THE BEAST

Albuquerque, New Mexico’s mayor Tim Keller donned a PANTERA Christmas sweater for this past Thursday’s (December 27) signing of a bill granting family paid parental leave to city employees. The legislation made Albuquerque the first city in New Mexico to extend paid parental leave benefits to its municipal workforce.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, Keller is well-known as a fan of heavy metal music and has often attended shows in the city. He has also introduced metal bands, including ANTHRAX and TRIVIUM, onstage.

“Albuquerque has always been pretty strong on the heavy metal front,” Keller told The New York Times earlier this year. “What can I say, this is something I’ve been into for a long time.”

Keller told the Albuquerque Journal that his favorite heavy metal group is the Brazilian band SEPULTURA. “They are awesome,” he said. “It’s the music of empowerment.”

Keller, a Democrat, took over as mayor of New Mexico’s largest city in December 2017. He replaced two-term mayor Richard Berry, who did not seek re-election. Via MetalWani