It’s just Oct., but ABQ needs these elections fixes for ’19

She’s been on the job as Albuquerque’s city clerk for less than two months, and Katy Duhigg is already proposing major changes to the city’s election laws to bring them into compliance with the state Local Election Act, which went into effect in July. The new law aims to improve voter turnout and reduce election fatigue by requiring that most non-partisan elections — such as those for the city of Albuquerque and school boards — be held in November of odd numbered years.

But the City Charter currently mandates Albuquerque elections take place in October of odd-number years, and if no candidate for a particular city office receives 50 percent of the vote during the October election, there be a runoff election, typically in November, between the two candidates who have the highest vote counts. The winners then take office on Dec. 1.

In order to comply with the law, Duhigg is proposing city elections be moved from October to November, with any necessary runoff held in December. Successful candidates would then take office on Jan. 1 instead of Dec. 1. That’s still a transition period of just two to three weeks, a very tight turnaround, and this time it would occur during the holiday season.

Consider that Mayor Tim Keller prevailed in last year’s Nov. 14 runoff and had very little time to take the baton from outgoing Mayor Richard Berry on Dec. 1.

Under the new runoff scenario, ask if anyone could realistically be ready in a matter of days to lead a city of more than 600,000 residents with a total budget nearing $1 billion? Is that fair, responsible or prudent? The city has thousands of employees that cover everything from animal control to zoning. Handing over the controls deserves more time than the average spring break bash.

So while implementing state reforms that consolidate and streamline local elections is a wise and necessary move, we’d also urge the city to lobby state lawmakers to increase the time period between when city runoff elections are held and when the winners take office to allow for longer transition periods. The better option would be pushing the start date for newly elected mayors and city councilors to Feb. 1.

Duhigg is also recommending changes designed to “encourage compliance with election laws and discourage frivolous complaints,” clean up and add definitions to establish expectations for candidates, close campaign finance loopholes and make the campaign finance reporting schedule match the state’s. This language cleanup is essential to clear up confusion over what are allowable “in kind” contributions and campaign “coordination.” Both have been contentious issues.

The city clerk says all these fixes could be passed with seven votes from city councilors or six councilor votes plus voter approval. Codifying clear language in the Charter is vital to making the system transparent for candidates and voters.

Duhigg is also proposing a public financing charter amendment that would increase both funding and the time allowed to gather signatures, as well as match city deadlines to those of the state; it would need at least six councilor votes to pass and voter approval in a special election, perhaps the same mail-in election Albuquerque Public Schools is planning for February. While critics would say public financing is too easily gamed in these dark-money times, Duhigg believes her changes would make it more competitive and accessible so a wider pool of candidates have an incentive to reduce money in politics, bringing more accountability and oversight to public financing. It’s a lofty goal worthy of council debate, as well as voter input on providing qualifying candidates more cash.

Kudos to Duhigg for seizing the opportunity to “make a lot of fixes that are long overdue in an effort to ensure that our election process is working smoothly and treating everyone fairly.” And here’s to city councilors vetting her proposals in time to make a difference in 2019.