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Monday, October 20, 2025The Hesitant Hull; Rio Rancho GOP Mayor Says He Is Officially In Guv Race But Doesn't Rule Out Another Run For Mayor, Plus: Our Free Spending Dem Guv Hopefuls, And: From SGR To MTO
In finally making his candidacy "official" after a false start Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull came with a video. So he's finally all in, right? Nope. Hull is again hedging his bets with this statement that ran as the final sentence in a report about his announcement: Hull’s current term as mayor runs through March’s local election in Rio Rancho, and he has not decided whether he will seek another term as he also pursues his gubernatorial campaign. Say what? Hull is going to run for Governor but could still be a candidate for mayor in the March 2026 Rio Rancho mayoral election where he would be seeking a fourth term? So if a political heavyweight makes a late entry into the race does that mean Hull pushes the button on the escape hatch and runs for mayor instead? Or does he get completely unserious and run for both offices at the same time? THE HULL HESITANCY This is the not the first time that Hull has pulled back from what any reasonable observer would conclude is an unequivocal run for for Governor: First he announced he would make his candidacy official on June 2, but then--as we reported--pulled that back: The middle of the road Republican has sent out an enigmatic news release saying that he delayed his planned June 2 formal announcement. That could set the stage for his withdrawal from the race, if things don't start looking up. From the release: Hull. . .will continue engaging with voters and community leaders. . .ahead of an anticipated formal campaign launch. Originally eyeing June 2 the campaign is choosing to extend its listening tour to ensure that our platform reflects the real concerns, hopes, and priorities of New Mexicans. . . Then came July 31 when Hull released a "launch video" that affirmed his candidacy, saying: Despite unfounded rumors, I am reaching out to you to confirm my commitment. But as we wrote at the time, the "rumors" were anything but unfounded. The Alligators don't play around with the future of the Governor's office. And we we responded: Hull, not ready to get in, erred by going public with a planned announcement date and then bailing out. It was his action that caused the "rumors" and cast a shadow over his steadiness and decision-making process. And here we go again. The deadline to file for Rio Rancho Mayor is January 6, leaving open the possibility that the third time is not the charm when it comes to the hesitancy of Hull. But isn't the Governor's race about the fortunes of the people of New Mexico and not the fate of a politician's career? Mayor, for your obvious fence-sitting and hedge betting, you are the victim of a self-inflicted Alligator Strike. Congrats. . . or something. FREE SPENDERS  Deb Haaland now reports raising a total of $7 million for her campaign but has only $2.8 million in cash on hand, a spend down of 60 percent. For what? It's not as though she has been in a massive paid media war. The primary isn't until next June. Dem Sam Bregman has raised a total of $3.15 million and reports only $1.5 million in cash. That's less than Haaland but still a 48 percent spend down. Again, why? Haaland ran into consultant trouble when campaign insiders confirmed that she had a falling out with then campaign manager Scott Forrester over his compensation for digital ads. He then departed but it didn't stop the money from flowing like New Year's champagne. The other consultants just picked up where he left off. Bregman's main campaign event of late was the release of a 189 page "Blueprint" for New Mexico but much of it was criticized for coming from state web sites. Where was he and his handsomely paid consultants on that one? In reaction to her massive cash haul Haaland said she is continuing to "listen" to voters about their concerns. One of those could be whether she and Bregman will have as free of a hand managing state finances as they seem to with their own campaigns. The latest finance report of Dem Guv hopeful Ken Miyagishima is here. ALL IN THE FAMILY  That raises the question whether Alex will continue aiding Pop with donations that could be put in a PAC that could then hit some campaign home runs for Bregman. Haaland, a national figure, retains the money lead but because so much of her funds have been spent she can't really hold it over Bregman' s head. To the chagrin of her bevy of consultants who told her otherwise, Bregman is in this for the long game. His problem is getting stuck in the mud of rural New Mexico while she easily conquers progressive bastions in ABQ/Santa Fe. FROM SGR TO MTO Speaking of which, the expected emergence of Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver as the leading candidate for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor--now that Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard has dropped out--is all about vote-rich Bernalillo County.
