From April 17 to June 19, 2021, publicly financed candidates for Mayor must gather both 3,000 signatures from registered voters within the City and 3,779 qualifying donations of $5.00 to secure $661,309.25 in public financing.
EDITORS NOTE: Privately financed candidates for Mayor must gather more than 3000 nominating petition signatures from registered voters within the City from June 8 – August 10, 2021.
NOMINATING PETITION SIGNATURES
Each name and signature on the nominating petition is reviewed and compared to the voter registration rolls. If the person who has signed the petition name is not on the voter registration rolls, the signature is disqualified. Therefore, far more than 3,000 signatures are needed to take into account disqualified signatures. Consequently, as many signatures above the 3,000 requirement is recommended for a “buffer” in order to ensure the minimum number of nominating signatures are secured.
$5.00 QUALIFYING CONTRIBUTIONS FOR PUBLIC FINANCE
From April 17 to June 19, 2021, or 64 days, is also the only time allowed to collect 3,779 qualifying donations of $5.00 for public financing of $661,309.25. The $5.00 donations are made directly to the City and the $5.00 donations must come from only registered city of Albuquerque city voters.
In order to collect 3,779 qualifying donations over the 64 days allotted, a candidate’s campaign must collect at least 59 donations a day plus 3 more.
(64 collection days X 59 donation collected each day = 3,776 + 3 more donations = 3,779 required donations from registered city voters).
None of the donations can come from those who do not reside within the city limits nor come from any one not a resident of the city. In 2017, there were 8 candidates for Mayor with only Tim Keller qualifying.
CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR
According to the City Clerks web site, there are 4 candidates registered for Mayor. The 4 candidates for Mayor listed in the order of appearance on the City Clerks web page are:
1. NICHOLAS BEVINS:
According to news reports, Bevins, who is autistic, is not currently employed, and said he dedicates his time to volunteering and activism. Bevins is a grassroots activist and was a Bernie Sanders for President 2020 campaign organizer. In a recent FACEBOOK video Bevins announced his withdrawal from the race.
2. MANUEL GONZALES, III: Sheriff Manuel Gonzales III was sworn into office on January 1st 2015. He is a two term Bernalillo County Sheriff who is term limited and whose term as Sheriff ends January 1, 2023. The link to the Sheriff’s biography is here:
http://www.bernalillocountysheriff.com/bernalillo-county-sheriff/sheriff-manuel-gonzales-iii.aspx
3. TIM KELLER: Mayor Tim Keller is seeking a second 4-year term. He is a former State Senator and former NM State Treasurer. A link to the Mayor’s biography is here:
4. PATRICK BEN SAIS:
Patrick Sais, 53, is a retired school bus driver who said he has been active with the Young American Football League and has served as a volunteer on Donald Trump’s presidential campaign. Sais lives in Southwest Albuquerque and running for Mayor is the first time he has sought elective office.
https://www.abqjournal.com/2383801/several-vying-for-abq-mayors-office.html
PROCESSED PETITION SIGNATURES:
As of Friday, May 21, with more signatures gathered on Saturday and Sunday, following are the updated City Clerk numbers for Processed Petition Signatures starting with the candidate with the most and ending with the least collected:
MAYOR TIM KELLER
Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 2,729
Rejected Petition Signatures: 361
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 271
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 91%
SHERIFF MANNY GONZALES
Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 1,639
Rejected Petition Signatures: 203
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 1,361
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 55%
PATRICK BEN SAIS
Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 453
Rejected Petition Signatures: 391
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 2,547
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 15%
NICHOLAS BEVINS
Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 366
Rejected Petition Signatures: 58
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 2,634
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 12%
Bevins in a recent recorded message on his Facebook page said he was withdrawing from the race because the pandemic and the special election congressional race made it too difficult to collect nominating signatures and he did not see a path to collecting the required 3,000 petition signatures to make the November ballot by the June 19 deadline. You can review the official withdrawal here on his FACEBOOK page:
https://www.facebook.com/Nicholas.D.Bevins
PROCESSED $5.00 QUALIFYING CONTRIBUTIONS
As of May 21,with more $5.00 qualifying donations gathered on Saturday and Sunday, following are the updated City Clerk numbers for Processed $5.00 Qualifying Contributions starting with the candidate with the most collected and ending with the least collected:
MAYOR TIM KELLER
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 2,527
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 185
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 1,252
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 67%
SHERIFF MANNY GONZALES
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1,724
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 93
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 2,055
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 46%
NICHOLAS BEVINS
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 28
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 0
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 3,751
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1%
PATRICK BEN SAIS
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 3,776
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 0%
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
As of May 24, there are only 26 remaining days until June 19 for candidates for Mayor to collect the mandatory 3,000 nominating petition signatures from registered city of Albuquerque voters and to collect the 3,779 qualifying donations of $5.00 from city of Albuquerque registered voters.
