Gene: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS ELECTION SPECIAL.

I'M YOUR HOST GENE GRANT.

THIS WEEK, WE’LL FOREGO THE USUAL LINE ROUNDTABLE CONVERSATIONS AND OTHER NEWS OF THE WEEK TO BRING YOU A CANDIDATE FORUM WITH THREE OF THE PEOPLE RUNNING TO BE THE NEXT MAYOR OF ALBUQUERQUE.

THEY INCLUDE CURRENT MAYOR TIM KELLER, ALONG WITH BERNALILLO COUNTY SHERIFF MANNY GONZALES, AND TALK RADIO HOST EDDY ARAGON.

THERE IS ALSO A WRITE IN CANDIDATE IN THIS RACE AS WELL, PATRICK SAIS.

HE WAS THE ONLY CANDIDATE TO NOT TAKE PART IN A RECENT CANDIDATE FORUM HOSTED BY THE NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE AND HELD AT HIGHLAND HIGH SCHOOL.

THE FORUM WAS HOSTED BY FREQUENT LINE PANELIST AND FRIEND OF THE SHOW CATHY MCGILL.

THE TOPICS IN THE DEBATE RANGE FROM HOW TO DEAL WITH THE CITY’S GROWING HOMELESSNESS PROBLEM, TO THE COMPLICATED ISSUE OF CURBING CRIME IN THE STATE’S LARGEST CITY.

BUT WE’LL JOIN THE FORUM IN SESSION NOW, WITH THE FIRST QUESTION THAT HAS TO DO WITH ADDRESSING AND EMBRACING THE DUKE CITY’S CULTURAL DIVERSITY.

HERE NOW, CATHY MCGILL AND THE NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE MAYORAL FORUM.

Narrator: LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THESE ARE YOUR CANDIDATES FOR THE 2021 MAYORAL RACE.

PLEASE GIVE THEM A BIG ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

(APPLAUSE.)

Narrator: ALL RIGHT.

WE ARE NOW GOING TO GO INTO OUR DIFFERENT CATEGORIES OF QUESTIONS.

THIS PARTICULAR QUESTION WAS SUBMITTED BY THE NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE AS A WHOLE.

AS I MENTIONED, WE WILL MOVE AROUND THE ORDER OF ANSWERS.

FOR THIS FIRST QUESTION, CANDIDATE KELLER FIRST AND CANDIDATE GONZALES AND END WITH CANDIDATE ARAGON.

THE QUESTION IS, CAN YOU AND WILL YOU SAY BLACK LIVES MATTER?

AND, IF YOU AGREE, HOW DOES YOUR RECORD SUPPORT THAT AFFIRMATION?

IF YOU DO NOT AGREE, PLEASE STATE YOUR REASONS.

STARTING WITH CANDIDATES KELLER.

Keller: BLACK LIVES MATTER.

I SAID THAT AT THE LAST CANDIDATE FORUM THAT THIS GROUP HELD, MIGHT HAVE BEEN UNDER A DIFFERENT NAME.

SO, I HAVE SAID THAT EVEN BEFORE THE SUMMER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

IT IS BECAUSE I BELIEVE THAT WE HAVE A SITUATION IN OUR COUNTRY AND HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE WHERE RACISM IN ALL FORMS, BUT ESPECIALLY EVEN ANTI-BLACKNESS, STILL EXISTS.

FOR ME, I HOPE THAT I HAVE DEMONSTRATED TO WALK THE WALK ON THAT.

I THINK WE SAW THIS LAST SUMMER WITH WHAT HAPPENED WITH GEORGE FLOYD.

I WAS THERE LISTENING.

I WAS THERE ALSO IN SOLIDARITY BECAUSE WE HAVE TO HAVE CHANGES IN THIS COUNTRY.

AFTER LISTENING, I TRIED TO SAY WHAT CAN WE DO IN ALBUQUERQUE TO ACTUALLY OWN UP TO THE CHALLENGES BEFORE US FOR RACIAL JUSTICE.

THAT IS WHY YOU SAW A NUMBER OF THINGS COMING OUT OF OUR OFFICE OF EQUITY AND INCLUSION, AN OFFICE THAT I CREATED, AN OFFICE THAT I RAN ON LAST TIME AND I AM SO GRATEFUL THAT WE HAVE.

THAT OFFICE WORKED WITH THE COMMUNITY AND CAME UP WITH NUMEROUS IDEAS, WHETHER IT WAS A NEW CURRICULUM IN THE POLICE ACADEMY, HAVING THINGS LIKE A SUPERINTENDENT OF POLICE REFORM TO ACTUALLY MAKE SURE REFORMS HAPPENS.

WHETHER IT WAS BEING HONEST WHERE WE HAVE LEFT FOLKS DOWN WHEN IT COMES TO REFORM.

WHETHER IT WAS ALSO MOVING THE BALL FORWARD IN TERMS OF THINGS LIKE OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN HISTORY EFFORTS THAT WE ARE DOING AT OUR CULTURAL CENTER OR IT IS EVEN ISSUES LIKE UNDERSTANDING OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND WHAT IT MEANS IN TERMS OF REDUCING THE TRAUMATIZATION OF NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR, THE OVER-POLICING OF NEIGHBORHOODS OF COLOR.

AND THE INDIVIDUAL RACISM THAT PEOPLE STILL FEEL ON THE STREETS OF ALBUQUERQUE.

THIS DEPARTMENT IS ALTERNATIVE POLICING AND IT IS A REFLECTION OF THE COURAGE THAT FRANKLY THE COMMUNITY GAVE ME TO DO SOMETHING THAT OUR ADMINISTRATION WAS ALREADY PILOTING.

WE SAID, NOW WE ARE GOING TO BE THE FIRST CITY IN AMERICA THAT WHEN YOU CALL 911, YOU GET A THIRD RESPONSE, A SOCIAL WORKER, A TRAINED PROFESSIONAL SO THAT SITUATIONS ARE NOT ESCALATED AND ALSO SO THAT OUR OFFICERS CAN FOCUS ON FIGHTING VIOLENT CRIME.

Narrator: THANK YOU CANDIDATE KELLER.

CANDIDATE GONZALES.

Gonzales: I WOULD SAY ALL LIVES MATTER.

MY CAMPAIGN MANAGER IS A BLACK WOMAN AND SUCCESSFUL.

WHILE I WAS IN THE MARINE CORPS MY ROOMMATES WERE BLACK.

I HAVE HAD FRIENDS THAT I CONSIDER VERY CLOSE TO ME OVER AT MY HOME THAT I CARE ABOUT AND I LOVE.

IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ACTIVISM.

I ADVOCATE FOR PEOPLE BASED ON MY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES TO ENSURE THE MOST SACRED THINGS IN THEIR LIVES, RIGHTS, PROPERTY AND THEIR LIVES.

I WOULD NEVER DISCRIMINATE AGAINST ANY PERSON.

MY FIRST APPOINTMENT AS SHERIFF WAS HAVING AN UNDERSHERIFF THAT WAS BLACK AND BECAUSE HE WAS QUALIFIED AND HE WAS THERE.

IN MY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES, I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT ALL THE PEOPLE AND I'LL CONTINUE TO DO SO.

Narrator: THANK YOU, SHERIFF GONZALES.

CANDIDATE ARAGON.

Aragon: WE GET TWO MINUTES, CORRECT?

Narrator: TWO MINUTES.

Aragon: ALL LIVES MATTER, PERIOD.

WE HAVE BEEN DIVIDED IN THIS COUNTRY BASED UPON THE LEVEL OF RACIST IMPLOSION HERE IN THIS COUNTRY THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THERE ARE CERTAIN ELEMENTS, CERTAIN ASPECTS OF THINGS THAT HAVE HAPPENED HERE IN THIS COUNTRY BUT I THINK WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND, AS A REPUBLICAN, I WOULD LIKE TO STATE THAT, WHICH I DIDN'T STATE THAT IN MY OPENING STATEMENT, AND BEING 4.6% BLACK, I WANT YOU TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING ABOUT ALL OF US BEING EQUAL.

AND ALL OF US MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER AS A SOCIETY.

WHAT WE HAVE SEEN COMING OUT OF COVID AND I AGREE WITH THE LEADER OF BLACK LIVES MATTER, IN THAT THE MANDATES FOR VACCINES ARE ABSOLUTELY RACIST.

YOU SEE THE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE TAKING THOSE VACCINES AND ONLY 56% OF AFRICAN AMERICANS ARE TAKING THOSE VACCINES RIGHT NOW.

BECAUSE THEY DON'T TRUST IT.

NEITHER DO I.

WE NEED TO MOVE FORWARD HERE IN THIS COUNTRY AND I THINK TO DIVIDE OUR COMMUNITY WITH ONLY 2.6% OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY OF WHICH YOU ALL KNOW WHO HAVE LISTENENED TO MY PROGRAM, WE HAD THE FIRST AFRICAN AMERICAN TALK SHOW HOST ON A CONSERVATIVE TALK RADIO STATION AND THAT WAS LANGSTON BOWENS, NAMED AFTER LANGSTON HUGHES.

I WILL SAY 911 CALLS ARE DOWN.

I DON'T BELIEVE IN THE ENDLESS PANDERING AND CERTAINLY THE MONEY THAT IS HANDED OUT TO CERTAIN ASPECTS OR CERTAIN GROUPS OR CERTAIN YELLING AND PROTESTING THAT HAS BEEN GOING ON HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS NOT MADE OUR COMMUNITY BETTER.

AGAIN I WANT TO REITERATE, FIRST 23 CONGRESSMEN ELECTED HERE IN THIS COUNTRY, THEY WERE REPUBLICANS.

THE DEMOCRAT PARTY ITSELF IS THE PARTY OF SLAVERY.

IF ANYBODY NEEDS TO GO AHEAD AND DO A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY, I WOULD SUGGEST THEY GO LOOK AT THE BEGINNING OF 1912 AND LOOK AT WOODROW WILSON.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Narrator: THANK YOU.

OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS GOING TO BE IN THE AREA OF PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE HAVE THREE QUESTIONS, OBVIOUSLY, THIS IS A HOT BUTTON ISSUE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND SO WE ARE DEVOTING THREE QUESTIONS BECAUSE WE GOT SO MANY OF THE COMMISSION'S WERE RELATED TO PUBLIC SAFETY.

