By Kate Nash
Tribune Reporter

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez could have to defend a political action committee's spending on his behalf before the city's Board of Ethics.

Andres Valdez, a longtime critic of the mayor, filed a complaint Wednesday alleging Chavez has violated the City Charter by accepting money from the group, called ABQPAC.

The charter prohibits city officials from taking a valuable gift from any person or company with an interest in city business.

ABQPAC has raised more than $125,000 from businesses and local donors. It has spent about $40,000 on Chavez, the fund's treasurer, C.M. Dziak, said.

The group, formed shortly after Chavez took office in December, also gave money to other political candidates, records show.

Besides Valdez, of the community group Vecinos United, five others signed a petition submitted to the city clerk with the complaint, stating they support efforts to remove Chavez from office.

The city's Board of Ethics and Campaign Practices will evaluate the complaint and decide whether to hear it. A meeting on the issue has not been scheduled.

Under the City Charter, Chavez could face a fine of up to $500 if the board finds a violation. The board also could recommend Chavez be removed from office.

Such a recommendation would go to the City Council, where a two-thirds majority vote would be required to remove the mayor, according to the charter.

Chavez has defended the spending, saying there is nothing illegal about it. The political action committee is registered with the Secretary of State's Office.

Chavez plans to speak on the issue when he returns later this week from Mexico, where he is traveling on city business.

City Councilor Hess Yntema and Republican attorney general candidate Rob Perry have called for an independent investigation into how the money was raised and spent.

Yntema had called on Attorney General Patricia Madrid to look into the matter. He now says Madrid has a conflict of interest because she gave $1,000 to Chavez's mayoral bid last year.

In a statement released Wednesday, Madrid defended herself.

"My record speaks volumes about my independence as attorney general. I apply the facts to the law without any regard to party affiliation," she wrote.

Yntema also had asked the Secretary of State's Office to look into the PAC. Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giro on Wednesday referred the matter to Madrid.

Print this