The City Council District 6 runoff race between the two top vote getters of Progressive Democrat Nichole Rogers and Progressive Democrat Jeff Hoehn is scheduled for December 12. District 6 includes Nob Hill, the International District, and other neighborhoods and is currently represented by Progressive Democrat City Councilor Pat Davis who did not seek a third term. Early voting started Tuesday, November 21 and runs until Saturday, December 9. Election day is December 12.
This blog article is an in-depth vetting of Nichole Rogers that reveals a disturbing history of civil litigation involving debt collections and evictions and property liens. It also reveals 4 misdemeanor convictions not disclosed by the candidate to the Albuquerque Journal on its candidate questionnaire. The article confirms Rogers failure to file state and federal documentation for the non-rofit she runs. The article explores Nichole Rogers residency in District 6 and the extent of involvement of Mayor Tim Keller and two other elected officials who have assisted her candidacy.
ADVERSE PUBLICITY
On November 2, a mere 5 days before the November 7 election and after extensive early voting, damaging news broke on this blog about District 6 candidate Nichole Rogers. The same news was reported 2 days later by the Albuquerque Journal and the on-line news agency the New Mexico Sun.
The damaging news about Nichole Rogers includes she failed to file required documents with the Internal Revenue Service, the New Mexico Attorney General and the New Mexico Secretary of State regarding her nonprofit Westland Foundation that she created and now manages. Among the allegations was that Rogers continued to fund raise while her nonprofit was not in “good standing” with the state and the corporation had lost its federal status as a 501 C 3 charitable organization. It was also reported that she failed to report income and account for monies she raised, including $15,000 in city funding she secured for her foundation and how the funding was spent.
The link to the Albuquerque Journal article is here:
The link to the New Mexico Sun article is here:
THE VETTING OF PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT NICHOLE ROGERS
An extensive review of public records and court dockets reveals a disturbing history of civil litigation over debts and money due, failure to pay rent, evictions and property liens. It also reveals misdemeanor traffic offense convictions by Nicole L. Rogers that she did not disclose to the Albuquerque Journal in its candidate questionnaire.
A review of court dockets was conducted to determine the extent of litigation Nichole Rogers has been involved with over the years. A listing of 7 specific civil court and 4 metro court misdemeanor cases was compiled which are believed to be cases Rogers has been named the defendant.
This blog article explores the allegation that Nichole Rogers has not lived in District 6 for the 6 years as she has claimed and as she told the Albuquerque Journal in its candidate questionnaire. It has been determined she has lived on the Westside in an apartment with others and is now using a District 6 residence that she owns but has rented to others in order to run for city council.
EDITOR’S NOTE: The postscript to this blog article contains a November 19 email to Nichole Rogers and her campaign treasurer from www.petedinelli.com with court docket information listing cases requesting a confirmation from Rogers that she is in fact the named defendant in the cases. On November 24, Nichole Rogers responded and declined to verify the cases. The postscript also contains commentary and analysis on the email exchange.
ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL CANDIDATE QUESTIONARE
District 6 City Council candidate Nichole Rogers has repeatedly touted her “unique blend of lived experience and professional experience” as a reason to vote for her.
Progressive Democrat Nichole Rogers in her responses to the Albuquerque Journal candidate questionnaire provided the following answers to questions asked of her:
Education: Human resources, continuous quality improvement, EMT Basic, Associate of Arts and Sciences integrated studies, Central NM Community College (2012)
Occupation: Business consultant and financial adviser
…
Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?
[ANSWER]: No.
How long have you lived in your district?
[ANSWER]: 6 years
Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?
[ANSWER]: No.
Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor, or any felony in New Mexico or any other state?
[ANSWER]: No.
The link to read the full Albuquerque Journal candidate questionnaire of Nichol Rogers is here:
PERSONAL FINANCE VETTING
Review of court docket records shows 7 civil litigation cases for nonpayment of rent, judgements and garnishments of a Nichole Rogers or of a Nichole L. Rogers who are believed to be one and the same person and believed to be City Council Candidate Nichole Rogers as the named defendant. Based upon dates of birth and other information provided in the court filings and confidential sources, the 7 cases were identified as involving City Council Candidate Nichole Rogers. Two cases were deleted from an original list of 9 civil cases because of inconsistencies or errors found. In a November 24 email, City Council Candidate Nichole Rogers declined to verify that she is the named defendant in the list of the 9 civil cases that she was provided with at the time. (SEE POSTSCRIPT BELOW FOR EMAIL EXCHANGE.)
The below list of 7 cases are cases that are available and easily accessed for review at the below links after the list. Only cases with the name “Nichole” spelled with an “h” and that may also include the middle initial L were included. The list does not include cases with people with different spellings and dates of birth such as Nicole or Rodgers or different middle initials such as M. Following are the case listings:
- Valle Grande Apartments vs. Nichole Rogers T-4-CV-2000-11157 11/16/2000. Civil suit filed for NONPAYMENT OF RENT.