SO, WE ARE DOING THESE QUESTIONS IN THREE CATEGORIES.

ONE, WE WANT TO TALK ABOUT YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF POLICING.

THE FIRST QUESTION IN THIS CATEGORY IS HOW WOULD YOU IDENTIFY AND DEFINE SAFETY?

AND WHAT DO YOU IDENTIFY AS THE LEADING, UNDERLYING FACTORS CHALLENGING SAFETY IN OUR COMMUNITY, SPECIFICALLY COMMUNITIES OF COLOR?

PLEASE CONTEXTUALIZE YOUR ANSWER BASED ON YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING AND DIVERGENT PUBLIC OUTCRY.

ON THE ONE HAND PEOPLE ARE REQUESTING MORE POLICING, MORE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ON THE OTHER HAND PEOPLE ARE SAYING, DEFUND THE POLICE.

WHERE DO YOU SIT?

THIS QUESTION CAME TO US FROM JAY WILSON.

WE'LL START THIS ROUND WITH CANDIDATE GONZALES.

Gonzales: THAT WAS A VERY LONG QUESTION.

Narrator: I CAN TELL YOU -- Gonzales: I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS GOING TO BE FOUR PARTS.

Narrator: WELL, THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK AND BASICALLY WE WERE ASKING YOU WHAT IS YOUR PHILOSOPHY OF POLICING?

CAN YOU CONTEXTUALIZE IT IN THE CONTEXT OF YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING AND HOW DO YOU JUXTAPOSE YOUR PHILOSOPHY BASED ON DIVERGENT PUBLIC VIEWS OF THE CITIZENRY?

Gonzales: SO, MY PHILOSOPHY ON THE CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING IS THAT THIS GOVERNMENT IS THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE.

AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED OVER THE SPAN OF MY LIFETIME HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE IS THAT THERE IS AN OVER-POLITICIZING OF POLICING TO A FAULT.

WE NEED TO GET TO A POINT WHERE OUR POLICIES ARE BENEFICIAL TO THE SAFETY OF PEOPLE.

THEREFORE, REMOVING POLITICS FROM PUBLIC SAFETY.

I SAY THAT BECAUSE WHEN YOU TAKE AN OATH OF OFFICE, CONSTITUTIONALLY, YOUR OATH AS AN ELECTED OFFICIAL IS TO UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION AND ALL OF THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO AND ORDINANCES.

TO DO ANYTHING LESS WOULD BE SUBVERTING YOUR CONSTITUTIONAL DUTIES TO THE PEOPLE.

SPECIFICALLY TO MARGINALIZED AREAS LIKE THE ONE WE ARE SITTING IN.

FOUR YEARS AGO I RECEIVED A CALL FROM THE PEOPLE IN THIS AREA TO MEET WITH THEM BECAUSE THEY FELT MARGINALIZED AND THAT THIS AREA WASN'T BEING GOVERNED.

AND AS SHERIFF OF THIS COUNTY, BEING THE CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIAL, I CAME IN AND I LISTENED INCLUDING THE PRINCIPAL AT THE SCHOOL TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO BETTER SERVE THE STUDENTS TO GET TO SCHOOL SAFER AND FIGURE OUT STRATEGICALLY HOW THEY COULD AVOID SOME OF THE HYPER-AGGRESSIVE PEOPLE THAT ARE LIVING IN THE STREETS AND GET THEM TO THE POINT WHERE THEY COULD HAVE AN EDUCATION.

MY PHILOSOPHY IS THAT WE ARE HERE TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

MY PHILOSOPHY IS THAT I AM A SERVANT TO THE PEOPLE.

I HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO REPRESENT EVERY PERSON AND THEIR INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND NOT IMPOSE THE GOVERNMENT ON THEM, TO BE A NEUTRAL BODY, TO PROTECT THEM FROM HARM AND TO KEEP THEM SAFE.

Narrator: GOING TO CANDIDATE ARAGON, SAME QUESTION.

CONTEXTUALIZING YOUR UNDERSTANDING OF -- Aragon: YOU DON'T HAVE TO READ ME BACK THE QUESTION.

Narrator: OKAY.

Aragon: IS JAY WILSON HERE, THE MAN WHO SUBMITTED -- Narrator: IF YOU WOULD ADDRESS YOUR COMMENTS TO THE CONSTITUENCIES.

Aragon: I AM, YEAH.

I AM ASKING IF JAY WILSON -- HE IS THE PERSON WHO PUT THE QUESTION TOGETHER, CORRECT?

Narrator: HE IS ONE OF THE COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT SUBMITTED QUESTIONS.

Aragon: OKAY.

AND YOUR QUESTION AGAIN IS HOW TO FORTIFY FUND PUBLIC SAFETY HERE.

AND I AM ACTUALLY WITH SHERIFF MANNY ON THIS, BUT, I THINK WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE IT A STEP FURTHER.

THERE IS NO DOUBT THAT DIVIDING US, EVEN AS FAR AS WE PROSECUTE CRIME, BY SAYING THAT WE TREAT CERTAIN MEMBERS OF OUR SOCIETY, THERE IS NO COLOR TO THE LAW.

YOU BREAK A LAW, YOU'RE PUNISHED UNDER THAT LAW.

WE DON'T HAVE THAT RIGHT NOW.

THERE IS PREFERENTIAL TREATMENT OF CERTAIN CATEGORIES THAT ARE OUT THERE.

AND WHAT HAS HAPPENED IS MAYOR KELLER HAS ENABLED A HIGH LEVEL OF LAWLESSNESS HERE IN OUR COMMUNITY.

TO THAT END, WE NEED TO GO AHEAD AND REFUND THE POLICE.

IN FACT THERE IS AN ADDITIONAL 50 MILLION.

WE SHOULDN'T DEFUND THE POLICE.

I THINK THAT ENTIRE WORD AND PHRASE SHOULD BE COMPLETELY STRICKEN NOT JUST HERE BUT ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

YOU SEE CRIME THAT IS RUNNING RAMPANT IN BLUE STATES.

YOU HAVE SEEN IT IN PORTLAND.

WE HAVE THE SECOND HIGHEST YEAR OVER YEAR MURDER RATES.

LET'S NOT FORGET THAT THERE WAS 11 HOMELESS PEOPLE WHO WERE ALSO MURDERED, STORIES THAT WE DON'T KNOW.

I DON'T THINK THAT CRIME HERE IN THIS CITY DISPROPORTIONATELY AFFECTS PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I DON'T THINK IT IS ONE PARTICULAR GROUP.

WHAT I WILL TELL YOU, THERE IS A CERTAIN GROUP OF PEOPLE OUT ON THE STREET, HOMELESS PEOPLE, AND THEY ARE A VULNERABLE POPULATION.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE THREE CLASSIFICATIONS, ECONOMIC INSECURITY.

YOU ALSO WANT TO TALK ABOUT, I THINK, DRUG ADDICTION AND THEN THE THIRD OF THOSE IS A GROUP THAT PREYS UPON THAT AND THEY ARE WILLINGLY HOMELESS THAT ARE OUT THERE AND THERE IS ALSO MENTAL ISSUES AS WELL.

MANY OF THOSE CRIMES THAT ARE HAPPENING OUT ON THE STREETS ARE HAPPENING AMONG OUR HOMELESS POPULATION AND THERE IS A VULNERABLE GROUP OF PEOPLE IN THAT GROUP, THAT IS PREYED UPON PEOPLE WHO ARE COMMITTING THESE CRIMES AND MURDERS.

11 MURDERS IN HOTELS RIGHT NOW.

WE NEED TO REFUND THE POLICE.

WE NEED TO DO MORE CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING.

WE NEED TO MAKE SURE WE TAKE THE 35 MILLION IN THE CARES ACT AND REALLOCATE IT MORE TOWARD THE POLICE.

THAT CAME DIRECTLY FROM THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.

OUR POLICE OFFICERS NEED IT.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: THANK YOU, CANDIDATE KELLER.

Keller: THERE IS A LOT TO UNPACK IN THIS ONE.

I'LL TRY AND HONOR THE QUESTION BY ACTUALLY ADDRESSING PART OF IT.

FIRST, LET ME STATE THAT CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING, THERE ARE ACTUAL DEFINITIONS OF THIS, BUT I THINK IN SUMMARY IT IS ABOUT MAKING SURE EVERYONE IS GIVEN CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS BUT THE REASON WHY IT IS AN ISSUE BECAUSE OF BOTH PROFILING AND IMPLICIT BIAS WHICH ABSOLUTELY HAPPENS AND WE HAVE TO BE COGNIZANT OF AND ACKNOWLEDGE.

IT ALSO HAPPENS WITH RESPECT TO USE OF FORCE.

THIS IS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY THE DOJ IS IN A LOT OF COMMUNITIES.

IS EXACTLY BECAUSE OF CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING IS AN ISSUE ON BOTH SIDES, RIGHT?

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO CONTINUE TO ADHERE TO GOING FORWARD.

NOW, I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT TO STATE CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT I THINK IS REALLY A STATEMENT COMING FROM NAIVETY.

LIKE, WE ARE IN A CONSENT DECREE AND YOU HAVE GOT TO KNOW THE DEFINITION OF CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING IF YOU WANT TO BE MAYOR.

ALSO, TO SAY THAT POLITICS IS NO.

1 PROBLEM IN CRIME IS A COMPLETE DISSERVICE TO BOTH VICTIMS AND TO LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICIALS.

LOOK, WE ALL KNOW WHAT THE NO.

1 ISSUE IS AND IT IS ADDICTION AND DRUGS AND CLOSELY FOLLOWED BY POVERTY.

SO, YOU KNOW, EVEN IF YOU AGREE THAT POLITICS IS A PROBLEM, TO SAY IT IS NO.

1 THING, I THINK, IS ABSOLUTELY OVER THE TOP AND COMPLETELY IGNORING REALITIES OF OUR COMMUNITY.

I ALSO WANT TO MENTION FUNDING.

LOOK WE HAVE ADEQUATELY FUNDED APD.

