Albuquerque City Council president raises alarm over alleged 'conflict of interest' involving City Attorney

Albuquerque City Council President Brook Bassan has called for an investigation into the City Attorney for an alleged conflict of interest. 

According to Bassan, City Attorney Lauren Keefe recused herself from a lawsuit between the City Council and Mayor’s Office, but proceeded to secretly help Mayor Tim Keller’s outside counsel. 

“In my personal life, if I hired a lawyer to represent me and then found out that that same lawyer told me I can't work for you, and then worked for somebody else to actually turn around and sue me directly — I would have a serious problem with ever retaining that lawyer again in the future,” Bassan said Tuesday. 

Bassan claims that, if true, Keefe’s actions break City Charter code and could amount to a fireable offense.

Keefe did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday.

The episode began in February with a disagreement between the council and Mayor’s Office over paramedic staffing on Albuquerque Fire Rescue ambulances, according to a document filed Friday.

After the City Council passed a resolution to ensure that there are two paramedics aboard each ambulance, lawyers representing the mayor filed multiple legal complaints against the City Council. Those lawsuits allege that the legislation interfered with labor union negotiations and was an overstep into the mayor’s authority over staffing.

As a result, both parties secured legal representation outside of the City Attorney’s office, as is required for conflicts between the two branches of government. However, Bassan believes that Keefe has continued to work with Mayor Keller’s outside counsel by participating in meetings, and drafting and reviewing legal documents.

Bassan said she made the discovery of potential misconduct when inquiring about records involving the mayor’s outside legal expenses. 

“I feel like we found this information essentially by accident,” Bassan said. 

Though she wouldn’t go into specifics, Bassan said what she found prompted “serious concerns.”

Bassan’s request will go before the council in the new year. Then the council will vote on whether to formally and collectively ask the Inspector General and City Auditor for an investigation into Keefe’s conduct.