Every 10 years, the City Charter requires that the Council appoint a committee composed of an equal number of representatives from each Council District to review and make recommendations regarding redistricting the Council Districts based on information from the Federal Census. The Committee is tasked with using the population data from the official 2020 U.S. Census along with any other pertinent information to make a report recommending changes in the Council District boundaries that the Committee decides are necessary based on constitutional principles governing voting rights, population, compactness and other related factors.
The Committee is made up of 18 members, one voting member and one alternate member from each Council District. The Council is required, in appointing a committee that “as nearly as is practicable” be a fair and balanced representation of all geographical areas of the City in the redistricting process and provide a total membership that reflects the racial, ethnic and gender makeup of the City’s population.
The appointed members of the 2022 Citizens Redistricting Committee are:
District 1: Victor Segura, Dan Aragon (Alternate)
District 2: Keith Romero, Joaquin Baca (Alternate)
District 3: Cherise Quezada, Luis Hernandez Jr (Alternate)
District 4: Mark Reynolds, Rebecca Latham (Alternate)
District 5: Steve Smothermon, Robert Aragon(Alternate)
District 6: Cathryn McGill (Chair), Rosendo Najar (Alternate)
District 7: Travis Kellerman (Vice Chair) , Heather Berghmans (Alternate)
District 8: David Buchholtz, Kevin Powers(Alternate)
District 9: Kenneth Pascoe, Thomas R. Stull (Alternate)
The email address of Chairwoman Cathryn McGill is cathryn@nmblc.orggfvf4
There are 7 concept maps before the committee. The link to review all 7 concept maps is here:
https://www.cabq.gov/council/projects/current-projects/2022-city-council-redistricting-process
EDITORS NOTE: The 2022 Redistricting Committee has been meeting twice a month via Zoom since March 9. There are only two more meetings left, June 8th and 29th with meetings beginning at 5:30. The postscript to this blog article information on the June 8th meeting. According to the June 8 agenda, members of the public may attend via Zoom Video Conference at this address:
https://cabq.zoom.us/j/81354237817.
The meeting will also be available via to watch YouTube:
THE DAVIS/FIEBELKORN REDISTRICTIG CONCEPT MAP
On June 4 it was reported that City Councilors Pat Davis and Tammy Fiebelkorn have submitted to the City’s citizen-led redistricting committee a map they ostensibly came up with by themselves. The proposed map will dramatically realign both City Council District 6, represented by Pat Davis, and City Council District 7, represented by Tammy Fiebelkorn. On May 18, the Citizen’s Redistricting committee voted to accept the Davis/Fiebelkorn map as one of the 4 official maps under consideration. It’s a map that should have been rejected.
The map is Citizen’s Map 4 and can be viewed at this link:
https://www.cabq.gov/council/documents/cabq_citizen_map_4_maps_table.pdf
CURRENT CITY COUNCIL DISTRICTS 6 AND 7
City Council District 6 is represented by two term Democrat Pat Davis who is up for reelection in 2023. However, Davis has indicated that he may not run for a third term claiming he made a two term commitment. Knowing Davis, he could change his mind. District 6 is considered the South East City Council District, which includes Nob Hill and the International District. Lomas between University to Eubank is the northern border of District 6. The western border is University all the way to Mesa Del Sol. The Southern Border is includes Gibson to Louisiana, then zig-zags to Pennsylvania, then zig zags to Eubank. District 6 is considered the most progressive and solid Democrat district in the city.
City Council District 7 is represented by Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn. On December 7, 2021 Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn defeated Republican Lori Robertson to succeed 2 term Democrat Dianne Gibson. District 7 is the Mid-Heights District that includes Coronado Shopping Center and Uptown surrounding areas and parts of the near northeast heights. The Northern border is Montgomery, the Eastern border is Eubank, the Southern border is Lomas and the Western border is Carlisle to Menaul and then Menaul to Comanche then to Montgomery. District 7 leans Democrat but is also considered a “swing district” having elected Republicans in the past.
The link to the map of all current city council districts can be found here:
https://www.cabq.gov/council/documents/cabq_2012_current_maps_table.pdf
THE DAVIS/FIEBELKORN CONCEPT MAP
The Davis/Fiebelkorn District 6 and District 7 maps represent a dramatic departure changing borders. The concept map essentially guts both Districts and carves them up to the benefit of Democrat Tammy Fiebelkorn.
DISTRICT 6 CONCEPT BORDERS
The new borders of City Council 6 represented by Pat Davis can be generally described as follows:
The Northern border of District 6 would be Menaul between San Mateo and Louisiana, the north on Louisana to Candelaria, then Candelaria between Louisiana to Eubank.
The Eastern border would be Eubank between Candelaria to Gibson.
The Southern boorder would be Gibson, zig zaging between Pennsylvanis and Louisiana to San Mateo.
The new concept map condenses District 6’s east to west coverage to the area between San Mateo and Eubank, while extending it as far north as Candelaria, taking up most of the Uptown area of Winrock and Coronado shopping areas.
