The City of Albuquerque municipal election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2. On the ballot will be the office for Mayor, the 5 odd numbered City Council Districts 1,3,5,7, and 9 seats and a voter bond approval request for $50 million dollars to build a soccer stadium.

As of October 11, along with the 3 candidates for Mayor , there were 13 Measured Finance Committees (MFCs) that filed their 7th Financial fundraising reports covering the reporting period of September 7 to October 4 reporting what they have raised, listing donors and expenditures. The 13 Measured Finance Committees are:

2021 Albuquerque Sierra Club, MFC
“Save Our City” organized to raise money and to promote Sherriff Manny Gonzales
“Retired Law Enforcement for a Better Albuquerque”
“Build Back ‘Burque” is raising money to promote and spend money on behalf of Mayor Tim Keller.
“Abq Firepac” promoting the local fire fighter union interests.
“Albuquerque Ahead” to promote Republican party City Council Candidates
“No Corporate Council” to promote progressive Democrat party City Council Candidates.
“ABQ Workers First” to promote organized labor interests and candidates.
“New Mexico United For All” to promote the $50 million soccer stadium bond issue.
MFC formed by the New Mexico American Civil Liberties Union.
MFC formed by “Planned Parenthood” of New Mexico.
MFC formed by a progressive neighborhood group called “Indivisible Nob Hill”.
MFC called “Healthy Economies Lead to Progress” with the stated purpose as “Independent Expenditure”.

This blog article reports on the funds raised and spent by the MFC’s, the 3 candidates for Mayor and an analysis of what can be expected over the remaining few weeks of the election.

SEVENTH CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORTS FILED

1. 2021 ALBUQUERQUE SIERRA CLUB MFC

Purpose: SUPPORT THE ELECTION OF MAYORAL AND CITY

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $-0-
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $5,200
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $5,200

Editor’s Analysis: Ray Shortridge is listed as the Treasurer and Richard D. Barish is listed as the Chairperson. It is well know that the Sierra Club the most enduring and influential grassroots environmental organization in the United States and is a highly progressive organization. There was only one donation in the amount of $5,200 from the Rio Grande Sierra Club with purpose of the donation to go to support Mayor Tim Keller and city Council candidates Tammy Fiebelkorn, Lan Sena, Rob Grilley, Jr and Cynthia Borrego. Its not clear from review on how the meager amount will be spent to help the 4 candidates for city council.

2. ABQ FIREPAC

PURPOSE: Support candidates who support public safety & fire fighter issues.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $800
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD $-0-
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $800.00

MAJOR DONORS: ABQ Area PAC Local $1,000.00
MAJOR EXPENDITURE: $350 paid to “Just Yard Signs” (Reported in 6th report.)

Editor’s Analysis: This is the local firefighters MFC. In the past, the firefighter’s union has expended significant amounts of money supporting Mayor and City Council candidates and have been very involved with the campaigns providing volunteers and spending thousands on TV commercials produced on their own. The local firefighter’s union has significantly pared down their involvement in this year’s Mayor and City Council races to the point of only distributing yard signs in support of candidates.

3. ABQ WORKERS FIRST

PURPOSE:To advocate for or against candidates running for mayor and city council.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $30,000
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $27,525
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $57,525

MAJOR DONORS:

New Mexico Federation of Labor ( $30,000, as reported in 6th report)
Central New Mexico Labor Council ($5,000)
IBEW PAC (Electrician’s Union, $5,000)
Sheetmetal Workers (5,000)
New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council ($10,000)
Teamsters Local Union ($2,500)

Editor’s Analysis: It is clear from the various large donations organized labor in the city have decided to go it alone with raising and spending donations. All 6 of the listed labor union organizations are known to make donations to other measured finance committees or individual candidate campaigns. ABQ WORKERS FIRST fundraising will be used to support Mayor Tim Keller and to defeat Manny Gonzales and Eddy Aragon and to Albuquerque City Council candidates Dan Lewis, Renee Grout and Louie Sanchez. $57,525 can go along ways in buying media time to air commercials and as the Mayor’s race heats up, expect it to be spent on helping Mayor Tim Keller.

An interesting side note is that the $57,525 raised by ABQ Workers would likely have more of an impact on city council raises because of public finance. Dan Lewis, Renee Grout and Louie Sanchez have all qualified for public finance, as have their opponents, and have been given varying amounts in public financing based upon the population of their city council district. The $57,525 raised is considerably more than what individual city council candidates have been given. In District 1, both Louie Sanchez and incumbent Democrat Lan Sena have been given $41,027 in public finance. In District 5, both Republican Dan Lewis and Democrat incumbent Cynthia Borrgego have been given $50,489 in public finance. In District 9, Republican Renee Grout and Rob Grilly Jr. have been given $41,791 in public finance.

4. ALBUQUERQUE AHEAD (City Council MFC)

PURPOSE: To support those candidates for city council who will move Albuquerque ahead and oppose those who will not.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $14,223.47
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $10,520
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $17, 152
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $7,591

Editors Analysis: This is a measured finance committee established by the Bernalillo County Republican Party to promote 2 Republican candidates for City Council. The 5th finance report filed by Albuquerque Ahead reflects that on July 7, 2021, the Bernalillo County Republican Party donated $9,000 to this MFC. The two Republican candidates being supported are former Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis who is running in District 5 against incumbent Democrat Cynthia Borrego. Republican Renee Grout is running for the City Council District 9 seat being vacated by long time serving, unknown, ineffective and unaccomplished Republican Don Harris. The one major expenditure of $5,184.00 is to Majority Strategies, a Republican leaning political consulting firm.

Albuquerque Ahead raised $10,250 in the reporting period to support of Dan Lewis and Renee Grout, including $2,000 from Arizona-based GDC and from James Baird and Karen Espinosa, each donating $1,000.

Republican Dan Lewis has qualified for public finance and has been given $50,489 and Republican Renee Grout has qualified for public finance and been given $41,791 in public finance.

5. AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION, INC NEW MEXICO VOTES

PURPOSE: To educate New Mexico voters about the upcoming Albuquerque mayoral race and the various civil liberties issues at stake.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: -$0-
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $100,000
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -.01-
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $99,999.99

Editors Analysis: Normally, you do not see the American Civil Liberties union get involved in local elections. During the past few years, the ACLU has initiated at least 3 lawsuits against the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office for excessive use of force and racial profiling regarding African Americans. According to the 7th Finance Report, the ACLU states it “OPPOSES MANUEL GONZALES III and it “OPPOSES EDDY ARAGON” .

Note that the ACLU has yet to spend money on the race but $100,000 spent over the remaining few weeks can buy a lot of air time to run negative ads on Gonzales and Aragon to support Keller. Given the fact that Gonzales is more of a threat to Keller, and his history with litigation, expect the $100,000 to go to run negative ads on Gonzales.

6. BUILD BACK ‘BURQUE

PURPOSE: Support Mayor Tim Keller’s re-election to a second term for the City of Albuquerque

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $51,770.44
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $60,847
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $23,591.33
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $89,026

Build Back ‘Burque raised $60,847 last month and has $89,026 available going forward.

Editors Analysis:

The Chairperson for “Build Back ‘Burque” is Michelle Mayorga. According to the American Association of Political Consultants “Michelle Mayorga has spent nearly 2 decades working on campaigns, progressive issues, and in local and national administrations. She previously served as Western Field Director at the AFL-CIO, Western Political Director at the DCCC, and Coordinated Director for the Democratic Party of New Mexico in 2012.” The Treasurer for “Build Back ‘Burque” is Robert Lara. Mr. Lara is a licensed New Mexico attorney and is the former State Treasurer of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.

Major donors listed to the Keller MFC “Build Back ‘Burque” in the 7th finance report include:

$5,000 DONORS

New Mexico Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO
LOBO Pac
Jim Long (Hotel Owner)
Ted Martinez

$3,000 DONORS

110 Sunport LLC

$2,500 DONORS

Albuquerque Teachers Federation
James Griffin
Imesh Vaidya
Tabas Bhakta
Amish Bhakta
Kal Bhakta ($2,000)

OTHER NOTEABLE DONATIONS

NEW MEXICO DEALER SUPPORT SERVICES, INC; $1,500
Former District Court Judge Ann Kass: $1,000
Timothy Aison-Hatch: $750
NM State Senator Bill O’Niel: $500
People for Mimi Stewart: $500
Joseph Spiegel: $500
Rhonda Gilland: $500
NM Representative Gail Chasey: $250

Major expenditures for “Build Back ‘Burque” was $20,000 to Colorado-based The Majority Institute on campaign consulting.

The largest notable donors to the Keller MFC “Build Back ‘Burque” in the last 6th finance report include Ace Metals and Kimberly Rael, the wife of current City Chief Operating Officer (COO) Lawrence Rael, who each gave $5,000. The PAC spent the most money this period.

Although $89,026 is available going forward and is a good amount of money the total amount raised is well below the donations that were expected to be made to help Mayor Tim Keller. Four years ago Keller was the only candidate to qualify for $340,000 in public fiancé and a measured fiancé committee then raised upwards of $660,000 to spend and promote Keller. Additionally, “Build Back ‘Burque” is headed up by 2 seasoned political fund raisers. The total amount raised is well below expectations of many political observers. The low amount raised by Build Back Burque to promote Tim Keller is a clear indication that he does not command same level of enthusiasm for people to donate to get him elected that he had 4 years ago. On the other hand, Sheriff Manny Gonzales himself having raised over $330,000 in a few weeks as well as the 2 measured finance committees supporting him raising a combined $100,000 have far exceeded expectations.

7. HEALTHY ECONOMIES LEAD TO PROGRESS

PURPOSE: Independent Expenditure

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: -$0-
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $49,639.22
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $49,639.22

The Chairperson is identified as SIMON (SCOOTER) T. HAYNES and the Treasurer is identified as JULIA L MACCINI. Both Simon T. “Scooter” Haynes and Julia Maccini are conservative Republicans who ran and lost in June, 2021 for the Board of the Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District (MRGCD). Haynes is a developer who owns a real estate and construction business based in Albuquerque. Julia L Maccini is believed to be an attorney and believed to be the Development Coordinator at SCM Partners, LLC a limited liability corporation.

According to the 7th campaign finance report, major donors and amounts to HEALTHY ECONOMIES LEAD TO PROGRESS are:

NEW MEXICO RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION (Carol Wight): $20,000
COMMERCIAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS NM: $18,639.22
JOHNSON COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE, LLC: $4,000
ABRAZO HOMES, LLC: $2,500
JEAN F BERNSTEIN: $1,000
DAVE HILL INC: $1,000
BRUCE J STIDWORTHY: $1,000
WILLIAM T ROBERTSON: $1,000

Editor’s Analysis: According to the 7th Financial Report, the purpose of the donations made, depending on the donor, are to support City Council candidates in District 1 LOUIE SANCHEZ, running against incumbent Democrat City Councilor Lan Sena, District 5 candidate Republican DAN LEWIS running against Democrat incumbent City Councilor Cynthia Borrego, and District 9 Republican candidate RENEE GROUT running against Democrats Rob Grilley Jr and Byron Powdrell. LORI LEE ROBERTSON is reported as also being supported by the donations, but she is not identified as being a candidate on the city clerk’s web page.

As noted above, Republican Dan Lewis has qualified for public finance and has been given $50,489, Republican Renee Grout has qualified for public finance and been given $41,791 in public finance and Louie Sanchez has been given $41,027 in public finance.

8. INDIVISIBLE NOB HILL

PURPOSE: Support and or oppose city council, school board and mayoral candidates

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT -$0-
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $2,176.17
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $2,129.55
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $46.62

Major donors and amounts:

RAYELLEN SMITH: $755 ($505 and $250)
CORNELIA LANGE: $500
PAUL SZAUTER: $200.00

Major expenses listed:

LAMAR ADVERTISING SOUTHWEST INC: $2,000.00

Editor’s Analysis: The Indivisible Nob Hill is a very well organized and respected progressive organization that has emerged over the last few years as being very much involved with local community issues. It has a well-read FACEBOOK page “Indivisible Nob Hill – Rants and Discussion Forum” that recently has begun posting “Crooks for Manny” along with photographs of well know mobsters, such as Al Capone, John Gotti, mafia hitman Whitey Bulgar and Carlo Gambino to mention a few. The phrase “I’m a crook, and I’m for Manny!” is next to the gangster photos along with a photo of Sherriff Manny Gonzales. Nasty but effective.

9. NEW MEXICO UNITED FOR ALL

PURPOSE: Support bond issue

Designated Chairperson: David M Carl
Designated Treasurer: Desiree Kim

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $35,000
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $525,000
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $422,664
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $137,335

MAJOR DONOR: New Mexico United total donation of $525,000

MAJOR IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS: New Mexico United Total In Kind donation of $17,600

Editor’s Analysis:

This measured finance committee changed its name to “New Mexico United for All”. This measured finance committee has been formed to raise donations to promote the $50 Million bond issue for a multipurpose sports stadium with the New Mexico United Professional Soccer team to be the primary tenant of the city owned facility.

Note the measured finance committee MFC is funded exclusively by New Mexico United, the professional soccer team that will become the proposed stadium’s anchor tenant. During the last month, United donated $525,000 and has spent $422,665.

According to the 7th finance report, the MFC spent $336,813 on television production and media buys with Pennsylvania-based Win Company and spent $33,780 on direct mail and $28,900 on polling.

It has been reported that according to terms of a “letter of intent to lease”, New Mexico United would contribute $10 million to help construct the proposed multiuse soccer stadium and pay $800,000 annually in base rent to be the venue’s primary tenant. The team would also have to pay the city another $100,000 per year but otherwise get to keep all revenue generated by the stadium outside of specific city-organized events. Voter approval is not technically required for this type of bond and is backed by the city’s gross receipts tax revenue. However, Mayor Tim Keller, a big promoter of the stadium, has said he would not pursue the stadium if the bond fails.

https://www.abqjournal.com/2432115/united-outlines-planned-stadium-investment.html

10. NO CORPORATE COUNCIL MFC

PURPOSE: To support progressive candidates for mayor and city council.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT -$0-
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: – $0-
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-

There have been no major donors nor expenditures reported and this measured finance committee at this point is a no starter and will likely not play any role in the election.

