On the 2025 Albuquerque Municipal ballot is the race for Mayor with seven candidates running and the 5 odd number city council races in Districts 1, 3, 5, 7 and 9 with 14 candidates running. Albuquerque’s mayoral and city council races elections are technically “nonpartisan” races, meaning party affiliation of the candidates are not listed on the ballot.

EARLY VOTING REPORTED AT ANEMIC 10% WITH DEMOCRATS OUT PACING REPUBLICANS

With early voting set to end Saturday, November 1, the voting  trend suggests final turnout levels will likely fall short of the 32% mark from Albuquerque’s last mayoral election in 2021. With less than one week until the November 4 Election day, it has been reported that early voting turnout rates in Albuquerque have been very low.

According to the Bernalillo County Clerk’s Office, only about 9.3% of Albuquerque’s 62,000 registered voters had cast ballots as of October 27. The figure includes both absentee votes and early voting.

According to the clerk’s office, registered Democrats have been voting at a slightly higher rate than Republicans since early voting began on October 7. Roughly 9.5% of registered Democrats in Bernalillo County had cast ballots as of November 27 compared to 8.4% of Republicans. A smaller percentage of independent voters, or those declining to state a political affiliation, had cast a ballot. In other words, more than 55% of the Bernalillo County voters who had cast a ballot entering Monday were registered Democrats even though Democrats make up only about 45% of all registered voters in the county.

Brian Sanderoff, the President of Research and Polling the company that did the Albuquerque Journal poll, said it’s  common for Democrats to vote at a higher rate than Republicans during the initial stages of an election. He also said more voters have voted before Election Day than during recent election cycles.

The  Journal Poll  found 37% of likely voters in Albuquerque voters were undecided about who they planned to vote for in the November 4 local election. According to Sanderoff, the low turnout rates so far in this year’s local election are likely connected to the large number of undecided voters. Sanderoff said mayoral candidates Tim Keller and Alex Uballez will fare better than their rivals among Democratic voters due to their more progressive views.

Sanderoff said that with Democrats so far voting at a higher rate  than Republicans in a city in which Democrats far outnumber GOP voters, the trend could make it difficult for a Republican candidate to post an upset victory even if this year’s Election Day turnout ends up narrowing  or eliminating  the current gap.

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

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_2527b6cd-7419-4d42-b65e-943e07e1a167.html

Sanderoff said this to KOAT-TV about the Mayor’s race:

“There are six solid candidates out there. The voters have a lot of different people to choose from. Some of these candidates are conservative, some liberal, some moderate. So, the voters have a choice. It’s just a matter of the voters researching the candidate of their choice and voting come Election Day.”

“A number of weeks ago, the Journal-KOAT poll showed 37% of the voters undecided. Despite the debates and everything, I still think there are many voters on the fence, and perhaps that’s holding them back a little. We’re still hoping that turnout will increase significantly, and more people will vote by Election Day.”

“A lot of the candidates are now spending the majority of the resources trying to persuade those undecided voters. As the voters hear from the candidates in the closing week, hopefully, more will make up their minds and vote on Election Day. The person least likely to vote is the person who doesn’t have a strong opinion. If you don’t really have a strong candidate preference, then you’re less likely to vote.”

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-mayoral-election-day/69182670

On October 29, Sanderoff was quoted as saying this to “New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan”  about the voter turnout:

Although overall turnout in the municipal election is sluggish, both Democrats and Republicans are turning out at a rate higher than their actual proportion of the registered voter population— and independents are turning out at a much lower rate than their true proportions. 

Through Monday, whereas Democrats comprise 45.3% of the county registered voter population, they represent 55.5% of the voting population. Republicans comprise 27.8% of the county registered voter population, and 30.5% of the voting population. Independent voters (D-T-S) comprise 24.9% of the county registered voter population and only 13.3% of the voting population. To look at it another way, through Monday, 10.9% of Democrats have voted and 9.7% of Republicans have voted, while only 4.7% of independents have voted.  

https://www.joemonahan.com/

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL POLL REVISITED

On Sunday, September 28, the Albuquerque Journal published the results of an opinion poll on the  2025 Albuquerque’s Mayor race. The poll was conducted by Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc whose President is Brian Sanderoff. Research & Polling Inc is the exclusive polling company for the Albuquerque Journal. For at least the 40 past years, it has polled in New Mexico political races and it is considered the “gold standard” and one of the four top politcal pollsters in the country for is history of accuracy.

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%

POLL BREAKDOWN ACCORDING TO PARTY AFFILIATION

Tim Keller’s total 29%  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.

Alex Uballez’s poll number of 6%broke down as 9% Democrat, 1% Republican and 5% registered Independent.

Louie Sanchez’s poll number of 6% broke down as 3% Democrat, 12% Republican and 4 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.

Although the Albuquerque Journal Poll found that Mayor Tim Keller has the  lead in his bid to win reelection to a third term, 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 link to the quoted or relied upon Albuquerque Journal article is here:

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

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

With only 10% of Albuquerque’s registered voters having early voted by October 27, and with so many undecided voters, it can be said the race for Albuquerque Mayor is still a wide open race and anything could happen on election day.

The September 28 Albuquerque Journal poll is the only poll of any real substance that has been taken in the 2025 Mayors race that has been made public. The Albuquerque Journal will not be taking another poll. One candidate has said the Albuquerque Journal has said it will NOT be endorsing in the 2025 in the Mayor’s race.

Polls are nothing more than a “snapshot” in time reflecting public opinion and all to often become self-fulling prophecies.  All too often, polls do a major disservice to candidates, ultimately influencing public opinion and ending candidacies. Low opinion polls for candidates tend to dry up campaign contributions making it impossible for candidates  to continue with a campaign. This is what essentially happened to Mayling Armijo securing 1%, Eddie Varela securing 2% and Daniel Chavez securing 1% in the Albuquerque Journal Poll. Daniel Chavez admitted he dropped out of the race because of his poor showing in the Albuquerque Journal poll after spending $100,000 of his own money to gather qualifying nominating signatures.

Confidential sources have confirmed yet another poll has in fact been taken within the last week on the 4 top tier candidates of Keller, White, Sanchez and Uballez, but it’s uncertain if a candidates campaign took the poll or if the poll was done by a measured finance committee. It not at all likely the results of that poll will be released to the public.

Since the Albuquerque Journal poll, the candidates have had only two media sponsored debates, with one between the 4 top contenders and the other between all six candidates. The candidates have had a limited number of joint interactions at business forums and neighborhood associations.

Mayor Keller, Darren White and Louie Sanchez have been the only three who been able to afford to produce commercials with Keller overwhelming hitting the air waves with two commercials, Sanchez with one commercial  and White with one commercial.  Keller has had the  commanding financial advantage of  $733,000 in public campaign funds he received after qualifying for public finance and maintaining that advantage. Throughout the campaign his 5 opponents have struggled to raise donations to compete during this year’s election cycle.

More than a few political pundits are now offering their so called “expert opinions” on the final outcome of the race with the election less than a week away. Some are saying that there will be a runoff between Mayor Tim Keller and Darren White. Some are saying there will be a runoff between Mayor Tim Keller and Louie Sanchez, who is now securing Republican support. Others are saying that Alex Uballez will surprise all and make it into the runoff with Keller.

Still others are saying Mayor Keller has run a “flawless” campaign, despite losing his cool and chastising the audience at the Greater Albuquerque Area Realtors (GAAR) forum for believing his opponents “red meat” and telling them not to vote for him.   Some political opinion experts are going so far as saying Keller has overcome his 42% disapproval rating  and  will win outright and that there will be no runoff.  Most if not all of the pundits are saying Mayor Keller will come first on November 4. Mayor Keller for his part says there will be a runoff. Albuquerque Journal Political Opinion Columnist Jeff Tucker says Keller will win outright and that after the election, term limits need to be discussed even though the courts decided the issue 30 years ago and ruled term limits are unconstitutional in Albuquerque municipal elections.

The blunt reality is all the so called “political experts” who run their mouths off to politcal gossip columnists are usually giving their “gut analysis” without having any “boots on the ground” . They usually have no accurate gauge for the races, do not know what’s  going on within campaigns nor know how many voters are being reached.

Voters need to just ignore all the noise of the campaigns and  ignore all the polls, and vote their conscience and make informed decisions. Voters should especially ignore the politcal pundits, critics and gossip columnist who often have never run for office themselves, who have never been the “man in the arena”  like Teddy Roosevelt described, and who just run off their mouths trying to be influencers or “king makers.”

Early voting ends on Saturday November 1. 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 will take place on December 9.

In the final analysis, the only poll that counts and that is 100% accurate is the final vote counted on November 4. Please vote!

