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Tuesday, September 16, 2025Uballez Throws Shade At City Clerk's Office Over His Failure To Qualify For Public Financing; "The Ref Wasn't Treating Us Fairly" But Offers No Evidence For Claims
No wonder that crushing blow continues to be felt by progressive Democrat Alex Uballez. But his deep disappointment has veered into the bizarre. Uballez implies in a TV interview that the City Clerk's office, charged with overseeing the public financing system, was somehow not on the level in dealing with his effort to qualify. The incendiary accusation from Uballez comes with no evidence offered and Uballez is not claiming that he qualified for the financing. So what gives? He explains his surprising inference about the Clerk this way: You understand the Mayor is the ref (referee), right? The city clerk's office. . . is the one who counted all of our five dollar donations (needed to qualify for the public financing). . . and gave me a call and said, 'hey, there was a clerical error. Some (of the donations you submitted) are going to fall off.' I get it. Clerical errors happen (but) when we looked at the number of qualifying contributions that had fallen off it was over a hundred." Q: Do you believe you did qualify for public financing? A: No. To be clear, when that happened we decided that the ref wasn't treating us fairly so we would have to play your own rules. The intimation by Uballez that there may have been some kind of wrongdoing in verifying his donations but without specifying exactly how is even more surprising coming as it does from a former New Mexico US Attorney whose job was to prosecute federal crimes. After the Uballez bid for public financing was rejected, Uballez complained about the high number of donations needed to qualify but he did not impugn the Clerk's integrity. At that time the Keller campaign commented that Uballez complaining was like ""blaming the ref because you can't hit your free throws. The real issue isn't the rules. It's the lack of grassroots support, campaign credibility and organizational strength to lead." CASH RACE  An outside PAC supporting his candidacy reported raising $155,000 and had $120,000 in cash on hand. Uballez, forced to rely on private donations, has reported raising $193,000 and had cash on hand of $115,000. NO FRAUD The public financing system for mayoral hopefuls has been criticized for requiring too many qualifying donations--3,780. That threshold should be lowered, says former progressive City Councilor Eric Griego, the architect of the system. However, there have been no claims that the City Clerk--now or in the past--has exhibited bias in determining who has qualified for public money or engaged in any kind of fraud. Among Keller's six opponents on the ballot, Uballez has been seen by analysts as the the main threat to Keller who is seeking a third consecutive term. If no mayoral candidate wins 50 percent of the vote November 4, a runoff between the tow top contenders would be held about a month later. FUDGING UPWARDS
I'm 66. Your parts give out. When your parts give out, you get new parts and I started with the right arm. Actually, the Governor is still 65 and does not turn 66 until October 24. Maybe after nearly seven years on the Fourth Floor she's feeling her age and then some. She wouldn't be the first--nor the last. As for what part of her right arm was replaced, she didn't say. Whatever. She can now use the left arm when she points out legislators not listening to her. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.
Monday, September 15, 2025Got Keller Fatigue? ABQ Mayor Offers Cure; Says He Won't Seek A Fourth Term; Outlines Key Reasons Why He Should Get A Third. Also: Mayoral Management of APD Shootings Spotlighted
After eight years at the helm Keller, 47, faces six foes on the November 4 ballot all arguing that the incumbent has had more than enough time to resolve the city's aches and pains and that it is time for a change. Of course, Keller argues not so fast. In a PBS interview he delivered the short version of why he wants four more years, one that ABQ voters will be hearing repeatedly in the days ahead: We are making real progress on long-standing generational challenges. . . especially homelessness and crime. That's why we need a little more time. It's that sustained effort of doing the hard work every day that is critical right now because these are such tough times. . . We've made real progress but we have a long ways to go and the initiatives that we have been working so hard on. . . I wish they were done faster but I need a few more years. I think it would be disastrous for us to turn back. TRUMP, KIRK FACTORS As he did during Trump 1.0 iin 2017, Keller again seeks election amid a chaotic and divisive national backdrop and is moving to nationalize the local election. In the process he is also saying he won't be taking a fourth bite out of the apple: We have to have someone who is strong and experienced to 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 then I am sure it is time for someone else to be mayor. The shocking assassination of conservative influencer Charlie Kirk has pushed the national agenda deeper into the mayoral race. Keller stands to benefit. (Kirk appeared before UNM students in 2022.Video here. A campus memorial service was held for Kirk Saturday.) The Mayor's main competitor for the anti-Trump vote will be fellow progressive Democrat Alex Uballez whose campaign engine stalled in the early going and now must roar back to life if he is to have a chance of getting in a run-off election with Keller. The nationalization of the contest among the other candidates is less clear but Republicans Darren White and Eddie Varela will be aggressive in courting the pro-Trump vote. Conservative Democrats Louie Sanchez and Mayling Armijo have a trickier path. The dream of Team Keller is an anti-Trump wave across the city that pushes him to the 50 percent mark November 4 and avoids a run-off election a month later with the second place finisher. If not that scenario, then a face-off with pro-Trump White is their favored run-off alternative. MAYORAL MANAGEMENT
During the interview he struggled some with his management of APD: Q: Despite all the reforms that have happened under the (DOJ) consent decree Albuquerque officers still killed people at the highest rates of any major metro last year. That would be 14 per one million residents. How is that what reform looks like? A: Reform was about making sure that when there is a wrong use of force officers are held accountable. Reform was not about reducing the number. We (do) want those to go together. We all want less violence. . . whether it's an officer being a perpetrator or not. But the challenge is that's really driven by crime and fentanyl, violence on our streets, guns on our streets and the difference is, is the officer using constitutional policing. Q: But if those are all constitutional uses of force, why does Albuquerque stand out above the rest of the large metros? Why are our officers killing more people? A: Three reasons, guns are more prevalent here than almost anywhere else. Narcotics, which has also been a longstanding challenge and the third reason is domestic violence. . . So we have crime challenges that drive officers feeling, unfortunately,. . .that they have to use constitutional use of force. . . So those two issues . . . overlap but they are distinctly different. While Keller points out crime is coming down, it is apparently not enough to disrupt the record number of police shootings in the city. His critics can and will argue that it is not only high crime but unsuccessful management that is responsible. Keller repeated during his sit down that APD Chief Harold Medina will not be serving in a Keller third term. 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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