Former US Attorney Alex Uballez announced Friday at a press conference in Barelas that he has qualified to be on the ballot for Albuquerque mayor and that his campaign will be privately financed.
Uballez said he has collected enough signatures to appear on the ballot in November and thanked volunteers for the support he has received, which allowed him to meet the signature deadline three weeks ahead of schedule.
City records currently show Uballez has 2,680 signatures of the 3,000 required to qualify.
“The fact that we’ve received such an incredible outpouring of support and are meeting the signature deadline three weeks early shows how hungry the people are for change and for a leader who is committed to delivering results for a safer, stronger city,” Uballez said.
Uballez also announced a shift in his campaign financing strategy, moving away from public financing and opting for direct support from Albuquerque residents. He criticized the public financing system, stating it has become “an uphill obstacle course for political newcomers” like himself.
Albuquerque’s public financing system, which provides taxpayer dollars to candidates who “receive qualifying contributions from 1% of the registered voters in the district the candidate wishes to represent,” which is 3,780 contributions for mayoral candidates. To qualify for public financing, candidates for mayor must also gather more than 3,700 signatures from registered voters within Albuquerque City limits by June 21.
The public financing system has faced criticism for loopholes that allow outside money to play a significant role through Measure Finance Committees (MFCs), which can accept unlimited private donations as long as they do not directly coordinate with campaigns.
Uballez’s decision follows similar moves by other candidates. Three mayoral hopefuls—Alpana Adair, Patrick Sais and Eddie Varela—previously dropped out of the public financing program after falling behind on small-dollar contributions. With Uballez’s entry and financial shift, the Albuquerque mayoral race continues to heat up.
As of May 30, Mayor Tim Keller has 2,617 qualifying contributions and 3,424 signatures. Republican candidate Darren White has 1,699 signatures and 1,471 contributions.
“I’m the fourth candidate to make this decision. When the only candidate who appears on track to qualify for public financing is the incumbent, it’s a clear sign that this isn’t working as it should,” Uballez said. “However, I am too encouraged by the people already supporting our campaign, the volunteers who have worked so hard, and the surge we’re witnessing to do anything but keep moving forward. The people of Albuquerque deserve a better choice than candidates who can buy their way onto the ballot or use entrenched political power to get there. The people of Albuquerque want change to make our city safer and stronger and I will officially be their candidate in November.”
Uballez spoke to City Desk ABQ in April when he announced his campaign for mayor.
He said he is running for mayor primarily because of his three young children, aged 3, 6, and 8.
“I figure that I have about ten years to make this into a city that they want to stay in — or if they go to college that they can come back to,” he said.
Uballez stated that public safety is the primary concern voiced by residents when discussing ways to improve the city.
“Public safety is the thing that is beneath all of the other things. We can’t have economic prosperity, we can’t have a prospering downtown if people don’t feel safe going outside.”