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Thursday, May 17, 2012Blogging With Newsweek; Their Susana Profile Provides Political Fodder Here, Plus: Did Susana Commit "VP Suicide?" And: The Press And The Guv; Still Honeymooning 1. When I ask how she would respond if the presumptive nominee came calling (for the VP slot), Martinez cuts me off. “No,” she says. “Absolutely no.” 2. At Starbucks, Martinez insists that she won’t leave New Mexico anytime soon. “Partly it’s my responsibility to my sister,” she says. “Moving to Washington would be devastating to her. But also, I need to finish this job. I have to deliver the results I promised, because as the first Hispanic female governor, I’m going to pave a path of some kind. I want it to be one that little Hispanic girls will want to follow.” Also, I understand that New Mexicans might see a national intro piece as friendlier than Santa Fe's (rightly) adversarial statehouse coverage, but I don't think the story is wholly glowing. This stuff, for example, is almost never mentioned in the NM papers: Martinez’s record is not without the usual oppo-research fodder. New Mexico progressives accuse her of awarding casino contracts and energy appointments to campaign donors; a mentally ill man named Stephen Slevin was held without a trial for two years at a county prison while she was D.A.; and she was briefly fired in 1992 when her then-boss accused her of bringing in a case her husband had investigated. (Martinez sued, then settled out of court.) There's also this push back on her budget-balancing claims: With Martinez, symbolic gestures have at times seemed to stand in for actual political risk-taking. As soon as she took office, for example, she fired the gubernatorial chefs, grounded the gubernatorial jet, and halved the gubernatorial staff. But the cuts she made, while real, were not nearly enough, on their own, to balance the budget--a feat that ultimately required savings and tax hikes phased in from the previous administration, plus a serendipitous spike in oil revenues. Thanks for that, Andrew. As for Santa Fe's "adversarial" press coverage, there really hasn't been much. The media faithfully track what the administration deems to be news and gets both sides of the story. But after a boisterous and always busy Richardson administration they seem flummoxed by the lack of substantial news coming from the capitol. THE REAL STORY  What's happened? The Governorship has shrunk since Bill. Sure, Susana is becoming a national figure because of her ethnic background, but the news backdrop in Santa Fe is reminiscent of the late 70's and 80's when laid-back Bruce King and Garrey Carruthers held forth. There are bursts of news but there is no sustained narrative as there was under Richardson.The real story in Santa Fe is what has not been done and why not. The press has yet to really dig into that, but one supposes it will in the years ahead. BLOGGING THIS DEAL One of the advantages of doing a true blog--not one that depends on access to the politicians--is that we can pretty much jump the gun and get to the unvarnished reality. The mainstream media tends to start their adversarial romp when the public signals that it's getting restless. Until then, the sins accumulate but are swept under the rug. Later the rug is lifted and the press and public see all kinds of creepy crawler things scurrying about. No doubt there will be some of those creepy crawlers surfacing from under Susana's carpet, but probably not hat many. The Achilles Heel of the current administration may be the benign neglect they have adopted towards the major issues of the day. They would argue that this is simply a case of executing their belief that, "The government that governs least, governs best." That thesis will be put to the test when the Guv seeks re-election in 2014. Right now, it looks like a winner. The Governor is happy, the press is happy and the voters--at least those that pay attention to Santa Fe--seem happy. To some that may seem like too much harmony for a body politic faced with crushing social and economic issues that continue to restrain the quality of life here among a majority of the population. Well, what did that old stockbroker in the film "Wall Street" tell the young colleague (Bud Foxx) who was on a big roll? "Enjoy it while it lasts, because it never does." VEEP SUICIDE? Did that Newsweek article amount to "VP suicide" by Martinez? As our Alligators pointed out, she did an about face on immigration policy, steering towards the course she attacked in the 2010 GOP Guv primary. That's probably too moderate for the far right that controls today's GOP. Here's a take from Salon.com.First, she indicated support for the immigration agenda that President Obama promises to pursue if he defeats Romney in November. Second, the reforms the first term Republican favors are opposed by every Republican member of the Senate (even those like John McCain, who used to support it) and a solid majority in the House. (In case there was any doubt, the same day Martinez’s interview appeared, Politico reported that the Romney campaign was seeking a “boring white guy” as a running mate.) Martinez's position may not be suitable for today's GOP but it is where she needs to be for the years ahead when the Hispanic population will make up an ever larger percentage of the population. Also, her chances of becoming Romney's VP have always been near zilch. She is free to roam about the building. But the change in positions is notable in that it may signal some growth by Martinez as she jettisons some of her hot and divisive rhetoric over immigration. Hey, maybe she'll get off the nearly constant harangue about repealing driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants and accept compromise legislation? Well, we wouldn't read too much into it yet, but it is a start. FRUSTRATION FACTOR We do get the occasional email brimming over with frustration over the go-slow (or not go at all) mood in Santa Fe. This Alligator uses the Newsweek piece to make the pivot: I love watching the national press try to create a story out of Gov. Martinez being some sort of accomplished, inspirational figure. At some point, the honeymoon has to end, right? Newsweek just starts to dip into the incredible lack of accomplishments by the Martinez administration. She gets to talk, talk, talk and pontificate at Starbucks about her pretend revelatory positions but during that whole trip with Newsweek, did anything get done? People are starting to wonder, what does she do? 2 years into her administration and there's no plan for jobs or economic development. No plan to deal with federal government shrinkage. No Infrastructure plan. No plan for health care reform. No vision for the state. A Governor needs to be a cheerleader for the state and instead we got a hall monitor who seems to be more interested in managing her complex family situation and tattling on others rather than leading the state.... What's that Alligator trying to do? Put bedbugs in the honeymoon mattress? GRIEGO SETBACK A bit of a media stunner in the ABQ congressional race and a stinger for the self-proclaimed "progressive" candidate. The weekly Alibi, the well-read alternative newspaper in the UNM area, has endorsed not Griego, but rival Michelle Lujan Grisham: The Alibi Endorses Michelle Lujan Grisham: District 1 Democrats are lucky this year. You’ve got two excellent congressional candidates to choose from. Lujan Grisham has shown that she knows how to work across the aisle and push forward-thinking legislation. She’s an obvious progressive. She also comes across as remarkably passionate about her district, the 99 percent and creating a better life for those who are scraping by in this economy. A Lujan-Grisham advocate sniped: "I would have liked to have been a fly on the wall at Griego headquarters when that endorsement came down." Adding insult to injury, Lujan Grisham also beat out Griego earlier this week for the endorsement of the conservative editorial pages of the ABQ Journal. And, yes, the Marty Chavez campaign surely noticed that the Alibi said there are "two excellent candidates" to choose from. And they didn't mean Marty. His old wounds with progressives have yet to heal. As for Michelle, she has some Mo and appears to have learned a whole lot since running this same race back in '08. MARTY'S HIT Chavez comes with a new TV ad that is sure to be a "hit." It features him in the boxing ring. Now if only the campaign can come with enough funds to get it widespread attention. KARI'S CORNER  A race for the hot seat of Bernalillo County District Attorney is even hot when the incumbent has a big edge financially and in name ID. And so it is again as Dem Kari Brandenburg faces off with underdog challenger Jennifer Romero. A Romero sympathizer took a dig at Kari on the Wednesday blog and today a Kari supporter--reader Richard Eeds--fires back:Joe,....The ABQ Journal has never endorsed Kari and that they have endorsed completely unethical and unqualified candidates. Kari has been working seven days a week on the Astorga case in Santa Fe...For her opponent or others to say that she is resting on her laurels is only politics and not true. She has campaigned when she can and is taking nothing for granted.. A candidate for DA should, above all else, be truthful. Kari is the hardest working and most serious public servant that the voters could ask for, but the politics of the Journal are not those of the Democratic Party. I understand the need to stir the political pot, but at a time when the DA is working her ass off to fulfill her duty, she deserves a lot of credit and the conservative media will surely not do it... We're not sure the Journal has never endorsed Brandenburg. She is seeking her fourth term so there's a lot of endorsement history there. By the way, a Democratic DA race is all you get. The R's failed to field a candidate so the winner of the Dem primary gets to close up campaign headquarters. That's it for now. Back here tomorrow. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's political community? Advertise here. Email us for details.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012Not for reproduction without permission of the author Wednesday, May 16, 2012Northern GOP Congress Race: Who Gets To Face Firing Squad? Plus: Our TV Ad Watch, And:: A Curveball For Kari The momentum seems to have swung to Byrd. Newton won the GOP pre-primary convention 65%-35% but has not done much since. Newton recently had a falling out with his campaign staff and is basically running things on his own. Newton is also receiving a lot of heat from the locals due to the fact that he moved from Albuquerque into the northern district this past October. Byrd has mailed the district and launched two radio ads. Byrd has picked up the endorsement of Pat Lyons, the former State Land Commissioner and current Public Regulation Commission chairman Pat Lyons. He has solidified eastern New Mexico support with endorsements from State Senator Clint Harden and State Representative Dennis Roch.... Newton received the endorsement of former US Secretary of Defense Rumsfeld who lives in Taos and there is the superior pre-primay performance by Newton which in the GOP is often indicative of the primary election results to come. Byrd will have to keep spending--and spinning---if he is going to knock him off (Newton did not respond to