- Bank of America v. Nichole Rogers D-202-CV-2006-05105 6/30/2006 COMPLAINT ON OPEN ACCOUNT; Judgment entered against Defendant Nichole Rogers for the sum of $5,525.39
- Investment Retrievers v. Nichole L. Rogers D-307-CV-2006-01960 11/13/2006 COMPLAINT FOR DEBT AND MONEY DUE; Default judgment was entered against Defendant Nichole L. Rogers for the sum of $11,428.17 plus interest; Wages from employer Precision Mortgage were garnished to pay the judgment of $11,960.84.
- Westlake Financial Services v. Nichole L. Rogers D-202-CV-2007-10481 12/3/2007 COMPLAINT FOR DEBT AND MONEY DUE; A court appointed arbitrator awarded $6,190.97 to Plaintiff Westlake Financial Services and against Defendant Nichole L. Rogers; Wages from employers Direct Buy of Albuquerque and CNM Foundation were garnished to pay the unpaid judgment, which was eventually satisfied as paid in full.
- Huong Hanley vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-CV-2012-07146 6/18/2012 Civil cause of action for NONPAYMENT OF RENT.
- Huong Hanley vs. Nichole Rogers T-4-CV-2014-000075 1/3/2014 Civil cause of action for NONPAYMENT OF RENT; Judgment set aside on 1/11/18.
- T & C Management v. Nichole Rogers T-4-CV-2016-001438 1/25/2016, Civil cause of action for NONPAYMENT OF RENT.
The links to look up the New Mexico court cases cited are as follows:
https://caselookup.nmcourts.gov/
“Search NM”:
https://researchnm.tylerhost.net/CourtRecordsSearch/Home#!/home
MISDEMEANOR TRAFFIC CITATATIONS
Nichole Rogers answered with a simple NO the Albuquerque Journal candidate questionnaire “Have you ever been arrested for, charged with, or convicted of drunken driving, any misdemeanor, or any felony in New Mexico or any other state?” A review of court docket records revealed 4 misdemeanor cases of a one Nichole Rogers or of a Nichole L. Rogers who are believed to be one and the same person and believed to be City Council Candidate Nichole Rogers as the named defendant.
Based upon dates of birth and other information provided in the court filings as well as confidential sources, the 4 cases were identified as involving City Council Candidate Nichole Rogers. A 5th case was deleted from the listing because of inconsistencies. The misdemeanor convictions were not disclosed in the Albuquerque Journal questionnaire by City Council Candidate Nichole L. Rogers. In a November 24 email, Nichole Rogers declined to verify that she is the named defendant in any of the 5 cases. (SEE POSTSCRIPT BELOW FOR EMAIL EXCHANGE.)
Following is the listing of the misdemeanor citations and cause numbers:
- State of New Mexico vs. Nichole Rogers T-4-TR-2012-038033 10/3/2012 traffic citation. The narration contained in the case search includes the following information: Vehicle was heading Southbound on Atrisco to Eastbound Quail. Plate was expired through MVD as of 4/12. Driver did not have registration, and has expired insurance. Gave warning on cracked windshield. Rogers was charged with “no proof of financial responsibility” and “failure to exhibit evidence of car registration upon demand” and “display of license plate or temporary permit” which are misdemeanors. On 10/26/12 she received the additional charge of “failure to appear in court” which was later quashed; Rogers paid fines and fees.
- State of New Mexico vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-TR-2013-018910 6/11/2013 traffic citation: NOT CARRYING PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY.
- City of Albuquerque vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-PR-2019-001023 3/19/2019 parking violations: EXPIRED METER and LICENSE PLATE DISPLAYED IS EXPIRED. A BENCH WARRANT for arrest was issued on 5/3/19. The warrant was mailed to Rogers’ General Somervell St. NE address but was returned to sender. Rogers plead no contest on 4/15/21 and paid $284 fines and fees
- City of Albuquerque vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-PR-2023-006535 10/2/2023 parking violations: EXPIRED METER and LICENSE PLATE DISPLAYED IS EXPIRED. Rogers plead no contest and paid $100 of the $284 assessed fines and fees on 11/16/23
Some would say that the 4 citations are simple misdemeanors and they are “no big deal” and they do not matter. They do matter in that they reflect a failure to carry liability insurance and maintaining car registration. New Mexico has one of the highest uninsured motorist rates in the country. If a person cannot afford insurance, can not register their vehicle as required by law, then they have no business owning a vehicle and driving it.
A failure to carry liability insurance in particular does have very serious financial consequences when no insurance coverage is available to victims who are seriously injured by the negligent conduct of another driver who does not carry liability insurance. Again, none of the 4 cases were disclosed by Rogers in her Albuquerque Journal questionnaire, including the fact that a bench warrant was issued for her arrest in one case and there was a failure to appear in a second.
The links to look up the New Mexico court cases cited are as follows:
https://caselookup.nmcourts.gov/
“Search NM”
https://researchnm.tylerhost.net/CourtRecordsSearch/Home#!/home
PROPERTY LIENS FILED
Review of Bernalillo County Clerk records reveals that two liens have been filed on a residence owned Nichole Rogers located at the General Somervell St. NE address she has given to the City Clerk as her residence. The residence is located within District 6. According to County clerk records, Rogers purchased the residence on January 4, 2018 from KLS Holdings LLC with a mortgage from Mers Van Dyke Mortgage on the same date.
