DISTRICT 6 CITY COUNCIL CANDIDATES

Pat Davis

POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic AGE: 41 EDUCATION: Master’s degree in criminal justice from New Mexico State University (2009); certificate in criminal justice education from the FBI National Academy/University of Virginia

(2006); bachelor’s degree in political science from Berry College (2000)

OCCUPATION: City councilor since 2015; formerly executive director of ProgressNow New Mexico (2011-15); special programs officer with the Office of the District Attorney (2009-11); police lieutenant with the University of New Mexico (2005-09)

FAMILY: Partner, Christopher POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE:

City councilor since 2015; chair of Governor’s Marijuana Legalization Work Group since 2019; member of the Albuquerque-Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority (2016-18)

MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: As a progressive activist coming to council, some feared I couldn’t work with opponents to accomplish our agenda. I’m proud to have led my colleagues making us immigrant-friendly, a solar leader and smarter on policing. MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT:

Growing up gay during “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” I was scared to be me. Now, as one of New Mexico’s few openly gay electeds, I get to help other LGBTQ youth see their own opportunity. Besides hiring more officers, what do you think the council could do to improve public safety? Albuquerque should take the lead on gun violence, targeting repeat offenders quickly with new detectives to follow up on shootings and gun thefts, while also passing gun laws to prevent gun violence in public places. What is the greatest infrastructure need the city faces and how would you fund its resolution? With $400M in ADA sidewalk and street repairs, mostly in older neighborhoods like ours, I oppose sprawling new development. I helped add millions to our bond package for Southeast area streetlights, sidewalks and streets.

What has been Mayor Tim Keller’s best move so far and what do you think has been his administration’s biggest misstep?

Best: Together, we’ve taken Councilor Benton and my 25% solar plan to 100% by 2030. Misstep:

Early economic development fights with council. Since then, we’ve worked together funding $1M for local business growth and scored Netflix, NBC.

Gina Naomi Dennis

POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic

AGE: 41

EDUCATION: Master of business administration from American University (2005); Juris doctor law degree from American University (2003); Bachelor’s degree from Spelman College (2000); studied Mandarin Chinese at the Kunming College of Eastern Language in China (2015); studied constitutional law in post-apartheid era at Rhodes University in South Africa (1998)

OCCUPATION: Attorney (federal regulatory law, tribal law) since 2004, most recently for Stetson Law Offices in Albuquerque; president of the District 6 Coalition (2017-present); community organizer (2015-17); CEO/owner and green building specialist, LEED AP, with Relerience (2009-17)

FAMILY: Single, no children. I love my family, my parents, my twin brother Gary, my brother Gregory, and my nieces Sidney and Genevieve. POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE:

Represented seven tribal-Pueblo governments in New Mexico as an attorney (2017-19); national delegate from New Mexico for U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders, DNC (2016); trade mission to South Sudan, Africa, regarding a national renewable energy policy plan, met with the South Sudanese National Minister of Electricity, Dams, Irrigation, and Water Resources; the National Minister of Defense; and the South Sudanese Vice President’s Office, (2013); trade Mission to Brazil, collaborated with the U.S. Department of Commerce for LEED green building meetings (2011); represented the government of Cameroon as an attorney (2007-08); White House intern for President Bill Clinton (1999)

MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT:

When I was President of the District 6 Coalition of 17 Neighborhood Associations, we saved dozens of jobs at Whittier Elementary School and Hawthorne Elementary School by helping those two Albuquerque public schools stay open. MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENT: I

am a native English speaker, and I also speak Mandarin-Chinese and Spanish. Besides hiring more officers, what do you think the council could do to improve public safety? Eighty to 85% of crimes are committed while someone is high or trying to get high. Let’s reduce our opioid addiction rate so that we can reduce our crime rate. What is the greatest infrastructure need the city faces and how would you fund its resolution? Get federal funding to address failures of ART, such as the over 100 businesses crushed by ART, excessive speeding, and crashes on Lead, Coal and Copper, and non-ADA-compliant infrastructure and sidewalks. What has been Mayor Tim Keller’s best move so far and what do you think has been his administration’s biggest misstep?

Best move: created an Office of Equity and Inclusion.

Biggest misstep: neglecting our ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) disability issues related to infrastructure and sidewalks.