Governor Lujan Grisham has completed making her 30 Cabinet Secretary appointments and the Governor’s Office Executive appointments.

All started to work immediately when their appointments were announced.

Cabinet Secretaries are paid $128,000 a year, the standard rate for any state cabinet secretary.

The New Mexico Senate will now vote to approve or reject Cabinet Secretary designates.

With the Democrats in control of the Senate, it is more likely than not all of her cabinet appointments will be approved very quickly during the 2019 Legislative Session.

There appear to be no controversial appointments as plagued Lujan Grisham’s predecessor.

CABINET APPOINTMENTS

Following is the complete listing of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s cabinet appointments:

SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION (DFA): Olivia Padilla-Jackson was appointed the new Secretary of DFA which functions as state government’s central budget office. She is a former director of the state Board of Finance. The DFA will be responsible for overseeing the state’ s expenditures at a time of unprecedented revenue levels with a total of $1.1 billion in new money projected for the coming budget year due primarily to surging oil production levels.

SECRETARY OF THE HUMAN SERVICES DEPARTMENT: Governor Lujan Grisham appointed Dr. David Scrase Human Services Department (HSD) Secretary. HSD is one of the state’s largest agencies with more than 2,000 employees. The Human Services Department administers the state’s Medicaid program and programs for New Mexicans with mental illness and addiction issues. Secretary designate Scrase is a professor at the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and the section chief of geriatrics at the UNM Health Sciences Center.

SECRETARY OF HOMELAND SECURITY AND EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT: Jackie White, a captain in Albuquerque Fire Rescue will head homeland security department. Her 17-year career includes work in special operations, homeland security and fire investigations. Jackie White was previously the captain of homeland security and emergency management of the Albuquerque Fire Department, where she worked for 17 years, since 2002. Prior to that, she was the captain of fire investigations. She is a member of the Intrastate Mutual Aid System. White has managed emergency response for the Albuquerque Balloon Fiesta and all city-sponsored special events; her experience includes fire suppression, paramedicine, instructing cadet and paramedic programs and providing oversight for the special operation division.

SECRETARY OF THE ENERGY, MINERALS AND NATURAL RESOURCES DEPARTMENT: Sarah Cottrell Propst has been appointed Secretary and will oversee the State Parks division and regulate oil and natural gas drilling in New Mexico. Sarah Cottrell Propst previously served as the Executive Director of the Interwest Energy Alliance, a non-profit trade association that represents the nation’s leading companies in the renewable energy industry, from 2012 to 2018, bringing them together with non-governmental organizations in the West (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming). She is the founder of Propst Consulting LLC, specializing in energy and environmental policy. Propst was Deputy Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico Environment Department after serving as Energy and Environmental Policy Advisor to New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1257716/gov-elect-lujan-grisham-makes-three-cabinet-picks.html

SECRETARY OF CULTURAL AFFAIRS: Debra Garcia y Griego, director of the city of Santa Fe’s Arts Commission, is the new cabinet secretary. Garcia y Griego is a board member of the nonprofit Americans for the Arts and she has an international reputation in the arts community. As the director of the City of Santa Fe Arts Commission, a position she held from 2012 to December of 2018, she led the city’s efforts to support arts and cultural affairs. She developed the nation’s first municipal ordinance addressing the forgery of Native American arts and crafts and led the development of Santa Fe’s first cultural plan, “Culture Connects Santa Fe,” and she was staff representative to the high-level negotiations over the Entrada between the All Pueblo Council of Governors, Archdiocese of Santa Fe, Santa Fe Fiesta Council and Caballeros de Vargas

SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY (IT): Vincent Martinez, who served in the state House from 1993 to 1997, is the new IT Secretary. Former Representative Martinez already works in the department as managing director of cloud and communications.

SECRETARY OF HIGHER EDUCATION: Kate O’Neill, the former CEO of the University of New Mexico’s campus in Taos, has been appointed Secretary of Higher Education. is a proven leader and innovator in New Mexico higher education, previously serving as chief executive officer of the University of New Mexico at Taos for 12 years, beginning in 2006, and as special assistant to the chief executive since her retirement in 2016. In her time there, she developed a nationally accredited nursing program, and over ten years under her leadership, the campus’ budget grew by 250 percent. She began at the campus as adjunct faculty in 1994 and worked her way up, serving as an associate professor, department chair of psychology and academy head for professions and liberal arts. The UNM Taos campus was struggling in rural New Mexico until she was able to turn it around.

SECRETARY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION: Mike Sandoval, a 24-year state employee and a division director within the state Department of Transportation is the Secretary designate. Sandoval has overseen the Rail Runner Express commuter train, commercial-vehicle permitting, traffic safety and other programs. Michael Sandoval has spent more than 20 years at the New Mexico Department of Transportation, most recently serving as executive manager of modal divisions, a role in which he oversees 300 contracts and 12 ports of entry and major programs such as the Railrunner, commercial vehicle permitting and traffic safety. At the department, he has also served as division director of the office of safety programs, planning divisions and traffic safety division. He has also worked in other areas of state government, serving as division director of the Motor Vehicle Division from 2009-2010.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1261649/lujan-grisham-picks-4-new-cabinet-secretaries.html

SECRETARY OF DEPARTMENT OF VETERANS SERVICES: Judy Griego, a brigadier general retired from the Air Force, has been appointed cabinet secretary. She is the first woman to reach the rank of brigadier general in the New Mexico National Guard and serve one tour of duty in Afghanistan. Brig. Gen. Judy Griego had a decorated military career, establishing herself as both pioneer and leader. Her most recent role, before her retirement in 2016 after a 36-year career, was as chief of staff of the New Mexico Air National Guard, where she directed, managed and supervised the development, execution and evaluation of programs and policies pertaining to the command, control and operations at the State Headquarters level.

OFFICE OF AFRICAN AMERICAN AFFAIRS: William Scott Carreathers, Director of African American Student Services at the University of New Mexico and former Associate Dean, was appointed to head the department. From 2005 to 2010, he was associate dean for diversity initiatives, linking the Division of Student Affairs and the University College Advising Center. Other roles at the University of New Mexico include senior academic advisor and university representative, helping to develop a recruitment plan and liaising with counselors and educators in New Mexico, Texas and Colorado. Carreathers has an undergraduate degree in health from Northwest Oklahoma State University and a master of education degree from Prairie View A&M University in Prairie View, Texas.

SECRETARY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF TOURISM: Jen Schroer, a former president and chief executive of the New Mexico Hospitality Association, was appointed to serve as cabinet secretary for tourism. She worked earlier in the New Mexico Tourism Department. Ms. Schroer is returning to New Mexico in that she was the Executive Director of the Davis Chamber of Commerce located in California.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1261901/lujan-grisham-reveals-3-new-appointees.html

SECRETARY OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: Alicia Keyes, Albuquerque’s film liaison director and a former Walt Disney Company executive has been appointed cabinet secretary. Keyes worked in the City of Albuquerque film department where she oversaw the deal to make the city home to NETFLEX’s first United States production hub. Keyes has been given major credit for suggesting to NETFELX to buy the Albuquerque Studios with NETFLEX planning to invest $1 Billion dollars in New Mexico over 10 years. She grew up partly in New Mexico and attended Albuquerque Academy. She established a workforce training program with both the University of New Mexico and Central New Mexico Community College and was responsible for all film permitting and recruiting

SECRETARY OF GENERAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT: Ken Ortiz who worked for Democratic Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, will head this department. He said his initial priorities include ensuring the state procurement code gives local businesses a fair chance to win state contracts.

