making sure families across our state have access to the things they cannot live without.”

The October 1 special session will be the first called by Lujan Grisham since a July 2024 session focused on crime-related issues that ended with the Democratic-controlled Legislature adjourning without taking action on most of the governor’s proposed agenda. In an effort to avoid the same fate with the October 1 session, the Governor’s Office top staffers have been meeting with Democratic legislative leaders in recent weeks about a special session spending package that could exceed $400 million. That funding would come from nearly $3.5 billion in unspent money in state reserve funds, as state revenue levels have surged to record-high levels in recent years.

TRUMP’S “ONE BIG BEAUTIFUL BILL” 

Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” is in fact a large tax reduction package signed into law that  trimmed close to $1 trillion from Medicaid, Medicare and subsidies from the Affordable Care Act and $230 billion from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, spending over the next 10 years  to pay for the tax reductions.  State health officials are warning that Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” he signed in July  could lead to more than 90,000 New Mexico residents losing health care coverage and the possible closure of rural hospitals.

New Mexico has one of the nation’s highest Medicaid enrollment rates where roughly 38% of state residents are enrolled.  According to state executive and legislative branch economists the federal budget bill is projected to cost the state an average of $206 million per year over the next five years. U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., said last week that could eventually translate to $4 billion in annual spending shortfalls for the state.  House Speaker Javier Martínez, D-Albuquerque, said some New Mexicans are set to face health insurance plan cost increases of up to 52% at the end of this year if lawmakers do not take action.

Links to relied upon or quoted news sources are here:

https://www.governor.state.nm.us/2025/09/30/governor-convenes-special-legislative-session-to-address-federal-funding-cuts-and-budget-crisis/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_beb999c2-8035-489a-8ce8-69aef1b6bd82.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

COMMENTARY AND  ANALYSIS

On September 4 when Governor Lujan Grisham first made it know that she would call the legislature into Special Session on October 1, she made it clear  the session would be confined to measures to deal with the severe budget cuts called for in Trump’s enacted “Big Beautiful Bill” and said the special session would primarily focus on federal cuts to programs such as Medicaid.  While announcing the special session’s start date of October 1, the Governor’s Office  confirmed that hot-button legislation dealing with crime would  be deferred  until the start of the 30-day regular session in January. Bills dealing with juvenile crime and firearm restrictions are  expected to be delayed until next year’s 30-day session.

HOT BUTTON ISSUE ON SPECIAL SESSION AGENDA

Notwithstanding the Governors originally announced intent not to include hot button issues in the special session, she has included the hot button issue of studying and preparing for the implementation of an  interstate medical licensing compact which is an agreement among states to accept medical licenses from other states that have adopted such compacts. It would allow  a doctor licensed in another state to simply  show  that they are a licensed physician in another state  in order to have the NM Medical Board to quickly approve a license to practice  in New Mexico.  Such compacts allow health care workers licensed in other states to work in New Mexico, which advocates say would address the state’s shortage of medical professionals. New Mexico is a member of just one interstate compact agreement which is for nurses  and is one of only four states that participate in one or fewer compacts. Earlier this year, lawmakers passed seven compact agreements out of the state House, but all stalled in the state Senate.

https://sourcenm.com/2025/09/22/nm-senate-dems-unlikely-to-move-on-medical-compacts-for-special-session/

New Mexico trial lawyers over many years have aggressively opposed  the compacts despite their adoption in over 40 other states. Trial  lawyers and personal injury lawyers  oppose a provision that prevents them from suing the interstate compact commissions, the board that would  oversee the compact.  Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, a highly respected Santa Fe trial attorney, has  opposed  the enactment of an interstate medical licensing compact in the past and has been severely criticized for it. He failed to keep the issues off the Special Session agenda to no avail and accepted as a compromise to studyi and prepare  for the implementation of an  interstate medical licensing compact.  Senator Wirth has reversed his original opposition and issued the following statement:

” I do support the medical compacts. I think that’s priority number one, and we’re going to get that done in January and work hard between now and then to make it happen. But it’s just not ready to go at this point in the special session.”

FINAL COMMENTARY

It is absolutely clear from the Governor’s press release calling the October 1 Special Session and setting its agenda and the comments made by Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and New Mexico Speaker of the House Speaker Javier Martínez,  a strong consensus has been reached on how to deal with the severe budget cuts and damage done by Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” to New Mexico.

The October 1 special session is designed to find ways to offset the impact of federal funding cuts passed by Congress and approved by President Trump in July. The goal is to ensure initiatives like the rural health care delivery fund and food assistance programs can continue operating and make sure Medicaid recipients do not lose health coverage.

What Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth and Speaker of the House Javier Martínez said about the Special Session when it was first announced is worth repeating.  

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth said this:

“New Mexico cannot stand by while Washington’s reckless budget cuts inflict generational harm on families and communities across the state.  …. A special session is essential to protect our rural healthcare providers, safeguard Medicaid coverage, and ensure that New Mexicans don’t bear the burden of federal failures.”

Speaker of the House Javier Martínez said this:

“New Mexico is not going to allow Trump and the radical right to take food off your table or kick your family off your healthcare plan.  … We have been hard at work evaluating how this federal budget will impact New Mexico and how we can best fight back. Now, we’re ready to roll up our sleeves to protect access to the services you and your families need most.”

The Special Session is expected to be a brief but fast-paced special session that will last only a few days.

The Bernalillo County Clerk has qualified the following 7 candidates running for Mayor who will appear on the November 4 ballot:

1. Tim Keller, two term incumbent Mayor of Albuquerque.
2. Eddie Varela, a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief.
3. Alex Uballez, the former U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico.
4. Louie Sanchez, a retired APD police officer and current city councilor.
5. Darren White, the former sheriff of Bernalillo County and former Chief Executive Officer medical cannabis company PurLife.
6. Daniel Chavez, president of Parking Company of America was the very first to qualify for the ballot.
7. Mayling Armijo, the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County.

POLL RESULTS

On Sunday, September 28 and with early voting to on October 18, 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

Early voting commences on  October 18 and ends on November 1. Votes can be cast in person at the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office located at 415 Silver Ave SW, Albuquerque, NM 87102. Under 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.

KELLER’S DISAPPROVAL RATING HITS 47%, APPROVAL RATING Hits 42%

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 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.

