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. According to the city’s public finance laws, public finance candidates are given $1.75 cents per voter for regular elections and 60 cents per voter if there is a runoff between the two top vote getters. In the 2021 municipal election, candidates for Mayor who qualify for public finance will be given $661,309.25.
Both incumbent Mayor Tim Keller and Sheriff Manny Gonzales have secured the required 3,000 qualifying signatures to be placed on the ballot and secured the 3,779 qualifying $5.00 donations. Candidate for Mayor Patrick Ben Sais has failed to secure the required number of signatures and donations, but he still has the option to continue with gathering nominating petition signatures as privately financed candidate.
From June 8 to August 10, 2021, privately financed candidates for Mayor must gather more than 3, 000 nominating petition signatures from registered voters within the City
PROCESSED PETITION SIGNATURES:
Candidates for Mayor who gather the 3,779 qualifying $5 donations to the city are give $661,000.
As of Friday June 18, following are the updated City Clerk numbers for Processed Petition Signatures and $5.00 qualifying donations:
MAYOR TIM KELLER
Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 4,189
Rejected Petition Signatures: 607
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: – 0 –
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 100%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4,057
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 328
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: -0-
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 100%
SHERIFF MANNY GONZALES
Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 3,757
Rejected Petition Signatures: 745
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: – 0 –
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 100%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 3,779
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4,106
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 573
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: -9-
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 100%
PATRICK BEN SAIS
Required Petition Signatures: 3,000
Verified Petition Signatures: 950
Rejected Petition Signatures: 689
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 2,050
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 32%
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%
CITY COUNCIL
From May 31 to July 5, 2021, all City Council candidates must gather 500 qualifying signatures from registered voters within the district and must gather the $5.00 qualifying donations. The number of qualifying donations required and the amount of public financing given vary in each city council district based on the population of registered voters. Thus far no candidate has collected the required number of nominating petition signatures nor the $5.00 qualifying donations.
Following are the City Clerk numbers for Processed Petition Signatures and $5.00 qualifying donations in each of the city council districts.
DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 1 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $41,027.
LAN SENA (Incumbent)
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 191
Rejected Petition Signatures: 26
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 309
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 38%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 411
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 126
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 12
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 285
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 31%
LOUIE SANCHEZ
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: -0-
Rejected Petition Signatures: -0-
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 500
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: -0-
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 411
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 411
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
DISTRICT 3 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 3 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $40,000
KLARISSA PENA (Incumbent)
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 314
Rejected Petition Signatures: 76
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 186
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 63%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 164
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 22
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 151
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions:52%
BENJAMIN TELLES
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 38
Rejected Petition Signatures: 38
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 462
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 8%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 14%
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 2
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 301
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4%
ANTHONY ZAMORA
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 36
Rejected Petition Signatures: 24
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 464
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 7%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 315
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 23
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 292
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 7%
DISTRICT 5 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 5 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given: $50,489.
CYNTHIA BORREGO (Incumbent)
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 138
Rejected Petition Signatures: 20
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 362
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 28%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 142
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 20
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 363
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 28%
DAN LEWIS
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 443
Rejected Petition Signatures: 21
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 57
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 89%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 402
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 18
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 103
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 80%
PHILLIP RAMIREZ
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 124
Rejected Petition Signatures: 21
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 57
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 89%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 505
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 501
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 1%
DISTRICT 7 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 7 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $44,194.
EMILIE DE ANGELIS
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 75
Rejected Petition Signatures: 17
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 425
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 15%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 18
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 448
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 4%
TAMMY FIEBELKORN
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 271
Rejected Petition Signatures: 19
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 229
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 54%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 18
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: -0-
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 229
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 54%
TRAVIS KELLERMAN
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 170
Rejected Petition Signatures: 30
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 330
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 34%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 22
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 7
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 320
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions:28%
MAURO WALDEN-MONTOYA
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 70
Rejected Petition Signatures: 4
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 430
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 14%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 98
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 5
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 344
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 22%
ANDRES VALDEZ SR
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 157
Rejected Petition Signatures: 31
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 343
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 31%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 442
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 126
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 19
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 316
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 29%
DISTRICT 9 CITY COUNCIL
City Council District 9 candidates who qualify for public finance will be given $41,791.
