Common Cause NM Update on Open & Ethical Elections Code Referendum

From Common Cause NM:
Thanks to the hard work of Common Cause members in the Duke City, the City Council passed the Open and Ethical Elections Code referendum by a 5-2 vote last Thursday!  Barring a veto from Mayor Martin Chavez, the referendum will be placed on the October 4 ballot.  This is exciting news for all of us who support leveling the playing field and giving ordinary candidates from diverse backgrounds a chance to run for office.  But, we need to make certain Mayor Chavez will allow Albuquerque voters to weigh in on the Open and Ethical Elections Code.

Following the passage of the referendum by the council, Mayor Martin Chavez's spokesperson Deborah James stated in the July 1 Albuquerque Tribune, "Mayor Chavez has always believed in taking big money out of politics and feels it's perfectly legitimate for the taxpayers to weigh in on this issue on the ballot."  James also made a statement on behalf of Mayor Chavez to the July 1 Albuquerque Journal saying it's "perfectly valid for taxpayers to weigh in on this issue on the ballot."  Common Cause appreciates this statement from the mayor's office, and we appreciate Mayor Chavez's desire to limit campaign spending.

Even though Mayor Chavez has declared his support for placing the Open and Ethical Elections Code on the ballot, we still need to make sure he knows how important leveling the playing field is to Albuquerque voters.  Please call the mayor's office at 768-3000 and thank him for pledging his support to let voters decide about the future of campaign financing in Albuquerque.  Please also let the mayor know how important this issue is to Albuquerque voters and ask him to endorse the Open and Ethical Elections Code.  You can reach Mayor Martin Chavez's office at 768-3000.

Please continue to visit the Common Cause New Mexico website for updated information about the Open and Ethical Elections Code. Thank you for all that you do for democracy in New Mexico!

Sincerely,
Matt Brix, Executive Director
Common Cause New Mexico