Editor’s Analysis: The name of this MFC tips the public off to the intent and purpose of this MFC in that it is a takeoff of the popular slogan “No Corporate Democrats”, a slogan used by progressive democrats to defeat conservative Democrats in primaries. The chair person of No Corporate Council MFC is listed as Melanie Aranda and the Treasurer is listed as Michaela Gallegos who has a “Working Families Party” email address and is believed to work for New Mexico Political Reports. Melanie Aranda is the Chief Operating Officer and Founding Member of the Center for Civic Policy (CCP), a progressive political strategy group, and the Co-Director of the NM Civic Engagement Table. Michaela Gallegos is believed to work for New Mexico Political Reports. The “No Corporate Council” MFC was likely formed to offset the fund-raising activities and efforts of Albuquerque Ahead, the City Council MFC organized and raising donations for Republican City Council candidates Dan Lewis and Renee Grout.

https://civicpolicy.com/staff/

11. PLANNED PARENTHOOD VOTES ALBUQUERQUE

Purpose: Support candidates that support women’s reproductive healthcare and oppose those that don’t.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT -$0-
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: – $0-
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-

There have been no major donors nor expenditures reported and this measured finance committee at this point is a no starter and will likely not play any role in the election.

Editors Analysis: In 2013, Planned Parenthood became actively involved in the municipal election to oppose the “late term abortion” initiative that was successfully place on the ballot by a voter petition initiative. Then Incumbent Mayor Richard Berry supported the initiative and the banning of all late term abortions in the city. Sensing that the issue could derail his re election efforts, the Republican controlled city council declined to place it on the municipal election ballot with the mayor’s race and instead funded a “special election” so as not to interfere with the 2013 mayor’s race. Planned Parenthood is a considered by many as a one issue organization dedicated to preserving a woman’s right to choose. It is more likely than not Planned Parenthood have registered a MFC for over concern that a new Mayor or the City Council will again attempt to ban late term abortions in the city.

12. RETIRED LAW ENFORCEMENT FOR A BETTER ALBUQUERQUE

PURPOSE: Support Albuquerque mayoral candidate who will improve the quality of life for its citizens as well as oppose candidates that are detrimental to the future growth and safety of Albuquerque.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $11,120.00
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $12,000
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD $10,000
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $13,120
TOTAL IN KIND CONTRIBTIONS: $3,248

MAJOR DONORS:

MIKE SISNEROS: $10,000
APRYL SAVAINSTON: $2,000

IN KIND DONATIONS:

In kind Contribution from Patrick J. Rogers, LLC in the amount of $2,248 for legal services rendered. The 6th finance report reported one in kind contribution from Patrick J. Rogers in the amount of $2,678.00 for legal services rendered.

MAJOR EXPENDITURE: One major expenditure in the amount of $10,000 was reported as a contribution to “SAVE OUR CITY”, the measured finance committed promoting Sheriff Manny Gonzales.

Editor’s Analysis: The chairperson of the “Retired Law Enforcement for a Better Albuquerque is Jason Katz and the Treasurer is listed as Sistine Jaramillo. Upon information and belief, Jason Katz is a former and retired Chief Deputy of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and is a longtime supporter and has worked for Gonzales. No background information could be located on Sistine Jaramillo. Pat Rogers is a private attorney and is considered by many as a conservative Republican Party-political operative who works on promoting and assisting conservative causes. Mr. Rodgers is a former National Committeeman of the Republican Party and 4 years ago filed ethics complaints against the candidate for Mayor Tim Keller.

13. SAVE OUR CITY

PURPOSE: To address the serious crime and leadership problem in Albuquerque

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $92,002.69
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $45,955
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $81,128.91
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $56,828.78

TOTAL IN KIND DONATIONS: -$0-

In the 7th finance report, Save Our City raised $45,955 and has $56,829 still on hand.

MAJOR DONORS

DASKALOS INVESTMENTS: $10,000
CLIFFORD BARBIERI: $5,000
LORI HENZ: $5,000
DAVID AND CHARLOTTE CAUWEL: $5,000
PAUL AND LYN CAUWELS: $5,000
ADMIRAL BEVERAGE CORPORATION: $4,000
JARED VANDER DUSSEN: $1,000
GREG BROWN: $1,000

Major expenditures for save our city during the reporting period were:

SUNNY DAY STRATEGIES for DIGITAL ADs: $27,093.00
PATRIOT CONTACT, DIRECT MAIL SERVICES: $20,641.16
JAMES HALLINAN CAMPAIGN MANAGER: $20,226.56
MARK FLEISHER: $3,775.63 (Mr. Fleisher is a well known and respected political consultant and was the campaign manager for former Mayor Martin Chavez.)
BRANDON MACEACHEN: $4,000.00 (Two $2,000 payments)
FULL COMPLIANCE And CONSULTING, LLC: $3,294.90
JOE MONAHAN INTERNET BLOG, Monahan Marketing: $755.13

Editor’s Analysis: The Chairperson of this MFC is Sam Vigil, the widower of Jackie Vigil who was shot and killed in her driveway in the early morning hours as she was going to the gym. Sam Vigil has been highly critical of Mayor Keller and known to support Manny Gonzales for Mayor.

In the 6th Campaign finance report, it was reported “Save Our City” received its largest contributions from Don Bassard, Robyn Hendrexson and Richard Luna, each donating $2,000. The “Save Our City” spent $17,850 on media production and ad buys through Three Point Media.

Its largest expenditures were for $27,093 for digital advertisements through Washington, D.C.-based Sunny Day Strategies and $20,641.16 PATRIOT CONTACT, DIRECT MAIL SERVICES.

Paying Joe Monahan $755.13 to advertise on his political blog New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan likely reached only political junkies interested in gossip with little or no impact on the average voters but it likely kept Manny Gonzales on Monahan’s good side as he reports on election gossup.

The city clerk link to the listing of all 13 measured finance committees and the finance reports is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2021-candidates

MAYOR CANDIDATES’ FINANCIAL REPORTS

Both Mayor Tim Keller and Sheriff Manny Gonzales have filed their 7th Campaign finance reports.

TIM KELLER 7TH CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT

Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller is the only candidate for Mayor that qualified for Public Finance and given $634,179.05 by the city. On August 9, the Keller Campaign filed the 6th Campaign Finance report:

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $524,709.62
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: -$0-
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $210,834.90
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $313,874.71

TOTAL IN KIND CONTRIBUTIONS: $16,940.87

Upon qualifying for Public Finance, the City of Albuquerque advance a single lump sum of $634,179.05 for the campaign.
Editor’s Analysis:

The Keller campaign spent $210,835 between September 7 and October 4 on media services and advertising buys and the Keller campaign has a balance of $313,875.
According to the 7th Keller campaign finance report, the Keller campaign received $5,000 in “in-kind” office rental contributions for Ed Garcia of the Garcia Auto dealership organization. Ed Garcia is also a co owner of the NM United soccer team that is backing the $50 million bond to build a downtown soccer stadium supported by Mayor Tim Keller.

In kind donations also included $1,000 from the Bruce Thompson Law firm for private investigator fees and $8,115 from the Keefe Law Firm for legal services.

Major expenditures listed by the Keller campaign include:

PUTNAM PARTNERS, LLC of Arlington Virginia for “film shoot”: $35,955.00
PUTNAM PARTNERS, LLC of Arlington Virginia for “media”: $25,250.00
BUYING TIME, LLC, WASHINGTON, DC for media buys: $56,904.00
BUYING TIME, LLC, WASHINGTON, DC for media buys: $56,904.00 (Second Payment)
NERI HOLGUIN CAMPAIGN CONSULTING AND COMMUNICATION: $32,362.50

The Keller campaign reported in the 7th finance report as paying Keller campaign manager Neri Holguin’s consulting firm $32,000. In the 6th campaign finance report it was reported $59,331 was paid to the Keller campaign manager Neri Holguin’s consulting firm. The 5th campaign finance report revealed that Neri Holguin Campaign Consulting was paid $23,732.50.

In the 6th campaign finance report, the Keller campaign reported $35,470 worth of in-kind services, including $2,500 in private investigator services, $17,970 from lawyer Lauren Keefe and $15,000 worth of rent from Ed Garcia who is a principal in the Garcia Automotive Group and also a principal in the company that purchased the historical Rosenwald Building in downtown Albuquerque for $300,000 in the form a of “lease back” arrangement to the city for a police substation in the Rosenwald Building once it is remodeled into luxury condominiums.

MANNY GONZALES 7th CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT

On September 14, a District Court Judge upheld the City Clerk’s decision to deny Gonzales $634,000 in public finance for violating campaign finance rules during the qualifying process finding impropriety in the collection of his qualifying $5 donations. Gonzales was forced to become a privately finance candidate. In his first 3 weeks as a privately funded mayoral candidate, Sheriff Manny Gonzales raised over $330,000. The Gonzales campaign is reporting more money on hand than incumbent Mayor Tim Keller.

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $20,829.63
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $338,201.25
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $26,260.89
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $332,769.00

Total In Kind Contributions: $11,286.76

Editor’s Analysis:

Gonzales has $332,770 in cash available for the final month of the campaign, while Mayor Tim Keller has less at $313,874.71

According to the 7th Campaign Finance report there were 20 donations to Gonzales’ campaign between $6,000 and the $6,250 limit for individual contributors. Those contributions are the following:

DAVID. C CHAVEZ, Los Lunas attorney
F & R TAFOYA PAINTING
RODGERS PLUMBING & HEATIG CO INC
RAYMOND & ROBERTA ZAMORA
DOUBLE AA PROPERTIES LLC
DENISE MONTOYA-MORA
RUDY MORA
JAMES TAFOYA
ARGUS PRIVATE SECURITY FORCE
NICK DIMAS
FUTURE ENDEAVORS SIX
LAPIERRE INSURANCE AGENCY INC
TRAN PHAM
ADMIRAL BEVERAGE CORPORATIONRU DAWG LLC
JASON NASH
ALEJANDRO LARA
CORTAZAR LABORATORIES LLC
PAYAM GHOREISHI
LEE BLAUGRUND ($6,000)
RICHARD LUNA($6,000)

OTHER NOTE WORTHY DONATIONS TO THE GONZALES CAMPAIGN INCLUDE:

SABRINA CHASTAIN, $4,000
JAMES HIGDON, $2,500
M & M BODY LLC (David Gonzales), $2,000
PATRICK MELLOY, $2,000
2G CONSTRUCTION LLC, $2,000
NATHAN KORN, $2,000
PRISCILLA GONZALES, $1,800
K-RAM INC (Gilbert Lovato), $1,500
FRANK BESERRA, $1,000
DARIN WADE, $1,000
SCOTT HAUQUITZ, $1,000
5401 VENICE NE LLC, $1,000
XTREME MOBILE SHRINK WRAP LLC, $1,000

MAJOR IN-KIND DONATIONS INCLUDE

DOUGLAS H. PETERSON PROPERTY MANAGEMENT: $5,475.00
SHOPS AT TAYLOR RANCH: $2,500.00

MAJOR EXENDITURES

SHANNAN CALLAND, of MONTEBELLO, CA, for Media/Public Relation: $6,666.66
SHANNAN CALLAND, Media/Public Relation: $6,666.66 (second payment.)

JAY MCCLESKEY, Media strategies: $6,797.11

In the 6th Campaign finance report, the Gonzales campaign reported that its largest expense then was $12,277 paid to Republican political operative and political media strategist Jay McClesky.

EDDY ARAGON’S 7th CAMPAIGN FINANCE REPORT

CASH BALANCE FROM LAST REPORT: $13,360
TOTAL MONETARY CONTRIBUTION THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $63,814
TOTAL EXPENDITURES THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $51,718
CLOSING BALANCE THIS REPORTING PERIOD: $25,455

According to all reports filed, Aragon reports raising a total of $96,000 since his campaign started in mid-Aug.

MAJOR DONORS AND AMOUNTS

Edward J. Aragon (candidate’s father): $6,250
Ann Cherry: $6,000
Randall J. Schimille: $6,000 (donating $2,000 3 times)

Roxane Baltz, individualy, (AZGARD LLC, Info Technology): $5,000
AZGARD LLC: $5,000

Chris Youngblood: $2,500

Sid Johnson: $1,500
James Gianelli: $1,030
Mark Caruso: $1,000
Gerald Hubbart: $1,000
Louie Sanchez: $1,000 (NOT DISTRICT 1 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATE)
Tego Venturi: $1,000

Patricia Harmon: $505
Dean Ford: $500
Christopher Conlon: $500
Jeffry Posa: $500
Peggy C. Bonometti: $500

MAJOR EXPENSES REPORTED

Clear Channel Outdoor Advertising: $26,194.28
ALEXANDER MEDIA: $6,471 (3 payments of $2,157)
FISHBONE MARKETING INC, Florida, Political Consulting: $2,628.13
MINUTEMAN PRESS, for printing: $3,748.65
DON HEWATT for security services: $3,000.00
MICHAEL EUSTICE, campaign consultant: $1,000
REBECCA ALLEN, campaign consultant: $1,000
ABQ APPAREL GRAPHICS: $6,900.00
NIKKI WILBUR, public relations, $2,000
JOE MONAHAN POLITICAL BLOG: $1,107.95 Paying Monahan to advertise on his political blog New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan likely reached only political junkies interested in gossip with little or no impact on the average voters but it likely keep Aragon on Monahan’s good side as he reports on election gossip.

Aragon has spent 14,000 for T-shirts, hats and other campaign paraphernalia.

Links to quoted source material are here:

https://www.cabq.gov/vote/candidate-information/2021-candidates

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

On October 5, the on-line news agency “The Paper” published a report on an opinion poll it commissioned with Public Policy Polling (PPP) . The poll was then reported upon by KOAT-TV. The public opinion poll was of 793 likely voters with a margin of error 3.5%, plus or minus. The results of the PPP poll as reported by the Paper and KOAT TV are as follows:

Tim Keller: 47%,
Manny Gonzales: 21%,
Eddy Aragon: 11%
NOT SURE: 21%,”

It is now a major sprint for Keller, Gonzales and Aragon to the November 2 finish line. If no candidate secures 50% plus one of the vote, a run off will be held between the two top vote getters. We can all brace ourselves for an onslaught of negative advertising against Gonzales and Aragon by the Keller campaign in order to secure the lion’s share of the un decided voters in order to avoid a run off. Likewise, Gonzales and Aragon’s biggest challenge is to keep Keller below the 50% vote and force a run off.

