(ABQ Journal)

Refusing to be held back by a high disapproval rating and a relentless social media posse pouncing on his every word, Tim Keller made history in Albuquerque Tuesday night by becoming the first mayor to win three consecutive terms since the founding of the Mayor-Council form of government in 1974. 

It was a sweeping victory, a near landslide that saw Keller crush his Republican rival Darren White, a former sheriff who was saddled with political baggage accumulated over three decades in public life and who was tied to an unpopular President Trump and his immigration polices. 

In near final returns it was Keller 74,421 or 57.71 percent to White's 54,538 or 42.29 percent, a formidable 15 point win. 

Voter turnout for the runoff fell shy of the 134,000 who showed up for the initial Nov. 4 regular election but not by much. 129,392 turned out--a record for a runoff election. 

(Complete returns here.) 

The mayor's triumph--he called it "very, very special" in his victory speech--came despite deep concerns over crime and homelessness that have beset the city for a decade and which Keller acknowledged "are tough to solve." 

Still, as he did during the campaign he declared last night that there will be progress in his third term to "reduce the number of people on the street" and in building on the modest decline in crime that came late in his second term.  

The freshly re-elected Mayor said in an interview with us on KANW-89.1 FM "that more beds to treat addiction" will be at the top of his priority list.

He also held out an olive branch to the ABQ City Council with whom his relationship has grown rocky, saying there are a "number of initiatives we can work together on."

He was jubilant as he spoke from the Clyde Hotel downtown, revealing he has agreed to have a coffee meeting with opponent White at which he said an intense political debate will take place that "Albuquerque will never hear." 

HISTORY'S VERDICT 

While Keller made history with his threepeat, his standing remains incomplete. 

That he is one of the most accomplished state political figures of his generation is now unquestioned. He has run three brilliant mayoral campaigns but his ability to govern hasn't reached the same level. 

The next four years offers him a chance to change that and make what will be known as the Keller Era both a political and policy success. 

It wont be easy. He has announced he will not run for a fourth term, making him a lame duck mayor dealing with an often recalcitrant Council and facing the complicated and so far intractable problem of addiction and homelessness.  

WHITE'S END 

White

White gave a very early mayoral concession speech. He threw in the towel about an hour after the polls closed. 

The early vote cast before the election and which made up over 60 percent of all votes cast showed him trailing Keller by 17 points and needing to carry the Election Day vote with 67 percent in order to win. That was not in the cards. He conceded before a small gathering at a NE Heights hotel.

Many Republicans on the socials were quick to dismiss Keller's win as a party line vote that had little to do with his job performance but a longtime Republican active in the party came with other reasons for White's loss:

Reputational damage from past outings in public service; his campaign's failure to qualify for public financing; his flawed re-introduction to voters with a “put them in jail” mentality towards the homeless and his failure to separate from Trump’s harsh immigration policies which inflamed passions with the progressives. 

PROGRESSIVES THWARTED 

Councilor Klarissa Peña

The city's progressive groups, determined to give the City Council a progressive majority for the first time, fell short Tuesday when Councilor Klarissa Peña won by a hair her fierce battle with Teresa Garcia for the District 3 seat representing the SW Mesa.

Peña hung on for a 50.52 percent win over Garcia who garnered 49.49 percent. They were separated by just 68 votes with Pena at 3,338 to Garcia's 3,270.

The race attracted statewide attention as leading progressives split over the contest. 

Dem Guv candidate Deb Haaland backed Peña along with Rep. Melanie Stansbury. But Sen. Martin Heinrich went with Garcia as did ABQ state Sen. Katy Duhigg.

The race went ballistic when it was disclosed that Garcia had lied on her ABQ Journal questionnaire. She said he had never been arrested. But she had been arrested in 2015 in connection with a domestic violence incident with her then husband and was found not guilty. 

She and her supporters tried in vain to say she was being unjustly called to account, that it was an insult "to survivors" of domestic violence. But that argument did not address the fact that Garcia did not tell the truth when asked and it appeared to cost her the race. 

In westside District 1 Dem Stephanie Tellez, as expected, easily handled Republican Joshua Neal, winning 59 to 41 percent. She told us she will bring her background as a forensic accountant to the city budget process. 

For her part Councilor Peña will now continue her critical role as a swing vote on the nine member council which has four Dem progressives--including newcomer Tellez--and Dem Peña and four Republicans.

THE NIGHT

Election Night Crew

Veteran political analyst, Santa Fe attorney and former ABQ Councilor Greg Payne wins the contest for best prediction of the ABQ mayoral race. He nailed it with a 57 to 43 call for Keller. That was nearly identical to the outcome. 

Honorable mention goes to Dem anayst and lobbyist Sisto Abyeta who was unshaken in his view that the race would not be close. That confidence was based on his turnout model. 

Thanks to our KANW broadcast crew for a great job. 

Pictured here left to right are state Sen. Moe Maestas, BernCo GOP political director Amy Sanchez, your blogger, State Rep. Joy Garratt and Sisto Abeyta. 

Public radio's Jenny Kinsey reported for us from Keller headquarters. Kevin Otero was our producer, Mark Bralley took the pictures and KANW General Manager Michael Brasher presided over the broadcast.  

Also, thanks to you--our readers and listeners--for tuning in here and on the radio. 

Back next week with more La Politica. 

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