Garcia Richard proved less resilient than many expected but her husband's bout with cancer combined with an MTO poll (conveniently leaked) that showed her with a big lead were high hurdles. If MTO does defeat ABQ Sen. Harold Pope for the Light Guv nomination--and why would he even stay in at this point--it would not be a blow for Bregman. In fact, even if he did not get along with his running mate--not unusual--she would likely help him in the general election in big BernCo as much as as she would Haaland. But let's not get carried away. As the second banana the SOS is about to find out that when it comes to getting in on the inside of the campaigns for #1, she might have to send out an SOS. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. Thursday, October 16, 2025Kelller "Unflappable" As Three Rivals Pile On At One And Only Mayoral TV Debate; Crime And Homeless Dominate; Sanchez Hit From Two Sides On Immigration; Experts Say Debate Could Solidify Race For Mayor And White
What will be the only televised debate in the ABQ race for mayor was held last night and may have served as group therapy of sorts for so many residents frustrated over crime and homelessness. Those top-of-the-mind subjects consumed well over half the time. But politically our experts said the 60 minute face-off only solidified the likely outcome November 4--a first place finish by Mayor Keller, second for Republican Darren White and a probable December run-off election between them. (Full debate and transcript here. Newspaper report here.) Time and again former Sheriff White, City Councilor Louis Sanchez and former US Attorney Alex Uballez targeted Keller but veteran analyst and Santa Fe attorney Greg Payne said the verbal bruising he received did not land: I don't think anyone laid a glove on Keller. There were numerous jabs that he very easily swatted away. The needle on this campaign barely moved but if it moved at all, it inched toward Keller. He proved pretty much unflappable at blocking the blows coming his way and showed confidence in doing so. AN UNSADDLED SANCHEZ The needle may have moved more noticeably for the fortunes of Councilor Sanchez who was thrown from his saddle by both Keller and White over the hot button issue of immigration. Sanchez launched a spirited attack on Keller's immigration policy, decrying the city's status as a "Sanctuary City" and pointing at Keller and declaring: "You want to protect criminals!" But Sanchez voted against a proposed amendment to Albuquerque's immigrant-friendly policy, which required police cooperation with federal immigration authorities. The decision was part of a Council debate on the city's stance towards immigration enforcement.
Louis, you literally voted for my policy. Like, literally. And no one is protecting murderers. We will arrest anyone who commits murder and we will prosecute them. . .so look at your own voting record. White laughed out loud, nodding his head in agreement over Keller's take down. Conservative Democrat Sanchez has been posing a threat to White's Republican base so he pounced at the chance to bring them home: Louis that law was very clear that you voted on. That change would have said if you were in this country illegally and you were charged with a violent crime . . .it would have required the APD to turn that information over to (federal authorities). You voted against that. You were the deciding vote. So the truth is you voted against it. It may have been a good moment for White to bring home Republicans and nail down second place but not for many other voters, argued Dem consultant David Alcon: Darren White assumed the angry white man position early on, alienating himself from many would-be voters. The Keller camp believes their easiest path to victory is a run-off with Republican White while Uballez and Sanchez would be harder to handle. One of the Mayor's political advisors said of his performance: The mayor managed to fend off his opponents punches that came in strong and wild, while locking them up and landing at least one direct power punch on each opponent. Despite the onslaught against him, Keller stood tall, was forceful but collected and stayed on message. At the end Louie walked into a major assault from Darren in his immigrant friendly vote.