FRANKLY, THEY WERE SHORT FUNDING WHEN WE CAME IN.

WE HAD AN OFFICER SHORTAGE FOR SOME TIME.

BUT LET'S REMEMBER WHAT THOSE OFFICERS, WHAT THAT FUNDING MEANS.

IT MEANS DIVERSION PROGRAMS, IT MEANS VIOLENCE INTERVENTION PROGRAMS.

IT MEANS DOMESTIC VIOLENCE PROGRAMS.

IT MEANS HOMICIDE DETECTIVES.

I ACTUALLY BELIEVE THAT APD RIGHT NOW IS ADEQUATELY FUNDED.

IN FACT, THE ISSUE IS HIRING IN ALL THOSE AREA.

WE HAVE ALSO TO DO THINGS LIKE GET SOCIAL WORKERS AND FUND ALL THE OTHER KINDS OF SUPPORT PROGRAMS TO DEAL WITH BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND ADDICTION.

LASTLY, LET ME JUST SAY, SAFETY.

WHAT IS SAFETY?

SAFETY IS WHAT EACH PERSON THINKS IT IS.

FOR A WOMAN AT NIGHT, IT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

FOR A PERSON OF COLOR WHEN THEY ARE PULLED OVER, IT IS SOMETHING DIFFERENT THAN A WHITE PERSON.

YOU HAVE GOT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT IF YOU WANT TO BE MAYOR OF ALBUQUERQUE.

Narrator: THANK YOU, CANDIDATE KELLER.

GOING ON TO OUR SECOND QUESTION IN PUBLIC SAFETY AND I'LL APOLOGIZE IN ADVANCE, ALL OF THESE QUESTIONS HAVE A FEW SENTENCES, BUT I'LL TRY TO MAKE SURE YOU UNDERSTAND THE ACTUAL GERMANE PORTION OF THE QUESTION.

THIS IS ABOUT RECRUITING.

WOMEN COMPRISE MORE THAN 50% OF THE POPULATION OF ALBUQUERQUE.

AND BLACKS AND AFRICAN AMERICANS COMPRISE APPROXIMATELY 3.2% OF THE POPULATION.

HOWEVER, THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT AND ITS OFFICERS DO NOT REFLECT DEMOGRAPHICS OF THE CITY.

WHAT WOULD BE YOUR STRATEGIC PLAN TO HAVE THE POLICE OFFICERS LOOK MORE LIKE THE COMMUNITIES AND CITIZENS THEY SERVE?

PLEASE ALSO DISCUSS THE CURRENT MAKEUP OF THE FORCE AND RETENTION EFFORTS FOR THE EXISTING WORKFORCE.

WE'LL START WITH CANDIDATE ARAGON.

Aragon: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION.

I CAN'T COMMENT ON THE CURRENT RACIAL MAKEUP OF THE FORCE.

I THINK THAT IS INSULTING FROM THE STANDPOINT TO LOOK AT IT AS FAR AS RACE.

NO DOUBT, UNDER MAYOR KELLER'S ADMINISTRATION WE HAVE LOST AT A MINIMUM 90 POLICE OFFICERS, NO LONGER THERE.

WE ARE UNABLE TO RETAIN OUR POLICE OFFICERS AND WE ALL KNOW THAT IS A COMMUNITY CRISIS.

I THINK IT IS AN INSULT TO SAY THE POLICE OFFICERS ARE ADEQUATELY FUNDED.

WHAT ELSE DO WE HAVE TO SPEND MONEY ON RIGHT NOW?

31% OF OUR ALBUQUERQUE CITY BUDGET IS FUNDING POLICE AND IT NEEDS TO BE A LOT MORE.

I TALKED IN REFERENCE TO 35 MILLION THAT WENT TO CARES ACT THAT WENT DIRECTLY TO THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT THAT A LITTLE BIT MORE.

I AM NOT GOING TO LOOK AT THE COLOR AND MAKEUP IN A RACIST HIRING PRACTICE TO ONLY HIRE WOMEN AND ONLY HIRE HISPANICS OR ONLY HIRE THIS.

WE NEED AS MANY BODIES AS POSSIBLE.

I DON'T THINK FINDING PEOPLE OF PARTICULAR PERSUASIONS IS GOING TO INCREASE NUMBERS OF PEOPLE THAT ARE GOING TO BE BECOMING POLICE OFFICERS.

RIGHT NOW, WE CURRENTLY HAVE 70 PEOPLE WHO ARE CONSTANTLY LOOKING AT CAMERAS, 368 PATROL OFFICERS.

OVERALL, ABOUT 750.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY LOST POLICE OFFICERS DURING MAYOR KELLER'S AND I THINK DIRECTLY TO THE POINT IS BECAUSE WE HAVE LOOKED AND BROUGHT IN A LOT OF RACISM INTO HIS ADMINISTRATION.

I THINK THAT NEEDS TO STOP.

I DON'T MEAN TO BE INSULTING IN ANY WAY.

I AM LIKE YOU, FIRST A CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTRY, AND SECOND I THINK I AM A CITIZEN AND AN OCCUPIER, IF YOU WILL, HERE IN THIS CITY AND STATE.

I THINK WE NEED TO LOOK AS FAR AS MAKING SURE THAT WE CAN GET AS MANY PEOPLE INTO OUR POLICE DEPARTMENT AS POSSIBLE AND WE SHOULDN'T BE LOOKING AT THEIR RACIAL OR ETHNIC MIXES WHEN HIRING.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: CANDIDATE KELLER.

Keller: WELL, I THINK FIRST AND FOREMOST I WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT OUR DEPARTMENT HAS COVERED THIS AREA, ESPECIALLY WITH WOMEN BUT ALSO WITH AFRICAN AMERICANS AND THAT IS A LONG-STANDING CHALLENGE AND ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY THERE IS A CHALLENGE WITH WOMEN AND POLICING.

SO, THE QUESTION OBVIOUSLY IS WHAT ARE WE GOING TO DO ABOUT IT SPECIFICALLY.

WE HAVE BEGUN TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE IN IMPORTANT WAYS.

ONE IS OUR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM WHICH INCLUDES AMBASSADORS TO THE AFRICAN AMERICAN COMMUNITY, TO THE ASIAN COMMUNITY, LGBTQ, AND THESE ARE OFFICERS WHO ACTUALLY TALK WITH THEM ABOUT THEIR ISSUES AND ALSO ENCOURAGE RECRUITING.

THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT PROGRAM THAT WE STARTED THIS YEAR.

ALSO, WE TRY AND MAKE OUR LEADERSHIP, AS BEST WE CAN, REFLECT OUR COMMUNITY.

AND TO HAVE AN AFRICAN AMERICAN SUPERINTENDENT OR A FOREMAN IS THE SECOND HIGHEST POSITION IF NOT TIED FOR THE FIRST HIGHEST POSITION IN LAW ENFORCEMENT IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS A MAJOR SIGNAL.

THE OTHER THING IS THE ACADEMY.

WE ARE ON OUR SECOND FEMALE DIRECTOR OF THE ACADEMY.

THOSE ARE BOTH UNDER MY LEADERSHIP.

LASTLY, I WANT TO MENTION WE HAVE TO REMOVE THE BARRIERS.

WE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS.

THERE ARE THINGS AROUND CREDIT SCORE OR THE TEST THAT IS HAPPENING.

WE ARE IN THE PROCESS OF ANALYZING WHY PEOPLE ARE EXCLUDED OF COLOR BUT ESPECIALLY WOMEN AND AFRICAN AMERICANS AND ASIAN AMERICANS ACTUALLY, TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHY THAT IS.

SO THAT IS SO WE CAN MAKE REAL POLICY CHANGES THAT CAN ACTUALLY MAKE THAT DIFFERENCE.

THE LAST PART IS RECRUITING EARLIER ON ESPECIALLY THROUGH CNM.

WE STARTED A TRAINING PROGRAM WITH CNM TO ENCOURAGE FOLKS ALREADY INTERESTED IN AREAS, EVEN IN SOCIAL WORK OR SOCIAL JUSTICE OR CRIMINOLOGY AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN AT CNM, TO SAY, HEY, THERE MIGHT BE A HOME FOR YOU AT ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT YOU MIGHT NOT HAVE THOUGHT OF.

WE CAN GET YOU INTO ACADEMIC CLASSES FIRST SO THAT YOU TAKE A COUPLE OF MONTHS TO FIGURE OUT IF THAT IS THE RIGHT FIT AND THEN WE SLOT YOU INTO AN ADVANCED ACADEMY POSITION SO YOU CAN BECOME A MEMBER OF THE FORCE.

Gonzales: UNDERSTANDING THE CHALLENGES FOR WOMEN IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, BEING SOMEBODY THAT IS A PRACTITIONER AND HAD TO GO THROUGH THE ADVERSITY OF BEING A MINORITY IN LAW ENFORCEMENT, I UNDERSTAND THEIR CHALLENGES.

WHAT I HAVE DONE SINCE I HAVE BEEN SHERIFF IS CREATE A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS FOR WOMEN.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS WE UNDERSTAND THAT IN SOME AREAS OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, WOMEN HAVE A CHALLENGING TIME JUST BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE ACCESS TO CERTAIN THINGS LIKE FIREARM TRAINING AND OTHER THINGS THEY WOULD HAVE A CHALLENGING TIME COMING INTO, THAT THEY DON'T FEEL AS COMPETENT AS A MAN.

WHAT WE HAVE DONE IS RETAINED THOSE WOMEN AND CONTINUE TO WORK WITH THEM AND HOLD THEM ON STAFF, EVEN IF IT TAKES US TWO, THREE OR FOUR TIMES TO GO THROUGH AN ACADEMY TO ENSURE THAT WE HAVE WOMEN ON OUR STAFF BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT MORE WOMEN IN A LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY MEANS A LESS VIOLENT, LESS AGGRESSIVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY AND A MORE BALANCED LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCY SO WHAT WE PROVIDED THEM IS A PATHWAY TO SUCCESS.

WE HAVE HIRED MORE WOMEN IN THE HISTORY OF THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE IN THIS COMMUNITY AND IT IS VERY REFLECTIVE.

