♪ TODD: GOOD EVENING. WE ARE BRINGING YOU SPECIAL ELECTION COVERAGE TONIGHT BECAUSE THERE ARE TWO RUNOFF ELECTIONS GOING ON RIGHT NOW FOR ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL SEATS. WE INTERVIEWED EACH OF THEM SO YOU ARE READY TO VOTE TO WIN A CITY COUNCIL SEAT IN ALBUQUERQUE, YOU HAVE TO GET 50% OF THE VOTE IN YOUR DISTRICT. IF NO ONE REACHES THE THRESHOLD, IT GOES TO A RUNOFF BETWEEN THE TOP TWO VOTE GETTERS, AND THAT IS WHAT HAPPENED INTO DISTRICTS IN ALBUQUERQUE, DISTRICTS TWO AND FOUR. HERE ARE THE CANDIDATES. IN DISTRICTS TWO, WHICH COVERS DOWNTOWN, OLD TOWN, AND NORTH VALLEY, ISAAC BENTON AGAINST ZACH AND TARO. WE WILL SEE HOW THEY DIFFER. IN DISTRICT FOUR, IT IS BROOKE BOSON, UP AGAINST ANI ROMERO. WE SAT DOWN WITH EACH CANDIDATE FOR ABOUT FIVE MINUTES EACH. WE START WITH THE DISTRICT FOR RACE, A REPUBLICAN VERSUS A DEMOCRAT TO REPRESENT THE NORTHEAST HEIGHTS. I AM JOINED BY BROOKE, CANDIDATE FOR DISTRICT FOR COVERING THE NORTHEAST HEIGHTS IN ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL. I REMEMBERED YOUR NAME VERY WELL BECAUSE WEDNESDAY MORNING, WE ARE DOING THE MORNING SHOW GOING OVER ELECTION RESULTS AND 49% TO YOUR NAME, 1% SHY OF REACHING THE 50% THRESHOLD. HOW ARE YOU FEELING? >> IT WAS BITTERSWEET. THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME. I THINK THAT AT $.50 -- 52% AND SEE THE NUMBERS GO DOWN SLOWLY AND END UP AT 49%, IT WAS A LITTLE BIT OF A STING BUT WE ARE READY AND PUMPED UP. TODD: STILL IN THE GAME. WHAT HAS THE PROCESS BEEN LIKE SINCE ELECTION NIGHT? >> WE HAVE DEFINITELY ESCALATED THE PROCESS. WE KNOCKED ON ALMOST 10,000 DOORS IN THE GENERAL ELECTION AND DID OVER 700 THIS LAST WEEKEND ALONE. WE ARE MAKING SURE THE PEOPLE KNOW TO GO OUT AND VOTE. TODD: THAT IS THE KEY. IT WAS A CONSOLIDATED ELECTION, SO GREAT TURNOUT, BUT WITH THE RUNOFF ELECTION, THAT’S THE CONCERN OUR ANALYSTS HAVE TALKED ABOUT. >> PEOPLE DON’T REALIZE THERE’S A RUNOFF, THEY THINK 49% WAS ENOUGH TO WIN AND WE DON’T HAVE THAT LAW IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. SO MAKING SURE WE HAVE TO VOTE AGAIN IS KEEP YOU’D TODD: YOU HAVE A TIGHT CONNECTION TO ALBUQUERQUE YOUR ENTIRE LIFE. >> BORN AND RAISED HERE, I GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS. I WORKED HARD GOING UP. MY HUSBAND IS BORN AND RAISED HERE AND WE HAVE FOUR KIDS AND WE DON’T WANT TO LEAVE WE WANT IT SAFER AND WANT TO MAKE SURE WE PRIORITIZE A LOT OF OUR FOCUS WITH THE MUNICIPAL LEVEL. TODD: ON A PERSONAL NOTE, I HAD SEEN HOUSEHOLD CEO, THAT WOULD BE THE FOUR KIDS. >> THAT’S ME AND I AM BLESSED TO BE HOUSEHOLD CEO, MANAGING THE HOUSE, TAKING THEM TO SCHOOL, CARING FOR THEM, BEING ON THE PTA AND NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION AND BEING INVOLVED. TODD: TO DIVE MORE INTO POLICY, A REPUBLICAN RUNNING IN A CONSERVATIVE LEANING DISTRICT