The debate couldn’t make Albuquerque’s choice clearer: voters have a better option than Keller’s doubling down on the status quo and candidates who are running on a platform of complaints about it. Alex Uballez offered real solutions based on years of law enforcement experience like getting to faster 911 response times and investing in young people to prevent crime and violence before it starts. White's campaign said: Darren White was the clear winner of tonight's KOAT mayoral debate. He laid out a bold plan to fight crime and end homelessness. When asked what Albuquerque needs to restore Route 66, White's answer said it all: "A new mayor." Straightforward. Strong. The leader Albuquerque needs. THE ODD COUPLE The two other other mayoral candidates--Dem Mayling Armijo and Eddie Varela--were excluded by KOAT from the debate based on polling and fund-raising. The political odd couple viewed the debate together and commented on it via Facebook. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Wednesday, October 15, 2025More Momentum For Garcia In Santa Fe Mayoral Battle; Newspaper Endorses The Councilor To Succeed Webber, Plus: ABQ Mayoral Money Update: Keller Still In Driver's Seat; Abeyta With Expert Analysis From political correctness to pragmatism. That's what's shaping the race for mayor of Santa as eight candidates compete for voter attention.After eight years of woke progressive leadership from Mayor Alan Webber the city of 90,000 is realizing that problems national in scale show signs of taking hold there and demand much more attention and effective management. That narrative continues to lead to City Councilor Michael Garcia, 46,who has opened up a polling lead with his somewhat bureaucratic messaging and nose to the grindstone approach to city government. Garcia's weekend endorsement from the Santa Fe New Mexican, which shared concerns that your blog has has often expressed about the City Different's future, puts an exclamation point on Garcia's lead: While East Coast travel magazines remain charmed with Santa Fe. . .the mayoral candidates have been in sync with Santa Fe residents in pointing out systemic problems with public safety, homelessness, housing affordability, roads, parks, utilities infrastructure and overall quality of life. . . only one mayoral choice understands the deep-dive challenges facing Santa Fe and the opportunities to reconnect public policies with the public’s interest. . .(Councilor Michael Garcia has) a penchant for launching into complex discussions on policies and procedures. Does he come across as bureaucratic at times? Yes. But when he makes a point, it’s with a deep understanding of governance. . .If elected, Garcia will learn from Webber’s weaknesses. . .Garcia has the intelligence, courage and integrity to represent all of Santa Fe. Only about 20,000 voters are expected to cast a ballot in the Santa Fe election Nov. 4. While newspaper endorsements don't matter much in larger media markets anymore (many papers no longer do them) in smaller boroughs such as Santa Fe there is a closer relationship with readers and the business community and an endorsement can pack some punch. Again, the larger picture is that fighting battles over the obelisk on the Plaza are out. Confronting a much changed socioeconomic landscape with the tools of government are in. GREENE OBJECTS In reaction to the endorsement of Garcia progressive Dem Santa Fe County Commissioner and mayoral hopeful Justin Greene came with this counterpoint: The Santa Fe New Mexican endorsement reflects the same establishment politics that have held our city back for too long. Leadership and management ability are key. Santa Fe knows the issues--what we can’t afford is more delay and excuses. Our city needs someone who can deliver results and move us forward. Our campaign is about action: tackling housing affordability, addressing homelessness with accountability and compassion, and restoring trust at City Hall. The momentum we’re seeing across every district shows that voters are ready for change--and that’s exactly what I’ll deliver as mayor. ABQ MAYOR MONEY
The most important of the money numbers updated in the ABQ mayoral race by the city Tuesday come from ABQ Mayor Tim Keller--the front-runner--who reports $281,000 in cash on hand for the final three weeks of Campaign '25. He reports spending a total of $476,000 of the $757,000 he had to start after becoming the sole candidate to qualify for public financing. The latest reports cover the period September 9, 2025, to October 13. Keller is on the air with a large TV buy. He still has enough cash for more TV, more digital ads and mail. That's the three major legs of a complete media campaign and he is the only candidate as of today who has the resources to do one effectively. Republican Darren White reports he has cash on hand of $154,000. He also reports a $20,000 personal loan to get there. He reports total fund-raising of $270,000 and expenditures of $117,000. Peterson Properties came with a $5,000 contribution. Louie Sanchez reports just $68,000 in cash, has raised a total of $307,000 including a $150,000 personal loan. Jewelry Market and Supply gave him $6,000 