Godfather Of ABQ Public Financing Says Process Dealing Out Too Many Mayoral Candidates; Eric Griego Calls For "Reasonable Reform," Plus: How About Limited Financing? We Take A Look

Griego (left) with Keller (right) 2008

The belly-aching over ABQ's public financing system for mayoral candidates has reached maximum volume with multiple candidates in this year's mayoral derby complaining that the requirements to qualify for taxpayer money are too difficult. 

Former Lt. Gov. Diane Denish was quoted here Monday criticizing candidate Alex Uballez for lamenting his unsuccessful effort to obtain public funds. Uballez was coming up far short of the needed $5 individual donations from registered city voters before he gave up and switched to private fund-raising. 

But Eric Griego, a progressive Dem former city councilor who served from 2001-2005 and is the godfather of today's public financing law, tells us it is time for "reasonable reforms."

Joe -My intention when I started working with community members in 2005 on Albuquerque’s Open and Ethical Elections system was to make it so more people could run successfully for local office. Short of a constitutional amendment we can’t do much to end unlimited outside spending by PACs, thanks to the Supreme Court's 2010 Citizens United decision. 

However, we can and should improve the current public financing system to make it more feasible for all serious candidates. Currently, it is difficult for anyone other than incumbents and career politicians with strong partisan ties to qualify. 

In the 2025 mayor’s race, if the current trend continues, only one candidate – the incumbent – will likely qualify for the more than $750,000 provided. . .If we want to keep public financing. . .we must address this barrier as well as make other reasonable reforms. . .

First, the threshold for qualifying for public financing in mayoral races needs to be cut in half from the current roughly 3,850  $5 contributions to 2,000.

Second, the time period for collecting qualifying contributions needs to be extended from the current 64 days to at least 90 days. 

Third, oversight and penalties for coordination with Measure Finance Committees needs to be improved. Former campaign staff or family members of candidates should not be allowed to run or fund these supposedly independent PACs. 

Until we find a solution to the corrosive effects of big money in elections at all levels, we need to make alternatives like the Albuquerque public financing system viable alternatives to changing who runs, who they answer to and where their money comes from. It is a relatively small step to improving our local democracy, but it matters.

Observers point out there is a fine line  to draw with any changes. Lower the bar too much and the cost to taxpayers could easily soar to $10 million or more each election as multiple mayor candidates qualify. 

HOW ABOUT THIS? 

Here's a plan we've been mulling over. 

How about adjusting the amount of public money candidates could qualify for? Keep the current requirement of 3,780 individual $5 donations from registered city voters, but adjust it so a candidate could collect less than the full $756,000 in funding. 

For example, a candidate who obtained 1,500 of the donations could quality for $150,000 and if they chose, stop right there.

A contender who submitted 2,000 donations would qualify for $200,000-- and could call it a day. 

And so on up the ladder with more more funding for more signatures. But only a candidate who managed to get all 3,780 donations would be awarded the full $756,000. 

This would give the incumbent mayor less of an advantage but also keep the costs manageable. We'd like to see a hearty debate.

THE GRIEGO FILE

Griego, 59, left his Council seat in 2005 to challenge Mayor Marty Chavez along with two other hopefuls. There was no public financing option in that race. Chavez was elected to his second consecutive term with 47% of the vote, with Griego coming in second with 26%. Chavez served a total of three terms. Griego later went on to serve a term in the state senate from 2009-13. 

Here's our Election Night blog from October 5, 2005. We have to say that rereading it 20 years later, it's pretty electric. (I'm sure Marty would agree.) Our lead:

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez ceded no territory to his overwhelmed foes last night as he marched virtually unopposed through the city and laid claim to a historic third, four year term. It was a victory unprecedented in its scope, featuring geographic and demographic dominance that politicians dream of but rarely realize. Chavez also ended a 30 year curse and became the first mayor to win two terms in a row. The only opposition was a record low turnout that thwarted the 53 year old city native's drive for an unquestionable mandate.

Yeah, we always liked lighting the night up. . .

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