According Bernalillo County Clerk records reviewed, on July 7, 2021 a lien was filed by the City of Albuquerque for delinquent water and/or sewer and/or solid waste charges of $591.75 on the residence. The lien was released on July 29, 2022.
According to the Bernalillo County Clerk records, a second lien was file on the residence on August 1, 2022 by the City of Albuquerque again for delinquent water and/or sewer and/or solid waste charges for $1,457.52. A release of the lien filed on August 11, 2022.
The link to the Bernalillo County Assessor’s office is here:
https://www.bernco.gov/assessor/
The link to the Bernalillo County Clerk’s office is here:
ROGERS PROPERTY WAS LIKELY RENTAL AND NOT PERSONAL RESIDENCE
Candidates running for City Council are required to live in the district they seek to represent. In her Albuquerque Journal questionnaire answers, Rogers told the Albuquerque Journal she has lived in in City Council District 6 for six years and she gives her home address to the City Clerk as a residence on General Somervell. Rogers 6-year claim of residency in District 6 does not coincide with county records in that she purchased the residence 5 years ago in 2018.
During public forums and debates, Rogers has claimed she has raised her two children at the residence during the past 6 years, a claim that appears to be false. Confidential sources are questioning whether Nichole Rogers has ever even lived in District 6 home continuously as she has claimed, or even recently or if it is in fact a rental that she is now attempting to move into.
Although County Assessor records reflect that Nichole Rogers purchased the General Somervell residence on January 4, 2018 with a mortgage loan, and that she is the record owner of the residence, confidential sources and neighbors who live in the area claim that a third party by the name of Sabin Garcia had been renting and living in the home for the past 5 years while Nichole Rogers was living at a West Side Atrisco Street address since her purchase of the home.
A real estate property description listing provided by a confidential source for the General Somerville address Nichole Rogers claims to be her home residence reflects that it is a 1,050 square foot home, with bedroom and bath, valued at $194,042. The owner of the property is listed as “Nichole L. Rogers”. The current residents of the property are listed as Sabin Garcia, Nevada Garcia, Wendy M. Garcia, and Amy Jo Garcia and ostensibly they are a family of 4 with husband and wife and 2 children.
A search of the online Yellowbook for Nichole Rogers reveals a phone number listings for Nichole Rogers with 4 people residing at an Atrisco Drive NW, Albuquerque apartment. Those living in the westside apartment are listed as Nichole Rogers, Jenifer Baca, Bernard Rogers and Vanessa Rogers.
https://www/yellowbook.com/people/nichole-rogers/
Traffic citation issued to Rogers ostensibly confirms she was living on the Westside of Albuquerque and not in District 6. Those citations are State of New Mexico vs. Nichole Rogers T-4-TR-2012-038033 10/3/2012 traffic citation narrative: “Vehicle was heading Southbound on Atrisco to Eastbound Quail. Plate was expired through MVD as of 4/12. Driver did not have registration, and has expired insurance.”
Metro Court records reveal that in May 2019 the Court mailed a warrant to Nichole Rogers General Somervell home address, but it was returned to sender. In the case City of Albuquerque vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-PR-2019-001023 3/19/2019 parking violations: EXPIRED METER and LICENSE PLATE DISPLAYED IS EXPIRED a BENCH WARRANT was issued on 5/3/19. The warrant was mailed to Rogers’ General Somervell St. NE address but was returned to sender. Rogers plead no contest on 4/15/21 and paid $284 fines and fees
A screen shot of a February 3, 2023 FACEBOOK post by Nichlole Rogers on her FACEBOOK page reveals that Rogers was not living at the General Sommervill residence and that it was in February she ostensibly moved to the residence and that others believed the property was “abandoned”. The FACEBOOK page post is as follows:
“Nichole Rogers is feeling drained.
Feb. 3”
“It has been the worst day … found out the cleaning company I commissioned before we moved back in our house assumed our home was “abandoned” and helped themselves to my belongings. They brought back some things but there is a whole lot more I can’t find. I do not recommend Rosa’s House Cleaning Services at all. Well on a good note … we are back at our home.”
There is further reason to question if Rogers actually occupied the General Somervell residence due to the history of a general state of disrepair and air of neglect of the house, including mattresses and trash in front of the residence. It has been reported that only in the last few weeks has the front yard of the property been cleaned up. Neighbors in the area report they never see Rogers at the home and there is no activity at the address with the overall appearance that the property is vacant. The liens on the property filed by the city include solid waste charges likely caused by zoning enforcement clean ups of the property.
WELSTAND FOUNDATION
Among Rogers professional experience claims is that she is involved with the nonprofit and charitable corporation known as Welstand Foundation. It is a one-person nonprofit founded in 20219 and managed by Rogers. The corporation as a charitable organization over the years has received both public and private funding.