as did former NMGOP Chair and oilman Harvey Yates Alex Uballez reports reports $110,000 in cash on hand, raised $194,000 and spent $138,000. Mayling Armijo reports $58,000 in cash on hand and raising $137,000 total. Eddie Varela reports just $8,4000 in cash and reported raising $22,000 of which $10,000 came from a personal loan. The numbers give Keller plenty of elbow room for media buys. There is also a PAC out there supporting him that reported in September having $120,000 in cash. We await updated numbers. UPDATE: The Ascend ABQ PAC now reports $160,000 in cash on hand, up from the $120K, most of which could drop for Keller in the final three weeks. White has enough money for some more TV but key Republicans like Harvey Yates, business leader Carla Sonntag and former GOP mayoral candidate Michelle Garcia Holmes are supporting conservative Dem Louie Sanchez, making it difficult for him to raise money and get the party behind him. Meanwhile, a consultant with ties to the Keller camp says White has not been up on broadcast TV--meaning KOAT, KOB, or KRQE--but does have a cable buy on Fox News. ABEYTA ANALYSIS
I asked longtime Dem consultant Sisto Abeyta what it would take for Sanchez to overtake Republican White's expected second place showing behind Keller November 4. The top two finishers go to a December 9 run-off if no candidate reaches 50 percent of the vote. To beat White out for second place Sanchez probably needs more than double the cash he has now, a big push to increase Hispanic turnout in his ABQ westside Council district; a targeted campaign to appeal to higher educated Hispanics citywide and then combine those groups with the Republican support that is coming his way and hurting White. With that expert analysis in mind the mayoral race still seems headed for a Keller-White run-off, with Keller likely being stopped short of the 50 percent to avoid a run-off election. Abeyta adds that progressive Democrat Alex Uballez would be the biggest threat to Keller in a run-off by eating into his Democratic base. He says the second biggest threat would be Councilor Sanchez who could unite the Hispanic vote. Keller is seeking an unprecedented third term. That is uncharted territory. Fatigue and dislike of the incumbent can't be discounted and could still make the race more volatile in the final stretch. Tonight at 7 four of the six candidates--Keller, White Uballez and Sanchez--will engage in the only televised debate of the campaign. It will air on KOAT-TV. Mayling Armijo, the only woman candidate on the mayoral ballot, has been excluded by the station because of poor polling numbers. Ditto for Republican Eddie Varela. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Tuesday, October 14, 2025Keller Blasted In First TV Ads From Foes; Sanchez Asks: "Do You Believe A Failed Politician Or Your Own Eyes?" White Declares: "We Need Change Now"
Sanchez counters Keller's first pollyannish ad that pointed to his eight year record and that said he has accomplished a lot more than "the news media is telling you about." In the TV ad Councilor Sanchez, a retired APD officer, coms with a tough response, showing homeless people strewn across city sidewalks and saying this in-your-face evidence is enough to deny Keller a third term. The 30 second ad that our campaign sources report has about $30,000 behind it is airing on broadcast and cable: Narrator: Do you believe a failed politician? Keller: We've made real progress. Narrator: Or your own eyes? Tim Keller is lying, we can see it with our own eyes. And now he says “That’s why we need a little more time.” Eight years has been enough. We deserve better. Louie Sanchez has a plan to clean up our city. Safe streets, more jobs, and a government that works. Vote for change. Vote Louie Sanchez for Mayor. The "lying eyes" reference the Sanchez ad makes is similar to what we wrote on our August 25 blog when we reviewed Keller's annual State of the City Address: "Who are you going to believe, me or your lying eyes?" ABQ Mayor Tim Keller did not cite that famous quote from a Marx brothers movie at his annual State of the City address Saturday but that was the essence of the buoyant half-hour summary he offered to Mr. and Mrs. Albuquerque before a considerable crowd at the ABQ BioPark. So how does the Sanchez ad play politically? He polled at just 6 percent in the late September Journal poll but was getting 12 percent of the Republican vote. It is reasonable to assume that whatever impact his small ad buy has it will be mainly with Republicans because of its unabashed anti-Keller rhetoric and focus on the homeless problem. Undecided GOP voters were at 36 percent in the poll. What the ad will not do is immediately vault Sanchez past leading Republican mayoral candidate Darren White who came in second and polled 16 percent in the Journal poll. However Sanchez is now more of a threat to White for second place. If he can put more financial muscle behind his well-produced, hard-hitting ad there is an outside chance he could displace the former sheriff. None of the candidates are competing with Keller financially who was the only one to qualify for over $750,000 in public campaign funding.