POSTSCRIPT

DINELLI INTERVIEW BY PAUL GESSING OF RIO GRANDE FOUNDATION

On October 15, 2025,  Pete Dinelli was interviewed for one hour by Paul Gessing with the Rio Grande Foundation on his weekly podcast program known as “Tipping Points New Mexico”. The Rio Grande Foundation is an economic policy “think tank” located in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The Foundation is affiliated with the U.S. nationwide State Policy Network. Paul Gessing became president in 2006.

https://riograndefoundation.org/about/

The topics of discussion for the pod cast were the 2025 Mayor’s race and the biggest issues in the race. The podcast started  by first discussing what I believe to be the 4 major issues in the 2025 Mayor’s race: crime, the homeless crisis, affordable housing and the city’s immigrant policies. We then discussed the mayor’s race and my assessment of the candidates and if there will be a runoff.  We went on to discuss the 5 City Council races in general terms.

The link to watch the video is here:

https://errorsofenchantment.com/episode-754-albuquerque-elections-and-government-with-pete-dinelli/

The link to listen to the audio is here:

https://tippingpointnm.com/754-albuquerque-elections-and-government-pete-dinelli/

The link to watch  the interview on FACEBOOK is here:

https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1GasygEpbG

On October 24, District 7 Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn sent an email out to as many voters in her District as she could.  The email is a truly amazing and a very nasty exhibition of gaslighting.

Written in bold black on red were the words  “VOTER ALERT” followed in bold by the words:

DIRTY MONEY ENTERED CITY COUNCIL RACES THIS WEEK

NEGATIVE ADS COMING FROM REALTOR’ PAC

Following is the text that followed:

“Friends,

We are running a clean campaign. We put in the work to qualify for public financing, which means we don’t ask for or accept any campaign contributions. We are proud to be running a campaign powered by the people – not big donors!

But dirty money entered my race this week. The Real Estate Community Political Action Committee (GAAR RECPAC) has maxed out direct donations to my opponent, and their Political Action Committee is armed with nearly $250,000 for attack ads.

It’s important that we let people know that deceptive advertising and an onslaught of throwing dirty money around will dominate the final weeks of the election. Don’t be fooled! Take a close look at the “paid for” on any ads or mailers you see. Those paid for by Albuquerque Coalition for Transformation and National Association of Realtors Fund are big money donors trying desperately to keep the City Council conservative and MAGA-leaning. And it’s no wonder—the National Association of Realtors has a history of redlining, opposing affordable housing, and violating antitrust regulations to artificially inflate commissions. 

This PAC is coming after me for a very simple reason: I’m an effective policy maker who has made significant progress towards things that these big corporations don’t want like access to reproductive health care, tenant protections, supporting fair wages, and climate resilience. I consider their opposition a badge of honor. 

Any candidate who takes their money and gets their support is NOT someone we want on Albuquerque City Council. 

During the final two weeks of the campaign, please continue to support real Democratic candidates in every district. We can’t afford to be complacent in the face of so much money. Show up to canvass, sign up to make phone calls, and get those yard signs out to show others that we will not be silenced by dirty money and greedy corporations that put business as usual before serving the people.

Onward,

Tammy

FIEBELKORN’S  THIRD CAMPAING MAILER

Recently City Councilor Tammy Feibelkorn mailed out her third campaign mailer. Using  what appears to be cursive handwriting in all capital letters, with the first sentence highlighted in yellow, it boldly proclaims this:

MY  PLAN FOR RELIEF FROM HIGH MONTHLY COSTS:  

REDUCE MONTHLY UTILITY AND TRANSPORTATION COSTS

BUILD MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING ESPECIALLY FOR RENTERS AND FIRST-TIME HOMEBUYERS

FIGHT CORPORATE PRICE-GOUGING FROM THE GROCERY STORE TO THE GAS PUMP

CREATE NEW, HIGHER-WAGE JOBS MORE JOB TRAINING,

AND SUPPORT FOR SMALL BUSINESSES

JAEMES SHANLEY RESPONDS

In response to Feibelkorn’s October 24 email and her 3^rd flyer, Jaemes Shanley emailed the following  to District 7 voters:

What started as an effort to help my neighborhood and the wider community of my part of Albuquerque has blossomed into a grass-roots Write-in campaign for City Council, to bring health and vitality back to our city.   One week out from election day, we continue to gain strength and support.

 One of the reasons we know our campaign is gaining traction is our opponent, Tammy Fiebelkorn, has decided to attack our supporters.

 Incumbents, especially if challenged by a Write-in candidate, rarely mention their opponent or their efforts unless they are worried the challenger is gaining steam.  So, by all accounts, Tammy is growing concerned.

 And so she should, as we draw attention to her failed leadership and the worsening results for our city of poorly thought-out policies and support for failed initiatives and programs (like the Gateway System).

Now, she has decided to stoop to attacking not me, but my supporters.  This is bullying pure and simple.  Why not debate your opponent, rather than attacking private individuals?

Throughout her term Tammy has earned a reputation for refusing to engage with entire segments of our community impacted by her sponsored or supported Ordinances and Resolutions.  Now that we’re in the middle of an election campaign and she’s in trouble, her answer is to attack those whom she chose throughout her term to ignore.

Specifically, she is attacking realtors, property managers, and even developers who are supporting me, because I’ve taken the time to listen to their concerns, as she should have done in the first place.  She chooses, in an email, to denigrate them with absurd mischaracterization and irrelevance.  That is not representative leadership. 

Say “NO” to politicians who bully concerned citizens, and say “YES” to change. 

 I am not going to produce a fanciful wish list and offer it as “MY  PLAN FOR RELIEF FROM HIGH MONTHLY COSTS” as Fibelkorn has done. In what she calls  her “Plan” she gives no identified action, to reduce monthly costs over which Albuquerque City Council has zero control or influence. 

 I will work ceaselessly to deliver practical effective solutions to the problems that worry and alarm all of us  (homelessness, public and property safety, urban decay) which City Council DOES have the power to influence, and even direct if necessary. 

 Albuquerque does not just need a renaissance; it deserves one.  It can only come with engaged, thoughtful, and responsive leadership that listens and learns…from the entire community. 

If Albuquerque was a better and healthier city today than it was four years ago, I would not be running for City Council.  On November 4th, the voting citizens of Albuquerque will rightfully determine if they prefer the status quo or a pivot toward real progress.  The only “VOTER ALERT” that should be going out to them is please get to the polls and make your voice heard.

 When you do, please write in “JAEMES SHANLEY” for City Council District 7. 

Respectfully,

Jaemes Shanley

Write-in Candidate for District 7 City Council

505 352-4509

campaign FB page – https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579197215877

campaign website – https://shanley4d7abq.us/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Fiebelkorn’s third mailer announcing here PLAN FOR RELIEF FROM HIGH MONTHLY COSTS is an embarrassment.  She sounds and acts like she is running for federal office. Her so called plan is nothing more than an ego driven wish list involving issues that she has no control over as a city councilor.

Feibelkorn’s October 24 email constitutes a very nasty example of gaslighting. Her email is grossly misleading and contain numerous lies to disparage her write in opponent Jaemes Shanley in an effort to win an election. Feibelkorns most egregious and inflammatory statement in her email is a bald face lie and it is this:

“I’m an effective policy maker who has made significant progress towards things that these big corporations don’t want like access to reproductive health care, tenant protections, supporting fair wages, and climate resilience. … Any candidate who takes their money and gets their support is NOT someone we want on Albuquerque City Council.”

Simply put, Tammy Feibelkorn has been a complete failure as a policy maker. She has had  ZERO impact and ZERO influence on the issues of  “access to reproductive health care, tenant protections, supporting fair wages, and climate resilience” as she proclaims. It is she who is the epitome of someone we do not want on the City council.

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

FEIBELKORN’S FAILED LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Within the  first six months of her term, Tammy Feibelkorn focused on gerrymandering her district to exclude predominantly Republican voters to ensure her reelection. She wanted to include in her district the Nob Hill area of the city which is highly progressive Democrat. Her gerrymandering effort failed.  The city council voted  NO on Feibelkorn’s redistricting  map.  

Fiebelkorn is a major proponent and staunch supporter of “Safe Outdoor Spaces” which are city sponsored managed homeless encampments with 40 designated spaces for tents that allows for upwards of 50 people, require hand washing stations, toilets and showers, require a management plan, 6 foot fencing and social services offered.  Fiebelkorn voted for new city zoning laws that allows Safe Outdoor Spaces in all 9 City Council Districts. Fiebelkorn  sponsored legislation that failed that would have empowered the City Planning Department to unilaterally approve all Safe Outdoor Space applications and eliminate the public’s right to challenge and appeal the applications and eliminated City Council intervention. Fiebelkorn supported Mayor Keller’s legislative proposal to ease safe outdoor space restrictions that would have allowed what Keller wanted which was upwards of 100 Safe Outdoor Spaces for 10 for 1,000 homeless to camp throughout all areas of the city. The city council voted  NO easing of Safe Outdoor Space restrictions.

