Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez vetoed the City Council bill today that placed numerous amendments to the city charter on the October municipal ballot.
The bill was passed by the council with a six to three vote on June 22. In his veto message, the mayor gave three reasons for axing the bill. Here they are:
- The Charter amendment provision for pay raises creates an end-run around a public vote on the issue of pay raises for elected officials;
- The proposed Charter amendments fail to strengthen the conflict of interest provisions of the City Charter for the legislative branch.
- The proposed Charter amendments weaken the executive branch in favor of the legislative branch with no heightened conflict of interest provisions contained in the proposed Charter amendments.
The bill was passed on a deadline for ballot measures being approved by the council, and the council is now recessed for the month of July. What steps need to be taken, or what recourse the council has to attempt an override of the veto, is being examined by the council.