ROB GRILLEY JR
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 47
Rejected Petition Signatures: 1
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 453
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 9%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 418
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 127
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 2
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 291
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 30%
RENEE GROUT
Required Petition Signatures: 500
Verified Petition Signatures: 352
Rejected Petition Signatures: 83
Remaining Petition Signatures Needed: 148
Percentage of Verified Petition Signatures Met: 70%
Required $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 418
Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 269
Rejected $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 40
Remaining $5.00 Qualifying Contributions Needed: 149
Percentage of Verified $5.00 Qualifying Contributions: 64%
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POSTCRIPT
Before signing any petitions or donating to candidates, voters should know where candidates stand on the issues they care about and what they will do if elected. A few questions and issues candidates for City Council need to think about and disclose their positions on include any of the following:
CITY PERSONNEL AND SERVICES
1.As an elected city councilor, you will be tasked to vote on and on and approve the Mayor’s major appointments. Should the current Chief Administrative Officer, City Attorney, Chief of Police, Fire Department Chief, Chief of Staff, Chief Operations Officer and all other current department directors be replaced?
2. Are you in favor of a state “right to work statute” that would impact or eliminate city employee unions?
3. Should city unions be prohibited from endorsing candidates for municipal office?
4. Are you in favor of privatizing city services or work such as public safety, the 311 call center operations, the bus system or the maintenance and repair work done at city facilities such as the Bio Park?
APD AND CRIME:
1.What is your position on the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) consent decree and mandated reforms?
2. The city and APD have been working under a federal court approved settlement agreement for 6 years after the Department of Justice found a “culture of aggression” and the use of deadly force. The city has spent millions a year on the reforms and the city is no closer to the dismissal of the case. Is it time to have APD placed in receivership of the federal court or should the case just be dismissed?
3. What would you do to enhance civilian oversight of APD and the implementation of the Department of Justice mandated reforms?
4. Should the APD Chief, Assistant Chief, Deputy Chiefs and APD command staff be replaced with a national search and replaced by “outsiders”?
5. Should a national search be conducted for a new law enforcement management team to assume control of APD and make changes and implement the DOJ consent decree mandated reforms?
6. Should the function of Internal Affairs be removed from APD and civilianized under the city Office of Inspector General, the Internal Audit Department and the City Human Resources Department?
7. What are your plans for increasing APD staffing levels and what should those staffing levels be?
8. Since 2010, there have been 41 police officer involved shootings and the city has paid out $50 million to settle deadly force and excessive use of force cases. Should the City return to a “no settlement” policy involving alleged police misconduct cases and require a trial on the merits or a damages jury trial?
9 What are your plans or solutions to bringing down high property and violent crime rates in Albuquerque?
10. Should APD personnel or APD resources be used in any manner to enforce federal immigration laws and assist federal immigration authorities?
11. Should APD and the Bernalillo County Sherriff’s Office be abolished and consolidated to form one regional law enforcement agency, combining resources with the appointment of a governing civilian authority and the appointment of a Superintendent of Public Safety?
THE ECONOMY
1.What strategy would you implement to bring new industries, corporations and jobs to Albuquerque?
2. Albuquerque’s major growth industries include health care, transportation, manufacturing, retail and tourism with an emerging film industry. What programs would you propose to help or enhance these industries?
3. Do you intend to keep the current Director of the City’s Economic Development Department and support staff?
4.The current budget for the Economic Development is $7.5 million out of a $1.2 Billion Budget, would you be in favor of more than tripling the budget to allow for investment grants?
5. To what extent should tax increment districts, industrial revenue bonds and income bonds be used to spur Albuquerque’s economy?
6. What financial incentives do you feel the city can or should offer and provide to the private sector to attract new industry and jobs to Albuquerque, and should that include start-up grants or loans with “claw back” provisions?
7. What sort of private/public partnership agreements or programs should be implemented to spur economic development?
8. What sort of programs or major projects or facilities, if any, should the city partner with the State or County to spur economic development?
9. What programs can the city implement to better coordinate its economic development with the University of New Mexico and the Community College of New Mexico (CNM) to insure an adequately trained workforce for new employers locating to Albuquerque?