an email asking him about the fate of his campaign staff). ABQ ACTION Eric Griego's campaign says he cut his Wall Street TV spot before the latest financial implosion that cost one of the nation's biggest banks $2 billion. But like most everything else so far in this campaign, Griego has been the beneficiary of serendipitous timing. The paid spot is now airing, with the latest financial mishap playing loudly in the free media. Griego is hot in the cool medium of TV, often a distraction, but the Dem liberal base is fired up and Griego feeds them the red meat they want. In his ad he calls for jailing bankers who have done wrong and laments that so far no banker has served time behind bars since the Wall St. crisis struck in 2008. That won't get them out of their chairs in Tanoan, but it will have them running around the field in jubilation in the SE Heights. MARTY ON MARES  Will the embezzlement indictment of his girlfriend Loretta Mares be the defining moment for former Mayor Marty Chavez in his battle for the Dem nomination for the ABQ congressional seat? If he loses, it will certainly be pointed to, He is still grappling with the touchy matter in public, Over the weekend he was asked about it on KOB-TV's "Eye on New Mexico." The veteran politico came with a well-crafted response, but it is the association and the ongoing publicity around it that does the damage. Here is what Chavez told the TV audience: This is an individual for whom I care very deeply. The first I heard of this was when everyone else read about it in the paper and when reporters called. And I certainly would be shocked if it’s true. I respect the right of the Attorney General, if he has some evidence, to prosecute. I hope people will respect the right of this lady to defend herself because she is entitled to a presumption of innocence. The woman that I know is a successful business woman, raised two daughters on her own, no assistance from their Dad. Has four grandchildren, is a cancer survivor, double-mastectomy, hysterectomy, and is just a dynamo as an independent businesswoman. That’s who I know. So, I would be shocked if the allegations were true. And I will do nothing to hurt her. She is entitled to defend herself. And frankly she should be entitled to defend herself free of some of the glare of a campaign. We no longer reside together. She’s focused on her business and her good name. I’m focused on this campaign. There has been no suggestion that I was aware of the facts underlying the charges, and I think that’s important to state. And I think that from here we have to talk about what concerns the folks of this district. For you kids starting out in politics, that is about as good as it gets in dealing with a no-win situation. Meanwhile, Chavez tries to warm up the room with this robo call from former President Clinton who has endorsed him in the three way primary. BALDERAS VS HEATHER?  Now, Heather Wilson and the Republicans in Washington say we need to cut education and job training. I say we need to invest in our future again... Nicely produced ad, but it serves to soften the ground up for Heinrich when he faces Wilson in the Fall, not take the battle to him and try to snatch the nomination from his hands. Balderas needs to throw a "Hail Mary" pass, not just say the prayer. CURVEBALL FOR KARI Another curve ball for Kari. First, her chief deputy district attorney resigns after allegedly assaulting a sheriff's deputy and now the ABQ Journal shakes her up with an endorsement for Jennifer Romero, her Dem primary opponent. An excerpt: Romero would end the incumbent’s questionable practice of taking police shootings to a special investigative grand jury that has been criticized by civil rights lawyers and others. Romero says she doesn’t like “a secret system with the police treated differently” and would use the preliminary hearing track to “clear the innocent and examine what went wrong in questionable shootings. This is the first sign of the numerous police shooting having a political consequence. ABQ Mayor RJ Berry has refused to dismiss police chief Ray Shultz, but he is putting forth some reform proposal for APD as he anticipates a 2013 re-election effort, As for Romero, she had only $2,900 in her campaign account when she reported this week. Kari had only $12,000 but the ability to write a personal check anytime it is needed. There is some incumbent fatigue here. Brandenburg is in her third term and going for her fourth. That would be 16 years as DA, a nearly unprecedented run. While Brandenburg took a hit from the paper, she actually had a good week in public prosecuting the death penalty phase in the Michael Astorga case. Ironically, Astoraga was found guilty of shooting a sheriff's deputy in 2006. GETTING A PASS? Reader and attorney Elena Moreno Hansen says our analysis of the DA race is giving Kari a pass: Joe, you're giving Ms. Brandenburg too much of a pass. She is resting on her laurels while Jennifer Romero and her supporters are attending rallies, going door to door, and otherwise taking this race to the people. Don't count out the poor hometown girl. Bernalillo County voters are more like Ms. Romero than Ms. Brandenburg. Also, at the end of the day, the voters will pick transparency over ineptitude. CAMPOS VS. GARCIA Another sleeper race that is starting to awaken the Gators features veteran northern Dem State Senator Pete Campos facing challenger and State Rep. Tomas Garcia. Some surprising news here: Still, political observers aren't counting Garcia out as election day nears. Garcia has reported nearly $40,000 more campaign cash on hand than Campos... Put that one on your list to watch. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's political community? Advertise here. Email us for details. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012Not for reproduction without permission of the author Tuesday, May 15, 2012Any Upsets In The Air? Insiders Game Two Races Worth Watching, Also: BernCo Commissioner Johnson Is So Busted, And: Susana Aglow In National Limelight, Plus: Death Claims Farm Bureau's Erik Ness Insiders are closely monitoring that Dem primary battle between Roundhouse powerhouse Senator John Arthur Smith and his opponent, electrical contractor Larry Martinez. Smith, 70, has been in Santa Fe since 1989 and chairs the powerful Senate Finance Committee. He is the odds-on favorite to take the nomination and win out over a Republican foe in November, but Martinez is said to be working the phones and knocking doors in the Deming area district. And Smith has come under fire from Dems for sticking with a conservative agenda, even though conservatism has a champion occupying the Governor's office in the form of Susana Martinez. I asked a former top ranking Republican and Senior Alligator in southern NM why there is any chatter at all about the Smith race: Some people are asking, "What has he done for us? Yes, he's a fiscal conservative, but how does that play for us here? Also, the Spaceport is right in his Senate district and he has done little to champion it. You also hear the usual anti-incumbent talk that is now louder because of the weak economy. Smith will easily outspend Martinez. If the newbie challenger were somehow able to put Smith away, the result would be a political earthquake. Another Dem leader at the Roundhouse is watching her back. State Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, 75, faces primary opposition from former Dem Dona Ana county Commissioner Oscar Vasquez Butler. We've met him and he's a fighter. Mary Jane is relatively popular but Butler could be a serious threat to pull off the upset. This is Oscar's second attempt at ousting Mary Jane. He came up short in 2008. Neither of them are getting any younger so this rivalry is about to see its final round. A Garcia defeat would not shake Santa Fe like a Smith departure, but it would be a major jolt. LUCKY LAWRENCE He's had lousy luck in the elective world, but no one can beat the bureaucratic credentials of government administrator Lawrence Rael. Now he comes out of retirement to take this plum political appointment from Obama: Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack has announced the appointment for State Executive Director (SED) of the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) in New Mexico. The secretary has tapped Lawrence Rael to serve the Obama Administration in this capacity. The Farm Service Agency administers federal farm policy as laid out by Congress through a network of federal, state and county offices. Among other things, Rael was a longtime Chief Administrative Officer for the city of ABQ. He sought the Dem nod for the 2010 Lt. Governor nomination, but lost. He continues to be mentioned as a possible 2014 Guv contender. WAYNE JOHNSON: BUSTED  From TV news: According to expense reports, the airfare and conference registration for Brown cost about $1,000. Johnson said it cost another $1,300 for her three night stay at the Omni Hotel and for food and spending money. But not only does Johnson defend taking Brown on the trip, he dreams up an entirely new title for the $52,000 a year assistant: "My assistant truly is a deputy commissioner, So it's very important as part of these trips that she know who I am meeting with and what's being said." Say what? Wayne, we've been covering the county commission before they even had "assistants" and there is no such thing as a "deputy commissioner." And we thought it was Republican Johnson who said he wanted to cut government and to save taxpayers a buck. Is the power going to his head? Wayne Johnson--you are so busted. You, too, Karen. TALK ABOUT TIMING When Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg thinks about things that could go wrong as she seeks the Dem nomination for a fourth, four year term, this kind of stuff must be at the top of her fear list: District Attorney Kari Brandenburg says that assistant district attorney Alisha Maestas, 37, has resigned after her arrest Saturday on charges of assaulting a police officer. Maestas was head of the Domestic Violence Unit in Bernalillo County. Police say Maestas was the passenger in a vehicle that was stopped Saturday on suspicion of DWI. Officers say Maestas kept getting out of the car and interfering with their investigation. According to the complaint, officers put Maestas in handcuffs – she got out of them and confronted officers again. The upside for Brandenburg is that her Dem foe, former public defender Jennifer Romero, has been unable to raise the campaign money to make a race out of this one. And get this. The Republicans don't even have a candidate for DA. Sleep tight, Kari. SUSANA AGLOW  Talk about a PR man's dream. Here's over 3,000 glowing words from Newsweek Magazine on the prospects of Governor Martinez becoming Romney's VP pick. No talk here that she has completely ruled it out. But is there a little problem with the otherwise friendly profile. One of our Alligators says this occurs when she talks about immigration policy. First, a recap from HuffPo: "Self-deport? What the heck does that mean?" Martinez said to Newsweek. "I have no doubt Hispanics have been alienated during this campaign. But now there's an opportunity for Gov. Romney to have a sincere conversation about what we can do and why." Martinez also called on Republicans to step up their support for comprehensive immigration reform, in part to highlight that President