SUPERINTENDENT OF REGULATION AND LICENSING: Marguerite Salazar, who has had a Cabinet-level position under outgoing Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, a Democrat, is the new cabinet superintendent. She has had a similar role in Colorado, where she was the executive director of the Department of Regulatory Agencies.

DEPARTMENT OF WORKFORCE SOLUTIONS: Former New Mexico House Representative Bill McCamley of Las Cruces Democrat will head the department. McCamley is a former Doña Ana County commissioner, and he ran a nonprofit group that worked on economic development in rural areas. He sought the Democratic nomination for state auditor. Bill McCamley was a Las Cruces-area state representative from 2012 through 2018. He was chairman of the House Labor and Economic Development Committee, where he oversaw progress on critical issues like wage theft and increasing the minimum wage. He has been a statewide leader in job creation activities like workforce training, border trade and cannabis legalization.

DEPARTMENT OF AGING AND LONG-TERM SERVICES: Alice Liu McCoy, an attorney for Disability Rights New Mexico, a nonprofit advocacy group, will now be in charge of the department. McCoy sued the state recently for failing to regulate boarding homes that take in former psychiatric patients.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1259307/lujan-grisham-nominates-3-for-cabinet-posts.html

CHILDREN YOUTH AND FAMILIES DEPARTMENT: Brian Blalock will take over the Children, Youth and Families Department, or CYFD. Blalock has a lengthy background in youth law and will make a move to the agency from being the law and policy director at Tipping Point Community which is an anti-poverty group in the Bay Area.

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY: Mark Shea has been named the new Secretary of the Department of Public Safety. Shea is currently the undersheriff of Valencia County and has been in law enforcement for more than four decades including a lengthy stint at the department he will now lead. For nine years, Shea worked in the Department of Public Safety’s training and recruiting division.

ENVIRONMENT DEPARTMENT: James Kenney is the new Secretary of the Environment Department after spending more than 21 years at the Environmental Protection Agency, most recently as senior policy advisor for oil and gas. In that role, he has worked with senior agency leadership and designed strategies to support environmentally responsible development of oil and natural gas resources while working with states, tribes, federal agencies and industries on regulatory and policy matters.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH: Kathy Kunkel will be the new Secretary of the Department of Health. Kunkel spent the last four years as deputy director of the DOH overseeing multiple facets of the agency. Kathy Kunkel has worked seven years across different stints at the state Department of Health, the most recent four as deputy director, overseeing the bureau of behavioral supports, regional offices, litigation management and supported employment. Kunkel developed a fair hearings bureau, and, as an attorney with a law degree from the University of New Mexico, she provided litigation support, developing legal strategy with the department and working on issues related to various settlements.

https://www.kob.com/politics-news/governor-names-new-cyfd-leader-among-others/5201394/?cat=500

TAXATION AND REVENUE DEPARTMENT: Stephanie Schardin Clarke, a former Deputy Secretary of Finance and Administration for the state, was appointed to head this department and the agency includes the Motor Vehicle Division. Ms. Clarke also has worked for Santa Fe County and the Legislative Finance Committee.

INDIAN AFFAIRS DEPARTMENT: Lynn A. Trujillo, Native American coordinator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, has been selected Secretary of Indian Affairs. She has worked as general counsel at Sandia Pueblo, where she’s also a member.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1271538/lujan-grisham-taps-leaders-for-taxation-indian-affairs.html

DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC EDUCATION: Karen Trujillo is the new cabinet Secretary for Public Education. Trujillo has more than two decades of experience in education both in teaching and professional development. She received her bachelor’s, master’s and doctorate from New Mexico State University and is currently serving as the university’s interim associate dean for research at the school’s College of Education. NOTE: Lt. Governor Howie Morales was appointed as an “acting secretary” until Trujillo was appointed.

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico-news/governor-announces-new-mexicos-top-education-officials/5221232/?cat=500

DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS: Julie Jones, a former corrections secretary in Florida will oversee New Mexico’s prison system as the Secretary of the Department of Corrections.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1275236/florida-official-to-run-nm-prison-system.html

STATE PERSONNEL OFFICE: PAM COLEMAN is the Director of the state personnel office. She started her career as a lawyer in New York City after earning her B.A. at New York University and her J.D. cum laude from New York Law School. Pam Coleman previously worked in various White House roles in the administration of President Barack Obama. Coleman was special assistant to the president for leadership development; a special assistant for energy and the environment; and served as the director of the outreach and recruitment team in the presidential personnel office. Before that, Coleman was the White House liaison for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

DEPARTMENT OF MILITARY AFFAIRS: Major General Kenneth A. Nava serves as the Adjutant General for the State of New Mexico. As the Adjutant General, he serves as senior military advisor to the Governor and is responsible for providing the State of New Mexico and the United States with a ready force of citizen Airmen and Soldiers. General Nava’s career began in 1988 as an enlisted HAWK firing section mechanic in the 7th Battalion (HAWK), 200th Air Defense Artillery, New Mexico Army National Guard. He later earned his commission as a second lieutenant through Officer Candidate School in 1992. General Nava has held various staff positions at the battalion, brigade and Joint Forces Headquarters levels.

NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF AGRICULTURE: The Secretary of Agriculture is Jeff Witt. The Department of Agriculture is responsible for ensuring a safe and secure food supply and a fair marketplace, protecting natural resources and the environment, and promoting markets and trade. The Secretary of Agriculture serves on the governor’s cabinet but reports to the New Mexico State University board and university president.

STATE ENGINEER: John Romero, Acting New Mexico State Engineer who has been with the department for a number of years. The Office of the State Engineer is charged with administering the state’s water resources. The State Engineer has authority over the supervision, measurement, appropriation, and distribution of all surface and groundwater in New Mexico, including streams and rivers that cross state boundaries. The State Engineer is also Secretary of the Interstate Stream Commission.

PROBATION AND PAROLE: Former State Senator Cisco Mcsorley has been appointed to head the Division which is within the Department of Corrections. Before resigning the State Senate, Mc Sorely had the distinction of being the longest serving member in the legislature having served since 1985, first in the House and then in the Senate.

WORKERS COMPENSATION: The acting Director of the Workers Compensation Administration is Verily A. Jones who served as executive deputy director under the previous Martinez Administration. Originally from California, Jones grew up in Orem, Utah, and attended Merced College before transferring to Brigham Young University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science degree in human development. She earned a Juris Doctor degree from Washburn University, then worked in foreclosure compliance and insurance sales before moving to New Mexico in 2014. Jones worked for the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s Office, handling all probation violations and specialty courts for the Sandoval County office, prosecuting DWI, domestic violence and property crimes cases. At Rose L. Brand and Associates, P.C., she practiced creditor’s rights law and represented financial institutions in foreclosures and evictions.

