On March 6, former Cabinet Secretary of the Department of Public Safety and Former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren announced that he is running for Mayor of Albuquerque. White made the announcement by uploading a slick campaign video to the social media website X. White called himself a fiscal conservative and vowed to crack down on crime and the homeless in Albuquerque. White said he plans on using public financing to fund his campaign. Upon collecting the 3,780 verified qualifying $5.00 donations, a qualifying candidate will be given $755,946.00 by the city in public financing. Republican Darren White announced he has been endorsed by Republican City Councilors Dan Lewis, Renee Grout and Dan Champine.

White joins a growing field of candidates with a vow to be a “proven leader,” “tough on crime” and a “champion for change.”

In his announcement, White said this:

“Mayor Keller has presided over the most murders in Albuquerque’s history. His weak approach to crime and homelessness has failed and it’s time for change.”

White said in his announcement that he will “give police officers the resources and support they need to restore order to our city” and “no more sanctuary city.”  White asserts that there have been 660 murders during Keller’s years in office and that an alarming number of businesses have had to close down because of crime.

Albuquerque is not a “Sanctuary City” as White mouths off. A “Sanctuary City” is a jurisdiction that prohibits local  law enforcement  from assisting  with federal immigration authorities enforcing immigration laws and prohibits the local law enforcement from making arrests on federal immigration laws. “Immigrant Friendly”  cities on the other hand enact policies that are favorable to undocumented people to allow services and its local  law enforcement personnel do not make arrests for violations of federal law and only make arrests and enforce local ordinances and state laws.

It was in 2001, long before Keller became Mayor, that the city council  declared the city to be an “Immigrant-Friendly City”  by City  Council ordinance originally sponsored by former Republican City Councilor Hess Yntema who represented the South East Heights area, including the International District. The ordinance declares the City Of Albuquerque  to be an Immigrant-Friendly City. It establishes City Of Albuquerque policies regarding immigrants and their families, regardless of immigration status and establishes  a city  immigrant resource program.

https://cabq.legistar.com/LegislationDetail.aspx?ID=1256769&GUID=C68CF8DC-7161-498C-A997-FF2D664B7E0E&Options=ID%7CText%7C&Search=R-2001-009&FullText=1

White said he will provide officers with resources and support they need to take action against homeless encampments after a Supreme Court decision in 2024. White said this:

“The Supreme Court has given cities the authority to clean up these tent cities, but Mayor Keller has refused to do so. That will change when I am elected mayor.”

When White was Chief Public Safety Officer under Mayor Richard Berry, it was he that said it was time to “take the gloves off when dealing with the homeless”  to remove the homeless from downtown Albuquerque.  Three of those arrested later sued the city, which settled the cases for $98,000

http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/12/what-works-albuquerque-homeless-solution-housing-policy-214527

Mayor Tim Keller has established the Albuquerque Community  Safety Division Department which employs teams of two trained professionals with experience in behavioral health and crisis intervention. They are dispatched to deal with the unhoused and to get them off the streets and reduce APD police calls for service.  According to Keller, the city does hundreds of sweeps a month to remove homeless encampments.

https://www.cabq.gov/acs/services

DARREN WHITE BIOGRAPHY OF CONTROVERSY

In 1987, White moved to New Mexico and joined the Albuquerque Police Department Academy.  White holds a B.A. in Management from the University of Phoenix and has one son, Darren II.  After his graduation from the APD Academy, White was assigned and served in the department’s Field Services Bureau, Motorcycle Patrol Unit and Crimes Against Children Unit. He reached the rank of Sergeant.  While with APD, White joined the department band “The Force”  as the lead singer with the band  performing in their APD uniforms to school children warning them about the dangers of abusing drugs and  bellowing out in rock style lyrics “Just Say No!”

In 1995, Republican Governor Gary Johnson appointed White to head the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.  At 31, White was the youngest state public safety director in the country. White also chaired Johnson’s cabinet council on crime and corrections. While serving as secretary of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, members of the New Mexico State Police Officers Association voted 243 – 31 “No Confidence” against White. The state police officers accused White of improperly supplying equipment and cars to its officers, which they felt was an officer safety issue.

https://www.police1.com/police-administration/articles/nm-police-have-no-confidence-in-safety-director-nQZQa5iQFpN4EEU3/

White had a very sudden and dramatic  parting of the ways with Governor Gary Johnson over Johnson announcing his support for  the legalization of all drugs.  White resigned in a “puff” as cabinet secretary saying he could never support the legalization of drugs.

WHITE WAS AGAINST POT BEFORE HE MADE MONEY OFF POT

White’s previous public statements and actions against marijuana reform have been extensive. In 2007, when medical marijuana became legal in New Mexico, White was vehemently opposed to it. White said this:

“I’ve never supported medical marijuana. … I’m very sympathetic to the patients – I watched my father die of cancer, and it’s the most difficult thing in the world – but I don’t think you have to smoke marijuana to gain the comfort and relief that’s provided by the THC.”

In 2002, as executive director of Protect New Mexico, White lobbied against both a medical marijuana bill and Johnson’s effort to decriminalize marijuana. When the state Legislature rejected Johnson’s decriminalization bill, White said it was “a victory to our children and our neighborhoods.”

On a 2002 medical marijuana bill, White told the Albuquerque Journal at the time that the issue needed more research.

https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2015/09/02/green-and-white-former-sheriff-wants-in-on-medical-marijuana/

White showed what a hypocrite he is when following his career in law enforcement he started his own cannabis dispensary company call PurLife.  He served on the Board of Directors and CEO of Purlife, a medical marijuana distribution company. Despite lobbying against state medical cannabis legalization efforts, White changed his stance on the substance and ran his  medical cannabis company, which sold just before New Mexico legalized recreational use.

SEE  Pure Life Management Group.,  LLC,  Business ID number 5545730  at

https://enterprise.sos.nm.gov/search/business

WHITE THE “NEWSHOUND”

After resigning his cabinet position with Johnson, White joined the news staff at KRQE-TV, Albuquerque’s CBS affiliate. White was a crime reporter at the station for two years. He left the station in 2002 to run for Bernalillo County Sherriff.

https://www.gaar.com/images/uploads/ld-darren_white_bio.pdf

WHITE THE BERNALILLO COUNTY SHERIFF

White was elected Bernalillo County Sheriff in 2002 and reelected in 2006.  As Bernalillo County Sheriff, Darren White helped TruTouch Technologies secure a sole-source contract in the amount of $379,995 to “supply alcohol screening and testing prototype equipment.” White notified the County Commission that “the Sheriff’s Department fully supports the Sole Source contract award to TruTouch Technologies of Albuquerque.” White was also running for US Congress at the time, and received campaign contributions from TruTouch officers during a prohibited time.

https://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/democracy_for_new_mexico/darren-white/

WHITE THE CONGRESSIONAL CANDIDATE

In 2008, White was the Republican nominee for US Congress in New Mexico’s 1st congressional district facing then Albuquerque City Councilman Martin Heinrich. Heinrich defeated White in a landslide with Heinrich elected with 55.5% to Whites 44.5%. White has said in the past that he was a Republican Conservative long before Donald Trump ever was. White has the signature of Ronald Reagan tattoo on his ankle that he is very proud of and is known to show off to others.

WHITE THE ABQ CHEIF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER

In December 2009, after losing the congressional race, White was appointed Albuquerque’s Chief Public Safety Director by Republican Mayor Richard J. Berry. White replaced former Albuquerque City Councilor and Former Chief Deputy District Attorney Pete Dinelli as Chief Public Safety Officer and head of the Safe City Strike Force. White was placed in charge of the Safe City Strike Force  which was responsible for taking action against nuisance property’s and took code enforcement action against both commercial and residential properties that were determined to be magnets for crime. Over a 7 year period under Dinelli, the Safe Strike Force took enforcement actions against 7,000 properties including run down motels along central, closed 4 violent bars and closed down two flea markets.  The program was recognized nationally as a best practice program. The Safe City Strike Force was  dismantled by Mayor Richard Berry and Darren White.   White’s  brief stint as Chief Public Safety Director ended with a  “No-Confidence” vote by members of the Albuquerque Police Department because of restrictions on take-home cars White imposed and severe pay cuts he implemented in violation of the the union contract.

https://www.koat.com/article/police-union-to-vote-no-confidence-in-darren-white/5035368

On July 15, 2011, Darren White announced his “retirement” from the city a little more than a week after he showed up to the scene of a car crash involving his wife where he took her from the scene and  then drove her to the hospital.  First responders never gave Kathy White a blood test even though a police report indicates she showed signs of impairment. Darren White released his wife’s urinalysis results that showed a drug screen came back negative. Documents show the test was roughly five hours after the accident which called into question the accuracy the test. Police said that a blood draw is much more comprehensive than a urine test.

White’s retirement came shortly after a City Council meeting in which a five-person committee voted to start compiling a list of outside investigators who could be called on to review White’s actions during his wife’s car accident. White maintained that he did nothing wrong and violated no policies that day but none the less he retired. The Police Oversight Commission

exonerated White of any wrongdoing in the incident later that year.

https://www.koat.com/article/darren-white-retires-from-city-post/5036906

WHITE THE “RACINO MANAGER”

In July 2012, Darren White was appointed as the  New Downs General Manager. According to the Response to RFP submitted by the Downs on August 25, 2011, the General Manager position “has been created in anticipation of the new facility”. In other words, White was given a job that did not previously exist. The Downs General Manager is “responsible for the day-to-day operations of The Downs, including implementing and monitoring policies, establishing and managing the budget, hiring and training the management team, ensuring managers are actively monitoring compliance with all regulatory requirements and providing overall operational support.” 

The problem was White had no gaming management experience when he was named manager. The new Casino had not yet been built so there was nothing to manage. White’s only involvement with the racino before was as a “security consultant” helping the Downs at Albuquerque prepare its response to the RFP. White then briefly worked as the Project Manager at the Downs for the construction of the updated racino.