IN THE NORTHEAST HEIGHTS. A LIBERAL CITY COUNCIL AND LIBERAL MAYOR, WHAT IS PROTECT -- PROPELLING YOU TO RUN FOR THE SEAT? >> A BIG PART OF MY MOTIVATION IS THIS IS A NONPARTISAN ELECTION, IT’S NOT ABOUT ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER AND WE HAVE TO GET OVER THE PARTISAN POLITICS AND PUT THE PRIORITY AND SAFETY AND WELL-BEING OF OUR COMMUNITY FIRST. THAT IS REGARDLESS OF THE LIBERAL OR CONSERVATIVE SIDE, THUS NOT WHAT I WAS FOCUSED ON. TODD: WHAT YOU THINK IS THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FACING ALBUQUERQUE? >> CRIME. WE HAD THE U.S. ATTORNEY GENERAL COMING HERE, FOCUSING ON VIOLENT CRIME, STATISTICS ARE UP, ALTHOUGH SOME ARE DOWN. WHEN YOU GO TO THE GYM AND GET SHOT IN YOUR CAR, JUST HAVE A REGULAR DAY AND YOU ARE NOW KILLED, I THINK THAT SAYS SOMETHING. WE ARE NOT SAFE HERE AND WE REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON THAT ABOVE ALL THE OTHER PET PROJECTS. TODD: I THINK, AND IT IS A NONPARTISAN ELECTION, WE HEAR THAT WHEN THE MAYOR’S FACE-OFF, WE HEAR THAT AT CITY COUNCIL, THAT WHEN IT COMES TO THE COUNCIL THERE’S OFTEN A DIVIDE IN VOTES THAT IS CRYSTAL CLEAR. HOW DO YOU THINK YOU BREAKTHROUGH AND ISLANDS THAT FROM -- AND BALANCE THAT FROM CONSERVATIVE TO LIBERAL? >> WE HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT NOT EVERY ISSUE WILL BE ON ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER, IT IS IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT WE HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER FOR THE BETTER OF ALBUQUERQUE. WE HAVE TO IMPROVE THAT TOGETHER AND THAT’S WHY THESE PEOPLE ARE ELECTED. THAT’S WHAT OUR CITY COUNCIL PURPOSES FOR. IF WE CAN’T WORK TOGETHER, WE ARE NOT DOING OUR JOB. TODD: FIRST TIME RUNNING FOR OFFICE, WHICH CAN BE NERVE-RACKING, I WOULD GUESS. BUT YOU FEEL PREPARED, RIGHT, TO SERVE IN AN ELECTRIC CAPACITY? >> YES. FIRST TIME RUNNING, I DON’T HAVE A DREAM TO GO HIGHER UP THE LADDER BUT I WANT TO REPRESENT HER DISTRICT AND MY CONFIDENCE COMES FROM NOT KNOWING ALL THE ANSWERS AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT WE NEED IN CITY GOVERNMENT. TODD: WHAT ARE YOU HEARING FROM THE PEOPLE YOU WOULD BE REPRESENTING IF ELECTED ALONG WITH CRIME? WHAT IS TOP OF MIND? >> WE TALK TO PEOPLE AND THERE IS THE CRIME BUT THERE IS ALSO GOING TO REPRESENT US, YOU ARE GOING TO TAKE CARE OF US AND FOCUS ON THAT. THAT IS APPEARING TO BE A RELIEF FOR A LOT OF CONSTITUENTS. I REALLY WANT TO LISTEN TO THEM AND DO WHAT IS RIGHT FOR THE PEOPLE AND THE VOTERS AND THE PEOPLE LIVING HERE. TODD: WE HAVE A FEW SECONDS. OVER ALL ENCOMPASSING GOAL IF YOU WERE TO BE ELECTED, WHAT WOULD IT LOOK LIKE AT THE END OF YOUR TERM? >> MAKING SURE WE ARE SAFER SO OUR KIDS CAN GO TO PARKS WITHOUT NEEDLES AND EVERY THING ELSE AND VIOLENCE. TODD:THANK YOU SO MUCH. I AM JOINED BY ANI ROMERO. AN