Bode Aero Services

Political scandals, former elected officials getting indicted, electoral surprises and an occasional David toppling a Goliath–2009 had it all.

As NMI has reported, a city contractor, John Bode, has alleged in a deposition that he and his firm were victims of retaliation for not providing free or reduce air flights to Mayor Martin Chavez. Now one of Chavez’s opponents, Richard Romero, has released a 15-minute video compilation of highlights taken from surveillance tapes at Double [...]

Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez has said publicly that no one gets a no-bid, long-term contract under his administration. But as the mayor aspires to win a third consecutive term as the city’s chief executive in October’s municipal election, the mayor and city staff find themselves arguing with a city contractor over whether the mayor violated his rule against no-bid, long-term contracts with a firm at the city-owned Double Eagle II Airport.

John H. Bode, operator at the city-owned Double Eagle II Airport, charges in a sworn deposition that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez refused to renew Bode’s airport lease in retaliation for Bode declining to provide free or discounted air travel for the mayor.

“There’s an elephant in the room, folks. Nobody’s bringing it up, but we all have an idea of what it is. The day that government exists just for politics and how it can benefit the principals of our municipalities is the day we’re all in trouble. And thank God we have three branches of government.”