STATE ENGINEER: On February 19, 2020. Governor Lujan Grisham appointed John D’Antonio as the new State Engineer. D’Antonio previously worked as state engineer under ex-Gov. Bill Richardson from 2003 through 2011, when he stepped down. https://www.abqjournal.com/1282554/governor-names-john-dantonio-as-nm-state-engineer.html

GOVERNOR’S OFFICE APPOINTMENTS

Governor Lujan Grisham has also made the following appointments who will be working directly out of the Governor’s Office:

JOHN BINGAMAN, the son of former U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who headed up her transition team, was appointed one of two Chief of Staff who will be “co equal” in authority and report directly to Governor Lujan Grisham. Bingaman is a private sector investment banker and managing principal of an investment firm and will oversee policy development, the legislative team and legal operations in the Governor’s Office.

TERESA CASADOS is a Santa Fe County administrator was also appointed Chief of Staff and will serve as chief operations officer and oversee the execution of policy and legislation, work with Cabinet secretaries and manage constituent services.

MATTHEW L. GARCIA is an Albuquerque Civil rights attorney and appointed General Counsel to the Governor.

DOMINIC GABELLO, Lujan Grisham’s gubernatorial campaign manager, was appointed as Senior Adviser for Policy, Strategy and Communications.

STEPHANIE KEAN, an urban planner who worked in Lujan Grisham’s congressional office was appointed Senior Policy Adviser for Education.

JANE WISHNER, is a founding member of the law firm Peifer, Hanson & Mullins, was appointed Executive Policy Adviser for Health and Human Services. She is also the former Director of the Southwest Women’s Law Center.

MARIANA PADILLA, who worked in Lujan Grisham’s congressional office, was appointed Director of the Children’s Cabinet.

VICTOR REYES was appointed the Governor’s Legislative Director. Reyes has worked as a senior staff member for the New Mexico State Senate Democratic caucus.

MATT RUYBAL, who handled constituent services in Lujan Grisham’s congressional office, was appointed the Governor’s Director of Constituent Relations.

DIEGO ARENCON is the executive policy advisor for labor management affairs. He was a 22-year veteran of the Albuquerque Fire Department, serving as the union president for IAFF Local 244 for a dozen years, as state president of the New Mexico Professional Firefighters Association and previously as the international District Field Representative for the IAFF.

TRIPP STELNICKI, a former Reporter for the Santa Fe New Mexican and covered city and county government, was appointed the Governor’s Director of Communications.

NEW MEXICO BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS

With the appointment of her Cabinet Secretaries, the next round of appointments will no doubt be finding private citizens willing to serve on the numerous boards and commissions.

Boards and Commissions include some very powerful positions such as the New Mexico State Fair and the Board of Regents of all the Universities.

The New Mexico Boards and Commission Division of the Department of Regulation and Licensing establishes specialized standards on education and training to ensure New Mexicans receive quality care and services from qualified professionals such as contractors and realtors.

There are more than 30 different Boards and Commissions that deal with professions and specialized trades, from accountants, barbers, realtors and chiropractors, to funeral directors.

http://www.rld.state.nm.us/boards/default.aspx

Below is the link to apply for appointment to a Board or Commission:

https://www.emailmeform.com/builder/form/Oqd5SaP9ZFhWEVt55kMbf2zn

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

In characteristic style and with a sense of purpose and urgency, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham hit the ground running with the appointment of her entire cabinet designates and executive staff within 3 months of being elected and assuming office on January 1, 2019.

Eight years ago, the Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s predecessor Republican Governor “She-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named” had difficulty in finding qualified people primarily because she had an absolute ignorance of the many functions of state government and services provided, except for prosecuting people and she was hell-bent on dismantling or reducing the size of government.

Virtually all the appointments of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham reflect a Governor who knows and understands New Mexico state government and agencies, no doubt because she herself is a former cabinet secretary having worked for Democrat and Republican Governors, not to mention that she is a former Bernalillo County Commissioner and US Congresswoman.

GOOD LUCK TO THEM ALL AS THEY BEGIN A LIKELY 8 YEAR ADVENTURE TOGETHER.

The City of Albuquerque employs approximately 4,800 to 5,000 full time city hall employees with 26 separate departments.

The 26 Departments at Albuquerque City Hall are:

Animal Welfare
Aviation
City Clerk’s Office
City Council
Civilian Police Oversight
Cultural Services
Economic Development
Emergency Management
Environmental Health
Family and Community Services Department
Finance and Administration
Fire and Rescue
Human Resources Department
Inspector General
Internal Audit
Legal Department
Management and Budget Office
Mayor’s Office
Municipal Development Department
Parks’ and Recreation Department
Planning Department
Police Department
Senior Affairs Department
Solid Waste Department
Technology and Innovation Department
Transit Department

The City of Albuquerque pays an average of $17.61 an hour to City Hall employees or $36,628.80 a year depending on the positions held and required education level and training levels.

(40 hour work week X 52 weeks in a year = 2,080 hours worked in a year X $17.61 paid hourly = $36,628.80)

https://www.payscale.com/research/US/Employer=City_of_Albuquerque/Hourly_Rate

CLASSIFIED VERSUS UNCLASSIFIED EMPLOYEES

Roughly 4,500 City Hall employees are considered “classified employees” who are covered by the city’s personnel rules and regulations.

Classified employees have vested rights including retirement benefits, sick leave and annual leave benefits and can only be terminated for cause.

Disciplinary actions such as suspensions, demotions and terminations can be appealed by classified employees to the City Personnel Board.

There are 223 full time “ungraded” positions at City Hall, who are in unclassified positions and “at-will” employees who can be terminated “without cause” and who work at the pleasure of the Mayor or the City Council.

“Ungraded employees” or exempt employees do not have the same vested rights classified employees have and have no appeal rights to the City Personnel Board for disciplinary action so when they are fired, they are in fact gone with little or no recourse.

All City Hall Department Directors are all “unclassified employees” and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and can be terminated without cause.

Albuquerque Police Department Commanders up to the Deputy Chiefs and the Chief Police are at will employees who serve at the pleasure of the Mayor.

APD Lieutenants, Sergeants and Patrol officers on the other hand are all classified employees and are part of the police union and can be terminated only for cause.

Albuquerque Fire and Rescue Deputy Chiefs and the Fire Chief are at will employees.

TOP 250 PAID CITY HALL EMPLOYEES

At the end of each calendar year, City Hall releases the top 250 wage earners at city hall.

The list of 250 top city hall wages earners is what is paid for the full calendar year of January 1, to December 31 of any given year.

The City of Albuquerque has updated the list of the 250 top wage earners at City Hall for 2018.

