(Journal photo)

Keller 2029?

It appeared that ABQ Mayor Tim Keller had rejected the possibility of seeking a fourth term while he was campaigning for the record setting third that he so handily won Tuesday. But hold on. It seems being a lame duck is already not settling well with His Honor. 

Keller campaign manager Neri Holguin moved to shoot down a statement on our Wednesday blog, calling the mayor a lame duck and saying that status could impact his relationship with the City Council. She said the possibility of a Keller run for a fourth term is now alive: 

He has said before''--long ago, on PBS--something along the lines of “then it should be someone else’s turn,” and that’s accurate. But that was not an announcement. To be clear, the Mayor has no final plans — not to run, not to not run, not to do anything other than focus on the city for the next few years. Anything beyond that is pure conjecture until 2029. Of course, he's focused on upcoming work and not 2029.

Besides the PBS interview we recall the Mayor saying several other times that he would not seek a fourth, four year term. But put that aside and look at his quote from the "long ago" PBS interview Holguin references and that was actually not that long ago. It is time stamped September 12, 2025 on YouTube and in it Keller says:

We have to have someone strong and experienced stand up to President Trump and I will tell you there are fights weekly with the federal government on a range of issues and I don't think now is the time to try someone new. I really don't. I think we have to hold our city together for three and half years and then I'm sure it's time for someone else to be mayor. 

Sounds pretty clear that he is declaring that his third term would be his last, no?

Well, it's not uncommon for politicos to walk back decisions about running or not running. Keller is doing so as he faces a possibly more contentious City Council going forward. But the timing seems awkward, coming less that 24 hours after his victory. Says analyst Greg Payne:

Is the Mayor on a sugar high? He's raining on his own parade by talking about a fourth term. No one wants to hear it, and it only gets in the way of his honeymoon period which will be brief enough. There will be plenty of time to walk back previous declarations about running again but that time is not now. It seems like Tim is drifting into Chicago Mayor Daly territory. 

Chicago Mayor Richard Daly served as mayor from 1955, and the chairman of the Cook County Democratic Party from 1953 until his death in 1976. He has been called "the last of the big city bosses."  

Mayor Keller's worry seems to be who will be doing the bossing--him or the Council and without the threat of him seeking re-election they could get the better of him. 

Meanwhile, could the folks on the 11th floor of City Hall hold down the volume as they chant "Four More Years!"?  Some Folks are trying  to get some sleep. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.