Jaemes Shanley

Jaemes Shanley

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Nonpartisan

Candidate, Albuquerque City Council District 7

Elections and appointments

Next election

November 4, 2025

Education

High school

Lakenheath American High School

Bachelor's

University of New Mexico, 1973

Military

Service / branch

U.S. Navy

Years of service

1969 - 1971

Personal

Birthplace

Lakehurst, N.J.

Religion

Spiritual

Profession

Business executive

Contact

Campaign website

Campaign Facebook

Personal LinkedIn

Jaemes Shanley is running for election to the Albuquerque City Council to represent District 7 in New Mexico. He is a write-in candidate in the general election on November 4, 2025.^[source]

Shanley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. Click here to read the survey answers.

Biography

Jaemes Shanley was born in Lakehurst, New Jersey. He served in the U.S. Navy from 1969 to 1971. He graduated from Lakenheath American High School. He earned a bachelor's degree from the University of New Mexico in 1973. His career experience includes working as a small business founder and operator, a corporate marketing and strategy executive, and an international distribution specialist. Shanley has been affiliated with the Mark Twain Neighborhood Association, the District 7 Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, and the Inter-Coalition Council Working Group.

Elections

2025

See also: City elections in Albuquerque, New Mexico (2025)

General election

The general election will occur on November 4, 2025.

General election for Albuquerque City Council District 7

Incumbent Tammy Fiebelkorn and Jaemes Shanley are running in the general election for Albuquerque City Council District 7 on November 4, 2025.

		Candidate
	Submit photo	Tammy Fiebelkorn (Nonpartisan)
	Submit photo	Jaemes Shanley (Nonpartisan) (Write-in)

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	Incumbents are bolded and underlined.
= candidate completed the Ballotpedia Candidate Connection survey.
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Endorsements

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Campaign themes

2025

Ballotpedia survey responses

See also: Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection

Jaemes Shanley completed Ballotpedia's Candidate Connection survey in 2025. The survey questions appear in bold and are followed by Shanley's responses. Candidates are asked three required questions for this survey, but they may answer additional optional questions as well.

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Who are you? Tell us about yourself.

Formerly retired business person, connected to Albuquerque since 1969, with 45 years of international business management experience. Lived over 30 years outside the U.S. England, Australia, Japan. Continuous resident of Albuquerque since 2006. Endowed with a learned orientation toward pragmatism, innovative problem solving, and a collaborative & consultative approach to issues. In an 11 month "deep dive" into the state of Albuquerque and the functioning of government, I have monitored Council & the Mayor and learned by “being there” of the work of many non-government coalitions, groups, and individuals of the vast untapped potential in our city to improve the situation of homelessness and crime. I personally surveyed and documented the condition of 3,816 properties along Central, San Pedro, Menaul, 4th Street and San Mateo to quantify our commercial decay and to identify the opportunities to re-imagine and reconstruct our corridors, in tandem with a practical, effective AND AFFORDABLE program to end the crisis of unsheltered people obliged to survive on our streets, sidewalks, alleys and other public and private space throughout our city. I am inspired to know that the seeds of required solutions exist in abundance, if only they can be watered with community wisdom instead of being parched by political insularity and clearly failing but persistent policies.

Please list below 3 key messages of your campaign. What are the main points you want voters to remember about your goals for your time in office?

• Does Albuquerque feel or look better to you today than 4 years ago? We do not need "an economist" to tell us what is wrong or what we need to fix. To know that we just have to drive with our eyes open. The issues facing Albuquerque are too large and too threatening to endorse the status quo. Bold change and effective focus is needed to solve our major problems of unhoused living on our streets, all its related consequences and to revive our decaying corridors to make them attractive pathways to prosperity, for businesses and for residents. Real and significant change needs to start now. City Council can be central to making that happen. Write in Jaemes Shanley for D7 City Council.
• City Council must have members committed to policy and initiatives that reflect the priority concerns and needs of constituents, NOT their personal "agenda". That cannot happen if its Councilors are committed to telling their constituents what they need instead of listening. Albuquerque has an abundance of people with the knowledge, experience, skills, and (above all) the passionate commitment to be actively involved in its restoration. Far too many of those essential people are not "at the table". Leadership is listening and learning too. In District 7 voters have a choice. Write-in Jaemes Shanley for D7 City Council.
• We need City Councilors who are working relentlessly to solve the problems impacting us. We do not need to be constantly obliged to protest or challenge Ordinances or Resolutions from our Councilor that threaten the character of our neighborhoods, fail to solve or improve problems two years after passage, or are not aligned with our needs and values. Representation without consultation is its own form of tyranny. We have a choice to have a voice. Write in Jaemes Shanley for D7 City Council.