I AM GOING TO TELL YOU HERE, BEING RAISED IN A COMMUNITY CENTER, BEING RAISED IN THE SOUTH VALLEY IN A VERY DIVERSE HIGH SCHOOL, WHAT I WOULD DO IS VOTE FOR ME SO I COULD PROVIDE THESE PEOPLE WITH THE LEADERSHIP THEY NEED THAT WOULD BE REFLECTIVE OF THIS COMMUNITY THAT I WAS RAISED, BORN IN, UNDERSTAND AND LOVE.

Narrator: WE WILL GO ON TO OUR THIRD QUESTION.

THIS ONE IS ABOUT THE DOJ CONSENT DECREE AND CASA AGREEMENT.

IT IS CLEAR FROM THE CASA AGREEMENT AND REPORT FROM MR. JAMES GINGER, SPECIAL MONITOR FROM THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE, THAT APD STILL HAS USE OF FORCE PROBLEMS.

EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE IS NEVER ACCEPTABLE AND IS EXCEPTIONALLY HARMFUL TO OUR PEOPLE OF COLOR.

CURRENTLY THERE IS A BACKLOG OF EXCESSIVE USE OF FORCE CASES THAT HAVE NOT BEEN INVESTIGATED.

WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS TO BRING APD IN LINE, TO MONITOR AND ENFORCE, AS WELL AS BE IN COMPLIANCE WITH THE CONSENT DECREE?

WE'LL START THIS ROUND WITH MAYOR TIM KELLER.

Keller: SURE.

SO, FOR US WHEN IT COMES TO REFORM, I THINK WE HAVE LEARNED A LOT OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS.

NO.

1 IS THE BIGGEST POLICY CHANGE THAT WE DID ACCOMPLISH WAS CREATING A NEW USE OF FORCE POLICY SIGNED OFF ON BY ADVOCATES AND COURTS AND BY THE DEPARTMENT.

THE CHALLENGE IS IMPLEMENTING IT.

THAT IS WHY IT IS SO IMPORTANT TO HAVE A MAYOR WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW THIS WORKS.

WE HAVE GOT TO KEEP THE SUPERINTENDENT OF REFORM.

WE PULLED THE ACADEMY AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS AND MONITORING OUT OF THE CHAIN OF COMMAND AND THAT IS ESSENTIAL TO ACTUALLY MAKING PROGRESS.

WHAT WE SAW WHEN WE DIDN'T HAVE THAT WAS LOTS OF CHALLENGES THAT LED TO THE MONITORING REPORT THAT YOU REFERENCED.

WE HAVE ALSO MADE CHANGES IN ACADEMY CURRICULUM WHETHER IT IS ANTI-RACISM TRAINING, CULTURAL COMPETENCY OR CHANGING LEADERSHIP WHO RUNS THE ACADEMY.

THIS NEW LEADERSHIP TEAM IS COMMITTED TO ACTUALLY TRAINING EVERYONE UP ON THE USE OF FORCE.

THAT WAS NO.

1 ISSUE WE WERE LAGGING ON.

THAT IS SCHEDULED TO BE COMPLETED THIS WINTER.

THOSE ARE AREAS WHERE I THINK WE ARE MAKING MAJOR PROGRESS.

IT IS BECAUSE OF WHAT WE LEARNED AND TRYING TO COME INTO THIS WITH AN ATTITUDE TOWARDS REAL CHANGE AS OPPOSED TO LIP SERVICE, AS OPPOSED, FRANKLY, TO THE PAST APPROACH, WHICH WAS EITHER DENIAL OR, HEY, THIS WILL GO AWAY FAST.

WE ARE COMMITTED TO DOING THIS FOR REAL.

THAT MEANS IT IS GOING TO TAKE A LONG TIME, THAT MEANS IT IS GOING TO HAVE STARTS AND FITS.

THAT MEANS WE ALSO INVOLVE CIVILIANS TO GET RID OF THAT BACKLOG WITH RESPECT TO THE INTERNAL OVERSIGHT AND INTERNAL AFFAIRS BACKLOG.

THIS IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE NEED OUR OFFICERS ALSO ON THE STREET TAKING CALLS.

BUT WE ALSO NEED FOLKS WHO AREN'T BIASED, WHO MAYBE FOR GOOD REASONS, MAYBE THEY HAD FOLKS THEY WORK WITH IN THE FIELD AND TRYING TO HELP EACH OTHER OUT.

WE HAVE TO BREAK THAT CYCLE.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE DONE WITH THE E FIT PROGRAM.

LASTLY, I WANT TO STATE THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO DO MORE THAN ONE THING AT ONCE.

WE ARE GOING TO FIGHT CRIME UNDER MY ADMINISTRATION BUT WE ARE ALSO GOING TO CONTINUE ON REFORM.

THAT IS WHAT WE HAVE TO DO.

BECAUSE, UNDER A U.S. FEDERAL JUDGE, REFORM IS ALSO NOT A CHOICE.

SO, ANYONE WHO TELLS YOU OTHERWISE, THERE IS SOME QUICK FIX OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, ONE, IS NOT TELLING YOU THE TRUTH AND, TWO, THEY SHOULD DO REFORM FOR THE RIGHT REASONS BECAUSE OUR DEPARTMENT NEEDS IT.

THAT IS WHY THEY ARE HERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

Narrator: THANK YOU.

CANDIDATE GONZALES.

Gonzales: FIRST OF ALL, I PROVIDE THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH THE PROPER LEADERSHIP THAT IT NEEDS IN ORDER TO HOLD THEMSELVES AND THE OFFICERS ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC.

JUST LIKE WE HAVE AT THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE.

WE HAVE NO HISTORY, NO RECORD AND NO PATTERNS OF USE OF FORCE VIOLATIONS AGAINST CITIZENS OF BERNALILLO COUNTY TO INCLUDE ALBUQUERQUE.

WE WORK HERE OFTEN.

PEOPLE RESPECT US.

WE HAVE A GREAT RELATIONSHIP WITH THE PUBLIC AND THEY RECIPROCATE.

I BELIEVE THAT THERE IS NO EASY SOLUTION, BUT IT COMES DOWN TO COMPLIANCE.

YOU HAVE TO HAVE COMPETENT PEOPLE THAT UNDERSTAND THAT THE PATHWAY FORWARD FOR THIS COMMUNITY IS GETTING THAT COMPLIANCE PIECE DONE.

YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WRITE REASONABLE COMMON SENSE POLICIES ACHIEVABLE FOR THE OFFICERS SO THEY CAN SERVE THE PEOPLE.

THE LACK OF SERVICE IS CREATING MORE VICTIMS, MORE HARM TO THE PUBLIC RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICERS AREN'T SUPPORTED, AREN'T PROVIDED THE DIRECTION, THE TRAINING, AND ALL THE SUPPORT THEY NEED IN THIS TOUGH ENVIRONMENT NATIONALLY, BECAUSE ALL EYES ARE ON THEM.

WE NEED TO TAILOR THE NEEDS OF THE PEOPLE AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SERVICES FROM THE POLICE DEPARTMENT THAT THEY DESERVE AND NEED.

THERE IS OVER A 200 MILLION-DOLLAR BUDGET AND WHEN ALBUQUERQUE POLICE OFFICERS ARE TELLING YOU THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO FOR YOU, THAT IS UNACCEPTABLE CONSTITUTIONALLY.

SO, WHAT WE WILL DO IS GET BACK TO CONSTITUTIONAL POLICING, PROVIDE THEM WHAT THEY NEED, THE SUPPORT, AND NOT FOLD TO THE POLITICS AND THAT GOES BACK TO MY POINT ABOUT POLITICAL REFORM.

IT STARTS WITH THE LEADERSHIP.

Narrator: THANK YOU CANDIDATE GONZALES.

CANDIDATE ARAGON.

Aragon: I DISAGREE ENTIRELY WITH THE PREMISE OF YOUR QUESTION.

I AM GLAD IT IS LOCATED THERE AS QUESTION NO.

4.

THAT IS RIGHT THERE.

I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO ADDRESS TWO THINGS THAT HAVE ALREADY BEEN SAID.

OUR POLICE OFFICER ARE NOT CRIMINALS.

WE NEED TO LOOK MORE AT OUR POLICE FORCE AS A GROUP OF GOOD GUYS.

IT IS UNFORTUNATE WE HAVE CREATED THAT CULTURE HERE IN OUR CITY.

AS MAYOR KELLER STATED, IDENTIFYING THINGS, ACCORDING TO SEX AND RACE, THAT FURTHER DIVIDES POLICE DEPARTMENT.

AGAIN WE NEED MORE BODIES.

SHERIFF GONZALES STATED WE ARE LESS VIOLENT WHEN WE HIRE MORE WOMEN.

BETWEEN RACISM AND SEXISM AND THE THINGS THAT ARE BEING SAID HERE TONIGHT, I AM A LITTLE BIT INCREDULOUS.

BUT LET ME GET BACK TO THE USE OF FORCE ISSUES.

THIS AGREEMENT CAN'T BE MODIFIED OR CHANGED.

IT IS WHAT IT IS.

THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS PLAINTIFF TO THE DECREE.

WE DID THIS TO OURSELVES.

WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

THAT IS NOT STATED ENOUGH.

MAYOR KELLER HAS NOT FOUGHT HARD ON BEHALF OF THE POLICE OFFICERS.

HE PUT MORE OBSTACLES IN THE WAY OF OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

THERE IS A BASELINE DEPARTMENT JUSTICE DECREE THAT IS SET.

THE KELLER ADMINISTRATION HAS ADDED MORE THINGS TO THAT TO TRY TO APPEASE JAMES GINGER.

I THINK THAT IS A BAD THING AS WELL.

SO, 200 MILLION-DOLLARS, THAT IS NOT ENOUGH.

I HAVE ALREADY STATED WE NEED MORE MONEY FOR OUR POLICE OFFICERS.

SO, THE CITY IS PLAINTIFF AND PARTY TO THE CONSENT DECREE.

WE HAVE TO ENGAGE THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DAILY.

BUILD A RELATIONSHIP WITH THEM, ACCELERATE COMPLIANCE, FIGHT THEM, REMOVE THEM AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

WE ALSO HAVE TO INCREASE THE MORALE OF THE OFFICERS.

