Albuquerque City Council Accepts Results of City Attorney Investigation, but Concerns Remain about City Attorney Structure

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — City Council Vice President Dan Champine issued the following statement regarding the Office of the Inspector General’s report on Interim City Attorney Lauren Keefe:

“The Inspector General’s report on the Interim City Attorney, has been received and reviewed by City Council, it is difficult to ignore that it falls short of what was needed. The report lacks the legal analysis and clear guidance that we were expecting, and it contains factual inaccuracies that raise legitimate concerns. That said, the report is now before us, and we are moving forward.

What this process has made unmistakably clear is that our current system is not working as intended. Structural changes to the City Charter are necessary. We must establish a City Attorney role that is truly independent, non-partisan, and accountable not just in theory, but in practice, to the Mayor, the City Council, and most importantly, the people of Albuquerque.

On Monday night, the Council took a concrete step in that direction by passing a Charter Amendment Proposal, 6-3, and approving a ballot question that would allow voters to weigh in directly on the process of appointment, removal, and independence of the City Attorney and the City Clerk. We made good-faith modifications to that proposal based on feedback from the Mayor. At this stage, one would believe that there is no reasonable justification to prevent this question from going to the voters on November 3. The public deserves the opportunity to decide how their government is structured.

At the same time, now that the OIG’s report has been finalized, one would think that there is no remaining basis for the Mayor’s continued delay on the nomination of the City Attorney or City Clerk. We are prepared to have an open, transparent discussion at a City Council meeting about the role of the City Attorney and the expectations that come with it. It would make sense to expect that to happen promptly, and to no longer delay the work that is done on behalf of the citizens of Albuquerque. ”