Links to the most recent blog articles on the candidates are here:

Keller Lives In “Fantasyland” Looking For “Unicorns” To Combat Violent Crime; Keller In His Own Words; Examination Of Keller’s Record On Crime

Law Enforcement Relic Manny Gonzalez Talks Crime; An Analysis Of The Gonzales Record As Sheriff; He Will Do For The City What He Has Done For The County: Not Much

Mayor Candidate Eddy Aragon Reveals He Is “QAnon” Conspiracy Candidate; Aragon In His Own Words; Does Aragon Think 2020 Election Stolen From Trump? Analysis And Commentary

The election for Albuquerque Mayor is on November 2. On the ballot for Mayor is Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, Sheriff Manny Gonzales and Republican Trump radio talk show host Eddy Aragon. Because the City’s crime is considered the number one issue facing the city, the Albuquerque Journal published 3 separate front-page articles on crime in Albuquerque and what the announced candidates intend to do about it.

On October 5, the Albquerquerqu Journal published a front-page article with the headline “Keller says his initiatives ‘fight crime in a real way’ and was written by Journal Staff writer Matthew Reisen. The link to the full article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435272/keller-says-his-initiatives-fight-crime-in-a-real-way.html

This blog article is an in-depth review Mayor Keller’s record on combating violent crime with a a fact check on what he has said and done during his 4 years in office.

MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS OF JOURNAL ARTICLE

The major highlights of the October 6 Journal article worth noting for purposes of this blog article are as follows:

“Critics of Mayor Tim Keller point to skyrocketing homicides, jumps in shootings and low police morale as proof of his failure to fight crime. Keller pushes back, noting that violent crime has shot up throughout the country during the pandemic, not just in Albuquerque. He points to drops in Albuquerque’s property crime as a measure of his success. And he says the initiatives launched under his tenure will make the community safer in the long run.
…
[According to Keller] the Community Safety Department [created by Keller] will take thousands of calls off the shoulders of police, the Gateway Center will be a stand-in for jail cells and hospital beds for those experiencing homelessness and the Metro Crime Initiative will fix the “broken” criminal justice system.” …
…
The ACS was proposed in 2020 as an option for having social workers and trained professionals, rather than armed officers, respond to 911 calls related to homelessness, behavioral health and addiction. …

Proposed in 2020, the Gateway Center will be housed at the former Lovelace hospital on Gibson. The city has said it plans to use the 572,000-square-foot facility to shelter up to 100 individuals and 25 families.
…
Keller acknowledge missteps on the part of his administration, which include releasing faulty crime stats early in his tenure and more recently, backslides in police federally mandated reform efforts. As for the recent record spike in homicides and shootings, Keller and APD repeatedly attribute those to national trends.”

Previously, Keller has said he has learned much since taking office, including not to make promises such as his 2017 commitment not to raise taxes without voter approval. With four years of new insight, he says promises make sense only in “fantasyland.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433925/keller-highlighting-experience-as-he-seeks-second-term.html

MAYOR TIM KELLER IN HIS OWN WORDS

The Journal article quotes Keller directly as saying:

“I think we have honored the commitment to fight crime in a real way. That’s not just about talking tough or doing roundups or something like that, we’re actually trying to address crime from all sides. … And we have done that. Had we not done that our city would be in a much, much worse place. … It’s either naive or disingenuous for anyone to think that our crime and drug problems are so surface level that they can just be fixed by being tougher, or by arresting people.”

“ … If it was that easy. I guarantee you, every chief that we’ve ever had, would have already done that. … I know we’re going to be in a much better position if I’m mayor than if there’s another mayor because of what I’ve learned through the process … I think making predictions or guesstimating … it’s hurtful to the process and it’s naive to think anyone can actually have a say in that. … “

“I think I’ve provided the right kind leadership at the right time and in a difficult time. So that means that not everyone is going to be happy with you all the time. I think that says you’re doing something right … I think I have been balanced in that I make tough decisions when I have to, and I stand by them. But I also learned from my mistakes.”

The link to the full Journal article containing the quotes is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435272/keller-says-his-initiatives-fight-crime-in-a-real-way.html

ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

In 2017 when the New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller ran for Mayor, he ran on the platform of reducing the city’s high crime rates, implementing the Department of Justice (DOJ) consent decree reforms, increasing the size of the Albuquerque Police Department from the then 950 to 1,200 and returning to “community-based policing”. In August, 2017, Keller went so far as to say about the city’s high crime rates:

“It’s unfortunate, but crime is absolutely out of control. It’s the mayor’s job to actually address crime in Albuquerque, and that’s what I want to do as the next mayor.”

Mayor Tim Keller 4 years later now proclaims during his “real world experience” as Mayor he has learned much, including not to make promises such as his 2017 commitment not to raise taxes without voter approval, even if it was for public safety saying such promises make sense only in “fantasyland”.

Keller essentially admits his 6 years of service in the State Senate and his 18 months as New Mexico Auditor was not “real world” experience. This coming from someone who said he was “uniquely qualified” to be Mayor.

KELLER WONDERS FANTASY LAND LOOKING FOR UNICORNS

Keller now says promises make sense only in “fantasyland”. Mayor Keller has been living in “fantasy land” for the last 4 years when it comes to selecting APD leadership and dealing with crime.

On September 23, 2020 on the Bob Clark morning show, Clark while interviewing Keller noted that once Keller was elected he brought back as Chief and Deputy Chiefs personnel who had retired with APD and did not hire people from “outside” who could give “fresh eyes’ to the department.

Keller’s response was that “our town is unique when it comes to crime and being under a consent decree”. Keller actually said “you want a unicorn” who knows crime, knows the community, and who is committed the DOJ reforms.

Keller eventually appointed Harold Medina Chief despite his nefarious past of killing a 14 old child brandishing a BB gun and having a psychotic episode and years later authorizing APD sworn to use deadly force in the shooting and killing of 27-year-old Iraq Veteran James Ellis III suffering from post-traumatic syndrome threatening to kill himself.

Keller making promises while living in a fantasyland ostensibly includes:

1. His promise to have 1,200 sworn police by the end of his first term with APD now at 900 sworn police

2. His promise to implement the DOJ reforms and

3. His promise to conduct a “national search” for a new police chief only to settle on retired former APD brass who participated in, helped create, or did not stop the culture of aggression within APD that resulted in excessive use of force and deadly force.

REFUSAL TO ACCEPT RESPONSIBILTY

Mayor Keller says:

“I don’t think it’s fair to say that there’s something we could have done that would have prevented an increase in homicide … I think all around the country, it’s just shown that that’s just not true right now. … I think I’ve provided the right kind leadership at the right time and in a difficult time …”

It’s not an issue of being fair, not an issue of leadership, but one of being held accountable for failing to do what you promise to do as an elected official. Keller’s comments about homicides prevention are a pathetic attempt to avoid admitting his programs to prevent violent crime have failed. He wants the public to forget the promises he made 4 years ago.

The blunt truth is that the pandemic has had nothing to do with the city’s violent crime rates nor national trends. It was in January, 2020, that the Corona Virus was declared a worldwide pandemic and the country began to shut down and people began to quarantine and businesses began to close.

During his first full 3 years in office, in response to the city’s spiking violent crime rates, Mayor Keller initiated numerous crime-fighting initiatives. All were initiated before the pandemic hit the city hard in February, 2020.

ABQ’S VIOLENT CRIME STATISTICS IN A NUTSHELL UNDER KELLER

According to the 2020 FBI Unified Crime Reports:
Albuquerque has a crime rate of 194% higher than the national average.
Albuquerque’s Violent Crime Index for 2020 is 346% of the national average.
Albuquerque Property Crime Index for 2020 is 256% of the national average.

SOURCE:

https://crime-data-explorer.app.cloud.gov/pages/explorer/crime/crime-trend

HOMICIDES

In 2018, during Mayor Keller’s first full year in office, there were 69 homicides.
In 2019, during Mayor Keller’s second full year in office, there were 82 homicides.
In 2020, there were 76 homicides in Albuquerque.
As of September 19, 2021 there have been 84 homicides in the city, a new all-time record high.

https://www.cabq.gov/police/crime-statistics

https://www.cabq.gov/police/documents/apd-homicide-list-for-web-site-as-of-20sep2021.pdf

VIOLENT CRIMES

In 2018 during Mayor Keller’ first full year in office, there were 6,789 violent crimes. There were 3,885 Aggravated Assaults and 491 Non-Fatal Shootings.

https://www.petedinelli.com/2019/11/21/city-matches-homicide-record-high-of-72-murders-mayor-keller-forced-to-defend-policies-makes-more-promises-asks-for-more-money/

In 2019, the category of “Violent Crimes” was replaced with the category of “Crimes Against Persons” and the category includes homicide, human trafficking, kidnapping and assault. In 2019 during Keller’s second full year in office, Crimes Against Persons increased from 14,845 to 14,971, or a 1% increase. The Crimes Against Person category had the biggest rises in Aggravated Assaults increasing from 5,179 to 5,397.

In 2020 during Keller’s third full year in office, Crimes Against Persons went from 14,971 in 2019 to 15,262 in 2020.

KELLER’S FAILED VIOLENT CRIME REDUCTION PROGRAMS

In 2019, Mayor Tim Keller reacting to the spiking violent crime rates, announced 4 programs in 9 months to deal with and bring down the city’s high violent crime rates. Keller recently launched his “Community Safety Department” and concluded his “Metro Crime Initiative” which he claimed will fix the “broken criminal justice” system.
All 6 initiatives involve early intervention and partnership with other agencies and summarized as follows:

1. THE SHIELD UNIT

In February 2018 the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) created the “Shield Unit”. The Shield Unit assists APD Police Officers to prepare cases for trial and prosecution by the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s office.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1325167/apd-expands-unit-that-preps-cases-for-prosecution.html

2. DECLARING VIOLENT CRIME A PUBLIC HEALTH CRISIS

On April 8, 2019, Mayor Keller and APD announced efforts that will deal with “violent crime” in the context of it being a “public health crisis” and dealing with crimes involving guns in an effort to bring down violent crime in Albuquerque.

3. THE “VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PLAN” The “Violence Intervention PLAN (VIP program)

On November 22, 2019 Mayor Tim Keller announced what he called a “new initiative” to target violent offenders called “Violence Intervention Plan” (VIP) . Mayor Keller proclaimed the VIP is a “partnership system” that includes law enforcement, prosecutors and social service and community provides to reduce violent crime. Mayor Keller stated:

“… This is about trying to get these people not to shoot each other. …This is about understanding who they are and why they are engaged in violent crime. … And so, this actually in some ways, in that respect, this is the opposite of data. This is action. This is actually doing something with people. …”

The “Violence Intervention Plan” can be described as a “fantasy land” experiment especially when there is little that can be done to prevent the violent crime of murder by “trying to get these people not to shoot each other” and “understanding who they are and why they are engaged in violent crime.”

4. THE METRO 15 OPERATION PROGRAM

On Tuesday, November 26, 2019 Mayor Tim Keller held a press conference to announce a 4th program within 9 months to deal with the city’s violent crime and murder rates. At the time of the press conference, the city’s homicide count was at 72, matching the city’s record in 2017.

Simply put, all 4 of Keller’s programs can be described as failures and not having any real statistical impact on reducing crime. The truth is that for a good 3 years before the COVID pandemic hit the city hard in 2020 under Keller’s watch, violent crime rates were spiking, so much so that 4 years ago then candidate for Mayor Tim Keller made reducing the city’s crime rates a cornerstone to his campaign.

Four years ago, Keller proclaimed himself to be uniquely qualified to be Mayor and went so far as to promise that he would hire 300 sworn police officers and grow the department to 1,200 sworn police offices by the end of his first term. Today, the department has 900 sworn police and the police academy cannot keep up with retirements.

5. METRO CRIME INITIATIVE

In the last few months, Mayor Keller has been mimicking District Attorney Raul Torres blaming our rising crime rates on “the broken criminal justice system”. Keller has gone so far as to say the criminal justice system is a “revolving door” in one of his election TV ads.

On September 23, Mayor Keller concluded a conference he dubbed he the “Metro Crime Initiative”. Participants included APD, the DA’s Office, the Courts and many other stakeholders to address what all participants labelled the “broken criminal justice” system.

The entire “Metro Crime Initiative” started with the phony proposition declared by Mayor Keller and all the participants that our criminal justice system is broken. During the September 23 concluding press conference, local leaders admitted they have not been providing enough protection and resources to keep people safe.

A list of 40 action items were revealed by Keller with the hope that once implemented they will lower Albuquerque’s crime efficiently and quickly. All the participants patted each other on the back for doing such a good job and asserting they have found the solution.

When you examine the “check list” of the 40 different proposals that were the result of the Metro Crime Initiative, the proposals are essentially what all the participants have been working on over the past 2 years and include many programs already announced. The list contains nothing new. The items listed are ones that the participants should have been doing in the first place.

A detail “check list” pamphlet was produces containing details of each action plan and can be found here:

https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/documents/mci.pdf

The 40 proposals are essentially an admission by many of the participants that they have not been doing their jobs effectively from the get go. There really is nothing new other than a public relations flyer and the checklist Mayor Tim Keller could hold up during his press conference, a few weeks before an election so he can say “ignore my failures of the past 4 years and see what I have done now to combat violent crime.”

It’s a lot simpler to come up with a bumper sticker slogan and say the criminal justice system is broken when you do not know how to explain your inability to do your own job and are contributing to the crisis.

As Mayor, Tim Keller has management and control over APD which is part of the criminal justice system that Keller proclaims to be broken. APD statistics for the budget years of 2019 and 2020 reflect that APD is not doing its job of investigating and arresting people. APD felony arrests went down from 2019 to 2020 by 39.51%, going down from 10,945 to 6,621. Misdemeanor arrests went down by 15% going down from 19,440 to 16,520. DWI arrests went down from 1,788 in 2019 to 1,230 in 2020, down 26%. The total number of all arrests went down from 32,173 in 2019 to 24,371 in 2020 or by 25%. Bookings at the jail have plummeted from 38,349 in 2010 to 17,734 in 2020. You can not have booking unless arrests are made. APD’s homicide unit has an anemic clearance rate of 36%.

