New female-majority council to pick president, consider veto override in first 2026 meeting

The Albuquerque City Council is scheduled to choose a new council president and vice-president at its first meeting of the year tonight, a day after Mayor Tim Keller’s historic third consecutive inauguration and swearing in five councilors, including one newcomer.

Stephanie Telles, who won the December runoff in District 1, joins returning councilors Klarissa Peña of District 3, Dan Lewis of District 5, Tammy Fiebelkorn of District 7 and Renée Grout of District 9.

Her election strengthens the council’s Democratic majority to 5-4, replacing former Councilor Louie Sanchez, who often aligned with conservatives. It also marks a milestone for the city. Women now hold six of the council’s nine seats for the first time, including Telles, Brook Bassan, Peña, Nichole Rogers, Fiebelkorn and Grout.

Councilors will elect a president and vice president for the year. Brook Bassan has served as president since January 2025, with Peña as vice president. The council president wields significant power: setting agendas, assigning legislation and appointing committee members.

Councilors are also scheduled to vote on OC-25-59, whether to authorize an investigation into Interim City Attorney Lauren Keefe over alleged conflicts of interest tied to litigation over fire department staffing.

As City Desk previously reported, the request claims Keefe took part in Mayor Tim Keller’s legal action against the council after acknowledging a conflict of interest. It cites contracts that required her office to work with the mayor’s outside legal counsel to review and approve filings made against the council. A review by the city auditor and inspector general would determine whether Keefe violated the City Charter or professional ethics, which could establish grounds for removal.

Keller reappointed Keefe as interim city attorney on Dec. 31, as required by the City Charter.

The new-look council will also take up Keller’s veto of a budget oversight ordinance that passed 8-1. 

 The vetoed ordinance, O-24-67,  would require city departments to provide more detailed budget documentation and give council staff read-only access to systems such as PeopleSoft to improve transparency in fiscal review.

Keller said late amendments to the bill conflict with the City Charter’s separation of powers, including provisions that would give council staff direct access to the city’s financial databases. He asked councilors to uphold the veto and work through a conference committee.

Other items up for a vote include final passage of a renter protection ordinance, O-25-102, that would cap application screening fees at $50 and require landlords to offer at least one no-fee rent payment option.

Councilors will also consider resolution R-25-205 requiring Albuquerque Fire Rescue to give regular reports to the council.