Charity Search on the New Mexico Secretary of State’s website lists Welstand Foundation’s purpose as “To enhance all aspects of well-being for under-served and under-represented youth in New Mexico.” Social media posts show that local breweries raised money for Welstand Foundation in 2022. Welstand Foundation was awarded a $15,000 grant from the City of Albuquerque approved at the May 18, 2020 City Council meeting.
Nichole Rogers has never fully revealed publicly during her campaign nor been forthcoming that she has been seriously delinquent with filing mandatory legal documents to keep Welstand Foundation in good standing with the New Mexico Attorney General, the Secretary of State and failed to file mandatory documents with the Internal Revenue Service.
FAILURE TO FILE IRS DOCUMENTS
According to the IRS website, Welstand Foundation’s 501(c)3 federal tax exempt status was revoked on May 15, 2022. Since its incorporation as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization in 2019, Nichol Rogers has not filed federal forms on income and expenses. A federal form is required to be filed annually by every 501(c)(3) and for private foundations. It is essentially a nonprofit’s income and expense report, allowing oversight of what revenue and donations were brought in, and how and where the money was spent. Not only does it provide financial oversight, but it ensures that a nonprofit’s spending is in accordance with its mission.
Rogers answered “NO” to the Albuquerque Journal in its candidate questionnaire “Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?” with no further explanation. Her NO answer to the question can be characterized at the very least as misleading because it is understood the corporation failed to file required tax forms and its tax-exempt status was then revoked which would have prevented tax liens from being filed if anything was in fact owed.
To research the IRS documentation on the corporations revocation as tax exempt, go to https://apps.irs.gov/app/eos/details/. Under the “search by field” scroll down to “organization name” and then in the organization name box type in “Welstand” and then click the blue search link. The revocation date listed by the IRS for the Welstand corporation is 5-15-2022 and the revocation posting date is 08-08-2022.
DELINQUENT NEW MEXICO ATTORNEY GENERAL REGISTRATION
According to the New Mexico Attorney General’s Charity Search website, Welstand Foundation registration submissions have been repeatedly delinquent. The website reveals as follows:
On January 1, 2021, the Welstand Foundation corporation’s Registration Submission for the 2019 Tax year was declared Delinquent.
On July 1, 2021, the Welstand Foundation corporation’s Registration Submission for the 2020 Tax year was declared Delinquent.
On July 1, 2022, the Welstand Foundation corporation’s Registration Submission for the 2021 Tax year was declared Delinquent.
On July 1, 2023, the Welstand Foundation corporation’s Registration Submission for the 2022 tax year was declared Delinquent.
The link to the New Mexico Attorney Generla website to confirm the research is here:
https://secure.nmag.gov/CharitySearch/CharityDetail.aspx?FEIN=84-2064534
WELSTAND JUST RECENTLY BECAME IN GOOD STANDING WITH NEW MEXICO SECRETARY OF STATE
Review of public records revealed that the Welstand Foundation as of October 20, 2023 was “Not In Good Standing” as a nonprofit corporation with the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office. However, as of November 1, 2023, the corporation is listed as in Good Standing.
To research New Mexico Secretary of State records for Welstand Foundation, go to the below link and type Welstand Foundation and Business ID Number 5919649:
https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/BFS/online/CorporationBusinessSearch
FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES REPORTED ON FACEBOOK
Facebook posts by local breweries Hollow Spirits, Nexus Brewery, Marble Brewery , Hollow Spirits reveals assistance with fundraising activities for Welstand Foundation after the IRS revoked the 501(c)3 status of the Corporation. What is questionable is that solicitations were made while not having filed a single 990-N, being delinquent with New Mexico Attorney General Registration submissions and not being in good standing with the New Mexico Secretary of State.
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS ON ROGER’S WELSTAND FOUNDATION
The most troubling question that needs to be answered is exactly how much did Nichole Rogers raise for her foundation since its creation in 2019, where did the money go and was it used for her salary? No one knows, except Nichole L. Rogers. The federal IRS forms required annually of every 501(c)(3) nonprofit were never filed for the WELSTAND FOUNDATION. The forms are essentially a nonprofit’s income and expense report, allowing oversight of what revenue and donations were brought in, and how and where the money was spent. Not only do they provide financial oversight, but it ensures that a nonprofit’s spending is in accordance with its mission. Welstand Foundation should have filed at least three IRS forms.
The IRS sends compliance letters, so pleading ignorance of the filing requirements is not a valid excuse. The IRS will not revoke a 501(c)(3) organization’s tax-exempt status unless the nonprofit has been out of compliance on filing a Form 990 for three consecutive years. This is what finally happened with the Welstand Foundation. Its tax-exempt nonprofit status was revoked on May 15, 2022. It was also listed as “Not In Good Standing” by the NM Secretary of State website as of October 20, 2023, but that has now changed.
A simple search on the NM Attorney General’s charity registry reveals no 990s have been filed with the office. Nichole Rogers posted Nextdoor.com social page in mid-October 2023 that she had closed the Foundation in 2020. That statement appears to false because in a more recent post on Nextdoor.com she stated she closed the nonprofit down in 2021.