During her city council tenure, Fiebelkorn has concentrated on major land use initiatives and zoning changes to increase density throughout the city by falsely arguing it will increase affordable housing. She supported zoning code amendments to allow both casitas and duplex development in all established neighborhoods which would double or triple existing neighborhood density and would have lead to gentrification. Feibelkorn sponsored R 25-167 which was the “opted in” zoning law ordinance to create a voluntary rezoning process that would let property owners switch to higher-density zoning if they want to build more housing on their residential properties over adjacent property owner objections. The Planning Department would have had very broad authority to increase density with adjoining property owners having no rights to object or appeal. It would have  allow duplexes, townhomes and small apartment buildings in single-family neighborhoods to increase density to the benefit of developers. The city council voted no to kill Fiebelkorn’s R 25-167 resolution.

City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn has consistently advocated for rent control measures before the New Mexico Legislature as well as the city council. The New Mexico legislature has repeatedly and overwhelmingly rejected rent control measures. Upset with the New Mexico legislature rejecting rent control measures, Fiebelkorn sponsored her Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance. The ordinance was nothing more than a precursor to  rent control. The City Council voted NO to kill the ordinance.

The Renter’s Empowerment and Neighborhood Transparency (RENT) ordinance was sponsored by  City Councilor Tammy Feiblekorn at the request of Mayor Tim Keller. The key provisions of the RENT ordinance were identical to the requirements that were in Fiebelkorn’s original Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance. The new RENT Ordinance was a sneaky and pathetic rewrite and rebranding of Feibelkorn’s rejected Residential Tenant Protections Ordinance. It expanded the rights of tenants to the detriment of property owner’s rights. The City Council voted NO to kill the ordinance.

Fiebelkorn sponsored the “Residential Rental Ordinance” which provided that  “No person shall operate any residential rental property without a Residential Rental Property Permit (RRPP) from the City of Albuquerque”.  The resolution was an attempt to limit and place caps on ownership of short term rentals and enact regulations of  the “bed and breakfast” rental  industry in the city.  It was an effort to force properties to be sold for sale as effort to increase affordable housing. The city has never required real property owners to secure a permit to rent their residential properties. This would have included owners who owned one single rental home. The City Council voted NO to kill the ordinance.

During the four years of Feibelkorn’s tenure as a city councilor, the city has spent upwards of $300 million on 5 homeless shelters, programs and purchasing and remodeling motels for low-income housing. What sticks out is the staggering amount of $300 Million spent and upwards of $60 Million a year being spent to try and provide assistance to so few, estimated to be between 3,000  to 5,000 unhoused, with upwards of 75% refusing services and shelter. It’s the service providers that have benefited the most and more than the unhoused from the funding. During her entire term on the City Council, Tammy Feibelkorn has rubber stamped virtually all funding Mayor Keller has asked for from the city council for his 5 Gateway shelter system.  She has never questioned the services actually being provided. Feibelkorn has never  demanded accounting nor questioned the effectiveness of Keller’s initiative to deal with the unhoused crisis.

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

FEIBEKORN HOLDS CONTEMPT FOR HER OWN CONSTITUENTS

During the four years  she has been a City Councilor, Tammy Fiebelkorn has exhibited a pattern of downright hostility towards constituents who oppose or who disagree with her votes on policy and legislation to the point she goes out of her way to offend them.

Once elected, she has ignored her constituent’s needs and concerns and advocated her own hidden, personal politcal agenda over the objections of her  constituents. She simply does not listen and does what she damn well feels like doing. Her reputation is one of being highly abrasive, engages in personal insults and is condescending and dismissive with anyone who disagrees with her.

She is not at all interested in carrying on with a civil dialog with her constituents.  Although known for attending the District 7 Neighborhood Coalition meetings to give updates on what is happening in District 7, she lectures and repeatedly takes issue with those who disagree with her at the meetings and who ask her politely to reconsider positions.

Feibelkorn  interrupts  her constituents and abruptly says  “No, I have made up my mind” and simply refuses to change her mind. She goes out of her way to insult and offend those who oppose her saying she knows what’s good for the district as she professes ignorance.

On more than one occasion when questioned about legislation she is sponsoring at the request of Mayor Tim Keller and asked to summarize the legislation.  She has said she has not read the legislation and  tells her constituents they need to read it for themselves and listen to council debate.

A good example of her offensive attitude is when she  told the officers and members  of the District 7 Neighborhood Coalition, which boasts membership of 10 neighborhood associations, that the coalition did not reflect the needs and concerns of District 7 and that she knows better than they do.

When a male constituent pointed out that one of her responsibilities as a city councilor was to help solve constituent problems and address their concerns, Fiebelkorn said she did not need anyone to “mansplain” to her what she needed to do as a city councilor revealing that she is a sexist.

Feibelkorn is known to be very difficult to work with by city council staff and she has had upwards of 5 constituent service assistants who she has either fired or who have just quit.

Albuquerque City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn is the epitome of what is so very wrong with the Albuquerque City Council today and its arrogance.

She simply does not act in the best interests of her district nor of her constituents. Fiebelkorn promotes her own personal agenda and she refuses to listen.

Fiebelkorn’s email declaring “Dirty Money” has entered the city council races is the best evidence that Fiebelkorn is an elected official who will do and say anything to disparage her opponent  to win an election.

IF YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT 7, PLEASE WRITE IN JAEMES SHANLEY FOR CITY COUNCIL.  

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

1. Tim Keller, incumbent two term Mayor seeking third term.
2. Darren White, the former sheriff of Bernalillo County and former CEO of medical cannabis company PurLife.
3. Louie Sanchez, a retired APD police officer and current city councilor.
4. Alex Uballez, the former U.S. attorney for the District of New Mexico.
5. Mayling Armijo, the former director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County and deputy county manager for Sandoval County.
6. Eddie Varela, a retired Albuquerque firefighter and former California fire chief.
7. Daniel Chavez, president of Parking Company of America was the very first to qualify for the ballot, but on September 29 he dropped out the race.

On June 20, the City Clerk determined that Mayor Tim Keller was the only candidate to qualify for public finance, and he was given $755,946 in public finance. The remaining five candidates are privately financed.

ALEX UBALLEZ GUEST OPINION COLUMN

Candidate Alex Uballez submitted the below guest column to be published on www.PeteDinelli.com. He was not compensated for it and his column is being published “free of charge” as a public service.  The postscript provides a detailed biography of the candidate as well as links to two related blog articles on debates for  the race for Mayor.

EDITOR’S DISCLAIMER  The Uballez guest column is being published as part of the ongoing “news and commentary” coverage of the 2025 Mayor’s race. The opinions expressed in the opinion column are not necessarily those of www.PeteDinelli.com.  No endorsement will be made of any candidate in the Mayor’s race by the blogger.

Uballez Opinion Column: “The People Of Albuquerque Deserve A Mayor Who Works As Hard As They Do!”

By Alex Uballez, candidate for Mayor of Albuquerque

“I grew up a working-class kid. My mother was born in China and migrated here as a young girl; my dad was born in the projects of downtown L.A. and has a high school education. I am the first and only attorney in my family, and I rose to be the youngest United States Attorney in the nation at the age of 36. 

After years of taking on crimes against children, drug traffickers, and public corruption, nothing frustrates me more than people with the power to make a difference not delivering for the people.

When I took over the U.S. Attorney’s Office, I sent a memo to the 200 staff entitled “32 Months,” where I laid out the plan, and the urgency, for the coming years. In that time, I led the office through the single largest budgetary shortfall in its history, cutting the operating budget in half, but did not fire a single federal employee. I transitioned the office from paper files to digital, led the largest fentanyl seizure in FBI’s history, took down 30 years of corruption in APD’s DWI unit, built the first federal reentry court, and launched a nation-wide Murdered and Missing Indigenous Persons program.” 

NO NEED TO CHOOSE BETWEEN INEFFECTIVE AND CRUEL

“The test of a leader is how they lead through crises and still deliver results.

I’m not new to leadership. But I am new to politics. I stepped out of my career and into this race because I saw that when you make good ideas look bad, people start to see bad ideas as necessary and I wanted us to have a better option.

I have about ten years before my eldest daughter is of the age to decide if Albuquerque is a place she sees a future for herself or has to leave to find it. I want to do everything in my power to see that my children grow up safe and that this generation of people from Albuquerque aren’t the last who can afford to call it home.

In an exchange at this week’s debate, I asked the incumbent how to restore trust after the dozen retaliation lawsuits, the workers and their families suing for his willfully exposing them to cancer-causing asbestos, and after he’s been sued by ACS workers for failing to pay overtime for the program he regularly flaunts as a feather in his cap.

He said, “it happens.” Literally, “there’s always HR issues… asbestos happens.”  

But worse, I’m running against challengers who offer complaints but no solutions for how to do better.  

Being tired of things not working is not a sufficient campaign platform.  We have to have clear ways to actually make things better.

We know that arresting people for mental illness and drug addiction is not only ineffective. It’s both illegal and immoral. 

We know that collaborating with federal immigration enforcement when 70% of their activity targets people with no criminal history makes us all less safe. 

And we know anything short of actually managing the crises of poverty, addiction, and mental health will simply spiral us downward.