When DA Raul Torrez ran for Bernalillo County District Attorney the first time, he said our criminal justice system was broken. After being elected the first time, Torrez had his office prepare a report on the statistics regarding the number of felony cases that were being dismissed by the District Court. Torrez accused the District Courts of being responsible for the rise in crime and releasing violent offenders pending trial. Mayor Tim Keller went along with DA Torres when they wrote a joint letter to the New Mexico Supreme Court demanding that the District Court abandon preliminary hearings and allow for more grand jury time.

Torrez accused defense attorneys of “gaming the system” to get cases dismissed against clients. A subsequent report to the Supreme Court prepared by the District Court revealed it is the DA’s office dismissing more felony cases for various reasons. The DA’s office currently has the highest voluntary dismissal rate in its history, and plea agreements with low penalties are the norm. Data given to the Supreme Court by the District court revealed overcharging and a failure to screen cases by the DA’s Office contributes to a combined 65% mistrial, acquittal and dismissal rate.

The courts are viewed as part of a broken criminal justice system. Mayor Tim Keller has now started to criticize the courts. Keller blamed the District Court when an accused felon was released without bond pending trial and was able to remove his court order ankle monitor. He was found and taken into custody. The District Court points to the New Mexico Supreme Court’s Case Management Order (CMO), as does the District Attorney, that much of the discretion they had before to hold those charged until trial has been taken away.

The criminal justice system in this country and this state has never been perfect, nor will it ever be, but it is not broken as Mayor Tim Keller and the “Metro Crime Initiative” participants would have everyone to believe, especially those that are running for office such as Tim Keller and who have been failures in dealing with the city’s high crime rates. Yes, the criminal justice system does have its flaws and a number of inequities, but to say that it is a broken system is just plain ignorance of the criminal justice system or political opportunism at its worst in an election year.

The criminal justice system at all levels is only as good as those who are responsible to make it work and succeed. The participants in the city sponsored “Metro Crime Initiative” know what is wrong with the state’s criminal justice system. They know it is not a “broken system” but a “systems failure” caused by their own failures to act and to do their jobs effectively. It is way too easy to declare the system “broken” when problems identified within the criminal justice system would go away if the stakeholders would just do their own jobs and concentrate on doing their jobs in a competent manner.

6. COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT

On September 7, Keller’s new Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACSD) dispatched 3 two person teams, or 6 people total, of civilians trained as behavioral health responders to commence handling certain 911 calls in order to reduce the number of calls for service handled by Albuquerque police. The ACS program will operate 24/7 once fully staffed with upwards of 100 trained behavioral health responders. The Albuquerque Community Safety Department (ACS) is a department that is a proposed solution to reduce APD’s calls for service involving mental health calls and to transfer such calls to another civilian department with mental health experts to deal with those in crisis. It is a department that must be equipped to respond to 911 calls related to addiction problems and behavioral health issues or it will fail and fail miserably and may even result in a social worker getting killed.

For the Fiscal Years of F/Y 14 to F/Y 20 the total number of 911 calls for service to APD were:

FY/14 # of Calls for service: 518,553
FY/15 # of Calls for service: 518,751
FY/16 # of Calls for service: 547,854
FY/17 # of Calls for service: 564,610
FY/18 # of Calls for service: 580,303
FY/19 # of Calls for service: 543,574
FY/20 # of Calls for service: 524,286

The new ACS department is not the panacea Keller wants it to be when it comes to reducing violent crime. Ostensibly, ACS will not have the authority to arrest and APD will have to be called. The goal is to have the ACS respond to 3,000 calls a month, but those calls will be to the lowest priority calls of priority 3,4 and 5 or none violent calls in general. There is no real breakdown as to how many of those calls are related to addiction problems and behavioral health issues. If the ACS responds to 3,000 calls a month, it will free up sworn police for other calls, but it will not have much of a direct impact on violent crime in that violent crimes will still have to be handled and solved by APD. As noted above, APD receives well over 500,000 calls for service a year. In 2020, APD received 524,286 calls for service or upwards of 40,000 calls for service a month of the year and the ACSD hopefully will handle 36,000 a year.

APD ARRESTS HAVE PLUMMETED

APD statistics for the budget years of 2019 and 2020 reflect the department is not doing its job of investigating and arresting people. APD felony arrests went down from 2019 to 2020 by 39.51% going down from 10,945 to 6,621. Misdemeanor arrests went down by 15% going down from 19,440 to 16,520. DWI arrests went down from 1,788 in 2019 to 1,230 in 2020, down 26%. The total number of all arrests went down from 32,173 in 2019 to 24,371 in 2020 or by 25%.

In 2019 APD had 924 full time police. In 2020, APD had 1,004 sworn police or 80 more sworn police in 2020 than in 2019, yet arrests went down during the first year of the pandemic. APD’s homicide unit has an anemic clearance rate of 36%. The police union falsely proclaims officer’s hands are tied by the DOJ reforms and are afraid of doing their jobs for fear of being disciplined.

HISTORICAL LOW HOMICIDE CLEARANCE RATES UNDER KELLER

For the past three years during Mayor Keller’s tenure, the homicide clearance percentage rate has been in the 50%-60% range. According to the proposed 2018-2019 APD City Budget, in 2016 the APD homicide clearance rate was 80%. In 2017, under Mayor Berry the clearance rate was 70%. In 2018, the first year of Keller’s term, the homicide clearance rate was 56%. In 2019, the second year of Keller’s term, the homicide clearance rate was 52.5%, the lowest clearance rate in the last decade. In 2020 the clearance rate has dropped to 50%. Of the 75 homicides thus far in 2020, half remain unsolved. There are only a dozen homicide detectives each with caseloads high above the national average.

AUTO THEFTS STILL HIGH UNDER KELLER

On June 26, 2019 the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) released its annual list of cities with the most stolen vehicles reported. Despite a 28% reduction in auto thefts over a two-year period, Albuquerque ranked No. 1 in the nation for vehicle thefts per capita for the third year in a row. On July 30, 2020, the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) reports that Albuquerque is now ranked #2 in the nation for auto theft.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jimgorzelany/2019/06/27/these-are-the-cities-with-the-highest-car-theft-rates/#7c42e7d35146

KELLER’S FALSE CLAIMS OF REDUCING CRIME

When Keller took office on December 1, 2017, every quarter when APD released the city’s crime statistics, Mayor Keller would do a press conference to proclaim and to some extent take credit for crime going down in all categories. He did so on July 1, 2019. Mayor Keller reported that crime was down substantially, with double-digit drops, in nearly every category.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1335502/crime-declining-in-albuquerque-new-numbers-show.html

On Sunday, December 1, 2019 the Albuquerque Journal reported that all the crime rate reductions Keller reported in his July 1, 2019 press conference were in fact seriously flawed by big percentages. Both the 2019 mid-year statistics and the statistics released at the end of 2018 were revised dramatically to include hundreds, and in some cases thousands, more incidents than were initially reported. The final numbers for all of 2018 showed violent crime actually increased.

At an October 2019 meeting of the City Council, APD provided the revised statistics but failed to disclose to the council that the numbers had changed drastically. Mayor Keller also did not hold any kind of a press conference to correct nor announce the corrected statistics. The Keller Administration blamed the false numbers on antiquated software programs, but only after the Keller Administration had essentially been caught by the Albuquerque Journal. Mayor Keller for his part has never issued his own personal apology for misleading the public and trying to take credit for bringing down crime rates by using false statistics.

The corrected crime statistics from those announced by Keller are:

Auto burglaries decreased 16%, not 38% as previously announced by Keller
Auto theft decreased 22%, not 39% as Keller reported
Commercial burglary decreased 3%, not the 27% Keller reported
Residential burglary decreased 16%, not 39% as Keller reported
Homicide decreased 2.5%, not 18%, but homicides have since increased substantially and the city has tied the all-time record of 71.
Rape decreased 3%, not the 29% Keller reported
Robbery decreased 30%, not 47% reported by Keller
Aggravated assault decreased 7.5%, not 33% reported by Keller

The link to the full December 1, 2029 Journal article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1396782/flaws-discovered-in-apds-crime-statistics.html

KELLER’S FAILURE TO GROW APD TO LEVEL PROMISED

Tim Keller campaigned to be elected mayor on the platform of increasing the size of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), returning to community-based policing and promising to bring down skyrocketing crime rates. To that end, the Keller Administration began implementing an $88 million-dollar APD police expansion program increasing the number of sworn police officers from 898 positions filled to 1,200, or by 302 sworn police officers, over a four-year period. The massive investment was ordered by Mayor Tim Keller to full fill his 2017 campaign promise to increase the size of APD and return to community-based policing as a means to reduce the city’s high crime rates. Keller promised to increase the number of sworn police in the department to 1,200 by the end of his first term.

The current city budget authorizes up to 1,140 sworn officers. APD Police Chief Harold Medina says the needs 1,200 sworn. As of late July, APD sworn police numbered 939, leaving about 200 positions vacant. Forty-eight cadets are expected to join the ranks by the end of October. The new cadet class will bring the number of vacancies down to 152 vacancies of sworn police. Recent reports say APD is down to 900 sworn police.

NORMALLY WOULD BE ONE TERM MAYOR

During the last 4 years under Mayor Tim Keller’s leadership, things have only gotten worse in the city. In normal times, Tim Keller would be a one term Mayor given his record of broken promises, failures and inability to deal with the city’s crime wave. The sweeping and dynamic change that Keller was perceived to represent in 2017 never materialized. APD continues to implode, violent crime is still out of control. All we got is a Mayor who likes to run around the city acting like a high school football jock who has been elected student body president and who likes to attend heavy metal concerts to introduce the band. An immature, middle age man who likes to act like he is some sort of celebrity and not the chief executive of a major United States city.

Normally, voters are a very fickle lot and unforgiving when politicians make promises they do not or cannot keep. Sooner rather than later people demand and want results. But not in the age of the Corona Virus. Campaign promises made in 2017 and promises not kept by 2021 really do not matter from a political standpoint.

The reality is that no one really cares about a politician’s poor job performance when they are struggling to make a living, make ends meet and struggling to keep themselves and their family’s healthy and safe from the Corona Virus as bills add up. In the age of the Covid 19 pandemic, none of Keller’s failures nor broken promises will likely make much of a difference to the voting public given the image he has carefully crafted with his relentless public relations and the lack of viable candidate to oppose him.

On November 2, 2021 Voters will decide if Keller has “done a good” job of leadership and if he deserves a second 4-year term.

Links to related news articles are here:

‘I’ve learned’: Keller touts real-world experience

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433925/keller-highlighting-experience-as-he-seeks-second-term.html

Q&A mayoral candidate Tim Keller

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433190/qa-mayoral-candidate-tim-keller-2.html

The link to a related blog article is here:

Mayor Tim Keller’s Promises Made, Promises Broken As He Seeks Second Term; Voters Will Decide If Keller “Has Done A Good Job”

The election for Albuquerque Mayor is on November 2. On the ballot for Mayor is Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, Sheriff Manny Gonzales and Republican Trump radio talk show host Eddy Aragon. Because the City’s crime is considered the number one issue facing the city, the Albuquerque Journal published 3 separate front-page articles on crime in Albuquerque and what the announced candidates intend to do about it.

On October 5 , the Albquerquerqu Journal published a front-page article with the headline “People centric Gonzales Touts Personal Relationships.” The article was written Journal Staff writer Elsie Kaplan. The link to full article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435589/people-centric-gonzales-touts-personal-relationships.html

This blog article is an in-depth review and analysis of Sheriff’ Manny Gonzales record as Bernalillo County Sheriff gleaning quotes from news sources , followed by a fact check and analysis of his record as Bernalillo County Sheriff.

RELEVANT HIGHLIGHS OF ABQ JOURNAL ARTICLE

Following are the most relevant portions of the October 5 article:

“When speaking of his time as an elected official, Sheriff Manuel Gonzales returns repeatedly to the personal feedback he receives. Input from community members who approach him. The frustrations and complaints about crime that he hears from business leaders and residents.

What Gonzales — who is running on a “tough on crime” platform — mentions less is data. Gonzales, a Democrat, is running against incumbent and fellow Democrat Tim Keller, and Republican Eddy Aragon.

The Sheriff’s Office has not held regular media briefings on crime statistics. Data from 2018 and 2019 has not been included in the FBI’s annual Crime in the United States report.
…
As mayor, Gonzales said he would address such underlying issues as poverty and addiction that often lead to crime by creating more opportunities through community centers, working with local technology hubs, such as Sandia Labs, and bringing new businesses.
…
Gonzales’ terms as sheriff have been marked by his resistance to body cameras. For years, he has said they are not necessary and he would rather invest funding in other ways. That changed last summer when the state Legislature passed a law requiring all law enforcement officers to wear cameras.
…
In contrast to APD, BCSO has not routinely informed the media and the public when a homicide investigation is launched. Instead, it has waited until an arrest has been made. … At one point, the agency responded to a Journal reporter’s questions by posting his email on Facebook as an example of “how hostile the media is toward Law Enforcement.”
…
If elected, Gonzales said he would take more of a back seat when it comes to crime and instead let whomever he chooses as chief of police manage APD.

He said he would not automatically toss out the crime-fighting initiatives his predecessor started.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435589/people-centric-gonzales-touts-personal-relationships.html

SHERIFF MANNY GONZALES IN HIS OWN WORDS

Sheriff Gonzales has been quoted as saying the following in news accounts:

On community relations, Gonzales has this to say:

“I had a conversation last night with a couple that I met while they were having dinner, and they said, ‘thank you for restoring the South Valley, we feel like it’s a crown jewel of the community now. … They go ‘our property has increased, our property value, my quality of life has increased, I feel safe. I have never seen more deputies in this area than I’ve ever seen in the history that I’ve been alive.’ And so, for me, Albuquerque deserves the same thing. It’s just not being provided to them.”

Gonzales had this to say about his office resistance to releasing crime statics:

“I can’t do [crime statistic updates] on a daily basis. … And there is no obligation for us to do it. And, I mean, we have a $50 million budget, but if they would have turned that $250 million budget, I would gladly answer your question then I would be fully responsible for the crime situation in the city. … I’m not here to manipulate numbers. … And I’m not here to toy with people’s public safety. People need to be told the truth about what’s going on. And any time you have a problem, you have to address the problem, right? You have to be candid.”

