Bassan Council Race Seen Tightening In Wake Of Two Ethics Revelations; Voter Fraud Charge And Misstating Education Background Put Race "In Play", Plus: New State Police Chief On Fighting Fentanyl

Councilor Bassan

Snared by two major missteps ABQ City Councilor Brook Bassan can now expect a close election next Tuesday--or worse. 

So say a variety of informed political players monitoring the final action in NE Heights District 4 where Bassan is on defense in her contest with Democrat Abby Foster. 

Predictably, the Foster camp is now forecasting a "very tight" election but their prognostication is not being dismissed by neutral observers. For example: 

Brook opened the door to this with her misrepresentation of her educational record. And the allegation of voter fraud involving her City Council policy aide has a whiff of authenticity. Her district has become a bit more Democratic since she won four years ago and Democrats are now getting excited. I think we could be in toss-up territory. 

So opined Dan Klein, retired from APD and who now wears a second hat as a journalist and commentator. 

Attorney and former ABQ City Councilor Greg Payne put it succinctly:

The race is now in play. It is a toss-up. 

An ethics complaint was filed with the Board of Ethics Monday over the voter fraud allegation by  District 4 resident Ralph David Esdale but is not expected to be addressed until after next Tuesday's election. The complaint is here. 

One of Our Senior Alligators cites Bassan's previous close race in the district as evidence that the fresh charges are a threat to her re-election:

Joe, in 2019 Brook beat Democrat Ane Romero by the small margin of 53.4% or 4,186 votes to 46.6% or 3,651 votes. That's only 535 votes. If Foster runs an effective attack campaign in the final week she will get close and maybe even win. 

The Foster camp and groups supporting her campaign are preparing to mail and phone the district with the allegations. 

Bassan's misrepresentation of her education background is not something that voters can easily dismiss, said political veteran Mike Santullo, a former communications director to ABQ Mayor Ken Schultz:

The problem is that she not only said she had a bachelor's degree in criminology on her first ABQ Journal questionnaire in 2019 but she said it again this year. When she saw  in the paper what she calls a "mistake," why didn't she immediately correct the error? Seems she didn't want to and she did it again this year. Now she could be in a world of hurt Election Night.

VOTER FRAUD PURSUIT

As of blog press time, Bassan had made no public statement on the voter fraud allegation but the campaign did roll out her City Council policy aide, Dawn Marie Emilio, to explain on the Monday blog why Emilio had registered to vote in her boss's district in April of this year and even give her a small donation to help her qualify for public financing when she did not live in the district. But the Foster camp seized on that statement to raise more doubts:

Monahan reported Bassan had “no comment” and instead had her assistant respond to the allegations, saying she temporarily moved in with Bassan “for personal reasons.” Follow up questions to Bassan:

--How long did Emillio live with Bassan? If the stay was permanent enough to go through the trouble of changing her voter registration (coinciding with her boss's reelection campaign and public financing process), why did Emillio keep her mailing address at her partner's house on the Westside? 

--Emilio stated that she has since moved out of Bassan's house. Why didn't she change her registration when she moved out? 

--Bassan has prided herself on being forthright with the voters. What role did Bassan play in this temporary change of registration? 

--Did Bassan suggest that a public employee she supervises change her voter registration to benefit her campaign? Is this another "simple mistake" like lying about her education credentials? 

--Emillio is at risk of facing serious state charges for voter fraud. Was she instructed to do so by her employer? 

Engaging in voter fraud is reckless and fundamentally hurts the public trust in elections and democracy. With the election just eight days away, Bassan owes it to voters to respond truthfully and immediately to these allegations of voter fraud and a cover up.  

Again, we have asked Bassan for comment.

FIGHTING FENTANYL

Chief Weisler

New Mexico State Police Chief Troy Weisler writes of his agency's fight against fentanyl and a comment made here that the department's recent crackdown on DWI may have been better spent on drug busts.

I saw on your Wednesday post that you thought some of our manpower would be better deployed to seek out loads of fentanyl being raced up the interstate. I wanted the share a press release with you to let you know that many of our people are doing just that. We understand fentanyl and the overall drug epidemic are a massive problem in the state. . . The State Police will continue to work both day and night to protect the citizens of this great state. 

The New Mexico State Police recently restructured some of its investigative resources and has created a Crime Suppression Bureau (CSB) purely focused on proactively tackling major crime problems around the state. The Bureau has units focusing on interdicting drug shipments, dismantling drug trafficking organizations, apprehending outstanding fugitives, and arresting auto theft offenders. In addition, multiple agents within CSB are part of multi-agency task forces with federal and local partners. 

From July 1 to September 30, 2023, members of the Crime Suppression Bureau have been tackling crime in high numbers and seizing deadly narcotics destined for our communities. During that time, their activity includes the following seizures and arrests. 64 Kg (141 pounds) of Methamphetamine (approx. street value of $1,307,602) 449,000 fentanyl pills (approx. street value of $2,740,577) 1.8 Kg (4pounds) of cocaine (approx. street value of $52,449) 177 felony arrests 10 misdemeanor arrests 67 recovered stolen vehicles 17 firearms “In just 3 months, we have removed significant amounts of drugs and guns off the streets. These seizures will help reduce the devastation guns and drugs are having on our New Mexico Communities.” 

Weisler was named State Police Chief by MLG in May.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Some of the greatest things in New Mexico are getting even greater.

ABQ International Balloon Fiesta officials say attendance at this year's edition--the 51st--drew more visitors--968,000--than any in Fiesta history. . . Officials at the Georgia O'Keeffe Museum in Santa Fe have unveiled an audacious $75 million expansion they call the "most expensive privately funded project by a cultural institution in New Mexico." They've already raised $60 million in donations from around the world.

And that's no trick or treat. Congrats to all involved.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023