Albuquerque, we don’t have to choose between ineffective and cruel.”

A PLATEFORM FOR CHANGE

Whether readers have already made up their mind that eight years are enough or are among those still on the fence, the truth is that the pundits are saying that when an incumbent has 100% name recognition,  $1M to spend, and only a 29% approval rating, it is potentially disastrous. 

And when the alternatives are Darren White or Louie Sanchez, whose main campaign promise is to arrest half the city on day one, we go from disaster to destruction.

I’m here so that we have a better choice.

First, we need to make key corrections in how public safety is being handled. We need a police chief that has the public’s confidence. We need a centralized 911 system staffed by first responders to get the right response to callers fast. And we need a robust combination of violence prevention, social work response, and police focused on serious crimes instead of throwing away the few belongings of unhoused people.

Then, we aggressively address the issues of poverty, addiction, and mental health head-on. That means prevention in the form of rental assistance, homeownership support, and maintenance for existing structures. 

For those on the streets already, we will resource existing programs so that 700 people in the westside shelter are served by more than just three social workers. We will expand outreach in the street-medic model, meeting people where they are, rebuilding trust, and delivering vital services. 

Then, we will build transitional housing that provides long-term medical support and wrap-around services for those coming off of the streets. 

Finally, we should implement the sequential intercept model in partnership with our Court system to identify those suffering from serious mental illnesses and addiction in the criminal justice system, and connect them with services.

I’d create specialized emergency response teams with co-responding civilian victim advocates, peer support, and social workers, so we don’t just respond to crimes, but put in work to prevent them in the future. And I’d focus law enforcement efforts on building cases for detention and sentencing against those truly driving misery in our community, in order to get better results in court.

Public safety today only works with a true investment in our future. 

This means opportunity for our young people by building skills and possibility in partnership with APS. We support after-school programming, partner with unions for pre-apprenticeship programs, and provide the opportunity, community, and care that prevents young people from falling into crime to begin with. 

For the small businesses that are the backbone of our economy, the City should have a customer-service mentality where permits and inspections are fast, red tape is cut, and incentives drive innovation based in local success. 

For our neighborhoods and city centers, publicly developed green housing can bring down the cost of rent, open the door to home ownership, and – when done with a municipal solar program and community-benefit agreements that provide as much for the workers as the current mayor does to developers – can create revenue for other city programs while also raising wages for Albuquerque breadwinners who are currently finding themselves having to spend more time on the clock than with their families.

None of this is something the city has to do alone. We have an incredible non-profit and mission-driven business sector that should be seen as a partner and collaborator with the city as coordinator at the center.  

We can add housing density in our downtown and support a robust and reliable transit system city-wide, allow from more than big box stores to be built in some of our neighborhoods, and clean up and revitalize our parks. 

Albuquerque is too special to let it be taken advantage of or have it be handed over to candidates feeding on cynicism instead of solutions.  We can preserve its culture and build its future.

Respectfully,  

Alex Uballez

VOTE FOR CHANGE

There wouldn’t be this many candidates running if a clear majority of voters weren’t ready for change this November. I hope to have readers support and am ready to get to work for a safer, stronger Albuquerque that works for all of us.

PLATFORM  AND CAREER HIGHLIGHTS

The “Alex Uballez for Mayor” web page contains the following biographical information that merits review:

Alex Uballez is a husband, father, and tireless advocate for community safety, economic opportunity, and justice.

As the former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico, he dedicated himself to serving the people. He held cartel leaders and human traffickers accountable and oversaw the largest fentanyl seizure in FBI history. His office uncovered a DWI corruption scheme stretching back 20 years that involved multiple law enforcement agencies. He brought charges, secured convictions, and showed no one is above the law.

But Alex knows public safety goes beyond arrests.  He was a key figure in launching Albuquerque’s Violence Intervention Program, now part of the Albuquerque Community Safety Department. His office created New Mexico’s first federal reentry court so people who are struggling but seek to take a different path have a tool to build a different life and contribute to their communities. He also led a regional effort to address Missing and Murdered Indigenous Persons, launching the first database of its kind in the U.S.

Alex believes in transparent, efficient government that serves the needs of the people, not just the wealthy and well connected. Despite the Department of Justice’s largest budgetary shortfall in history, Alex kept the office financially stable. He restructured the office, deepened collaboration with state, local, and tribal governments, and ensured federal resources aligned with community needs.

Alex’s commitment to justice and strengthening community is personal. Raised in a family that values resilience and hard work, he understands the importance of opportunity, sacrifice, and service. His mother immigrated to the United States at age seven, and his father was raised in public housing. From an early age, Alex understood the value of opportunity, sacrifice, and service.

Today, he and his wife Gabrielle—born and raised in Albuquerque’s North Valley—are raising their own family in the same Albuquerque home they moved into over a decade ago. He walks his kids to school each day, braids their hair in the mornings, and proudly shuttles them to flamenco performances across the city.

Fifteen years protecting Albuquerque families.

• As a state prosecutor, Alex specialized in crimes against children, securing multiple life convictions against people who killed children.
• As a federal prosecutor, Alex focused on drug trafficking cartels, including the extradition of the notorious leader of La Linea, the enforcement wing of the Juarez Cartel.
• As U.S. Attorney, Alex led the largest fentanyl bust in FBI’s history, and the investigation which would eventually lead to the largest fentanyl bust in DEA’s history.
• As U.S. Attorney, Alex also uncovered thirty years of public corruption in APD’s DWI unit, led major public safety initiatives—including the violence intervention program that is now a part of the Albuquerque Community Safety Department—and established the first federal re-entry court in New Mexico.

The link to the Uballez for Mayor web page is here:

https://alexforalbuquerque.com/aboutalex/

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL POLL REVISITED

On Sunday, September 28, the Albuquerque Journal published the results of an opinion poll on the  2025 Albuquerque’s Mayor race.  The poll was conducted by  Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc whose President is Brian Sanderoff. Research & Polling Inc is the exclusive polling company for the Albuquerque Journal. For at least the 40 past years, it has polled in New Mexico political races and it is considered the “gold standard” and one of the four top politcal pollsters in the country for is history of accuracy.

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%

POLL BREAKDOWN ACCORDING TO PARTY AFFILIATION

Tim Keller’s total 29%  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.

Alex Uballez’s poll number of 6% broke down as 9% Democrat, 1% Republican and 5% registered Independent. Uballez has positioned himself as a progressive alternative to Keller and received more support from younger voters than did White. But Uballez’s support withered among voters age 50 and older, who tend to be more reliable voters.

Louie Sanchez’s poll number of 6% broke down as 3% Democrat, 12% Republican and 4 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.

Although the Albuquerque Journal Poll found that Mayor Tim Keller has the  lead in his bid to win reelection to a third term, 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 link to the quoted or relied upon Albuquerque Journal article is here:

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

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The September 28 Albuquerque Journal poll is the only poll of any real substance that has been taken in the 2025 Mayors race and that has been made public. The Albuquerque Journal will not be taking another poll before the election. One candidate has said the Albuquerque Journal has said it will NOT be endorsing in the 2025  Mayor’s race.

Polls are nothing more than a “snapshot” in time reflecting public opinion and all to often become self-fulling prophecies.  All too often, polls do a major disservice to candidates, ultimately influencing public opinion and ending candidacies. Low opinion polls for candidates tend to dry up campaign contributions making it impossible for candidates to continue with a campaign. This is what essentially happened to Mayling Armijo securing 1%, Eddie Varela securing 2% and Daniel Chavez securing 1% in the Albuquerque Journal Poll. Daniel Chavez  said he dropped out of the race and did not see a viable path forward  because of his poor showing in the Albuquerque Journal poll after spending $100,000 of his own money to gather qualifying nominating signatures.

Confidential sources have confirmed yet another poll has in fact been taken within the last week on the 4 top tier candidates of Keller, White, Sanchez and Uballez, but its uncertain who took the poll and if it was done by a measured finance committee. It is not at all likely the results of that poll will be released to the public.

Since the Albuquerque Journal poll, the candidates have had only two media sponsored debates, with one between the 4 top contenders and the other between all six candidates. The candidates have had a limited number of joint interactions at business forums and neighborhood associations.

Mayor Keller, Darren White and Louie Sanchez have been the only three who been able to afford to produce commercials with Keller overwhelming hitting the air waves with two commercials, Sanchez with one commercial and White with one commercial.  Keller has had the  commanding financial advantage of  $733,000 in public campaign funds he received after qualifying for public finance and maintaining that advantage. Throughout the campaign his 5 opponents have struggled to raise donations to compete during this year’s election cycle.

More than a few political pundits are now  offering their so called “expert  opinions” on the final outcome of the race with the election just one week away, with those opinions usually based on “gut instincts” and nothing substantive.  Some are saying that there will be a runoff between Mayor Tim Keller and Darren White.  Some are saying there will be a runoff between Mayor Tim Keller and Louie Sanchez, who is now securing significant Republican support. Others are saying that Alex Uballez will surprise all and make it into the runoff with Keller.