“The poll results [reflect a continuation of a] steady decline in Keller’s approval ratings. His approval rating was at 50% in October 2021, just before he won reelection to a second term as mayor [over former Sherriff Manny Gonzales and radio talk Show Host Eddie Aragon]. It was even higher earlier in his first term, as 61% of Albuquerque voters approved of Keller’s job performance in September 2018.

Despite his declining approval rating, Keller still holds a sizable lead as he seeks unprecedented third consecutive term as mayor. Keller’s approval rating is higher among registered Democratic voters than Republicans. A total of 59% of Democrats surveyed said they supported Keller’s job performance, compared to just 14% of Republicans. Independent voters, or those who declined to affiliate with a political party, were nearly evenly split in their views.

Among self-reported liberal voters, 70% approved of the mayor’s job performance compared to only 15% of conservatives, while political moderates were evenly split.”

The link to the quoted and relied upon Journal news source is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_b05d1ba2-908d-42b5-9e40-57e5543cd313.html

CRIME,  HOMELESSNEES, ECONOMY AT TOP OF ALBUQUERQUE VOTERS’ MINDS IN JOURNAL POLL

According to the Journal poll, crime and homelessness are top Albuquerque voters’ minds as the November 4 election nears, with drug abuse and trafficking listed next. The poll found 53% of Albuquerque voters cited crime as the biggest issue facing the city. Homelessness followed behind and was cited by 47% of surveyed voters as their top concern, followed by Drug/Opiod abuse at 6% and illegal drugs at 5%.

The poll asked residents to list  their top issues with multiple answers volunteered by voters. Other issues listed in the poll’s top 10 of voters concerns included housing costs (4%), the overall economy (4%), unemployment and the cost of living (3%) and the cost of living (3%).

“While crime was top-of-mind for residents during the last election cycle in 2021, with 66% of residents citing it as their primary concern, worries over homelessness have doubled over the four years since a previous Journal Poll.  Now, 47% of voters view homelessness as Albuquerque’s biggest stumbling block.”

The Journal poll correlates with the reality on Albuquerque’s streets. Today, an estimated 2,740 people are homeless in the city, which is twice as many as in 2021, according to the latest Point-In-Time Count by the New Mexico Coalition to End Homelessness.

Meanwhile, concern over homelessness is shared equally by both Democrats and Republicans at 48%. Independents also care about the issue, with 39% listing it first.”

“Most Albuquerque voters have a lukewarm view of the strength of the city’s economy.  Half of likely voters surveyed described the strength of Albuquerque’s economy as fair, while just 27% described it as good or excellent. Roughly 22% of voters surveyed said the city’s economy was in poor shape.  Albuquerque’s unemployment rate was at 5% as of July, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, which was slightly less than the statewide average of 5.2%.”

The link to the relied upon or quoted Albuquerque Journal article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_d99cb345-e909-4bc0-a0d3-5c38d3d7bad0.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Based on the Albuquerque Journal Poll, it is more likely than not  that a runoff will occur between Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller who polled at 29% and former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White who polled at 16% with the other 5 candidates in single digit poll numbers. It is truly amazing that Tim Keller with a 47% DISAPPROVAL rating still comes in first among seven candidates in the Journal poll as he seeks to be the first person to serve three consecutive terms as mayor. This is testament to the fact that Keller is running against a very weak slate of candidates as he has faced a steady stream of criticism from his opponents and the public specifically on the issues of homelessness and crime.

Tim Keller’s total 29% total poll number was broken down  as being  43% registered Democrat, 8% being registered Republican and 28% being registered Independent.

Darren White’s 16% total poll number was broken down as being 5% registered Democrat, 35% being registered Republican and 9% being registered Independent.

The 37% total of the “undecided or don’t know” voters was broken down as consisting of 35% registered Democrat, 36% registered Republican and 47% registered Independent.

With a whopping 37% of voters surveyed saying they still have not decided who they will vote for, there is still a chance that either of the second-tier candidates Louie Sanchez or Alexander Uballez who polled at 6% each, will make it into the run off with Keller by outperforming Darren White’s 16% and capturing a large percentage of the 37% of the undecided votes.

Louie Sanchez is a conservative Democrat who often sided with Republicans on the city council and his 6% poll number included 12% of Republican support in the poll as he also appealed to voters concerned about crime in that he is a retired Albuquerque Police Officer.  The problem  for Sanchez is that he is perceived as a Democrate in Name Only (DINO) and his 6% in the poll broken down was  12% Republican and anemic 3% of Democratic support and 4% Independents in the Journal poll.

Alexander Uballez has promoted  himself as a progressive alternative to Keller and has received more support from younger Democrats. In the poll, Uballez 6% in the poll  is broken down to 9% Democrat, 1% Republican and 5% Independents. Uballez’s support declined significantly among voters age 50 and older, who are more reliable voters.

It’s not at all likely that the third tier of remaining candidates of Eddie Varela, Mayling Armijo and Daniel Chavez will make it into the runoff given their single digit poll numbers of 2% and lackluster campaigns. All three  should probably considered withdrawing from the race and announce endorsement’s of one of  the  top four candidates.

NEWS UPDATE: On September 29, candidate for Mayor Daniel Chavez told KRQE News 13 that after recent  polling results, he has dropped out of the race and  does not see a viable path forward. While Chavez is dropping out, he will still appear on the ballot. Six candidates remain in the running.

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/candidate-drops-out-of-albuquerque-mayoral-race/

Darren White’s controversies during his public service career and his  high negatives make it likely that  his support has peaked at 16% in the Mayor’s race. Confidential sources within the Republican Party have confirmed that White is struggling  to consolidate the Republican vote and he is having a difficult time securing campaign donations in the Mayor’s race from Republicans.  Simply put, many Republicans do not like Darren White given his hypocrisy on opposing legalization of marijuana and then going into the medical cannabis industry after he left his law enforcement career. White received a vote of “No Confidence” by State Police Officers when he was a Cabinet Secretary for then Governor Gary Johnson and a vote of “No Confidence”  from the APD Police Union when he was Chief Public Safety officer for the City for then Mayor Richard Berry. Then there is the controversy where White as the City’s Chief Public Safety Officer inserted himself and interfered with an  APD  investigation of his wife’s car accident  where he showed up and took her from the scene. The poll reflects only 38% of registered Republican voters surveyed said they planned to vote for White.

