Privately-funded ABQ mayoral candidates ready for first reporting deadline

As the Albuquerque mayoral race rolls on, more than half of the 14 candidates currently in the race have decided to raise their own money instead of using public campaign funding Most of the nine privately-funded candidates won’t say  how much money they’ve collected with the first filing deadline a little more than a week […]

Privately-funded ABQ mayoral candidates ready for first reporting deadline

As the Albuquerque mayoral race rolls on, more than half of the 14 candidates currently in the race have decided to raise their own money instead of using public campaign funding

Most of the nine privately-funded candidates won’t say  how much money they’ve collected with the first filing deadline a little more than a week away.

In addition to raising money to operate, campaigns must collect the signatures of 3,000 registered Albuquerque voters before the end of April to qualify for the ballot.

Because he is already an Albuquerque City Councilor, Dan Lewis was the first privately-financed candidate to fully report his campaign finances. Lewis’ campaign finance report filed in January shows he raised more than $108,000 in monetary and in-kind contributions from business owners, state lawmakers and other individuals. Some of the businesses include insurance and real estate agents, construction companies, a local ambulance company and a private motor vehicle registration company.

Private donors included Reps. Jason Harper, Monica Youngblood, David Adkins and Lewis’ brother Tim. Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, and former Reps. Paul Pacheco and Nora Espinoza all donated to Lewis’ campaign. All are Republicans.

The Albuquerque city charter previously required current elected officials to report earlier than other candidates. Earlier this month, Lewis and other councilors voted to add reporting dates for non-elected officials. Now, all privately financed mayoral candidates must report how much money they have raised and spent by April 15.

While Lewis is the only candidate to have filed a  full finance report, he declined to disclose to NM Political Report how much money his campaign has raised since the January report, but did say his campaign is “doing really well.” Lewis said the legislation the council passed helped to put everyone on equal footing.

“There was a real hole in the ordinance that allowed privately financed candidates to not have to report,” Lewis said.

Before the change in law, Lewis’ privately-financed opponents would not have been required to report until July, about 12 weeks before the election.

Lewis said his campaign is on track to collect the 3,000 petition signatures required to get on the ballot in October.

Bernalillo County Commissioner Wayne Johnson didn’t have financial numbers to provide NM Political Report, though he questioned the City Council’s timing on the change in reporting dates.

“I have some real problems with their changing the rules right in the middle of the cycle,” Johnson said.

Johnson said Lewis and the council committed an ethical violation by changing elections laws that directly affect their respective races.

Still, Johnson said he feels “really good” about his campaign’s fundraising and signature collecting.

Former Democratic Party of New Mexico chair and one-time candidate for Lt. Governor Brian Colón also wouldn’t say how much money his campaign has on hand.

“Our April report will let Albuquerque voters know that we have the funds necessary to compete against candidates funded by taxpayer dollars,” Colón said.

Colón said his campaign will collect enough petition signatures to get on the October ballot.

“Our campaign is working diligently to collect the 3,000 signatures needed to place my name on October’s ballot,” Colón said in an email to NM Political Report. “I am confident we will meet this requirement.”

Former Bernalillo County Commissioner Deanna Archuleta’s campaign did not respond to NM Political Report’s inquiries before publication. Archuleta was the first to announce her candidacy for mayor last year, several months before the city clerk’s office allowed anyone to formally file. Officials with the clerk’s office allowed Archuleta to fundraise with the understanding that all money collected would be reported this year.

The city election code does not have a process for candidates to register before the official filing process or contribution limits are in place.

It’s still unclear from whom or where Archuleta received money, but last September her campaign told NM Political Report they had received slightly more than $42,000.

Elan Colello told NM Political Report campaigns focus too much on money.

“I think that the message should be more important than money,” Colello said.

Colello began his run seeking public financing but quickly shifted to private financing when the qualifying process became too difficult.

Colello’s overall message is that the city’s next mayor should come up with new fresh solutions and not necessarily use other cities as comparisons.

“What we should be doing is deciding what’s right for Albuquerque,” Colello said.

Colello is “concerned” that he may not meet the petition signature goal by the end of April.

“I’m being realistic about it,” Colello said, adding that he won’t give up until the very end.

“I’ll continue to stay on until the last moment,” he said.