It is clear that the Welstand Foundation continued to seek donations after it was supposedly closed and did in fact bring in unreported revenue. Not only has the trust of private donors been violated, the public’s trust has been violated. The City of Albuquerque gave the Welstand Foundation at least $15,000, which has also never been fully accounted for by Rogers.
In the interest of full disclosure and transparency as a candidate for city council, Nichole Rogers should release her personal income tax returns as well as those of Welstand Foundation so that a comparison can be made and her sources of income can be disclosed as to what extent she has personally benefited from her fund-raising activities for the corporation.
Other questions that Nichole Rogers needs to answer as it relates to Welstand Foundation include:
Will Nichole Rogers seek more city funding to benefit Welstand Foundation or does she intend to step down from its management or dissolve the corporation if she is elected?
Will Nichole Rogers continue with fundraising efforts for Welstand Foundation if she is elected and to what extent?
Will Nichole Rogers engage in lobbying efforts on behalf of Welstand Foundation before the New Mexico legislature as a registered lobbyist if she is elected and to what extent will she lobby on behalf of the city?
GETTING MORE THAN A LITTLE HELP FROM FRIENDS IN HIGH PLACES
It’s no secret that Mayor Tim Keller and his supporters inserted themselves into the District 2, 4 and 6 City Council races. Keller took an active roll in trying to elect 3 city councilors who will support his agenda over the final 2 years of his second term to set himself up to run for a third term in 2025. Keller has already made it known to top aides he intends to run for a third term.
Confidential sources have confirmed that Joaquin Baca, Abby Foster, and Nichole Rogers were indeed Keller’s anointed candidates to replace Progressive Democrat Isaac Benton in District 2, Republican Brook Bassan in District 4 and Progressive Democrat Pat Davis in District 6 respectively.
Progressive Politcal consultant Neri Holguin was Mayor Keller’s campaign manager for State Senate, she headed up the Measured Finance Committee that raised upwards of $1 million to get Keller elected the first time he ran in 2017 and she managed Keller’s successful 2021 reelection campaign for Mayor against Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales. Holguin has now become the go-to political consultant for progressive Democratic candidates.
Mayor Keller’s 2021 campaign manager Neri Holguin was the paid campaign consultant for Progressive Democrat Abby Foster who lost to incumbent Conservative Republican City Councilor Brook Bassan in District 4. Holguin was also the paid campaign consultant for Progressive Democrat Joaquin Baca who was elected in District 2 without a runoff. Neri Holguin was involved with the Nichole Rogers campaign early on in assisting with collection of nominating signatures and the $5 qualifying donations for public finance, but because of a falling out with the Rogers campaign withdrew from assisting with the campaign.
Mayor Tim Keller has been involved with the campaign of Nichole Rogers from the get go. His help is likely extending to the runoff. Rogers has gone so far as to tell Progressive Democrats privately in District 6 that she is Mayor Keller’s candidate to replace Progressive Democrat Pat Davis who is a Keller ally.
Sources have confirmed that a representative of Mayor Keller contacted candidate Jeff Hoehn even before he announced his candidacy. They told Hoehn in no uncertain terms that he could not win and not to run and that he would not be receiving the support of Mayor Tim Keller if he did run. In particular, Keller was said to want a “woman of color” to be elected and Nichole Rogers fit the profile. Sources have also confirmed that the paid political consultant for another failed candidate contacted Hoehn and insisted that he not run because he is not a minority and he could not win. Hoehn decided to run after he was convinced to do so by neighborhood progressive activists.
In 2021, Mayor Tim Keller announced the appointment of Nichole Rogers as the new City of Albuquerque African American Community and Business Liaison with the Office of Equity and Inclusion. In May, 2023 she supposedly left the city to run for City Council with no announcement if she resigned her city job or merely took a leave of absence to have a job to return to if she loses. It has been reported that Nichole Rogers is in sales with Primerica Financial Services.
Confidential sources have confirmed that Rogers received significant help from at least 2 top aides of Mayor Tim Keller. Those Keller top aides assisted in collecting nominating petitions signatures and qualifying $5 donations Rogers needed to secure public financing of $40,000. It is unknown if the campaigning was done on city time.
Sources have confirmed Democrat Progressive County Commissioner Adriann Barboa went door to door and helped collect nominating petitions and $5 qualifying donations for Rogers using county voter registration lists. Both Barboa and Rogers are kindred spirits and have much in common. Barboa has a history of aggressively recruiting and supporting candidates she wants to fill elected official vacancies and who fit to her liking her own progressive mold. Such was the case with Barboa’s recruitment of District 25 State Representative Cristina Parajón, who moved into District 25 just weeks before announcing she was running to replace retired State Representative Christine Trujillo and who Barboa then voted for as County Commissioner.