It has been  reported that White was given the job because of his close association to Jay McCleskey, then Governor Martinez’s political consultant who involved himself in the award of the racinos lease by the state, and his  very close ties to Downs lobbyists/lawyers Pat Rogers and Mickey Barnett. During her first year in office, Republican Governor Susana  Martinez  was alleged to have been involved with a “play to play” controversy involving the award of a $1 Billion-dollar, 25-year, Albuquerque Downs Racetrack contract, dubbed by politicos as “the Dirty Downs deal”.

https://www.abqjournal.com/335335/buster-screwed-us.html

https://www.democracyfornewmexico.com/democracy_for_new_mexico/darren-white/

Darren White  hosts a radio talk show on KKOB and has become an outspoken critic of Mayor Tim Keller and the Albuquerque Police Department.

LIKELY CAMPAIGN MANAGER

Confidential sources are saying longtime Republican political operative and consultant Jay McClusky, who is a very close personal friend to Darren White, will likely be involved in White’s race for Mayor, either as manager or as a paid political consultant. McClusky is known for his slash and burn tactics to win at any and all costs. McClusky made a very lucrative living as the campaign manager for Republican Governor Susana Martinez and Republican Mayor Richard Berry. McClusky’s influence over Governor Martinez is legendary as he  was given an office in the Governors Office.  Over the years McClusky has also managed the campaigns of Republican City Councilors and State Legislators.

OTHER CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR

At least 5 other candidates have said they are running for Mayor. They are:

1. Mayling Armijo, former deputy county manager for Sandoval County. Albuquerque native Mayling Armijo is focused on tackling crime. Her experience consists of working as economic development director for Bernalillo County, the deputy county manager for Sandoval County and with the New Mexico Economic Development Department.
2. Eddie Varela (72) a retired firefighter. Varela said he wants to restore public safety, rebuild trust in the government and revitalize the economy.
3. Eddie Aragon, a conservative radio talk show host. Aragon ran for Mayor 4 years ago and came in third. He has told news outlets he is running but he has not registered as a candidate with the City Clerk as yet. Aragon is an extreme, right-wing conservative. Aragon is known for his sharp tongue approach on his radio programs that alienates both friends and foes alike.
4. Republican Patrick Sais, (57) is listed on the City Clerks web site as running, but he has yet to formally announce.  He ran for election to the New Mexico House of Representatives to represent District 26 in 2024  and  lost in the general election on November 5, 2024. He is a small business owner, retired truck driver and school bus driver and he went to Albuquerque High School
5. Mayor Tim Keller (47) has made it known that he is seeking a third 4 year term but he has yet to formally announce. Voters elected Keller in 2017 and 2021. If he were reelected this fall, he would become the first mayor to win three consecutive terms and the second mayor to win three terms in the current mayoral form of government that was formed in 1974. Martin Chavez won three terms and served from 1993-1997 and 2001-2009

OTHER MAYOR CANDIDATES BEING MENTIONED

Confidential sources have confirmed that at least 3 other candidates are considering running for Mayor and are being mentioned as possible candidates. The fact they are not official candidates as of yet dictates that their past not be discussed. The 3 are:

1. Democrat Jeff Apodaca, the son of former Jerry Apodaca, who ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor.
2. Doug Peterson, President and CEO of Peterson Properties.  Doug Peterson has emerged on social media as a major critic of Mayor Tim Keller advocating Keller’s removal spurring speculation that he is running.
3. Confidential sources are saying West Side City Councilor Louie Sanchez will run for Mayor thereby forgoing running for a second term on the  city council.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/darren-white-to-run-for-albuquerque-mayor/

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-mayor-darren-white-candidate/64077882

https://nmpoliticalreport.com/2025/03/06/darren-white-announces-run-for-abq-mayor/

 https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_e7284248-fad8-11ef-a779-573a921208a2.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Mayor Tim Keller is heavily favored for election to a unprecedented third consecutive 4 year term. However, with upwards of five or more candidates running, its very likely there will be a run off if none of the candidates secure 50% plus one of the vote. We can expect a brutal battle between highly progressive Democratic Mayor Keller against a MAGA extremist such as Eddy Aragon or  Darren White.

KELLER’S POWER OF INCUMBANCY

To complicate matters for Keller’s opponents, Mayor Keller has a built-in advantage called the power of incumbency  with an existing campaign organization consisting of his 27 high paid Department Directors who he pays upwards of $150,000 or more that do not want to lose their jobs, the ability to raise large sums of campaign cash as he did as State Auditor, and  a campaign manager who resorts to questionable slash and burn tactics to disparage opposition and win at any and all costs.

Keller will easily qualify for public financing of $755,946  as he has done before and then have measured finance committees raise an equivalent amount or more as he has done in his past two runs for Mayor.  Keller also has a strangle hold on progressive Democrats who prefer to look the other way when it comes to his mismanagement of city hall and his and Chief Medina’s mismanagement of APD as Keller and Medina refuse to take any responsibility for what has happened under their tenure.

It’s more likely than not that the 2025 municipal election for Mayor will once again be a very low voter turnout for Mayor with less than 20% of those eligible to vote voting, again something that favors  Mayor Keller.

KELLER’S BIGGEST PROBLEMS

Keller is favored to win despite having a disapproval rating of 40% and an approval rating of 33% as found by an Albuquerque Journal poll. The City’s Citizens Satisfaction survey released in August last year found that 63% of city residents reported do not feel the city is going in the right direction with only 31% say they are hopeful about the direction the city is going.

The same survey found 61% “disagree” and 35% “agree” that “the Albuquerque City Government is responsive to our community needs.” The Citizens Satisfaction survey found that 60% of the city residents “disagree” and 35% “agree” that the APD is doing a good job addressing property crime. The survey also found that 56% of city residents “disagree” and 39% “agree” that APD is doing a good job of addressing violent crime.

KELLER’S RECORD OF FAILURE

The biggest problem Keller has for his re-election is that during his two terms, he has been a major failure if not an outright disaster when it comes to city management, policy and addressing the city’s complex problems. His failure as Mayor is the likely reason there will be as many as 6 candidates running against him. Thus far the candidates running against Keller state the obvious problems the city is facing such as crime and the homeless but offer no real solutions. Keller did the exact same thing when he ran for mayor the first time seven years ago, but now he must run on his record.

Seven years ago when Keller first ran and became Mayor, he proclaimed violent crime was out of control, that he could get it down and that he would increase APD sworn from the then 850 to 1,200. Violent crime continues to spike and is out of control seven years later with APD currently at 750 sworn officers. The city’s ongoing homicide and violent crime rates continue to be at historical highs and people simply do not feel safe in their homes as the fentanyl crisis surges. APD ranks number one in police killings of citizens in the top 50 largest cities in the country.

Mayor Keller and Chief Harold Medina have seriously mismanaged the ongoing train wreck known as the Albuquerque Police Department with the department still dangerously understaffed at about 750 to 800 cops despite  seven years of  increased budgets, salary increases and lucrative bonus pay. This coming from the Mayor who promised 1,200 cops during his first term. During a recent APD Academy graduation, Keller promised 1,000 cops by the end of the year which is not at all likely given expected retirements.

Then there is the largest bribery and corruption case in APD’s history with 14 APD Officers implicated and 3 who have been federally charged and who have plead guilty to federal  bribery and conspiracy charges involving the dismissal of hundreds of  DWI cases for bribes. The former APD officers face up to 130 years in prison. Both Keller and Chief Medina have failed to take any responsibility for what happened under their watch as they deflect and blame others. They both have blamed the Court’s, the DAs Office and the Public Defenders for the DWI dismissals.

Keller has spent over $400 million in the last 4 years on homeless shelters, programs, and the city purchasing and remodeling motels for low-income housing. The recent annual Point In Time  homeless survey count found an 18% increase in  the homeless with upwards of 3,000 chronic homeless. It was reported 75% refuse city services. Despite Keller’s spending efforts to assist the unhoused, the city’s homeless numbers continue to spike as the crisis worsens and the unhoused refuse services.

The $400 million spent to help 3,000 to 5,000 homeless with 75% refusing services  would have gone a  long way to finance community centers, senior citizen centers, police and fire substations, preschool or after school programs, senior citizen programs, and police and fire programs.  Keller has allowed the unhoused to proliferate city streets, parks and open space declining to aggressively enforce city and state vagrant laws and make arrests. Keller allowed Corando Park to become the city’s de facto city sanction homeless encampment before he declared it to be the most dangerous place in the state forgetting it was he who  sanctioned it and then he was forced to close it down  because of out-of-control violent crime and illicit drug use.

FINAL COMMENTARY

Simply put, Albuquerque needs a new Mayor. However those running do not have the credentials, or the gravitas to be Mayor and they are more interested in hyperbole and disruption, much like Donald Trump.  Darren White and Eddy Aragon are two such candidates who are more mouth than substance.

Eight years of Tim Keller as Mayor has been more than enough. But those who are running against him now will likely be even worse.  They do not have the gravitas to be Mayor meaning understanding the seriousness of purpose of being Mayor, background, credentials and the importance of manner causing a feeling of respect and trust from others.

Voters can and must do better. The City will do better with a new Mayor but that will happen only if other more qualified candidates who can mount a successful campaign are recruited to run. The business community, civic organizations, neighborhood associations and concerned citizens in general should go out of their way do what they can to recruit qualified candidates to run. Otherwise, we will have another 4 years of disastrous policies, either under Keller or one of the others now running, and we will only have ourselves to blame.

The Exploratory Period for Mayor began on March 3, 2025 and ends on April 19, 2025. Hopefully, better qualified candidates will emerge. The postscript below gives the dates and deadlines to run for Mayor.  The 2025  municipal  election is scheduled for Tuesday, Nov. 4 and the offices of Mayor and 5 city council races will also be on the ballot.