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 then failed with their efforts to raise 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, White  reported having $130,373.73  in cash on hand, Sanchez  reported $163,969.14 cash on hand   and Uballez reported $121,801.56 cash on hand  with all three having made significant contributions of their own money of $50,000 or more.

With the November 4 election  approaching fast, expect the  Keller Campaign  to get very aggressive and go negative with his opponents given Keller’s unfavorable ratings. The biggest problem among all 6 of his opponents is that none of the six seem to have truly gained traction and support. All of Keller’s opponents have been relegated to scrambling for private financing and trying to self-finance.

NEWS UPDATE: On September 30, campaign television advertising commercials promoting Mayor Tim Keller’s re-election commenced.

One month remaining in a political campaign can be an eternity where anything can happen. There is a slight chance that a major event will occur that will change the dynamics of the race or one of the 6 candidates will catch on and get the lion’s share of the 37% undecided. The general public can expect an onslaught of negative campaign commercials and mailers from all 7 candidates as Mayor Tim Keller’s campaign spends the $654,046.56 cash on hand, the measured finance committee Ascend Albuquerque spends its $120,330 cash on hand and the other 6 candidates spend their combined resources of  $494,968.29.

“HE MAY BE A SHMUCK, BUT HE’S OUR SHMUCK!”

The fact that the Albuquerque Journal  poll revealed that among self-reported “liberal” voters, meaning progressive voters, 70% approved of the mayor’s job performance is the biggest explanation why Keller will likely be re-elected to a third term. Simply put the progressive wing of the Democratic Party will elect Keller to a third term ignoring his failed record and all of his shortcomings  agreeing with the Yiddish saying “He may be a shmuck, but he’s our shmuck.”

When it’s all said and done, the final outcome of the election was likely a foregone conclusion when the six candidates running against a very unpopular Mayor failed to qualify for public finance reflecting a very weak slate of candidates. But then again, anything can happen.

___________________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

POLL METHODOLOGY

The 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.

All three Journal articles relied upon or quoted contain the following poll mythology:

“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.”

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

The Bernalillo County Clerk has qualified the following  7 candidates running for Mayor who will appear on the November 4 ballot:

1. Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller.
2. Eddie Varela, a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief.
3. Alex Uballez, the former U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico.
4. Louie Sanchez, a retired APD police officer and current city councilor.
5. Darren White, the former sheriff of Bernalillo County and former CEO of medcal cannabis company PurLife.
6. Daniel Chavez, president of Parking Company of America was the very first to qualify for the ballot.
7. Mayling Armijo, the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County.

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_300f4829-e579-427d-b59e-a5d884e1d114.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

More than a few candidate forums have already occurred with business organizations as well as neighborhood associations. With that in mind, following are a few questions that are suggested for city voters and candidate forum sponsors to consider asking the candidates for Mayor:

EDITORS NOTE: Many of the same questions can be modified and asked of all the candidates running for City Council.

ELECTION AND CAMPAIGN FINANCING

• Albuquerque’s municipal election is officially classified as nonpartisan where candidate’s party affiliations on not identified on the ballot. It is common knowledge that the major parties get involved with the races for Mayor and City Council. Should the city seek to change the law and have its municipal elections become partisan elections?
• Candidates for Mayor are given 64 days to collect 3,000 qualifying nominating petition signatures from Albuquerque registered to secure a ballot position. Public finance candidates for Mayor were required to collect 3,780 donations of $5.00 to the city from registered voters to qualify for the city to give them $755,946 in city financing for their campaigns.
• The time frame to collect both nominating petition signatures and $5.00 qualifying contributions was the same 64 day time period. Mayor Tim Keller was the only candidate for Mayor who qualified for public finance.  Should more time be given to collect nominating petitions signatures and the number of qualifying donations?
• Should the City’s public finance system be abolished?
• Should the city abolish collecting nominating petition signatures and simply require a declaration of candidacy to be placed on the ballot as is the case for county elected officials?
• Should public finance just be given to those who qualify for ballot with nominating petition signatures and get rid of the $5.00 donations to the city?

IMMIGRATION

• Should the City of Albuquerque be a sanctuary city, immigrant friendly city or neither?
• Should the Albuquerque Police Department APD dedicate resources to assist in Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions and enforce immigration laws?

HOMELESSNESS

 “Safe Outdoor Spaces” are organized, managed homeless encampments. Current zoning law allows two homeless encampments for upward of 50 people in all the nine City Council districts with regulations mandating hand-washing stations, toilets and showers, 6-foot fencing and require 24/7 security.

• Should the city relax or eliminate regulations to allow expansion of the Safe Outdoor Spaces program with the goal of increasing the number?
• Should the city allow for smaller Safe Outdoor Spaces without restrictions such as security for encampments of 10 to 15 persons?
• Should there be any limit to the number of sanctioned safe outdoor spaces throughout the city and should they be allowed in residential neighborhoods?

According to the City budgets for the years 2021 to 2024, the Keller administration has already spent  $300,000,000, to operate shelters and provide homeless services. The $300 million has been used  to implement an integrated homeless shelter system of 5 shelters as follow:

1. The Gibson Gateway shelter
2. The Gateway West shelter
3. The Family Gateway shelter
4. The Youth Homeless shelter
5. The Recovery shelter

 The city is also spending upwards of $56 million a year for service contracts to assist the homeless.

• Should the city accept the unhoused from other New Mexico cities and towns in order to provide them with services?
• Do you feel the city needs to do more or less to deal with homeless?

HOUSEING AND ZONING

• Please explain your experience with city planning and if you expect to be involved with the nuts and bolts of city planning work?
• In what way do you see your role as a Mayor interfacing with the Planning Department?
• Please express your knowledge of the Integrated Development Ordinance (IDO), which is the city’s zoning laws with a biannual update process. Can you give examples of what you consider successes and failures of this process?
• What do you know about Albuquerque Neighborhood Associations and Neighborhood Coalitions? How have you been involved with these groups before running for office? How do you see the Neighborhood Association Recognition Ordinance affecting neighborhood associations?
• What is your understanding of the city’s “housing crisis”? Do you define it in terms of a shortage of “affordable housing” or a need for “government subsidized” housing and to what extent should the city be required to provide eather?
• Please define the term Transitional Housing as you see it and to what extent should the city provide such housing?
• Do you feel city should acquire motels and commercial office space and convert to “low-income” housing?
• What is your position on Mayor Keller’s Housing Forward Plan and increasing density in all neighborhoods with zoning changes giving Planning Department exclusive authority to authorize casitas, duplexes and town home developments?
• What is your position on “Opt In Zoning” which is where the city would establish a process allowing property owners to opt-in to changing the zoning of their properties to allow zoning for higher-density housing options on their residential properties citywide and mixed-used development without affording adjacent property owners the right to object or appeal the zoning change?
• What is your position on CASITA and duplex development, and should it be allowed in all parts of the city to increase density?
• Are you in favor of the city adopting renter’s empowerment ordinance where restrictions are placed on property owners and landlords preventing them from conducting background checks, credit checks, dictating the manner rent is paid, prevent requiring tenants to acquire renters’ insurance, preventing tenants from having pets and placing limitations on rent deposits?

