OPINION: Keller is the right choice in the runoff election

Elections are about choices and Dec. 9, Albuquerqueans have a clear choice as to who should be mayor. I’ve never apologized for being conservative and pro-police on crime. Public safety is the first responsibility of local government — little else matters if we’re not safe in our community. That’s why in the runoff between Darren White and Tim Keller, I’m supporting Keller for reelection.

What candidates actually do is far more important than what they say. And here’s White’s actual record at City Hall — one that Keller has spent years working to clean up. When I left office in 2009, I was proud to have grown the Albuquerque Police Department to just under 1,100 police officers. As the chief public safety officer at the city, White helped shrink APD down to 836 officers, nearly a 25% reduction. And folks wonder why crime skyrocketed. It’s criminal that we have fewer police officers today than 16 years ago.

Put aside for a moment the scandals at APD during his tenure, whether it be his well-reported interference with his former wife’s single car crash — police reports indicating impaired driving on her part — or tromping through the death scene of a prominent civil rights attorney, White has proven himself to be the opposite of a law and order candidate. Put aside as well that he quit Gary Johnson’s administration in disgust because Johnson supported legalizing marijuana and then turned around and invested mightily in the marijuana industry, if public safety is your No. 1 priority, White simply isn’t the guy. It’s no wonder that the New Mexico State Police Officers Association voted no confidence on White when he worked at the state level and it’s no wonder that the Albuquerque Police Officers Association is endorsing Keller.

There’s a lot to disagree about with Keller, and the election results indicate a majority of Albuquerqueans are dissatisfied. I hope Tim takes that message to heart. But here are some facts that those not supporting Keller should consider. Homicides this year are down fully 32% over last year. Shootings are down 39% and auto theft 40%. Is it adequate? Of course not. But rather than celebrate it, I know that Keller sees it as a call to action.

While Keller rightly understands how important police are, he also understands that we can’t simply “police” our way out of our public safety challenges. His Albuquerque Community Safety Department is a fascinating experiment and one that I hope will work. In this era of risk-averse politicians, I’m pleased that Keller has been bold enough to take the chance. The same goes for the Gateway Center. I don’t agree with all of his approaches to homelessness but it’s good to see someone try something new. Importantly, I appreciate that he starts from a place of compassion which is where we should all start regarding our fellow humanity.

Finally, Washington, D.C., is in a state few in my generation could have ever imagined. The federal government is a shambles and the occupier of the part of the White House left undemolished spews division here and abroad. We ought not provide him with a willing partner in our Mayor’s Office. Tim Keller’s “One Albuquerque” is a better course for our kids.

Serving as your mayor was the honor of my professional lifetime. I’m proud to be born and raised in Albuquerque and I encourage everyone to join me in voting for another home town kid, Tim Keller. Elections really are about choices and this Dec. 9, the choice is clear.