Meanwhile White is making his own play for more conservative votes by going after Keller for making ABQ a "Sanctuary City," a designation White says he would end if elected. His first TV ad, also hard-hitting and with much appeal for the anti-Keller crowd, hammers Keller for the 750 homicides that have taken place during his eight years at the helm as well as "tent cities" that White says he will take down on "day one." The ad says: Over 750 homicides, homeless tent cities everywhere. We need change now. Republican Darren White for Mayor. White tells the audience directly: Eight years of failure is enough. No more sanctuary for criminals and the tent encampments come down on day one. The crisp narration by White displays his experience in broadcasting. No word yet on how much White is spending on the ad but like Sanchez, as of September 8 he had campaign funds of less than $150,000. Polling shows 66 percent of Republicans are with White on the sanctuary issue while overall 51 percent of likely voters back Keller's decision not to have local law enforcement cooperate with ICE. For now the split in the Republican and conservative vote among Sanchez, White, Eddie Varela and Mayling Armijo is good math for Keller who was polling first at 29 percent and is expected to come out on top Election Night. But if any of his foes come with major league dollars in the final weeks things could get more interesting. How much Keller beats his second place competitor by would be key in setting expectations for the run off election that would take place between the top two finishers if no candidate reaches 50 percent. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Monday, October 13, 2025Holiday Rumor Mill Spins Over Who Will Be Next UNM President: MLG's Name Enters The Mix As She Eyes End Of Her Final Term; Far-Fetched Or Plausible? It comes from one of our longtime and politically connected sources who is starting to take more seriously speculation that MLG could possibly become the next president of the University of New Mexico. As we said, that's quite the jaw-dropper. Read on: For the second time and each time from a completely different source, I was told that the announced retirement of UNM President Garnett Stokes retirement is not voluntary and that Paul Blanchard, the Governor's hand-picked chair of the UNM Board of Regents, has been working hard to convince the other regents that Stokes should be replaced with Michelle Lujan Grisham. That would happen when the Governor's term expires next year. If true, I consider this very unwise for our state and our flagship university. MLG's management style is chaotic and intensely personalized--not a good fit for UNM. Keep your antennae out for any corroborating information about this, Joe, and if it seems to be accurate. Consider the optics: UNM run by MLG, Western NM run by Lt. Gov. Howie Morales and Northern NM College already run by former Attorney General Hector Balderas. Who needs academic administrative experience earned by laboring in the field for years when you can hop on the ex-politician escalator and ride to the top in style? Lt. Gov. Morales has long been mentioned a s a possible new WNMU president. An interim president is in place there after scandal deposed his predecessor. A search is underway for a permanent president and that could be Morales who is from Silver City where WNMU is based. The gig pays north of $400,000 in salary and benefits. UNM President Stokes has announced that after eight years as president she will retire in July 2026. MLG's final Guv term ends Dec. 31 of '26. MLG MOVIDA? MLG does not have a Ph.D which is usually the case for a college president but not mandatory and ignored in the past when it comes to tapping prominent political leaders for the job.