APD AND REFORM

• Would you terminate and replace APD Chief Harold Medina?
• Should a new chief come from within APD  or should a national search be conducted and outside management recruited to include Chief and Deputy Chiefs?
• Currently, Chief Medina is paid $200,00O a year. Should a new Chief be paid more or less?
• Do you feel APD is understaffed and if so what should the staffing levels be?
• Should all APD’s  brass of Chief, Deputy Chiefs and Commanders  be replaced with management team recruited?
• Should the police union be allowed to include Lieutenants and Sergeants in its bargaining unit or are they management?
• Should APD undergo a complete reorganization to include reducing management levels?
• Currently, APD has upwards of 900 sworn police with 1,000 positions fully funded. What do you feel is the number of APD sworn officers needed and what steps would you take to increase APD ranks?
• What is your position on APD DWI scandal and what do you feel needs to be done to prevent it from ever happening again?

ALBUQUERQUE COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

The Albuquerque Community Safety Division was created 3 years ago. Its primary responsibility is responding to calls for service 24/7 and performing outreach for inebriation, homelessness, addiction, and other issues that do not require police or  emergency medical team response. The enacted  2025  is $19.3 million and includes funding for 131 Full time positions.

Do you feel the Albuquerque Community Safety Division has been a success or failure in dealing with the unhoused?

CRIME

According to APD’s midyear crime statistic for 2025, all major categories of crime are down compared to the same period in 2024. Auto theft has dropped 40%, residential burglary dropped 14%, and commercial burglary has dropped 24%. Major nonviolent crime is down by 25% when shoplifting is added. The three main categories of violent crime of  aggravated assault, sex crimes, and robbery are down 12%. Homicides which are identified as a totally separate category, have declined 28%. Murders went from 47 in the first half of 2024 to 34 the first half of 2025 year  putting the city on track to finish the year below 80 homicides. In 2024, the city recorded 89 total homicides.

• Do you belief the statistics, and if not why?
• What specifically would you do to deal with the city’s crime problems?

FIRE AND RESCUE

The city recently changed its policy on requiring at least 2 paramedics to call outs and now requires only one paramedic in order to resources. What is your position on this change?

CITY GOVERNMENT

• Should Albuquerque abolish the Mayor – Council form of government and return to a city council city manager form of government?
• Should the size of the city council be increased or decreased?

STATE FAIR GROUNDS

On December 3, 2024 Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, accompanied by Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, Mayor Tim Keller and State Fair Commission Chairman Eric Serna and other officials held a news conference at Expo New Mexico. They announced a plan to move the state fairgrounds to a different location and redevelop the 236 acre State Fair property into a mixed-use development.

On March 21, the New Mexico legislature  passed Senate Bill 481, which creates what is known as the “State Fairgrounds District” with the purpose  decide the future of  the existing State Fair grounds area. It will slightly raise local income taxes and authorizes the state to issue revenue bonds for redevelopment of the property. The bill was signed into law by the governor, and its funding mechanisms are expected to raise $12 million for initial ramp-up efforts.  Among the many ideas suggested for the development of the 236 acres of prime property included low income and affordable housing and demolishing the 60-year-old Tingly Coliseum and building a multipurpose entertainment and sports facility. Recommendations for future land use included commercial retail business development and also keeping the Sate Fair where it is.

• Do you feel the state fair known as Expo New Mexico should be moved to a different location and if so where?
• Do you feel that the state fairgrounds redevelopment should include low income housing or affordable housing to any degree?
• Do you feel the state fairgrounds should be a year round entertainment and recreational district and continue as EXPO New Mexico?
• Do you feel  the state fair ground redevelopment should include a new multipurpose arena of 15,000 or more to replace Tingly Colisium?

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

The Economic Development Department provides services intended to bring long-term economic vitality to the City. Included in the department are the economic development division, the film and music offices, the international trade division, the management of contracts for tourism and the program for economic development investments. The FY/26 approved  General Fund budget form the Economic Development Department is $5.1 million. The department employs 17 full time employees and that has remained unchanged for the last 3 years.

• Is the city spending enough for Economic Development Department?
• What would you do as Mayor to attract more businesses and industries to the city?
• What industries would you make as priority to attract and what incentives do you feel can be offered?

PLATFORM

• What do you believe are the cities’ top three problems that need to address by the next Mayor other than reducing crime and dealing with the unhoused?
• List your top three priorities you want to accomplish by the end of your four year term as Mayor?

FINAL COMMENT

Early voting begins on October 18 and you can vote at the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office and it ends on November 1. October 21 is the deadline to apply for an absentee ballot from the Bernalillo County Clerk. Election day is November 4 at polling cites throughout city. A listing of election day voting locations can be found at this links:

 https://www.berncoclerk.gov/elections/election-day-voting/

Loretta Naranjo Lopez was born and raised in Albuquerque. She is a life-long resident of Albuquerque and 6th generation Martinez from Martineztown in Albuquerque, New Mexico. She has a Master of Community and Regional Planning and a Bachelor of Business Administration from the University of New Mexico.  Ms. Naranjo Lopez was employed with the City of Albuquerque for 25 years of which 15 years was in the City Planning Department. She retired as a City Planner and worked as a staff planner. This position required the review and analysis of all area plans, neighborhood plans, sector plans, and resolutions and ordinances. Loretta is an activist and organizer for 35 years.  Loretta formed ARCH + PLAN Land Use Consultants, LLC and she brings many years of relevant experience. She serves as the President of the Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association (SBMTNA). Ms. Naranjo Lopez believes that the voices of neighborhoods should be heard and brought into decision making at the City Council level.

