It has been reported $2.2 million has been raised by the candidates running for Mayor who are privately financed and the measured finance committees trying to affect the outcome of the mayoral race.
(See September 30, 2017 Albuquerque Journal, page “2.2 Million raised in Alb Mayor Race; candidates with the most cash lead race”)
https://www.abqjournal.com/1071208/22m-raised-in-abq-mayoral-campaign-excerpt-candidates-with-the-most-cash-lead-race.html
The $2.2 million does not include the $508,000 that Ricardo Chaves gave his own campaign before pulling out of the race and it does not include the $343,000 given to Tim Keller the only public financed candidate.
If you add it all up, at least $3,055,000 has been spent thus far in the Mayor’s race before the October 3, 2017 election.
In all four of the polls taken and made public by news agencies, Tim Keller, Brain Colón, Dan Lewis and Wayne Johnson are the top four candidates in the mayor’s race, with all the other candidates trailing in single digit poll numbers.
The candidates who have spent the most cash in the race lead in virtually all the polls in the eight (8) person race.
Brian Colón, an attorney and private attorney and former Democratic Party Chairman raised nearly $824,000 for his mayoral run according to campaign finance reports filed with the city clerk.
According to the finance reports filed with the city clerk:
Democrat Brain Colón has spent $798,000 and had $25,600 in the bank with additional amounts raised.
Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis has raised more than $555,000 and had $32,000 still available to spend.
Republican County Commissioner Wayne Johnson has raise $341,000 in campaign cash and still has $11,000 left.
Democrat State Auditor Tim Keller received $380,000 in public finance dollars and other “in-kind” cash donations and had only $500 left.
Independent and retired APD Police Detective Michelle Garcia Holmes raised nearly $45,000 in contributions and has about $9,800 left.
Democrat and recent UNM graduate Gus Pedrotty raised $17,500 and has $4,800 left.
Independent and co-founder of Urban ABQ Susan Wheeler-Deichsel received contributions of $13,000 in contributions and had a negative balance of $1,500 as reflected in the last reports.
Two measured finance committees have also raised and spent significant amounts of money on media:
1. ABQ Forward Together, which has been backed by numerous city unions, raised $360,000 to support Tim Keller’s bid with the committee having $37,000.
2. Make Albuquerque Safe, a committee backed by the owner of the Santolina development on the west side, raised $60,000 from two major donors each donating $30,000 to oppose Tim Keller and had spent all but $5,700 of the amount raised.
When you review the expenditures in the fiancé reports of the top four (4) candidates, most of the money raised has been spent on television ads, printed campaign materials and research and polling but more than a significant amount spent on political consultants has been spent.
Review of the fifth and final Campaign Finance Report for Mayor before the election and filed on September 29, 2017 with the City Clerk for the reporting period of September 8, 2017 to September 28, 2017, reflect the following for each of the four (4) top candidates:
TIM KELLER CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
Democrat Tim Keller is the only “publicly finance” candidate for Mayor.
The Keller September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $13,958.36 and that $13,458 was spent and the closing balance for the reporting period is $500.
Notable expenditures for the Tim Keller campaign include $3,000 to PUTMAN PARTNERS of Washington, DC for “MEDIA”, and $3,000, $1,235, $5,000, $935, and $692 to RIO STATEGIES, Alan Packman, the longtime political consultants for Mr. Keller, for Professional Services.
It is expected Mr. Keller will be in the runoff and his campaign will be given approximately $126,000 more in public finance funds.
BRIAN COLON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
The Colon September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $114,175 and the closing balance for the recent reporting period is $25,644 and spent $125,142 during the reporting period.
Notable individuals or businesses that made cash contributions and reported in the September 22, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Brian Colon for Mayor include the following donors: $5,000 from Lance Hough, $4,800 from Alicia Gardner, $2,500 from Jonathan Jaramillo, $2,350 from Roy Benson, $1,000 each from Alfred Martin, Samantha Adams, attorney Ahmad Assad, and Bruce Mallot.
Notable expenditures listed in the September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for the Brian Colon for Mayor include $99,075 Paid to CANAL Partners Media of Atlanta, Georgia for “media” and $25,000 paid to Bouchard Golds Communication of Austin, Texas.
DAN LEWIS CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
The Dan Lewis September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $84,878.80 and the closing balance for the recent reporting period is $32,280.12 and expenditures of $71,630.68 during the reporting period.
Notable individuals or businesses that made cash contributions and reported in the September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Dan Lewis for Mayor include the following donors at $1,000 each: Kelly Martinez, Nick Casale, K&J Ventures, Molly Martinez and David Chavez.
Notable expenditures listed in the September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for the Dan Lewis for Mayor campaign include $5,000, $16,798 paid to Stoneridge Group and $11,000 paid to Medium Buying.
WAYNE JOHNSON CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS AND EXPENDITURES
The Wayne Johnson September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report states that the cash balance from the last reporting period was $109,248.55 and the closing balance for the recent reporting period is $11,008.08 and $116,687.97 was spent during the reporting period.
Notable individuals or businesses that made cash contributions and reported in the September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for Wayne Johnson for Mayor include the following donors: $2,500 from Clines Corners Operating Company, $2,500 from TBIRD, Inc, $2,596 from John Bode, Bode Aviation, $2,500 from Steve Chavez, $1,000 from Doug Clark.
In kind donations to Wayne Johnson for legal service include attorney Pat Rodgers and the Wilson Law Firm (Alan Wilson), $1,848.
Notable expenditures listed in the September 29, 2017 Campaign Finance Report for the Wayne Johnson for Mayor include $28,000 and $24,776 to Direct Edge and $61,780 to SRCP Media.
CONCLUSION
Election day is Tuesday, October 3, 2017.
If none of the eight (8) candidates on the ballot secures 50% of the vote, which is expected based on recent polls, a runoff will be held between the two top vote getters.
The runoff is scheduled for Tuesday, November 14, 2017.
The new Mayor of Albuquerque will be sworn in on December 1, 2017.