Barack Obama hasn't been able to advance the issue, despite making a 2008 campaign promise to do so. "I absolutely advocate for comprehensive immigration reform," Martinez said. "Republicans want to be tough and say, 'Illegals, you’re gone.' But the answer is a lot more complex than that." Okay, now the Alligator strike from here in New Mexico: Joe, The far right of the GOP believes that "comprehensive immigration reform" is code for amnesty. When she says that "the rest" will stay in the country and follow the naturalization process, that is basically amnesty. Not saying that's wrong. But in the 2010 Republican Governor primary she accused Allen Weh of supporting the same policy that she now appears to be saying is ok. Besides, in the campaign she specifically said that illegal immigrants had to go back to their country of origin and then go through the process to get back in, Now she's saying they don't have to? Glad she's come around but now I see no difference between her and Weh. Maybe her views are...how do they put it in polite society...."evolving"? MORE SUSANA BEAT "  Susana boasts of her efforts to keep a rate increase from taking effect for the state's unemployment trust fund--financed by taxes from the state's employers. But a warning shot is being fired over the low rates from NM Voices for Children:New Mexico’s unemployment insurance (UI) trust fund--which pays benefits to the unemployed--should be rebounding at this point in an economic recovery. It’s not and that is due in part to a decrease in the rates employers pay into the fund. “It’s normal for the trust fund balance to plunge during a recession when it is paying out increased benefits...,” said Gerry Bradley, Research Director for the child advocacy group and the report author. “Unemployment has been leveling out, but the fund balance continues to drop. This will pose a serious problem when the next recession hits and the fund is unable to do its job... Something for the Legislature--and the Governor--to keep their eye on in the months ahead. By the way, Voices recently announced that Veronica Garcia, the former education cabinet secretary for Governor Richardson, is their new executive director, replacing Eric Griego who gave up the job to run for the ABQ congressional seat. Yes, it's true that former Lt. Governor Diane Denish explored the possibility of taking on that position. GOING POSTAL We blogged Monday about how some small government advocates might find it hypocritical that Dem US Senator Jeff Bingaman supported keeping the state's rural post offices open instead of shutting them down as wasteful. Reader Michelle Meaders clarifies a key point: The Postal Service hasn’t gotten government funding for decades, but must get Congress’ permission to raise rates. Now they are being forced to fund their pension for the next 75 years in only a few years. ERIK NESS Erik Ness (Steve Terrell)  Don't let that work for liberal Toney throw you. Erik was a conservative who later advised an array of Republicans. He was also a talented writer of country western songs and is shown in this picture strumming a guitar. When he died last week of pancreatic cancer, Ness, 57, was fondly remembered by old timers as well as newcomers in the media. He was an old-school pro who gave the story straight, even if it was not always complimentary to his employer. That's how you last 30 years. Ness, a native of Capitan in Lincoln County, toted up a pile of awards for his media work with the Bureau. He retired in 2010 after a job well-done. More on Ness from his old friend and Santa Fe newsman Steve Terrell. Erik Ness is survived by his wife, two sons and a daughter. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's political community? Advertise here. Email us for details. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012Not for reproduction without permission of the author. Monday, May 14, 2012The Big Monday Blog: From Congress To Clovis, We're On The Cluttered Campaign Trail Of 2012; Read All About It!   No one is swinging for the fences in the hotly contested race for the ABQ Dem congressional nomination. In this three way race about 40% will do the trick for the win and that means slicing and dicing the electorate. And that in turn means campaign ads like this one from Michelle Lujan Grisham. In it the attorney and Bernalillo County Commissioner makes no bones about going for only a portion of the Dem electorate. She declares that "the war on women stops right now, right here in New Mexico." She argues that Washington is "trying to turn the clock back on family planning and women's health care."Veteran Dem analyst Harry Pavlides says Lujan Grisham, playing for a narrow win with women voters leading the way, is making her best bet: She needs to motivate women who normally would not vote in a primary. That's why you hear her talking about "the war" on women. She needs to turn them out. (State Senator) Eric Griego is still the front-runner because of his strong support among liberals. (Former ABQ Mayor) Marty Chavez should now look to turn out more conservative and moderate Dems east of San Mateo Blvd. in the NE Heights. Fighting with Griego over the liberals will not get him the win. A major dynamic in this race that is making it more difficult for Marty and Michelle is the ABQ SE Heights. That area will have the highest turnout in the primary and that's where Griego is strongest. Also, Martin Heinrich lives there and will look to increase turnout there in his Senate race. Those voters will be prone to vote for Griego. Thanks for that road map, Harry. We'll keep it handy as we enter the final stretch. WHAT CAMPAIGN? Surprisingly, there has been only one public meeting featuring