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

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