Final televised Albuquerque mayoral debate turns feisty [View all]

Public safety and crime dominated a feisty televised debate between the two Albuquerque mayoral candidates who will square off in Tuesday’s runoff election, marking the last of their more than 50 public forums together.

State Auditor Tim Keller and City Councilor Dan Lewis spent much of their final debate sparring over who could best implement police department reforms required under a federal Department of Justice settlement, and fight crime in the city.

-snip-

Lewis, a Republican, said he would dedicate $15 million to public safety, and criticized the city for subsidizing Albuquerque Public Schools public safety programs. He also said Bernalillo County should be required to pay for transferring inmates to state prisons.

“The state auditor (Keller) has not said where he is going to get the money for public safety,” Lewis said. “We will make sure the budget prioritizes public safety.”

Read more: https://www.abqjournal.com/1091451/final-televised-mayoral-debate-turns-feisty.html

The most recent poll shows that Keller is ahead with 53%, Lewis 34% and 13% undecided.
https://www.abqjournal.com/1091421/keller-maintains-healthy-lead-in-mayoral-race.html