INTERESTING NAME. >> I AM NAMED AFTER MY GREAT-GRANDMOTHER. I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN NEW MEXICO. IT IS THE NAME THAT IS UNIQUE BUT REPRESENTATIVE -- I AM PROUD TO CONTINUE TO HOLD HER NAME AND I THINK SHE WOULD BE PROUD OF HOW WE ARE USING IT TODAY. TODD: IT IS BEAUTIFUL, TOO. WHEN WE SAW IT, WE USUALLY SEE ANN, SO IT IS UNIQUE. GOOD TO HAVE YOU HERE. YOU ARE A LIBERAL DEMOCRAT RUNNING IN A DISTRICT, DISTRICT FOUR, NORTHEAST HEIGHTS, THAT LEANS CONSERVATIVE HISTORICALLY VIEWED HOW ARE YOU FEELING? >> I THINK THE WORD LIBERAL, I’M NOT SURE WHERE THAT CAME FROM. I AM A DEMOCRAT, I AM A LIFELONG DEMOCRAT, AND FOR ME, I THINK I AM REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DISTRICT AND THAT I AM WELL-BALANCED IN MY VIEWS. THE WORK I HAVE DONE IS BIPARTISAN. WHEN FOLKS START TO TACKY OR WHATNOT, I DON’T KNOW WHERE THAT CAME FROM. FOR ME, I FEEL LIKE IT’S GETTING TO THE ROOT OF THE CAUSES IMPACTING OUR COMMUNITY. AS I HAVE BEEN GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR, I’VE BEEN TALKING WITH FOLKS FROM BOTH SIDES OF THE AISLE AND I THINK WE ALL ARE INTERESTED IN ENSURING OUR COMMUNITY GETS THOSE PROBLEMS SOLVED. TODD: IT IS AN INTERESTING TOPIC AND WE COULD GO ON A LONG TIME, LIBERAL VERSUS CONSERVATIVE. HOW ABOUT WE SAY DURING THE GENERAL ELECTION, THERE WERE TWO DEMOCRATS AND ONE REPUBLICAN, THAT HAS TO MAKE YOU FEEL GOOD. YOU GOT TO THE RUNOFF, BECAUSE MORE THAN LIKELY YOU SPLIT VOTES WHEN YOU HAVE ANOTHER DEMOCRAT. >> I THINK FOR US, WE HAD TO WORK A LOT HARDER BECAUSE WE HAD TWO DEMOCRATS RUNNING. THESE RACES ARE NONPARTISAN BUT I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT, I BELIEVE IN TRANSPARENCY, SO WE HAVE BEEN VERY OPEN. I NEVER SWITCHED MY PARTY. BUT I AM VERY PROUD THAT THE THIRD CANDIDATE HAS ENDORSED OUR CAMPAIGN. TODD: AND YOU HAVE EXPERIENCE IN GOVERNMENT. YOUR CURRENTLY WORK IN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE. >> I’VE BEEN WORKING IN POLICY THE PAST 17 YEARS, I WORKED FOR CONGRESS CLOSE TO NINE YEARS AND I OVERSAW THE CONGRESSIONAL ENTERAL HEALTH POT -- CAUCUS ON CAPITOL HILL. I’M CURRENTLY THE LEGISLATIVE DIRECTOR IN THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE. TODD: THE GOVERNOR HAS WON A RACE OR TWO IN HER LIFETIME. DID SHE GIVE YOU ANY TIPS? >> SHE HAS REALLY KIND OF LET ME BE MY OWN PERSON AND I APPRECIATE THAT ABOUT HER. I THINK SHE HAS FULL CONFIDENCE IN MY ABILITIES AND I THINK THAT’S WHY SHE BROUGHT ME ON AND SHE HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE. OTHER THAN THAT, I THINK, SHE’S CROSSING HER FINGERS LIKE MY MOM WOULD BE VIEWED TODD: YOU HAVE A CHEERLEADER FOR SURE. HOW ABOUT JUST THE REASONS FOR RUNNING RIGHT NOW? YOU HAVE BEEN IN POLICY A WHILE NOW, WHY RUN FOR THIS? >> WHEN LOOKING AT CRIME, I GOT INVOLVED WITH THE NORTHEAST AGO AND I’VE BEEN