Still others are saying Mayor Keller has run a “flawless” campaign, despite losing his cool and chastising the audience at the Greater Albuquerque Area Realtors (GAAR) forum for believing his opponents “red meat” and telling them not to vote for him.   Some political opinion experts are going so far as saying Keller has overcome his 42% disapproval rating  and  will win outright and that there will be no runoff.  Most if not all of the pundits are saying Mayor Keller will come first on November 4. Mayor Keller for his part says there will be a runoff. Albuquerque Journal Political Opinion Columnist Jeff Tucker says Keller will win outright and that after the election, term limits need to be discussed even though the courts decided the issue 30 years ago and ruled term limits are unconstitutional in Albuquerque municipal elections.

The blunt reality is all the so called “political experts” who run their mouths off to politcal gossip columnists are usually giving their “gut analysis” without having any “boots on the ground” . They usually have no accurate gauge for the races, do not know what’s  going on within campaigns nor know how many voters are being reached.

Voters need to just ignore all the noise of the campaigns and  ignore all the polls, and vote their conscience and make informed decisions. Voters should especially ignore the politcal pundits, critics and gossip columnist who often have never run for office themselves, who have never been the “man in the arena”  like Teddy Roosevelt described, and who just run off their mouths trying to be influencers or “king makers.”

Early voting ends on Saturday November 1. 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 will take place on December 9.

In the final analysis, the only poll that counts and that is 100% accurate is the final vote counted on November 4. Please vote!

Below are links to related Dinelli News and Commentary articles:

Mayoral Candidates Final Roundtable Debate; Both Mayor Keller And Darren White Proclaim Political Careers Are Ending If Elected; Trajectory Of Race Remains Same With Keller And White In Runoff

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

Following is a guest opinion column written by Jaemes Shanley. Mr. Shanley is the President of the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association located in the mid heights and is the Vice President of the District 7 Coalition of Neighborhoods which boasts membership of 14 neighborhood associations.  Mr. Shanley requested  to publish his guest column on www.PeteDinelli.com and has been the case with past guest columns submitted and published, he was not compensated for it. His column is being published “free of charge” as a public service to the public and as part of the ongoing coverage of issues in the 2025 municipal election. Jaemes Shanley is a write in candidate for City Council District 7 opposing incumbent City Councilor Tammy Feibekorn. You can read Jaemes Shanley’s biography in the postscript below.

NO MATTER THE ELECTION OUTCOME, WE MUST FIX THIS

By JAEMES SHANLEY

By this stage of the 2025 election cycle, we have heard every mayoral candidate respond repeatedly to questions about issues of major concern to Albuquerque voters.   Concerning homelessness, their responses are remarkably lacking in specific practical actions that will course correct what is currently failing, implement new more effective approaches, or not result in endless litigation and overflowing expensive incarceration facilities.  Yes, it is a complicated and challenging issue.  That does not make it unsolvable.

We expect our elected leaders to ensure delivery of the services and amenities which make our urban life possible, with optimal reliability and efficiency.  We expect them to improve over time, as budgets, systems, and technology allow.  Those needs are ongoing, whether law enforcement, fire rescue, emergency preparedness, animal welfare, water, sewer, power, public transit, roads or waste management.   We do not expect any of these civic “needs” to be definitively “solved” or “fixed”.  The systems and infrastructure by which they are delivered must therefore be permanent.

THE HOMELESS CRISIS

Homelessness is the one crisis issue in Albuquerque today that can and should be definitively solved and must not be allowed to become a permanent feature of our city.   It matters not how we came to have 3,000 – 5,000 living here unhoused.  We have them.  And the conditions of their existence have rendered them a “de facto nomadic population” among us, condemned to all the deprivations imposed by their “place” being a sidewalk, median, alleyway or strip of earth devoid of any amenities.  As I have learned from doorstep conversations in my district, this is the top-of-mind anxiety among Albuquerque’s housed residents today.  It is inescapably present and visible today along most of our major corridors and at many if not most roadway  intersections.  It is also a stark contradiction of the most foundational requirement of civilized urban life:  that every community member has stable, secure, safe, and sanitary shelter.

ALL ARE  BEING PUNISHED!

We have not, despite hundreds of millions of dollars spent over the past 7 years, reduced their number.   While our politicians and we ourselves latch on to assorted nuggets of partial or inaccurate information to assign responsibility somewhere, or embrace inadequate or ill-conceived solutions from “sweeping” them from one street location to another, rounding them up and sending them somewhere else, bus tickets to their points of origin, incarceration for misdemeanors, banishing them to giant compounds somewhere out on the west mesa, etc., we are collectively paying an enormous cost for this unsolved crisis.  In terms of public safety, public transport, commercial activity, redevelopment potential, and attractiveness to companies, entrepreneurs, and skilled professionals, this unsolved problem is blighting Albuquerque’s present and future.  To quote Shakespeare’s Prince of Verona, “All are punished!”.

This is a solvable problem….and in relatively short order; certainly, much faster than our current trajectory, which has no end in sight.   The resources required to solve it exist within our community.  While we can borrow some practical elements from other cities (including from Gallup Mayoral Candidate Lyndon Tsosie), Albuquerque can define and implement its own comprehensive solution.   You might ask, “well, if that’s true, why haven’t we done it already?”.   The simple answer is that we failed to treat this as the emergency it is and to engage the entire community to get behind a project to fix it.  

CALAMITY CREEP

Call it calamity creep.  We have not done what we would do if 3,000 – 5,000 of Albuquerque’s housed residents were suddenly left homeless by fire or flood.  We have accepted that other categories and causes of misfortune somehow do not qualify for the collective effort and priority needed.  As a result, we have thousands of “neighbors” living in deplorable conditions of vulnerability and desperation.  While this crisis persists, essential city services from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) are diverted and distracted from their core mission of law enforcement and response.   Our bus system requires supplemental security and is unattractive to many city residents.  Small businesses, already hard pressed, experience the combined consequence of threats to their premises and customers being deterred from visiting them.  A burgeoning percentage of commercial properties along major corridors are abandoned or surrendered.

 Let’s recognize some inescapable facts  and perhaps re-read the Parable of the Lost Sheep, The Parable of the Good Samaritan, or listen to Joan Baez’ 1960’s hit “There but for Fortune”.

 It is unrealistic to expect anyone living a precarious existence “on the streets”, often with little or no sleep, to be capable of making a rationally informed decision about “services”.

1. Every day spent living unsheltered adds layers of trauma, anxiety and damage to these individuals, and increases their vulnerability to a host of depredations, including addiction.
2. The longer people are left to live like this the longer it will take to bring them back into the community as full participants.
3. Desperate circumstances will almost inevitably produce desperate behaviors. Fix the former and we can end the latter.

We have to get these people off the streets, for the sake of every one of us! 

ESSENTIAL COMPONENTS

Getting the unhoused off the streets will require transitional housing that is realized quickly, affordably and temporarily ….. all of which is possible. Small micro-communities can be “curated” by those with the skills and established trust to offer a hand that will be taken for that necessary step off the street.  The skill and experience needed to guide and support individuals through their transitions, once in stable shelter, also exist and the peer support level can be expanded via training, even among formerly unhoused.

We have a vast inventory of empty or abandoned commercial buildings that are unlikely to be occupied commercially in the near to medium term.   I counted 623 of them myself on just 5 corridors.  Most of those buildings have toilets, running water, heating and cooling.  Both the City and the County have tools available to incentivize owners to permit temporary repurposing of selected buildings.

We have a galaxy of skilled, experienced, knowledgeable and committed people in our community willing and able to be active participants in ending this crisis.   Most of them are not “at the table” today.

We live in a State that, because of oil and gas royalties, has the fiscal soundness to invest strategically in short term solutions to prevent long term financial burden.  New Mexico has also passed and enacted legislation (SB1 & SB3) to fund long term sustainable behavioral health care that will be a necessary component of this crisis solution.

CONVENE A SUMMIT OF EVERYONE

It is past time for our elected City leaders to convene a “summit of everyone” in the community whose efforts connect or can connect in some way to this crisis and to work through their ideas and perspectives until an executable plan is defined.  And then, to fix this mess….with urgency.

I witnessed and experienced a nation implement and succeed with such an approach to a different but even bigger crisis, in Australia in 1983.  The resulting “Accord” unleashed a sustained economic boom and resulted in one of the best national healthcare systems on the planet.