____________________________________________

POSCRIPT

The following is what is required to qualify and run for Mayor with links to City Clerks web pages:

QUALIFYING TIME PERIODS

The Exploratory Period for Mayor begins on March 3, 2025 and ends on April 19, 2025.

March 3 is the first day of the “Public Financing Exploratory Period” for Mayoral Candidates. The  Exploratory Period begins on March 3 and ends on April 18. March 3 is also the first day or Mayoral Candidates to submit Declaration of Intent to seek public financing.  

The Seed Money Period for candidates for Mayor, or the time to begin collecting exploratory contributions, to collect at least  is from March 3, 2025 to April 18, 2025.

In order to File the Declaration of Intent, the applicant candidate for public finance must schedule an appointment with the City Clerk at least one day prior to filing. The Clerk will review the public finance process with the applicant candidate and provide the Declaration of Intent for public financing.

The Qualifying Period for candidates for Mayor to collect 3,780 qualifying donations of $5.00 from Albuquerque registered voters  for public financing is from April 19, 2025 to June 21, 2025.

The Petition Period for candidates for Mayor to collect 3,000 or more signatures from Albuquerque registered voters is from April 19, 2025 to June 21, 2025.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/candidate-calendar-for-the-2025-regular-local-election

SEED MONEY CONTRIBUTION LIMITS

From March 3, to June 21, candidates for Mayor are allowed to collect seed money contributions of $250 per person for an aggregate of $151,189.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

QUALIFYING PERIOD SIGNATURES AND QUALIFYING DONATIONS

The qualifying period for candidates for Mayor who are both publicly and privately finance candidates  to collect qualifying petition signatures is from April 19, at 8:00am to June 21, 2025 at 5:00pm.

The qualifying period for candidates for Mayor who are publicly financed candidates to collect  3,780 qualifying donations of  $5.00 each and to receive $755,946 in public finance from the city  is  from April 19, at 8:00am – June 21, 2025, at 5:00pm.

Privately financed candidates can commence collecting donations on April 19 and do so up an until election day of November 5.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

QUALIFYING PETITION SIGNATURES

Candidates for Mayor must gather more than 3,000 signatures from registered voters only who reside within the Albuquerque City limits. Petions are given to candidates and the qualifying signatures can only be collected from April 19, 2025, at 8:00am – June 21, 2025, at 5:00pm to qualify to be placed on the November 4 ballot.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

PUBLIC FINANCED CANDIDATE

Candidates for Mayor who seek public financing must collect Qualifying Contributions of $5.00 each from 1% of the registered voters which in 2025 is 3,780 qualifying donations of $5.00 each. Upon collecting the 3,780 verified qualifying $5.00 donations, the qualifying candidate will be given $755,946.00 by the city in public financing. A candidate who qualifies for the public financing must agree in writing to a spending cap of $755,946 and failure to adhere to the spending cap mandates a full refund and removal from office if elected.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

NO FUNDRAISING OR SPENDING LIMITS FOR PRIVATELY FINANCE CANDATES

Unlike publicly financed candidates, who may only spend the funds given to them  by the City and agreeing to a spending cap, privately financed candidates have no fundraising or spending limits. There are, however, limits on individual contributions. Specifically, Article XIII, Section 4(d) limits the total contributions, including in-kind contributions, from any one person (with the exception of the candidate himself or herself).

The following limits per individual or corporation or entity are  in effect:

“Limits to Contributions. No privately financed candidate shall, for any one election, allow total contributions, including in-kind contributions, from any one person with the exception of contributions from the candidate themselves of more $6,000 for Mayoral Candidates.”

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION LIMITS

Candidates for Mayor can accept individual in-kind contributions of up to $2,500 for a total aggregate of $75, 594.60.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

The New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD) was created as a cabinet department in 1992. It is a state agency of New Mexico responsible for child protective services and juvenile justice services. The Protective Services Division investigates reports of child abuse and  neglect and has the authority to take custody of children from their abusive parents.  CYFD  has faced years of  scrutiny and litigation over  issues with child  placements, mental health care, and dangerous situations involving the care of children placed in its custody. On January 29, 2025, it was reported that CYFD  is once again facing scrutiny after a court-appointed arbiter ruled that the agency had failed to meet the terms of a settlement agreement designed to improve the state’s foster care system. This ruling comes in response to a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of hundreds of foster children who, due to systemic failures, found themselves homeless or without proper care. (See Postscript below for more on class action lawsuit.)  New Mexico legislators have tried repeatedly to reform the department by increasing outside oversight of the agency. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for her part has opposed all past efforts to increase outside oversight.  Instead, she ordered  the creation of a new advisory council and office of innovation within CYFD.

THREE BILLS PASS HOUSE UNANIMOUSLY 

On March 4, the New Mexico House of Representatives voted unanimously, reflecting overwhelming bi-partisan support, to  approve three bills dealing with the Children, Youth, and Families Department (CYFD). Lawmakers say the structural changes are needed amid ongoing CYFD staffing issues and a worsening state rate of repeat child mistreatment.

Following is a brief explanation of the legislation:

House Bill 5  would create an independent Office of the Child Advocate (OCA) to oversee child welfare in New Mexico. As an impartial public official, the Child Advocate would receive and investigate complaints related to children’s services at CYFD and state agencies, ensure their resolution, and inform the public, legislature, and Governor about opportunities for improvement.

The OCA would also review CYFD’s policies and procedures, provide children and families with information about their rights, operate a toll-free hotline to receive complaints, and compile and report independent data, among other duties. The bill is sponsored by Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D-To’hajiilee), House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), House Majority Leader Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), and House Majority Whip Dayan Hochman-Vigil (D-Albuquerque).

The Child Advocate would be appointed for a six-year term by a selection committee composed of bipartisan representatives of the New Mexico House and Senate, the Governor’s office, the Attorney General, and the Supreme Court. Candidates would be selected based on their qualifications in law, psychology, social work, or family therapy. The Office of Child Advocate would be independent and autonomous, but would be administratively attached to the New Mexico Department of Justice. This would allow the Office of the Child Advocate to pursue all available remedies to protect the health and safety of New Mexico’s children.

House Bill 203 would require CYFD workers to retain and back up all electronic records. It would help in particular cases where a child is harmed.  This bill requires that CYFD employees only use their department-issued phones and computers for official work purposes to ensure that all electronic records are  backed up. This is to ensure that any complaints in the CYFD system never get lost, particularly in cases where children are at risk of being harmed. This measure is sponsored by Reps. Meredith Dixon (D-Albuquerque) and Sarah Silva (D-Las Cruces).

House Bill 205   This bill would  establish a nominating committee to vet applications for the CYFD secretary position. It would also provide care for newborns who are born substance-exposed.  The bill would strengthen plans of care for substance-exposed newborns  moving responsibility for the CARA (Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act) program from CYFD to the Healthcare Authority, and create a nominating committee to vet CYFD Cabinet Secretary candidates. HB 205 is sponsored by Reps. Meredith Dixon, Eleanor Chávez (D-Albuquerque), Rebecca Dow (R-Truth or Consequences), House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong (R-Magdalena), and Senator Linda Trujillo (D-Santa Fe).

REACTION TO PASSAGE

Speaker of the House Javier Martinez had this to say about passage of the legislation:

“When CYFD fails, New Mexico’s children pay the price. These failures also worsen the cycles of poverty, trauma, and substance use that contribute to crime in our communities. Our goal is to give this critical state agency all the tools and resources it needs to succeed, while also providing necessary oversight to hold them accountable for doing right by our kids.”

Rep. Michelle Paulene Abeyta (D-To’hajiilee), said this about passage of House Bill 205:

“Growing up, most of us were lucky enough to have trusted adults to speak up for us and help shape our growth and development. Children in state custody may not have anyone in their corner advocating for their needs, and that’s why we need this office – to be a voice for children in the care of CYFD.”

Representative Dixon  had this to say about passage of House Bill 205:

“The children and families of New Mexico deserve transparency and accountability from CYFD. By providing proper medical oversight for at-risk newborns, ensuring adequate records and evidence are maintained, and improving the vetting process for agency leadership, we can better protect our most vulnerable children and start rebuilding public trust in CYFD.”

House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong, R-Magdalena  said lawmakers have unsuccessfully tried to enact structural changes to CYFD during previous legislative sessions and she said this:

“It’s been needed for so many years.”

Despite widespread support in the New Mexico House, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and CYFD Cabinet Secretary Teresa Casados do not  agree with the legislature that there is a need for reforms to the department. CYFD Cabinet Secretary Teresa Casados said this after passage of the legislation:

“New Mexico’s most vulnerable children and the dedicated CYFD professionals who work tirelessly to protect and support them rely on us to advocate for legislation that strengthens our child welfare system.  Unfortunately, these three bills fall short of that goal.  I’m hopeful the Senate will listen to the experts’ concerns and give us equal opportunity to share our perspective in [Senate] committee.”

A Lujan Grisham spokesman said it’s premature to discuss which bills might be vetoed.

https://www.koat.com/article/three-cyfd-reform-bills-pass-state-house-unanimously/64044342

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/legislature/cyfd-reform-bills-clear-house-move-on-to-senate-in-new-mexico/

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_195096f2-f931-11ef-8553-8fce3b70f9cd.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

https://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/2025-nm-legislative-session/house-unanimously-passes-key-cyfd-reform-bills

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_195096f2-f931-11ef-8553-8fce3b70f9cd.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The three approved bills still must win approval in the Senate before the 60-day session ends March 22 in order to land on the governor’s desk.

Democrats have a commanding 43-26 majority in the House and a 26-16 majority in the Senate. If there was ever a realistic chance for the New Mexico Legislature to enact major reform measures for the Children, Youth, and Families Department, 2025 is the year to do it.