MAYOR TIM KELLER
Thus far, and based on 26 remaining days to collect signatures and $5.00 qualifying donations, Mayor Tim Keller is in the most comfortable position to collect both nominating petition signatures and $5.00 qualifying donations. The Keller campaign has collected 91% of the necessary nominating petition signatures and 67% of the $5.00 qualifying donations with 1,252 remaining donations to be collected. Collecting the remaining 1,252 donations is doable, but still difficult, and will require collecting an average of 48 donations a day.
SHERIFF MANNY GONZALES:
Based on the time remaining, it appears that Sheriff Manny Gonzales is having difficulty in collecting both the nominating petition signatures as well as the $5.00 qualifying donations. Gonzales has collected 55% of the required 3,000 signatures and needs to collect another 1,361 more, which is doable over the remaining 26 day remaining to collect.
Gonzales is struggling to collect the verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions and has collected 1,724 donations or 46% and needs to collect another 2,055 donations or at least 79 donations a day for the next 26 days. If Gonzales does not qualify for public finance, he could declare he will seek private financing and stay in the race but it will be a major setback to his campaign. Gonzales will no doubt ramp up private donation efforts but donors will be reluctant to contribute to both him and a measured finance committee. Another impact of failure to qualify for public finance will be to dry up private contributions to the two measured finance committees set up to promote him.
Sources are also saying that Republican political operative and consultant Jay McClesky, know for his slash and burn tactics, is managing the Gonzales campaign and for that reason may be trying to turn things around for the Sheriff by tapping into Republican support for Gonzales. McClesky managed both former Republican Mayor Berry’s campaigns for Mayor as well as both campaigns for Republican Governor “She Whose Shall Not Be Named”.
NICHOLAS BEVINS
Bevins has collected a mere 366 nominating signatures out of 3, 000 and even fewer 28 qualifying $5.00 donations out of 3,779, will likely not make the ballot as a “public finance” candidate but could still opt to run as a privately financed candidate or a write in candidate.
PATRICK BEN SAIS
Sais has collected has collected a mere 453 nominating signatures out of 3, 000 and a paltry 3 qualifying $5.00 donations out of 3,779. It’s Sais will not make the ballot as a “public finance” candidate but could still opt to run as a privately financed candidate or a write in candidate.
AMOUNT RAISED BY MEASURED FINANCE COMMITTEES
Under the City of Albuquerque’s campaign finance laws, a Measure Finance Committee is a political action committee (PAC), person or group that supports or opposes a candidate or ballot measure within the City of Albuquerque. Measure Finance Committees are required to register with the City Clerk within five (5) days once they have raised or spent more than $250 towards their purpose.
Measure finance committees are not bound by the individual contribution limits and business bans like candidates. No Measure Finance Committee is supposed to coordinate their activities with the individual candidates running for office, but this is a very gray area as to what constitutes coordination of activities and it is difficult to enforce.
According to City Clerk records, 3 measured finance committees have been formed for the 2021 municipal election, 2 measured finance promoting and spending money on behalf of Manny Gonzales and one promoting Tim Keller. The measured finance committees and what they have raised according to the Second Campaign Finance Reports filed on May 10, 2021 are as follows:
1. RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR A BETTER ALBUQUERQUE: $550 Cash Balance
https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/Reports/FetchReportToPDF.aspx
STATED PURPOSE: “Support Albuquerque mayoral candidate who will improve the quality of life for its citizens as well as oppose candidates that are detrimental to the future growth and safety of Albuquerque.”
The chairperson of the “Retired Law Enforcement for a Better Albuquerque is Jason Katz and the Treasurer is listed as Sistine Jaramillo. Upon information and belief, Jason Katz is a former and retired Chief Deputy of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and is a longtime supporter and has worked for Gonzales. No background information could be located on Sistine Jaramillo.
2. SAVE OUR CITY: $16,495 Cash Balance
STATED PURPOSE: To address the serious crime and leadership problem in Albuquerque.
The Chairperson of “Save Our City” is Sam Vigil and the Treasurer is Republican State Representative Bill Rehm. Sam Vigil is the husband Jacquiline Vigil who was gun down in her car backing out of the family home driveway in the early morning hours as she was leaving for the gym. Republican New Mexico State Representative Bill Rehm, District 31, Bernalillo County, has been a State Representative since 2006. Rehm retired in 2000 from BCSO Sheriff’s office as Captain. Rehm is considered a reliable conservative supporter of law enforcement efforts in the New Mexico Legislature.
https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/OrganizationDetail.aspx?OrganizationID=7109
https://www.abqjournal.com/2381547/vigil-forms-political-action-committee-to-defeat-keller.html
3. BUILD BACK ‘BURQUE: $0.00 Cash Balance
https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/Reports/FetchReportToPDF.aspx
As of April 26, one measured finance committees has been formed to support Mayor Tim Keller’s bid for a second 4 year term . The Measured finance committee is identified as “ BUILD BACK ‘BURQUE”.