all three congressional contenders, and only one TV debate is scheduled--on Saturday, May 19 at 6 p.m. on KOAT-TV. The race may be getting buzz in the political community but in the city at large it still seems to be a sleeper. That means we are on target for another low primary turnout. MICHELLE AND MARTIN Lujan Grisham picked up the endorsement of the ABQ Journal Sunday, as did Dem US Senate candidate Martin Heinrich. On the GOP side, the paper endorsed Heather Wilson over Greg Sowards. Of Heinrich, they said: Having earned his stripes in the rough-and-tumble U.S. House, Heinrich has matured and refined his positions. Heinrich is opposed for the Dem nod by State Auditor Hector Balderas. The Las Cruces Sun-News also endorsed Heinrich. Of Lujan Grisham, the Journal said: New Mexico’s young delegation needs an official who won’t hesitate to wade into tough issues and seek compromises — whether it’s health care, protecting and creating jobs, or finally passing meaningful immigration reform. Lujan Grisham has clear stances on each... The Journal has its most influence with Republicans, but no doubt those endorsed will tout the backing in mailers and other campaign ads. GO EAST, JOE Over on the East Side, that GOP state Senate primary we've been blogging about is hotter than a Clovis parking lot on the Fourth of July. And we have fresh stuff. The insider polling there done for the Pat Woods campaign shows Woods leading Angie Spears by ten points in the multi-county district, with Clovis in Curry County being at the heart of the battle. It's Woods 42%, Spears 32% and undecided 26%. On May 8th and 9th, a brief three question auto-poll was conducted. (Posted here). Calls were placed to all 2008 and 2010 primary voters. 546 people completed the poll, or roughly 16% of the voting population. We earlier blogged the results of the first night of polling. With Woods well below the magic 50% level, the race is wide open. And why do we care? Well, Spears is being openly backed by Governor Martinez, causing a major split in the Republican Party. Her SusanaPAC, led by adviser Jay McCleskey, has already donated $5,000 to Angie and Jay's consulting company is expected to lead the final weeks attack against Woods. Also, former GOP National Committeeman Mickey Barnett is involved. A PAC he is leading has donated heavily to Spears. For years, ABQ attorney Barnett has been in the thick of the internecine GOP wars. Our coverage of that can be found in our archives as far back as November 2003 and the news on his controversial PAC can be had here. HIGH STAKES IN CLOVIS Angie Spears  And therein lies the problem. By going all in for Spears, Martinez can't hide her fingerprints. When Woods is attacked the attacks are perceived as coming directly from the Fourth Floor and executed by the "Fifth Floor"--Jay and company. Not good. The motive here for the Guv to get in this messy battle was to enforce ideological purity and subservience to her administration. That may seem worthy on paper or in idle daydreams of ruling without opposition, but she has to be wondering if it is worth all the headache. An ugly and even more divisive phase appears to be ahead in the final days of the Showdown in Clovis. WHY GIVE? One of the issues Woods supporters raise could resonate with R's around the state. They ask: Why give money to SusanaPac if the cash is going to be used to beat up on fellow Republicans and not used to take back the Legislature from the Dems? Of course, much of SusanaPAC money doesn't even come from New Mexico--but from Texas and other out-of-state interests. HEINRICH REBUTTAL Our observations about the new TV ad from Dem US Senate contender Martin Heinrich brought in some email. We thought the scene showing Heinrich campaign with his wife and kids was "out of context" and doubted his statement that the "hard-working citizens of New Mexico" will solve the nation's problems, not the politicians we pay to do that in Washington. Here's another view on that ad:A young family and their connection to the outdoors? Looks like someone has their priorities straight. It's never out of place to show connection and appreciation for where you live, and the world around you... You blogged that, "It is the failure of the "powers that be" in Washington to solve critical national problems that has them in low self-esteem. The "hard working citizens" of New Mexico have made their views known and it is up to our elected representatives to get the job done... Nobody gets off the hook here. You're both right, and vice-versa. This isn't a job we're outsourcing. Even if politicians were just contractors, we need a dialogue about choices, priorities and accountability that includes everyone, citizens and officeholders... Well, we see how a"dialogue about choices" is useful, but like the rest of this nation, we're frustrated with the inability of the Congress to get something done. We want New Mexico's next US Senator to be results oriented and an actor for this state. Let's get on with the election (that's the "dialogue") and then tell the winner we "hard-working citizens" expect more than expressions of exasperation at the state of things in Washington. Do something about it. THE DC GRIDLOCK Monahan with Udall in DC  "If there were ever a time when Tom Udall and Jeff Merkley were prophetic, it's tonight," Reid said. "These two young, fine senators said it was time to change the rules of the Senate, and we didn't. They were right. The rest of us were wrong. Or most of us anyway. What a shame." A Senate Democratic aide told The Huffington Post that Reid wants to revisit the issue in January, when the new Congress begins and when there is a brief window to change Senate rules with a 