You can review the full 2018 listing at the below link:

http://cognospublic.cabq.gov/ibmcognos/bi/?perspective=classicviewer&pathRef=.public_folders%2FTransparency%2FTop+Earners+of+the+City+of+Albuquerque+List&id=i5C8E3011CDD346029B51E17CB7132529&objRef=i5C8E3011CDD346029B51E17CB7132529&type=report&format=HTML&Download=false&prompt=true&cmProperties%5Bid%5D=i5C8E3011CDD346029B51E17CB7132529&cmProperties%5BdefaultName%5D=Top+Earners+of+the+City+of+Albuquerque+List&cmProperties%5Btype%5D=report&cmProperties%5Bpermissions%5D%5B%5D=execute&cmProperties%5Bpermissions%5D%5B%5D=traverse

BREAKDOWN ACCORDING TO DEPARTMENT

The Breakdown of the 250 top paid city hall employees for 2018 reveals that all are paid between $100,000 to $192,937.23 with all 250 employees combined making in excess of a total of $25 million in pay.

There is a lopsided number of those employed by the Albuquerque Police Department and the Albuquerque Fire and Rescue Department compared to all the other department with the breakdown as follows:

Police 140
Fire and Rescue 55
Municipal Development 7
City Support 7
Technology and Innovation 7
Finance Admin Svc 6
Aviation 4
City Council Services 3
Planning Department 3
Chief Administrative Office 3
Cultural Services 3
City Attorney Office 2
Human Resources 2
Animal Welfare 2
Mayor’s Office Department 1
PR-Parks and Recreation 1
Environmental Health 1
Transit 1
SW-Solid Waste 1
Civilian Police OS Dept 1

TOTAL 250

The lopsided numbers in APD and Fire & Rescue can be attributed to overtime pay to “classified” employees.

The earnings figures do not include take home vehicles, reimbursements, such as mileage and tuition, and vacation and sick leave accumulated amounts.

With the election of new Mayor Tim Keller, there has been a major shift of priorities and top wage earners at City Hall that merits comparison to the previous Berry Administration.

FORMER MAYOR RICHARD BERRY’S TOP WAGE EARNERS

In 2017 Mayor Richard Berry’s 250 top paid wage earners in order of their pay included the following 27 “at will” employees:

Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry: $189,936 (#1 highest paid employee)
APD Chief Gordon Eden: $166,699 (#2 highest paid employee)
Chief Administrative Officer Michael Riordan: $152,319 (#4 highest paid employee)
City Attorney Jessica Hernandez: $150,217 (#5 highest paid employee)
Fire Chief David W. Downey: $138,993 (#11 highest paid employee)
Deputy Fire Chief Eric Garcia: $133,872 (#13 highest paid employee)
APD Assistant Chief Robert Huntsman: $132,435 (#14 highest paid employee)
Deputy Director of Municipal Development Gregory Smith: $126,623 (#17 highest paid employee)
Deputy Fire Chief Michael Silvera: $125,603 (#19 highest paid employee)
Deputy Fire Chief II/Commander Joshua McDonald: $124,374 (#21 highest paid employee)
Mayor’s Chief of Staff Gilbert Montano: $124,345 (#22 highest paid employee)
John Soladay, Director, Solid Waste Department: $115,227
Barbara Taylor, Director, Parks and Recreation Department: $114,136
Mary Leonard, Director, Environmental Health Department: $112,230
Dana Feldman, Director, Cultural Services: $110,020
Susan Lubar, Director, Planning Department: $110,020
Mary L. Scott, Director, Human Resources Department: $110,020
Jorja Armijo-Brasher, Senior Affairs Department: $106,441
APD Deputy Chief Jessica Tyler (APD Academy Director): $105,514
Gary Oppendahl, Economic Development Director: $105,510
Bruce Rizieri, Transit Director: $105,202
James Hindi, Director of Aviation (airport): $104,340
Doug Chapman, Director of Family Community Services: $102,260
Natali Y. Howard, City Clerk: $101,942
Lou Hoffman, Director of Finance Department: $99,732
Cilia Aglialoro, City Treasurer: $98,579
Paul Caster, Director of Animal Welfare Department: $98,019

CITY HALL TOP WAGE EARNERS

Under the Keller Administration, there has been a dramatic change in salaries paid to APD with more classified positions as opposed to unclassified positions.

What the Keller Administration pays its top 250 city hall employee is revealing especially when compared to the previous Berry Administration.

The earnings displayed in the below list is the pay in the calendar year 2018.‬

WHAT ELECTED OFFICIALS PAID

The Mayor’s salary and City Council salaries are determined by the Citizens’ Independent Salary Commission.

https://www.cabq.gov/audit/citizens-independent-salary-commission

Beginning January 1, 2019, the Mayor’s salary went from $103,854 a year to $125,00 a year.

Being Mayor is arguably a 24/7 job.

As was the case with Berry, Mayor Keller is provided with a car, expense account as well as an APD protection detail.

Eight Albuquerque City Councilors are paid $30,000 annually and the City Council President is paid $32,000 annually.

DEPARTMENT DIRECTORS AND OTHERS

City Hall Department Directors are at will employees and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor, meaning they are not classified employees and can be terminated without cause.

Following is a listing of Department Directors and upper city hall management that appear on the list of 250 top wage earners at city hall:

Chief Administrative Office (CAO) SARITA NAIR: $169,556.80.
(Former Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry was paid $189,936.)

Chief Administrative Office Chief Operations Officer LAWRENCE RAEl: $165,524.80.
(Former Chief Administrative Officer Michael Riordan was paid $152,319)

Albuquerque Police Department Chief MICHAEL GEIER: $159,513.60.
(Former APD Chief Gordon Eden was paid $166,699.)

Albuquerque Fire and Rescue Chief PAUL DOW: $132,691.20.
(Former Fire Chief David W. Downey was paid $138,993.)

Chief Administrative Office Deputy CAO/Chief of Staff SUNALEI STEWART: $141,300.80
(NOTE: Mr. Stewart has resigned and was appointed Deputy State Land Commissioner).
(Former Mayor Chief of Staff Gilbert Montano was paid $124,345.)
Santiago Chavez was appointed Deputy Chief Administrative Officer/Chief of Staff on January 31, 2019.

Finance Admin Svc CFO/Director SUNALEI BHAKTA: $131,200.01.
(Former Director of Finance Department Lou Hoffman was paid $99,732.)

Animal Welfare Director DANNY NEVAREZ: $130,516.00.
(Former Director of Animal Welfare Department Paul Caster was paid $98,019)

Municipal Development Deputy Director GREGORY SMITH: $124,462.80. (Retired)

ATI-Technology and Innovation Director BRIAN OSTERLOH: $123,643.11.

Chief Investment Officer DANIEL CHRISTOPHER, Finance Admin.: $122,252.80.

Environmental Health Deputy Director MARK DIMENNA: $122,252.80.

Assistant City Attorney STEPHANIE GRIFFIN, Legal Department: 121,073.32.

Finance Admin Services Controller PAMELA FANELLI: $116,443.21.

Cultural Services, BioPark Administrator BAIRD FLEMING: $115,395.22.

MTI-Technology and Innovation IT Project Manager VINCENT QUIJANO: $114,136.00.

Finance Admin Svc Director Gerald Romero (Early Ret E series): $113,155.62

Finance City Budget Officer Olivia Padilla-Jackson: $113,102.04

Human Resources Director Mary Scott: $112,224.04.
(Mary L. Scott was paid $110,020 under Berry.)

