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City Council to Send Proposal to Voters to Ensure Independence of City Attorney and City Clerk
Picture of the facade of the Albuquerque Government Center

City Council to Send Proposal to Voters to Ensure Independence of City Attorney and City Clerk

Proposed Charter Amendment, sponsored by City Council Vice President Dan Champine would give voters the power to establish independent offices accountable to both the Administration and City Council.

August 03, 2026

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — At the Albuquerque City Council's August 3, 2026 meeting, the Council approved companion legislation sponsored by City Council Vice President Dan Champine, P-26-2 and R-26-30 proposing a Charter Amendment that aims to reform how the City Attorney and City Clerk are appointed and removed, establishing both positions and their respective offices as independent entities within Albuquerque’s municipal government.

If approved by the City Council, the measure will appear on the ballot for Albuquerque voters to decide during the General Election on November 3, 2026.

Rebalancing Governance & Neutral Legal Representation

Under the current framework, key legal and record-keeping positions can be heavily tied to executive administration control. P-26-2 and R-26-30 create a balanced, joint selection process that guarantees equal representation from both the Mayor’s Administration and the City Council.

"The City Attorney and City Clerk serve the entire municipal government and, by extension, every resident of Albuquerque," said Vice President Dan Champine. "These roles should never be subject to political pressure or partisan tug-of-war. By creating a joint appointment process and formally designating these offices as independent, we are protecting the integrity of our legal advice, public records, and city elections."

P-26-2 and R-26-30 establish:

  • Balanced Selection Process: Establishes a four-member selection committee composed of two Mayoral appointees and two City Council appointees to conduct an open, competitive hiring process.
  • Supermajority Approval: Requires a two-thirds vote of the City Council to confirm appointments for both the City Attorney and City Clerk.
  • Independent Status: Formally establishes the City Attorney’s Office and the Office of the City Clerk as independent municipal offices—accountable to, but separate from, both the Mayor's executive branch and the City Council’s legislative branch.
  • Defined Terms & Removal Safeguards: Align terms with the Mayoral term while establishing clear, balanced mechanisms for employment contracts and early removal, requiring supermajority Council agreement.