Sources have also confirmed that District 7 City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn actively campaigned door to door for Nichole Rogers as Fiebelkorn strolls the streets of District 6 with a vaping device in her mouth. Fiebelkorn has an affinity for District 6 voters seeing as she and Progressive Democrat Pat Davis sponsored a redistricting map earlier this year that essentially gutted both their City Council Districts and “redistricting” the progressive Nob Hill area of District 6 into her District 7 to give Fiebelkorn an advantage for her reelection bid in 2025. Fiebelkorn no doubt is helping Rogers in that she is highly ambitious and is doing so to ingratiate herself to Rogers for her support for City Council President or Vice President which is the very first vote that must be taken by the new city council once they are sworn in on January 1, 2024.
Barboa and Feiberkorn have no clue to just how disliked they have become by their own constituencies. The District 6 City Council race is one race they should have kept their noses out of but simply could not resist. Both should be more concerned about their own political futures. Talk is already emerging about people being recruited to run against both Barboa and Feiberkorn.
Keller on the other hand knows full well how disliked he has become with two polls already conducted showing he has low approval ratings in low 30% and with one of those polls listing potential candidates and showing Keller coming in 4rd with 18%. At least 3 current elected office holders are said to be running against Keller as he is making it known privately, he is running for a third term.
PROGRESSIVE DEMOCRAT JEFF HOEHN
Progressive Democrat Jeff Hoehn has a Master of Public Administration from the University of New Mexico, he is married to Charlotte Itoh, who is a private attorney and the couple have one child. Hoehn and his wife have lived in the district 21 years and have been actively involved with the community. Jeff Hoehn is the executive director of Cuidando Los Niños, a shelter and school for homeless children. He has identified crime and homelessness as his top concerns for District 6.
Hoehn’s approach to the homeless would differ significantly from Mayor Keller’s large shelters at the Gateway Center and Westside Emergency Housing Center. To combat homelessness and the housing crisis in the city, he would fund smaller, population-specific shelters that are attractive and safe for those who want help. He agrees that the Albuquerque Community Safety Department should be a proactive force that is on the streets every day, all day actively encountering individuals who are homeless so that they accept help or choose to relocate.
Hoehn advocates short-term mobile APD command units in high crime areas. He advocates for a dedicated team of police officers that can embed with the community, build trust and make the area unfriendly to criminal activity. His crime proposals lean heavily on police and policing technology to get that done. Hoehn told the League of Woman Voters this:
“I advocate instituting short-term APD mobile command units in high crime areas. … We must be strategic so that officers can spend their time preventing and addressing crime. Technology such as speed cameras has a role to play also.”
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
It is very difficult to understand how a candidate for Albuquerque City Council can hold herself out as a successful “business consultant and financial advisor” given her history of litigation as a named defendant in debt collection matters and her failures to file in a timely manner mandatory documents with the IRS, the New Mexico Attorney General, and the Secretary of State for a charitable organization she created.
NICHOLE ROGERS FAILING FORWARD CANDIDACY
When the news reports first broke on Roger’s problems relating to her nonprofit, Rogers admitted that she mishandled her charitable non-profit, which benefited from both private contributions and COVID relief money from the city. Rogers claimed her conduct was not disqualifying. Rogers said this:
“I am a person who has had successes and has had failures. But I really believe in failing forward. When you know better, you do better and I’m someone who can teach folks to watch out for these pitfalls.”
When confronted with her history of litigation and legal problems and asked to confirm she is the named defendant in the cases she said this:
“I have discussed a lot of this openly during my campaign, I have TRUE lived experience with being unable to pay rent on time, with poverty, and with navigating systems.”
The blunt truth is Nichole Rogers has not been forth coming. Her credibility is in serious doubt because of falsehoods and failures to disclose. She has failed to be completely transparent when it comes to her litigation history and her residence.
She boldly proclaims that she “really believe[s] in failing forward” and that she has “TRUE lived experience.” How about just not failing by following the law, knowing better, taking full responsibility for your mistakes and not repeating them and not deflecting the truth. How about paying your debts, securing mandatory car registrations and car insurance, and attending scheduled court hearings to avoid bench warrants being issued for your arrest,
FINAL COMMENTARY
In one candidate forum, Nichole Rogers said she was running because of the new salaries that will be paid to city councilors and that she felt she could live on that amount. City councilor pay is going from the present $33,600 to $62,843 a year and councilors can still have outside employment. The voters of District 6 need to know if Rogers is running for the right reasons which is to help and serve her constituents or is she really in it for herself to get paid a good salary and promote her nonprofit Welstand Foundation and do Mayor Tim Keller’s bidding on the City Council once she is elected.
The city is facing any number of problems that are bringing it to its knees. Those problems include exceptionally high violent crime and murder rates, the city’s increasing homeless numbers, lack of mental health care programs and little economic development.
It is District 6 that has suffered the brunt of what plagues the city the most with the highest crime rates in the city, including property crime, violent crime and drug trafficking, distressed minority communities, the proliferation of the homeless and service providers and little or no economic development.
District 6 can no longer afford a city councilor who makes promises and offers only eternal hope for better times, better results and who is indebted to Mayor Tim Keller and who wants to make a living off of the taxpayer for herself and her nonprofit. Eight years of poor representation by the current city councilor has been more than enough.