51-vote threshold. "Right when you convene a new Congress, you have an opportunity to alter rules with just a simple majority," said the aide. For Udall it's a signal that even though his head may hurt from banging it against the wall, he needs to keep banging. HELPFUL OR HYPOCRITE? The job of a New Mexico US Senator often leaves you open to the charge of hypocrisy For example, there's this news from Senator Bingaman: Senator Bingaman said he is glad that the U.S. Postal Service put forward a plan to keep open rural New Mexico post offices that were once identified for possible closure. In a letter to Bingaman, the Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe said rather than closing down thousands of rural post offices, it is taking a new approach. Instead, it will consider reducing the number of hours rural post offices are open. Congress is working on legislation aimed at bringing long-term solvency to the financially strapped Postal Service. Some will argue that Bingaman should back the shuttering of all the rural post offices in the name of cutting out waste , but those post offices are quite important to rural New Mexicans. Jeff came down on their side. He may be accused of being hypocritical, but those critics didn't vote for him--all those users of rural post offices did. ACTION, ACTION, ACTION  Back on the campaign trail now and it's getting more cluttered by the hour... Dem State Rep. Bill O’Neill has received the endorsement of State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino and ABQ City Councilor Debbie O’Malley in his campaign to replace retiring Senator Dede Feldman in Senate District 13.... ABQ GOP State Rep, Larry Larranga endorses Mark Moores in that hard fought ABQ GOP NE Heights primary. It features Moores and attorney and State Racing Commission Chairman Robert Doughty. Nancy Cooper is also seeking the GOP nod. GOP Sen. Kent Cravens, who held the seat until he resigned to take a job with oil and gas, has also endorsed Moores. We're saying goodbye to a whole bunch of legislators who have announced their retirements this cycle. They include longtime ABQ Dem State Rep. Danice Picraux who gets this send-off from the Alibi....Steve Cabiedes, campaign manager for Cara Valente-Compton who is challenging Dem State Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton in the ABQ SE Heights district, told us he has in the past worked for Republicans, but is about as conservative as Jerry Oritz y Pino--a leading NM liberal But Michale Corwin of Independent Source PAC which attacked Cabiedes in a flyer, gets a final dig in: What is most troubling about Steve Cabiedes work with Republicans was his serving as a plaintiff in a Republican voter suppression lawsuit that accused Democratic leaning groups helping minorities to register to vote of "widespread fraud." Cabiedes has yet to repudiate his role in that lawsuit. He should.... Okay, we're going to get Michael and Steve together and settle this thing with a poker match. The winner gets a free lunch from NM GOP Chairman Monty Newman. There are always some hopeless causes to talk about in the election season. Take a look at this well-intentioned missive from Bernalillo County Dem Party Chair Ana Canales: The Democratic Party of Bernalillo County denounces any kind of negative attacks on your fellow Democrats whether it comes from your campaigns or any PAC. The County Party has been very clear that negative campaigning of any kind will not be tolerated. Unfortunately, it continues. With the June 5 Primary getting closer and tension building, do not resort to fighting against your Democratic opponent but save this for your Republican opponent. Keep trying, Ana, you're still young. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's political community? Advertise here. Email us for details. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012Not for reproduction without permission of the author Friday, May 11, 2012Friday Clips: Heather's Cool Poster, Pundits Rank Senate Contest, A Consultant In Crosshairs, Hammering Hanna And How The Wheel Turns This is a pretty cool poster from GOP US Senate candidate Heather Wilson celebrating this year's 100th anniversary of statehood (click to enlarge). Regardless of what happens to her in this year's election, the poster looks like one you could see your great-grandchildren enjoying.Wilson's campaign says: 100 years ago, New Mexico joined the Union. I wanted to commemorate this special milestone with a unique poster. And you have the opportunity to have one. I only had 100 of these printed up so the next 100 people to donate $100 dollars will receive one. I’m going to number it, sign it and ship it to you. It's our Centennial, and we're making history! There really are only 100 and when they are gone, they're gone! It's interesting that Heather stresses that there are indeed only 100 of the posters. She must realize how little politicians of all stripes are trusted these days. Now on to the latest US Senate punditry... The Hill in DC joins us in ranking the likely US Senate match this year between Dem Martin Heinrich and Heather Wilson as "lean Dem." The two have had primaries that have so far produced no news and done nothing to change the outlook for the Fall campaign. And noted political forecaster Larry Sabato of the University of Virgina now also joins us in labeling the Senate race here as lean Dem--a switch for him: There is one toss-up we’re now comfortable moving: We now favor the Democrats in New Mexico’s Senate race. The reason has little to do with the two likely big party nominees: Rep. Martin Heinrich (D) and ex-Rep. Heather Wilson (R). It does have to do with the fact that New Mexico looks to be squarely