Following is a guest opinion column written by Loretta Naranjo Lopez who gave her consent to publish her guest opinion column on www.PeteDinelli.com. She was not compensated for the column. The guest column is being published as a public service announcement.

MARTINEZTOWN IS NOT FOR SALE!

In the 1970s, the City of Albuquerque had the goal to expand downtown into the historic Martineztown Santa Barbara Neighborhood.  At that time, Martineztown residents united and told the city “Martineztown is Not for Sale.” 

Today, Martineztown residents need to be united not only in the neighborhood, but with all of Albuquerque neighborhoods. The record indicates that the City of Albuquerque, City Councilor Joaquin Baca, Mortgage Finance Authority and the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District are on a fast track to destroy all of our historic neighborhoods. The City proposes to change the zoning laws to allow higher density in the historic single-family neighborhoods. A building over 30-feet can be built next to your home without any notification.

In December 19, 2024, Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association (SBMTNA) attended the Albuquerque Development Commission hearing to stop the City of Albuquerque Development Commission under the Metropolitan Redevelopment Office from placing the 101 Lomas NE and 229 Broadway NE in the Downtown 2050 MRA Redevelopment Plan Area.  The committee listened to the association and did not include these parcels in approving Case #24-10 – Downtown 2050 Redevelopment Plan. 

However, Councilor Joaquin Baca decided to make an amendment at the April 7, 2025 to include 101 Lomas NE and 229 Broadway NE parcels in the Downtown MR Area Boundary.  He did this without informing the neighborhood of his intent. He possibly violated the Open Meetings Act of which I filed a complaint with the Department of Justice. His policy analyst never called the association to attend this meeting.  On Monday, April 21, 2025 before the full City Council Action to approve the Downtown MR Area Boundary with this amendment, I asked Councilor Baca why he didn’t inform the neighborhood?  “He stated to me he didn’t have to inform the neighborhood and that Martineztown Santa Barbara Neighborhood would be last to receive any capital outlay money.”

On Wednesday September 24, 2025 the City Council Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee (LUPZ) will for a second time vote to approve the Downtown 2050 Albuquerque Redevelopment Plan.  This plan includes the Martineztown Santa Barbara Metropolitan Redevelopment Area of 101 Lomas NE and 229 Broadway NE.  Please email all Councilors and say no to not include the Martineztown parcels of 101 Lomas NE and 229 Broadway NE in the Downtown MRA boundaries and neighborhood boundary.  Martineztown Santa Barbara is an adjacent historical neighborhood to Downtown and these MRA economic funds should not be taken out of the neighborhood.

 If you thought that Martineztown Santa Barbara neighborhood could not get any more bad news, you are wrong.  The City Council staff Matthew Cox has proposed to remove from the Martineztown Santa Barbara boundary 229 Broadway NE into the Downtown boundary to give total control of this property to Mayor Keller who plans to give away tax dollars from the Downtown MRA Fund from this property to a developer.  The reason City Council is amending the Martineztown Santa Barbara is to downzone the property from nonresidential to mixed use.  Mayor Keller’s developer friends potentially want to build a high-rise complex at this location.  The City of Albuquerque with the support of Councilor Baca wants to control how this vacant lot can be built.  The proposal as we understand is without any input from the Martineztown neighborhood. 

Mayor Keller, Councilor Baca and MRCOG, NMFA plan to give MFA funding and Metropolitan Redevelopment funding to developers.  These government representatives plan to remove what they call obstacles such as removing land use and regulatory barriers.  These government entities call this “site ready properties.”

The Middle Rio Grande Council of Government (MRCOG) recommends to amend zoning regulations to prohibit single-family-only developments and allow for higher-density and mixed-use developments and adjust zoning laws to allow for higher-density rental developments in areas currently zoned predominantly for single-family homes. New Mexico Finance Authority is a quasi-government entity is also stating that they will provide funding if the land is ready to develop without any government interference such as applying for a zone map amendment.

MRCOG is stating they would like to combat resistance to development. It is recommended to encourage a mix of housing options. MRCOG is also recommending a regional inventory of government-owned vacant land. This inventory would help identify publicly owned land that can be utilized to support affordable housing initiatives and maximize public benefit. The question neighborhood leaders have who is this affordable housing for and what kind of public benefit?  Do these initiatives provide an equal portion of diverse income from middle income to low income?

According to the Housing and Neighborhood Economic Development Fund (HNDEF) 2022 Report states on page 16,  “high rents, lower vacancies, and increasing demand for new real estate development characterize the office, industrial, retail, and multifamily rental markets since 2002 and suggest that while the real estate market in the Pocket is growing, these conditions have not improved local residents’ economic prospects. The Impacts of current Albuquerque planning Initiatives – These pressures will only intensify as there are many new development projects in the pipeline that will impact the local real estate market, drive demand upward, and potentially place increasing costs pressures on low-income households and local businesses. While these new developments are exciting for Albuquerque residents, they may create inhospitable economic conditions that produce neighborhood displacement of residents and small businesses and overall gentrification.  These projects include but are not limited to – the rail trail and Greater Downtown Urban Trail projects, railyards redevelopment and proposed stadium for the New Mexico United professional soccer team.”

On September 9, 2025, Santa Barbara Martineztown Neighborhood Association met with City Council staff to ask what the City is proposing to develop at 229 Broadway NE vacant land.  Matthew Cox stated they do not know what they are planning to build.  He forgot to state that the City and the other government entities have plans to destroy historical neighborhoods without any input from the community.  According to Council staff, there will be no environmental studies or economic impact studies and the reason to take out these properties out of the neighborhood boundary is so the Martineztown Santa Barbara Neighborhood will have no input in the development.

Join Envision ABQ group on Facebook to stop the City Mayor, City Council, and the Legislatures from destroying our communities for the sake of displacing our neighborhoods to provide a playground for the rich investors, developers, and their friends.  Envision believes that housing is a right not a commodity and housing is an essential foundational social policy.

Please contact your city councilor and  voice your opinion and tell them not to include Martineztown in the Downtown 2050 Redevelopment Plan.

Your help would be greatly appreciated! 

