ABQ Election '15 Results

[Türkisblau]

With historically low turnout, perhaps the worst in modern history (28,800 voting out of 350,000 eligible) and some of the most intense apathy Albuquerque has seen in years, here goes:

City Council District 4
Brad Winter (R) 58%
Israel Chavez (D) 42%

Summary: Winter is a longtime incumbent who appeared set to retire this year, but ran anyway and found himself up against Chavez who is a 24 year old political "upstart" who is sure to get another crack at it. There is speculation that Winter will retire sometime into his 4 year old causing Mayor Berry (R) to just appoint another Republican to the seat.

City Council District 6
Pat Davis (D) 67%
Hessito Yntema (R) 23%
Sam Kerwin (D) 10%

Summary: This result wasn't in doubt for long, District 6 is based around UNM which is a very liberal area. Pat Davis is a strong progressive but was doubted due to thoughts that Martinez's PAC could media bomb the district during the campaign.

The other City Council "races": Trudy Jones (R) and Ike Benton (D) went unopposed; the City Council keeps it's 5-4 D-R composition.

As for the bonds, $119 million in 'em almost all passed overwhelmingly with street bonds the most popular, earning 80% approval.

Now for the most controversial, the BioPark tax! Basically, Mayor Berry's administration and the City Council failed to adequately fund bonds for the BioPark, ABQ's zoo and aquarium. It is a one eighth cent increase in the city's gross receipts tax which will bring in $17 million a year for 15 years. The campaign to save the BioPark first generated private donations, and then went on to spend all their donations on the campaign to raise taxes.

It was opposed by conservatives and some liberals who called it a regressive tax (not wrong) and Mayor Berry has come under fire for not making a stance either way, a position that could hurt him in the 2018 GOP Gubernatorial Primary, if he chooses to run. In the end, it garnered 56% approval.

Charter Amendments

Petition Signature Requirements: 61%-39%

Charter Amendment Ballot Requirements (removing fine print from the ballot): 48%-52%

Appointment of Chief of Police and Fire Chief (trying to avoid more ABQPD scandals): 64%-36%

Full results here.

[Joe Republic]

Huh.  I was just in ABQ this past weekend and saw no evidence that an election was even about to take place.

[Türkisblau]

Huh.  I was just in ABQ this past weekend and saw no evidence that an election was even about to take place.

Ah, that's nice. For what occasion?

Yeah, for comparison the Mayoral race in the 2013 election garnered 70k votes. What occurred this past Tuesday is pretty frightening for the state of the city; I think the only thing that caused anyone to vote is a guilty conscience over some key amenities possibly going unfunded.

[Joe Republic]

Huh.  I was just in ABQ this past weekend and saw no evidence that an election was even about to take place.

Ah, that's nice. For what occasion?

Balloon fiesta

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

All local elections need to be held at a synchronised time in November IMO.

[Türkisblau]

Huh.  I was just in ABQ this past weekend and saw no evidence that an election was even about to take place.

Ah, that's nice. For what occasion?

Balloon fiesta

Oh, duh.

All local elections need to be held at a synchronised time in November IMO.

Yeah, that's what people are now pushing for. Of course, the side who generally benefits from lower turnout will keep saying that it's better to have "informed" voters than people who just check a box downballot during a general.

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

Well it doesn't even have to be in the general. You could place them all at that same time in odd-numbered years.

[Türkisblau]

Column by Oliver, Bernalillo County Clerk/2014 SoS Democratic nominee and possible candidate for SoS again, on the ABQ 2015 election turnout.

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[King]

It should be noted that Richard Berry is so bland and inoffensive as mayor it's hard for any anti-Berry administration fervor to sweep on the council elections. He'll probably serve as mayor until he wants to retire.

[Türkisblau]

It should be noted that Richard Berry is so bland and inoffensive as mayor it's hard for any anti-Berry administration fervor to sweep on the council elections. He'll probably serve as mayor until he wants to retire.

I just love his explanation for all the terrible sh**t happening in ABQ as of late. "Well things like this are increasing all over the country, so..."