Congregation Albert to Host ABQ Mayoral Debate September 13; Will Chavez Participate?

Mark your calendars. The Albuquerque mayoral race is just now heating up, but Congregation Albert has already released information about their candidate forum that will take place this fall, just weeks before the October 6 municipal election.

Congregation Albert will once again be hosting a mayoral debate as a public service to the members of the congregation and the Albuquerque community. The debate, open to the public, will be held on Sunday, September 13th, at 11:00 AM, immediately following the Congregation Albert Brotherhood monthly brunch. The always outstanding brunch will begin at 9:30 AM. The cost is $8 for Brotherhood members and $11 for non-members. The debate is open to the public free of charge.

For those wishing to enjoy what the Congregation calls "Albuquerque's best brunch," reservations can be made after September 1st by calling 883-1818 and asking for the Brotherhood reservation line. For those attending the debate only, doors will open at 10:30 AM. Congregation Albert is located at 3800 Louisiana Blvd. NE, just south of Montgomery, in Albuquerque. For more information, contact Jeffrey Paul at 259-3190.

Who's in the Race?
Dem challenger Richard Romero, incumbent Dem Mayor Martin Chavez and Republican RJ Berry have all qualified as publicly funded candidates in the nonpartisan election. So far, Mayor Chavez has refused to officially declare he's in the race, although you wouldn't know it by the time and effort he's putting into getting in front of the cameras and on the front page. The question, of course, is whether Chavez will participate in any candidate debates or forums. He's got a track record of not showing up.

Recently, for instance, he declined an invitation to participate in an early candidate forum hosted by AFSCME. of the forum by the New Mexico Independent provided the reason offered by AFSCME:

According to AFSCME, the mayor felt that participating in the forum would be inappropriate because although he has qualified for public financing, and collected thousands of signatures and donations, he has not officially announced his candidacy.

Funny, Chavez has still not officially announced his candidacy but he's already reportedly received the endorsement of the AFSCME PAC -- the very union he dissed by refusing to participate in the candidate forum. Go figure. Clearly, a union's political PAC is a union's political PAC, and it frequently doesn't represent how the union members will vote when the time comes. Inquiring minds want to know the real reason the AFSCME PAC decided to endorse Chavez this time -- something they didn't do in the Marty's three previous mayoral runs. Oh, to be a fly on the wall in those negotations. Something to do with a mayoral promise about raises and job security that may or may not be kept? You decide.