The New Mexico Senate needs to move rapidly and enact all three bills with a unanimous bipartisan vote to send a clear message to Governor Michelle Lujan that any veto will swiftly be overridden and this year is the year to enact reform of the CYFD department.

_______________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

On January 29, 2025, it was reported that CYFD  is once again facing scrutiny after a court-appointed arbiter ruled that the agency had failed to meet the terms of a settlement agreement designed to improve the state’s foster care system. This ruling comes in response to a class action lawsuit filed on behalf of hundreds of foster children who, due to systemic failures, found themselves homeless or without proper care.

CLASS ACTION LAWSUITE

In 2020, under Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, the CYFD and the Human Services Department settled a class action lawsuit known as the Kevin S. Settlement. The lawsuit detailed the agency’s failure to protect children from homelessness, abuse and inadequate care. As part of the settlement, the CYFD agreed to implement hundreds of reforms aimed at ensuring children in foster care receive proper placement, education and health care.

After an eight-day arbitration hearing, an independent arbiter released a scathing report concluding that the CYFD had violated its agreement, subjecting children to “irreparable harm.” The report outlined several key failures, including:

• CYFD did not increase its number of caseworkers and even implemented a hiring freeze.
• Workloads remained unmanageable, with supervisors still handling active cases.
• The agency failed to maintain an adequate supply of foster homes.

CYFD Cabinet Secretary Teresa Casados acknowledged the arbiter’s findings and admitted the agency had not met the expectations outlined in the settlement. Casados said this:

“There was not [anything in the report] that I disagreed with. …I believe the department is making every effort it can to meet those requirements. I also believe it’s not in the time frame that people want to see.”

Casados cited several challenges that have hindered progress, including setbacks due to the COVID-19 pandemic and legislative funding restrictions that prevented the agency from allocating resources as needed. Casados explained it this way:

“A lot of the funding we receive comes with very specific language that ties our hands in what we can do with it. .. [Despite challenges] we’re making progress at the department. … Of course, it’s not at the speed that everybody would like to see, but as they say, slow and steady.”

The arbiter has given the CYFD an April deadline to secure proper funding and implement the necessary changes. Additionally, the arbiter wants to hear from independent consultants about whether the CYFD should have an ombudsman to oversee the department’s reforms.

In the past five years, the CYFD has paid over $27 million to settle civil rights claims. If the agency fails to comply with the arbiter’s orders, the lawsuit could be refiled, potentially leading to even higher costs for taxpayers.

$3.9 MILLION SHORTFALL

The state’s Risk Management Division recently reported a $3.9 million shortfall in its settlement fund, with child welfare cases playing a heavy role. In 2024, CYFD settled for $18 million across 12 settlements, according to a Source NM review of the settlement data available on the state’s portal. The settlements ended lawsuits alleging the department’s responsibility for the deaths or severe injuries of children in state custody, from years ago.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.koat.com/article/new-mexico-cyfd-scrutiny-report/63606534

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_acc00a32-f083-11ef-8e09-c75d84d3e97f.html

https://sourcenm.com/2025/02/19/child-welfare-reform-experts-oppose-nm-cyfd-commission-plan/

https://www.krqe.com/news/politics-government/legislature/lawmakers-proposing-bills-to-reform-cyfd-during-legislative-session/

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/new-mexico-lawmakers-discuss-cyfd-reform-and-oversight/?utm_source=Sailthru&utm_medium=onsite&utm_campaign=recomm

On December 3, Governor  Michelle Lujan Grisham accompanied by Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, Mayor Tim Keller and State Fair Commission Chairman Eric Serna and other officials held a news conference at Expo New Mexico to announce that the state intended to find a new location and move the State Fair within two years.

The announcement included the release of a Request For Proposal (RFP) that the legislature advanced $500,000 to develop a master plan for the 236-acre cite. The purpose of the Master Plan would be to provide a plan to maximize facilities operations year round, including addressing the needs and growth of the area for the next 10 to 20 years and find perhaps other uses for the property itself. The $500,000 Request for Proposals was issued on December 3 and was to last for 45 days.

No new location was announced during the press conference, but it was suggested that keeping the State Fair centrally located such as in Bernalillo, Valencia or Torrance County would be beneficial due to the interstates. Governor Lujan Grisham said this:

“We have made the decision preliminarily to ask for folks to focus on the center of the state … but there are a lot of spaces. Though Albuquerque is a bit constrained, there are still plenty of opportunities in Bernalillo County. Imagine, if you will, that Valencia County could offer up some interesting proposals, that the South Valley right here in Bernalillo County [could do the same]. Bernalillo County ought to think about where would a new developed platform in space be. Maybe Torrance County, maybe Edgewood and Santa Fe.

New Mexico House Speaker Javier Martinez said this:

“Sadly, we’ve lost our two grocery stores. We lost to Walmart a couple of years ago. We lost the Fair Square even before then. We’ve lost our two drug stores in the area as well over the last couple of years. This area is in serious need of a jolt of energy. … For the community that lives here, I think folks are ready for a change. And folks are ready for affordable housing.” 

State Fair Commission Chair Eric Serna said this:

“Those who have attended the fair recognize that we have outgrown the facilities and property here. It’s time to look at the growth of this fair to continue to be the best fair in the country, and under the governor’s leadership and commission, we will move forward and seek the best possible options for the growth of our fair.”

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller for his part discussed his wish list for new locations for Expo New Mexico, including keeping the fairgrounds in Albuquerque and listing the Balloon Fiesta grounds, Mesa del Sol and West Side spaces as potential new locations.

Among the many ideas suggested for the development of the 236 acres of prime property included low income and affordable housing and demolishing the 60-year-old Tingly Coliseum and building a multipurpose entertainment and sports facility. Recommendations for future land use include commercial retail business development.

The announcement to move the Fair Grounds took surrounding neighborhoods and businesses by total surprise. There was a complete failure by the State Fair Commission and the Governor’s Office to reach out to adjoining neighborhood, property owners and businesses to get their thoughts and input.

CONTENTIOUS MEETING

On February 26, Bernalillo County Government held a meeting to discuss and provide information on the county’s  proposed Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) for the  New State Fairgrounds known as EXPO New Mexico. The county wants to enact a TIDD for the entire westside half of  the State Fair grounds property excluding the Downs, the supporting stables and the casino. The public meeting was held at the State Fair Grounds Alice Hopes African American Pavilion with upwards of 200 people attending.

WHAT’S A TIDD?

A Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) is a funding mechanism within a specific geographic boundary to finance public infrastructure improvements.  A TIDD uses a portion of incremental gross receipts taxes or property taxes dedicated to it by the County or other public entities as a source of TIDD bonds. These funds are used to reimburse the developers for the cost of constructing the public infrastructure improvements such as roads, water and sewer and community facilities. Operation, maintenance and repair expenses are funded by the public entity accepting the public infrastructure. Funding generated from the issuance of the TIDD bonds can only be used for infrastructure on the specific property identified in the TIDD and it is strictly prohibited by law to use the monies for use to benefit another property.

At the February 16 meeting,  a slide presentation was made by Bernalillo County Economic Development Director Marcos Gonzales on County’ proposed TIDD for the State Fair Grounds. Participating in the presentation and responding to questions were Acting Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico General Services Department Anna Silva, Bernalillo County Commission Chairman Eric Olivas, former Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez who is  the Governor’s appointed Infrastructure Advisor, and Expo New Mexico State Fair Manager Dan Morning.  Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa and City Councilor Nichole Rogers acted as emcees for audience questions. Also, in attendance as an audience member was Bernalillo County Commissioner Frank Baca.

HOSTILE REACTIONS

After the very short slide presentation by Bernalillo County Economic Development Director Marcos Gonzales, former Mayor Chavez was asked to respond to questions.  Chaves said this before answering  questions:

“About six months ago, the governor approached me and said, ‘Look, what’s going on right now in the southeast part of Albuquerque is not sustainable. … You see it every day: the homicides, the unhoused run over, left dead on the street.”

Chavez mentioned the possibility of moving the State Fair. The audience reacted in anger to moving the State Fair and issuing the TIDD financing. The meeting quickly disintegrated into confrontation and angry questioning by the audience. Chavez took the brunt of the criticism as demands were shouted by the audience that the Fair Grounds not be moved.

Unfounded accusations of impropriety were leveled against Chavez and he did his best to respond, claiming he understood people’s first amendment rights. He said he has had his share of being yelled over the years. Chavez said “Everyone will be heard” noting he was speaking on Governor Lujan Grisham’s behalf. The audience was in no mood to listen to what Chavez had to say.

At one point an audience member asked all those present to raise their hands to show how many wanted the Fair Grounds to stay where it is. Upwards of  99% of the audience raised their hands not to move the Fair Grounds. Chavez insisted that the meeting was not about moving the fairgrounds, there was no final decision by the Governor but he himself opened the door when he first mentioned it as an option.  He said he was Governor Michell Lujan Grisham’s representative, no final decision had been made ostensibly forgetting the Governor’s December 3 press conference announcing moving the fairgrounds.

AUDIENCE MEMBERS SPEAK OUT

Audience members were given the opportunity to speak after the presentation on the TIDD. Audience members said that the City has been a total failure in cleaning up Central and the city has  failed to address the homeless crisis on Central.  Audience members argued that before anything is spent on improving or moving the Fair Grounds, money would be better spent cleaning up Central, dealing with the homeless, drug addicted and mentally ill and providing them with services to get them off the streets.

Speakers cast skepticism on their ability to sway the state to not move the State Fair and how the area would be developed.  Audience member Paul Losinski said this when given his chance to speak:

“They will have already decided the main framework, so all we can do is decide, do we want high-rise buildings? Or do we want low-rise buildings? We have already lost the ability to have input as to what the RFP was for.”

