{"id":427081,"date":"2017-09-15T08:28:03","date_gmt":"2017-09-15T14:28:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=427081"},"modified":"2017-09-15T08:28:03","modified_gmt":"2017-09-15T14:28:03","slug":"dark-money-rearing-its-head-in-abq-elections","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2017\/09\/dark-money-rearing-its-head-in-abq-elections\/","title":{"rendered":"Dark Money rearing its head in ABQ elections"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_66499\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 771px;\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/feverblue\/7550299240\/in\/photolist-cvcfV7-92Yxoj-92VjYH-2VqKFS-ffJffR-4CaESc-5bzjuB-ffJfwP-dod3rs-vhH3xU-8dvo8A-dobxRi-5212Qa-4rhV4Y-rdqjy-4csaJH-92Vpev-5ZPuxr-92Vi5T-oA9iY-4csbqT-naNysN-ncTcyE-ncR2eX-naNwQz-ncRh5B-ncTfxA-ncQYji-ncTdnJ-naNA6Y-naNw94-ncTeWq-naNxKb-ncRiBz-naNyi5-92Vhxg-naNtLd-naNsTG-ncRcu4-naNtiQ-ncT8Z5-ncQU5g-dobAiR-uCxbrJ-dobHWq-dobHL5-dobH27-dobHpf-4cs92R-4rdPea\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-66499 size-large\" src=\"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Albuquerque-771x431.jpg\" alt=\"Albuquerque\" width=\"771\" height=\"431\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Albuquerque-771x431.jpg 771w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Albuquerque-336x188.jpg 336w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Albuquerque-768x429.jpg 768w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Albuquerque-1170x654.jpg 1170w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/07\/Albuquerque.jpg 1500w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-media-credit\">Will Keightley \/ Creative Commons<\/p><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Albuquerque at sunset. (<a href=\"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by-sa\/2.0\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">photo cc info<\/a>)<\/p><\/div>\n<p>With Albuquerque\u2019s city election less than a month away, a number of independent groups have registered with the city as political committees, ramping up to make their views known.<\/p>\n<p>As of last Friday, when the latest campaign finance reports were filed, such committees had raised a combined total of $824,441. That\u2019s 20 percent of all the money raised so far this election cycle &#8212; which\u00a0will see a new mayor elected, as well as numerous new city councilors. Voters will decide on\u00a0a controversial ballot measure as well.<\/p>\n<p>The money will be used to bombard Albuquerque voters \u2013 and all other listeners to the big television and radio stations \u2013 with political ads for and against candidates and issues.<\/p>\n<aside class=\"module align-left half type-aside\">\n<h3>About this article<\/h3>\n<p>This article comes from\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/nmindepth.com\/2017\/09\/14\/dark-money-rearing-its-head-in-abq-elections\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">New Mexico In Depth<\/a>. Sign up for\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/nmindepth.us6.list-manage.com\/subscribe?u=1d2ab093d81b992e50978b363&amp;id=9294743d38\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">their newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>While some groups have filed reports of money they\u2019ve raised, others are actively running advertising with little or no information about them available.<\/p>\n<p>These sorts of groups epitomize the term \u201cdark money\u201d that is often applied to independent political committees.<\/p>\n<p>For instance, Make Albuquerque Safe is running a negative ad against State Auditor Tim Keller. The advertisements will run before NMID or the public are able to see any reports about who is paying for the ads, and there is little information on the group\u2019s registration form telling voters who they are.<\/p>\n<p>When they do file their fundraising report next Friday, it\u2019s possible the money will have passed through other obscurely named PACs that make tracing money difficult. NMID will update readers when that information is posted, or when more information about the group is available.<\/p>\n<p>In Albuquerque, independent groups are called measure finance committees, or MFC\u2019s, and are formed to support, or oppose, candidates and ballot measures. So long as they don\u2019t coordinate with candidates they can raise unlimited funds.<\/p>\n<p>The great majority of the contributions this year \u2013 92 percent \u2013 are in amounts of $1,000 or more, for a total of $761,312. Most of that \u2013 $549,853 \u2013 is targeted at a ballot measure asking voters to approve or deny a new sick leave ordinance.<!--more--><\/p>\n<p>The biggest donation to date was a monetary donation of $150,000 from the Center for Civic Policy to a group supporting the proposed sick leave ordinance. That MFC, the Healthy Workforce ABQ, Ol\u00e9 Education Fund, Strong Families New Mexico, Center on Civic Law, has raised $424,549.<\/p>\n<p>A group opposing the sick leave ordinance, the Albuquerque Coalition for a Healthy Economy and Realtors Association of New Mexico, has raised $125,304, with its largest contributions coming from the Realtors Association of New Mexico and the Real Estate Community PAC.<\/p>\n<p>Here\u2019s a breakdown of all 2017 measure finance committees and what we know about them as of Sept. 9. NMID welcomes tips from readers about the identities of contributors and the advertisements of these groups.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0ABQFirePac<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0April 13, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To support municipal candidates and to promote public safety.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0This MFC is made up of local firefighters and the local IAFF union. They\u2019ve endorsed mayoral candidate Tim Keller and city councilor candidates Ken Sanchez, Don Harris, Klarissa Pena and Diane Gibson. They are also endorsing John Melia for PERA Board Trustee.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$24,000<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest contributor:<\/strong>\u00a0The International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF), both the local chapter and the national association.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0ABQ Working Families<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0July 19, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0This MFC formed to support candidates and ballot initiatives.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0The New Mexico Working Families organization, associated with a national progressive organization, has organized this MFC. The group has received contributions supporting the sick leave ordinance and Javier Benavidez for city council.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$12,745<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0The biggest contributor is the nonprofit Organizers in the Land of Enchantment, or Ol\u00e9.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0Albuquerque Coalition for a Healthy Economy and Realtors Association of New Mexico<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0June 21, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To oppose an ordinance on the ballot that would require companies to provide paid sick leave.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0Membership includes business organizations in New Mexico including the New Mexico Restaurant Association, Realtors Association of New Mexico, New Mexico Chile Association, New Mexico Business Coalition, Americans for Prosperity and more. These organizations argue that earned sick leave would hurt the economy. The name of the biggest contributor is in the title, because the city charter requires contributors who give over a certain percentage to put their names in the title.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$125,304<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0Realtors Association of New Mexico, Real Estate Community PAC and New Mexico Restaurant Association<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0Albuquerque Forward Together<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0June 2, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To support mayoral candidate Tim Keller.