Posted on 10/07/2009 12:29:00 PM PDT by LdSentinal
Not only was Republican Richard J. Berry elected mayor of Albuquerque yesterday, but the G.O.P. also took control of the Albuquerque City Council, as the New Mexico Independent reports:
GOP challenger Richard Berry surprised even himself Tuesday, knocking off longtime Democratic Mayor Martin Chavez and avoiding a two-man runoff while doing it.
Berry, a two-term Republican state legislator, bested Chavez in convincing fashion, collecting nearly 44 percent of votes to Chavez’s 35 percent. Richard Romero received nearly 21 percent of the vote. Only provisional ballots remained to be counted early Wednesday.
...
City Councilor Michael Cadigan lost a bid Tuesday to serve another four-year term, altering the makeup of the city council at a time when the city’s growth has emerged as a major consideration. Cadigan lost to newcomer Dan Lewis in a race that some said was part of an organized campaign. Some city council members charged that a large California developer had targeted Cadigan as an opponent of a special tax plan to help the developer pay for roads, water and sewers for a huge mixed-use development on the city’s west side.
Democrats were quick to point out that more voters supported their two candidates for mayor, Romero and Chavez, than supported Berry. If Albuquerque had a 50% requirement to win or had partisan primaries, yesterday's vote would only have been a prelude to a showdown between Chavez and Berry. If Albuquerque had instant-runoff voting, there's a chance that Chavez would have been reelected mayor last night.
Nonetheless, Chavez can't complain too much about the rules when, as an incumbent mayor and long-time Albuquerque political fixture, he could muster barely more than a third of the vote. Berry's performance was strong enough that he might very well have picked up enough of Romero's support (or enough of Romero's supporters might have stayed home) for the Republican to win a runoff.
Chavez, a politician who occasionally aspired to statewide office, may have just seen his political career come to an end. Ironically, as voters booted Chavez from office, they also voted to extend one of his priorities: a sales tax that funds road and transit projects. Berry opposed the tax extension.
By the way, if you're looking for warning signs for New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, it's also worth noting that Chavez overturned a term limits law to run again.
Well people are starting to wise up.
So Chavez overturned term limits, and got overturned. Not the first time a New Mexico politician has overtayed their welcome, as slimy as most are. The first instance I saw was when Raymond Sanchez (D), then speaker of the Roundhouse, got beaten by political newbie and local businessman John Sanchez (R). Unfortunately John decided to get nasty during the 2002 primary, and NM got Bill Richardson. Anyhow Raymond Sanchez and his colleague in the Senate Manny Aragon (Arrogant) were both the postal children for term limits in New Mexico state government.
BTW, is Manny Arrogant in prison yet?
Can’t be so. the Republican party is dead. I’ve read the post-mortums in the newspaper.
Let's hope so.
I remember hearing a few years back on KOB about the old lady who passed out while signing in to vote. Her deceased husband had been there earlier and had already signed in and voted. She went ballistic! LOL! The DemocRATS are always up to some kind of corruption.
So Chavez also wanted to make himself “mayor for life!” Looks like voters didn’t appreciate his arrogance and self-importance. But don’t get too excited. After all, ACORN workers have yet to bring out all the votes suddenly found in their trunks!
Okay Arizona - let’s get rid of McLame. I own property in Texas and Arizona but am going to change residence to AZ so I can vote against him - and then change back because you all pay too much tax.
My parents and sister, life long Republicans voted for O - they are not all that happy with the Hope/Change thing now.
They live in Alb.
A preview for next month and for 2010?”
Oh, no, of course not...everyone KNOWS that 2010 will not be like 1994!
(of course hardly any pundits knew that 1994 was going to be 1994....).
When Berry gave his “we did it” speech last night, I was really surprised. NM has always been a RAT haven, so hopefully this is a preview of how things are going to go for RATS nationwide!
Like Hugh Hewitt says...”If it ain’t close, they can’t steal it.”
I read yesterday that JD Hayworth might challenge McCain! I sure hope he does, and I hope he slaughters him in the race!!
One Republican gets 44%.
Two democrats split 56%.
Read the entire article.
Albequerque is a very democrat city.
Yup, he started his prison term recently. They held a big going away party for him, folks from both parties attended. Real nice.
The vote was close in the 2004 presidential race and eventually went in the red column, but media were reluctant to call it. Remember that?
The Rats win there when they “find” misplaced ballots in a backroom, etc.
NM is by no means a lost cause.
[My parents and sister, life long Republicans voted for O...]
Can you ask them a question for me and many other very confused conservatives?
If they were tired of Government doing what it had been doing under Bush like over spending and subject views on individual liberties, WHY would they vote for a Democrat? The Democrat party is only one shade lighter than dyed-in-the-wool communists (neither a pun, nor a racist tinge was intended)?
I have friends that cannot explain to me (at least not to a level that is comprehensible) WHY they voted for this man! People who said to me, “Bush has taken us too far to the left!” And then they voted for a man that has more left turns than NASCAR! I just can’t wrap my head around that mentality!
City Council is 5/4 Republican after the election too. It is looking good for Berry and maybe other conservatives but still amazing.
I cannot fix stupid - just glad it is not part of dna.
[...just glad it is not part of dna.]
I can attest to this! My nineteen year old voted for him even after ALL my begging, pleading and explaining. It was really funny when my sixteen year old asked her sister in what house she grew up. The younger one said there is NO way her sister got her views from our home! It was a ROTFL situation for several family members!
Isn’t Hayworth rather a one issue candidate, much like Tancredo? Wonder how much Gov Sarah’s book has to say about McLame. Read that he is some concerned - we’ll see...
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