10. Are you in favor of the enactment of a gross receipt tax or property tax dedicated strictly to economic development, programs or construction projects to revitalize Albuquerque that would be enacted by the City Council or be voter approved?
11. What programs can Albuquerque implement to insure better cooperation with Sandia Labs and the transfer of technology information for economic development.
12. On September 6, 2019, a $29 million infrastructure bond tax package was approved by the Albuquerque City Council at the Mayor’s request to be financed by the City’s Lodger’s Tax. The lodger tax bond package was labeled as a “Sports – Tourism Lodger Tax ” because it was to be used for a number of projects around the city labeled as “sports tourism opportunities.” The lodger tax is paid by those staying at hotels and vacation rentals in the city and by ordinance is to be used to promote tourism, not athletics facilities for general population use. Do you feel that this was appropriate?
PLANNING AND DEVELOPMENT
1.What is your position on the rewriting of the comprehensive zoning code which was an attempt to bring “clarity and predictability” to the development regulations and to attract more “private sector investment”? Critics say it has essentially “gutted” sector development plans by the development community and it has repealed all sector development plans designed to protect neighborhoods and their character.
2. Should the City of Albuquerque seek the repeal by the New Mexico legislature of laws that prohibit city annexation of property without county approval?
EDUCATION
1.Should the City of Albuquerque have representation or be included on the Albuquerque School board, the University of New Mexico Board of Regents and the Community College of New Mexico Board?
2. What should the city do to help reduce high school dropout rates?
3. Should the City of Albuquerque advocate to the New Mexico legislature increasing funding for early child care development programs and intervention programs with increased funding from the permanent fund?
4. What education resources should or can the city make available to the Albuquerque school system?
POVERTY AND THE HOMELESS
1.What should be done to reduce the homeless population in Albuquerque?
2. What services should the City provide to the homeless and poor if any?
3. Should the City continue to support the “coming home” program?
4. Should the city be more involved with the county in providing mental health care facilities and programs?
5. The city has purchased the 530,000 square foot Gibson Medical Center for $15 Million. Should the facility be converter to one, single 24/7 homeless shelter facility for 300 or more homeless as a centralized facility or should the city use a “multi-site approach” to the city’s homelessness crisis and have a number of smaller shelters that would only house up to 50 to 75 people?
TAXATION AND PROJECT FINANCING
1.Are you in favor of increasing the city’s current gross receipts tax or property taxes to pay for essential services and make up for lost gross receipt tax revenues caused in part by the repeal of the “hold harmless” provision and that has mandated budget and personnel cuts during the last 7 years?
2. Do you feel that all increases in gross receipts taxes should be voter approved?
3. The City has borrowed over $63 million dollars over the past two years to build “pickle ball” courts, baseball fields and the ART bus project down central by bypassing voters and using revenue bonds as the financing mechanism to pay for big capital projects. Do you feel revenue bonds is an appropriate funding mechanism for large capital projects?
OTHER ISSUES
1. What is your position on the mandatory sick leave initiative known as the “Healthy Workforce” ordinance mandating private businesses to pay sick leave to employees?
2. Should the City and the City Attorney’s office enforce the increase in the minimum wage and mandatory sick leave initiatives?
4. If you qualify to be a public finance candidate, will you truly be a public finance candidate or do you intend to rely upon measured finance committee’s set up to promote your candidacy?
5. Should major capital improvement projects such as the Albuquerque Rapid Transit (ART) project, be placed on the ballot for voter approval?
6. What is your position on the ART Bus project and should the line be dismantled and should historic Route 66 be restored to its original number of lanes and the ART Bus platforms dedicated to new uses ?
7. Should Albuquerque become a “sanctuary city” by City Council resolution or by a public vote or not at all?
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
The city cannot afford city councilors who makes promises and who offer only eternal hope for better times that result in broken campaign promises. What is needed are city councilors who actually know what they are doing, who will make the hard decisions without an eye on their next election or higher office, 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.
Voters are entitled to and should expect more from candidates than fake smiles, slick commercials, and no solutions and no ideas. Our City needs more than promises of better economic times and lower crime rates for Albuquerque and voters need to demand answers and hold elected officials accountable.