DIRECTLY WORKING WITH APD AND ENDORSED BY FIREFIGHTERS. BUT THE CRIME ISSUES, VIOLENCE, HOMELESS ISSUES IN OUR COMMUNITY ARE A DEEP CONCERN. THAT IS MY BACKGROUND, I SPECIALIZE IN BEHAVIOR HEALTH AND POLICY, I HAVE WORKED WITH INCARCERATED HOMELESS AND MENTALLY ILL POPULATIONS, AND I FELT LIKE WE REALLY NEED TO HONESTLY ADDRESS THESE ISSUES OF THE CORE ROOT AND EXPERTS WHO KNOW HOW TO DO THIS THROUGH POLICY. TODD: YOU SAID YOU’VE BEEN GOING DOOR-TO-DOOR A LOT, WHICH IS COMMON IN CITY COUNCIL RACES. WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE RIGHT NOW FOR ALBUQUERQUE? >> I THINK NUMBER ONE IS VIOLENCE AND CRIME AND HOMELESS ISSUES. WHAT I AM SEEING IS IT IS NOT A SECRET OF WHAT THE ISSUES ARE. I THINK WHAT PEOPLE ARE LOOKING FOR IS WHAT KIND OF LEADER IS GOING TO BE ABLE TO SOLVE THOSE PROBLEMS? I FEEL THEIR COMPANY AND MY ABILITIES. THE WORK I HAVE ALREADY DONE AND THE POLICIES WE HAVE TO IMPLEMENT. THIS HAS TO BE DONE NOT THROUGH BAND-AID APPROACHES, THIS IS NOT SOMETHING TO JUST THROW MONEY AT MO WE HAVE TO RESOLVE THEM AT THE ROOT AND IT HAS TO BE LONG-TERM. I THINK THAT IS THROUGH POLICY VIEWED -- POLICY. TODD: WHAT IS THE HOPE FOR ACCOMPLISHMENT THERE, WHAT DO YOU WANT TO SEE IF YOU ARE ELECTED, WHEN YOUR TERM IS DONE? >> I THINK WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THE CORE ROOT OF THE ISSUES. FIRST AND FOREMOST, I BELIEVE THAT VIOLENT AND REPEAT OFFENDERS BELONG IN JAIL. NOT IN OUR COMMUNITIES. I BELIEVE LAW ENFORCEMENT AND FIRST RESPONDERS HAVE BEEN EXACERBATED, ADDRESSING ONE PART OF THE CRIME ISSUE, BUT WE HAVE NOT DONE OUR JOB IN ADDRESSING THE BEHAVIOR HEALTH NEEDS. THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE MAJORITY OF CRIME IN OUR COMMUNITY IS DRIVEN BY SUBSTANCE ABUSE. WHAT ARE WE DOING TO ENSURE THERE IS A GOOD BALANCE TO ENSURE THAT WE ARE NOT CONTRIBUTING TO THE REVOLVING DOOR PROCESS? THAT’S WHAT I WANT TO DO, THAT’S WHAT I HAVE BEEN DOING, AND AGAIN, THROUGH POLICY VIEWED -- POLICY. TODD: I APPRECIATE THE TIME. TWO DOWN INTO TO GO. AND A NEWCOMER TAKE DOWN THE INCUMBENT IN DISTRICT TWO? TODD: LET’S CONTINUE. WE ARE TALKING WITH THE FOR ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCIL AND IT OF THE RUNOFF ELECTION. YOU MAY REST -- RECOGNIZE ISAAC, HE’S REPRESENTED DISTRICT TO SINCE 2005. HERE WE GO AGAIN. ANOTHER ELECTION CYCLE. NEVER A RUNOFF FOR YOU. >> I’VE NEVER BEEN IN THE RUNOFF, IT IS MUCH MORE INTERESTING. TODD: WHAT HAS IT BEEN LIKE SINCE THE ELECTION, MORE DOOR-TO-DOOR? WHAT IS THE STRATEGY? >> SINCE THE ELECTION, YOU’RE NOT GOING TO GO KNOCK ON 40,000 DOORS OR ANYTHING BETWEEN NOW AND THE 10TH OF DECEMBER, BUT THE STRATEGY IS A LOT OF JUST -- WE GET A LITTLE BIT OF PUBLIC FUNDING, I THINK ALL OF THE CANDIDATES ARE PUBLICLY FUNDED, SO WE WILL HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF MAIL TO PREPARE. A