THEY ARE SUFFERING.

ONE OUT OF FOUR OF THEM WANT TO LEAVE AND RETIRE.

AND IT HAS A LOT TO DO WITH THE WAY WE ARE TALKING TONIGHT IN THIS FORUM.

I APOLOGIZE IF THAT OFFENDS ANY OF YOU.

WE HAVE A CRIME PROBLEM.

96 MURDERS OUT ON THE STREET.

WE ARE TALKING ABOUT RACE AND HIRING PRACTICES OF DISCRIMINATION.

THESE ARE NOT THINGS WE WOULD TOLERATE IN A PRIVATE BUSINESS.

WE NEED TO SUPPORT OUR POLICE OFFICERS, UNDERSTAND THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE DECREE IS IN OUR CONTROL.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: OUR NEXT CATEGORY IS HOMELESSNESS AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

USE PEOPLE FIRST LANGUAGE AND ADDRESS THIS PARTICULAR CATEGORY AS PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR UNHOUSED OR UNSHELTERED POPULATIONS.

THE QUESTION COMING FROM SMITH IS, GIVEN THE EXTREME HOUSING SHORTAGE AND THE RISE IN MEDIAN HOME PRICE, WHAT OPTIONS DO YOU PROPOSE FOR OUR ALBUQUERQUE RESIDENTS AND WHAT SOLUTIONS WOULD YOU PROPOSE FOR SUPPORTING UNHOUSED CITIZENS?

START WITH CANDIDATE KELLER.

Keller: WELL, THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.

I THINK THERE IS SOME CONNECTION BETWEEN THESE IN THE SENSE THAT I JUST WANT TO KNOW WHAT WE HEARD BEFORE ABOUT RELATIONSHIPS WITH CONSULATES.

THERE IS ONE CONSULATE HERE, MEXICAN CONSULATE.

WE ALL WORK WITH THEM QUITE A BIT.

WHAT IS NOT PRODUCTIVE FOR IMMIGRATION OR REFUGEES IS TO SIT WITH TRUMP AND TALK ABOUT HOW TO ROUND UP IMMIGRANTS.

SO, I THINK IT IS SIMILAR WHEN WE HEAR ABOUT IDEAS AROUND HOMELESSNESS THAT SOMEHOW IT SEEMS TO POINT TO SOME SORT OF ENFORCEMENT OF VARIOUS ORDINANCES AS SOME SORT OF SOLUTION TO HOMELESSNESS.

THESE PEOPLE ARE UNSHELTERED BECAUSE THEY NEED HELP AND REALITY IS ALBUQUERQUE HAS MASSIVE HOLES IN OUR SYSTEM.

WE ARE IN A SITUATION RIGHT NOW WHERE ON A 24/7 HOUR BASES THERE IS NOWHERE HERE PEOPLE CAN GO TO GET HELP, WHETHER IT IS A BED, WHETHER IT IS A MEAL.

THEY CAN DURING THE WEEK BUT NOT ON WEEKENDS AND AT NIGHT.

THAT IS WHY WE OPENED THE WESTSIDE HOMELESS SHELTER 24/7.

IT IS FULL BECAUSE HOMELESSNESS IS RISING ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

SO, THE QUESTION IS, WHAT DO WE DO ABOUT IT?

THE ANSWER IS EVERY CANDIDATE SHOULD SUPPORT THE GATEWAY CENTER AND DOING WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO AT THE OLD LOVELACE ON GIBSON.

THAT IS THE CLEARINGHOUSE.

YOU ARE ABLE TO GO THERE AND HAVE A BED, HAVE A SHOWER, HAVE FOOD AND THEN GET SORTED OUT TO ADDICTION AND TREATMENT, GET A HOUSING VOUCHER, GET SUPPORTIVE HOUSING.

THAT IS WHAT WE NEED TO FILL THE GAP IN THE SYSTEM.

BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY HAVE BUILT HUNDREDS OF NEW UNITS OF SUPPORTIVE HOUSING AND IN THE CUE HUNDREDS MORE OF SUPPORTIVE AND AFFORDABLE HOUSING.

WE HAVE ACTUALLY DONE A PRETTY GOOD JOB BUT WE HAVE TO CONNECT IT TO THE FOLKS WHO ARE OUT THERE.

REMEMBER THIS, WHEN I CAME IN WE HAD ABOUT 2,000 PEOPLE UNSHELTERED ON THE STREETS.

NOW WE HAVE 5,000.

SO, WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH THIS ISSUE HEAD ON.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT A PILOT PROGRAM OR ANY KIND OF ENFORCEMENT ISSUE.

WE ACTUALLY HAVE TO GET THESE PEOPLE THE HELP THEY NEED.

THAT IS WHY I SUPPORT AN ALL-OF-THE-ABOVE APPROACH AND THE ONLY WAY THAT WE CAN DO THAT IS WE HAVE A PLACE WHERE THEY CAN GET THAT HELP.

THAT IS WHAT THE GATEWAY CENTER IS ALL ABOUT.

Narrator: CANDIDATE GONZALES.

Gonzales: SO, THE MAYOR JUST STATED OVER THE LAST FOUR YEARS UNDER HIS WATCH WE HAVE INCREASED HOMELESSNESS BY OVER TWO-AND-A-HALF TIMES BECAUSE OF THE POLICIES THAT HE HAS CREATED.

I SIT ON THE PRESIDENT'S COMMISSION FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT AND ADMINISTRATION OF JUSTICE AND I WORKED ON IT WITH A WORKING GROUP IN THREE AREAS.

ONE WAS HOMELESSNESS AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND THE OTHER WAS MENTAL ILLNESS.

SO, THESE AREN'T PEOPLE THAT ARE HOMELESS.

THESE ARE PEOPLE IN CRISIS.

WE NEED TO START TREATING THEM LIKE HUMAN BEINGS AND PART OF THIS COMMUNITY.

IF THEY ARE NOT FROM THIS COMMUNITY, WE NEED TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO RECONNECT THEM AND ACT HUMANE AND NOT LET THEM LIVE IN OUR STREETS AND BECOME ADDICTED TO DRUGS AND DRIVING CRIME.

WE NEED TO GET THEM BACK TO THEIR FAMILIES AND/OR THEIR COMMUNITIES.

WE NEED TO HAVE A THOROUGH SCREENING PROCESS THAT INCLUDES SOCIAL WORKERS, BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH, TO WORK ALONGSIDE WITH LAW ENFORCEMENT.

THIS ISN'T A LAW ENFORCEMENT ISSUE BUT YOU CAN'T DIVORCE YOURSELF FROM THE PROBLEM.

YOU HAVE TO COLLABORATE AND SOLVE ISSUES AS A COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE TO TAILOR A STRATEGIC PLAN FOR ALBUQUERQUE.

I DON'T BELIEVE THE FACILITY AT LOVELACE IS THE PLACE.

THEY HAVE COLONIZED HOMELESS OR I SHOULD SAY PEOPLE IN CRISIS HERE.

WHAT WE WANT TO DO IS BUILD AN ADVOCACY CENTER WHERE WE CAN BUILD SUCCESS.

THESE PEOPLE NEED ACCESS TO TREATMENT, WRAP-AROUND SERVICES.

AND A LOT OF OTHER SERVICES AND NOT LEAVE THEM OUT IN THE STREETS.

BASICALLY AT THIS POINT THESE PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN SERVED.

THEY HAVE BEEN NEGLECTED AND SOMEBODY NEEDS TO BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR THAT.

I DON'T THINK THERE IS NOBODY MORE ACCOUNTABLE THAN THE MAYOR.

Narrator: CANDIDATE ARAGON.

Aragon: FOR A GUY WHO DOESN'T LIKE DONALD TRUMP VERY MUCH, OUR MAYOR HAS BECOME QUITE THE REAL ESTATE DEVELOPER AS OF LATE.

15.5 MILLION TO THE GATEWAY CENTER, I HAVE TO TELL YOU, IT IS A COMPLETE AND TOTAL WASTE OF TIME, WITH SOME OF THE RICHEST GUYS HERE AMONG US ARE PLANNING A DEVELOPMENT NEEDS TO BE COMPLETELY AND TOTALLY STREAMLINED.

WE HAVE TO ACQUIRE LAND, BUILD NEIGHBORHOODS.

EVERYTHING IS BUILT IN LOS LUNAS, BELEN OR RIO RANCHO.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS NONEXISTENT.

SMALL BUSINESS IS SAME THE WAY FOR INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT.

I GOT TO TELL YOU, MOVING THAT AND ADMITTING FAILURE BY MOVING TWO K TO FIVE K, 5,000 PEOPLE THAT ARE NOW HOMELESS, I AM SURPRISED THAT MAYOR KELLER HAS ADMITTED THAT LEVEL OF FAILURE HERE IN OUR CITY WITHOUT ANYTHING TO DO IN SOLVING THE PROBLEM.

BUILDING TINY HOUSES WITH EIGHT OUT OF 40 BEING OCCUPIED AT A COST OF NEARLY $900 A SQUARE FOOT, NO REAL ESTATE GUY, SOMEONE IS MAKING MONEY SOMEWHERE ON THAT AND I THINK IT IS VITAL FOR US TO LOOK AT THAT AND SAY WE AREN'T GOING TO BE BUILDING TINY HOUSES EITHER.

THE HOMELESS PROBLEM IS SOMETHING WE CAN TAKE CARE OF.

WE CAN HANDLE IT.

I ALREADY GAVE YOU THE FOUR CATEGORIES, THREE OF THOSE ARE THE ONES THAT THE FOURTH CATEGORY PREYS UPON AND THERE IS A CRIMINAL ELEMENT OF HOMELESSNESS THAT DOES NOT WANT TO GO AND NOT BE HOMELESS.

THEY WANT TO CONTINUE TO BE HOMELESS AND PREY UPON THE MENTAL, PEOPLE WHO ARE MENTALLY DEBILITATED, PEOPLE DRUG ADDICTED.

THIS IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT AND ECONOMIC INSUFFICIENCY.

WE HAVE TO DETERMINE THE BEST CARE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS.

