Wednesday, November 01, 2023Election '23: Keller Flies Below The Radar And Avoids Becoming The Target; Plus: Reader Comment on Councilor Bassan Imbroglio
The hands-off strategy has benefitted the two term mayor who may very well run for a third in 2025. He has not been the target of negative mail or pesky robocalls by any of the council hopefuls hoping to cash in on any weakness--real or perceived--that Keller has with voters. Dem political consultant Sisto Abeyta explains: Keller has not become an issue in this campaign because he has not made himself an issue. Because of that this will not be any sort of referendum on his administration. Not that Keller is not keeping a very close eye on the action. His campaign manger, Neri Holguin, is handling Dem Abby Foster who is running against Brook Bassan in the District 4 NE Heights race that was set on fire this week. She is also consulting Joaquin Baca in District 2 in the Downtown and North Valley where Baca is expected to win. A Bassan defeat would be a somewhat unexpected gift for the Dems and Keller but they did position themselves--just in case. And that proved to be prescient. Even a Bassan win comes with benefits for Keller now that she has been hurt by charges of alleged voter fraud and for misrepresenting her educational background. Here's how one Keller ally sees it: Brook has tried to position herself as the chief critic of the administration. She wasn't good at it. Now with much less credibility, she won't have the influence she might have had in a second term. When it comes to Election '23 by saying nothing, Keller has said it all. E NITE COVERAGE  Back on the campaign trail, we turn to the mailbag for reaction to the developments with Councilor Bassan, covered extensively on our Monday and Tuesday blogs. One of our Senior Alligators says the rules of the city Ethics Board are cutting against the councilor: Joe,
The complaint filed against Councilor Bassan is yet another example of the weaponization of ethics complaints. Before the creation of the Ethics Board, a candidate would send out a press release with accusations against their opposition. Now, a campaign finds someone to file an “ethics charge” on their behalf with the exact same allegations.
Per the City Charter, the "Board shall not adjudicate a complaint filed against a candidate less than seven (7) days before election day.” Ms. Foster’s campaign knew this when they found a person to file a charge against Bassan as a campaign tactic.
This is not to comment on the underlying charges against Councilor Bassan, nor to excuse if anything was done that is inappropriate or illegal. However, Ms. Foster’s campaign set up the specter of an ethics charge with no resolution as they enter the last week before the election." Interesting. Should the Ethics Board not accept any complaints in the last week of the campaign and hold them over until after the voting?
Democrat Barry Simon is happy to take a partisan outlook on the Bassan imbroglio: The sad thing about the “Bassan Incident” is that it is so Republican. Have Democrats played fast and loose on occasion? Yes. But this is normal strategy for Republicans. And so stupid. She doesn’t remember if she has a bachelor’s degree from what college in what area of study. Really? Her assistant lives with her or doesn’t live her or maybe lived with her or… And they say these things with a straight face. No wonder politics today is such a mess. Truth is replaced by “truthiness” and alternative facts as our political institutions sink faster than the Titanic.
. THE BOTTOM LINES  Mayor Tim Keller and City leaders dedicated the elephant pavilion in the Albuquerque BioPark’s new Asia exhibit to longtime public servant Lawrence Rael, who is retiring at the end of this month. The elephant viewing deck is now named the “Lawrence Rael Pavilion.” During his long career in local government, Rael has had a hand in major projects that have helped create opportunities and amenities for families in Albuquerque. This includes work on the BioPark. . . What? There's not a donkey pavilion to name for Rael? No one told Rael but whoever has the elephant pavilion named after them gets to clean up after the elephants. Well, not to worry. He got used to cleaning up that stuff at City Hall. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 |
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