Councilor Sanchez

The ABQ mayoral field continues to grow as does uncertainty over how many candidates will make the November ballot.

One of them could be westside ABQ City Councilor Louie Sanchez who has announced an exploratory run but not yet an official candidacy. 

He has put up a website seeking $250 in "seed money" donations as a prelude to his effort to qualify for $756,000 in public financing that will require 3,780 individual $5 donations from city voters. To get them will require a decent campaign organization.

A candidate can make the ballot by gathering 3,000 signatures from registered voters but must get the individual donations to obtain public financing.

So far it appears Mayor Tim Keller, former Sandoval County Deputy Manager Mayling Armijo, former BernCo sheriff Darren White and the aforementioned Councilor Sanchez are positioned to get the ballot signatures. Candidates Eddie Varela and Patrick Sais are question marks.

Keller has previously qualified for public financing and is set to do so again. 

It is unclear at this early stage whether any of the other current contenders will make the grade for that big pile of public money. 

RUMOR MILL

Alex Uballez

Meanwhile the rumor mill is throwing out the name of former US Attorney Alex Uballez as a possible mayoral hopeful.

Dem political consultant Sisto Abeyta says the entry of Uballez could worry Keller as he would be the first progressive challenger to Keller who is seeking an unprecedented third consecutive term. 

As US Attorney for New Mexico under President Biden, Uballez spearheaded the investigation into the historic APD DWI bribery scandal that continues to roil the city with numerous guilty pleas from APD cops and others. The scandal will remain in the headlines through the duration of the mayoral campaign and would be a reminder of Uballez's accomplishments--should he run.

The push for him to run appears to come from younger progressives as older ones stick with Keller. The Keller camp says they don't see a Uballez candidacy happening.

As for Louie Sanchez he, like Armijo and White, will be angling for conservative/moderate voters and perhaps in the process dividing them up and leaving Keller in a sweeter spot. 

One other angle: the Keller crowd will be very interested in getting one of their own in the Sanchez District 1 west side seat. He is a Democrat but has opposed Keller at nearly every turn.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.