Another Albuquerque area resident, René Horvath, said moving the fair won’t solve the problems on East Central. Horvath said this:

“Leave the fair alone, it’s not a problem.  I’m going to be heartbroken if they move the fair.”

The public spoke against not only the proposed move but the TIDD. One man asked “You’re just wasting money! Who’s pocket is this going into?!”

Most if not all of  the public spoke out against the move, citing that the large homeless population and crime in the area have driven out other businesses from the neighborhood. One audience member said this:

“We have lost Walmart, we have lost Walgreens, we are in a food desert. And you guys talk about doing this, you need to put your money somewhere else!”

Other audience members argued that the funding should be used to help the homeless rather than remove them. An audience member said this:

“You have a community of 5,000 homeless people, 55% of which are veterans who’ve served this country. And this is where our taxpayer money is going?  To restructure our fairground or change our fair?”

It was noted by audience member Pete Dinelli that 15 years ago Central was in fact cleaned up before by the Safe City Strike Force he headed  with aggressive code enforcement action against Central motels and violent bars that the city tore down. The city  took  enforcement actions against nuisance properties both residential and commercial of up to 1,000 a year. It was also noted that the Keller Administration has spent upwards of $400 million over the last 4 years for shelters and services to the unhoused but the city’s efforts have been a failure to reduce the proliferation of the homeless on Central and throughout the city.

RFP CANCELLED WITHOUT EXPLANATION

After Chavez spoke, acting Cabinet Secretary of the New Mexico General Services Department Anna Silva made the surprise announcement that the state just a few hours before the meeting canceled the Request For Proposals (RFP) to develop  a master plan aimed at transforming the fairgrounds. Former Mayor Martin J. Chávez, who the Governor tapped to help on the project, said he didn’t know why the RFP was canceled.

The state had planned to finalize the original RFP contract by February  20 and award it on Friday February 29. Instead, the State withdrew and cancelled the RFP on February 27. According to Anna Silva, the acting secretary of New Mexico’s General Services Department, another RFP will be sent out the first week of March.

After the meeting Bernalillo County Economic Development Director told Albuquerque Journal reporter Noah Alcala Bach this:

“I just found out this evening [about the cancellation of the RFP] … Ultimately, if we wanted to be more prepared, we would need more information from the state on their master plan process and what they want to actually have at the site.”

Bernalillo County Commissioner Adriann Barboa  who represents the county commission  district that includes the fairgrounds, said she hasn’t spoken directly with the governor about plans for the site and instead receives updates from Chávez. Barboa in an interview with the Albuquerque Journal reporter Noah Alcala Bach after the meeting said this:

“This was my decision to hold this meeting. The state wasn’t necessarily wanting to. … I asked them to come to be transparent.”

Bernalillo County Commission Chairman Eric Olivas for his part said public concern about the future of the fair had an impact on him. Olivas blamed the state for canceling the RFP, saying it “set us back tremendously.” Olivas sent the Albuquerque Journal a statement the day after the meeting that said in part:

“We needed to present a better menu of options, a vision for the future and better address the serious and legitimate concerns raised… I heard loud and clear two messages: community does not want to move the fair, and we must better address crime and rampant drug use on Central.”

It was in  January that  commissioners voted unanimously to take a vote on establishing  a Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) for the State Fair grounds. County commissioners will now vote on vote March 11 on whether to establish a Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) for  the fairgrounds.

Links to relied upon or quoted news sources are here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/public-backlash-as-officials-hold-meeting-on-future-of-expo-new-mexico/

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/bernalillo-county-commissioners-look-at-creating-special-tax-district-at-state-fairgrounds/

https://www.abqjournal.com/business/article_d7b2660e-f560-11ef-b5ac-475a04606d4e.html

GOVERNOR MLG RESPONSE TO “WOMAN TAKING BACK OUR NEIGHBORHOOD” MEMBER REVEALS BACKTRACKING OF EPOCH PROPORTIONS

Women Taking Back Our Neighborhoods is a community activist organization involved and voicing their opinions on critical issues facing the City of Albuquerque. It has a membership of upwards of 100 members who attend city council meeting and public presentation and who are known to protest on occasion. On March 3, the Office of Governor Lujan Grisham sent the following email responding to a member of Women Taking Back Our Neighborhoods regarding the proposal to move the state Fair Grounds:

“Thank you for contacting The Office of the Governor.

At this stage, no decision has been made regarding whether to relocate the Fair or rebuild it in its current location. The Master Plan initiative aims to gather community input, reliable data, and a comprehensive understanding of the relevant facts and sentiments.

The Governor is considering several concerns. The southeast heights, particularly the International District where the Fair is situated, is experiencing a troubling surge in drug-related issues and violent crime, unprecedented in our history. In the past year, notable establishments like Walmart, Walgreens, and CVS have closed their doors.

The State Fair occupies 238 acres of prime land that is well-suited for mixed-income and mixed-use, walkable development. If executed properly, this could lead to an increase in property values around the Fair, which are currently declining, and attract private investment to enhance the neighborhoods surrounding the Fairgrounds, ultimately reducing crime.

 It’s worth noting that when the Fair was initially established in its current location, Albuquerque’s eastern heights were primarily home to the University of New Mexico, and the Fair stood alone on the mesa.

Additionally, over the years, the Fair has seen a steady decline in popularity and attendance. Once the third largest in the country, it has now fallen significantly in rankings. We lost the Arabian horse show to Oklahoma, which was willing to invest in that program. Major music events have shifted to the Event Center in Rio Rancho, and rural New Mexico youth are finding more success at their county fairs for agricultural events.

Despite millions of dollars invested, Tingley Coliseum remains substandard. Whether the Fair is moved or stays put, this is an opportunity to re-envision it and restore its world-class status. For the past 40 years, every administration, regardless of political affiliation, has sought ways to make the property suitable for year-round use, yet success has been mixed at best.

Currently, efforts are underway to gather data and make informed decisions. It may ultimately be best to enhance the Fair in its current location, or it may be more beneficial to rebuild it elsewhere. These decisions will be made only after thorough consideration of the facts.

The Governor is committed to taking action rather than allowing the challenges facing the neighborhoods around the Fair and its dedicated attendees to go unaddressed.

We encourage you to stay engaged in this important discussion for all of us.

Respectfully,
Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Simply put, the February 26, Bernalillo County Government  meeting to discuss and provide information on the Bernalillo County Commission’s proposed Tax Increment Development District (TIDD) for the  New State Fairgrounds  was an absolute and utter disaster. It reflected a hapless effort by Bernalillo County Government as well as the Governor’s representatives to explain to the public what is going on. The fact that the State withdrew the RFP for development of the property just a few hours before the meeting only added to the confusion and the public resentment. The meeting and what was said created an atmosphere of hostility and mistrust when the results should have been to inform and educate the public.

The email from the Office of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham reflects back tracking of epoch proportions on what she really wants to do with the State Fair. The Governor has gone from announcing on December 3  “We have made the decision preliminarily to ask for folks to focus on the center of the state … Maybe Torrance County, maybe Edgewood and Santa Fe ”  to saying in the email  “At this stage, no decision has been made regarding whether to relocate the Fair or rebuild it in its current location.”

The Governor’s Office also said  in part in the email:

“The Master Plan initiative aims to gather community input, reliable data, and a comprehensive understanding of the relevant facts and sentiments. …  It may ultimately be best to enhance the Fair in its current location, or it may be more beneficial to rebuild it elsewhere.  These decisions will be made only after thorough consideration of the facts.”

Why wasn’t a “thorough consideration of the facts” done in the first place?

Governor Lujan Grisham is the one who held a press conference on December 3, 2024  with the Speaker of the House Javier Martinez, Mayor Tim Keller and State Fair Commission Chairman Eric Serna to boldly announce that the decision had been made to move the Stater Fair. She did so speculating where it could go and without any feasibility study nor exploring potential costs. Past feasibility studies done years ago said the cost to purchase land, relocate the fair and replicate existing facilities at a new site would cost upwards of $1 Billion. The Governor also said she wanted to relocate the fair in two years and that the 2025 State Fair would likely be the last time it would be held at the existing cite. The Governor did not  asked the 2025 legislature to fund the relocation of the State Fair evidencing that she was not truly committed to moving the State Fair and that her press conference on December 3 was for show  and headlines.

EFFORTS TO ADDRESS AFFORDABLE HOUSING

During the December 3 press conference announcing plans to move the state fair ground, it was pointed out that there is a major shortage of affordable housing in the city and a need for 55,000 houses or living spaces within the next decade. Both Governor Lujan Grisham and Speaker of the House Javier Martinez suggested that affordable housing could be placed on 236 acres of land. Proposing to commandeer a good portion of the Expo NM State Fair Property for affordable housing is as absurd as it gets. Affordable or low-income housing is not the highest and best use of any portion of the 236 acres of prime property for development in the center of Albuquerque. It would put a small dent in a projected 55,000 shortage of housing.

The Governor and the Speaker of the House should know the New Mexico Finance Authority (NMFA) is already taking major steps to address the need for more affordable housing over the next 10 years and accessing low-cost capital for home ownership in New Mexico cities and counties. The MFA administers hundreds of millions of dollars each year among 40 programs that range from homeless services to homeownership. It includes new housing, down payment assistance and home rehabilitation. At its May and June meetings last year, the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority Board of Directors approved a $50 million allocation, along with the $34.6 million in state fiscal year 2025 severance tax bond funding. The breakdown includes:

• $26.6 million to create more housing.
• $20 million for down payment assistance.
• $10 million to preserve existing affordable housing.
• $1 million to create stable housing environments.
• $27 million in reserve to use based on particular demands.