Sincerely yours,

Loretta Naranjo Lopez, MCRP, BBA, ALA

PLEASE CONTACT CITY COUNCIL

On Wednesday September 24, 2025 the City Council Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee (LUPZ) will meet  for a second time to vote to approve the Downtown 2050 Albuquerque Redevelopment Plan.Please contact city councilors and voice your opinion.  The City Council phone number and email addresses to the councilors and their council services assistant are:

CITY COUNCIL PHONE: (505) 768-3100

CITY COUNCIL AND COUNCIL ANALYST EMAILS

• lesanchez@cabq.gov,
• bmaceachen@cabq.gov,
• bacajoaquin9@gmail.com,
• namolina@cabq.gov,
• kpena@cabq.gov,
• cquezada@cabq.gov,
• bbassan@cabq.gov,
• dawnmarie@cabq.gov,
• danlewis@cabq.gov,
• galvarez@cabq.gov,
• nrogers@cabq.gov,
• district6@cabq.gov,
• tfiebelkorn@cabq.gov,
• dchampine@cabq.gov,
• rgrout@cabq.gov
• rrmiller@cabq.gov

DINELLI COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

All neighborhood associations in Albuquerque should be very concerned about the efforts being made to increase higher density development in historic Martineztown’s single-family neighborhoods by enactment and use of  Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan zoning. It’s an effort all neighborhood associations and the entire city has seen before but rejected by the City Council’s Land Use Planning and Zoning Committee.

The effort is nothing more than an another version of Mayor Tim Keller’s proposed R 25-167 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.  It would have allowed duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods to increase density over objections of adjoining property owners and neighborhood associations.

Supporters of the Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan  zoning  changes that include Martineztown suggest the rezoning will increase affordable housing in the area. It will not. It’s a “Field of Dreams” zoning philosophy of “if we rezone it, they will build it,” ignoring adjacent property owner rights, favoring developers and investors.

The proposed zoning changes to the Metropolitan Redevelopment Plan involving Martinez town favors developers and investors and  will destroy the character of the historic Martineztown and lead to gentrification. It will be developers and investors on the prowl who will purchase property for the development of duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods.

_____________________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

Article References:

Albuquerque Affordable Housing Coalition website:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1J0XyLrhORQ68CMdaad4Kjinq4tgBZ00c/view

MRCOG, MRMPO – https://albuquerqueaffordablehousingcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/2025_Presentation_AAHC_Fnl.pdf

HNEDF 2022 Report, https://www.cabq.gov/health-housing-homelessness/documents/2022-hnedf-plan-final.pdf

Broken City, Author Patrick M. Condon

Albuquerque voters will have five City Council contests to decide in the city’s November 4 election. The city council’s odd-numbered districts of 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 will all be on the ballot. District 1 is an open seat with 4 running for the seat while the incumbent Democrat has given up his seat to run for Mayor. There are a total of 13 candidates running for city council. The link to a related blog article containing the biographies of all the 13 city council candidates is in the postscript below.

Publicly financed candidates receive campaign financing of $1.25 per registered voter in their districts. In exchange for getting the public financing, public finance candidates  must agree in writing to a spending cap equal to what they are given in public financing from the city. Privately financed candidates can raise and spend unlimited amounts with no spending caps.

In City Council District 1 where there is no incumbent, two candidates have qualified for Public Finance and 2 candidates are Privately Financed candidate. The 4 incumbent City Councilors in Districts 3, 5, 7 and 9 have qualified for public financing and all their opponents are privately financed candidates.

On September 8, all  the candidates running for City Council  were required to file with the City Clerk their sixth  City Council  Financial Campaign Disclosure Statement on all contributions and expenditures covering the time period of August 11 to September 8. Following is a summary review of those reports:

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 1

District 1 City Council District is currently represented by first term Democrat  City Councilor Louie Sanchez who did not seek reelection and who is one of 7 candidates running for Mayor. City Council District 1 is the centrally located Westside District between City Council District 5 on the North represented by Republican Dan Lewis and City Council District 3 on the South represented by Democrat Klarissa Peña. The geographical borders generally include Central Avenue on the South, Coors and the Rio Grande River on the East and “zig zags” on the North to include  Atrisco Dr., Tesuque Dr. and Buterfield Trail  and with the West border  jetting outwards to the city limits and vacant land.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 1 was 450. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 1 is $55,643.15. Two  candidates running District 1 have qualified for public finance and two are privately financed candidates.

Democrat Aheren Grego qualified for Publicly Financing and was given  $55,643.15. Griego has raised $56,253.15 when you include “seed money” donated and in-kind contributions. Griego has spent $2,140.44 and has $54,112.71 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/5M8qAm9nvc1iNlNn7hSvY5P4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33901/2/2025

Democrat Daniel Leiva qualified for Publicly Financing and was given $55,643 by the city. Levia has raised $56,258.05 when you include “seed money”  and in-kind donations and he has  spent  $12,465.52 spent and has $43,792.53 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/zyojYr0lUliE8tfKEUclXApRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/3/33901/2/2025

Joshua Neal is Privately Financed. Neal has raised  $22,363.47, he has spent $9,828.77 and has $12,534.70 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/uKfPdrImXBXwI7n_xOY1LZP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33901/2/2025

Democrat Stephanie Telles is Privately Financed. Telles has raised $7,065, has spent $7,024.01 and has $40.99 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/1U9PrsbCQ8J4WXtzks_mc5P4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33901/2/2025

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT  3

Three candidates are running to represent Southwest Albuquerque’s District 3. The district is considered safe democrat. The geographic borders are generally “Old Coors Road” on the East and the Valley area, Central on the North, and Dennis Chavez Road on the South, with the West side border jetting out to the city limits and mostly vacant area.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 3 was 335. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 3 is $36,645.60. 

Democrat Incumbent City Councilor Klarissa Peña qualified for Public Financing and was given $36,645.60.  Peña has raised $41,835.60 when you include “seed money” raised and in-kind donations raised, she has spent $8,409.59 and has $33,426.01 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/7KXNAAL9bShpFbJ-BIcQqZP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33903/2/2025

Democrat Christopher Sedillo is Privately Financed.  Sedillo has raised $14,489.00, he has spent $8,445.98 and has $6,023.02 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/-7BcMI-cZgYSUjBLiqH03JP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33903/2/2025

Democrat Teresa Garcia is Privately Financed. Garcia has raised $5,061, she has spent $1,745.50 and she has $3,315.50 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/XeWKa9cv4TQvdg8Mebl7A5P4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33903/2/2025

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 5

District 5 is the city’s northwest quadrant council district in the northwest corner of the city and west of the river. The incumbent city councilor for District 5 is Incumbent MAGA Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis. He is being challenged by Democrat Athena Allen.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 5 was 446 and the amount of public financing is $55,065.10. 