DIANE GIBSON, I CAN'T BELIEVE I AM QUOTING HER, SHE IS THE EXITING CITY COUNSELOR BUT SHE HAD A GREAT IDEA.

HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS WHERE WE CAN CONTROL, TRACK, HELP AND MANAGE THESE PEOPLE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS AS OUR CLIENTS SO WE CAN HELP THEM FIND THEIR FOREVER HOMES.

SHERIFF GONZALES IS RIGHT, WE DON'T TREAT THE HOMELESS PEOPLE GOOD ENOUGH.

FOR THE AMOUNT OF MONEY THAT WE SPEND AND I WILL SAY 20 MILLION ON THAT, WE SHOULDN'T BE TRYING TO AUDIT OR COMPETE AS MAYOR KELLER HAS DONE DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION.

THIS IS A BROADER BIGGER ISSUE.

I WOULD LIKE MORE QUESTIONS ON THIS.

WE HAVE A PRETTY COMPREHENSIVE PLAN THAT YOU CAN SEE AT FIGHT FOR 505.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: WE ARE GOING TO GO TO OUR FINAL SEGMENT OF QUESTIONS BEFORE WE GET TO CLOSING REMARKS.

THIS IS ON THE RECORD.

OUR GROUP OF INDIVIDUALS WHO WERE VETTING QUESTIONS HAD QUESTIONS THAT CAME IN FROM THE COMMUNITY AND DECIDED THAT WE WOULD ASK THESE QUESTIONS OF YOU, THE CANDIDATES.

WE'LL START WITH CANDIDATE ARAGON.

RECENTLY YOU MADE A CLAIM THAT BECAUSE OF DNA TEST RETURNED THAT YOU HAVE 4.6% BLACK ANCESTRY, THAT IF ELECTED, YOU WOULD BE ALBUQUERQUE'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR.

DURING THE SUMMER, YOU WERE QUOTED SAYING THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE WHO CELEBRATED JUNETEENTH BUT CAN'T AND WON'T CELEBRATE FATHER'S DAY, WHICH MANY FEEL, AT BEST, UNDERMINES THE HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NATIONAL HOLIDAY.

HOW DO YOU DEFEND THESE COMMENTS AND HOW WOULD YOU RESPOND TO THE BLACK COMMUNITIES OF NEW MEXICO WHO MAY FEEL THAT THESE REMARKS ARE BLATANTLY RACIST?

Aragon: THEY ARE FACTS.

71%, I DON'T HAVE TO TELL YOU, YOU CAN FINISH THE REST OF THE SENTENCE.

71% OF CHILDREN IN BLACK HOMES GROW UP FATHERLESS.

YOU KNOW THAT IS A BIG DEAL.

WHY ARE WE MOVING FATHER'S DAY WHICH ISN'T ON MY CALENDAR, WE HAVE JUNETEENTH OR ALL THESE VARIOUS -- WE ARE REPLACING OUR CULTURE HERE IN THIS COUNTRY.

I THINK WE HAVE BEEN PRETTY SUCCESSFUL IN THIS COUNTRY SO FAR BUT SUDDENLY WE HAVE STARTED CREATING NEW HOLIDAYS.

I AM UNFAMAILIAR WITH JUNETEENTH.

I CAN TELL YOU IT IS NOT SOMETHING THAT I HAVE CELEBRATED.

I WOULD LIKE A WARM OPEN, WELCOME TO A RADIO HOST WHO WOULD LOVE TO EDUCATE ME ON JUNETEENTH AND WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT FROM CORPUS CHRISTI TEXAS AND TELL US WHAT IT IS ALL ABOUT.

JUST LIKE RED NATION, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT INDIGENOUS PEOPLE HERE, REPLACING COLUMBUS DAY WITH THAT, THAT IS CREATING A CULTURAL WAR HERE IN OUR CITY AND STATE.

WHERE WAS THAT ORIGINATED?

WHO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO DO IT?

RAY GARDUNO WAS THE FIRST PERSON TO DO IT.

SO, MY OPINION, I THINK THE RACISM SORT OF GOES BOTH WAYS, AND SHORT OF REMOVING CERTAIN HOLIDAYS HERE AS WE HAVE DONE AND CERTAINLY REMOVING CERTAIN STATUES OF OUR CULTURAL HERITAGE, I DON'T THINK IS A NECESSARY THING TO DO.

I DON'T KNOW THAT I NEED TO REPLY TO THE BLACK COMMUNITY ON THAT.

I AM 4.6% AFRICAN.

I CAN GIVE YOU THE STRAINS IF YOU SO PLEASE AND THAT WOULD BE FINE BUT I BELIEVE I HAVE HAD MY BLACK HEART ALSO REMOVED BY ONE OF THE PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY.

YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE FACT JUST LIKE YOU CAN'T CHANGE THE FACT THAT 71% OF HOUSEHOLDS GROW UP WITHOUT A FATHER.

WE NEED ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT.

SOME OF THE GREATEST FATHERS THAT I HAVE EVER SEEN ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN AND I CAN TELL YOU, IT IS SHOWING UP AND BEING THERE.

I CAN TELL YOU BEING INVOLVED IN THOSE PEOPLES' LIVES IS SOMETHING THAT EVERYBODY WANTS TO DO IF THEY HAVE THE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.

I DON'T THINK IT IS A RESULT OF THE SOCIOECONOMIC OPPRESSION THAT WE SAY IS INSTITUTIONAL THAT IS HAPPENING HERE ACROSS THE COUNTRY AND IN OUR CITY.

I THINK YOU CAN PULL YOURSELF UP BY YOUR BOOTSTRAPS AND MAKE THINGS HAPPEN IF YOU SO DESIRE AND NOT FIND EXCUSES FOR DOING SO.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: I DO HAVE A FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

COULD YOU SOURCE WHERE YOU GOT THE STATISTIC OF 71%?

Aragon: I DON'T HAVE A RUNNING CATALOG.

I'LL BE HAPPY TO GO AHEAD AND PROVIDE THAT TO YOU.

SURE.

Narrator: WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO PROVIDE YOU WITH THE RESOURCES ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE -- Aragon: AND I THINK IN THAT SPIRIT WE CAN ALL COME TOGETHER AND EDUCATE EACH OTHER.

BECAUSE I CERTAINLY HAVE CELEBRATED AS WE CELEBRATED ST. VALENTINE'S DAY OR ST. PATRICKS DAY.

Narrator: MY FINAL QUESTION IS, YOU SAID THAT WE REPLACED FATHER'S DAY.

HAS THAT BEEN REMOVED THE CALENDAR?

Aragon: FROM MANY CALENDARS, YEAH.

I WOULD BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MY -- IT IS THE TRAIN CALENDAR AND I'LL GIVE YOU A COPY OF THAT.

JUNETEENTH IS ON THERE BUT FATHER'S DAY AND MOTHER'S DAY IS NOT ON THAT CALENDAR.

HAPPY TO SHARE THAT WITH YOU AS WELL.

Narrator: SO, OUR NEXT QUESTION WILL GO TO ON THE RECORD TO CANDIDATE KELLER.

YOU HAVE EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED NEW MEXICO UNITED SOCCER STADIUM WHICH WILL COST AN ESTIMATED 65 MILLION FROM CITY FUNDS.

COMMUNITY CONCERNS INCLUDE THAT THE LOCATION OF THE STADIUM MAY HAVE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON NEARBY RESIDENTS, SUCH AS RESIDENT DISPLACEMENT AND GENTRIFICATION.

OTHERS ARE CONCERNED THAT 400,000 WAS SPENT ON A SITE SURVEY THAT INCLUDED FOUR LOCATIONS.

FINALLY, GIVEN THE PERCEIVED NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON THE COMMUNITY, MANY BELIEVE THAT RESOURCES CAN BE BETTER SPENT ON SERIOUS ISSUES LIKE EDUCATION, CRIME AND HOMELESSNESS.

HOW WOULD YOU JUSTIFY YOUR SUPPORT FOR THE PROPOSED STADIUM AND HOW CAN THE PUBLIC BE SURE IT WILL BE A BENEFIT TO OUR COMMUNITY?

Keller: THIS IS INSIDE THE QUESTION I WANT TO DO A LITTLE BIT OF FACT CHECKING.

SO THE CITY IS PROPOSING 50 MILLION.

CITY COUNCIL VOTED ON THAT 7-2.

IT IS UP TO YOUR VOTE AS A COMMUNITY WITH WHAT YOU WANT TO DO.

I'LL RESPECT THAT VOTE NO MATTER HOW IT TURNS OUT.

THIS IS AN IDEA THAT WE HAVE TO DO.

EVERY TWO YEARS WE PUT THINGS ON THE BALLOT AND THOSE OF US WHO HAVE BEEN HERE A WHILE WILL REMEMBER ISOTOPES, YOU KNOW, THE DUKE'S LEFT AND GONE FOR 10 YEARS AND WE HAD TO BUILD A STADIUM TO GET THE DUKES BACK.

WE VOTED ON THIS AND WE VOTED ON DIFFERENT IDEAS WHEN AND WHERE TO PUT IT AND HOW MUCH MONEY TO SPEND.

THAT IS THE RIGHT DISCUSSION TO HAVE.

I ALSO WANT TO RESPECT THE QUESTION ABOUT THE FUNDING AND LOCATION.

THE CITY HAS 100 MILLION TO SPEND.

THE IDEA IS LET'S PUT HALF INTO LONG-TERM INVESTMENT FOR FAMILIES FOR THE FUTURE SO WE HAVE SOMETHING WONDERFUL TO ENJOY WITH OUR FAMILIES AND THE OTHER IDEA IS LET'S PUT THE OTHER 50 MILLION IN THINGS LIKE HOUSING AND IN THINGS LIKE OTHER SUPPORT PROGRAMS.

SO COUNCIL IS ABLE TO DO THAT AS THEY SEE FIT GOING FORWARD.

I ALSO WANT TO MENTION IT WILL BE A PUBLIC-OWNED STADIUM.

WE CAN USE IT FOR OTHER THINGS, COMMUNITY EVENTS, JUST LIKE ISOTOPES.

THE 400 K THAT WAS USED FOR THE STUDY, THAT WAS STATE MONEY ALLOCATED FOR THE STUDY.