The pay for the UNM president job is nothing to sneeze at. Stokes is making $675,000 a year in salary plus perks that include a housing allowance, car, health insurance, travel and a retirement match. Maybe we buried the lead. With that kind of lucrative pay and leadership status up for grabs, it could be right up MLG's alley--but could it be too controversial for UNM to swallow? Interesting stuff from that Alligator. We'll certainly keep our antenna up for any developments. Okay, now back to your holiday. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Thursday, October 09, 2025Time For Another Edition Of Reader Vox Populi; They Write Of Abortion, The Mayoral Race, The Homeless, The Anti-Litter Campaign And More Joe, your report on abortion used soft terminology and glossed over what New Mexico’s health laws really allow. State law permits abortion through all stages of pregnancy, even procedures involving viable babies late in term, with no parental consent for minors. It protects and funds puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and surgeries that remove healthy body parts from youth, and promotes COVID shots for healthy babies at six months. These are not abstract policies—they are codified in law and funded with taxpayer dollars, and the public deserves honest language about them. Another reader with a GOP lean writes: MAYORAL DEBATE A reader identifying as Bobby Griego has armchair analysis of the ABQ mayoral campaign: Joe, I like your solution to the ban by KOAT of mayoral candidates Mayling Armijo and Eddie Varela from the Oct. 15 debate--if the are to be added the time allowance for the debate simply can be extended. Inclusion is generally a good idea, but so is substance. The city has some very critical issues facing it and residents deserve probing questions and detailed answers--not just fluff. Residents are all clear on what the main issues are; what they need are details on how each candidate is going to get that done. That will not happen with six candidates and limited time. Also, I find Mayor Keller's social media appeal for Armijo and Varela's inclusion to be disingenuous. It is clear that what he wants is a watered down debate. He does not want to get into issues and his record too deep. It is also obvious that what is happening is Mayling Armijo is auditioning for a position in a potential Keller third term--likely the ABQ Director of Economic Development. This would allow Terry Brunner to concentrate on being the Chief of Staff and not pull double duty. During the debate Armijo would act as Keller's shield, suck up time, and it will all be over before it actually begins. If Keller really wants to advance democracy and promote transparency during the election, he should agree to more debates. RIO RANCHO FOR KELLER  Joe, I live in Rio Rancho. As a relative new resident of New Mexico in 2017, I was excited for and backed, Tim Keller in his first run as mayor. I believed, with his statewide leadership and experience, his experience in finance and friendly demeanor that he would hit the ground running. I admit to being deeply surprised and disappointed at how he functioned in the first term and part of the second term. However, I now believe Keller has finally gotten a handle on crime and homelessness and has shown more wisdom in how to lead a city with the level of challenges Albuquerque has. As I look at who is running against him, I see nobody ready for prime time. Running this city is harder than running the state due to municipal governmental constraints. When I see the way in which these other candidates have behaved in this campaign, it feels as if there is more vanity than either experience or wisdom in their wanting to take on the mayoral role. If I lived in Albuquerque, I would be voting for Keller for his third term. Finally, I would add Keller's latest pronouncement--that the next term would be his last term--is also a sign of the wisdom he has learned in being the mayor of Albuquerque. POOR PORTAL Reader Vicky Salazar writes: Hi Joe, long time reader here. Just an average voter. But today I'm annoyed. I got so many texts and emails this weekend from candidates who asked me to sign their petitions--which I'm happy to do. But when I tried to sign into the Secretary of State portal to do so, I got an error message. Not once but all day! Isn't this a bit ironic that the portal is down and no one can get signatures while she gears up to announce her run for another office?! That's Vicky zinging SOS Maggie Toulouse Oliver who says she may run for lieutenant governor next year. HOMELESS IN ABQ  Reader John Strong writes: Hi Joe, I walk our neighborhood early each morning and noticed an SUV parked on the side of the street that was unfamiliar to me. After a few days my neighbor called and asked if we knew the car. They had seen the driver get out barefoot in the morning, stretch and then get back in and drive off, returning in the evening. He was causing no trouble, left no trash or disturbed anything, but