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| Webber |
Cheerleaders for Santa Fe Mayor Alan Webber cite developments in the city's culture wars that they see as favorable to him as he battles two opponents in the Nov. 2 election:
The president and one of the board members of the Caballeros deVargas have resigned amid infighting. . .At issue is whether the religious and cultural group should send a letter to Mayor Webber. . .asking for the return of a controversial statue of conquistador Don Diego de Vargas to Cathedral Park or to the organization which commissioned the artwork.
Webber’s unilateral decision to remove the statue . . . for “safekeeping” ahead of planned protests has been a sore point for the Caballeros, some of whom consider the removal an attack on Spanish culture.
But how the organization should respond has sparked discord. . .“It has become blatantly apparent that I am not the person to lead this organization. . . Ron Trujillo, now former president of the Caballeros, wrote in his resignation. “One week there is agreement, the next week complete dissension. . ."
Webber's chief foe, Santa Fe City Councilor Joanne Vigil Coppler, has watched the culture wars from the sidelines, ready to lead a united Hispanic opposition if one were to form. But this dissension signals that's a far cry from happening.
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| Vigil Coppler |
If the move to make the mayoral derby about a vanishing culture doesn't catch fire, that sends the campaign back to the nascent economic recovery which is breaking hard towards Webber.
There's still questionable management at City Hall that Vigil Coppler is scoring points on but with the city's cash registers ringing loudly and de Vargas back in the history books and off the campaign trail, Webber remains in control--for now.
THE ABQ CHASE
In the ABQ mayoral chase the outside committee supporting Sheriff Manny Gonzales continues to out-raise a similar committee backing Mayor Tim Keller.
The Save Our City committee supporting Gonzales reported raising $52,500 from June 8 thru July 5 and had $85,000 in cash on hand. Valencia County trial attorney David Chavez gave $5,000; TLC owners Dale Armstrong and state Rep. Gail Armstrong came with $1,500 and International Protective Services donated $5,000. The committee paid out $20,000 to James Hallinan’s PR firm.
The Build Back 'Burque committee backing Keller reported raising $9,235 during the period and reported $18,000 in cash on hand. Over half of the committee's donations came from businessman Steven Chavez of Mesa del Sol who gave $5,000.
There's a large disparity between the two committees and a good early showing for Gonzales but expect the Keller supporters to narrow the gap as the Nov. 2 election draws closer.
By the way, one of our city campaign finance experts says that Gonzales would not be able to have that PAC money donated to his private account in the event his disqualification from public financing is upheld on appeal.
EICHENBERG OUT
It appeared to be an easy race for him but State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg has decided not to seek the Democratic nomination for state auditor in 2022--and he had a little surprise as he told us he would not run:
I ran for treasurer because there was not a qualified candidate, however Joseph Maestas is a qualified candidate for Auditor, and has the integrity to do the job.
I love the work we do at AMAFCA, protecting life and property, and I look forward to continuing that work.
As for a future political career, I'll look at any options that come my way.
That Eichenberg endorsement of northern Public Regulation Commissioner Joseph Maestas comes at the expense of the other announced auditor candidate--Zack Quintero--who ran a close race against ABQ City Councilor Ike Benton in 2019.
With Eichenberg out analysts think there could be an opening for another prominent Anglo candidate to come into the contest.
Eichenberg, 69, is termed out at the end of 2022. The AMAFCA he references is the ABQ flood control authority. He serves on their board. He is also a former ABQ state senator who may be keeping his eyes on the upcoming legislative redistricting to see if that creates a possible future "option."
Current Auditor Brian Colón is not seeking a second term and is running for the Dem nomination for attorney general against BernCo District Attorney Raul Torrez.
No Republicans have yet announced bids for state auditor or attorney general.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021
(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021