STATED PURPOSE: “Support mayor Tim Keller’s re-election to a second term for the city of Albuquerque”
The Chairperson for “Build Back ‘Burque” is Michelle Mayorga. According to the American Association of Political Consultants “Michelle Mayorga has spent nearly 2 decades working on campaigns, progressive issues, and in local and national administrations. She previously served as Western Field Director at the AFL-CIO, Western Political Director at the DCCC, and Coordinated Director for the Democratic Party of New Mexico in 2012.”
https://theaapc.org/awards/40-under-40/class-of-2016/michelle-mayorga/
The Treasurer for “Build Back ‘Burque” is Robert Lara. Mr. Lara is a licensed New Mexico attorney and is the former State Treasurer of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.
https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/OrganizationDetail.aspx?OrganizationID=7112
4. ABQ FIREPAC (NO FINANCE REPORTS FILED)
On May 12, a fourth measured finance committee named ABQ FIREPAC when it filed its registration with the city clerk. The stated purpose is to “ SUPPORT CANDIDATES WHO SUPPORT PUBLIC SAFETY & FIRE FIGHTER ISSUES”. What this measured finance committee is the local firefighter’s union.
Every election year, the local firefighters get very involved with municipal elections with endorsements and contributing to campaign efforts. The firefighters union not only provides campaign materials such as sign, but also provide volunteers for phone banking and other activities. Four years ago, ABQFIREPAC reported that it raised and spent $67,000 on the Mayor’s and City Council races.
https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/OrganizationDetail.aspx?OrganizationID=7121
The two measured fiancé committees set up to promote Sheriff Gonzales have raised a paltry $17,050 combined. It is not at all likely they will be able to raise the amount of public financing of $661,309.25 that is available. It is the $661,309.25 in public finance that would make Sheriff Gonzales a viable candidate. As a candidate for Sheriff, Gonzales never ever came close to raising such a large sum of money. Keller on the other hand has done it. Both the measured finance committees for Gonzales are headed up by individuals who are ostensibly volunteers, totally unaccustomed to or who do not have access to the type of massive political contributions necessary to run a Mayor’s race.
Mayor Tim Keller’s measured finance committee identified as “ BUILD BACK ‘BURQUE” on the other hand has two highly connected individuals in the Democratic Party. Further, the Chairperson for “Build Back ‘Burque” is Michelle Mayorga and she has 20 years’ experience working on campaigns, progressive issues, and in local and national administrations. It’s likely “Build Back Burque will be relying upon Mayor Tim Keller’s contribution list of donors that contributed hundreds of thousands in campaign donations to his campaigns for State Senate and State Auditor. Keller’s measured finance committee may have not raised anything to date, but that will change dramatically as the race heats up.
THE CHALLENGES WE FACE
If things continue as they are, it is more likely than not that there will be only two candidates for Mayor out of the 4 announced, who will make the November 2, ballot. Further, it is more likely than not that Mayor Time Keller will be the only candidate that will qualify for public finance, with Sheriff Manny Gonzales falling far short of collecting the 3,779 qualifying $5.00 donations. It’s a damn shame.
The city is facing any number of problems that are bringing it to its knees. Those problems include the coronavirus pandemic, business closures, high unemployment rates, exceptionally high violent crime and murder rates, continuing mismanagement of the Albuquerque Police Department, failed implementation of the Department of Justice reforms after a full six years and millions spent, declining revenues and gross receipts tax, increasing homeless numbers, lack of mental health programs and little to none economic development.
The city cannot afford another mayor who makes promises and offers only eternal hope for better times that result in broken campaign promises. What is needed is a mayor who actually knows what the hell they are doing, who will make the hard decisions without an eye on the next election, not make decisions only to placate their base and please only those who voted for them. What’s needed is a healthy debate on solutions and new ideas to solve our mutual problems, a debate that can happen only with a contested election.
There is plenty of time for other candidates to run as privately financed candidates and raise private campaign donations. The time for privately financed candidates for Mayor to collect signatures is much later from publicly finance candidates. That time is from June 8 to August 10, 2021. Privately Finance Candidates for Mayor must also gather 3,000 signatures from registered voters within the City.
The commencement time for privately finance candidates to collect the 3,000 nominating petition signatures for Mayor is later and is June 8 to August 10. Privately finance candidates can collect donations at any time.
Anyone one interested in running for Mayor and who has a real love for this city and is concerned about what is happening is encouraged to contact the City Clerk’s office.
The link to the city web site for candidates is here:
https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2021-candidates
https://campaignfinance.cabq.gov/PublicSite/SearchPages/CommitteeSearch.aspx