The District 6 population would be 49.2% Hispanic, up from the current level of 46.8%. It keeps the Native American (6.3%) and Asian (2.7%) concentrations the same, it decreases the Black population from 4.5%.to 4.1%, and lowers the white population from 35.2% to 33.8%.
DISTRICT 7 CONCEPT BORDERS
The Davis/Fiebelkorn District 7 concept map, now represented by Fiebelkorn, guts and carves out a large eastern portion of District 7 bordered by San Mateo on the West, Menaul on the North, Louisiana on the East and Lomas on the South.
Other borders of the district are generally described as follows:
The Northern border is Montgomery from the freeway to Wyoming.
The Eastern border includes Wyoming between Montgomery and Candelaria, then goes west on Candelaria, then South on Louisiana to Menaul, then from Menaul to San Mateo and then from San Mateo to Gibson.
The Southern border goes west on Gibson to Carlisle and then “zig zagging” from Carlisle into Mesa Del Sol to include Mesa Del Sol as the Southern portion and boundary of the district.
In other words, District 7 will keep part of its existing Northeast Heights area, but sweeps west of District 6 and takes up the Nob Hill area and the Mesa del Sol development area.
Both the International District and the Nob Hill areas are currently in City Council District 6 represented by Pat Davis. The Nob Hill area along Central under the concept map would be shifted to District 7 and will jettison south to include the Mesa Del Sol development and be represented by City Councilor Fiebelkor.
The International District in the South East Heights would remain in the newly aligned District 6 but the State Fair grounds area and the Uptown area including Coronado Shopping Center and Winrock will be shifted from District 7 to District 6.
REASONS GIVEN FOR CONCEPT MAP
City Councilor Fiebelkorn said of the concept map that she wanted to present an idea that would give the International District’s “large, culturally significant population” a more united voice on the council, yet she does not represent them. She said she thinks International District residents may have more in common with residents just north of Lomas than with the current district that includes Nob Hill, which she called a “completely different demographic.”
City Councilor Fiebelkorn had this to say:
“One of the baselines of redistricting is that we find ways to make marginalized communities have a voice. [This is just an idea]. I want to hear what the folks who have been living and breathing this the last several months think in terms of these various options and what would be the best to make sure everybody is represented in a fair and equitable way.”
City Councilor Pat Davis for his part had this to say about the proposed concept map:
“I think we should have some different voices on the City Council. … If you look at it now, the entire east side of the city is represented by white folks, and I think that shows the current districting is leaving some people out of the process.”
Davis is not term limited and can run for a third term in 2023. Davis for his part has said he’s not prepared to say what he would do if a map carves him out of his own district, which the concept map does. Councilor Davis did say he is not likely running for a third term and that he’s “inclined to honor my commitment to only run for two terms.” Confidential sources have confirmed Davis has indeed told Fiebelkorn and others he is not running and is concentrating on his business trying to secure cannabis licenses for others and he charges upwards of $10,000 for his work.
REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE
The Redistricting Committee Chair is Cathryn McGill. She is the panel’s District 6 representative appointed by Pat Davis. McGill declined to comment specifically on any one of the 7 concept maps. She did say that the goal of redistricting is to achieve equity so that one person equals one vote citywide and said she cares about the International District. McGill had this to say:
“I want to shift and change that narrative and allow people to know how great the International District is, and view it as an asset as opposed to a detriment. If that means we need to take a serious look at drawing different boundaries to improve representation there, I’m certainly going to be open-minded about that.”
The Citizen’s City Council Redistricting Committee has until July 1 to make recommendations to the City Council which has the final say on the boundaries for the 9 council districts. The council may or may not accept the committee’s recommendations.
The redistrict committee will have to approve at least some changes to the current district maps to account for the uneven population growth identified by the 2020 U.S. Census. Some of the maps before the redistricting committee make relatively minor adjustments.
The link to quoted news source material is here:
https://www.abqjournal.com/2505888/councilors-aim-to-give-one-district-more-voice.html
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
There is little doubt that Davis/Fiebelkorn concept map is the most radical map of all the 7 maps under consideration. All 6 other maps make adjustments that are very minor in comparison and essentially “tweaks” the existing Districts, respecting the existing borders and neighborhoods.
The Davis/Fiebelkorn redistricting map can only be considered an abomination. It is a prime example of gerrymandering at its very worse designed to protect newly elected incumbent Tammy Fiebelkorn while the departing city councilor Pat Davis thumbs his nose at his own City Council District 6.
City Councilor Pat Davis is nothing but the hypocrite he is when he says:
“I think we should have some different voices on the City Council. … If you look at it now, the entire east side of the city is represented by white folks, and I think that shows the current districting is leaving some people out of the process.”
Tammy Fiebelkorn is also being a hypocrite and opportunistic to say after a mere 5 months in office:
“One of the baselines of redistricting is that we find ways to make marginalized communities have a voice. … [and give] large, culturally significant populations [a more united voice on the council].”
Pat Davis may want to look into a mirror at himself and while he is at it tell Tammy Fiebelkorn that she is not a woman of color. They are both one of those “white folks” that Davis complains about. Both pretend to know what “marginalized communities” are as they essentially stick their noses into minority issues when they both can be considered “white privilege”.