it made me aware that I have seen at least three other vehicles like this jin our neighborhood near 15th and Central. It seemed obvious that this person had likely become homeless, but still had a car and likely a job, and may be just trying to hold on. I’m concerned about this being an emerging problem, where people who do not want to be homeless are desperately trying to stay afloat and clinging to some normalcy. Wouldn’t this be the best time for intervention? Before they lose the car or the job and become chronically homeless? I don’t blame the man for parking in my neighborhood, it's relatively safe and I'm sure that's why he was here. Should we have a safe monitored place for those in this situation? Wouldn’t that be better than forcing them into alleys and dark lots? And should we try and provide some way for them to have hygiene and clean clothes, if they’re trying to hold onto jobs? I m very concerned that in a developing economic downturn, this is a problem that could suddenly explode on us and we should be planning for solutions now. SHAMEFUL CAMPAIGN?  Joe, the new state litter campaign is shameful. Tying litter control to “territories” and glamorizing gang culture may be trendy, but it doesn’t reflect who we are as New Mexicans. I’m a fourth-generation New Mexican, not a tourist, politically middle of the road, and this isn’t about sides—it’s about pride. We can do better. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Wednesday, October 08, 2025The Health Decade: Sweeping Events Continue To Impact Healthcare In State; MLG Presides Over A Progressive Era That Impacts, Vaccines, Abortion And More This has become the decade of health in state politics. It started with Covid and vaccines, then on to the repeal of Roe V. Wade, the Medicaid cuts and to today where the federal government is shut down because of an intense argument over health insurance subsidies. Presiding over this has been MLG, a former Health Department secretary, who vigorously attacked the Covid epidemic--critics say too vigorously---and later paved the way for one of the most liberal abortion laws in the nation in response to the court ruling overturning abortion rights. Last month her Health Department ensured that New Mexicans did not get caught up in the confusion over Covid and other vaccines and issued precise guidelines for vaccinations. Then there's the recently concluded special legislative session where measures to protect rural health care and provide health insurance subsidies were approved. (The doctor shortage will have to wait until the regular session in January.) The changes here have been far reaching and the New Yorker takes notice with this update : How New Mexico Became a Sanctuary State for Health Care. Since Roe v. Wade was overturned, the number of abortion clinics there has doubled. With strong protections for gender-affirming treatment, and now universal child care, the state is betting on a progressive vision. In recent years, New Mexico has quietly emerged as a progressive health-care sanctuary. Since the Dobbs decision, the number of abortion clinics has more than doubled, as clinics that were forced to close their doors elsewhere have reopened in the state, which has no gestational limits on abortion. More than ten thousand women have travelled there to receive abortion care. "New Mexico is “taking on the burden for women who don’t have these protections in places like Texas and Oklahoma and Nevada and Utah,” Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham said. The state also has among the strongest protections in the Southwest for gender-affirming care for both adults and minors. When the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidance limiting the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to certain populations, New Mexico’s Department of Health promptly ordered pharmacies to make the vaccine available to anyone who wanted it. This November, New Mexico will become the first state to offer universal free child care to all residents, regardless of income—an initiative that Lujan Grisham has spoken about as being part of a broader attempt to improve the health of New Mexicans. How the Governor's aggressive health care agenda will be judged in the future is unknown but it will be an enduring legacy of her two terms. NM ABORTION LAW  With over 10,000 women traveling here for abortions, we looked at the cost:
Many groups in Texas--where abortion is severely restricted--help women finance their trips and medical expenses here. THE DEBATE
