OPINION: White says he'll bring a temporary, new perspective to city hall

Should Albuquerque keep the ship steady or take a new approach? That’s what voters will decide beginning Tuesday when early voting opens in this year’s local election, which among other seats will determine who will be mayor of the state’s largest city.

Candidate Darren White, a former Republican Bernalillo County sheriff and Cabinet secretary of the Department of Public Safety, has emerged as Mayor Tim Keller’s biggest threat for reelection. A recent Journal Poll found that 29% of likely voters plan to vote for Keller; White was the next most popular candidate with around 16%. Yet, more than a third of voters — 37% — are undecided in a field of six candidates.

White met with the Albuquerque Journal Editorial Board for more than an hour last week, talking until his voice was hoarse and he was popping lozenges to stay audible. He says he’s spending hours every day calling possible donors for support in what he hopes is a runoff between him and Keller.

Here are a few important highlights from the meeting:

White only plans to serve for one term. He said he’ll be four years and done.

“I’m not trying to pad my political resume. We all know (being mayor of Albuquerque) is not a ticket to higher office,” he said. “I just want to get in, roll up my sleeves, and clean up and make our community safer.”

That’s a stark contrast from Keller, who is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term.

There’s something to be said for a new perspective in government. A self-imposed term limit encourages leaders to focus on governing and not on perpetual campaigning. It reinforces to the public that holding office is meant to be a public service, not a career. By rotating leadership, citizens are reminded that government officials work for the public, not for themselves and special interests.

What are the fresh perspectives that White has? No surprise here: White thinks the biggest issues facing our city are crime and homelessness.

On the crime front, White said he’ll refocus the department and be more aggressive patrolling city streets. He said he’s skeptical of the efficacy of speed cameras and civilians working within the police department. He said he’ll restructure the department so more officers are on the streets making traffic stops, which often lead to more investigations. Ignoring small crimes like a motorcycle without a license plate, he said, could be a missed opportunity to catch a serious criminal.

“That’s just good old-fashioned police work,” he said. “It’s not rocket science.”

White also proposed evaluating all the changes made to the police department during its Department of Justice reform effort. That initiative lasted 10 years, wrapping up this year, with an eye for changes. For example, he said sergeants, not specialized teams, should be investigating lower-level uses of force. He also thinks the city police department should find new ways to partner with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and not provide “sanctuary” to undocumented people who are booked into jail.

“The American people ... will not tolerate this,” he said.

On homelessness, White described a more heavy-handed approach. He said that on Day One, he would flood city streets with vans and Albuquerque Community Safety, offering homeless people services like behavioral health or addiction treatment. However, if they don’t accept those services, he said things will change. He said officers will enforce laws for blocking sidewalks or possessing illegal drugs.

We also talked about future plans to possibly reimagine the Albuquerque fairgrounds and use the space for economic development. Could a pro sports team be in Albuquerque’s future? What about next year’s 100-year celebration of Route 66?

White isn’t very optimistic about the state of the city.

“We have to clean up our mess first,” he said. “Next year is the 100-year celebration of Route 66, and we’re not ready for the party. It’s embarrassing.”

The biggest hill White is facing, perhaps, is the demographics of voters in Albuquerque.

“I know the struggle. You’re dealing with disparity in Democrats to Republicans,” White said. “But I think people are just fed up. I think they’re absolutely fed up.”

He’s right that Albuquerque voters are frustrated. Keller’s approval rating has been on the decline and is now at 47%, according to a recent Journal poll. He has the power, name recognition and baggage that comes with being a two-term incumbent. We’ll find out later this year just how fed up Albuquerque is.