MAGA Republican Incumbent City Councillor Dan Lewis qualified for  Public Finance and was give $55,065.10. Lewis raised $55,815.10 when “seed money” and in-kind donations are included, has spent $5,944.36 spent and he has $49,870.74 on hand

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/O8OZdW5MbjwqGk-fhbrrnApRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/3/33905/2/2025

Athenea Allen is a Privately Financed candidate. Allen has raised  $56,398.25 in private donations, she has spent $10,322.61 and has $45,975.64 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/Kx_Xqqm_PsS71XbLqlMr55P4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33905/2/2025

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7

District 7 is the mid heights city council district currently represented by first term Progressive Democrat City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn. The district includes the uptown retail business district including the Commons, Winrock and Coronado Shopping Center. The District boundaries are generally Montgomery Boulevard on the North, I-25 on the West, Lomas on the South and Eubank on the East.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 7 was 466. The amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 7 is $57,251.85.

Incumbent Progressive Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn qualified for publicly Finance and was given $57,251.85 by the city. Fiebelkorn raised  $58,131.85 when “seed money” and in-kind donations are included. Fiebelkorn has spent $21,968.17 and she has $36,163.68 on hand

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/d0ks4Ry68xmiMxWOWD_h-wpRrh19RviUIoO4CmCWDAE1/3/33907/2/2025

Democrat Jaemes Shanley has qualified to be a Write-in candidate and he is Privately Financed.  Shanley has raised $401, he has spent $71.73 and he has $329.27 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/88cRtfKnOFz0sQefba3OcJP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33907/2/2025

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 9

City Council District 9 is often referred to as the Four Hills area city council district and is currently represented by first term MAGA Republican City Councilor Renee Grout who is seeking a second term. District 9 is very condensed and is considered safe Republican. The Northern border is Menaul, the West border is Eubank, the Southern border is Dennis Ave, SE and the East border is the Sandia foothills federal land.

The number of qualifying $5.00 contributions to secure public finance in District 9 was 416 and the amount of public finance given to candidates by the city and the spending cap for District 9 is $51,375.40

MAGA Republican Incumbent City Councillor Renée Grout qualified for Public Finance and was give  $51,375.40 by the city. Grout raised  $51,925.55 when you include “seed money” and in-kind donations. Grout has spent $1,479.50 and she has $50,446.05 on hand.

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/-UCyAFuXuHHfz0MF2d4hvpP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33909/2/2025

Democrat Colton Newman is a Privately Financed candidate. Newman has raised  $1,134.41 raised, he has spent $63.51 and he has  $1,070.90 cash  on hand

https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/#/exploreDetails/XYpIYV1vLVYCYvRDjlDOmZP4048PFnxLXRUfdOLcQk01/3/33909/2/2025

Recent candidate forums have focused on crime, homelessness, housing shortages and economic development, with business leaders pressing candidates on their approaches to these challenges and their willingness to work collaboratively with the Mayor.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

It is clear from reviewing all the campaign finance reports filed by the candidates for city council, 3 out of 4 incumbent city councilors who are Public Financed candidates have a lopsided financial advantage over their Privately Financed candidates.  The fact that all 4 incumbent city councilors on the ballot qualified for public finance is a testament of the power of their incumbency.

The only exception is in City Council District 5 where Republican Incumbent City Councilor Dan Lewis qualified for  Public Finance and was give $55,065.10 and he has raised $55,815.10 when “seed money” and in kind donations are included.  His Democratic opponent Athenea Allen is a Privately Financed candidate and has raised $56,398.25 in private donations and she will likely raise more and will out spend Lewis. It’s impressive that Democrat Athenea Allen has out raised three time elected Republican City Council Councilor Dan Lewis and its a clear indication that the race is the most competitive city council race and that Allen has the momentum to  win.

The two Publicly Finance candidates in District 1, Aheren Grego and Daniel Leiva were each given $55,643.15 in public finance. Privately Finance Opponent Joshua Neal has raised $22,363.47 and  Privately Finance Opponent Stephanie Telles has raised $7,065.

With seven weeks remaining before the November 4 election, voters can expect that in all 5 city council races a spike in “door to door” campaigning by the candidates and political campaign mailers will be sent out.

Early voting begins October 8. The next campaign finance reporting deadline is October 13. Election Day is November 4. If no candidate receives more than 50% of votes in any contested race, runoff elections would be held in December.

Links to relied upon or related articles are here:

Ballot Set For 2025 City Council Elections; Final Outcome Of 5 Races Will Impact Balance Of Power On 9 Member City Council Between Existing 4 MAGA Republicans, 3 Progressive Democrats And 2 Conservative or Moderate Democrats; Jaemes Shanley To Oppose Tammy Feibelkorn

https://www.abqjournal.com/article_ee3a2715-893f-438b-9bb8-d10fe58491be.html

Thanks to public financing, council candidates still have hundreds of thousands to spend

On September 2, two months before the November 4 municipal election where voters will be voting on the offices of Mayor and City Council in Districts 1,3,5,7 and 9, two separate lawsuits were filed by third parties against two candidates for Albuquerque City Council with the goal of having them kick off the ballot for their failure to submit the required 500 qualifying nominating petition signatures. One lawsuit was filed against Stephanie Telles in City Council District 1. The second lawsuit was against Teresa Garcia in City Council District 3.

In addition to Telles and Garcia, Bernalillo County Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh was named as a defendant in both cases. City Clerk Ethan Watson was not named  as a necessary and proper party defendant but the City  intervened in the case for the purposes of an emergency hearing.  Both lawsuits were filed by private attorney and former State Senator Jacob Candelaria and Senator Antonio “Moe” Maestas with the Candelaria Law firm LLC in the 2nd Judicial District Court on behalf of two Plaintiff registered voters who live in District 1 and one Plaintiff registered voter who lives in District 3.

Both lawsuits are straight forward challenges to the validity of the signatures collected and contend that several of the signatures accepted by the City Clerk’s Office were invalid for a variety of reasons, including being collected after the city deadline. Other reasons included being incomplete, duplicative signatures, signatures from people who are not registered to vote in the district.  A person identified in the lawsuits as Nathaniel Sierra, a private investigator contracted by Candelaria Law firm, allegedly examined the petition signatures to determine validity.