THAT WAS EARMARKED FOR A STUDY.

ALSO, WE DO RESPECT WHERE IT GOES.

IN THAT STUDY, THERE WERE ACTUALLY DOZENS OF LOCATIONS STUDIED.

THERE WERE ONLY FOUR FINALISTS.

THEY LOOKED AT A LOT OF LOCATIONS.

LOCATIONS WERE CHOSEN PRIMARILY BECAUSE THERE AREN'T MANY PEOPLE LIVING IN THOSE LOCATIONS.

THEY ARE JUST EMPTY SPACE.

WE ARE WORKING WITH, FOR EXAMPLE, BARELAS NEIGHBORHOOD AND WORKING WITH THIS.

THEY ARE OPEN TO THE IDEA AND THEY WANT A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT.

I SIGNED THIS LEGISLATION TODAY.

WE WILL NOT PUT THIS NEAR A NEIGHBORHOOD WITHOUT A COMMUNITY BENEFIT AGREEMENT.

THEY HAVE SAID IF THINGS ARE THE RIGHT THING IN THAT COMMUNITY, THAT, WITH A COMMUNITY BENEFITS AGREEMENT, COULD BE OPEN TO THE STADIUM.

I THINK THIS IS THE RIGHT DISCUSSION TO HAVE.

THIS IS WHY WE WANT IT FOR A VOTE AND LASTLY I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER, I THINK IT IS OKAY TO HAVE THINGS, ACTIVITIES THAT COST FIVE BUCKS FOR A FAMILY TO ENJOY SPORTS.

IT IS MINOR LEAGUE SOCCER JUST LIKE IT IS MINOR LEAGUE SOFTBALL.

IT IS NOT THE NFL.

IT IS NOT MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL.

THIS IS JUST SOMETHING ABOUT FUTURE GENERATIONS FOR OUR CITY AND WHAT OUR CITY LOOKS LIKE 40 YEARS DOWN THE ROAD.

WE HAVE GOT TO DO THAT AT THE SAME TIME WE ADDRESS OUR URGENT ISSUES.

Narrator: THANK YOU MAYOR KELLER.

FOLLOW-UP QUESTION.

CAN YOU TELL ME HOW MANY TIMES THE ISOTOPES STADIUM HAS BEEN RENTED BY SOMEONE FROM THE PUBLIC?

Keller: A LOT, ACTUALLY.

IN PARTICULAR, CHURCH GROUPS USE IT SEVERAL TIMES A YEAR AND OBVIOUSLY THE ISOTOPES ARE NOT PUBLIC BUT THEY ARE USING IT RIGHT NOW.

APS USED IT FOR ATHLETICS IN THE PAST AND PRIMARILY THE CHALLENGE IS THE INFIELD.

SO WE ALWAYS HAVE TO SORT OF -- AND THE SCHEDULING.

THAT IS WHY IT IS NOT USED MORE OFTEN.

IRONICALLY, TOO, THE NEIGHBORHOODS AROUND THERE DON'T LIKE THE NOISE AND PARKING.

IT HASN'T BEEN A GENTRIFICATION ISSUE.

Narrator: FINAL ON THE RECORD QUESTION TO CANDIDATE GONZALES.

EARLIER THIS YEAR, YOUR CAMPAIGN WAS REPRIMANDED FOR VIOLATING ETHICS AND YOU HAVE BEEN ON THE RECORD STATING THAT YOU WILL NOT ENFORCE GOVERNOR MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM'S PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER, CLAIMING THOSE ORDERS TO BE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

GIVEN THESE CIRCUMSTANCES, HOW CAN THE COMMUNITY BE SURE THAT YOU WILL BE ABLE TO UPHOLD THE LAWS OF THE STATE AS MAYOR AND WHY SHOULD WE TRUST YOU TO?

Gonzales: TO BE CLEAR ON THE RECORD I DIDN'T SAY THEY WERE UNCONSTITUTIONAL.

THIS IS WHAT I DID SAY.

I HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY TO PROTECT THE PEOPLE OF BERNALILLO COUNTY, THAT IS MY CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY.

THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY HAVE BEEN MARGINALIZED FROM SERVICES.

THERE IS BULLETS RIDDLING THEIR HOMES, VEHICLES, PERSONS.

AND CRIME HAS NEVER BEEN HIGHER.

WE HAVE MITIGATED CRIME IN BERNALILLO COUNTY, HOMICIDES HAVE GONE DOWN.

THIS FALLACY THAT CRIME IS GOING UP ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS A LIE.

IT IS A LIE.

WE CAN'T LIVE THAT LIE.

WE HAVE THE WORST HOMICIDE RECORD AND THEY KEEP ON MASKING THAT AT THE EXPENSE OF EVERY VICTIM AND AT THE SAFETY OF EVERY CITIZEN OF ALBUQUERQUE.

THAT IS WRONG.

IT IS UNETHICAL, IT IS IMMORAL THAT WE DON'T VALUE LIFE MORE THAN POLITICS.

I WILL NEVER EVER PUT THE -- I WILL ALWAYS PUT THE PEOPLE FIRST AND POLITICS SECOND.

THIS CITY AND THE PEOPLE OF THIS CITY HAVE BEEN DEPRIVED OF SERVICES THEY DESERVE AND NEED.

WE HAVE THE WORST ECONOMY, WE HAVE THE HIGHEST CRIME PER CAPITA, AND WE HAVE THE WORST HOMELESS PROBLEM UNDER THIS ADMINISTRATION AND IF WE DON'T CHANGE THE TRAJECTORY OF THE LEADERSHIP HERE NOW BECAUSE WE ARE AT THE CROSS ROADS OF TOTAL ANARCHY FOR OUR PEOPLE, THEN MORE MIDDLE CLASS PEOPLE ARE GOING TO LEAVE, THE CHILDREN ARE GOING TO FEEL MORE UNSAFE, FAMILIES ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO LEAVE AND WE ARE ALREADY BELOW THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL IN EVERYTHING.

THIS IS THE OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER REGARDLESS OF PARTY, REGARDLESS OF RELIGION, REGARDLESS OF BELIEF.

I CAN DO THAT.

BECAUSE I BELIEVE IN THE PEOPLE.

I HAVE NEVER NOT SERVED ONE CITIZEN OF THIS COUNTY.

I HAVE ALWAYS PROVIDED THEM WITH THE SERVICES THEY NEED TO PROTECT THEIR LIVES, PROPERTY AND RIGHTS.

Narrator: SO, ARE YOU SAYING THAT YOU WOULD UPHOLD THE LAWS AS STATED?

Gonzales: TO YOUR POINT, THAT IS AN ADMINISTRATIVE ORDER THAT THE STATE POLICE HAVE TO ENFORCE.

WHEN PEOPLE IN CRIME ARE IN DIRE NEED OF LAW ENFORCEMENT THAT IS MY FIRST CONSTITUTIONAL DUTY.

I WILL CONTINUE TO DO IT AND NEVER WAIVER POLITICALLY TO ANYBODY.

I DO NOT WORK FOR THE MAYOR.

I DO NOT WORK FOR THE GOVERNOR.

I DO NOT WORK FOR THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATE.

I WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND THEM ALONE.

THIS IS THE GOVERNMENT OF THE PEOPLE AND WE NEED TO GIVE THEM BACK TO THE CITY AND I WILL GIVE IT BACK TO YOU.

Narrator: I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL THE CANDIDATES TODAY.

WE ARE GOING CLOSE OUT WITH FINAL STATEMENTS.

WE WILL START WITH CANDIDATE GONZALES, CANDIDATE ARAGON AND THEN TO CANDIDATE KELLER.

Gonzales: THIS IS CLOSING TWO MINUTES?

Narrator: TWO MINUTES.

Gonzales: IN THE FUTURE I SEE A MUCH BRIGHTER FUTURE FOR ALBUQUERQUE.

I HAVE A LOVE FOR THIS COMMUNITY.

I WILL RESTORE THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

I HAVE THE BACKGROUND, THE KNOWLEDGE, THE EXPERIENCE, THE REPUTATION.

MORE IMPORTANTLY I HAVE THE RELATIONSHIP IT TAKES.

PEOPLE TRUST ME, NOT BECAUSE OF WHAT I SAY BUT BECAUSE OF WHAT I HAVE DONE FOR THEM.

I HAVE SERVED THEM MY WHOLE ADULT LIFE NOT ONLY THE COUNTRY BUT THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY.

FOR THE SAME REASONS I OPENED UP WITH, BECAUSE I LOVE MY COMMUNITY, I CAME HERE WITH STRONG PERSONAL CONVICTIONS.

IN FEBRUARY OF 1994, TO MAKE MY POINT, I WAS INVOLVED IN A DEADLY FORCE SITUATION IN THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE WHERE SOMEBODY TRIED TO KILL ME ON A SWAT WARRANT.

FROM HERE TO THE GENTLEMAN SITTING OVER THERE, BEHIND THAT COMPUTER.

IT WASN'T THAT SHOOTING THAT WAS IMPORTANT.

WHAT WAS IMPORTANT IS TO REALIZE AND AFFIRM MY COMMITMENT TO SERVE THE PEOPLE.

I DIDN'T RUN AWAY FROM THAT COMMITMENT.

I TOOK IT VERY SERIOUSLY, THE OATH OF OFFICE WHEN I JOINED THE SHERIFF'S OFFICE AND I HAVE NEVER WAVERED.

IT STRENGTHENED IT BECAUSE I WENT FROM WHAT WAS DEPUTY AT THAT TIME TO BECOME THE SHERIFF.

BECAUSE MY LOVE FOR GOD, COUNTRY AND MY NEIGHBORS, THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND I WILL NEVER, EVER, WAVER ON SERVING YOU.

NOBODY WILL WORK HARDER FOR YOU, NOBODY WILL GIVE MORE OF THEMSELVES.

I MADE A SACRIFICE TO TAKE THIS JOB.

YOU'LL NEVER SEE THAT IN PUBLIC SAFETY OR SERVICE OR ELECTED OFFICIALS, ESPECIALLY POLITICIANS.

