ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The Latest on Albuquerque mayor’s race (all times local):
9:30 p.m.
Democratic New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller has wrestled control of New Mexico’s largest city from the GOP to become Albuquerque’s next mayor.
Unofficial results show Keller beating Republican Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis with 62 percent of the vote compared to 38 percent on Tuesday.
Both were seeking to replace Republican Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry, who opted not to run for re-election after eight years.
Keller told supporters he would immediately start work on “rebuilding” trust between residents and the city’s troubled police department. Albuquerque police are under federal court order to reform its department amid a high string of shootings.
Keller’s publicly financed campaign came under fire for accepting “in-kind” cash donations. A city’s ethics board ruled Monday the campaign broke campaign finance rules but did not penalize Keller.
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8:45 p.m.
Democratic New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller has declared victory in a race to become Albuquerque’s next mayor.
Keller thanked supporters on Tuesday for a “clear mandate” to push his liberal agenda to tackle the city’s rising crime rates and struggling economy. Keller says he was happy to represent “all of Albuquerque” as the city’s next mayor.
Early returns show Keller leading Republican Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis with 62 percent of the vote compared to 38 percent.
The returns are based on early voting and 30 voting centers out of 53.
Lewis conceded the race shortly after 8 p.m.
Keller was vying to return the city to Democratic control after eight years under Republican Mayor Richard Berry.
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8:30 p.m.
Republican Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis has conceded to his Democratic opponent in a race to become Albuquerque’s next mayor.
Lewis said Tuesday he wished New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller the very best and wanted him to be a great mayor.
Early returns show Keller leading Lewis with 62 percent of the vote compared to 38 percent.
The returns are based on early voting and 18 voting centers out of 53.
Keller is vying to return the city to Democratic control after eight years under Republican Mayor Richard Berry. He has stressed community policing and economic revival to battle the city’s growing crime rates. His platform has galvanized New Mexico liberals who have suffered a number of defeats in recent years.
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8:15 p.m.
Democratic New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller has a commanding lead in the race to become the next mayor of New Mexico’s largest city.
Early returns show Keller leading Republican City Councilor Dan Lewis with 67 percent of the vote compared to 33 percent.
The returns are based on early voting and two voting centers out of 53.
Keller is vying to return the city to Democratic control after eight years under Republican Mayor Richard Berry. He has stressed community policing and economic revival to battle the city’s growing crime rates. His platform has galvanized New Mexico liberals who have suffered a number of defeats in recent years.
Lewis says he would work to pressure state judges not to release repeat offenders. He says he would push private investment.
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8 p.m.
Polls have closed in the race to become the next mayor of New Mexico’s largest city.
Democrat Tim Keller is facing Republican Dan Lewis in a runoff Tuesday in Albuquerque’s mayoral election.
Keller, New Mexico’s State Auditor, is vying to return the city to Democratic control after eight years under Republican Mayor Richard Berry. He has stressed community policing and economic revival to battle the city’s growing crime rates.
Lewis, an Albuquerque city councilor, says he would work to pressure state judges not to release repeat offenders. He says he would push private investment.
Both say they want to hire at least 400 new police officers.
The election comes a week after Democrats won governorships and legislative seats in Virginia and New Jersey and took mayoral seats in places’ like Helena, Montana.
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9 a.m.
Voters in New Mexico’s largest city are set to choose its next mayor amid concerns about crime and the economy.
Democrat Tim Keller is facing Republican Dan Lewis in a runoff Tuesday, a day after an ethics board ruled Keller violated campaign finance laws.
The board did not issue sanctions against Keller, a former state lawmaker and currently the state auditor.
Keller contends the violations weren’t intentional. Lewis has suggested that Keller thinks he is above the law.
The election comes a week after Democrats won governorships and legislative seats in Virginia and New Jersey and took mayoral seats in places like Helena, Montana.
Both Keller and Lewis say they want to hire 400 officers and have the Albuquerque Police Department return to neighborhood policing amid a rise in crime.
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