BernCo Commission puts a stop to city ballot initiatives

The Bernalillo County Commission’s Thursday decision to vote down two ballot initiatives was seemingly based less on space and more on ownership. A majority of the commission spoke against adding two Albuquerque ballot initiatives, citing ballot space and saying the proposals should be on Albuquerque municipal ballots instead of county-managed ballots. Commissioner Wayne Johnson said he wasn’t […]

BernCo Commission puts a stop to city ballot initiatives

The Bernalillo County Commission’s Thursday decision to vote down two ballot initiatives was seemingly based less on space and more on ownership.

dsc_0368A majority of the commission spoke against adding two Albuquerque ballot initiatives, citing ballot space and saying the proposals should be on Albuquerque municipal ballots instead of county-managed ballots.

Commissioner Wayne Johnson said he wasn’t comfortable with carrying city proposals on the county-managed ballot without an explicit process.

“Until we have a process that is clear, it’s far smarter for us to just not place either items on the ballot,” Johnson said.

At issue were two initiatives city councilors wanted to go before Albuquerque voters. One would have increased public campaign funding for mayoral candidates who opt in. The other sought to require employers in Albuquerque to provide paid sick leave to their employees.

The county commission opted to not discuss the initiatives at a previous meeting last month after the Albuquerque City Council sent them to the body for final approval.

Commission Chairman Art De La Cruz previously told NM Political Report that he was waiting on the city council for more direction on how to proceed with the ballot questions. During Thursday’s meeting he repeated himself, constantly mentioning that he wanted more input from the city.

He said he never received guidance as to what font size was acceptable for the questions and whether the questions should be summarized or written in full.

“These questions have been out there for a long time,” De La Cruz said.

Bernalillo County Attorney Ken Martinez and County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver both told De La Cruz many times that the Albuquerque City Attorney expressed her opinion on the matter. City Attorney Jessica Hernandez told multiple media outlets in interviews that the city charter requires a full explanation for ballot initiatives.

“She did opine that she has stated publicly that the initiative would require the full text,” Martinez said of Hernandez’s opinion on the matter.

Most commissioners spent much of the meeting focusing on ballot space. But just one of the two proposals presented a space issue.

The sick leave initiative, written in full, is seven pages long. The public campaign finance proposal, however, is much shorter.

County commissioners didn’t bring up any issues besides  room on the ballot until after a lengthy public commenting period. At that point, commissioners turned their attention to whether it’s appropriate for the county to carry city ballot initiatives.

Johnson categorized the city proposals as “kind of hitching a ride” on the county ballot.

Ultimately, the commission refused to approve either proposal for the general election ballot.

“The reality is those questions belong in their domain,” De La Cruz said.

Eric Griego, a former city councilor and current executive director of the New Mexico Working Families Party, accused the commission of playing political games.

“They made it about city and county inside baseball,” Griego said.

Griego added that the commission has previously approved city ballot initiatives without much protest.

Supporters of both proposals criticized the commission for not getting the issues to voters.

“The county’s actions are a blow to hard-working families who would like to earn time to care for themselves or their kids so they don’t have to work or go to school sick,” Adriann Barboa, an advocate of the sick leave proposal, said.

Proponents of the sick leave initiative gathered more than the required amount of signatures to qualify the proposal for city ballot access.

Common Cause New Mexico Legislative Director Heather Ferguson told NM Political Report she empathized with the commission on ballot space constraints, but argued that the public financing measure is needed before the 2017 city election, when the next mayor of Albuquerque will be elected.

“This is time-sensitive for the people of Albuquerque,” Ferguson said.

Former Republican state senator Kent Cravens spoke out against the sick leave initiative during the public comment period on behalf of the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors Association. Cravens called the proposal a “death nail” for job creation and innovation.

Besides bond and mill levy questions, the only local issue on the ballots in November will be a non-binding question, proposed by commissioner Debbie O’Malley, regarding the Albuquerque Rapid Transit project.

We're ad free

That means that we rely on support from readers like you. Help us keep reporting on the most important New Mexico Stories by donating today.

Related

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

Equality New Mexico endorses 15 legislative candidates

A New Mexico-based LGBTQ rights organization endorsed 15 candidates for state House and Senate seats for the 2024 elections.  Marshall Martinez, executive director of…
Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Lujan Grisham pocket vetoes two bills

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham pocket vetoed two bills the legislature passed this legislative session: one changing the Cybersecurity Act and the other concerning law…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…
Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republicans seek to limit national monument designations

Republican-backed legislation in the U.S. Congress would make it harder for the government to designate new national monuments. The proposed Congressional Oversight of the…
Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

Amid new graduation requirements, what do high schoolers want to learn?

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican The main things that bring Brayan Chavez to school every day: Seeing, talking to and engaging with…
Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

Special ed teachers hope lawmakers OK pay raises, admin changes

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican Brittany Behenna Griffith has a laundry list of adjectives to describe the ideal special education teacher:…
Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

Lawmakers must find consensus on competing education spending plans

By Margaret O’Hara, The Santa Fe New Mexican A challenging task awaits New Mexico lawmakers in the next 30 days: Reconciling three very different…
Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Health workers fear it’s profits before protection as CDC revisits airborne transmission

Amy Maxmen, KFF Health News Four years after hospitals in New York City overflowed with covid-19 patients, emergency physician Sonya Stokes remains shaken by…
Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Lujan Grisham, Biden admin announce $10 million in federal funds for tribes, pueblos

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Friday $10 million in funding from the federal American Rescue Plan Act was awarded to six tribal nations and…
Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

Proposal to curb executive powers moves to House Judiciary

The House Government, Elections and Indian Affairs Committee discussed a potential constitutional amendment that seeks to limit the governor’s executive powers. The committee approved…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Supreme Court to hear two abortion cases this spring

Later this month, the U.S. Supreme Court will hear oral arguments on the case against the abortion medication mifepristone. It will hear a second…
New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid to cover cost of over-the-counter oral contraception

New Mexico Medicaid announced on Wednesday that it will cover the cost of Opill, the first oral contraception approved for over-the-counter use. It is…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

At stake in mifepristone case: Abortion, FDA’s authority, and return to 1873 obscenity law

Lawyers from the conservative Christian group that won the case to overturn Roe v. Wade are returning to the U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday in pursuit…
San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

San Juan County, Navajo Nation settle redistricting case

The Navajo Nation and San Juan County reached an agreement Monday about commission districts after the tribe alleged that its members were not adequately…
MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

MIT ranks NM elections most well-run in the U.S.

New Mexico’s 2022 election was ranked most well-run in the country by Massachusetts Institute of Technology’s Election Data and Science Lab’s Elections Performance Index.…
Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List endorses seven candidates for Legislature

Emily’s List, a nonprofit that supports women candidates and reproductive rights, endorsed seven incumbents facing general election opponents in New Mexico legislative elections. All…
BLM announces final methane waste rule

BLM announces final methane waste rule

The federal Bureau of Land Management announced its final methane waste rule on Wednesday. These new regulations clamp down on the practice of venting…
U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

U.S. Supreme Court hears case to restrict access to medication abortion

The U.S. Supreme Court heard the case about the regulations around mifepristone, one of a two-step regime for abortion medication, on Tuesday. FDA v.…
What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

What consumers, farmers should know about the flu impacting dairy cows

Migrating birds appear to have caused a virus in dairy cattle that is causing reduced milk production. So far, the disease, which initially started…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report