Councilor Harris' first term has been nothing if not embattled. After taking the seat in a runoff against former Councilor Tina Cummins, Harris was treated to a recall election just two years ago. Even though he won the recall handily, he won it in a year where The Almighty Alcalde's candidates were soundly defeated. The Keep Harris campaign successfully sold the idea that a vote for nobody was a vote for Marty as the mayor would appoint his replacement.
[Sidebar]The difference between a recall election and a regular election is that the only question on the ballot is whether or not to throw the bum out. Regular elections feature other candidates whose campaigns work to provide a quantifiable alternative where a recall pits the incumbent against and unknown.
We've noted repeated comments in our comments section about the governor's authority to choose the replacement for a county commissioner who resigns. It's true, the governor would appoint the replacement for Commissioner Brasher should the commissioner become councilor.
However, Bernalillo County Commission District 5 is a pretty solid Republican district. It wouldn't be wise for Big Bill to appoint someone who couldn't hold the seat be they a Democrat or Republican particularly when the Guv's influence and political capital are diminishing on an almost daily basis due to the scandals surrounding his administration.
[End Sidebar]
What was remarkable about the Harris recall two years ago, was that his opposition managed to get him on the ballot in the first place (a feat Harris made sure to make more difficult). Two years ago was certainly an anti-Marty year and people tend to fear the unknown more than just about anything else.
It's hard to beat an incumbent with a good candidate. It's darn near impossible to beat an incumbent without a candidate at all.
You can bet that you'll be seeing more posts about the governor choosing commission members. And you can bet that Councilor Harris will try to make it the central issue of his campaign. The question is whether or not the voters in District 9 - who are also part of County District 5 - will be more afraid of the commissioner they don't know or the councilor they do? It looks like they'll have the opportunity to speak for themselves this October.
31 comments:
I wonder why Brasher decided to run for City Council again?
The Mayor's race play any role in that? I heard that Mayor Chavez was getting deliberate support from his opponenets and even endorsements as a way for Chavez to like a mouse to cheese opt to run for Mayor again instead of Governor. That way, the Republicans won't have anything to worry about for Governor! Even if Marty had to go back to court, the Republicans knew that Marty would do so. Now, that it is clear Marty is running for Mayor, not Governor, then the opponents can start back again with their, "ha, ha, ha... don't actually think were giving you our support!"
"You can bet that you'll be seeing more posts about the governor choosing commission members. And you can bet that Councilor Harris will try to make it the central issue of his campaign."
If that's the best argument Harris has, no wonder he faced a recall. Pathetic!
Dist 9 voters need only look at the candidates records in public office to make the right choice. Brasher is a consistent fiscal conservative working FOR his constituency. Harris has been found guilty of ethics violations and Mayor Marty hosted a fundraiser for him. He's bought and paid for.
This blog did not report Harris achieved this goal a few days ago.
Harris sealed his fate when he got in bed with Smarty. He hasn't fooled anyone, we all know that Smarty owns him!
I am glad the Eye is willing to tell people the Mayor was behind the recall. Harris stuck to his convictions when he voted against the streetcar and this is why the vote was 2 to 1 in favor of Harris.
The voters will have to decide if killing the streetcar was good policy. The voters will decide if the redevelopment of Central is good policy. They will have to decide if redesigning parks that were forgotten for 20 years is good policy. They will have to decide if preserving the Tijeras Arroyo is good policy. They will have to decide if more money for police and fire is good policy. They will have to decide if reaching out to constituents is good policy.
Brasher will bring up old issues because he cannot run against the improvements the residents of District 9 support. Brasher, talk about spot medians on Central, parks, roads, cops, firefighters…I would like to ask Brasher one question. What major policy initiatives, sponsored by Harris, do you not support?
I know one, the redevelopment of Central. Brasher supports more porn and booze in our backyard.
Harris’ record speaks for itself, and the constituents support our Councilor’s policy objectives. This election is about accomplishments for the people, and the people will not support the guy that calls losing 4 to 1 a success.
Harris has worked hard while he was in office and he has made many improvements. The only thing Brasher does is talk but no action. He will not make a decision because he is scared he will piss someone off. When he is asked about an issue, his response is so bureaucratic it means nothing. I guess that is what we should expect from a person who has lived his entire adult life on the government teat.