BUILDING A NEW MULTI PURPOSE ARENA

One major project that was being suggested in the RFP withdrawn that merits serious discussion is building a new arena  as part of the redevelopment of the existing  Expo New Mexico property. The new venue would be a modern arena that would have the capacity to support year-round large scale concerts and events. It would replace the existing Tingley Coliseum. Demolishing the 60-year-old Tingly Coliseum and building a multipurpose entertainment and sports facility with the capacity of upwards 20,000 has been a dream of many a Governor, State Fair Commissions and Fair Managers.

Tingley Coliseum was built in 1957 and has a capacity for 11,000. Over the years it’s been repeatedly  remodeled and upgraded. Tingley Coliseum in the past few months has had  $2 million worth of upgrades geared toward replacing old seats and fixing the electrical system. The work that began in November permanently removed the benches and outdated 80’s-era seats for new, wider ones. In the process, the coliseum lost roughly 700 of its total 10,000 seats, but officials plan to make up the loss with more standing-room availability.

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/tingley-coliseum-undergoes-renovations-as-governor-looks-to-possibly-move-state-fair-site/

The City of Albuquerque in particular for decades has needed a large capacity, multipurpose entertainment venue after demolition of the 30 year old Albuquerque Civic Auditorium in 1986. It was back on February 25, 2019 that it was reported that there is a need for such a facility and EXPO New Mexico was in the final stages of conducting a feasibility study on the construction of a new arena on the state fairgrounds. Absolutely nothing ever happened with the feasibility study and its likely collecting dust somewhere in the State Fair mangers office.

https://www.krqe.com/news/officials-want-to-build-new-arena-on-state-fairgrounds/

https://www.krqe.com/news/expo-new-mexico-looking-into-new-arena-to-replace-tingley-coliseum/

HIGHEST AND BEST USE OF PROPERTY IS EXPO NEW MEXICO

Elected officials and politicians need to keep their greedy little hands off  the State Fair grounds and abandon any effort to move it. The highest and best use of the 236 acres of property is the State Fair itself and keeping it as Expo New Mexico. Expo New Mexico can be revitalized into an Entertainment and Commercial Hub  that could revitalize the entire SE Heights and surrounding area with creation of all new commercial property areas leased by the State Fair for shops, restaurants, theaters and entertainment venues that would also be used for operations of the annual State Fair and during the State Fair itself. There would be no affordable housing and no other housing on the property.

The existing walls along San Pedro, Lomas and Louisiana should remain intact for security reasons but develop larger entrances. Efforts to revitalize adjoining neighborhoods would only be undertaken by private developers perhaps with state and city development and tax incentives. The City of Albuquerque must and can as it has in the past  take aggressive action to deal with nuisance properties that are magnets for crime in the immediate surrounding neighborhoods. The City of  Albuquerque needs to aggressively enforce its vagrancy laws to deal with  the homeless, including making arrests if need be and provide services to them designed to get them off the streets.

The Albuquerque Downs Racetrack and Casino, along with its stables, occupies upwards of half  of the state fairgrounds and it is not going anywhere anytime soon given that it has a 25 year lease with 12 years remaining and subject to renewal. Governor Lujan Grisham said this:

“There is a long term lease that is not expiring in the next two years, four or six.  So for now, I would expect that the racino stays for a large amount of time.” 

Prominent Albuquerque businessman Paul Blanchard is one of the owners of the Downs Race Track and Casino and there is no doubt he will try and have major say on what is to be developed on the remaining fairgrounds areas that may affect the casino or racetrack.  But the Fair Grounds is still state property that the state can develop as it sees fit. Perhaps its the racetrack and casino that needs to be moved to another location and county with a buyout, but not the Fair Grounds.

OTHER VENUES

Getting rid of the “midway” ride area on the South side and replacing it with year round entertainment venues and facilities is in order.  Demolishing existing, aging specialty exhibition halls, such as the Manuel Lujan building and livestock exhibition stables and replacing them with new, larger facilities with multi purpose usages likewise is in order. Removing the flea market and replacing it with a Farmers Market or a permanent arts and crafts shopping  area should be in the mix.

There are two major facilities that could be integral  parts of an Entertainment And Commercial District Hub: the Downs Race Track and Casino if they want to still be a part of the State Fair and the proposed new multipurpose arena.  Part of the redevelopment of the existing Expo New Mexico property would be the building of a new, modern arena to replace Tingly Coliseum that would support year round large scale concerts and events. It’s a capital improvement project that needs to go forward. With the continuing historical  state revenue surpluses, the building of a multipurpose state of the art arena to replace Tingly Coliseum would be an investment for future generations.

APPROVE THE TIDD

The Bernalillo County Commission should spend more time educating the public on the TIDD. They should consider having another meeting and deferring the March 11 vote to another date to approved it. The Bernalillo County Commission should demand that Governor Michelle Lujan abandoned any effort to relocate the New Mexico State Fair and EXPO New Mexico and make it a condition of approving the TIDD.

The Commission should enact the TIDD with strict irrevocable language that the financing can only be used for infra structure improvements at the existing EXPO New Mexico and that the funding under no circumstances from the TIDD would be used or diverted to  relocated State Fair grounds. Grounds for violation of the dedicated funding to the existing state fair would be grounds for claw backs and punitive damages and penalties.

__________________________________

POSTSCRIPT

Colleen Aycock Guest Opinion Column

The below guest opinion column was submitted for publication on www.PeteDinelli.com  by Colleen Aycock, a resident of Four Hills in SE Albuquerque. She is an organizer of “Women Taking Back Our Neighborhoods”. She has a Ph.D. in Rhetoric from the University of Southern California and has spent her professional life teaching writing at the college level, editing business magazines, and writing biographies for the U. S. Capitol, Statuary Hall. She serves on the Editorial Board for the International Boxing Research Organization (IBRO), has authored 5 books on boxing. She has been inducted into the New Mexico Boxing Hall of Fame. She has spent a lifetime in active civic volunteerism, having been president of Rotary Clubs in Texas and Maryland. She is currently president of P.E.O. Chapter AM, Albuquerque. Her email is cka13705@aol.com.

HEADLINE: Urgent Message To Save Expo New Mexico

Just because someone thinks the State Fair needs to be relocated (many don’t), we shouldn’t be throwing the BABY (Park & Expo) out with the BATHWATER (State Fair).

This is an urgent message sent to SAVE OUR PARK AND EXPO.

Do NOT sell it for another inner-city, high density project–we already have enough on Louisiana.

It appears that [elected officials and politicians] do not know or appreciate our history:

FACT:  Yes, SE ABQ is a hub of Cartels and Crime, Closed & Dilapidated Businesses (sometimes both in the same–witness the prosecution of the Central Serial Rapist who used the decades-old empty Franklin Plaza for his dirty deeds as witnessed in Dist. Court Records, Dec. 2023 – try googling the story) 

Note: the Rapist did NOT rape his victims on the Fair Grounds at Expo. Fix the problem on Central–the EXPO is Neither the Problem Nor the Solution!

FACT: First Expo in 1881 (before statehood) – the New Mexico, Agricultural, Mineral, and Industrial Exposition (where the title Expo came from)

 Next One: March 14-16, 2025, the annual “Gem, Mineral Jewelry Expo” advertised throughout the U.S. at the EXPO Center New Mexico (state Fair Grounds) see http://www.agmc.info, is advertised across the state, and is one of the largest in the SW.

Note: This is only ONE SHOW that draws hundreds/thousands of visitors to ABQ. There are over 200 other events – events other than the State Fair. (from lace-making, to antiques, fine arts, monster trucks, low riders, health, home, garden, dogs, ponies, folk festivals, native American arts, chile fests, music events, horse races and permanent art collections that keeps our population and tourists putting money into our local economy)

FACT: Between Louisiana and San Pedro, along Central is 2-3 miles of walking space through grassy lawns, old growth oak trees, by historic replicas, buildings, public art, and sculpture. We need Visitor Interpretive Signs for this history; not more high-density apartments.

Note:  Like N.Y.’s Central Park; ABQ’s Central Park is the Historic EXPO

Citizens NEED open space for solitude, exercise, learning, and recreation. Not more inner-city.

 FACT:  Tingley Coliseum was built for rodeos and inaugurated by Roy Rogers and Dale Evans in 1957.

 Note: We should better use this property to appeal to our Cowboy and Movie history for tourists and city-wide education.  Make it the biggest Cowboy attraction in the Southwest — 

 FACT: The Palomino Barns were the first structures built in 1938 out of adobe. How ’bout a historic interpretive sign of the Lujan Complex?

 Note:  Does anyone know about Leon Harms who advocated for the Youth of our State opening a private dormitory and dining area for kids who traveled from distant farms to exhibit their animals? According to one source, he held the general manager’s position for 30 years, advocating for our YOUTH.

FACT: the Alice K. Hoppes African American Pavilion, 

Note: How about a monument to our African-American history.

FACT: The Weekend Flea Market: 25 acres where more than 1300 vendors and local food marketeers sell their wares: SMALL BUSINESS at its weekly finest, including Native American Jewelry, locally grown food products, and one-truck estate sales. 

Note:  Don’t these Small Business entrepreneurs, including Girl Scout and High School Student sales count? Aren’t these home-grown, home-trained, secure business experiences better than anything our legislators can suggest on the same land?

 Please inform your ABQ friends at what our city and legislators are trying to do in the next few weeks:  Steal our Historic Park and Expo. 

Once we lose it, it is gone forever. 

  A one-line note to your city, county, or state leader is enough.  Don’t wait until you have no SAY in the matter,

Sincerely,

Colleen Aycock

Woman Taking Back Our Neighborhoods

The link to a related article is here:

Gov. MLG Seeks To Relocate Expo NM; Request For Proposal Issued For Master Plan To Create Mixed Use Development Using 236 Acre State Fair Location For Economic Development, Entertainment Venues And Affordable Housing; New Arena To Replace Tingly Coliseum Proposed; No New Location Identified For Expo New Mexico

The City of Albuquerque’s municipal election for Mayor will be held on November 4, 2025.  The city’s Municipal election for Mayor officially starts on March 3 which is the beginning of the “Exploratory Period” for Mayor  with the “Exploratory Period”  ending on April 18, 2025.  The Exploratory Period is followed by the qualifying nominating signature period which begins April 19 and qualifying donations period for public financing which also begins April 19.

