Varela funds go toward Trujillo, other candidates

A political action committee formed in the name of a late state legislator has endorsed candidates for city office, and its treasurer did not rule out the possibility the organization could expend funds or in-kind contributions in support of its favored candidates — among them Councilor Ron Trujillo, who is running for mayor.

The Luciano “Lucky” Varela for New Mexico PAC endorsed Trujillo and a slate of City Council candidates in an advertisement in Saturday’s edition of The New Mexican.

The PAC “doesn’t foresee” additional expenditures, said Jeff Varela, the treasurer and late legislator’s son, “unless deemed necessary.”

The PAC funds are “carryover from Rep. Varela’s campaign funds,” Jeff Varela wrote in an email, in addition to charity and nonprofit donations. Varela said the group is in the process of filing “all necessary correspondence and reports” with the city clerk. City code states any organization that spends more than $250 to disseminate materials in support of a candidate must file regular campaign finance reports; the next filings are due Friday.

Rep. Varela, who served from 1984 through retirement in 2016, endorsed Trujillo’s mayoral candidacy before he died in September at age 82. The PAC is “a reiteration of [Varela’s] support for Trujillo,” Jeff Varela said.

Trujillo’s campaign is funded by a $60,000 disbursement from the city’s public campaign finance system.

In addition to the Varela PAC, a Coca-Cola-funded outfit called People for Santa Fe is backing Trujillo in the mayor’s race.