Sheriff Manny Gonzales’ appeal to increase public financial funding for his mayoral campaign has been denied.
"Forcing taxpayers to finance elections is just one of many tools that can be used by political incumbents to make it more difficult for their challengers," Paul Gessing, president of the Rio Grande Foundation, wrote in a tweet.
The city clerk’s ruling was applauded by Albuquerque's City Hearing Officer Rip Harwood, who stated during a recent appeal meeting that the $660,000 public financing request was rightfully denied. According to KOB, city officials’ skepticism regarding the additional financial aid comes after a series of findings that proved much of Gonzales’ qualifying city contribution forms to be forgeries.
According to Harwood, the ruling was solidified following a Salvation Army incident during which Gonzales falsely promised his supporters that he would cover all contribution costs, KOB reports.
"It is evidence of direct knowledge of fraud or falsification," Harwood stated. "No persuasive evidence was adduced to suggest that the contributor attesting to his conversation with the sheriff had any motive to falsify what he claims was said."
The officer opposed the belief that the decision was made as a result of underlying and unrelated reasons against the sheriff.
"I reject the argument that 'this happens in every campaign.' It should not happen in any campaign, and I reject the corollary notion that some level of fraud and falsification is tolerable or OK," Harwood stated. "In my view, the clerk has the right and duty to deny participating candidate certification whenever fraud or falsification is discovered, without the need to first quantify it.”
Mayor Tim Keller also celebrated the ruling and believes “due process was followed and justice was served. The ruling shows that no one, not even the sheriff, is above the law." The sheriff now has the option to appeal the decision in district court but hasn’t officially declared plans to do so, KOB's coverage states.