Kudos to you for your comprehensive and politically correct post taking KOAT to the proverbial woodshed for their "attempt" to exclude Mayling Armijo and Eddie Varela from the outlet's debate stage. I say "attempt" because I'll bet my benji to your hole in a donut that your point-by-point outing of their wrongheadedness will now be corrected by the station. Thanks for getting in the trenches for those that some would marginalize. One solution is simple: expand the debate to 90 minutes giving plenty of time for all the candidates. But will the penny-pinchers at Hearst--which owns the station--give up that extra half hour of ad revenue? This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Tuesday, October 07, 2025Commentary: KOAT's Exclusion Of Two Mayoral Candidates From their Debate Stage Rests On Shaky Ground And Raises Questions About Station's Fairness Having all six ABQ mayoral candidates on your debate stage October 15 is not unmanageable and is the only fair option. The exclusion of Mayling Armijo and Eddie Varela is unfair and raises questions about your station's objectivity in covering the November 4 city election. KOAT says their 7 P.M. prime time debate will feature only the four "leading candidates"--incumbent Tim Keller and challengers Darren White, Alex Uballez and Louie Sanchez. The exclusion of Armijo and Varela is based on the recent ABQ Journal poll--a cosponsor of KOAT debates--that shows Varela pulling only 2 percent and Armijo just one percent. The problem? All the challengers have very weak numbers. Uballez and Sanchez are only getting 6 percent, second place finisher White scores a humbling 16 percent and Keller is first with 29 percent. The station seems to be saying that there is no chance of either Varela or Armijo to advance in the election which could result in a run-off if no candidate secures 50 percent--a likely occurrence. Political observers would agree that Armijo and Varela have less chance than the other Keller challengers of advancing but neither are nuisance or vanity candidates who should be banned from the debate airwaves. Heck, when Trump was first seeking the GOP presidential nomination there was 17 unique candidates participating in 12 televised debates (some of which included both a main stage and an undercard). There is a way of doing this to fully serve the voters of Albuquerque. SHOWING UP
Armijo is a New Mexico native, a veteran of the US Navy who served as Director of Economic Development for Bernalillo County. She also served as Deputy County Manager for Sandoval County. Her friends and family have contributed $120,000 to a PAC in support of her candidacy. Varela is a retired firefighter with 30 years experience, including service as Deputy Chief for AFD and Fire Chief for Barstow, California. He has also served on the city council of Reserve, NM. These are not frivolous people. They are just unknown, just as Alex Uballez and Louie Sanchez are mostly unknown. The debate takes on added importance because it will apparently be the only prime time mayoral debate on KOAT, KOB or KRQE--the three major network affiliated stations with news departments, The exclusion of Armijo, the only woman in the race, and Varela for the convenience of KOAT is unmerited and raises the question of fairness at the ABC affiliate, a question that has already surfaced because of the relationship of KOAT investigative producer T.J. Wilham with former Sheriff White. White--during the non election season--has been regularly featured by Wilham and KOAT as a guest expert on a wide range of law enforcement issues. Wilham was White's right hand man during the Republican mayoral administration of Richard Berry, serving as Public Safety Communications Director under White who was Chief Public Safety Director from 2009-2011. Wilham later became the Director of APD's Real Time Crime Center before joining KOAT-TV as an investigative producer and reporter in 2018 when Keller took over as mayor. In his official bio on the station's website, Wilham's high profile position with White is not mentioned. CONCERNING DECISION
It is also concerning that KOAT, led by a prominent African American broadcaster, is excluding a Hispanic ABQ native like Varela and Armijo, a native New Mexico woman of Asian-Hispanic heritage, in one of the most majority-minority cities in the US. KOAT needs to look in the mirror and remind itself that it serves under a federal license that requires them to serve the "public interest." Excluding two ABQ residents who have proven they are serious about the future of this city is not in the public interest, is unfair and a rebuke of KOAT's long tradition of fairness and inclusiveness. KOAT should let Armijo and Varela say their piece. They've earned it. And let the other candidates urge the station to reverse course. ACCURATE AD Reader Ralph Moller writes of Monday's blog on Mayor Keller's first TV ad: Joe, I was disappointed that you did not comment on the accuracy of the Mayor's ad. If all true, it sounds pretty impressive. Or is there some context I'm missing? It would be helpful to get your input. Keller's ad about his programs appears to be accurate. The context is the positive results of those programs that are implied in the ad and that led to the critical insights of the message. Hope that is helpful, Ralph. I'm Joe Monahan reporting from Albuquerque and. . . This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. |
  
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