On finding solutions to the city’s crime rates:

“We have to be willing to exhaust our resources and find a solution for the people because that person would again be out there terrorizing the citizens of Albuquerque instead, now that person’s going away for 20 years. … That is probably the best thing we could do for the citizens in terms of keeping them safe.”

On working with other law enforcement agencies:

“I have the trust of this community, the law enforcement community, whether it be locally or state or even federally. … So, for me, (it’s) through brokering those relationships to ensure that we’re doing a good job.”

Gonzales had this to say about not working with Albuquerque Police Department on crime initiatives:

“The analogy I can give you is that we were on the field playing, and they were in the stands, and sometimes in the parking lot watching the game. … I really feel that, based on the compliance piece of APD, they felt they were not as supported to do their jobs. And so, for us, I didn’t want to put our deputies in the position that they were there to help them and that we were going to support each other, because that’s not the way it was working out.”

Gonzales said he would consider consolidation of APD and BCSO because he wants “to do whatever it takes” to reduce crime and said:

“In order to maybe reduce and alleviate the Albuquerque Police Department from all the things that they had to comply with [under the DOJ consent decree] , it may be easier to contract out to us. … We can start training more deputies, they could start servicing people in the Albuquerque police areas, and then that would give them the opportunity to alleviate them from those and focus on compliance.”

Gonzales, who calls himself and his agency “people-centric” and “victim-centric,” said he loves when his deputies go out to talk to business owners about the issues they’re seeing and said:

“It might be something that might be more of a social issue. It might be homelessness; it might be something other than crime. Then, we’re just trying to figure out, how do we bridge that gap for the person that’s having that issue, and that resource to get them help? So, it’s not all about policing.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435589/people-centric-gonzales-touts-personal-relationships.html

On August 11, 2020, then President Trump (@realDonaldTrump) tweeted:

“Thank you to Sheriff Gonzales of Bernalillo County, New Mexico, for joining my call with our Nation’s sheriffs. Appreciate your partnership to help make your county safe – great comments on Operation Legend!”

https://t.co/M41wLOg5ZA

When asked if going to the White House to discuss Operation Legend and the assignment of Federal Agents was a good decision his response was:

“I think it was great decision. [As for the criticism], I feel like it exposes those people who said they were going to make public safety their number one issue … then left the people of Bernalillo County holding the bag on crime and the issues that come with it. If somebody is willing to help this community out – local, federal or state – I’ll go wherever I need to go to keep the people safe. That’s what I swore to do and I would do it all over again.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/2371964/sheriffs-childhood-dream-keeping-people-safe.html

Sheriff Manny Gonzales has said he answers to no one other than those who vote for him and said:

“I don’t work for the governor. I don’t work for the mayor. I don’t work for the president of the United States. I answer to the people who voted me into office.”

On December 19, Gonzales on a video proclaimed he will not enforce “unconstitutional laws” when it comes to the corona virus pandemic. Gonzales said he sympathized with business owners and houses of worship, and accused politicians of “turning everyday citizens into villains” and said:

“I choose to direct this agency’s time and resources to the laws deemed to keep people free of crime. … Overreaching restrictions will harm our community. For that reason, we will not follow along with any orders that subvert constitutional rights.”

A link to the YouTube Video is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v95B1lpt_PM

Sheriff Gonzales in a letter to District Attorney Raul Torrez, Gonzales objected to the disclosures mandated by the United States Supreme Court of all information or material that may be used to impeach the credibility of sheriff deputies who are witnesses for the prosecution in any case and wrote:

“We believe the information requested in your questionnaire intrudes on the privacy rights of our deputies and is constitutionally immaterial.”

In a statement, Sheriff Gonzales added:

“[The DA’s letters contain] false allegations and direct contradictions of what I have instructed our deputies to do, and that is to follow the law. … Understanding the Brady and Giglio court rulings’ intent, the Sheriff’s Office has a questionnaire form each deputy is required to answer, which sufficiently meets the obligations under Giglio and Brady. … Finally, in lieu of threatening this office with frivolous litigation, Mr. Torrez should instead focus on prosecuting cases and obtaining justice for victims in Bernalillo County, which he has failed to do.”

After being denied public finance by the City Clerk and the Courts, Gonzales had this to say:

“This is something that has never happened to another campaign. And I think that’s going to be the driving force, and the motivation, and the inspiration for us winning this race. … What we want people to know is that not only am I more inspired than ever but I’m also ready to win this race on behalf of the people.”

THE GONZALES RECORD AS SHERIFF

Sheriff Manny Gonzales record as the elected Bernalillo County Sheriff for the last 6 years has been glossed over or simply not reported by news accounts. His record merits review given his “tough on crime” platform.

CRIME INCREASES IN COUNTY

Sheriff Gonzales has consistently said when it comes to crime he will do with the city what he has done with the county. If that is the case, do not expect much.

On Sunday July 17, the Albuquerque Journal published a below the fold front page article entitled “Statistics show increase in Bernalillo County Crime in 2020” with the article written by Journal staff reporter Elise Kaplan. The link to the entire news article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2410705/statistics-show-increase-in-bernalillo-county-crime-in-2020.html

According to unofficial data released to the Journal in response to an Inspection of Public Records request, both violent and property crimes have increased in the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County in 2020. The statistics sent by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office to the FBI for its annual Crime in the United States report revealed that the violent crimes of homicides, rape, robbery and aggravated assault combined increased by 26.6%, from 792 incidents in 2019 to 1,003 in 2020. Property crimes consisting of burglary, larceny, motor vehicle theft and arson combined increased 16.5%, from 2,647 to 3,084 crimes.

A breakdown of BCSO reported crime under Gonzales for the last 2 years is as follows:

BCSO VIOLENT CRIME STATISTICS

Homicides: 2019: 9, 2020: 8 (-11.0% decrease)
Rapes: 2019: 54, 2020: 91 (+68.5% increase)
Robbery: 2019: 86, 2020: 127 (+47.7% increase)
Aggravated Assault: 2019: 643, 2020: 777 (+20% increase)

Total: 2019: 792, 2020: 1,003 (+26.6% Increase)

BCSO PROPERTY CRIME STATISTICS

Arson: 2019: 4, 2020: 11 (175% increase)
Burglary: 2019: 569, 2020: 615 (9% increase)
Larceny Theft: 2019: 1,175, 2020: 1,507 (28.3% increase)
Motor Vehicle: 2019: 899, 2020: 951 (5.8% increase)

Totals: 2019: 2,647, 2020: 3,084 (16.5% increase)

https://www.abqjournal.com/2410705/statistics-show-increase-in-bernalillo-county-crime-in-2020.html

On September 22, the on-line news outlet “The Paper” published a report based on data provided by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office and reviewed by the Paper. According to the revised statistics provided by BCSO, violent crime climbed in the county from 783 in 2019 to 838 in 2020, an 8% increase. BCSO previously reported an increase of more than 26%. It is not clear which crimes BCSO “hand counted” in July were changed or removed from the final statistics submitted to the FBI. New statistics show that Bernalillo County had one fewer homicide in 2020 but other violent crimes including rape and aggravated assaults, which jumped from 714 cases in 2019 to 743 in 2020, increased significantly.

Property crimes in the county also increased from 2019 to 2020 by about 4%. The statistics show that 2,734 cases of property crime were reported in 2020 compared to 2,629 cases in 2019. The area that experienced the most significant increase in property crime was larceny-theft, which increased from 1,149 in 2019 to 1,263 in 2020, or by 10%.

https://abq.news/2021/09/crime-in-bernalillo-county-rose-in-2020/

“USE OF DEADLY FORCE” CASES DURING SHERIFF GONZALES TENURE

The most troubling aspect of Gonzales tenure as Sheriff are the major lawsuits filed against the department under his watch. Over the last 2 year period Bernalillo County Government has been forced to pay out upwards of $10 million in settlements involving the Bernalillo County Sheriff deputies for systemic racial profiling, excessive use of force and deadly force.

When settlements he did not like were announced, Gonzalez said the amounts were excessive and he defended the actions of his sheriff’s deputies. As an act of defiance, Gonzales even issued commendations to the deputies involved with the killing of an 88-year-old suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, claiming the deputies acted properly.

Following is a listing of the major cases and settlement amounts:

2015 WRONFUL DEATH OF FIDENCIO DURAN: $1,495,000 SETTLEMENT

It was on September 14, 2015, Fidencio Duran, 88, died after he was shot numerous times with a “pepper ball” gun after he encountered BCSO Deputy Sheriffs in the South Valley. Mr. Duran was partially blind and deaf and suffered from Alzheimer’s disease. His wife of 67 years had died the day before after a three-year bout with illness. Duran wandered around the neighborhood shirtless. He banged on the door of a neighbor, who called the BCSO.

When BCSO Deputies arrived, a 90-minute standoff ensued with Duran reportedly holding a four-inch knife. Eventually, the BCSO officers fired over 50 rounds of pepper balls at him from two directions. BCSO officers unleashed a muzzled K9 police dog after shooting with pepper balls. The dog knocked the 115-pound man over, breaking his femur and hip. Duran never left the hospital, succumbing to pneumonia as a result of his injuries a month later. A doctor from the Office of the Medical Investigator “determined that the manner of death was Homicide” according to a civil lawsuit filed.

In an ostensible act of defiance, Sheriff Manny Gonzales issued commendations to his sheriff deputies involved.

https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2016/02/09/albu-f09.html

2017 WRONGFULL DEATH OF ROBERT CHAVEZ: $700,000 SETTLEMENT

On August 16, 2017, Bernalillo County Sheriff’s deputies spotted a stolen car near Coors and ILiff. When they tried to pull over the vehicle a chase ensued. The stolen vehicle crashed into Robert Chavez’, 66, car near Broadway and Avenida Cesar Chavez in the Southwest part of the city. When Robert Chavez was hit, Chavez broke his back, shoulder, forearm, wrist, ribs and pelvis in the crash and also had other internal injuries. Chavez went into a coma and died 11 days after the crash. A wrongful death lawsuit was filed against the county and BCSO. The BCSO Sheriff Department’s old policy would not have allowed officers to pursue for a stolen vehicle, but Sheriff Manny Gonzales changed the hot pursuit policy allowing such chases a year before the fatal crash

https://www.abqjournal.com/1210343/man-injured-in-bcso-chase-dies.html

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/family-attorney-county-

2017 KILLING OF MARTIN JIM AND SHOOTING OF ISAAC PADILLA: $3.3 MILLION SETTLEMENT

On November 17, 2017, BCSO Deputies, at around 4 am in the morning, initiated a high-speed chase of a stolen truck across the South Valley on November 17, 2017. A BCSO Deputy rammed the truck at Coors and Glenrio NW on Albuquerque’s West Side obliterating the front driver’s-side wheel. With the truck at a standstill, two BCSO deputies parked their vehicles to block the truck from moving forward. Another deputy soon arrived on the scene. In the span of 18 seconds, the deputy jumped from his car, ran to the truck, yelled commands at the driver, and fired 7 shots into the vehicle occupied by 3 passengers, including a 4-year-old child. A settlement in the case was reached after Senior U.S. District Judge Judith Herrera of Albuquerque ruled that a “reasonable jury could conclude that the Deputy acted unreasonably.”

On May 21, 2020, it was reported that the family of Martin Jim, 25, the man killed in 2017 incident settled the federal excessive force lawsuit against the county for $1.5 million. An earlier $400,000 state court settlement arising from the same deadly shooting paid to Jim’s partner, Shawntay Ortiz and his four-year-old son, amounted to $1.9 million. That is an addition to the $1.36 million settlement paid to the estate of the driver of the pickup truck, Isaac Padilla, 23, who was also killed. Another $40,000 was paid to two other passengers in the truck. The total payout to resolve legal claims related to Deputy Joshua Mora’s actions was $3.3 million.

Sheriff Manny Gonzales maintained Martin Jim’s death was unintentional and that the killing of Isaac Padilla, the driver of the truck, was justified. No weapons were found in the truck negating the deputies defense that his actions were justified and in self-defense.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1458471/settlements-in-bcso-shooting-total-33-million-deputy-opened-fire-killing-driver-passenger-in-stolen-truck.html

2019 THE KILLING ELISHA LUCERO: $4 MILLION SETTLEMENT

On July 21, 2019, Elisha Lucero, 28, who suffered psychosis and schizophrenia, was shot to death in front of her RV, which was parked in front of her family’s South Valley home. BCSO Deputies had responded to the home after a relative called 911 saying Lucero had hit her uncle in the face. According to the 911 call, a relative said Lucero was mentally ill, needed help, and was a threat to herself and to everybody else. Just one month prior, Lucero had called BCSO and asked to be taken to the hospital for mental health issues.

According to the lawsuit, when deputies arrived, they said Lucero initially refused to come out of the home. Eventually, the 4-foot-11 Lucero, naked from the waist up, ran out screaming and armed with a kitchen knife. The BCSO Deputies pulled their revolvers and shot her claiming they feared for their lives. According to an autopsy report, Lucero was shot at least 21 times by the deputies. The two BCSO Deputies who shot and killed Elisha Lucero were not wearing lapel cameras.

The Lucero lawsuit filed alleges Sheriff Manny Gonzales fostered a “culture of aggression” in the department and too few deputies were trained to handle people with mental health issues. On March 6th, it was reported that Bernalillo County settled the Lucero family lawsuit for $4 Million dollars.

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/family-of-elisha-lucero-settles-case-with-bcso-for-4m-/5667056/

https://www.abqjournal.com/1428402/family-of-mentally-ill-woman-shot-by-bcso-gets-4m-settlement.html

https://www.abqjournal.com/1428402/family-of-mentally-ill-woman-shot-by-bcso-gets-4m-settlement.html

BCSO RACIAL PROFILING CASES SETTLED: $100,000 SETTLEMENT AND COUNTING

It was on December 6, 2017 that the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico filed a lawsuit on behalf of Sherese Crawford, a 38-year-old African-American woman on temporary assignment in New Mexico as an Immigration and Customs Agent (ICE) deportation officer. The lawsuit alleged that Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputies racially profiled her by pulling her over three times, twice by the same deputy, within a month with no probable cause or reasonable suspicion that she was breaking the law. None of the three times she was pulled over was she given a warning or a citation.