Planning Department Director David Campbell: $111,645.60.
(Former Planning Director Susan Lubar was paid $110,020.)

Cultural Services Associate Director Library Dean Smith: $110,987.20.

Municipal Development Assoc Director, Engineering Melissa Lozoya, $110,945.61.

Municipal Development Engineering Project Manager Keith Reed: $110,945.60.

City Attorney ESTEBAN AGUILAR JR.: $110,296.80.
(Former City Attorney Jessica Hernandez was paid $150,217.)

Human Resources Deputy Director LOC TRUONG, $107,576.66.

Cultural Services BioPark Senior Veterinarian CAROL BRADFORD: $105,901.02.

Municipal Development CIP Official JAMES HAMEL: $105,656.00.

Planning Department Deputy Director, BRENNON WILLIAMS, $105,656.00.

Municipal Development Engineering Division Manager BRYAN WOLFE: $105,656.00.

Municipal Development Engineering Division Manager PAULA DODGE-KWAN: $105,656.01.

Municipal Development Engineering Division Manager DAVID HARRISON: $105,656.01.

Wilson, Erika L.PD – Police Emergency Communications Manager: $105,760.00

Planning Department City Engineer SHAHAB BIAZAR: $105,656.00.

ATI-Technology and Innovation Application Architect III JASON FLETCHER: $104,918.40.

Animal Welfare Senior Veterinarian NICOLE VIGIL: $104,326.40.

Aviation Deputy Director Aviation JAMES HINDE: $103,938.00.
(Under Berry, James Hindi was Aviation Director and paid $104,340.)

Transit Deputy Director ANNETTE PAETZ: $103,644.81.
(Former Transit Director Bruce Rizieri was paid $105,202)

Parks and Recreation Deputy Director Kenneth Mitchell: $102,978.00.
(Former Parks and Recreation Department Director Barbara Taylor was paid $114,136.)

City Treasurer, Finance Administration CILIA AGLIALORO: $102,763.60.

Parks and Recreation Deputy Director KENNETH MITCHELL: $102,978.00.

Director of Solid Waste Director MATTHEW WHELAN: $102,440.80.
(Former Solid Waste Director JOHN SOLADAY was paid $115,227.)

KELLER “AT WILL APPOINTMENTS” NOT LISTED

Mayor Keller made a few appointments during the last calendar year but their names do not appear on the list of 250 top paid employees because they yet to have worked a full calendar year.

Notwithstanding, Mayor Keller has been hiring Department Directors at starting pay of between $108,000 to $112,00 a year.

There are 6 Department Directors that are not on the list of 250 top paid city hall employees and they are:

Aviation Director Nyika Allen
City Clerk Katy Duhigg
Cultural Services Director Shelle Sanchez.
Senior Affairs Director Ana Sanchez.
New Jersey State Trooper Leonard Nerbetski as the “Real Time Crime Center Director”.

Newly created job positions created and appointed hires not listed in the 250 list are:

APD Deputy Chief of Staff Elizabeth Armijo in charge of public and media relations.
Former United States Attorney Damon Martinez as an APD Policy writer at $118,000 a year.
Senior Public Safety Advisor James Lewis (Reportedly hired on $75,000 contract.)
Assistant Mayor Gary Lee who reportedly was hired at $75,000.
311 Assistant and Keller longtime political consultant Alan Packman reportedly hired at $75,000.

APD CHIEF UPPER COMMAND STAFF

All 5 of the APD top command staff are “unclassified positions” and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor, can be terminated without cause and arguably the positions are 24/7 jobs.

The salaries Mayor Keller is paying his top APD command staff are significantly less than many Police Officers 1st Class, Sergeants and Lieutenants and are as follows:

Geier, Michael PD-Police Chief of Police, $159,513.60
(Former APD Chief Gordon Eden was paid $166,699)
Garcia, Eric JPD-Police PDP Deputy Chief, $134,249.53
Gonzalez, Arturo EPD-Police PDP Deputy Chief, $126,199.92
Banez, Rogelio NPD-Police PDP Deputy Chief, $123,856.00
Medina, Harold PD-Police PDP Deputy Chief, $123,856.00

(Former APD Assistant Chief Robert Huntsman was paid $132,435)

ABQ’S FIRE AND RESCUE UPPER COMMAND STAFF

The AFR Fire Chief and Deputy Chiefs are unclassified positions and serve at the pleasure of the Mayor and can be terminated without cause and arguably the positions are 24/7 jobs

40 of the top 250 wage earners are employed by Albuquerque Fire and Rescue and they include the following 24 individuals:

Dow, Paul, Fire & Rescue Chief – $132,691.20
(Former Fire Chief David W. Downey was paid $138,993)
Eakes, Adam CFD-Fire FP2, Deputy Fire Chief – $133,245.50
Gallegos, Gene LFD-Fire FP2, Deputy Fire Chief – $149,659.60
Mowery, David EFD-FireFP2, Deputy Fire Chief – $142,378.40
Eakes, Adam CFD-FireFP2, Deputy Fire Chief – $133,245.50
Frazier, Sean RFD- Deputy Fire Chief – $125,193.89

(Former Deputy Fire Chief Michael Silvera was paid $125,603.)
(Former Deputy Fire Chief/Commander Joshua McDonald was paid $124,374)

Nieto, Edward JFD-Fire Para Lieutenant – $141,920.62
Justiniano , Anthony LFD, FireFC2Captain – $140,291.73
Anderson, Clinton LFD, Fire Para Captain – $134,018.66
Rosato, Mario PFD-Fire, FL1 Lieutenant – $136,603.80
Garcia, Santos, CFD-Fire FM, Battalion Chief – $131,794.12
Tapia, Jacob AFD-Fire, Para Lieutenant – $130,426.11
Elks, Sean TFD-Fire Deputy Fire Chief, $129,113.45
Kim, Chad SFD-Fire Battalion Chief – $128,490.77
Hansen, Jeremiah JFD-Fire Battalion Chief – $126,961.42
Gallucci, Pasquale AFD Battalion Chief – $123,586.48
Garcia, Jason AFD Battalion Chief – $123,277.01
Longdon, Jonathan DFD-Fire Para Lieutenant – $122,363.85
Staley, Justin, LFD-Fire Battalion Chief – $121,120.90
Montero, Alex OFD-Fire FM1 Battalion Chief – $120,955.19
Lujan, Robert WFD-FireFM2 Battalion Chief – $120,660.24
Puariea, Karla -Fire RL1 Para Lieutenant – $120,450.67
Cordova, Paul LFD-Fire Lieutenant – $119,467.36
Sanchez, Frank PFD-Fire Battalion Chief – $118,345.43

APD HOURLY WAGES PAID

Starting pay for an APD Police Officer immediately out of the APD academy is $29 an hour or $60,320 yearly. (40 hour work week X 52 weeks in a year = 2,080 hours worked in a year X $29 paid hourly = $60,320.)