LOT OF PEOPLE ARE TIRED OF THE MAIL BUT WE ARE PUTTING IT OUT THERE. JUST TRYING TO DO OUR MESSAGING. AND MOSTLY IT’S A MATTER OF TRYING TO GET HOLD OF ANY PEOPLE WHO VOTED WHO WE DON’T KNOW AND GET OUR SUPPORTERS OUT TO VOTE YOU’D -- VOTE. TODD: GETTING PEOPLE OUT TO VOTE IS ALWAYS THE MESSAGE. THE CONSOLIDATION ELECTION HAD A HIGH TURNOUT. I HEARD YOU ON THE NEWS AND YOU SAID SOMETHING AROUND THE LINES OF YOU WERE NOT A POLITICIAN LOOKING TO CLIMB THE RANKS AND NEVER HAVE BEEN. WHY IS THAT ONE OF YOUR MAIN MESSAGES? >> I THINK THE MESSAGE IS I WANT TO SERVE THE DISTRICT. I GREW UP IN OUR DISTRICT, AS AN ADULT ANYWAY, I MADE MY LIFE IN OUR DISTRICT, AND THAT’S WHAT I CARE THE MOST ABOUT. I AM A REAL BELIEVER IN LOCAL GOVERNMENT AND FROM TIME TO TIME PEOPLE HAVE ASKED ME TO CONSIDER RUNNING FOR ANOTHER OFFICE AND I REALLY LIKE DOING WHAT I AM DOING. TODD: HAVEN’T HAD ANY INTEREST TO GO ANOTHER ROUTE. HOW ABOUT YOUR PAST? YOU WERE NOT BORN AND RAISED IN ALBUQUERQUE, BUT YOU’VE BEEN HERE FOR 43 YEARS. WHERE BEFORE THAT? >> I GREW UP IN SAN JUAN, PUERTO RICO. WE MOVED THERE WHEN I WAS A YOUNG CHILD. I GREW UP IN SAN JUAN, AND WENT TO ARCHITECTURE SCHOOL AND WAS A VISTA VOLUNTEER, THAT BROUGHT ME TO NEW MEXICO. TODD: LUCKY YOU, IT IS A GOOD STATE TO END UP IN. WE DO HAVE CHALLENGES. WHAT ARE THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES DO YOU THINK RIGHT NOW FOR ALBUQUERQUE AND YOUR DISTRICT? >> OUR DISTRICT IS CENTER CITY AND THE NEAR VALLEY. HISTORICALLY, AS WITH ANY DISTRICT THAT CONTAINS DOWNTOWN IN MOST CITIES, WE HAVE A VARIETY OF ISSUES. WE HAVE HAD THOSE OVER THE YEARS. CERTAINLY HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN AN ISSUE OVER THE YEARS. TRAFFIC ISSUES, BECAUSE THERE IS A LOT OF COMMUTER TRAFFIC IN OUR DISTRICT. OF COURSE, CRIME. CENTER CITY, A LOT OF POVERTY IN THE DISTRICT. THERE ARE ISSUES WITH CRIME THAT WE CONTINUE TO STRUGGLE WITH. TODD: WE MENTIONED YOU ARE THE INCUMBENT IN THE RACE, WHAT HAVE YOU DONE IN CITY COUNCIL TO MITIGATE SOME OF THAT? >> WITH REGARD TO CRIME, I WILL SAY THAT I HAVE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR COMMUNITY POLICING, WHICH I THINK WE ARE ON TRACK TO TRULY HAVING COMMUNITY POLICING NOW. THINGS LIKE BICYCLE PATROLS. WE DON’T HAVE A FOOT PATROLS ANYMORE TYPICALLY IN BIG CITIES, BUT BICYCLES AREN’T EFFECTIVE MEANS OF BEING OUT THERE. INTERACTIVE -- INTERACTION BETWEEN POLICE AND THE NEIGHBORHOODS IS MUCH BETTER. I FEEL LIKE I HAVE STRUGGLED WITH THAT UNDER PREVIOUS MAYORAL LEADERSHIP, ALTHOUGH I’VE BEEN AN ADVOCATE FOR. I THINK WITH THIS MAYOR, WE ARE ON THE RIGHT TRACK, ESPECIALLY WITH THIS MAYOR AND POLICE CHIEF YOU’D TODD: THE FUNDING CAME THROUGH FOR THE HOMELESS FACILITY. PLANS ARE FOR ONE LARGE FACILITY DOWNTOWN, DO YOU SUPPORT IT? >> NOT GOING INTO THE AREA WHERE SERVICES ARE ALREADY