EXPEDITED HEARING

The  lawsuit filed against Stephanie Telles alleged she failed to qualify in a four-way race for the open District 1 city council seat where City Councilor Louie Sanchez is vacating the  post to run for mayor. The four candidates running are Ahren Griego, Daniel Leiva, Joshua Taylor Neal and Stephanie Telles. Candidates Ahren Griego, Daniel Leiva, Joshua Taylor Neal were found by the City Clerk to have submitted the required 500 qualifying signatures.

The lawsuit filed alleges Telles submitted 581 signatures, but the City Clerk’s Office accepted only 493 as valid, leaving Telles 7 signatures short to qualify for the ballot. Telles appealed her disqualification to the City Clerk, but the city clerk denied her appeal.

Notwithstanding the Albuquerque City Clerk’s finding that Telles failed to submit the required number of verified petition signatures, Stephanie Telles filed her Declaration of Candidacy with the Bernalillo County Clerk. On August 28, 2025, Bernalillo County Clerk Michelle S. Kavenaugh notified Stephanie Telles by letter that the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office qualified her Declaration of Candidacy.

On September 12, Second Judicial District Court Josh Allison scheduled  expedited emergency hearings on both cases that had been assigned to him. Testimony was taken in the Telles case on the validity and challenges to individual petition signatures. The deciding issue centered on whether nominating  petition signatures are valid if they are collected  after the city’s July 7 deadline but prior to an August  26 deadline set by the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office. David Ring, the attorney for Stephanie Telles  argued in a Motion to Dismiss the case that  state election law gives candidates 70 days, until August  26, to submit nominating petition signatures.  Ring  alleged this in the motion:

“[The city’s July 7 deadline]  amounts to an unlawful attempt to abridge state law.  It limits the right of voters to participate in the candidate nomination process and of candidates to run for office.”

Judge Allison dismissed the suit against Telles after finding that signatures she submitted after the city’s July 7 were valid under state election laws. David Ring, Telles’ attorney said  this:

“Ms. Telles made it by three signatures — she got 503.”

Following Allison’s ruling in the Telles case, Candelaria and Maestas voluntarily dismissed the lawsuit against Garcia, who also submitted signatures collected after the July 7 city deadline. The lawsuit alleged Teresa Garcia turned in six-hundred and ninety nine (699) signatures to the City Clerk but the City Clerk identified and rejected one-hundred, sixty-nine (169) signatures as invalid.  Of the five-hundred thirty (530) signatures accepted as valid by the city clerk, the complaint alleges Teresa Garcia had collected signatures after the city’s July 7 deadline to collect signatures and in the weeks leading up the August 26  declaration filing date, well over the legal deadline allowed by the city.

At the conclusion of the September 12 the hearing District Court Judge Allison ruled in favor of both Telles and Garcia and ordered that they both remain on the ballot. Candelaria said he had  planned to appeal the ruling to the New Mexico Supreme Court but said this:

“The ballot has to be sent to the printer today. …  As a practical matter, any appeal to the Supreme Court will not result in these candidates being removed from the ballot.”

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

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_2c1d9eb8-cda6-4af2-b2f9-97a65105ee0b.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The Local Election Act (LEA) was passed by the New Mexico Legislature in 2018. It allows for consolidated local elections in nonpartisan municipal elections to be conducted every November of the odd-numbers years with the county clerk to administer the elections. The city’s November 4 election for Mayor and City Council will be conducted and administered by the Bernalillo County Clerk. For that reason, all candidates for City Council were required to  file Declarations of Candidacies with the Bernalillo County Clerk as well as  500 verified petition signatures collected on August 26, 2025.

The link to the City Charter and  Local Elections act is here:

https://codelibrary.amlegal.com/codes/albuquerque/latest/albuqcharter/0-0-0-131

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/chapter-1/article-22/section-1-22-3/

A “Declaration for Candidacy” for Albuquerque City Council along with the requisite signatures on nominating petitions were required to be filed with the Bernalillo County Clerk on August 26, 2025, and not the City Clerk, between the hours of 9:00 am and 5:00 pm. (City Election Code § 1-22-7(A))

https://www.City.gov/vote/candidate-information/candidate-calendar-for-the-2025-regular-local-election

The biggest problem identified with both challenges to the candidacies of Stephanie Telles and Teresa Garcia is that there is no clarity under the law and no memo of understanding agreed to between the City Clerk and the Bernalillo County Clerk as to who has the ultimate authority between the Albuquerque City Clerk and the Bernalillo County Clerk to decide the validity nominating signatures submitted nor the time frame to collect signatures.

Article 2,  Section 4, of the City of Albuquerque Charter dealing with Elections outlines the qualifications to run for Albuquerque City Council and states in part:

“Persons desiring to become candidates for District Councilor shall, before being placed on the ballot, file with the City Clerk a petition containing signatures of five hundred (500) registered voters residing in the district which the person desires to represent.”

It is clear that all candidates for City Council are required to gather 500 verified nominating petition signatures from registered voters within the city council district the candidate wishes to represent. The problem was the City Clerk decreed that nominating petition collection period was from June 2, 2025, at 8:00am to July 7, 2025, at 5:00pm ignoring state law that the Declarations of Candidacies and submission of signatures to the County Clerk was to occur on August 26 giving candidates more time to collect nominating petition signatures.  

Under New Mexico State Law, “A signature shall be counted on a nominating petition unless there is evidence presented that the petition is not a voter of the state, district, county or area to be represented by the office for which the person seeking the nomination is a candidate.”  Further, “A signature shall be counted on a nominating petition unless there is evidence presented that the petition signature has signed more than one petition for the same office.” [§ 1-1-7.2(C)(1) NMSA], § 1-1-7.2(C)(2) NMSA]

Ultimately, State District Court Judge Allison was forced to decide that the County Clerk has the ultimate  authority to decide who makes the ballot, the verification of nominating petition signatures and that State Law supersedes City election laws.

Notwithstanding, the City Clerk’s failure to initiate an action against the County Clerk to prevent  Stephanie Telles and Teresa Garcia being placed on the ballot in order to enforce the City’s own election laws was a dereliction of duty on the City Clerk’s part.