Susan Wheeler-Deichsel began her run for mayor as a publicly financed candidate, but eventually realized it was difficult to ask strangers to give $5 donation to help her qualify.Wheeler-Deichsel, a cofounder of the community group Urban ABQ, said her plan is to first focus on collecting enough signatures to get on the ballot before focusing on fundraising. She said her campaign has raised about $2,000 in seed money from when she was aiming for public financing. Wheeler-Deichsel said her campaign has been dropping off signatures in batches, but estimates she is about halfway to the required amount

“My best guess is around 1,500 to 2,000,” Wheeler-Deichsel said, also acknowledging that some signatures may not be valid.

Jacob Shull, who gave up on the idea of public financing after an error left his name off the list of candidates on the city clerk’s website, said he plans to “tackle both [fundraising and signature gathering] at the same time.” Shull is only a few days in as privately financed candidate, and he has not yet raised any campaign cash. He said he’s tentatively planning some fundraising dinners, but still doesn’t have any definite plans.

As with many of the other political newcomers in the mayoral race, Shull has come to realize what’s yet to come.

“It’s going to be a long road ahead,” Shull said.

Candidates Michelle Garcia Holmes and Augustus “Gus” Pedrotty did not respond to inquiries from NM Political Report.

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

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…
Gov signs bills with some vetoes 

Gov signs bills with some vetoes 

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed 69 bills that the legislature passed during the 2024 legislative session. These included the General Appropriations Act which contains…
Guv signs state budget

Guv signs state budget

Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed the budget bill for Fiscal Year 2025 and the Capital Outlay spending bill. The FY25 state budget bill passed…
Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

New Mexico advocates seeking to have the Gila River designated as a Wild and Scenic River will travel to Washington D.C. this week to…

NM Supreme Court annuls $10,000 penalty in PNM/Avangrid merger case

The New Mexico Supreme Court ruled on Monday that a penalty the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission levied against the state’s largest utility was…
State fines oil company more than $2 million after spill

State fines oil company more than $2 million after spill

The Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department fined an oil and gas company operating in the Permian Basin more than $2 million over produced…
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…
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…
Supreme Court censures attorney over conduct in anti-COVID policy suits

Supreme Court censures attorney over conduct in anti-COVID policy suits

The New Mexico State Supreme Court censured a New Mexico attorney because of her “misconduct” in two unsuccessful cases pushing back on COVID-19 regulations…
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…
How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

President Joe Biden highlighted reproductive rights issues as part of his State of the Union speech Thursday. Biden delivered his 2024 State of the…
Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

U.S. House of Rep. Melanie Stansbury has invited an OB-GYN doctor from Roswell as her guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union…
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…
How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

How Biden, others highlighted reproductive rights at the State of the Union

President Joe Biden highlighted reproductive rights issues as part of his State of the Union speech Thursday. Biden delivered his 2024 State of the…
Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

Stansbury invites OB-GYN doctor as her state of the union guest 

U.S. House of Rep. Melanie Stansbury has invited an OB-GYN doctor from Roswell as her guest for President Joe Biden’s State of the Union…
See who’s going to be on your primary ballot in June

See who’s going to be on your primary ballot in June

Tuesday marked the official beginning of the 2024 New Mexico primary season for the legislature, with candidates officially filing for candidacy. This is the…

Bill to require disclosure of use of AI in campaign materials goes to governor

The Senate approved a bill aiming to require the disclosure of the use of artificial intelligence or other changes made by computers to campaign…
House amends, passes bill banning firearms near polling places

House amends, passes bill banning firearms near polling places

The House narrowly approved a bill that would ban firearms near polling places. The House voted 35-34 to pass the bill following an extensive…
Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

Advocates travel to D.C. to push for additional protections for the Gila River

New Mexico advocates seeking to have the Gila River designated as a Wild and Scenic River will travel to Washington D.C. this week to…
U.S. Supreme Court lets ban on Couy Griffin from holding office stand

U.S. Supreme Court lets ban on Couy Griffin from holding office stand

The U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an appeal of a Republican official who was barred from holding office after being convicted for a…
Politics Newsletter: legislative leaders not running for reelection

Politics Newsletter: legislative leaders not running for reelection

Hello fellow political junkies! Candidate filing day has come and gone, and members of House and Senate leadership opted to either not seek reelection…

GET INVOLVED

© 2023 New Mexico Political Report