What is needed is a City Councilor who is independent, actually knows what they are doing, who will make the hard decisions without an eye on their next election, not make decisions only to placate their base and please only those who voted for them and who will not just do what Mayor Tim Keller wants them to do and who will just rubber stamp what Mayor Tim Keller wants. Hoehn represents now the type of leadership needed by District 6.
District 6 is entitled to a City Councilor who is ethical, who is above reproach, who knows how to manage finances both privately and in their private business dealings, who actually knows the problems of the District by actually living in the District for more than a few years, something that cannot be said of Nichole Rogers.
Given what has been reveal about Nichole Rogers and what is at stake, voters of District 6 should have no reservations voting for Jeff Hoehn for City Council.
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POSTSCRIPT
On November 19, Nichole Rogers and her Campaign Treasurer were sent an email by Pete Dinelli www.PeteDinelli,com with the court docket information listing 14 cases requesting a confirmation from her that she is in fact the named Defendant in the cases. The email was sent to give Rogers and opportunity to confirm or deny that she is the named defendant and provide an explanation.
The November 19 email is as follows:
November 19, 2023
To: Nichole Rogers, Candidate For City Council District 6
From: Pete Dinelli, www.PeteDinelli.com
CC: Clarence Smith, Treasurer for Candidate Nichole Rogers
Re: Request for confirmation of identity in court cases; Offer to provide explanation
“As you are aware I write and publish the blog www.PeteDinelli.com. I have reported on the City Council races, attended debates and have sent you my articles written. I am currently doing research on an article for publication. I am sending this email to you at the email address you have given the city clerk as well as your campaign treasurer.
A review of court dockets shows multiple instances of litigation involving 4 different spellings of your name raising the possibility of others with the same name. The 4 different name spellings are Nichole L. Rogers, Nichole Rogers, Nicole Rogers, Nicole L. Rogers. Note the two different spellings of the name as Nichole or Nicole or the addition of the middle initial “L”.
The purpose of this email is to request that you confirm that it is you who is the named defendant in the specific court cases that I have identified as you being the probable defendant. The link to the New Mexico Courts case look up system for the individual court cases so you can look them up yourself and confirm what I have found is as follows:
https://caselookup.nmcourts.gov/
Please confirm with a YES or NO if you are the named defendant in the following cases:
- Valle Grande Apartments vs. Nichole Rogers T-4-CV-2000-11157 11/16/2000. Civil suit filed for “NONPAYMENT OF RENT”.
- Tyson Properties vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-CV-2002-1771 2/15/2002 Civil suit filed for EVICTION from residence. [EDITOR’S NOTE: DELETED IN ABOVE PUBLISHED ARTICLE BECAUSE OF IDENTIFIED ERRORS.]
- Bank of America v. Nichole Rogers D-202-CV-2006-05105 6/30/2006 COMPLAINT ON OPEN ACCOUNT; Judgment entered against Defendant Nichole Rogers for the sum of $5,525.39
- Investment Retrievers v. Nichole L. Rogers D-307-CV-2006-01960 11/13/2006 COMPLAINT FOR DEBT AND MONEY DUE; Default judgment was entered against Defendant Nichole Rogers for the sum of $11,428.17 plus interest; Wages from employer Precision Mortgage were garnished to pay the judgment of $11,960.84.
- Westlake Financial Services v. Nichole L. Rogers D-202-CV-2007-10481 12/3/2007 COMPLAINT FOR DEBT AND MONEY DUE; A court appointed arbitrator awarded $6,190.97 to Plaintiff Westlake Financial Services against Defendat Nichole Rogers; Wages from employers DirectBuy of Albuquerque and CNM Foundation were garnished to pay the unpaid judgment, which was eventually satisfied as paid in full.
- Huong Hanley vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-CV-2012-07146 6/18/2012 Civil cause of action for NONPAYMENT OF RENT.
- Huong Hanley vs. Nichole Rogers T-4-CV-2014-000075 1/3/2014 Civil cause of action for NONPAYMENT OF RENT; Judgment set aside on 1/11/18.
- Khanh Erikson vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-CV-2015-04046 4/2/2015 Civil cause of action for NONPAYMENT OF RENT. [EDITOR’S NOTE: DELETED IN ABOVE PUBLISHED ARTICLE BECAUSE OF IDENTIFIED ERRORS.]
- T & C Management v. Nichole Rogers T-4-CV-2016-001438 1/25/2016, Civil cause of action for NONPAYMENT OF RENT.
MISDEMEANOR TRAFFIC CASES
I have also found five cases involving traffic violations. Please confirm if you are in fact the named defendant in each of the following cases:
- State of New Mexico vs. Nichole L. Rogers M-14-TR-2006-05542 6/14/2006 traffic citation in Las Cruces: VEHICLES SUBJECT TO REGISTRATION Order to show cause for failure to appearwas issued on 7/11/2006; Rogers plead guilty/no contest and paid fines and fees. [EDITOR’S NOTE: DELETED IN ABOVE PUBLISHED ARTICLE BECAUSE OF IDENTIFIED ERRORS.]