The “summit” Albuquerque needs to convene must include:

The Albuquerque Police Department, Albuquerque Community Safety Department,  the Albuquerque Fire and Rescue Department and the  Solid Waste Department

The City Health, Housing, and Homelessness Department (HHH) including the Gateway System managers and operators

The Albuquerque Public School “McKinney-Vento” program leaders

 Relevant personnel from Bernalillo County and the State of New Mexico

The many non-profits and coalitions (both city-contracted and not) engaged in various issues impacting the unhoused, including:

• Housing
• Food / meal providers
• Healthcare providers (major hospitals + Healthcare for the Homeless)
• Shelter providers
• Substance abuse treatment providers
• Behavioral health treatment providers (supplemental to addiction)
• Life skills training / peer support
• Vocational rehabilitation & training
• Unhoused Pet support and protection

The Individual and group philanthropists addressing elements of homelessness including:

• Faith based groups and charities
• Non- faith-based group homes and charities
• Operators of Safe Open and Safe Indoor spaces

 Individuals and representative groups who have experienced homelessness including:

• Homeless union
• Storytellers with past or present experience of being on the streets

Agents and experts in definition & rapid creation of Transitional Shelter/Housing including:

• Modular housing providers, including tiny home communities
• Local architects, planning specialists, and builders
• Leaders of volunteer labor aggregators like Habitat for Humanity
• ABQ Planning Dept. including IDO code authorities
• Bernalillo County Assessor

In considering the challenges and complexities of such an undertaking, let’s not forget that, based on an unhoused population of 3-5,000 (less than 1% of Albuquerque’s population), we have already spent over $300 million, without measurable impact on our streets.   Even if inadequate, the Gateway System has been a complicated program of expenditure, construction, and contracting which I have observed to be, even now, baffling to our City Council who authorized its funding, by absence of clear metrics and reported outcomes.  We should not be daunted nor deterred by complexity.

Let’s not make homelessness a permanent feature of Albuquerque.   We can reclaim our heritage and future and add to it the reputation of being a city that confronted a devastating crisis and solved it with effective humanity and benefit for every resident.  Let’s fix this now – together.

Respectfully

Jaemes Shanley

CITY COUNCIL DISTRICT 7

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

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

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

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

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The six candidates for Mayor and the other 12 candidates for City Council would be wise to take into account what Jaemes Shanley has outlined in his guest opinion column on how the city should be addressing the unhoused crisis.

Jaemes Shanley knows what he is talking about and he would make a fine city councilor an provide the real leadership that District 7 so desperately needs on the City Council.

Voters in District 7 now have a real choice and are encouraged to take a little more effort and write in Jaemes Shanley as their new city councilor.

Early voting commenced on October 18 and ends on November 1 with the election on November 4.

IF YOU LIVE IN DISTRICT 7, PLEASE WRITE IN JAEMES SHANLEY FOR CITY COUNCIL.  

_________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

Jaemes Shanley first arrived in Albuquerque in August 1969, after graduating High School in England, to attend UNM from which he graduated in 1973.  His parents followed a year later, and his father retired in Albuquerque after a 30-year career as a US Naval aviator.  In 1971 they purchased a home in the Mark Twain neighborhood where they resided for the remainder of their lives.  Jaemes worked in the private sector in sales, marketing, and business strategy for U.S. corporations in Australia, Japan, and the United States.  His work required extensive travel throughout Asia Pacific and Latin America, routinely on the ground in more than 30 countries.  Jaemes and his wife returned to Albuquerque in September 2006 to renovate and take up residence in his parent’s Mark Twain neighborhood home where they reside today on their family “compound” along with 5 rescued cats.  Jaemes drives the corridors of Albuquerque on an almost daily basis to deliver carrots to his horse, Rembrandt, who resides in Corrales.

On October 15, this blog reported on the  emergence of Republican support  for Democrat City Councilor Louie Sanchez in the 2025 Mayor’s race. It was reported that former State Republican Party Chairman Harvey Yates, President of the New Mexico Business Coalition Carla Sonntag and former Republican Mayoral candidate Michelle Garcia Holmes, who is also the former Chief of Staff to former Attorney General Gary King, have thrown their support behind Democrat City Councilor Louie Sanchez for Mayor.

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

THE NEW MEXICO BUSINESS COALITION 

The New Mexico Business Coalition (NMBC) is a statewide nonpartisan, pro-business, conservative organization. NMBC focuses on  improving the business environment for companies. The organization engages in promoting a conservative business agenda including promoting right to work laws, opposing increases in the minimum wage, opposing increases in taxation and opposing city zoning laws viewed as detrimental to economic development. The organization is considered highly supportive of law enforcement holding law enforcement appreciation events. The organization is known to get involved in municipal, county  and legislative races going so far as to sponsor debates between candidates. For more information, you can visit  NMBC website:  https://nmbizcoalition.org/ 

Carla J. Sonntag is the President and CEO of the New Mexico Business Coalition. She submitted the following guest opinion column for publication on www.PeteDinelli.com. Sontag was not compensated for her column and it is being published as part of ongoing reporting in the 2025 Albuquerque Mayor’s race.

EDITOR’S DISCLAIMER The opinions expressed in the opinion column are not necessarily those of www.PeteDinelli.com with no endorsement expected to be made of any candidate in the Mayor’s race by the blog.

“Albuquerque Needs A New Mayor, A New Direction

BY:  Carla J. Sonntag. President and CEO of New Mexico Business Coalition

The Albuquerque mayor’s race is one of the most critical issues facing our entire state at this time. We need new leadership, and the consensus of the business and community leaders I’ve met with is that the best opportunity to achieve that is with Louie Sanchez.

ALBQUERQUE’S  DECLINE UNDER MAYOR KELLER

There’s a saying that, as Albuquerque goes, so goes the state, and it has often been proven true. Albuquerque has the largest centrally located population and is home to the main airport, the state’s only trauma center, and most of the state’s medical facilities.

Once a shining light for New Mexico, Albuquerque has become an unmitigated disaster. Among other things, KOB4 reported that Albuquerque ranked 20th among the world’s most dangerous cities. Local businesses are closing because of the high crime and lack of police protection.

Those choosing to stay are cleaning up human feces, hypodermic needles, and trash because of those camping illegally on their properties. Many are replacing windows, doors, and copper stripped from their electrical systems. All this and more because Mayor Tim Keller allows criminals almost unfettered free rein.

The situation in Albuquerque is so dire that the governor had to send in the New Mexico National Guard to help protect us. Unfortunately, we are still not safe, and the problems have not been corrected. Keller encourages the homeless to move here through his lack of law enforcement and lax policies.

The growth of the homeless population in Albuquerque’s streets is not by accident, nor is it due entirely to New Mexicans. Data shows over 21% of the homeless in Albuquerque are from out of state.

Keller has spent over $300 million of taxpayer money on homeless initiatives, but we’ve seen no improvement. Our tax dollars continue to pour down an endless hole.

Economic development in Albuquerque is minimal. Why would an existing business want to invest more when they are struggling to maintain what they currently have invested? Luring new companies here is challenging due to the city’s high crime and unfriendly bureaucracy.

THREE MAIN CONTENDERS FOR MAYOR

The good news is we have a mayor’s election currently underway. The bad news is that Mayor Keller is seeking a third four-year term. He has had the past 7.5 years to address the very issues he campaigned to fix, and yet, they’ve only gotten worse.

The bigger challenge is that we’ve got a broad field of mayoral challengers who will split the vote – unless the people of Albuquerque unite to obtain better leadership. Most people in Albuquerque agree that the city is headed in the wrong direction, but the ‘Anyone but Keller’ plan is a path to Keller’s re-election.

There are six people actively campaigning for mayor of Albuquerque, and a seventh who has suspended his campaign, but will still appear on the ballot. This race comes down to three leading contenders: Tim Keller, Darren White, and Louie Sanchez.

Tim Keller, the incumbent, has destroyed our beautiful city through increased drugs, homelessness, and a lack of law enforcement. In addition, his management is costing businesses dearly through increased taxes and unresponsive service delivery.

DARREN WHITE’S POLITICAL BAGGAGE

Darren White has significant name recognition. White also has troublesome political baggage that will be used against him in a runoff election.  White’s political baggage spans decades and includes the following:

In 1995, Governor Gary Johnson appointed White to head the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, which oversees the New Mexico State Police. While serving as cabinet secretary, the New Mexico State Police Officers Association voted 243 – 31 “No Confidence” against White. The state police officers accused White of failing to properly supply them with vehicles and equipment, which was an officer safety issue.

White had a very sudden and dramatic parting of the ways with Governor Gary Johnson, resigning as Secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety after Governor Johnson announced his support for marijuana legalization.  Later in 2007, when the legalization of medical marijuana was introduced in the NM Legislature, White was vehemently opposed to it and aggressively lobbied against it.

When Susana Martinez became governor, Darren White completely reversed himself on the legalization of medical marijuana.  White secured a state license from the Martinez Administration to sell medical marijuana with multiple locations in the state. What matters here is not necessarily the legalization of marijuana but doing a complete about-face in the pursuit of personal wealth.

In 2002, White was elected Bernalillo County Sheriff and reelected in 2006.  As Bernalillo County Sheriff, Darren White helped TruTouch Technologies secure a sole-source contract for $379,995 to “supply alcohol screening and testing prototype equipment.” White notified the County Commission that “the Sheriff’s Department fully supports the Sole Source contract award to TruTouch Technologies of Albuquerque.” White was also running for US Congress at the time, and received campaign contributions from TruTouch officers during a prohibited time frame.

