National Labs? Military Bases? Dem Congress Candidate Takes A Walk On Question, Plus: A Santa Fe Rarity; A GOP Mayor Contender, And: ABQ Crime Watch

State Rep. Melanie Stansbury is understandably hugging her progressive base tightly as she nurses a fat lead in the ABQ congressional race, but it was borderline astounding that when asked directly about funding for the state's national labs--including ABQ's Sandia--as well as the state's military bases, she took a hike on the question. 

The moment came in the Sunday KOAT-TV debate when her Republican foe Mark Moores charged that she supported a measure that calls for a ten percent reduction in defense funding and wondered where she would cut New Mexico's multi-billion budget. Stansbury walked away from the question saying: "I stand for social justice." 

That has to be a first in the decades-long history of the First Congressional District. Is the progressive hold on the district so strong that the Dem candidate dare not mention (or placate) the largest driver of the ABQ and state economy for fear of retribution? Well, it is a low turnout special election. 

One supposes that if Stansbury is elected her tune will change some or maybe she will at least be able to hum the tune out loud. 

The debate also featured independent candidate Aubrey Dunn who was locked out of last week's KOB debate and the KRQE face-off which will air tonight at 6 p.m. 

The election is June 1. In-person voting districtwide begins May 15. 

A SANTA FE RARITY

AMJ

Republicans are a rare sighting in heavy Dem Santa Fe but one has emerged to put a wrinkle in the city's November mayoral election. 

Alexis Martinez Johnson, a GOP gadfly who won the party's 2020 northern congressional nomination and who famously squabbled with police over not wearing a mask while at the famous downtown Plaza, has announced a mayoral bid. She joins Mayor Alan Webber and City Councilor Joanne Vigil Coppler, both Democrats, in the contest. 

At first blush AMJ's entry would appear to be a break for Webber by splitting the opposition vote. It would surely help him win a plurality, but does it give him a better chance of getting 50 percent and taking the outright win? If he fails to reach that threshold, ranked choice voting comes into play. 

If no candidate wins 50 percent in election day voting, the second choice of voters who backed the third place candidate will be awarded those votes. AMJ would probably be that third place candidate and her conservative supporters are more likely to go with Coppler Vigil than Webber. 

Webber received 39 percent of the first round voting in the five way '18 mayoral race so 50 percent is doable in a three way battle. 

So both Webber and Coppler Vigil supporters can point to potential silver linings.

The NMGOP is ABW--anybody but progressive Webber. They quickly seized the chance to dent the incumbent: 

Johnson will revitalize Santa Fe as mayor with fiscal responsibility, a pro-business agenda and as a leader who is sensitive to the vast culture and history of the city. She is running for mayor because she loves Santa Fe and wants to move the city forward through bipartisanship.

If nothing else, the AMJ entry gives the small City Different conservative community a voice and adds some drama to the election, an element always welcomed by watchers of La Politica. 

HAVE A NICE DAY

Here in ABQ Mayor Keller, also seeking a second term in the Nov. 2 elections, continues to have his hands full with the city's crowded crime beat. From the WaPo:

The struggle in New Mexico’s largest city illustrates the challenge of asking civilians to check police powers. Police nationwide have frequently defied efforts to impose civilian oversight and, in turn, undermined the ability of communities to hold law enforcement accountable, according to a Washington Post review. . . In Albuquerque, the city’s attempt to establish successful citizen oversight is its third in 30 years. 

Then there's the severe backlog in completing investigations into alleged abuse of force cases at APD. The department argues a staff shortage, never mind the tax increase that Keller and the city council pushed through three years ago, much of which was devoted to public safety.

And then there's the march toward a record homicide rate this year in the big city. The administration is out with another data driven plan to try to reduce the violence.

Hey APD and City Hall, have a nice day. . . or something.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021