CONCENTRATED. I DON’T THINK THAT IS APPROPRIATE. TO>> IT NEEDS TO BE ACCESSIBLE T THOSE SERVICES BUT NOT DOWNTOWN PROPER. TODD: THAT COULD BE THE TRICKY THING IF THE PLANS MOVE IT OUT OF DOWNTOWN, THE NEIGHBORHOOD WHERE THAT WOULD BE LOCATED. >> YES, AND I WOULD EMPHASIZE THAT A LOT OF THE DISCUSSION HAS BEEN ABOUT ONE CENTRALIZED FACILITY, I’M NOT SURE IT SHOULD BE JUST ONE. THERE ARE CERTAINLY SOME REASONS TO CONSIDER TWO, AT LEAST TWO, BECAUSE OF THE SEGREGATION OF THE POPULATION. WOMEN WITH CHILDREN ALL THE WAY TO ATTICS WHO NEED RECOVERY. TODD: WE APPRECIATE THE TIME, BEST OF LUCK TO YOU. >> I APPRECIATE AND LOOK FORWARD TO THE 10TH. YOU WILL STOP RECEIVING MAIL. TODD: COMING UP NEXT, THE MAN TRYING TO OVERTAKE THE STRONGHOLD OF DISTRICT TWO. WHY DOES HE THINK BEING 29 YEARS OLD IS A BENEFIT IN THIS RACE? TODD: WE ARE TALKING WITH THE FOUR CANDIDATES IN THE CITY COUNCIL RUNOFF ELECTION IN ALBUQUERQUE VIEWED -- ALBUQUERQUE. TO DISTRICT TWO. WOULD YOU BE OFFENDED IF I CALLED YOU YOUNG MAN BECAUSE YOU >> IT IS FINE, AS LONG AS YOU CALL ME A NERD. TODD: 29 YEARS OLD, WHAT HAS YOU RUNNING FOR CITY COUNCIL AT THIS STAGE IN YOUR LIFE? >> I KIND OF FELL INTO IN SOME WAYS BECAUSE I SERVED ON THE COMMUNITY POLICING COUNCIL AND AIR QUALITY CONTROL BOARD BEFORE RUNNING FOR OFFICE. I SAW IN REAL TIME THE NEED AND HURT WE ARE EXPERIENCING IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS ALL THE WAY FROM PUBLIC SAFETY TO KEEPING JOBS HERE. A LARGE FACTOR WAS SEEING MY OWN FAMILY AND BEST FRIENDS LEAVE THE STATE FOR OTHER JOBS. I WAS TIRED OF HEARING THAT THERE ARE OTHER ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES OUTSIDE OF NEW MEXICO. I BELIEVE WE HAVE GREAT UNCLE -- GREAT OPPORTUNITIES HERE BUT WE NEED SOMEONE WITH VISION TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. TODD: YOU ARE NOT FROM ALBUQUERQUE ORIGINALLY BUT FROM NEW MEXICO. >> I AM FROM MACIAS -- MESILLA, LAS CRUCES. I WENT TO NEW MEXICO STATE UNIVERSITY A NM. AS LONG AS MEXICO WINS NATURALLY, I CHEER FOR BOTH. TODD: WHAT IS THE BIGGEST ISSUE FACING ALBUQUERQUE? >> PUBLIC SAFETY AND HOMELESSNESS AND KEEPING GRADUATES HERE. I THINK IT IS A MULTIPLIER EFFECT IN ALL THREE AREAS. RIGHT NOW, WE HAVE HIT THE NUMBER OF 72 HOMICIDES. THAT IS OUR ALL-TIME RECORD FOR THE CITY. WE HAVE FIVE WEEKS LEFT FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR AND I’M CONCERNED WE WILL GO PAST IT. THAT REFLECTS TO ME WHY HASN’T THIS BEEN A PRIORITY? TODD: WITHOUT A DOUBT, EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THAT. THE SOLUTION IS THE DIFFICULT PART ALWAYS. WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS? HOW DOES THIS GET FIXED? >> I THINK THERE’S A TWO-PART APPROACH. FIRST IS TO HAVE SOMEBODY THAT IS WILLING TO BE ABLE TO WORK WITH OUR CITY COUNCIL AND COMMUNITY AT THE SAME TIME. THE ONLY CANDIDATE PUSHING A