Michael, why don’t you try to get a job in the private sector to pay back a small portion of the taxes you have consumed?
I predict the eye will be choking down some more nasty bird. Harris wins by at least 10 points. Read this authors perceptive prophecies below.
“We believe that the recall will not only get the 1,800 plus votes necessary to for the recall but will also be successful by a point or two margin.” The eye October 1, 2007
“Last night saw all of the incumbents win, and win big including district 9's councilor Don Harris, who we predicted would lose narrowly (we're still trying to get the feathers our of our teeth).” The Eye October 3, 2007
“It's darn near impossible to beat an incumbent without a candidate at all.” The Eye June 12, 2009
Wow wee, so Harris wins a recall "only" because he ran a good campaign, and gets criticized for that? The blog notes that a good candidate to beat an incumbent, but Harris's trouncing of Cummins makes him "embattled" because he had to do it twice (general and runoff)? This lame blog did not advise its readers and review the recall finance record, on line, to see that the recallers spent $2500, yes two thousand five hundered dollars, in order to collect their 1000 signatures; they were paying collectors $5 a signature at one point, which led to voter fraud. But that inconvenient fact goes against the bias here. Maybe Harris was not unpopular to begin with?
Harris has a good record, is well-liked, other than by some grumpy geezers in Four Hills. The Eye tacitly acknowledges that if Harris is popular, Brasher cannot win. And yes, the Governor controlling two-thirds of the most populace county in the state with lots of unused taxing authority should matter to everyone around here, including this blog. And, has the blog checked out the other "solid Republican" state legislative seats that overlap County District Five that the R's lost just last year? This blog is going to trust the "wisedom" of the Governor? Oh please.
The Eye does have its favorites, but its credibility is steadily waning.
Actually, surveys show that the success rate of recall elections is 30 percent to 40 percent for city councilors nationally, and the reelect rate for city councilors is 85 percent nationally. First term councilors are particularly vulnerable, which is why Harris's enemies went after him when they did. Sorry, another "black Eye," the facts are that it is actually harder to survive a recall, precisely because there is no opponent, than to win reelection.
Is the eye blind? Do the names Joan Jet Walker, Teresa Zanetti,Steve Komadina,H. Diane Snyder,and Eric Youngberg ring any bells? They are all Alb area Republicans that lost.
Why would we want to make it more difficult for the Republicans to keep a seat on the Commission. The Gov would never appoint a Republican. He will appoint a Dem and that Dem will get anything they need to win an election.
Republicans need to stick together if we have any desire to turn around our party.
I see a contradiction in the quotes from above.
“We believe that the recall will not only get the 1,800 plus votes necessary to for the recall but will also be successful by a point or two margin.” The eye October 1, 2007
“It's darn near impossible to beat an incumbent without a candidate at all.” The Eye June 12, 2009
I don't think the author of this blog is willing to put money on the predictions made on the eye.
I like Harris and Brasher. I don't understand why Brasher wants to work against another Republican who votes against tax increases. The Commission needs more fiscal conservatives not another Democrat appointed by Richardson. Richardson left this state broke and we should not give Richardson that power to stack the Commissiin.
Harris is doing a good job and the Commissuon needs Brasher. Brasher, for the sake of fiscal policy, stay where you are.
This is great for those of us who know Republicans have all but destroyed this country. We will step aside and let two people who have identical voting records destroy each other. Continue to eat your own so we can build larger majorities. The O in GOP is the best adjective to describe the washed up group of aging white guys.
It is obvious the Republicans have yet to hit rock bottom!!!
"A house divided against itself cannot stand" Lincoln
Republicans need to remember those words.
Put Letterman out there on East Central. What's one more perv...
He can work for transit and gawk at little girls on the buses.
Brasher's experience, leadership and reliability are precisely the traits we need for a better city council. We need to focus on priorities and the basics. We need to resist the monuments to politicians and the special projects to pre-selected contractors and vendors. Keep money in the hands of the residents, not the government and special interests. I am pleased to have supported Michael Brasher and delighted to hear that he has his signatures.
Brasher's experience- he has been around longer than Marty. Brasher's experience- he has been around longer then Chavez. I guess anyone who believes the number of years in public office is the best rational for voting must believe Mayor Chavez is the best candidate for Mayor.