Police officers with 4 to 14 years of experience are paid $30 an hour or $62,400 yearly. (40-hour work weeks in a year X 52 weeks in a year = 2,080 hours worked in a year X $30 paid hourly = $62,400.)

Senior Police Officers with 15 years or more experience are paid $31.50 an hour or $65,520 yearly. (40 hours work in a week X 52 weeks in year = 2,080 hours worked in a year X $31.50 = $65,520.)

The rate for APD Sergeants is $35 an hour, or $72,800. (40-hour work week X 52 weeks in a year = 2080 hours worked in a year X $35.0 paid hourly = $72,800.)

The rate for APD Lieutenants pay is $40.00 an hour or $83,200. (40 hour work week X 52 weeks in a year = 2080 hours worked in a year X $40.00 = $83,200.)

THE 124 TOP PAID APD SWORN POLICE OFFICERS

The listing of the city’s 250 top wage earners includes 140 rank and file police officers who are patrol officers first class.

The 140 top wage city hall wage earners employed by the Albuquerque Police Department include patrol officers first class, sergeants, lieutenants, commanders the deputy chiefs, and the chief with annual pay ranging from $101,000 a year up to $192,937 a year.

Far more Police Officers 1st Class are earning six figures under the Keller Administration than under the last year of the Berry Administration.

The six figure salaries being paid to sworn police can be directly attributed to “overtime” worked by those sworn police officers.

124 sworn police officers were paid between $101,633.11 to $192,037 for 2018 calendar year under the Keller Administration and they are:

POLICE OFFICERS PAID $151,313 TO $192,000

Drobik, Simon – Master Police Officer 1st Class $192,937.23.
Johnson, Brian APD- Senior Police Officer 1st Class: $166,692.01.
Garza, Ramiro JPD- Senior Police Officer 1st Class: $163,223.63.
Hollier, Jeremy BPD-Police, PE1, Senior Police Officer 1st Class: $160,692.06.
Canales, LadioPD-Police, Senior Police Officer 1st Class: $152,876.94.
Redhouse, Leighton – Senior Police Officer 1st Class: $151,313.71.

POLICE OFFICERS PAID $126,162.80 TO $144,510.44.

Bassett, Jeremy, Police Lieutenant, $144,510.44.
Martinez, Yvonne, Master Police Officer 1st Class, $144,421.25.
McCumber, Wayne – Master Police Officer 1st Class $142,033.83.
Correia, Donald RPD- Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $140,755.81.
Maes, Kelly RPD- Senior Police Officer 1st C1ass, $138,318.85.
McElroy, Matthew PD-Police Sergeant, $138,158.09.
Lehocky, Andrew , Master Police Officer 1st Class $137,449.07.
Languit, Luke CPD-Police Lieutenant, $134,328.74.
Price, Bryan HPD-Police Sergeant, $133,880.63.
Mc Carson, Timothy, Senior Police Officer 1st Class $132,742.86.
Rico, Michael KPD-Police Senior Police Officer 1st Class $132,740.13.
Kenny, Sean PPD-Police Sergeant $132,604.80.
Parsons, Scott – Police Lieutenant, $131,519.64.
Frick, Sean, APD Lieutenant, $131,375.48.
Pearson, Nicholas, Master Police Officer 1st Class, $130,077.97.
Hernandez, Francisco Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $128,887.30.
Burchell, Edward – Master Police Officer 1st Class, $127,987.25.
Stockton, Robert MPD-Police Sergeant, $127,612.72.
Patterson, Christopher APD-Police Sergeant, $127,557.19.
Hernandez, Michael FPD-Police Sergeant $127,456.76.
Arnold, Jerry, Police Officer 1st Class $127,409.90.
Martinez, Vicente, Senior Police Officer 1st Class $126,798.71.
Breeden, Charles, Senior Police Officer 1st Class $126,300.45.
Wetterlund, Christopher, Senior Police Officer 1st Class $126,162.80.

POLICE OFFICERS PAID $113,498.98 TO $125,088.48

Economidy III, Byron, Senior Police Officer 1st Class $125,088.48.
Schmidt, Matthew -Police Sergeant $124,581.73.
Sandoval, Albert, PD-Police Sergeant $124,555.16.
Jones, Aaron M., PD-Police Sergeant $122,687.41.
Solis, Emmanuel, PD-Police Officer 1st Class $120,859.89.
Solis, Brenda, – Senior Police Officer 1st Class $120,202.55.
Haugh, Paul, – Police Sergeant $116,785.41
Frazier, Jared Senior Police Officer 1st Class $116,584.31
Pitzer, Brian -Police Sergeant $116,233.46
Mcpeek, Luke, Police Officer 1st Class, $116,079.13
Brown, Jason, Police Officer 1st Class, $116,019.57
Altman, Steve APD- Police Lieutenant, $115,945.46
Pholphiboun, Phetamphone – Senior Police Officer 1st Class 115,789.25
Garcia, Jennifer, Police Lieutenant $115,466.52
O’Neil, Craig -Police Master Police Officer 1st Class, $115,449.83
Walsh, Johnathan – Senior Police Officer 1st Class, 115,362.83
Vigil Jr, Thomas – Police Officer 1st Class, $114,873.36
English, Michelle – Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $114,843.40
Martinez, Dominic- Police Sergeant $114,744.44
Avila, Michael APD-Police Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $114,608.23
Acosta, Arthur – Master Police Officer 1st Class, $114,301.75
Velarde, Mark – APD-Police Commander, $113,775.47
Hernandez Jr, Jimmy – Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $113,711.03
Duda, Christopher – Police Officer 1st Class $113,686.70
Nelson, Eric -Police Sergeant, $113,676.40
Swessel, Robert APD-Police Master Police Officer 1st Class, $113,631.63
Trebitowski, Justin, Police Sergeant, $113,498.98

POLICE OFFICERS PAID $109,315.89 TO $112,516.27

Chavez, Matthew Police Sergeant, $112,516.27
Griffin, David Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $112,184.05
Shook, Michael. Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $112,127.41
Lujan, Jude -Police Sergeant, $112,105.32
George, Christopher -Police Commander, $112,051.14
Lowe, Cori MPD-Police Lieutenant $112,042.96
Jojola, Eric, -Aviation, Senior Police Officer 1st Class $112,012.36
Curtis, Kyle -Police Sergeant, $111,713.00
Rogillio, Justin Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $ 111,459.55
Hernandez, Armando F. Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $111,333.69
Geno Virgil -Police Master Police Officer 1st Class, $110,790.71
Tafoya, Dennis -Police Sergeant $110,515.94
Westbrook, Jason, Police Sergeant, $110,467.02
Martinez, Christopher Police Officer 1st Class 110,462.11
Deyapp, Lena, Lieutenant $110,409.49
Franklin, Daniel Senior Police Officer 1st Class 110,353.90
Barraza,ReneP -Police Lieutenant $110,322.89
Lewandowski, Kamil – Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $109,704.42
Espinosa, Timothy, -Police Lieutenant $109,431.88
Sanchez Jr, Arturo – Commander $109,377.75
Burke, Joseph MPD-Police Commander $109,324.78
Middleton, Robert LPD-Police Commander $109,315.89

