ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – In the race for Albuquerque mayor and city council, city workers are now checking signatures for candidates who want public financing, trying to stop any potential fraud. Mayoral and council candidates can get thousands of dollars in public money for their campaigns if they collect enough signatures and $5 contributions from voters. The city is now going door to door to verify that those contributions weren’t made up.
“It’s weird, but it’s kind of good,” said Randy Gutierrez, an Albuquerque voter. His reaction to a visit from city workers today, as the Office of the Internal Audit, alongside the city clerk, is double-checking campaign donations gathered by candidates running for mayor and city council.
“They can either gather donations from private donors or they can demonstrate public support from the community too, and then obtain a grant of money from the city for their campaign,” said Ethan Watson, City Clerk for Albuquerque.
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The city’s audit is specifically looking into the five-dollar contributions made to candidates looking for public financing. City residents who donate to those campaigns must give their name and address, and the city picks a handful of random contributions to check in the audit…