OPINION: Keller's war on oversight

Mayor Tim Keller built his political brand on transparency. But in practice, his administration has made a habit of burying watchdog reports, fighting oversight and stonewalling the very people who expect accountability from City Hall.

The latest example is six completed Inspector General investigations that remain hidden from the public. These reports could shine a light on waste, mismanagement, or abuse of taxpayer dollars. Instead, they are collecting dust. Voters deserve to know what those reports contain, yet Keller’s administration has allowed them to remain sealed through months of election season. That is not transparency. That is cover-up.

The pattern does not stop there. When the city’s inspector general flagged nearly $288,000 in improper payments of federal COVID child-care funds to city employees, Keller’s administration rejected the findings rather than fixing the problem. When the IG exposed preferential sick-leave payouts to senior staff, the recommendations were brushed aside. When an audit revealed hiring practices that doubled the number of unclassified jobs and raised the risk of favoritism, Keller’s team minimized the concerns and left key loopholes in place.

Keller’s response to oversight has been consistent: deflect, deny and delay. Instead of addressing problems, he pushed out the inspector general, undermined investigations and allowed the oversight committee to stall on releasing completed reports. At the same time, his administration fought public records requests in court, costing taxpayers more than $1 million dollars in legal fees. That money could have gone to public safety, housing or basic city services. Instead, it was wasted to keep documents from the public.

Transparency is not a slogan for campaign flyers. It is the daily work of giving the public access to information, even when that information is inconvenient. Keller talks about openness, but his record shows a mayor more concerned with protecting himself than serving the people.

Albuquerque families deserve a government that faces the truth, not one that hides it. As mayor, I will commit to releasing watchdog reports on time, without delay. I will insist that every audit recommendation is taken seriously and implemented fully. And I will make sure public records are produced without costly lawsuits. The people of Albuquerque should not have to sue their own city just to get answers.

We are at a turning point. We can keep living with excuses, cover-ups, and legal bills or we can demand a city government that finally puts the people first. I’m running because I believe in accountability, in honesty, and in restoring trust. Albuquerque deserves better than a mayor who hides the truth.

It’s time for leadership that puts neighborhoods before politics. It’s time to turn the page on Keller’s cover-ups. It’s time to bring real transparency back to City Hall.