POLICE OFFICERS PAID $105,076.20 TO $108,946.45

Montano, JoshuaPD- Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $108,946.45
Rivera, Donovan JPD-Police Lieutenant, $108,887.81
Richards,Joshua , Police Sergeant $108,769.94
Champine,Daniel, Master Police Officer 1st Class $108,688.47
Hotle, Timothy Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $108,637.13
Saladin, David Police Lieutenant, $108,530.11
Henckel, Louis, Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $108,025.43
Sanders, Nicholas, -Police Lieutenant $107,908.60
Wallace,Sean, -Police Lieutenant $107,162.20
Griego, Jon JPD-Police Commander $107,107.76
Anderson, Hollie , Police Sergeant $107,028.92
Hernandez, Kevin, Police Officer 1st Class $106,998.58
Abernathy, Jeffery, Police Sergeant, $ 106,746.23
Willsey, Cody, Police Officer 1st Class $106,555.32
Barnard, Jeffery R.PD-Police Sergeant $106,080.11
Miller, Michael -Police Commander $106,066.92
Sanchez, Jose -Police Lieutenant $106,009.53
Burton Whitney N., PD- Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $105,751.51
Duran, Paul -Police Commander $105,715.70
Ortiz, JamesPD-Police Sergeant, $105,650.05
Pelot, Jerrod, Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $105,625.48
Landavazo, Mark -Police Sergeant, $105,556.20
Collins, James WPD-Police Commander, $105,551.20
Reeder, Matthew -Police Sergeant $105,384.17
Campbell, Michelle MPD-Police Commander, $105,076.20

POLICE OFFICERS PAID $101,633.11 TO $104,987.69

Luna, Michael APD- Master Police Officer 1st Class, $104,987.69
Brodbeck, Michael, – Police Sergeant $104,444.00
Simmons, Ferris APD- Police Lieutenant $104,370.87
Hunt, Justin, Police Sergeant, $104,240.59
Edmonson, Larry RPD-Police Master Police Officer 1st Class $103,980.08
Porlas, Dwight -Police Master Police Officer 1st Class $103,913.13
Candelaria, Deirdre -Police Master Police Officer 1st Class $103,714.21
Sather, Jonathan CPD-Police Lieutenant, $103,570.91
Cottrell, Zakary FPD-Police Lieutenant, $103,508.14
Juarez, Terra – Master Police Officer 1st Class, $103,502.51
Wild, Amanda -Police Sergeant $103,327.14
Olvera, Donovan, -Police Commander, $103,164.40
Groff, Matthew SPD- Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $103,119.45
Oates, Michael, Senior Police Officer 1st Class, $103,023.11
Brown, Eric- Police Sergeant $102,843.60
Babcock, Tod, Master Police Officer 1st Class $102,420.66
Jones, Michael, Senior Police Officer 1st Class $102,357.23
DeAguero, Daren JPD- Senior Police Officer 1st Class $102,060.09
Meyer, Jesse, Master Police Officer 1st Class $102,001.77
Roach, Gerald, Master Police Officer 1st Class, $101,968.25
Moreno, Alan Police Officer 1st Class, $101,633.11

APD LONGEVITY BONUS PAY

APD police officers are also paid longevity bonus pay at the end of a year as follows:

For 5 years of experience: $100 are paid bi-weekly, or $2,600 yearly
For 6 years of experience: $125 are paid bi-weekly, or $3,250 yearly
For 7 to 9 years of experience: $225 are paid bi-weekly, or $5,800 yearly
For 10 to 12 years of experience: $300 are paid bi-weekly, or $7,800 yearly
For 13 to 15 years o experience: $350 are paid bi-weekly, or $9,100 yearly
For 16 to 17 years or more: $450 are paid bi-weekly, or $11,700 yearly
For 18 or more years of experience: $600 are paid bi-weekly, 15,600 yearly

COMPARING BERRY AND KELLER TOP APD WAGE EARNERS

During the Berry Administration last year in office, a total of 124 of the 250 top wage earners at city hall were employed by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and included patrol officers, sergeants, lieutenants, commanders and deputy chiefs, assistant chief and the chief with annual pay ranging from $95,000 a year up to $166,699 a year.

Under the Keller Administration first full calendar year in office, 140 of the 250 top city hall wage earners are employed by APD and include patrol officers first class, sergeants, lieutenants, commanders the deputy chiefs, and the chief with annual pay ranging from $101,000 a year up to $192,937 a year.

During the Berry Administration last year in office, 5 APD Patrol Officers First Class were listed in the top 250 city wage workers as being paid $146,971, $145,180, $140,243, $137,817 and $125,061 respectfully making them the 6th, the 7th, the 10th, the 12th and the 20th highest paid employees at city hall.

Under the Keller Administration first year in office, 5 APD Senior Patrol Officers First Class are listed in the top 250 city wage earners for 2018 as being paid $166,692, $163,223, $160,692, $152,876.94 and $151,313.71 making them the 3rd, 5th, 7th, 10th, and 11th highest paid employees at city hall.

APD Sergeants and Lieutenants are supervisors and managers are part of the police union bargaining unit and under the union contract are allowed to bill for overtime worked.

Under the union contract APD Patrol Offers First Class are paid a minimum of two hours in overtime pay at time and a half when they appear in court on their days off for arraignments or trials.

During the last 9 years, the Albuquerque Police Department has consistently gone over its overtime budget by millions.

In fiscal year 2016, APD was funded for $9 million for over time but APD but actually spent $13 million.

A city internal audit report released in March, 2017 revealed that the Albuquerque Police Department spent over $3.9 million over its $9 million “overtime” budget.

APD EXPANSION PROGRAM

The Keller Administration intends to spend $88 million dollars over a 4 year period, with 32 million dollars of recurring expenditures, to hire 322 sworn officers and expand APD from 878 sworn police officers to 1,200 officers.

The 2018-2019 fiscal year budget provides for increasing funding from 1,000 sworn police to 1,040.

The massive investment is being done in order to full fill Mayor Tim Keller’s 2017 campaign promise to increase the size of APD and return to community-based policing as a means to reduce the city’s high crime rates.

APD is projecting that it will have 980 officers by the end of the fiscal year on June 30, 2019 summer by growing the ranks with both new cadets and lateral hires from other departments, including APD retirees.

ELECTED ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCILLORS

Albuquerque City Councilors’ salary are determined by the Citizen’s Independent Salary Commission.

Eight Albuquerque City Councilors are paid $30,000 annually and the City Council President is paid $32,000 annually.

There are 3 City Council staff that are in the top 250 paid city hall employees:

Director of City Council Services Stephanie Yara, $124,118.61
KCL-Council Services Director Jon Zaman, $121,174.16
Council Services Council Policy Analyst/Lg&Land Christopher Melendrez $119,462.40

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The number of six figure salaries or pay under Mayor Tim Keller has increased significantly during his first full calendar year in office.

There are significantly more “classified” positions that are being paid six figure salaries, especially within APD and requires you to assume they are doing a good, great or an exceptional job which is very problematic if and when it turns out that is not the case.

