Albuquerque's Next Mayor Is

New Mexico Business Journal, Sept, 2001 by Bob Cochnar

BOB COCHNAR

WHAT TRANSPIRES THIS FALL IN NEW MEXICO IS generally known as an "off-year" election, although mayoral candidates in a number of communities don't quite see it that way, reasonably enough. Indeed, to downgrade municipal elections to "off-year" status conveys the impression that they're not particularly important, so why bother? That's unfortunate, since municipal elections have an insidious way of affecting more folks than, say, gubernatorial elections (which, by the way, take place next year).

Adding to the political mix this fall is a special session of the Legislature, at which the state's election districts will be divvyed up to correspond with population changes as recorded in the 2000 Census. The Constitution entrusts this project with legislatures, for better or for worse. Generally the party in power--Democratic--tends to control the map, but Governor Johnson--Republican--has his veto and if memory serves won't hesitate to use it, even for frivolous reasons. Reapportionment, however, isn't frivolous, and while Democrats will try hard to keep districts safe for Democrats, Johnson and the Republican legislators will most certainly resist. Whether there will be a meeting of minds remains to be seen.

Mayoral candidates, however, needn't worry overmuch about reapportionment, since they run across all voting districts. And in Albuquerque, to use a good example, the race for city hall will be, at best, confusing since the siren call of the mayoralty has summoned perhaps more candidates than ever before--at least 10--and since we don't countenance runoffs, it's more than likely that the winner will collect considerably less than a majority of the votes. Given the fact that voter turnout in the "off year" is usually dismal, Albuquerque, a city approaching 600,000, could wind up with a mayor elected by as few as 20,000 voters. Amazing but true.

Assuming Albuquerque business owners and managers are acutely aware that an Albuquerque mayor has sufficient clout to queer a deal or to make something happen that stands to benefit business, depending on the capability and vision of that mayor, it's important to separate the wheat from the chaff in the mayor's race, taking care not to throw away the chaff, which is regrettably abundant. We plan to help in the separation process by inviting candidates to tell Business Journal readers where they stand on issues of interest to business and also to take a look at their track records, if any. This information will be published in our October issue, which will be published in mid September, well before election day the first Tuesday of October (and why October, instead of the conventional November, beats me).

There are, as noted, an overabundance of candidates from which to choose, but I think the race is likely to narrow to three or four. They are the incumbent, Jim Baca; the former mayor, Martin Chavez, the former district attorney Bob Schwartz, and possibly James Lewis, the former state treasurer and city manager of Rio Rancho, and Rick Homans, a local publisher. Of these, Baca, Chavez and Lewis have some serious government credentials. Schwartz is essentially a one-issue (crime) candidate and Homans has no experience in municipal government, although he has a large enough bankroll to buy some name recognition before the race is done.

The Business Journal doesn't endorse candidates for several reasons, but principally because we think our readers can reach intelligent decisions without any unseemly drum-beating from us and also because I am persuaded that few folks pay attention to endorsements from the media anyway. We will try to provide some useful information upon which decisions can be at least partially based. One thing is certain: The business community ought to know that the right person in the mayor's chair can help keep the economy moving. City governments don't create jobs, but they surely can make it easier for the private sector to create jobs. We are well advised to pay close attention to what these candidates say and what they have done in the past. One question that ought to be asked: Who among them have demonstrated an ability to get important things done and also an ability to work in reasonable harmony with the folks they need on their side? Answer that question, based on some evidence, and you may have found your candi date.