HISTORIC RECRUITMENT PLAN. WE PULL FROM OUR HISTORIC COMMUNITIES OF COLOR AND HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE POLICE FORCE, AND HAVE STUDENT LOAN OPTIONS TO HAVE TECHNICAL GRADUATES, TO LOWER THE COST OF ENTRY AND REFLECT THE COMMUNITY AND THE POLICE FORCE. THAT’S THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO BUILD UP OUR NUMBERS AND GET PEOPLE ON THE NEIGHBORHOOD STREETS SO WAS NOT JUST CALLING 911, IT IS KNOWING THAT TODD OR SARAH WILL START ON THURSDAY. TODD: YOU’RE HONESTLY VERY MOTIVATED. HOW DO YOU -- AND EDUCATED -- HOW DO YOU THINK YOUR AGE PLAYS INTO A RACE LIKE THIS AGAINST SOMEONE WHO HAS BEEN IN THE INCUMBENT FOR 14 YEARS? A BENEFIT OR CONTRACTOR? >> I THINK IT IS A BENEFIT BECAUSE THE AVERAGE AGE OF OUR CITY IS 38 AND IT’S NOT REFLECTED IN POSITIONS OF POWER, AND WE ALWAYS TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE. PART OF LEADING IS KNOWING THAT AMERICA’S LARGEST LABOR FORCE ARE MILLENNIALS. PART OF LEADING IS KNOWING THAT SMALL BUSINESSES BEING CREATED DAILY ON AVERAGE, THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE, ARE STARTED BY YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS. FOR ME, THAT MEANS YOU HAVE TO HAVE SOMEBODY REFLECTED IN GOVERNANCE TO PUSH THOSE IDEAS AND PUSH THAT VISION FORWARD. OTHERWISE WE WILL BE LEFT BEHIND. THE ECONOMY IS DIGITAL AND WE HAVE TO CATCH UP WITH THE TIMES. TODD: HOMELESSNESS IS TALKED ABOUT A LOT AS WELL AND ABBA CARTY, A BIG TOPIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY. -- AND ALBUQUERQUE, A BIG TOPIC ACROSS THE COUNTRY. THERE ARE PLANS TO BUILD A HUGE FACILITY AND PUT EVERYONE UNDER ONE ROOF AND CLOSE DOWN THE WEST SIDE SHELTER. WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THAT GOING IN DOWNTOWN? >> I’VE SEEN SOME EXAMPLES FROM SAN ANTONIO AND SAN JOSE ANOTHER PARTS OF THE UNITED STATES IN A WANT TO MAKE SURE WE ARE ABLE TO TRIAGE IN A WAY THAT HELPS FAMILIES THAT ARE HOMELESS, HELPS INDIVIDUALS THAT MIGHT BE EXPENSING BEHAVIORAL HEALTH OR ADDICTION ISSUES, AND WE CAN STREAMLINED IT AND TRACK ARE PROCESSED FOOD WE HAVE TO MEASURE IT BY HOW WE PEOPLE WE TAKE OFF THE STREETS AND HOLD OUR TAXPAYER -- AND HOLD OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE. TODD: I RUNOFF ELECTION, LIKELY NOT AS MANY VOTERS OUT FOR THIS ONE. THAT COULD FAVOR ISAAC BENTON BECAUSE THE OLDER POPULATION GETS OUT TO VOTE MORE THAN THE YOUNGER POPULATION. >> I THINK LOW TONE AROUND -- TURNOUT OR HIGH TURNOUT WE ARE IN A GOOD POSITION BECAUSE NOW PEOPLE KNOW WHO WE ARE. PEOPLE WERE STILL TIME TO FIGURE OUT WHO WAS RUNNING A FEW DAYS BEFORE VOTING. I THINK WE ARE AT A STRONG ADVANTAGE. TODD: GOOD LUCK. APPRECIATE THE TIME. THERE ARE THE FOUR CANDIDATES INVOLVED IN THE ABBA COOKIE CITY COUNCIL RUNOFF ELECTIONS. -- R ALBUQUERQUE COUNCIL RUNOFF ELECTIONS. THANK YOU FOR JOI