Death Of Former ABQ Mayor Finally Confirmed After Over Three Years Of Silence; Why the News Was Squashed, Plus: The Life And Times Of Ken Schultz

Mayor Ken Schultz

How could a former mayor of New Mexico's largest city be dead for three and a half years and no one have a clue that he is gone? That's the odd story of Ken Schultz, mayor of ABQ from1985-'89 who we have learned passed away in Henderson, Nevada in 2019 but only now has confirmation of his death become public. 

Former ABQ City Councilor Michael Wiener, who served his one council term when Schultz led the city, reports that staff at the American Legion Post 40 Post in Henderson where Schultz, a former Marine, served as a commander, confirmed the passing of the 81 year old.

They tell me Ken died when he went outside his home to collect the newspaper and fell to the ground. That was in 2019. They did not have a specific cause but confirmed his death. 

Schultz was an often successful mayor but controversial as well. It was after his mayoral term that he reached his lowest point. In 2009 he was convicted of being a bagman in the ABQ Metro Court construction scandal and was sentenced to five months probation and ordered to pay $50,000 in restitution after cooperating with federal authorities. The scandal saw former state senate powerhouse Manny Aragon serve four and half years in federal prison for his part in the kickback scheme.

It was that event that apparently inhibited the family of Schultz from publicizing his death, not wanting to draw attention to that black mark. No obituary or other notice was released of his passing and if any  friends or associates of Schultz knew of it, they did not make it public. 

Schultz, a moderate Democrat who moved to ABQ from Chicago to start a Buick car dealership, rose quickly up the political ladder, serving one term on the city council from NE Heights District 9 and then winning election as mayor over Jim Baca in 1985 in a close 51 to 49 election. He lost his bid for reelection in 1989.

We last blogged of Schultz in 2009 when we learned he had moved to Henderson and had found employment as an executive for a labor union. 

While Schultz's corruption conviction was indeed a black mark there was much more to him and his legacy as Wiener notes: 

Councilor Michael Wiener

Mayor Schultz had an agreeable council and ABQ was on the move during that time. He led the expansion of the Sunport, one of the most successful public works projects in city history. He also led the expansion of the Convention Center, made possible the building of the Embassy Suites Hotel near downtown, was key in getting the two landmark high rise downtown office buildings completed and drew intentional attention to the city by attracting the Miss USA Pageant here and that was televised nationally. 

Soon after Schultz was elected the metro area the population broke 500,000, a key metric for the location of national corporations. With his business background Schultz took advantage and pushed the city forward. 

Schultz's ethical lapse was a defining part of his character and is duly noted, but his family and friends can still take pride in the public service that he successfully executed. There is no need to bury the past when it comes to the tenure of Ken Schultz. There is a need to publicly acknowledge the life of a man who impacted the lives of so many so significantly. 

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023