The six figure salaries being paid to sworn Patrol Officers 1st Class is directly attributed to “overtime” worked by those sworn police officers which is very problematic.

From a personnel management standpoint, when you have a select few that are taking home the lion’s share of overtime, it causes moral problems with the rest.

Consecutive shifts or excessive overtime for any police officer can lead to extreme fatigue, emotional burnout and reduce an officer’s alertness and response times and reflexes that can endanger lives and public safety.

Excessive overtime paid can be a red flag for abuse of the system, mismanagement of police resources or the lack of personnel.

APD has added approximately 100 police officers last year as a result of increases in pay and an aggressive recruitment program and bonus pay.

APD is projected to have upwards of 980 sworn police by July 1, 2019.

Last year, APD spent $11.5 million paying sworn police overtime.

The city budgeted $9 million in police overtime in the 2019 fiscal year, which ends in June 30, 2019.

Overtime used by APD should come down as more police officers are added to the ranks, but do not bet on it given the APD’s extensive history of spending more on overtime than they are given.

When APD exceeds its overtime budget, it is to the detriment of other city departments and other city employees in that the additional funding must be found somewhere else, either by taking it from other departments and programs, budget cuts or cost saving measurements.

For the first time in years, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is placing a “cap” on how much overtime police officers can work in a week.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/apd-places-limit-on-hours-of-overtime-officers-can-work-each-week/1724891754?fbclid=IwAR1UMy6HjOrG4YSVsz5ofIs4klWAu1BunYm6fD–417kuSgf9m4k2rN6G_0

It’s about time and long overdue that APD places a cap on all police overtime and it should be made permanent.

APD police sergeants and lieutenants are the ones on the frontline to enforce personnel rules and regulations, standard operating procedures, approve and review work performed and assist in implementing DOJ reforms and standard operating procedures policies.

All Police Officers 1st class, Sergeants and Lieutenants are “classified positions” and part of the police union, they cannot be terminated without cause and have appeal rights and remedies under the personnel rules and regulations and have protections under their collective bargaining agreement between police and the city.

Police Officers 1st class are not part of management and have every right to be represented by a union to negotiate wages and benefits.

APD Sergeants and APD Lieutenants need to be made “at will” and unclassified and removed from the union bargaining unit to reflect they are management and in order to get a real buy in to APD management’s goals, police reform and the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA).

CONCLUSION

The trend of having more classified employees earning such high pay does not bode well from an executive personnel management standpoint of not being able to remove personnel without cause nor make management and policy decisions that that may be strenuously resisted by classified upper management personnel who are more interested in being disruptive to getting anything done.

Placing a mandatory “cap” on overtime will be resisted.

Management must be able to make policy and personnel decisions and be able to immediately remove and even replace upper management employees who are not performing their jobs or who engage in unethical, questionable, disruptive and at times illegal conduct in violation of personnel rules and regulations.

For related blog articles see:

Highest Paid City Hall Employees Are Police; Cap On Police Overtime Pay Long Overdue

APD Deputy Chief Of Staff In Charge Of Media Relations Is “Political Damage Control” Position

Remove APD Police Union From CASA And Remove Sergeants And Lieutenants From APD Union

Police Union At Odds With DOJ Reforms

On Sunday, January 27th, 2019 the Albuquerque Journal published following “guest editorial” column authored by Democrat New Mexico House of Representative Daymon Ely of Corrales, Republican State Senator Sander Rue of Albuquerque and New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Edward L. Chavez.

The guest column deals with House Bill 267 dealing with the data sharing between law enforcement agencies.

Following is the guest column in full:

“In Albuquerque, the city and the county are making progress in improving public safety and preventing crime, but they cannot and should not have to do it alone. And because crime is not limited to Albuquerque, the state must do its part to help all of New Mexico reduce and control crime. Every New Mexican deserves to feel safe in their community, and emphasizing proactive solutions is critical to improving public safety.

The Legislature has already been working in a bipartisan manner to develop recommendations for broad and aggressive policies and procedures designed to improve our criminal justice system and promote public safety. In addition, last year the Legislature created a task force composed of stakeholders in the entire criminal justice system and charged it with the responsibility of

1) making recommendations designed to reduce crime, and

2) developing a plan to ensure taxpayer dollars are effectively and efficiently being spent in our criminal justice system. The task force recently filed its report with several recommendations. Here are a few key ones:

First, anyone who is arrested and required to be fingerprinted will be assigned a unique identifying number that must be used throughout the criminal justice system. This will ensure that the person is tracked throughout the system by law enforcement, jails, courts, prisons, probation and parole, etc. If the same person is arrested in the future, their identity will be easily verified even if they use a different name or are arrested for committing a crime elsewhere. In addition, all data about the person should be collected on the same “platform” so that the data can be shared system wide. For example, if a court schedules a hearing, under the unique identifier and shared platform everyone – the prosecutors, public defenders, courts, corrections, police officers, witnesses and victims – will know, automatically, when the hearing is scheduled to occur. If all participants know about hearings, they will show up, and there will be fewer delays due to failures to appear. Everyone will finally be on the same page.

Once data is collected and shared on a common platform, the data can be continually analyzed to evaluate whether our system is working as intended or needs improvements. Fortunately, we have access to experts in data analytics at New Mexico Tech in Socorro who analyze data for NATO, the Department of Defense and many other federal agencies and are eager to help develop the platform. Even better, the folks at Tech can train people around the state to analyze data efficiently and fairly.

Once data is analyzed, it can be used very effectively in addressing crime. We can identify the truly bad actors and keep our streets safe, while at the same time effectively utilizing resources to put non-violent offenders on the path to constructive rehabilitation. We can identify people in trouble and help them obtain effective treatment before they commit crimes. Courts can be better informed before making release or sentencing decisions. Law enforcement, courts, jails, prisons, probation and parole, etc., can ensure that their programs are following the best practices available to keep people from committing more crimes. We can also spot abuses in the system, such as racial and ethnic bias.

Of course, there is no substitute for rebuilding our mental health system and providing support for those already in prison. Focusing on behavioral health resources and substance abuse treatment is crucial for prevention efforts. As studies consistently show, locking everyone up and throwing away the key is not effective in reducing crime and has been a costly failure.

These solutions are not tied to any political party. Instead, they are solutions based on evidence and on the experience of other states that have successfully used data analytics in their approach to crime. These are but a few of the task force recommendations. To read all of the specific recommendations, go to www.nmlegis.gov. The Legislature is committed to working with all local governments to turn the corner on our state’s crime problem.

Crime hinders our efforts to grow our communities, create jobs and engage in worthwhile economic development programs, and we need effective solutions to keep our communities safe. HB 267, which proposes the system outlined by the commission and provides resources for the needs of the criminal justice system, has been filed. Please follow its progress during this legislative session.”

You can read the guest editorial column at the below link:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1273339/hb-267-will-help-state-get-a-handle-on-crime.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The fact that a progressive Democrat State Representative, a conservative Republican State Senator and a Democrat New Mexico Supreme Court Justice would submit such a column is worth noting.

House Bill 267 merits full passage by the 2019 New Mexico Legislature.