ACLU of New Mexico Staff Attorney Kristin Greer Love had this to say at the time:

“Our client is an accomplished federal agent who was targeted for driving while black … BCSO unlawfully and repeatedly stopped her because she fit a racial profile. Targeting people because of the color of their skin is unconstitutional and bad policing. Racial discrimination has no place in New Mexico, and BCSO must take immediate action to ensure that this behavior does not continue.”

https://www.aclu-nm.org/en/press-releases/aclu-files-racial-profiling-lawsuit-against-bcso

On July 8, 2020, it was reported that two black women from Wisconsin are suing Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales and two deputies alleging racial and religious profiling stemming from a traffic stop in July 2017. The lawsuit was filed about five months after Bernalillo County reached a $100,000 settlement with Sherese Crawford, a 38-year-old African-American who filed a lawsuit against BCSO after she was pulled over three times in 28 days by BCSO deputies Patrick Rael and Leonard Armijo, the same deputies named in the new lawsuit, in spring 2017.

The civil case was filed by Sisters Consweyla and Cynthia Minafee, and a 5-year-old child, Yahaven Pylant, were traveling from Phoenix back to Wisconsin when they were pulled over by a BCSO deputy on Interstate 40 the morning of July 7, 2017. Cynthia Minafee was Yahaven’s legal guardian at the time. According to the lawsuit, the traffic stop lasted almost an hour and included an extensive search of the vehicle with a drug dog. According to the lawsuit, the deputy told the women to get out of the car and said he could smell marijuana on Cynthia. Cynthia said that she had not smoked in the car and that there was no marijuana in the vehicle. Consweyla Minafee, the driver, was not issued a traffic citation, but Cynthia Minafee was issued a citation for not having Yahaven properly restrained. The citation was dismissed in May, online court records show.

A link to a news source is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1473973/two-bcso-deputies-face-second-racial-profiling-lawsuit.html

SHERIFF GONZALES OPPOSITION TO DOJ REFORMS

Gonzales has nothing good to say at all about the need for the APD police reforms. On March 21, Sheriff Gonzales gave his opinion of the Department of Justice consent agreement with the Albuquerque Police Department and other issues and had this to say:

“APD officers are working in an environment to fail. … they are subjected to being assaulted, battered, spit on and second-guessed. … [Bail reform] has failed miserably. It did reduce the jail population but at the expense of public safety. … [The matrix] used by the court’s to determine which defendants are eligible for release [is] fuel to the fire. It should be banished as a reliable matrix … It emboldens criminals. … Sanctuary city attracts criminals to Albuquerque.”

EDITOR’S NOTE: The city has never been a “sanctuary city”. A “sanctuary city” denies cooperation with federal immigration officials and does not use city law enforcement resources to identify or apprehend illegal immigrants and does not use city law enforcement resources to enforce immigration laws. In 2001 the Albuquerque City Council enacted a resolution that declared Albuquerque an “immigrant friendly” city. Albuquerque’s “immigrant friendly” designation welcomes immigrants to the city and is largely symbolic. In February, 2017, the City Council enacted a symbolic memorial that reaffirmed that Albuquerque’s “immigrant friendly” status, but not as a “sanctuary city”.

A link to source material is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2371964/sheriffs-childhood-dream-keeping-people-safe.html

DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE MANDATED REFORMS

It was on November 10, 2014 the City and APD entered into a federal Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) mandating sweeping changes to APD policy and training on the use of force and deadly force. For the last 6 years the City and APD have been struggling to implement 176 reforms and have spent millions on the reforms. The Sheriff’s public comments show a level of ignorance of the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) and what brought the Department of Justice to Albuquerque in the first place.

It is known to many in law enforcement that Gonzales has significant reservation and disagreements with the settlement agreement. Just a few of the DOJ reforms Sheriff Manny Gonzales is likely to find very problematic and object to as Mayor Gonzales are:

1.The new “use of force” and “use of deadly force” policies that have been written, implemented and all APD sworn have received training on.
2. The implemented and strict “Constitutional policing” practices and methods, and mandatory crisis intervention techniques and de-escalation tactics with the mentally ill that must now be used.
3. APD’s “Use of Force Review Board” that oversees all internal affairs investigations of use of force and deadly force by APD Officers.
4. APD’s system to hold officers and supervisors accountable for all use of force incidents with personnel procedures implemented detailing how use of force cases are investigated.
5. APD’s revised and updated policies on the mandatory use of lapel cameras by all sworn police officers.
6. The new Civilian Police Oversight Agency created, funded, and fully staffed.
7. The Community Policing Counsels (CPCs) created in all area commands and recommendations made by the CPCs to the Chief on discipline.
8. The Mental Health Advisory Committee for APD.
As Mayor, it is likely he will give APD the leeway to return to unconstitutional policing practices as he did with the Sheriff’s Office such as allowing shooting at fleeing cars.

OPPOSITION TO GOVERNOR’S PUBLIC HEALTH ORDERS

Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a public health crisis and issued emergency health orders to deal with the Corona Virus pandemic. The public health orders are allowed by New Mexico State law. The Public Health orders took the form of retail business closures, restaurant closures, cancellation of public events, school closings, church closings, and limiting gathering and self-quarantine orders and social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.

On December 19, a defiant Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales on a video proclaims he will not enforce “unconstitutional laws” when it comes to the corona virus pandemic. In a video posted to YouTube, Gonzales said he sympathizes with business owners and houses of worship, and accused politicians of “turning everyday citizens into villains.” Gonzales got the publicity he coveted when local news agencies covered the story. Gonzales had this to say:

“I choose to direct this agency’s time and resources to the laws deemed to keep people free of crime. … Overreaching restrictions will harm our community. For that reason, we will not follow along with any orders that subvert constitutional rights.”

A link to the YouTube Video is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v95B1lpt_PM

Governor Michell Lujan Grisham’s office issued the following statement in response to Sheriff Gonzales:

“Over 2,000 New Mexicans have been killed by COVID-19, including over 460 people in Bernalillo County. It is deeply disappointing, not to mention directly harmful, that any public official would take any action that undermines the health and safety of their community. All New Mexicans should agree on the importance of doing anything and everything we can to save lives.”

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/bcso-sheriff-said-he-will-not-enforce-lsquounconstitutional-lawsrsquo-under-statersquos-covid-response/5956363/?cat=500

When Sherriff Gonzales declared the Governors public health orders as “unconstitutional”, he used the exact same inflammatory rhetoric the Republican party used regarding the health orders. Virtually all the lawsuits filed to set aside the Governor’s public health orders as “unconstitutional” were thrown out by the New Mexico Supreme Court almost as quickly as they were filed.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

With 30 years’ experience in law enforcement and the city’s out of control violent crime statistics, it is not at all surprising that Sheriff Gonzales is running for Mayor on a “law and order” platform. Sheriff Manny Gonzales boldly proclaims he can do a better job than Mayor Tim Keller when it comes to crime. Every time a homicide occurs in Albuquerque, Gonzales issues a press release or takes to social media proclaiming that voters need to “take back” the city from the criminals.

The blunt truth is that Sheriff Manny Gonzales has been just as ineffective in bringing down crime in the county as Mayor Keller has been in bringing down crime in the city, and Gonzales has 26 more years’ experience than Keller in law enforcement. Gonzales really has nothing to offer to bring down crime other than doing what he has done for 30 years which are arrest sweeps.

There is absolutely no doubt that Gonzales knows criminal law enforcement. He knows that the forging of a person’s signature is a 4th degree felony caring a criminal basic sentence of 18 months in jail and that fraud to secure $661,000 in public financing is a second-degree felony caring 18-year basic sentence. Yet “Law and Order” Gonzales refused to take any responsibility for his campaign staff forging signatures to secure $5 donation receipts. Gonzales went so far as to say he was not aware of what was going on and that such conduct is common place in pollical campaigns. When he was denied public financing by the court, he labeled the judge as “unethical”.

FAILURE TO WORK WITH OTHERS

Sherriff Manny Gonzales has show himself to be a person who listens and answers to no one. During his 7 years as Sheriff, Gonzales has refused to cooperate and do anything the County Commission or County Manager asked of him. Two years ago the Bernalillo County Commission allocated $1 million in startup money, plus $500,000 in recurring annual funds for the sheriff’s office to get dashboard cameras and lapel cameras, but Sheriff Gonzales refused and no equipment was ever purchased. It took the New Mexico legislature to mandate lapel camera usage before Gonzales agreed to it.

Sheriff Gonzales for years resisted civilian oversight often ignoring the citizen advisory board recommendations. Sheriff Gonzales’ resistance to the U.S. Supreme Court mandated disclosures of police misconduct of officers who testify in court reflects an archaic philosophy.

Gonzales acts as if a badge gives him a license to practice law and he actions reflect that he feels law enforcement is above the law. As Mayor confronted with a health crisis such as a pandemic, he no doubt will be empowered to decide on his own what the public needs to do or not do.

It is not even certain he will listen to the courts and do what they tell him whenever the time comes to it. His resistance to cooperate with the District Attorney’s Office and disclose what is required to be disclosed by the US Supreme Court indicates he feels law enforcement is above the law.

As Mayor, he will likely ignore the City Council, ignore the Police Oversight Board and Civilian Policing Councils saying they did not elect him. He will also likely do what he can to ignore the federal Court Approved Settlement Agreement and the reforms, saying he did not agree to them and as a former law enforcement official he feels the CASA has been a disaster.

VOTERS WILL DECIDE IF WE NEED A RELIC

The deaths of Fidencio Duran, Robert Chavez, Martin Jim, and Elisha Lucero as well as the shooting injuries to Isaac Padilla, Shawntay Ortiz and his four-year-old son were all preventable had BCSO Sheriff’s Deputies been properly trained in constitutional policing practices. In this day and age of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter Movement, there is absolutely no excuse for BCSO to be involved with racial profiling cases involving any minority. A Mayor Gonzales will likely always go to the defense of any APD police officers defending their actions even when they violate constitutional policing practices that result in someone’s death.

As Mayor, Manny Gonzales will bring to the table his law enforcement credentials and his archaic law enforcement philosophy but that’s it. Sheriff Manny Gonzales has shown himself to be a law enforcement relic to by gone days. Voters need to decide if Gonzales is what we need now as Mayor, but do not expect too much if he wins and do not be surprised when things get worse.

A link to a related Dinelli blog article is here:

Der Führer Trump’s Favorite Democrat Sherriff Manny Gonzales Runs For Mayor; A DINO And Law Enforcement Dinosaur

The election for Albuquerque Mayor is on Tuesday, November 2. On the ballot for Mayor are progressive Democrat Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, conservative Democrat Sheriff Manny Gonzales and Republican Trump radio talk show host Eddy Aragon.

On October 6, the Albquerquerqu Journal published a front-page article with the headline “Aragon decries ‘gimmicky’ promises on crime”. The article was written Journal Staff writer Matthew Reisen. The link to the full article is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435910/aragon-decries-gimmicky-promises-on-crime.html

This blog article is an analysis of Eddy Aragon’s comments and positions on issues reflecting that he is a “QAnon” conspiracy candidate in the 2021 Albuquerque mayor’s race.

HIGHLIGHTS OF ABQ JOURNAL ARTICLE

The most disturbing major highlights and comments made by Eddy Aragon in the October 6 Albuquerque Journal article as it pertains to this blog article are as follows:

…

At times, Aragon also makes unverifiable claims about controversial topics — one being that attempts to take down the Juan de Oñate statue were a “complete and total setup” to “steer the masses.” That protest, in June 2020, made national headlines after it ended with a man being shot multiple times. He did not respond when asked to elaborate further.

Aragon also asserts that much of the crime in Albuquerque is tied to cartels, a certain faction of the homeless population and corruption. He said that, as mayor, he would expose those in organized crime who work with city government and cartels to “control the streets.”

Asked to identify the people he says are working with city government and the cartels to control the streets, Aragon declines [to answer or elaborate and said]:

“I want to at least make it to the election. … I constantly say I’ll either be murdered or I’ll become mayor. …”

The televisions in Aragon’s studio — where he currently resides — are kept on such networks as One America News Network. Conservative pundit Steve Bannon is often on the screen.

Aragon is an outspoken fan of former President Trump and, where crime is concerned, said he admired the way Rudy Giuliani cracked down on crime as mayor of New York.

…

OTHER MAJOR HIGHLIGHTS

Other major highlights of the article are as follows:

“The conservative radio host turned mayoral candidate said he hates what he considers dog-and-pony shows on crime-fighting efforts put on by Mayor Tim Keller’s administration. Aragon called the promises to lower crime “gimmicky.”
…
Unlike his opponents, Mayor Keller and Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales, Aragon has never run a city or a sheriff’s department. He said he has, however, kept a pulse of crime in Albuquerque through news articles, officers who confide in him, his listeners and residents …

Aragon said he believes the key to solving Albuquerque’s crime problem involves taking better care of officers, rebuilding specialized units and offering a more hands-on approach with reform efforts. To do so, he said he would enlist a council of people, mostly retired law enforcement, to inform his decisions on police and crime.
…

Aragon said 1,500 officers are needed to patrol the streets of Albuquerque. To reach that number, he said, officers need to feel appreciated. APD currently has about 900 officers.
…
He said he would “immediately” reallocate $18 million from unscheduled overtime pay to give officers a bonus, up to $18,000 for some, without increasing taxes. When pressed for details, Aragon said he would make the directive, and work with the department and union to figure out specifics.

He said he would also pass a no settlement policy on lawsuits to support officers and would “forensically” audit the department top to bottom to get a picture of what they’re doing day to day and “better help them.”
…
Aragon said he would also get involved in the Department of Justice reform effort by building a better relationship with the independent monitor and being “more combative” to advocate for the police officers.
…
Regarding the police union, Aragon said he would be in constant communication to get the “pulse” of officers, but establish healthy boundaries so they aren’t “controlling” him.

Aragon said the only measure of success in fighting crime is lowering “every single category.” The answer is not to hide behind national trends, he said.

Aragon said he would employ a multi-faceted approach to fighting crime and doesn’t believe in ShotSpotter devices or gun buybacks. He said he would focus on violent crime by staffing special units, particularly the gang unit. Aragon said he would also have officers assigned to specific neighborhoods, not moving from place to place.

Aragon said he would make sure police dispatch is better staffed so people are not waiting for help. He said he would have officers arrest people on misdemeanors to keep track of “the build-up of crime that happens over time.”