WHEN I SAY THAT, I TOOK A $20,000 DECREASE THAT AFFECTED ME FOR THE REST OF MY CAREER, MY LIVELIHOOD AND MY FAMILY'S TO SERVE THE PEOPLE OF THIS COMMUNITY AND YOU'LL NEVER SEE THAT.

I LEFT THE BUSINESS BEHIND SO I COULD SERVE THE PEOPLE BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT I WAS CALLED TO DO.

I AM READY TO TAKE THE CITY BACK ON YOUR BEHALF.

THANK YOU, APPRECIATE YOU AND I WANT YOUR SUPPORT AND I AM ASKING FOR YOUR VOTE ON NOVEMBER 2.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Narrator: THANK YOU CANDIDATE GONZALES.

AND I AM BEING REALLY NICE.

I SAID TWO MINUTES SO EVERYBODY WILL GET TWO MINUTES.

FINAL STATEMENT, CANDIDATE ARAGON.

Aragon: THANK YOU MS. BELL FOR PUTTING THIS TOGETHER.

NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE FOR HAVING ME HERE.

YOUR COLORFUL QUESTIONS, I LOVED THEM.

I REALLY THOUGHT THAT WAS GOOD AND WE ARE HAVING COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND MS. BELL AND I WILL BE TALKING ABOUT SOME OF THOSE STATS.

Narrator: MY NAME IS CATHERINE MCGILL.

Aragon: MCGILL.

I AM SORRY.

I APOLOGIZE.

WELL, I WANTED TO MAKE SURE TO THANK YOU SPECIFICALLY.

DO YOU STILL LIVE IN OKLAHOMA OR ARE YOU HERE NOW?

HAVE WE MOVED YOU FROM OKLAHOMA TO NEW MEXICO?

Narrator: YOUR TIME IS RUNNING OUT.

Aragon: WE WANT TO GROW THIS ECONOMY AND GROW THIS CITY.

IN ORDER TO DO THAT WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO ATTRACT EVERY PERSON OUT THERE AND WE ONLY DO THAT WITH THRIVING ECONOMY.

I AM DISAPPOINTED TONIGHT THERE IS NO TALK ABOUT COMMERCE.

DESPITE MR. TIM TRUMP BEING HERE DEVELOPING STADIUMS, DEVELOPING HOSPITALS AND ALL THE OTHER STUFF THAT HE IS DOING, THAT IS MY CLOSING STATEMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO TALK ABOUT COMMERCE FOR A SECOND.

IF COST EFFECTIVE, I BELIEVE IT IS, WE'LL MOVE ALBUQUERQUE RAPID TRANSIT.

I WANT TO PRIORITIZE PLANNING OF COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT.

WHICH IS VERY IMPORTANT.

WE NEED TO INCREASE OUR TAX BASE.

WE NEED HOMES AS WE HAVE NOTICED TONIGHT.

WE ARE SEVERELY LACKING AND WE NEED TO ATTRACT ONE FORTUNE 500 COMPANY HERE WITHIN THE NEXT FIVE YEARS.

I AM THE GUY TO DO THAT AS I HAVE BEEN DOING CORPORATE SERVICE AND COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE FOR THE LAST 10 YEARS.

I WANT TO WORK WITH REGIONAL AND NATIONAL DEVELOPERS TO INCREASE THE NUMBER OF INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENTS HERE IN OUR MARKETPLACE.

KITCHENS.

HOW MANY RESTAURANTS HAVE BEEN SHUTTERED DURING THIS TIME?

NO VAC-ING, NO MASKING MANDATES FOR ME.

I HAVE ALREADY LED THE CHARGE.

THE COUNTY OF BERNALILLO ALREADY CHANGING POLICY, CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE IS CHANGING THEIR POLICY.

I'LL BE THE MOST VISIBLE AND AUDIBLE MAYOR THE CITY HAS EVER SEEN.

IN MY CITY MANAGER BUS CRUISING AROUND VISITING SCHOOLS, VISITING BUSINESSES, REOPENING THIS ECONOMY.

I CARE DEEPLY.

I AM THE ONLY REPUBLICAN THAT IS ON THE BALLOT.

I AM ON TOP ON THE BALLOT.

YOU CAN GO TO FIGHT FOR 505.

I AM NOT A GOVERNMENT EMPLOYEE, AS MY TWO COMPETITORS ON THE BALLOT CERTAINLY ARE.

I THINK WE NEED SOMEBODY WITH PRIVATE ENTERPRISE AND A CAN-DO ATTITUDE TO GET THIS THING DONE.

I AM YOUR GUY.

VOTE EDDY ARAGON ON NOV. 2.

THANK YOU.

Narrator: CANDIDATE KELLER.

Keller: THANKS FOR ALL THE DISCUSSION AND ALL OF YOUR LONG TRACK RECORD HELPING THE COMMUNITY.

I WANT TO BEGIN JUST BY SAYING, ELECTED OFFICIALS, ONCE YOU GET ELECTED YOU BECOME A POLITICIAN.

SO, YOU KNOW, FOR BETTER OR FOR WORSE, SHERIFF, YOU'RE A POLITICIAN.

AND JUST LIKE ME, YOU'RE ALSO NOT THE KING.

YOU DON'T GET TO DECIDE WHAT RULES YOU FOLLOW AND WHAT RULES YOU DON'T.

THE PUBLIC HEALTH ORDER IS CONSTITUTIONAL, YOU HAVE GOT TO FOLLOW IT AND THE COURT SAID IT WAS AND THAT IS WHY YOU SHOULD UPHOLD THE CONSTITUTION YOU HOLD SO DEAR.

NOW, I WOULD BE REMISS NOT TO MENTION JUST THE LITANY OF THINGS THAT WENT UNTALKED ABOUT TODAY WITH RESPECT TO ACCOUNTABILITY.

THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN OVER POLICING COMMUNITIES OF COLOR IN THE SOUTHEAST AND DOING PHOTO OPS AFTER IT.

THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN ROUNDING UP UNSHELTERED PEOPLE IN THE SOUTHEAST AND CALLING IT BEING TOUGH ON CRIME.

THE SHERIFF HAS NO WOMEN IN HIS LEADERSHIP TEAM.

THE SHERIFF HAS FACED MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN USE OF FORCE LAWSUITS.

THE SHERIFF HAS BEEN SHERIFF FOR EIGHT YEARS AND HE HAS VERY LITTLE TO SHOW, IF NOTHING, WHEN IT COMES TO COMBATING CRIME.

IT IS HIS PROBLEM TOO.

YOU CAN BLAME ME BUT YOU'RE PART OF THAT AND IT WAS ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL THAT THE COUNTY HAS WORSE CRIME THAN THE CITY UNDER YOUR WATCH.

IF YOU THINK IT IS NOT A NATIONAL PROBLEM, OPEN THE NEW YORK TIMES TODAY WHERE IT IS NEW MEXICANS TALKING ABOUT THE SAME PROBLEMS WE HAVE AS EVERYWHERE ELSE IN THE COUNTRY.

I BELIEVE OUR MAYOR HAS TO SPEAK TRUTH.

IT MIGHT BE TRUTH THAT PEOPLE DON'T WANT TO HEAR SOMETIMES.

IT MIGHT BE TRUTH THAT EVEN MAKES ME LOOK BAD BUT THAT FUNDAMENTALLY IS WHAT LEADERSHIP IS ALL ABOUT.

WITH MY ADMINISTRATION GOING FORWARD YOU'RE GOING TO SEE A COMMITMENT TO BUILD ON THE FOUNDATION THAT WE HAVE SET.

WE HAVE MADE THE LARGEST INVESTMENT IN HOMELESSNESS IN THE HISTORY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT THROUGH WITH A GATEWAY CENTER.

WE CREATED THE MOST INNOVATIVE REIMAGINING POLICING OPPORTUNITY AND PROGRAM IN THE COUNTRY WITH OUR COMMUNITY SAFETY DEPARTMENT AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE IT THROUGH.

WE HAVE ANNOUNCED THOUSANDS OF NEW JOBS COMING INCLUDING FORTUNE 500 COMPANIES LIKE NET FLIX AND UNIVERSAL.

AND WE ARE GOING TO SEE THAT THROUGH.

SO, WITH ME, I BELIEVE WE HAVE GOT TO MOVE FORWARD.

THIS IS NO TIME TO MOVE BACKWARDS.

THAT IS WHY I HOPE YOU DECIDE TO KEEP KELLER FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.

Narrator: LET'S GIVE THEM A BIG HUGE ROUND OF APPLAUSE.

CANDIDATE ARAGON, CANDIDATE KELLER, CANDIDATE GONZALES.

WE THANK YOU ALL FOR BEING HERE IN OUR STUDIO AUDIENCE.

WE THANK EVERYBODY WHO IS WITH US ONLINE.

GENE: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US FOR THIS NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS ELECTION SPECIAL FEATURING HIGHLIGHTS OF THE RECENT NEW MEXICO BLACK VOTERS COLLABORATIVE MAYORAL CANDIDATE FORUM.

TO SEE THE EVENT IN IT’S ENTIRETY, JUST HEAD TO OUR WEBSITE AT NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS DOT ORG.

EARLY IN PERSON VOTING IS NOW UNDERWAY IN ALBUQUERQUE, AS IS ABSENTEE VOTING.

THE LAST DAY TO REQUEST AN ABSENTEE BALLOT IS OCTOBER 28TH...BUT ELECTIONS OFFICIALS AND THE POST OFFICE BOTH SAY AN OCTOBER 25TH POSTMARK IS THE SAFEST WAS TO ENSURE YOU’LL BE ABLE TO GET THAT BALLOT AND GET IT IN BY ELECTION DAY.

EARLY, IN-PERSON VOTING IS LIMITED RIGHT NOW TO THE COUNTY CLERK’S ANNEX, BUT WILL EXPAND TO OTHER EARLY VOTING SITES ON OCTOBER 16TH.

LASTLY, DON’T FORGET ELECTION DAY IS TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 2ND.

THAT GOES FOR LOCAL ELECTIONS ACROSS NEW MEXICO.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING, AND FOR STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

AND WHICHEVER METHOD YOU CHOOSE, PLEASE DON’T FORGET TO VOTE!