On December 1, 2009, Mayor Richard J. Berry appointed Darren White to serve as the Chief Public Safety Officer at the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), the highest law enforcement position in the city of Albuquerque. White was given a vote of no confidence by the APD union because he unilaterally took away the take-home vehicles for APD sworn officers. White also blocked pay increases negotiated in good faith by the union. APD morale plummeted under White’s leadership, and APD ranks dropped from 1,100 to about 950. During his tenure as Chief Public Safety Officer, the Department of Justice (DOJ) announced its investigation of APD for excessive use of force, leading to the DOJ consent decree.  

Many seem to have forgotten another problematic thing Darren White did when he was Chief Public Safety Officer. He thrust himself into APD’s investigation into the 2010 death of prominent Civil Rights and Defense attorney Mary Han. She was often at odds with both the APD and the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department, including when White was Sheriff.  An Attorney General investigation later found that APD mishandled the investigation and the large number of APD personnel given access to Han’s home, including Darren White, “materially interfered with the investigation process.”

On July 15, 2011, Darren White announced his “retirement” from the city, a little more than a week after he showed up to the scene of a car crash involving his wife, where he took her from the scene and then drove her to the hospital. APD first responders never gave White’s wife a blood test, even though a police report indicates she showed signs of impairment. White’s resignation came shortly after a City Council meeting in which a five-person committee voted to start compiling a list of outside investigators who could be called on to review White’s actions during his wife’s car accident.  After intense public backlash and another no-confidence vote from APD officers, White was essentially forced to “retire” by Mayor Berry.

 White also claimed Florida as his primary residence since 2022 to obtain a $50,000 property tax benefit, but continued voting in New Mexico. After declaring his candidacy for mayor and the Florida residency issue was made public, White took steps to correct what he called an ‘inadvertent error’.

LOUIE SANCHEZ VIABLE ALTERNATIVE

There is a real, viable alternative to both Keller and White: Louie Sanchez. Louie Sanchez retired after 26 years with APD. He is a business owner and is currently serving on the ABQ City Council. He consistently votes to put the needs of ABQ residents above political positions. As a former supervisor with APD, Sanchez has been the most vocal councilor in confronting APD Chief of Police, Harold Medina. Given the DWI Unit scandal, the vehicle crash Medina was involved in, and other issues, Sanchez has openly called for Medina’s firing.

KELLER WANTS WHITE IN RUN OFF

Here’s the red flag in this race: the Keller camp wants the runoff to be between Tim Keller and Darren White. Why? They feel confident that they can defeat White in a runoff because of all the above political baggage and more.

Keller and friends do not want the runoff to be against Louie Sanchez. How do we know this? Keller’s operatives have openly discussed the plan, and we are seeing it play out.

Keller supporters are attacking Louie Sanchez while saying virtually nothing about White. They are trying to ensure White makes the runoff because that is their defined path to Keller’s victory.

There is a groundswell of support building behind Louie Sanchez because he is seen as the best opportunity to take back our city. A solid strategy and unified effort can produce a victory for Albuquerque and the state.

Voters who truly want Tim Keller replaced must consider all the information provided and the consequences of a Keller victory if they ignore it. He will continue with his failed policies, and the city will continue to decline.

I, along with many from the business community, encourage voters to elect Louie Sanchez as Mayor on November 4!”

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL POLL REVISITED

On Sunday, September 28, the Albuquerque Journal published the results of an opinion poll on the  2025 Albuquerque’s Mayor race.  The poll was conducted by  Albuquerque-based Research & Polling Inc whose President is Brian Sanderoff. Research & Polling Inc is the exclusive polling company for the Albuquerque Journal. For at least the 40 past years, it has polled in New Mexico political races and it is considered the “gold standard” and one of the four top politcal pollsters in the country for is history of accuracy.

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%

Tim Keller’s total 29%  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.

Brian Sanderoff, the President of Research and Polling who conducted the poll, offered the following assessment of the poll in an Albuquerque Journal article:

According to the Journal poll, crime and homelessness are top Albuquerque voters’ minds, 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%.

Although the Albuquerque Journal Poll found that Mayor Tim Keller has the  lead in his bid to win reelection to a third term, 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 link to the quoted or relied upon Albuquerque Journal article is here:

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

ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

City municipal elections are classified as “nonpartisan” and for that very reason party affiliations of the candidates are not provided on the ballot. Notwithstanding, it’s common knowledge that the major parties do in fact get involved with the elections for Mayor and City Council on any number of levels, including providing volunteers for canvassing, donations and endorsements of all kinds from elected officials from the same party

The Carla  Sontag guest opinion column is undisputed evidence that City Councilor Louie Sanchez is in fact securing significant Republican support as he runs for Mayor. Confidential sources  have confirmed that  Republican Darren White  has alienated a large segment of the Republican Party.  It has resulted in White not being able to secure  the Republican base and it has had the effect on his fundraising efforts.  Confidential sources have also confirmed that a strong effort is being made within the Republican Party  to ensure a high voter turnout for Louie Sanchez by Republicans. Republican support for Sanchez has the biggest potential of resulting in Louie Sanchez making it into the run off and keeping Darren White out of the runoff.

It’s clear that the 37% total of the “undecided or don’t know” will decide who will be in the run off. The “undecided or don’t know” were evenly broken down with 35% registered Democrat, 36% registered Republican and 47% registered  Independent.

Based on the Journal poll, Democrat  Keller’s support is overwhelming Democrat, Republican  White’s support  is overwhelming Republican and Democrat Uballez’s  support is Democrat.  Democrat Sanchez has a more of a bi-partisan break of  Republican, Democrat and Independent voters. Uballez is pulling support from Keller’s Democrat progressive base but it will not be enough to get Uballez in the runoff with Keller.  Keller’s disapproval of 47% of voters will likely suppress Keller’s vote of the “undecided”  Democrats and Independents  and keeping them from breaking his way  and will have a negative impact on Keller’s final vote.

Early voting commenced on October 18 and ends on November 1. 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 will take place on December 9.

In the final analysis, the only poll that counts and that is 100% accurate is the final vote counted on November 4. Please vote!

All Six of the candidates for Mayor of Albuquerque sat together on a stage  for an hour and a half line of questioning by reporters hosted by the Albuquerque Journal and moderated by Journal Editorial Page Editor Dan Boyd. The six debated a wide range of issues. The main issues that dominated the discussion included crime, the unhoused, sanctuary city, how they would deal with President Donald Trump and the redevelopment or relocation  of the New  Mexico State Fair.

COMBATING CRIME

Crime was a major topic of discussion.

Mayor Tim Keller argued that crime in all major categories is going down. However, he admitted  that crime is going down from historical highs during his tenure and that crime needs to go down even further. He proclaimed that his policies of relying of technology, such as speeding cameras, and use of civilians, such as his Albuquerque Community Safety Division, and his violent crime reduction programs are in fact working on reducing crime.

Darren White noted recent FBI statistics show that Albuquerque is ranked sixth in the country for violent crime and ranked sixth in the country for property crime. White proclaimed APD needs to return to “proactive policing” policies and that Keller’s reliance on technology and the use of civilians is misplaced. He said technology has many limitations, including not being able to make arrests nor do full investigations. White denounced “turn style” justice. He said he would work with the courts and the District Attorney’s office to hold criminals accountable.

Alex Uballez relied heavily on his experience as the former New Mexico United States Attorney. He noted he has prosecuted serious violent  crime, including drug cases and cartels,  and said he has the know how to bring down crime. He said public safety must be a major priority and the city needs a smarter approach. He called for a consolidated 911 dispatch center with the city and county.

City Councilor Louie Sanchez emphasized for his part work as a retired APD officer and the need for a new police chief to foster a better culture within the department. Sanchez said this:

“My plan is to make sure that we have the best police chief ready to go so that Albuquerque can have a new culture in their department. … Officers aren’t dumb. When they vet a department, they do their homework. And right now, when they do their homework, they go to a different department.”

Retired Fire Chief Eddie Varela for his part proposed a curfew to address youth violence. Varela said this:

“I’m going to install a curfew in our city. We need to have a curfew, 18-year-olds and under, an emergency curfew in our city. We have 12, 13, 14-year-olds killing people and murdering people in our city, and nothing is being done about it.”

Mayling Armijo the city needs far more cops on the street and that APD can increase its ranks with aggressive recruitment tactics including offering sign on bonuses.

THE HOMELESS CRISIS

Tim Keller proclaimed his administration is taking an “all above approach” to dealing with the homeless and that it is working. He emphasized what has been accomplished with the creation for the first time a homeless shelter system that is assisting and providing services to1,000 unhoused daily.

Darren White said that law enforcement needs to take a stricter approach to the homeless population and make arrests for illegal camping and drug use. He has said that “on day one” he would clean up the streets of Albuquerque of the homeless.

