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Monday, March 23, 2009
Chávez has no trouble getting public donations, but other candidates are scrambling
By Copyright © 2009 By Dan McKay
Albuquerque Journal
Journal Staff Writer
Supporters thought public financing would change the face of city politics in Albuquerque.
It was expected to broaden the number of people who could run by giving them access to city funds, all while blunting the influence of donors with an interest in city affairs.
But the big winner so far? The same guy who succeeded under the old system: three-term Mayor Martin Chávez.
As others drop out or continue trying to qualify for public financing this month, the Chávez team beat the deadline with two weeks to spare.
City employees, neighborhood leaders and even a city contractor or two helped the re-election campaign collect the thousands of $5 contributions and signatures required to win city funding.
"I kept telling people, 'It's not as easy as you think it is,' " said Mark Fleisher, who headed efforts to get Chávez qualified.
That much is clear. Two city councilors have dropped out, and only two other candidates are still trying to qualify — state Rep. Richard "R.J." Berry and former state Senate President Pro Tem Richard Romero.
City employees are free to help campaigns when they're not at work. But some opponents aren't happy about it.
"It does give an unfair advantage to the incumbent mayor," who has so much influence over hiring and firing, said Councilor Michael Cadigan, who abandoned his bid last Sunday.
Councilor Debbie O'Malley, who also halted her bid for mayor, agreed. "I think these people are worried about their jobs," she said.
Chávez doesn't see it that way. If he has an unfair advantage, he said, it's because he has worked his "tail off in this community."
"What (employees) do on their own time is constitutionally protected," he said. "I'm very strict about politics on the job. It doesn't happen in my administration."
A host of city employees helped Chávez turn in the $5 donations, including department heads like Aviation Director Nick Bakas, Cultural Services Director Ray Darnell and former Municipal Development Director John Castillo. Employees below that level helped, too, including public information officers Mark Motsko and Daniel Jiron.
Some neighborhood leaders also chipped in, including West Side resident Dan Serrano and Northeast Heights resident Sandra Richardson.
At least three people employed by city contractors also gathered contributions.
Drew Stuart, executive director of New Mexico Xtreme, which is running a teen center for the city, said there was no pressure to participate. He said he asked how he could help the campaign and agreed to gather about 50 contributions.
"He's done a ton for the youth and skateboarding" community, Stuart said. "We think he's a very progressive mayor."
Berry and Romero are also drawing on strong organizations to qualify for public financing. They're each optimistic they'll make it by the March 31 deadline.
The Republican Party is helping to gather $5 contributions for Berry, who is serving in the Legislature. Berry said family friends, business groups and college students are also working.
"I'm really pleased with the amount of support I've got," Berry said. "There's no question it's a big hurdle."
The county Republican Party has formed a measure-finance committee — similar to a political action committee — to help Berry and other Republican candidates for Albuquerque office. The city ballot is nonpartisan, meaning party affiliation won't appear by candidates' names.
Chávez and Romero are Democrats.
Observers credit Romero's campaign for raising about $32,000 in "seed" money to establish an organization to oversee hundreds of volunteers. The seed money, which is permitted under the public financing system, will be deducted from any city campaign funds he eventually gets.
Romero has 2 1/2 paid staff members and 400 volunteers, his campaign said.
"We'll make it," Romero said. "There's no question in my mind."
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