From left, Mayoral candidates Eddy Aragon, Mayor Tim Keller, and Manuel Gonzales attend a forum on Highland High hosted by the New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative. (Adolphe Pierre-Louis / )
Albuquerque’s fight against violent crime and escalating homelessness took center stage on Monday evening as the three candidates running for mayor in New Mexico’s largest city competed against each other during a forum sponsored by the New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative.
Crime is a hot topic for voters as the city grapples with record killings this year. Incumbent Tim Keller, a Democrat, faces heat because he was unable to contain the problem during his tenure.
Keller tried to defend his record during the forum by saying his government is addressing the root causes – addiction and poverty – through police efforts, a new public safety bureau, and other initiatives. He said the Albuquerque Police Department was well funded and that more money needed to be spent on social workers and support programs.
He also attacked Bernalillo County’s sheriff Manuel Gonzales, saying crime was his problem too.
Gonzales, a Democrat, accused Keller of politicizing law enforcement and of not aiding city officials. He described the city as “a crossroads of total anarchy” where people no longer feel safe and families choose to move away.
Republican candidate Eddy Aragon, a radio station and host of a Conservative talk show, said the city was in crisis.
“We have to do what we can to turn this city inside out,” he said, referring to the growing economic insecurity, drug addiction and mental health problems.
Keller said the challenges are big, but only sensible solutions will fuel crime and homelessness. He admitted that homelessness has increased in recent years and the number of people living on the streets has more than doubled.
He blamed the economic consequences of the pandemic.
Questions to candidates were collected from the public and advocacy groups, including New Mexico Common Cause, Indivisible Albuquerque, and the Albuquerque Black Economic Security and Solidarity Fund. They touched everything from the racial and gender makeup of the police department to the city’s housing shortages and politics regarding immigrants and refugees.
Keller said the city was ready to accept 300 refugees. Aragon questioned this, saying Albuquerque couldn’t even accommodate its existing homeless population.
The public funding litigation in the mayoral contest has drawn a lot of attention in recent weeks, with Gonzales ultimately losing his bid for public funding. Although questions came up about some of the signatures and $ 5 donations raised through Keller’s campaign, the incumbent has significantly more cash in his pocket than his challengers thanks to the pot of public money, according to the latest campaign funding reports.
Aragon, which entered the race in August, is running a privately funded campaign. He stressed the need to attract more residents and businesses, and said he would not support pandemic-related mandates.
Keller urges the city to build a million dollar stadium to be used by the New Mexico United professional soccer team.
Calling the proposed stadium a long-term family investment, Keller said the four possible locations were chosen because “they’re just empty space”.
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