Brasher's leadership- he is the loan voter. Not one Commissioner follows Brasher. If that is your definition of leadership, then vote 4 the leader of nONE.
Brasher's reliability- he wants to quit his job. Now that is a person we cannot rely on.
Both Alan Armijo and Michael Brasher are term-limited out next year as County Commissioners. They are both running for City Council seats this year. How do term limits decrease the number of career politicians?
Meanwhile, we're losing our wonderful Probate Judge Merri Rudd to term limits. By the way, the (County) Sheriff is term-limited; the (State) District Attorney isn't.
It is good to know you will post comments even if I point out issues with Republicans. Us Democrats love to see the internal problems on public display. Keep up the good fight, with each other.
To the one above that states "republicans need to stick together." Tell that ##$%hole Harris that. He is the one who is Marty's lap dog!!!!
I believe that Harris belongs to Marty, so I will help Brasher full time during this campaign.
Councilors Reject Transit Tax Cut
http://www.abqjournal.com/news/state/23234183444newsstate06-23-09.htm
That was the headline in the Journal on June 23. Albuquerque city councilors narrowly rejected a push to cut the city's transportation tax in half late Monday.
City Councilor Debbie O'Malley led a charge to reduce the tax to an eighth of a percent, which would add only 12.5 cents to a $100 purchase. She said the existing tax has brought in almost $50 million more than expected — money that remains unspent at this point. Michael Cadigan, Don Harris and Brad Winter joined her to support the smaller tax request, but the amendment failed on a 5-4 vote.
Thank you Councilor Harris for working to cut taxes.
How did you get the extremely liberal O'Malley to join you?
Brasher is not a fiscal conservative. Follow the link
http://bernco.gov/live/news.asp?news=199865
The Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners has unanimously voted to approve a resolution that urges immediate comprehensive health care reform. Health care reform legislation is being proposed in both chambers of Congress this month.
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/first100days/2009/03/18/universal-health-care-cost-trillion/
Health policy experts say guaranteeing coverage for all Americans may cost about $1.5 trillion over the next decade. That would be more than double the $634 billion 'down payment' President Barack Obama set aside for health reform in his budget.
BRASHER VOTED FOR THE LARGEST GOVERNMENT SPENDING PROJECT EVER PROPOSED.
Brasher is a fiscal conservative that never turned down a government check.
He is the anti government life long government employee. If he hates government, why does he live on multiple government checks?
He is the pseudo Libertarian welfare candidate who will live his entire life on our tax dollars. He is a disgrace to us true Libertarians, who believe the market trumps government.
While Brasher has worked much of his adult life for APS he has not "lived his entire life on our tax dollars." He has been employed by a number of commercial radio and TV stations over the years as well as holding other jobs in the private sector.
It's your right to dislike him if you wish, but at least get your facts straight.
Hey Don, Brasher voted AGAINST the health care measure. Your post above is wrong. The vote was 3 to 1 (Brasher opposed). Watch the meeting.
Don you are a former city employee and your campaign is funded with public dollars. Harris you have never turned down a government check.
AND YES YOU DID VOTE FOR THE TRANSPORTATION TAX.
WITH YOUR VOTE THE TAX DID PASS AT THE HIGHER TAX LEVEL.
Thank you Councillor O'Malley for leading the charge to lower the tax.
Still ethics problems. Tell the truth.
Why would you lie about the vote Brasher? The County website shows you voted for Obama's health plan. Follow the link.
Why is it that all the pro Brasher posts never have proof?
POST A LINK
Brasher never turned down a gov dollar that would enter his pocket.
He banks the APS check (he will retire with APS)
He banks a County check
He wants to bank a city check.
I bet he will double dip when he retires.
A vote for Brasher is a vote for a welfare king.
Harris the hypocrite. Stick to the issue. Brasher is fiscally conservative and he has exercised sound judgment, helping city and county residents keep more of their money in their pocket, repeatedly and consistently.
We don't need a the mayor's pawn to stay as our district councillor.
It's curious that Harris criticizes Brasher for standing up against liberals and voting against wasteful spending, notwithstanding Brasher's minority position on the commission. Harris seems to be more interested in voting with the majority. than voting for what is right. Harris is making even Barber look good.
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