Aragon … claimed a significant portion of crime in Albuquerque is tied to homeless people, but that he is not trying to criminalize the population.
Aragon said many homeless people need help with drug and mental health issues, and that he would offer that. He said he would target those who “choose” to be homeless, and exploit others through rape and violence. …

EDDY ARAGON IN HIS OWN WORDS

Aragon is quoted as saying in the October 6 Journal article:

“It’s important for us to understand what the real problems are, I don’t know that we do … I’m the best option because, essentially, I’m going to be there to listen … and make quick decisions.”

“I love everything about Albuquerque, I just hate where we’re at right now. Way too much finger-pointing, not enough … problem-solving. … And I think I could do it in a very short time. I don’t believe in force. I believe in flow; we need to change the direction we’re going in.”

Aragon makes outlandish claims about controversial topics including that attempts to take down the Juan de Oñate statue were a “complete and total setup” to “steer the masses.”

Asked to identify the people he says are working with city government and the cartels to control the streets, Aragon says:

“I want to at least make it to the election. … I constantly say I’ll either be murdered or I’ll become mayor. …”

“People need to trust police officers again, we need to get back to re-funding the police … build morale, let them know they’re fully supported. … I don’t know if [APD Officers are] spending five hours filling out paperwork or five hours out on the street. And the fact is that nobody really knows any of these things.”

“[The Department of Justice settlement] is something that I will have to deal with, and the only way that I can do that is by picking up the phone and saying, ‘this is unreasonable. This is a bit too much. … You want to ask for forgiveness, never for permission. The thing is, we’ve given them permission to do absolutely everything.”

“We’ve got to do a better job of knowing who our criminals are.”

“… we need to understand the paradigms of the crimes that are out there. That can be communicated more effectively by the mayor, instead of hiding and saying, ‘Well, here’s what we’re improving.’ ”

“GIMMICKY” PLEDGE TO CUT HOMICIDES BY 50% AND HOMELESSNESS BY 75%

On October 6, Eddy Aragon announced a one-term “ultimatum” to Albuquerque voters promising to cut homicides by 50% and to reduce homelessness by 75%. He further pledged that if he fails, he will not seek reelection in 2025. He argues that for 4 years Mayor Tim Keller has promised to turn our police department around and ran in 2017 on fighting crime and making Albuquerque safe. According to the Aragon post “That’s a promise, and it’s a promise no politician would make, because no politician dares to bet their career on the outcome of the policies they implement.

The link to the challenge is here:

https://www.rockoftalk.chat/p/eddys-one-term-promise-to-save-our?r=bil78&utm%20campaign=post&utm%20medium=web&utm%20souce=

OTHER TROUBLING COMMENTS AND POSITIONS

ARAGON OPPOSES VACCINATIONS

On Monday, August 23, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) granted full approval to Pfizer and BioNTech’s Covid-19 vaccine making it the first in the United States to win the coveted designation and giving even more businesses, schools and universities greater confidence to adopt vaccine mandates.

On August 28, during a Near North Valley Coalition Mayoral forum held live in real time and posted on Youtube, Aragon boasted to the audience he has not been vaccinated. The single most obscene argument made by Aragon during the debate for not taking the vaccine was his sick or very warped use of the term “my body, my right to choose” a term used by people who support the “right to choose” when it comes to abortion.

A person has every right to choose not to take any vaccine to protect themselves from a disease, but there is absolutely no constitutional right to catch a contagious disease and then spread it to others resulting in death. A woman’s right to choose should never be compared on the same level as receiving inoculation for a contagious disease.

The You Tube link to the debate is here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4MNNOYT9wYs

Aragon has also said he opposes a vaccine mandate for the city’s workforce.

OTHER ARAGON CRAZY TALK

Aragon has aggressively promoted himself as the only Republican in the Mayor’s race. According to Aragon:

“I will do my best to continue to fight our fight [of opposing progressives] so we can keep some level of balance. Anything that’s great in this country has always been achieved through argument and conflict and confrontation, but also a certain level of compromise that comes out organically by people presenting their arguments or choices.”

When you examine what Aragon has said, the only thing certain is that there is no level of compromise with him as he offends and goes on the vicious attack of all Democrats and progressives.

As Mayor, there is no doubt Eddy Aragon will seek to defeat Democrats at all levels, something he has done in the past. Conservative radio talk show host Eddy Aragon has:

1. Called for the election of conservative republicans to “save Albuquerque” by electing 3 of 5 city councilors in 2021.
2. He has said the only way Republicans can take back New Mexico is to take back Albuquerque.
3. Aragon has called for the removal of the Democratic majorities in the New Mexico House by “flipping” 8 Albuquerque House seats.
4. Aragon has called for removal of Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham by nominating the strongest Republican Governor candidate.
5. Aragon has said that Republicans need to fight democrats and do battle with Democrats on “every one of their agenda items”
6. Aragon has a proclaimed he has over 13,000 signatures to impeach Governor Lujan Grisham.
7. Aragon has boldly proclaimed that he is “widely known” as Trump’s biggest supporter and most vocal in New Mexico.

The link to the source material is here:

https://www.rockoftalk.chat/p/eddy-aragons-final-letter-to-republican

OPPOSES “IMMIGRANT FRIENDLY” POLICIES

Aragon’s pledge to conservative Trump Republican to “fight our fight” against progressives extends to the city’s “immigrant friendly” policies arguing they lean too far to the left under Mayor Tim Keller.

The city has never been a “sanctuary city”. A “sanctuary city” denies cooperation with federal immigration officials and does not use city law enforcement resources to identify or apprehend illegal immigrants and does not use city law enforcement resources to enforce immigration laws.

In 2001 the Albuquerque City Council enacted a resolution that declared Albuquerque an “immigrant friendly” city. Albuquerque’s “immigrant friendly” designation welcomes immigrants to the city and is largely symbolic. In February, 2017, the City Council enacted a symbolic memorial that reaffirmed that Albuquerque’s “immigrant friendly” status, but not as a “sanctuary city”.

Policies and programs that Aragon likely opposes is the “Office of Equity and Inclusion”, which is the former Human Rights Office and the Office of Immigrant & Refugee Affairs. Both offices are critical to a city as diversified as Albuquerque, but Aragon no doubt feels the city is helping the undocumented who should be arrested and deported for seeking refuge in the United States.

PANDEMIC HEALTH CARE ORDERS

Aragon’s pledge to conservative Trump Republicans to continue to “fight our fight” against progressives extends to pandemic-related business lockdowns. As Mayor there is absolutely nothing Aragon could do to stop such closures if they are in fact ordered again. If he tries, he will likely be slapped silly with a civil lawsuit and then be fined for violating public health care closure orders.

It is recommended that Aragon pick up the phone and call Grants Mayor Martin “Modey” Hicks who vowed to defy the governor’s lockdown orders that shuttered nonessential shops to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. On May 28, 2020, the New Mexico Supreme Court granted the writ against the unhinged Grants Mayor Hicks that was sought by Attorney General Hector Balderas, prohibiting him from operating city facilities in defiance of state public health orders and prohibiting him from issuing directives that contradicted the health care orders. The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled that the New Mexico Department of Health has the authority to enforce emergency public health orders and may issue a civil penalty of $5,000 per day.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1460567/court-grants-mayor-must-follow-health-orders-ex-mayor-had-urged-local-businesses-to-defy-the-governors-ruling.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/coronavirus-grants-new-mexico-mayor-martin-hicks-showdown-police-lockdown/

The New Mexico “Public Health Act” (NMPHA), and the “Public Health Emergency Response Act” (PHERA) give the Governor broad powers to mandate closures.

Links to review the entire Public Health Act can be found are here:

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2013/chapter-24/article-1/

https://www.lawserver.com/law/state/new-mexico/nmstatutes/new_mexico_statutes_24-1-1
Link to the New Mexico Public Health Emergency Response Act is here:

https://law.justia.com/codes/new-mexico/2006/nmrc/jd_ch12art10a-712b.html

FACT CHECK ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY

There should be absolutely no doubt that Eddy Aragon is a “QAnon” candidate in this year’s Mayor’s race. That is the only conclusion any reasonable voter can come to with Aragon’s far-right centered, unverifiable claims about controversial topics such as the attempts to take down the Juan de Oñate statue as a “complete and total setup” to “steer the masses” without providing any evidence of his claims.

ARAGON’S OTHER CRAZY TALK

Aragon talks “crazy” when he does not elaborate or provide any proof and proclaims crime in Albuquerque is tied to cartels, a certain faction of the homeless population and government corruption. It’s crazy talk when he says as mayor, he would expose those in organized crime who work with city government and cartels to “control the streets” and tells the Journal:

“I want to at least make it to the election. … I constantly say I’ll either be murdered or I’ll become mayor. …”

Then there is Eddy Aragon’s outlandish promises he will cut homicides by 50% and reduce homelessness by 75%, yet Aragon himself called the promises to lower crime “gimmicky.” Aragon offers absolutely no explanation how he would stop homicides by 50%, what mandates or orders he will issue to APD nor how he will reduce homelessness by 75%. All he does is say he would just not run again in 2022 if he is not successful.

INGNORANCE OF APD

Aragon’s crazy talk extends to APD when says “we need to get back to re-funding the police” and he reveals his total ignorance of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). On May 17, the Albuquerque City Council voted unanimously to approve the 2021-2022 APD budget of over $227 million city budget. The city has never “de-funded” APD as Aragon is implying.

The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is the largest budget department in the city out of 27 departments. The 2021-2022 APD Budget provides funding for 1,100 sworn positions and 592 civilian support positions for a total of 1,692 full-time positions or approximately one fourth of the city’s total of 6,400 employees. It also includes funding for new positions, including 11 investigators to support internal affairs and the department’s reform obligations under the Federal Court Approved Settlement Agreement.

When Aragon said he would also have “officers assigned to specific neighborhoods, not moving from place to place”,he ostensibly does not know that APD does exactly that with 6 area commands, 6 substations and has community outreach programs. He obviously is not aware that there are 6 community policing councils (CPCs) made up of community civilian volunteer boards who met once a month and are given crime statistical reports for the neighborhoods by APD commanders and sergeants.

Aragon shows his total ignorance of the Judicial system when he says:

“[The Department of Justice settlement] is something that I will have to deal with, and the only way that I can do that is by picking up the phone and saying, ‘this is unreasonable. This is a bit too much. … You want to ask for forgiveness, never for permission. The thing is, we’ve given them permission to do absolutely everything”.

He does not understand that the consent decree and all its terms were fully negotiated by the city after the Justice Department found a pattern of excessive use of force and deadly force and a culture of aggression. The settlement does not give the Federal Court nor the Federal Monitor any management nor control over APD, its personnel or standard operating procedures. It’s up the Mayor and APD to implement the reforms and “picking up a phone” is not going to get APD out of the consent decree. What is needed is a court hearing with the presentation of evidence, not just hearsay, that the consent decree needs to be modified.

WILL ARAGON CONCEDE THE RACE?

Eddy Aragon goes out of his way to point out that he is a staunch supporter of Der Führer Trump to the point that the televisions in Aragon’s radio station studio where he lives are kept on TV networks as One America News Network with conservative pundit Steve Bannon often on the screen. The Journal never asked Aragon if he feels Der Führer Trump won the 2020 election and if he feels President Biden stole the election. Aragon was not asked if he loses the Mayor’s race if he will concede or if he will say it was stolen from him.

Aragon is as qualified to be Mayor of Albuquerque as much as Der Führer Trump was to be President, which is not qualified at all. Aragon would be just as big of a disaster as the Trump crazy.

Aragon with his talk show is on the same level as FOX News and the likes of Sean Hannity. Aragon enjoys badgering and taking issue with anyone who is Democrat or he considers progressive.

Aragon also says:

“I’m going to be there to listen … and make quick decisions. … I don’t believe in force. I believe in flow; we need to change the direction we’re going in.”

The only flow we get from Aragon is the sewage coming from his big mouth, like Der Führer Trump he admires so much, as he indicates he will be shooting from the hip to make quick decisions.

FINAL COMMENTARY

Eddy Aragon’s claims and promises are divisive and are meaningless. Aragon is as qualified to be Mayor of Albuquerque as much as Der Führer Trump was to be President, which is not qualified at all. As any carpenter would say applying a level to his thick wooden head that his “bubble is not centered” and it leans to the right.

Links to related and quoted news articles on Eddy Aragon are here:

Conservative radio show host takes on Dems

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433188/radio-show-host-wants-to-be-city-manager.html
“Q&A mayoral candidate Edward Joseph Aragon Jr.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433178/qa-mayoral-candidate-edward-joseph-aragon-jr.html

The link to a related blog article is here:

Der Führer Trump Radio Shock Jock Eddy Aragon Formally Declares Running For Mayor; Let’s jail grandma to reduce the homeless! And Other Crazy; A Choice Between The Lesser Of 2 Evils And 1 Crazy Trumpster Is No Choice At All

The 2021 Albuquerque Municipal election is Tuesday, November 2, 2021. On the ballot this year will be the 5 odd numbered city council districts of the 9 city council seats. The council seats up for election are City Council seats 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9.

In City Council District 3, which is the Southwest part of Albuquerque, incumbent City Councilor Klarissa Peña, having qualified for the ballot and for public financing, is running unopposed and is elected upon receiving one vote.

On October 5, 6, 7 and 8, the Albquerquerqu Journal published their customary candidate profiles articles written by staff reporters. The paper also published “Question and Answer” articles with the responses written by the candidates . Below are the profile articles with the dates and headlines followed by the “Question and Answer” articles with links to the articles.