Fiebelkorn is not talking about her own district when she says she wants to help the marginalized, ostensibly meaning minorities. She is referring to the International District, an area of the city she thinks she knows what is needed as far as representation on the city council is concerned, but an area she does not want to be included in her new district.
City Councilor Fiebelkorn does not currently represent the Nob Hill area, yet she is now advocating just that by cutting out a large portion of her existing district while ignoring those she currently is supposed to be representing. Fiebelkorn wants to “raid” District 6 and absorb the highly progressive Nob Hill area, knowing full well it will increase her own re election chances.
It is not at all difficult to figure out what progressive Democrats Pat Davis and Tammy Fiebelkorn are up to. It is more likely than not that Pat Davis has already decided not to run for another term and he now sees the opportunity to help his progressive ally on the city council Tammy Fiebelkorn. Given her performance on the City Council thus far, it is hoped she will be a one term city councilor.
On June 3, Tammy Fiebelkorn said in an email:
“I have active dialogue with D7 constituents all the time and work with them on a variety of projects.”
Fiebelkorn has been in office a mere 5 months. Confidential sources have said what she has actually done since taking office 5 months ago is meet with her progressive supporters, especially those who are animal rights activists, has attended one Neighborhood Association meeting and meets with and listens to and takes direction from progressive Democrat City Councilor Pat Davis.
The dynamic duo of Fiebelkorn and Davis have come up with a City Council redistricting map that amounts to nothing more than a “political movida” to increase Fiebelkorn’s progressive base. The dramatic border revisions proposed by Councilors Pat Davis and Tammy Fiebelkorn will have a direct and negative impact on the International District and Nob Hill and the entire Dsitrict 7 she represents.
TWO NEW DISTRICTS IS WHAT IS NEEDED
What Redistricting Committee Chair Cathryn McGill said merits repeating:
“I want to shift and change that narrative and allow people to know how great the International District is, and view it as an asset as opposed to a detriment. If that means we need to take a serious look at drawing different boundaries to improve representation there, I’m certainly going to be open-minded about that.”
If the Redistricting Committee truly wants to improve representation of marginalized communities and ensuring they have a voice, it needs to also include planning for the future growth and expansion of the city. Cutting up and radically changing borders of two district is not the solution.
Reader Alan Schwartz had this to say:
“The City went to the current Mayor/Council [form of government] in 1974. There have been 9 council districts from day one. The 1970 population for Albuquerque was 243,751 so that original group of Councilors had a constituent load of 27,083. Almost half a century later the constituent load is 62,728, over twice the original with the same number of districts. Current perspective: At the “ideal” population of 62,728 all 9 districts would be tied for 5th largest city in New Mexico. The three west side districts combined would be the 2nd largest city. Any Charter amendment would, in my opinion, have to be voter initiated because I don’t see the Council ceding any power.”
District 7 is one of the most stable Districts in the City when it comes to overall population, with very little infill and a strong retail area of Coronado and the Winrock Development. District 6 clearly has special needs when it comes to the International District and the Nob Hill area which is now making a major come back after the disastrous ART project and now is not the time to carve the district up so drastically.
One solution would be to add 2 new city council districts expanding the number of city council districts from 9 to 11. The two areas of the city that have the real potential of growth and expansion are the West side, where it is already happening, and the southern part of the city.
With that said, 1 new district should be added to the West side to accommodate the exploding population. 1 City council district could be added to the South side with the International District positioned be the largest voting bloc in District 6.
CONCLUSION
Boith City Councilors Pat Davis and Tammy Fiebelkorn act like the city council districts they represent are their personal property they can carve up and pick and choose who they want to represent. They show a definite lack of respect for the constituents who put them in office reflecting a lack of understanding what public service is all about.
If Fiebelkorn wants to represent the Nob Hill area by excluding a large portion of her existing district, or for that matter wants to represent the International District and speak for the marginalized, she had no business running for City Council District 7 a few month ago only to try and gut the district she represents, jettison a large portion of the district and raid another council district for supporters. Fiebelkorn should be ashamed of herself and should resign now and from City Council so she can move into District 6 and run next year to replace Pat Davis. As far as Pat Davis is concerned, he should also resign so that a person who really wants to represent the district can be appointed, perhaps a person of color and not some “white folk” or some self righteous “white privilege dude”.
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POSTCRIPT
JUNE 8 REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE MEETING
The 2022 Redistricting Committee has been meeting twice a month via Zoom since March 9. There are only two more meeting left, June 8th and 29th with meetings beginning at 5:30. The schedule for the meetings, the agendas for each and Redistricting Committee Materials and all 7 concept maps can be found at this link:
https://www.cabq.gov/council/projects/current-projects/2022-city-council-redistricting-process
When you clique on the agenda for a particular meeting date, the agenda will appear along with the link.
According to the June 8 agenda, members of the public may attend via Zoom Video Conference at this address: https://cabq.zoom.us/j/81354237817.
Webinar ID: 813 5423 7817
Phone: (669) 900-6833 // 813 5423 7817#
The meeting will also be available via to watch YouTube: https://youtu.be/XwVPypZAwpg