Nothing too frightening to report on Election '19 as we mark Halloween, so let's steer the broomsticks over to the city campaign trail. Candidates are preparing for their final weekend of door knocking before early voting ends Saturday and Election Day voting kicks off Tuesday. . .

Maybe her polling is getting better. Dem Senator Martin Heinrich and Rep. Deb Haaland came with early endorsements of Dem City council candidates Ike Benton, Pat Davis and Ane Romero but left off the list was Dem Maureen Skowran who is challenging Republican City Councilor Trudy Jones. Now Haaland and Heinrich have come with late endorsements of Skowran. Mayor Keller, who endorsed Benton, Davis and Romero, is doing some walking for Skowran, but is not listed by Skowran as officially endorsing her.

Skowran has surged into the public eye with major money support from the progressive Working Families Party. Jones has now spent over $80,000 to defend the NE Heights seat which is not as Red as it once was.

Also in the ABQ NE Heights in Council District 4, Dem Ane Romero and Republican Brook Bassan are making their final pushes for the seat held by retiring GOP Councilor Brad Winter. This would be a big pick up for the D's and Romero is keeping the pressure on Bassan, coming with this to supporters:

Elections are about choices and differences. I also believe consistency in character is paramount. My opponent, Brook Bassan, has switched parties six times and is playing it “safe.” It’s hard to tell where she stands on issues other than she’s against an immigrant-friendly city, according to her recent mailer. I’m a proud Democrat and I believe that we create a safer, and more inclusive city when everyone trusts our local law enforcement. 

Bassan hasn't had much to say about Romero. Can she hold the fort for the R's? BernCo elections have been decidedly Blue of late. Bassan hopes her endorsements hold back an aggressive Dem effort:

I am proud to have the endorsements of the Albuquerque Police (union), outgoing Councilor Brad Winter, and the Albuquerque Journal! They know I'll be tough on crime, fiscally responsible, and will always put the needs of our district first.

Mayor Keller will be keeping the weight off in the final campaign days. Besides walking with Skowran, he will also tag along with Romero.

TWO AND SIX 

Dem Councilor Pat Davis remains favored for re-election in SE Heights District 6 but his support of the ART project on Central Ave. has cost him the vote of reader Mike Parks:

Joe, you're clearly right that negative views about ART have focused almost exclusively on Councilor Ike Benton. But I am a member of a presumably small, and definitely "silent" group that voted against Pat Davis exclusively because of ART.

Davis is being challenged by Gina Namoi Dennis, a 41 year old attorney and neighborhood activist.

In the six person District 2 ABQ Valley race that has received considerable coverage here, consultants from both sides say Councilor Ike Benton has run the best campaign. But a flyer put out by an independent committee ridiculing his chief rival Zack Quintero drew the ire of reader Peg Galbraith. The mailer pictured Quintero in an astronaut suit:

Joe, faster than I can say “Virgin Galactic,” you’ve managed to launch us into outer space for the District 2 race! Though I do wonder why Councilor Benton and his supporters don’t cite his accomplishments over his many years in office, rather than cooking up a "nothing burger” about opponent Zack Quintero’s employment history. Could it be because the hallmarks of Councilor Benton's tenure are the failed and Spaceport-esque A.R.T. project, the decimation of our police force and the reneging on promised raises to our firefighters? Not to mention the worsening of the Downtown homeless situation and the ongoing crime crisis. Let’s hope District 2 votes with our firefighters and police and elects Zack Quintero. Otherwise, I fear that our city really is really in danger of getting “lost in space."

Well written, Peg. Watch out for her, Ike.

TRANSIT TAX UPDATE

Reader Art Tannenbaum adds info about the proposed renewal of a quarter cent gross receipts tax for ABQ transportation needs that voters are being asked to approve:

Joe, to clarify, the ¼-Cent ($35 million a year) Transportation Tax was first imposed as a “temporary” tax in 1999. Following its sunset the first time around the continuation of this Transportation infrastructure tax included revised dedication of the revenue. Albuquerque Transit Dept.’s share was increased about ten years ago to 36 percent from 19 percent--almost doubling ABQ Ride’s share of the take. City Council has yet to determine the percentage breakdowns this time around, which they can modify anyway they choose; they are waiting for voter approval before determining the dedications (roads, trails, and transit) of the ¼-cent tax revenue. Citizens can find out how this money is intended to be allocated only after approving yet another continuation of the ‘temporary’ tax.

Got it, Art. Thanks.

RAIL YARDS REDO

Voters are also being asked to approve $5 million in bonds to clean-up the historic ABQ Rail Yards but reader Susan Richards says the announced plans of CNM to use the Yards as a film production school is "misplaced energy:"

CNM’s plan to convert part of the Rail Yards to a school for film workers is misplaced energy. Just like the brewing program that got up and running after the state had over 50 craft breweries operating (How many can a state this size support financially?). 

The film industry has been successful in hiring local people for below-the-line work and providing them on-the-job training. Those who want the work, show up on time, follow instructions and learn new skills on set are succeeding. Ask most of those who do the hiring for below-the-line work and they will tell you that a certificate from a community college doesn't mean much to them. They prefer clever folks with a knack for on-the-fly solutions to technical issues and a real dedication to the work. Instead, CNM should consider pilot training as a long-term investment. Check out this video about careers in aviation.

Pilot training at the Rail Yards? That sounded odd until that PBS video report said that there is an unprecedented pilot shortage. 800,000 of them will be needed worldwide over the next 20 years.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Thanks for stopping by today. Join us Election Night, Nov. 5 at 7 p.m. on KANW 89.1 FM and KANW.COM. ABQ City Councilor Ken Sanchez and political consultant Sisto Abeyta will be among our guests.