OCTOBER 5: DISTICT 1 (ALBUQUERQUE’S CENTRAL WEST SIDE)

HEADLINE: “District 1 council candidates say crime is top issue”
BY RICK NATHANSON / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435302/district-1-candidates-say-crime-is-top-issue.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 1 LAN SENA
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433949/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-1-lan-sena.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 1 LOUIE SANDCHEZ
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433945/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-1-louie-sanchez.html

OCTOBER 6: DISTRICT 7 (ALBUQUERQUE’S MID-HEIGHTS INCLUDING UPTOWN AND PARTS OF THE NEAR NORTHEAST HEIGHTS)

HEADLINE: Six vying for open seat in District 7 City Council
BY OLIVIER UYTTEBROUCK / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435572/six-vying-for-open-seat-in-city-council-district-7.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 7 EMILIE DE ANGELIS
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433970/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-7-emilie-de-angelis.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 7 TAMMY FIEBELKORN
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433978/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-7-tammy-fiebelkorn.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 7 TRAVIS KELLERMAN
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433983/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-7-travis-kellerman.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 7 MAURI MONTOYA
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433996/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-7-mauro-montoya.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 7 LORI ROBERSTON
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433986/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-7-lori-robertson.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 7 ANDRES VALDEZ
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435940/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-7.html

OCTOBER 7: DISTRICT 9 (FAR SOUTHEAST HEIGHTS AND FOOTHILLS)

HEADLINE: Newcomers vie for District 9 Council seat
BY RYAN BOETEL / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

https://www.abqjournal.com/2435908/newcomers-vie-for-district-9-council-seat.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 9 ROB GRILLY
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433988/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-9-rob-grilley.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 9 RENEE GROUT
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433991/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-9-renee-grout.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 9 BYRON POWDRELL
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433993/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-9-byron-powdrell.html

OCTOBER 8: DISTRICT 5 NORTHWEST PART OF ALBUQUERQUE

HEADLINE: Three vie for West Side seat on Albuquerque City Council
BY JESSICA DYER / JOURNAL STAFF WRITER

https://www.abqjournal.com/2436193/three-vie-for-west-side-seat-on-albuquerque-city-council.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 5 CYNTHIA BORREGGO
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433940/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-5-cynthia-borrego.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 5 DAN LEWIS
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433936/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-5-dan-lewis.html

Q&A Albuquerque City Council District 5 PHILLIP RAMIREZ
BY THE CANDIDATE

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433958/qa-albuquerque-city-council-district-5-phillip-ramirez.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The voting public owes a debt of gratitude to the Albuquerque Journal for publishing the articles in that such articles on city council races are few and far between and virtually none existent by the local TV stations other than perhaps announcements by the candidates.

As the saying goes, if you don’t vote, don’t complain.

Please vote on November 2.

In a July presentation, former Children, Youth and Families Secretary Brian Blalock testified before the New Mexico Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) saying that New Mexico is below the national average in both child abuse-related fatalities and child maltreatment. He testified that the statistics were based on state Department of Health data. Blalock also submitted a slide presentation outlining the statistics.

After his presentation, lawmakers on the committee raised concerns with LFC staff that Blalock had provided inaccurate statistics at the July hearing. It turns out that the statistics Blalock gave to the committee were seriously flawed if not outright false.

CORRECTED STATISTICS AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Staff of the Legislative Finance Committee did a follow up review of the statistics. Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) Director David Abbey wrote in a report memo dated September 23 to committee lawmakers that child abuse deaths in New Mexico were in fact some of the worst in the nation. Abbey’s memo outlined 3 major factors:

1. The rate of child maltreatment fatalities in New Mexico more than doubled from 2.3 per 1,000 children in 2019 to 4.8 in 2020.

2. New Mexico has the second-highest percentage of children suffering from repeat maltreatment in the nation. In 2019, about 12% of the state’s children who were victims of maltreatment had another case of maltreatment within six months, higher than every state but New York.

3. The maltreatment rate in New Mexico stood at 16.9 per 1,000 children in 2019, sixth highest in the nation and well above the national average of 8.9.

OTHER PROBLEMS NOTED

Abbey noted that the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) has struggled with staff vacancies and high turnover in key leadership positions. The memo noted the Children, Youth and Families Department has an inspector general tasked with a broad range of oversight, including staff misconduct, but the Inspector General’s Office does not publicize its work, it has a 33% vacancy rate and “possesses an inherent conflict of interest” because it falls under the Cabinet secretary. The agency has a new Office of Children’s Rights, the memo said, but its first director has been dismissed.

Abbey also wrote that agency oversight needs dramatic improvement. According to the memo:

“There are numerous oversight mechanisms external to CYFD but [these] are either inadequate or provide dated information to the public. … External to CYFD at the state level, a number of oversight mechanisms exist. CYFD participates in existing child fatality review panels including the Child Fatality Review Board (CFRB) and the Maternal Mortality Review (MMR). However, reports to the public from these panels have been lacking with the CFRB not having released a report since 2015.”

On Tuesday September 23, Abby’s memo was given to an interim Courts, Correction and Justice Committee hearing during to support a recommendation to create an ombudsman position or office within CYFD.

The recommendations made by Abbey include:

1. Identify a permanent protective services director to replace an acting director — or promote the acting director to the permanent position.

2. Implement research-based hiring practices, including using information from exit surveys to identify issues affecting worker retention.

3. Continue with a pilot of “differential response” to child welfare issues — which involves assessing families, identifying needs and finding support through community services — and provide a plan for expansion.

4. Incorporate federal child maltreatment death reporting into public reporting documents to increase transparency.

5. Place a heavier focus on evidence-based prevention and early intervention resources.

Links to quoted news source materials are here:

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/data-on-child-abuse-in-question-at-new-mexico-cyfd/article_2515070a-206f-11ec-89b1-0f398885957b.html

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/data-on-child-abuse-in-new-mexico-called-into-question/6254106/?cat=500

https://www.abqjournal.com/2433899/report-nm-ranks-among-nations-worst-in-child-abuse.html

CYFD SECRETARY BRIAN BLALOCK’S TROUBLED TENURE

It was on August 10 that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the resignation of Brian Blalock as ,secretary of the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department. The sudden departure was the ending of Blalock’s turbulent 18-month management over the agency responsible for child welfare in New Mexico.

During a press conference announcing his resignation, Governor Lujan Grisham said she had grown concerned over a number of “administrative missteps” Blalock had made, including his policy of using the encrypted messaging app called “Signa” to conduct official state business. When the policy was revealed in April, it ignited a flurry of criticism from attorneys, child advocates and legislators on both sides of the aisle.

The 18-month tenure of Brian Blalock as Secretary of CYFD was very rocky and controversial at best. CYFD came under intense criticism for its handling of a number of deaths of children in CYFD custody. Blalock was also accused in a whistleblower lawsuit of firing and reprimanding employees who raised questions and concerns about a no-bid computer system contract. Just before Blalock’s arrival, New Mexico was also sued over a massive foster-care lawsuit brought by 14 children, alleging that CYFD was traumatizing the roughly 4,700 youth in its care.

According to the Governor, Blalock’s departure was “a mutually agreed-upon decision. However, he said his reason for leaving was to support his wife as she pursues a new job opportunity in California.” Governor Lujan Grisham replaced Blalock with former state Supreme Court Justice Barbara Vigil.

https://searchlightnm.org/cyfd-secretary-replaced-by-former-nm-supreme-court-justice/

“KIDS COUNT” DATA BOOK

It should come as absolutely no surprise to anyone that the Legislative Finance Committee and its staff easily picked up on the misleading and false statistics provided by former Secretary Brian Blalock in the July hearing. The statistics provided by Blalock did not make sense when compared to the information provided the month before in the annual “Kids Count Data Book”, statistics that the CYFD and the LFC staff also had. For that reason, those statistics merit review.

On June 21, the annual “Kids Count” data book prepared by the Annie E. Casey Foundation was release containing the data from 2019 the most recent statistics available. The Casey foundation is a nonprofit based in Maryland focusing on improving the well-being and future of American children and their families. State rankings by the nonprofit are based on 16 indicators that measure and track the well-being of children and their families in the domains of economic well-being, education, health, and family and community.

The links to the Kids Count Data Book is here:

https://datacenter.kidscount.org/

https://datacenter.kidscount.org/publications

EDITOR’S NOTE: Because the statistics released are for 2019, they do not reflect changes that may be attributed to the COVID-19 pandemic.

2021 KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK ON 2019 STATISTICS

New Mexico’s national child well-being ranking went from 50th to 49th displacing Mississippi, and following Louisiana. New Mexico overall was worse than the U.S. average in most of the categories measured .

Following are New Mexico’s statistics gleaned from the 2021 Kid Count Data Book:

NEW MEXICO RANKING OVERALL: 49th

ECONOMIC WELL BEING FOR CHILDREN

New Mexico Ranking: 48TH

25% of New Mexico Children are living in poverty
116,000 children live in poverty
32% of New Mexico children’s have parents that lack secure employment
115,000 children’s parents lack secure employment
11% of New Mexico’s teens are not school and are not working
12,000 teens are not school and are not working

EDUCATION:

New Mexico Ranking: 50th

76% of New Mexico’s fourth graders are not proficient in reading
79% of New Mexico’s eighth graders are not proficient in reading
25% of New Mexico’s high school students do not graduate on time

HEALTH

New Mexico Ranking: 37th

9.3% low birth weights for children born in New Mexico
2,124 total children born in New Mexico with low birth weights
6% of New Mexico children are without health insurance
29,000 total New Mexico children without health insurance
36 is New Mexico’s child and teen death rates per 100,000

FAMILY AND COMMUNITY

New Mexico Ranking: 48%

44% of New Mexico children live in single parent families or 195,000 children living in single parent families
14% of New Mexico children live in families where the household head lacks a high school education or 69,000 children.
24 is New Mexico’s teen birth rate per 1,000 with 1,659 births

2019 COMPARED TO 2018 KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK

Comparing the 2019 data to the 2018 data, New Mexico’s numbers improved for children in Economic Well-Being” with New Mexico having fewer children living in poverty, fewer children whose parents lack secure employment and fewer teens neither in school nor working.

In the category of Education there were more 8th graders proficient in math and more high school students graduating on time in 2019 than in 2018.

In the category of Family and Community, in 2019 there were fewer children living in families where the head of household lacked a high school diploma, fewer children living in high poverty areas, and a lower teen birth rate per 1,000 births than in 2018.

In 2019, there was no improvement over 2018 in the category of Health. However New Mexico’s national ranking in Health improved from 41st to 37th.

2019, 2018, 2016 KIDS COUNT DATA BOOK COMPARISONS

It was in 2018 that for the first time in five years, New Mexico had fallen to last among states in the categories of Economic, Educational and Medical well-being of its children.
According to the 2018 Kids Count Data Book, 30% of New Mexico’s children were living in poverty in 2016, compared to 19% nationwide that year. In 2019 things have improve slightly by 5% with 25% of New Mexico’s children living in poverty.

In Education the report the 2018 report said 75% of the state’s fourth-graders were not proficient in reading in 2017, compared to 65% nationally, and 80% of eighth-graders were not performing up to par in math in 2017, compared to 67% across the U.S. In 2019, New Mexico now has hit rock bottom ranking 50th in the country for Education.

The most troubling in the 2018 Kids Count Data Book was New Mexico’s steep drop in ranking for health care measures. In 2019, things have improved in the Health category with New Mexico ranking 37th .

http://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/education/report-new-mexico-ranks-last-in-child-well-being/article_0f6865fc-d34a-5050-9f74-21680e98a2a5.html

STAGGERING WINFALL MEANS FUNDING AVAILABLE

On Friday, August 28, during a Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) held in Taos, it was revealed that the State is experiencing an all-time high windfall of more than nearly $1 billion higher than what was projected in February of this year. The estimates released to the legislative committee by executive and legislative economists project that New Mexico will have nearly $1.4 billion in additional money in the coming year. The $1.4 Billion is the difference between expected revenue and the state’s current $7.4 billion budget. The cause of the windfall is surging oil and natural gas production and a rise in consumer spending.

The projected revenue total does not include more than $1.5 billion that will automatically flow into a state “rainy day” fund and an early childhood endowment fund over the next two years. It also does not include the $1.75 billion in federal relief funds that have only been partially earmarked by the Lujan Grisham administration.

According to a report to the Legislative Finance Committee:

“Revenues are up $851.3 million from the February 2021 estimate, due primarily to higher-than-expected gross receipts tax and income tax collections that accompanied increased consumer spending and growth in high- and mid-wage employment in the first half of 2021. … Additionally, strong recovery in the oil and gas markets are pushing severance tax and federal royalty collections well above their five-year averages, resulting in large transfers to the newly created early childhood trust fund.”

The incredible amounts of new money in the billions can be summarized as follows:

–$1.4 billion forecast to come in over the state’s current $7.4 billion General Fund budget.

–$1.5 billion forecast to go into the state’s revenue stabilization and early childhood education funds in the next two years.

–$1.75 billion in federal Covid relief money.

–The state’s Land Grant Permanent Fund, which benefits from the energy bull market as well as the stock market, now stands at a stunning $24 billion.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The rankings and financial numbers are depressing and staggering:

The rate of child maltreatment fatalities in New Mexico more than doubled from 2.3 per 1,000 children in 2019 to 4.8 in 2020.

New Mexico has the second-highest percentage of children suffering from repeat maltreatment in the nation. In 2019, about 12% of the state’s children who were victims of maltreatment had another case of maltreatment within six months, higher than every state but New York.

The maltreatment rate in New Mexico stood at 16.9 per 1,000 children in 2019, sixth highest in the nation and well above the national average of 8.9.

New Mexico ranks 50th in education. Despite the millions being spent each year on the state’s public education system, 76% of all New Mexico’s fourth graders are not proficient in reading and 79% of all eighth graders and not proficient in reading. For our native American population it’s even worse with 82.4% were not proficient in reading and their 89% are not proficient in math.

25% of New Mexico’s children are living in poverty, with New Mexico ranking 48th in Economic Well Being.

Child and teen death rates have skyrocketed reflecting 36 deaths per 100,000 in 2019 as opposed to 28 in 2013.

The number of low birthweight babies has increased slightly from 8.9% in 2013 to 9.3% in 2019.

The number of teens who still are not working and not in school has also increase slightly going from 10% in 2013 to 11% in 2019.

CONCLUSION

Albuquerque and New Mexico, and all of its leaders, have a moral obligation to do something to address poverty, children living in poverty and to protect our most venerable population, its children. Instead of wringing of the hands and lamenting the plight of our children, the Governor and the Legislature now have a unique opportunity to do something. With the windfall projected in State revenues in the billions of dollars, the state’s leaders need to act aggressively to protect our children’s health and well being.

The link to a related blog article is here:

“Kids Count” Data Book: New Mexico Still At The Bottom With Our Kids As State Ranks 49th Overall, 50th In Education And 48th In Economic Well Being