Thus far, there are 4 known candidates for Mayor, with 3 making it known they are running, but only 1 thus far having filed with the city clerk. There are 3 that are said to be toying with the idea and 3 that are said to have thought about it but have decided not to run. The bottom line is more candidates need to run because the city is in need of a new Mayor to move it forward.

KNOWN CANDIDATES FOR MAYOR

Following are the four known candidates for Mayor:

MAYOR TIM KELLER

In a year end “Eye On New Mexico” program aired on  KOB -TV,  registered Democrat Mayor Tim Keller made it known that in 2025 he will be seeking a third 4-year term as Mayor. He was first elected Mayor in 2017.  Keller said this in his interview with Channel 4:

“Yea, it’s no surprise, I think two years ago I said I will be asking voters for more time and it’s to finish these big issues we are finally seeing traction to move forward. Whether it’s the [Albuquerque] Community Safety Department, police reform – even the crime numbers finally going down – the Gateway Center, the stadium, all of that I want to see through and I need a couple more years to do it.”

Keller has said he will formally announce his re-electiion bid in March. If he were reelected this fall, Keller would become the first mayor to win three consecutive terms and the second mayor to win three terms. Mayor Martin Chavez won three terms and served from 1993-1997 and then from  2001-2009

COMMENTARY: Keller’s interview comments about needing another four years merit a response. Keller made no mention of the largest bribery and conspiracy corruption scandal in APD’s history in that charges emerged in January, 2025. Mayor Keller and his APD Chief have never taken any responsibility for their failure to detect the APD corruption the entire 7 years they have managed APD. After 7 years under Keller, the Department of Justice is still here after he promised to  get all the reforms done in his first four year term. The crime numbers have only gone down a fraction to what they were before and violent crime is still at historical highs with APD number one in the country for civilian killings. The soccer stadium will only happen because the owner had to get it done after Keller haplessly tried to get the public to vote and pay  for it and voters  turned Keller down. Keller has spent over $400 million on his 5 Gateway Shelters for the homeless, yet the homeless crisis only gets worse.

RADIO TALK SHOW HOST EDDY ARAGON

Registered Republican Eddy Aragon is the CEO of ‘The Rock of Talk’ at ABQ.FM/AM 1600 KIVA. He is a conservative radio talk show host known for his fire brand and confrontational interviews and is a staunch Trump supporter. Aragon has absolutely zero knowledge of city hall and in essence will be a “mini” Trump and wreak havoc on municipal government if elected.  Aragon ran for Mayor in 2021 against Democrat Mayor Tim Keller and former Democrat Bernalillo County Sherriff Manny Gonzales. Mayor Keller won by a landslide to reelection with 56% of the vote.  Former Sherriff Gonzales came in second with 25.6% of the vote and Aragon came  in third with 18.4% of the vote. Aragon said that he only got 18% of the vote because he entered the race so late and wasn’t taken seriously by the media. Aragon said this:

“I brought a lot of energy [to the race in 2021]. There were lines out the door! I believe that I got way more than 20%.”

COMMENTARY: It so typical of Aragon saying he got more than 20% and being an election denier and denying the cold reality of his final vote. The only lines Aragon brought to the door four years ago when he ran were the lines of nasty  political rhetoric he espoused during the race. Aragon said his vision for the city is the same as it was in 2021 and it’s a blind man’s vision. Like Keller, Eddie Aragon is planning to file in March.

RETIRED FIREFIGHTER EDDIE VARELA

Republican Eddie Varela  is  a 72-year-old retired firefighter who served as a Deputy Chief and union president. He told the Albuquerque Journal he is running for Mayor. Varela said this:

“I was born and raised here. It’s been good to me, and I remember the days when it was a beautiful city, and I think we can do that again.”

COMMENTARY: Albuquerque is still very much a beautiful city and looking to the past is not much of a platform for future change. Ostensibly, at age 72, Varela has been retired for a number of years. The Fire Department has no doubt changed considerably. Varela makes no mention of what he has done since his retirement from the city  as far as continued employment  nor managerial experience that makes him qualified to head up an organization of over 5,000 employees with a $1.2  Billion dollar budget.

Like Keller and Aragon, Varela has yet to file.

FORMER SANDOVAL COUNTY DEPUTY MANAGER MAYLING ARMIJO

On February 4, registered Democrat Mayling Armijo formally announced that she is running for Mayor. She is an Albuquerque native. Armijo is a veteran who has worked as the Economic Development Director for Bernalillo County and the Deputy County Manager for Sandoval County. She also has experience with the New Mexico Economic Development Department.  Armijo is now the executive director of a nonprofit business lending organization.  If elected, she would become the first female mayor of the city.  Armijo said this about her candidacy:

“I’m not a politician. I want the job. I want to fix this, I want to do this. I’m very passionate about the city. … Moving away is not an option. Fixing it is.  … Like many of us have noticed, crime in this city has just been increasing and increasing, year over year, and I want to be part of the solution and I want to fix crime and I want this city to be a place where we fill safe and welcome… I just didn’t see anybody else jumping in and I knew that we couldn’t do another four years of this current administration…I’m gonna throw myself out there.”

COMMENTARY: A politician saying they are not a politician is so being a politician to ingratiate oneself to win votes. The fact that Mayling Armijo is running for Mayor makes her a politician despite her saying otherwise. She is not seeking public finance and therefore will be looking to large donors who she will likely become indebted to which is typical of a politician. She may want to fix crime but has no background in law enforcement which will make fixing crime extremely difficult for her.  For being a self-professed non politician, it appears she will be relying on a measured finance committee to raise enough money to promote her which is as politician as it gets.

Measure Finance Committees register with the City Clerk to support or oppose a candidate or ballot measure and can raise and spend unlimited amounts of donations so long as they do not coordinate their efforts with candidates. Safer Albuquerque Committee (Safer ABQ) thus far is the only Measured Finance Committee registered with the City Clerk.  Its stated purpose is “To advocate for Mayling Armijo’s candidacy for mayor during the Albuquerque 2025 mayoral race and align with values that reduce crime, reduce homelessness, and promote job growth.”

Mayling Armijo thus far is the only announced candidate who has registered with the City Clerk.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2025-candidates-and-committees-1

MAYOR CANDIDATES BEING MENTIONED

Confidential sources have confirmed that at least 3 other candidates are considering running for Mayor and are being mentioned as possible candidates. Each has their own personal history that will likely make them unelectable. The fact they are not official candidates as of yet dictates that their past not be discussed. The three are:

1. Former Republican two term Bernalillo County Sherriff and New Mexico Homeland Security Cabinet Secretary Darren White. This is not the first time White has toyed with running for Mayor.
2. Democrat Jeff Apodaca, the son of former Jerry Apodaca, who ran for the Democratic nomination for Governor.
3. Doug Peterson, President and CEO of Peterson Properties.  Doug Peterson has emerged on social media as a major critic of Mayor Tim Keller advocating Keller’s removal spurring speculation that he is running.

NOT RUNNNING FOR MAYOR

Confidential sources have said three other possible candidates have been mentioned as considering running for Mayor but have since decided not to run. Those individuals  are:

1. Former Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover was privately making it known she was running for Mayor but ultimately decided not to run and she  is now openly endorsing Mayling Armijo for Mayor. She was appointed Bernalillo County Deputy Treasurer by Treasurer Tim Eichenberg, but her appointment is now being challenged by the Bernalillo County Commission as a violation of county policy that former elected officials must wait a full year before working for the county again.
2. Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis, who ran and lost to Keller in a landslide run off 8 years ago had initially said he was going to run but has disclosed to the Albuquerque Journal he is not running. There is no word if Lewis will be running for another term on the City Council.
3. Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman was disclosing privately to sources he intended to run for Mayor but has since changed his mind and is looking at running for Governor in 2026 against former Biden Secretary of the interior  Department Debra Haaland who has already announced she is running for Governor in 2026.

The links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_5b5699cc-e4e9-11ef-9490-57872167a28e.html#tncms-source=home-featured-7-block

https://www.koat.com/article/abq-mayor-tim-keller-i-am-planning-on-another-term-koat-albuquerque-public-safety/62010718

https://www.kob.com/news/top-news/albuquerque-mayoral-race-begins-to-take-shape/

https://citydesk.org/2025/former-county-economic-development-manager-first-to-announce-run-for-mayor/

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Given the 3 other known candidates running, Mayor Tim Keller is heavily favored for election to a unprecedented third consecutive 4 year term. The other 3 candidates being mentioned are considered long shots with limited or no experience in city hall government. They will likely have difficulty either gathering the required nominating petition signatures and/or the $5 qualifying donations for public finance if they go the public finance route.

KELLER’S LOW APPROVAL NUMBERS  

Keller is heavily favored over the other 3 known candidates despite Keller having a disapproval rating of 40% and an approval rating of 33% as found by an Albuquerque Journal poll. The City’s Citizens Satisfaction survey released in August last year found that 63% of city residents reported do not feel the city is going in the right direction with only 31% say they are hopeful about the direction the city is going.  The same survey found 61% “disagree” and 35% “agree” that “the Albuquerque City Government is responsive to our community needs.” The Citizens Satisfaction survey found that 60% of the city residents “disagree” and 35% “agree” that the APD is doing a good job addressing property crime. The survey also found that 56% of city residents “disagree” and 39% “agree” that APD is doing a good job of addressing violent crime.

KELLER’S RECORD AS MAYOR HAS BEEN A FAILURE

Keller’s record as Mayor during his two terms has been a major failure if not an outright disaster when it comes to city management, policy and addressing the city’s complex problems. He is known for his daily press conferences and his public relations and self-promotion antics.