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0The MFC is independent from Tim Keller\u2019s main campaign. About 40 percent of the contributions have come from labor unions. This MFC also accounts for almost all of the small contributions to measure finance committees, with $34,695 coming from 266 contributions of $250 or less.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$209,932<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0The biggest contributors are unions including AFSCME Council 18, Southwest Regional Council of Carpenters, International Associations of Fire Fighters, Curtis &amp; Lucero Law Firm and New Mexico Federation of Labor<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0Albuquerque Rising<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0Aug. 22, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To support and oppose candidates.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0Based on filed campaign reports, this group is, so far, supporting City Councilor Diane Gibson in her bid for re-election and opposing her challenger, Eric Lucero.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$15,000<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest contributor:<\/strong>\u00a0The biggest contributor is the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME), the public employees union.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0Americans for Prosperity<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0Sept. 5, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To oppose the sick leave ordinance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0Americans for Prosperity is a part of a larger conservative lobbying group with the same name that\u2019s aimed at lowering taxes and decreasing government regulation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$2,072<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0The biggest, and only, contribution comes from Americans for Prosperity New Mexico.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0Coalition for a Better Albuquerque<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0Aug. 27, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To support or oppose candidates.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0This group\u2019s chairperson is Simon Kubiak, and treasurer is Dana Lynn Frost.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0There were no contributors as of Sept.\u00a08.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:\u00a0<\/strong>Forward Albuquerque<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0Sept. 8, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To advocate against the proposed sick leave ordinance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0This group\u2019s backer is the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$0<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0There were no contributors as of Sept.\u00a08, when this group filed their registration.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:\u00a0<\/strong>Healthy Workforce ABQ, Ol\u00e9 Education Fund Strong Families New Mexico, Center On Civic Policy, New Mexico Center On Law And Poverty<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0June 23, 2016<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To support an ordinance on the ballot that would require companies to provide paid sick leave.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0This group is composed mainly of non-profit 501(c)(3) organizations supporting the ballot ordinance. It has the names of its biggest contributors in the title, because the city charter requires contributors who give over a certain percentage to put their names in the title. Members of this group worked to gather the required signatures to place the ordinance on the ballot.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$424,549<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0The Center for Civic Policy, Ol\u00e9 Education Fund, UFCW 1564 and Forward Together<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0Make Albuquerque Safe<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0Aug. 29, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0Education is the stated purpose. The group is running ads against mayoral candidate Tim Keller.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0This group is mysterious so far, with two names listed: Denise Romero and Donna Taylor.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$0 reported.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0There were no contributors as of Sept.\u00a08. It began running ads the following week in advance of the next filing period.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0Planned Parenthood Votes Albuquerque<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0Aug. 17, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To \u201cencourage voters to support candidates who fight for reproductive health care.\u201d<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0This group is associated with Planned Parenthood Votes New Mexico. They\u2019re endorsing mayoral candidate Tim Keller and city council candidates Javier Benavidez, Cynthia Borrego, Diane Gibson and Byron Powdrell.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$313<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0All contributions have come from Planned Parenthood of The Rocky Mountains Action Fund.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0Public Safety First<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0July 25, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To educate candidates on public safety.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0The Albuquerque Police Officer\u2019s Association is the backer of this group.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$10,000<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0The biggest and only contribution comes from the Albuquerque Police Officer\u2019s Association. The association has endorsed council candidates Cynthia Borrego, Eric Lucero, Ken Sanchez, Don Harris and Klarissa Pena. They also endorse John Melia for PERA Board Trustee.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>NAME:<\/strong>\u00a0RGCSC 2017 ABQ ELECTIONS IEC<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Date formed:<\/strong>\u00a0Sept. 8, 2017<\/p>\n<p><strong>Purpose:<\/strong>\u00a0To support various candidates.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Who they are:<\/strong>\u00a0This is a Sierra Club-backed group<\/p>\n<p><strong>Total Contributions:<\/strong>\u00a0$0 reported.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Biggest Contributors:<\/strong>\u00a0There were no contributors as of Sept.\u00a08.<\/p>\n<p><em>Melorie Begay holds New Mexico In Depth\u2019s\u00a0<a href=\"http:\/\/nmindepth.com\/new-mexico-in-depth-journalism-fellowship-for-students-of-color\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\">2017\/2018 fellowship<\/a>\u00a0for a current or recently graduated journalism student at the University of New Mexico.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>As of last Friday, when the latest campaign finance reports were filed, such committees had raised a combined total of $824,441.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":66499,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[3334,139,705],"class_list":["post-427081","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-2017-election","tag-albuquerque","tag-money-in-politics"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427081","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=427081"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/427081\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/66499"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=427081"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=427081"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=427081"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}