What areas of public policy are you personally passionate about?

Solving (not maintaining) the crisis of unhoused on our streets. By solving that issue, crime and public safety can be more directly and effectively addressed. When every resident of Albuquerque is sheltered in place we can restore the vitality and potential of our major corridors, promote the flourishing of local businesses. Attract professionals, entrepreneurs, new families and produce cycles of wage growth, supporting housing development options that place more people on the ladder of homeownership and equity accumulation, the bedrock of an upwardly mobile middle class. That is vital to the future of Albuquerque......and our nation.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the state government and legal system?

Albuquerque City Council controls the purse strings of city government and oversees planning codes and vision. It has the power, influence, and standing to engage and influence not only city government but also to engage and collaborate with County and State legislators and authorities to realize big and bold things. When its power is effectively applied it can be a prime mover in the realization of a positive and forward moving vision for the City of Albuquerque.

Who do you look up to? Whose example would you like to follow, and why?

Abraham Lincoln.......Steve Jobs......Dwight Eisenhower.......Bill Gates........Volodymyr Zelenskyy.......integrity, dignity, wisdom, compassion, courage, common sense, visionary

What characteristics or principles are most important for an elected official?

Consultation with and accountability to constituents. Complete transparency about legislative initiatives and their impact. Proactive outreach and engagement with citizens, organizations and associations to maintain a balanced synthesis and big picture view of issues. Having the courage to discuss, debate, and defend your strongly held beliefs both publicly and privately. Listen, listen, listen.

What do you believe are the core responsibilities for someone elected to this office?

Solve the problems, with appropriate priority ranking, that negatively affect the community. Be willing to acknowledge publicly the upside and downside of every measure you propose or endorse.

What legacy would you like to leave?

A City of Albuquerque that better reflects the one my parents retired in and loved after living all over the world, always believing they had parachuted into paradise.

What is the first historical event that happened in your lifetime that you remember? How old were you at the time?

Sputnik

What was your very first job? How long did you have it?

bagging groceries for a month at base commissary in West Malling, England

What is your favorite book? Why?

Team of Rivals (Dolores Kearns Goodwin)

What is something that has been a struggle in your life?

Overcoming the temptation to hubris.

Are there any little-known powers or responsibilities held by this office that you believe more people should be aware of?

City Council exercises de facto control of the Comprehensive Plan and Integrated Development Ordinance of the City of Albuquerque, including the Land Use, Planning and Zoning Committee (LUPZ) and the Environmental Planning Committee (EPC). City Council can hold the Mayor/Administration accountable to the public for the results of their programs and spending.

Do you believe that it's beneficial for holders of this office to have previous experience in government or politics?

I do not have previous experience in government or politics so not qualified to answer the question other than to say that vision, common sense, consultation with experienced people (inside and outside government) and commitment to positive change are vastly more important.

What kind of skills or expertise do you believe would be the most helpful for the holders of this office to possess?

Willingness to listen. Practical common sense approach to issues. Commitment to adapt and compromise to get to realizable solutions.

What qualities does this office possess that makes it a unique and important part of the local government?

City Council is a 9 member body representing the spectrum of our varied community. By design it must be consensus driven to deliver best results and, from a legislative and policy perspective can always be the part of government for Albuquerque that best reflects the community's aspirations.

What organizations or individuals have endorsed your campaign?

Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors

Candidates hear many personal stories from voters. Is there a story that you’ve heard that you found particularly touching or memorable?

Every story of transition from street homelessness, addiction, even petty criminality to re-integration into safe, healthy, housed and productive life....of which there are many in Albuquerque.

What is an accomplishment that you are proud of?

Being part of a small team that rescued an MIT derived venture funded tech start-up (Virtual Ink) from near death, after the tech bubble burst of 2000-2001, to profitability and acquisition by Newell-Rubbermaid Corp. in 2006 and subsequent rise to consequential global player in classroom technology solutions.

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Albuquerque City Council District 7

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