Seven years ago when Keller first ran and became Mayor, he proclaimed violent crime was out of control, that he could get it down  and that he would increase APD sworn from the then 850 to 1,200. Violent crime continues to spike and is out of control seven years later with APD currently at 750 sworn officers. The city’s ongoing homicide and violent crime rates continue to be at historical highs and people simply do not feel safe in their homes as the fentanyl crisis surges.

Mayor Keller and Chief Harold Medina have seriously mismanaged the ongoing train wreck known as the Albuquerque Police Department with the department still dangerously understaffed  at about 750 to 800 cops despite  seven years of  increased budgets, salary increases and lucrative bonus pay. This coming from the Mayor who promised 1,200 cops during his first term. During a recent APD Academy graduation, Keller promised 1,000 cops by the end of the year which is not at all likely given expected retirements. Then there is the largest bribery and corruption case in APD’s history involving the dismissal of DWI cases for bribes  that both Keller and Chief Medina have failed to take any responsibility for what happened under their watch as they deflect and blame others. They both have blamed the Court’s, the DAs Office and the Public Defenders for the DWI dismissals.

Keller has also refused to hold Chief Medina accountable for a vehicle crash where Medina negligently plowed into another driver putting the driver in the hospital in critical condition. Medina admitted to violating state law when he failed to have his body camera on during an incident that preceded the crash. After the crash, Keller called Medina “arguably the most important person right now in these times in our city.” Medina’s appointed crash review board declared the crash as “non avoidable” even after Medina admitted to causing the crash.  Medina was given a slap on the wrist with letters of reprimand. The City and Medina have been sued by the other driver and the case is still pending and will likely result in a significant judgement being paid for Medina’s negligent driving and his running of a red light. Medina claims he will retire in December and Keller claims he will find a new Chief, but don’t believe them. They are too much tied to the hip.

Keller has spent over $400 million in the last 4 years on homeless shelters, programs, and the city purchasing and remodeling motels for low income housing. The recent annual Point In Time  homeless survey count found an 18% increase in  the homeless with upwards of 3,000 chronic homeless. It was reported 75% refuse city services. Despite Keller’s spending efforts to assist the unhoused, the city’s homeless numbers continue to spike as the crisis worsens and the unhoused refuse services.

The $400 million spent to help 3,000 to 5,000 homeless with 75% refusing services  would have gone a  long way to finance community centers, senior citizen centers, police and fire substations, preschool or after school programs, senior citizen programs, and police and fire programs.  Keller has allowed the unhoused to proliferate city streets, parks and open space declining to aggressively enforce city and state vagrant laws and make arrests. Keller allowed Corando Park to become the city’s de facto city sanction homeless encampment before he declared it to be the most dangerous place in the state forgetting it was he who  sanctioned it and then he was forced to close it down  because of out-of-control violent crime and illicit drug use.

Keller’s “ABQ Housing Forward Plan” to increase affordable housing was nothing more than a politcal rues relying on the city’s housing shortage. His original announced goal was for the city to have 5,000 additional affordable housing units to be added to the market by 2025 but fell short by 3,000. Keller pushed mandating “safe outdoor spaces” approved exclusively by the planning department  for the unhoused in all 9 city council districts over objections of neighborhoods. Keller wanted to double or triple the city’s density by allowing casitas and duplex development in existing neighborhoods by eliminating the rights of appeal by objecting to neighborhood associations and adjoining property owners.

Keller’s “Housing Forward Plan” makes gentrification an official city policy that caters to developers and the NAIOP crowd at the expense of neighborhoods and property rights. It will not increase affordable housing. It will allow developers and investors to destroy existing neighborhoods for the sake of making a development buck and increasing density in established neighborhoods and destroying their original character.

Keller also supports recent amendment to the city’s zoning laws know as the Integrated Development Ordinance. Those changes reduce or totally eliminate Neighborhood Associations and adjoining property owners rights of standing to appeal developments. In the limited instances where they can appeal a development and they lose the appeal, the changes require them to pay the attorneys fees of the defending developer when before both sides would assume their own attorney fees and costs.

KELLER’S CHARMED POLITICAL CAREER    

Keller continues to have a charmed political career as he seeks a third term with very weak opponents who likely will not be able to mount an effective campaign against him. He has never lost an election and has won all of his elections by a landslide. To complicate matters for Keller’s opponents, Mayor Keller has a built-in advantage called the power of incumbency  with an existing campaign organization consisting of his 27 high paid Department Directors who he pays upwards of $150,000 or more that do not want to lose their jobs, the ability to raise large sums of campaign cash as he did as State Auditor, and  a campaign manager who resorts to questionable slash and burn tactics to disparage opposition and win at any and all costs.

Keller will easily qualify for public financing of $755,946  as he has done before and then have measured finance committees raise an equivalent amount or more as he has done in his past two runs for Mayor.  Keller also has a strangle hold on progressive Democrats who prefer to look the other way when it comes to his mismanagement of city hall and his and Chief Medina’s mismanagement of APD as Keller and Medina refuse to take any responsibility for what has happened under their tenure.

It’s more likely than not that the 2025 municipal election for Mayor will once again be a very low voter turnout for Mayor with less than 20% of those eligible to vote voting, again something that favors incumbents.

FINAL COMMENTARY

Simply put, Albuquerque needs a new Mayor. Eight  years of Tim Keller as Mayor has been more than enough. Voters can and must do better. The City will do better with a new Mayor but that will happen only if other more qualified candidates who can mount a successful campaign are recruited to run. The business community, civic organizations, neighborhood associations and concerned citizens in general  should go out of their way do what they can to recruit qualified candidates to run. Otherwise, we will have another 4 years of disastrous policies, and we will only have ourselves to blame.

The postscript to this article gives a synopsis of what is needed to run for Mayor. With any luck there will be more candidates recruited to run who can win.

______________________________

The following is what is required to qualify and run for Mayor with links to City Clerks web pages:

QUALIFYING TIME PERIODS

The Exploratory Period for Mayor begins on March 3, 2025 and ends on April 19, 2025.

March 3 is the first day of the “Public Financing Exploratory Period” for Mayoral Candidates. The  Exploratory Period begins on March 3 and ends on April 18. March 3 is also the first day or Mayoral Candidates to submit Declaration of Intent to seek public financing.  

The Seed Money Period for candidates for Mayor, or the time to begin collecting exploratory contributions, to collect at least  is from March 3, 2025 to April 18, 2025.

In order to File the Declaration of Intent, the applicant candidate for public finance must schedule an appointment with the City Clerk at least one day prior to filing. The Clerk will review the public finance process with the applicant candidate and provide the Declaration of Intent for public financing.

The Qualifying Period for candidates for Mayor to collect 3,780 qualifying donations of $5.00 from Albuquerque registered voters  for public financing is from April 19, 2025 to June 21, 2025.

The Petition Period for candidates for Mayor to collect 3,000 or more signatures from Albuquerque registered voters is from April 19, 2025 to June 21, 2025.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/candidate-calendar-for-the-2025-regular-local-election

SEED MONEY CONTRIBUTION LIMITS

From March 3, to June 21, candidates for Mayor are allowed to collect seed money contributions of $250 per person for an aggregate of $151,189.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

QUALIFYING PERIOD SIGNATURES AND QUALIFYING DONATIONS

The qualifying period for candidates for Mayor who are both publicly and privately finance candidates  to collect qualifying petition signatures is from April 19, at 8:00am to June 21, 2025 at 5:00pm.

The qualifying period for candidates for Mayor who are publicly financed candidates to collect  3,780 qualifying donations of  $5.00 each and to receive $755,946 in public finance from the city  is  from April 19, at 8:00am – June 21, 2025, at 5:00pm.

Privately financed candidates can commence collecting donations on April 19 and do so up an until election day of November 5.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

QUALIFYING PETITION SIGNATURES

Candidates for Mayor must gather more than 3,000 signatures from registered voters only who reside within the Albuquerque City limits. Petions are given to candidates and the qualifying signatures can only be collected from April 19, 2025, at 8:00am – June 21, 2025, at 5:00pm to qualify to be placed on the November 4 ballot.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

PUBLIC FINANCED CANDIDATE

Candidates for Mayor who seek public financing must collect Qualifying Contributions of $5.00 each from 1% of the registered voters which in 2025 is 3,780 qualifying donations of $5.00 each. Upon collecting the 3,780 verified qualifying $5.00 donations, the qualifying candidate will be given $755,946.00 by the city in public financing. A candidate who qualifies for the public financing must agree in writing to a spending cap of $755,946 and failure to adhere to the spending cap mandates a full refund and removal from office if elected.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

NO FUNDRAISING OR SPENDING LIMITS FOR PRIVATELY FINANCE CANDATES

Unlike publicly financed candidates, who may only spend the funds given to them  by the City and agreeing to a spending cap, privately financed candidates have no fundraising or spending limits. There are, however, limits on individual contributions. Specifically, Article XIII, Section 4(d) limits the total contributions, including in-kind contributions, from any one person (with the exception of the candidate himself or herself).

The following limits per individual or corporation or entity are  in effect:

“Limits to Contributions. No privately financed candidate shall, for any one election, allow total contributions, including in-kind contributions, from any one person with the exception of contributions from the candidate themselves of more $6,000 for Mayoral Candidates.”

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

IN-KIND CONTRIBUTION LIMITS

Candidates for Mayor can accept individual in-kind contributions of up to $2,500 for a total aggregate of $75, 594.60.

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/publicly-financed-candidates

The link to a related article is here:

Mayor Tim Keller Makes It Known Running For A Third 4 Year Term; Keller Still Favored For Re-Election Despite Sinking Approval Ratings And Poor Job Performance; Expect Opposition