- State of New Mexico vs. Nichole Rogers T-4-TR-2012-038033 10/3/2012 traffic citation: Vehicle was heading Southbound on Atrisco to Eastbound Quail. Plate was expired through MVD as of 4/12. Driver did not have registration, and has expired insurance. Gave warning on cracked windshield. Rogers was charged with NO PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY and FAILURE TO EXHIBIT EVIDENCE OF CAR REGISTRATION UPON DEMAND and DISPLAY OF LICENSE PLATE OR TEMPORARY PERMIT. On 10/26/12 the additional charge of FAILURE TO APPEAR IN COURT which was later quashed; Rogers paid fines and fees.
- State of New Mexico vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-TR-2013-018910 6/11/2013 traffic citation: NOT CARRYING PROOF OF FINANCIAL RESPONSIBILITY. Prosecution was unwilling to proceed.
- City of Albuquerque vs. Nichole L. Rogers T-4-PR-2019-001023 3/19/2019 parking violations: EXPIRED METER and LICENSE PLATE DISPLAYED IS EXPIRED. A BENCH WARRANT was issued on 5/3/19; the warrant was mailed to Rogers’ 217 General Somervell St. NE address but was returned to sender; Rogers plead no contest on 4/15/21 and paid $284 fines and fees
- City of Albuquerque vs.Nichole L. Rogers T-4-PR-2023-006535 10/2/2023 parking violations: EXPIRED METER and LICENSE PLATE DISPLAYED IS EXPIRED. Rogers plead no contest and paid $100 of the $284 assessed fines and fees on 11/16/23
PROPERTY LIENS FILED
Review of Bernalillo County Assessor Records reveals that you are the registered title owner of the residence located at …[number deleted to protect privacy]… General Somervell St. NE. Review of Bernalillo County Clerk records reveals you purchased the residence on January 4, 2018 from KLS Holdings LLC with a mortgage from Mers Van Dyke Mortgage on the same date.
Review of Bernalillo County Clerk records reveals that two liens have been filed on what is believed to be your home address at … [number deleted to protect privacy] … General Somervell St. NE. According to the Bernalillo County Clerk records, on July 7, 2021 a lien was filed on the residence by the City of Albuquerque and then the lien was released on July 29, 2022. According to the Bernalillo County Clerk records, a second lien was file on the residence on August 1, 2022 by the City of Albuquerque and then a release of lien was filed on August 1, 2022.
Please confirm if you in fact still own the residence and if you reside there or are renting it to another and for how long. Please also state how much the liens were for and specifically for what (ie: water or tax assessments).
DEADLINE
It is respectfully requested that you respond to this email by email to me with your answers and any explanation you want to offer as soon as possible, but no later than November 24, 2023 at 12:00 noon.
Respectfully yours
Pete Dinelli
CANDIDATE NICHOLE ROGERS RESPONDS TO EMAIL
On November 24, at 11:36, A.M, just 24 minutes before the deadline, Nichole Rogers sent the following email response:
Hello,
I have discussed a lot of this openly during my campaign, I have TRUE lived experience with being unable to pay rent on time, with poverty, and with navigating systems.
I would love to talk about how my own experience with poverty has led me to be where I am today. As a victim of identity theft, I do not share personal information via email or over the phone.
If you report on this, please be sure you have taken the time to research which are mine and which are not.
Again, I am open to having an honest conversation with you about your request.
Blessings,
Nichole Rogers
[PHONE NUMBER DELETED FOR PRIVACY]
COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS
The November 24 response by Nichole Rogers is as evasive as it gets by a public figure and politician who is running for office. The email response was a total failure by a candidate for office to be forth coming and transparent by refusing to answer with specificity with a YES or NO as requested if she is in fact the named defendant in the cases identified and listed.
In her email Rogers says “If you report on this, please be sure you have taken the time to research which are mine and which are not”. The purpose of the November 19 email to Rogers and her Treasurer was to do just that, research what cases are hers and what cases are not. The email to Rogers makes it clear that an article was being written and she was being given an opportunity to provide an explanation and to specifically identify what cases she was a named Defendant.
Considerable amount of time and effort was undertaken to research the cases, identify those she is to believe to be the Defendant and then and only then was she contacted to verify the information and given sufficient time to respond. Further, she simply ignores the inquiry as to the property liens filed and the ownership of the property she is using as her home address to run for city council. She does not disclose if she has ever rented the property to another.
The November 19 email to her asks her to verify the cases found believed to be cases she is the named defendant. She was given the opportunity to identify those cases that are in her words “hers and those cases which are not.” She should know the cases she was a named Defendant, but simply refused to verify them, simply refused to do her own due diligence and simply refused to cooperate by giving an evasive answer. She failed to answer the question if she still owns the residence, if she resides there and for how long or if she renting it to another and for how long.
Rogers states in her email she does not share personal information “via email or over the phone”, yet she gave her phone number that has been deleted for privacy. She does not state exactly how and in what manner or in what context, public or private, she is willing to have an “honest conversation” that can be quoted. By failing to verify the cases on her own which are “hers and those cases which are not” she essentially refuses to take any and all responsibility for her conduct and deflects disclosing the truth.
The link to a related blog article is here: