ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO – Tim Keller was sworn in this weekend as Albuquerque’s mayor for the first time to serve three consecutive terms—a city record. The ceremony took place at the Albuquerque Convention Center, with New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Shannon Bacon administering the oath before nearly 1,000 attendees.
Addressing the crowd, Keller emphasized the public’s desire for action.
“This time the voters grant us something unique, something so critical at this moment, a clear purpose to push forward, and a challenge to meet this moment and to rise to the occasion,” he said. “Albuquerque, you kept us on the path forward in this election. Now, together we are going to keep building, keep responding, keep caring, keep pushing forward…”
He also acknowledged public fatigue with the status quo, stating:
“Anti‑incumbent sentiment, and frustration with government is at an all‑time high … we have a long way to go and there is so much work to do.”
Keller highlighted a few key issues for his upcoming term: public safety, homelessness, and revitalizing city spaces.
“We are going to have to prioritize crime, homelessness and placemaking. We are hiring new leadership and retaining the experience we need during these tough times,” he noted.
He reaffirmed earlier commitments to expand Albuquerque’s Gateway System and Albuquerque Community Safety Department, set up under his previous terms to help people experiencing homelessness or mental health crises.
One of Mayor Keller’s first tasks is appointing new leadership for two critical city departments:
- Police Chief: With Harold Medina’s retirement effective at the end of 2025, Deputy Chief Cecily Barker is serving as interim chief.
- City Attorney: That role is also currently vacant, and Keller is expected to nominate a new candidate soon.
First elected in 2017 and re-elected in 2020, Keller secured his third term in a November 2025 runoff against former Sheriff Darren White, earning nearly 58% of the vote on about 128,502 ballots cast.
Looking ahead to the 2026–2030 term, Keller outlined goals to further address homelessness through coordinated care options like “pallets, casitas, Boxabls—and everything in between,” strengthen teen violence prevention, expand public safety tech, and improve city services and permitting to support local businesses.
Supporters call it a mandate for meaningful change. Albuquerque resident Jacob Matteson reflected on the challenges ahead:
“He has a lot on his plate, particularly with the homelessness and there’s still a lot of stuff that needs to be done with city roads (and) keeping the parks going … I hope that he really continues to add to the homeless center on Gibson and accommodate more of the homeless.”
What’s On Deck
- New appointments: Finalizing a permanent police chief and city attorney.
- Policy implementation: Rolling out pledges on crime reduction, homelessness initiatives, and downtown development.
- Council collaboration: Working with a partially renewed city council to advance shared priorities.
Tim Keller’s third term marks a pivotal moment for Albuquerque as it seeks momentum on public safety, homelessness, and economic revitalization.