Louie Sanchez noted the millions being spent by the Keller Administration on the unhoused and that the crisis is only gotten worse. He noted how he sees and cleans up after the unhouse daily in front of his business and how the unhoused have affected his  business. However he says he does not see cops patrolling. He argued Keller’s policies are not doing enough to address the root causes of homelessness.

Alex Uballez argued the homeless crisis is only getting worse, but that arrest and incarceration is not the solution to the crisis. He proclaimed that a “care and consequences” approach is needed to deal with the unhoused.

Mayling Armijo said the city in reality has no control over crime and punishment. However she said the city can do more to address assistance to the homeless and deal with those suffering from mental health issues.

Eddie Varela argued that 9 out of 10 of the unhoused are not from Albuquerque. He said the city “needs to get out of the homeless business”. He said the homeless need to be identified, even using private security, and cite them for crimes committed and make arrests to get them off the streets.

SANCTUARY CITY DEBATE

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

The Candidates were divided on whether Albuquerque should be a “sanctuary city” or an “immigrant friendly” city.

Tim Keller and Alex Uballez both support the city’s current “immigrant friendly” policies enacted by the city council, though Uballez said that it does not go far enough to protect residents.

Mayor Keller made it clear that as long as he is Mayor, the city will not work with Immigration, Customs and Enforcement (ICE). He pointed out that the city does not maintain any data and does not determine immigration status of those arrested by APD so there is nothing to turn over to federal authorities. Keller made it clear that APD makes arrests for all crimes committed, no matter the immigration status of a defendant

Armijo, Varela, Sanchez and White all oppose the “immigrant friendly” policy saying that it gets in the way of law enforcement.

Mayling Armijo said the city should be “immigrant friendly” but  not “criminal friendly” and that the city needs to turn over all information on crimes committed to the feds.

Former U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez addressed immigration and ICE raids and said this:

“I think we’re being asked at this moment to give up our values for money. And I will never give up my neighbor for money. … We should be banning masks. We should be requiring identification. We should be doing proactive, know your rights education on our buses, our TVs, and our radios.”

If elected, Darren White said he would re-establish a policy piloted by then-President George W. Bush and expanded upon by President Barack Obama that facilitated information sharing between local and federal law enforcement. Obama later got rid of  the policy, called “Secure Communities,” in his second term.

Eddie Varela for his part said what is need is a voter initiative and allow voters to decide if the city should be a “sanctuary city” or an “immigrant friendly city.”

DEALING WITH TRUMP ADMINISTRATION

The Candidates expressed differing views on how they would deal with the Trump Administration.

Mayor Tim Keller struck a very defiant tone toward the Trump  administration that has already clawed back funding from the city. In September, the U.S. Department of Transportation announced in a letter that it would withdraw an $11.5 million grant for the Albuquerque Rail Trail, a loop for pedestrians and cyclists around the city’s core.

Keller said this:

“If any president from any party is going to try and divide our families, I will resist. If a president tries to take over our streets, I will resist. If a president tries to round up immigrants, I will resist.  …  If any president is going to try and take our land, I will push back. If any president is going to try and tell us what is best for us, I will say they are wrong and they need to respect us as our own city, with our own history and our own governments. Now, if a president wants to help, support housing in our city, support transportation, I will absolutely work with them.”

Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White said that collaboration is “critically important” regardless of who’s in office. Beyond budget cuts, White feared retaliation might also include a base realignment and closure directive from the Pentagon, similar to what was attempted and failed in the ’90s, which he said could shutter Kirtland Air Force Base and cripple the city economically.

Former U.S. Attorney for New Mexico Alex Uballez said this:

“I think we’re being asked at this moment to give up our values for money … And I will never give up my neighbor for money.”

Alex Uballez pointed out the state’s $64 billion in permanent funds as a remedy to federal budget cuts he sees as a certainty with the current administration.

Mayling Armijo, a Navy veteran and former Bernalillo County Economic Development director, said her priority is making Albuquerque safer and if that requires collaborating with the federal government, she would be willing to compromise. Armijo said this:

“So regardless of who the president is, we need to figure out how to work with the federal administration. … I know what it is to not have a paycheck every two weeks, to have to eat what you kill, to be hungry, to know that if you do not get results, you get fired.”

Former firefighter Eddie Varela  emphasized the race’s intended nonpartisan nature,  but went on to talk about his own political leanings. Varela said this:

“Sure, I’m a Republican.  I don’t know Donald Trump — never met the guy — I watch world news, I watch national news and I see what he’s doing. I agree with a lot. I disagree with a lot.”

City Councilor Louie Sanchez declined to comment on how he would approach the currently tenuous relationship with the Trump administration , stating that the mayoral race was intended to be “nonpartisan.”

MOVING THE NEW MEXICO STATE FAIR

In December, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced plans to move the New Mexico State Fair and put a mixed-use development and affordable housing on the state-owned land where the annual State Fair has been held since 1934. The announcement drew criticism from fairgoers and surrounding neighborhood associations.

In response to the Governor’s announcement to redevelop or move the state fair, the New Mexico legislature passed Senate Bill 481 creating the “State Fairgrounds District,” a governing board which has redevelopment authority over the existing State Fair grounds area. The bill includes an appropriation of approximately $12 million to cover initial costs. The “State Fairgrounds District” Board is empowered to raise property taxes and issue up to $500 million in bonds to fund future development of the property, to make improvement or even relocate the fairgrounds and repurpose the property.

The state has paid Stantec Consulting Service Inc., a global firm, $850,000 to develop a master plan to make suggestions for the land’s use.

All six candidates expressed opposition to the governor’s plan of  moving the state fair grounds.

City Councilor Louie Sanchez said this:

“I actually love the State Fair being where it’s at and it should be held in Albuquerque and left alone.”

Mayling Armijo said that state spending on the project has been  fiscally irresponsible and she said this:

“What burns me about this whole process is they did hire an out-of-state company and they’re paying them thousands of dollars to tell us something we already know — that it needs to stay there.”

Alex Uballez said he’d like the State Fair to stay put, though he said the decision is largely up to the governor. He welcomed an “intentional” redevelopment, if it comes to that.

Tim Keller said he is opposed to moving the fair, but said that there was opportunity for redevelopment in empty or underutilized areas around the property’s fringes. Keller said this:

“It doesn’t have to be either or, it can be both.”

Darren White called the  State fair a New Mexico gem and said he is opposed to moving it.

Eddie Varela  opposes the governor’s plan and he said the decision should be put to the voters to decide.

REVEALING CLOSING REMARKS

The most revealing comments made during  the forum came during the closing remarks by Darren White and Mayor Keller where both said they are ending their public service career.

Mayor Keller, who is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive four year term, said this in his closing remarks:

“For Day One Darren: The only thing you are going to do on day one is break a promise. You are just saying things that are illegal or ineffective or not doable, especially on day one. You say you are running to ‘save the city.’ I don’t have some kind of savior complex. I’m just doing the tough work of problem solving to help our city for generations. And you’re trying to resurrect your career. I know mine is already done. No Mayor has ever gone on to something else besides being Mayor because this is a work that you do because you love your hometown and you know it’s the right thing to do.  These are tough times. It’s easy to just talk about the problem or say things there is no way you can deliver on. What’s hard is to actually do the real work, to say how you’re going to fix it. That is what I have done today. I see the challenges but I also see the things we are doing right that are making a difference. That’s why we have to keep going. 

Darren White said this in his closing remarks:

Before you go vote ask yourself this question, what is Tim Keller going to do in 12 years that he hasn’t done in eight. If I’m elected I will only serve four years. I’m not trying to pad my political career or punch my ticket to higher office. Mayor Keller is running to save his political career. I’m running to save our city. Mayor, today I noticed you started referring to me as Day One Darren and that is a moniker I proudly accept. Because on day one I am going to roll up my sleeves, get to work and clean up the mess, a mess you created, Mayor, in 2,882 days. It is time for a change.

 You can view the full roundtable discussion here:

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-mayor-election-candidate-roundtable/69124034

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/six-albuquerque-mayor-hopefuls-clash-over-crime-curfews-and-federal-power-in-fiery-journal-roundtable/69128146

https://www.abqjournal.com/election/article_3430289a-6d86-4587-8161-228573f36b4d.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL POLL REVISITED

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

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%

Note that the undecided were at 39% outpacing all the candidates.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The final debate round table was a  far cry from the televised debate by Channel 7 where only the 4 top candidates in the polls and in fund raising were invited. Channel 7 did the general public a major disservice with its debate of 4.  This final debate was needed in that all 6 candidates participated.

The most revealing disclosure in the final appearance by the candidates came from Darren White and Mayor Keller in their closing remarks.  Mayor Keller said that he knows his career is done after he serves as Mayor and Darren White said he intends to serve only one term.

It is doubtful the final appearance by all the candidates this last time will have any impact on the final outcome of the election.  In the final analysis, there was no clear winner. The last appearance likely did not sway very many undecides nor anyone’s opinion on who they will vote for come November 4.  The trajectory of the race remains the same as reflected in the Journal poll with Mayor Tim Keller and Darren White in runoff.

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