in Barack Obama’s camp in November, and we don’t see a huge crossover vote boosting the Republican Wilson. Obviously, if Romney opens up a lead in the presidential race, and if New Mexico becomes competitive, we’ll have to revisit this rating. But, for now, this race leans Dem. LEGISLATIVE ACTION Now lets take it out to the legislative campaign trail...It was the consultant, not the candidate, who was the focus of an attack launched by the super PAC Independent Source Watch this past week, The PAC's flyer (posted on their web site) attacking consultant Steve Cabiedes garnered front-page attention. He is working for Dem Cara Valente-Compton who is challenging sometimes controversial ABQ State Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton who is the House Majority Whip. The PAC pointed out that Cabiedes has in the past consulted for Republicans and said it shows that Valente-Compton is a puppet for GOP interests. Cabiedes, who has long been a contributor to our KANW 89.1 FM election coverage, is a longtime supporter of the Green Party and says he shares little philosophically with the GOP. "I'm just making a living," he told us. He added: "I'm about as Republican as Jerry Ortiz y Pino," a reference to one of the Legislature's most liberal members. The SuperPAC is financed mainly with contributions from the Communications Worker of America. By the way, Cabiedes will joining our other veteran analysts again this year as we broadcast primary election results beginning at 6:30 p.m June 5 on 89.1 FM and streamed live from the KANW web site. HAMMERING HANNA It looks as if the effectiveness of state Public Education Secretary Hanna Skandera is plummeting. She hasn't made many influential friends in the Legislature and the teachers' unions are after her scalp. She was just given a vote of "no confidence by the ABQ Teachers Federation. Skandera has been an agent of change, never easy when dealing with the hot button education issue here. The state ranks near the bottom and fighting over why gets as rough as a Lobo-Aggie football game. Martinez has been in the center on funding for the public schools--advocating continued small increases during tough budget times, but major education reform has eluded her. If she sees that Skandera has lost her power of persuasion, she may want to look at moving her elsewhere and putting a new face in the high-profile education chair. NOT GOING GAY Reader David Stocum, executive director of the New Mexico GLBTQ Centers, says we were off base with one of our headlines Thursday: Thank you for the good look at the New Mexico spin on President Obama’s support of marriage equality. I do find the headline on the story somewhat offensive, “going gay” and similar phrases are often used in negative and degrading ways. No one “goes gay” since sexual orientation is not a choice. THE WHEEL TURNS  Despite being on the outside, Foley still sends an occasional zinger our way. Most recently he opined that we know nothing about the Legislature. Well, for sure there are folks who have forgotten more than we know about the Roundhouse. But political fame fades fast, as Dan has discovered, and so it will for the many legislators departing Santa Fe this year. The wheel turns and a new cast of characters join the never-ending play of La Politica. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Thanks for stopping by this week and for making us the state's #1 political web site. Reporting from Albuquerque, I'm Joe Monahan E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's political community? Advertise here. Email us for details. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012Not for reproduction without permission of the author. Thursday, May 10, 2012Showdown In Clovis: Guv Backed Senate Contender Behind In Early Polling In Premier GOP Battle; We've Got The Scoop, Plus: Obama Gay Marriage Bombshell; State Impact
Woods Vs. Spears
  It's shaping up as the most critical state senate primary in the 2012 cycle and if the early going is any indication, Governor Martinez and her political team are going to have to step on the gas if they are to avoid a major embarrassment. According to insider polling we've obtained rancher Pat Woods leads Governor-backed Angie Spears 44%-33% in the early going in this Republican Senate primary that has caused a political firestorm on the east side and whose flames are now being watched statewide. The polling is from one night's worth of phone calls, but makes clear that the meddling of the Governor and her political adviser Jay McCleskey has already caused a major breach among east side Republicans. It all started when GOP State Senator Clint Harden decided not to seek re-election and word went out that he was forced out by the Guv's team. It's a story that the Clovis News-Journal was on this week like white on rice: (GOP State Senator Clint) Harden said (Clovis area) District Attorney Matt Chandler called him two days before the legislative session ended. Harden said Chandler told him he was planning to endorse Republican Angie Spears, a clinical director for TeamBuilders Counseling in Clovis, in the 2012 race for Harden's Senate seat. Harden said Chandler also told him a conference call had taken place involving Chandler, Gov. Martinez, Spears, Public Regulation Commission Chair Pat Lyons and former state Rep. Brian Moore, and all had agreed to endorse Spears. Chandler and the others alleged to have been on the conference call all on Tuesday denied such a call ever took place. Woods is now apparently going to be subjected to the scorched earth policy of McCleskey and company. Jay heads the SusanaPAC as well as playing a major role in the day-to-day affairs of this Governor. Our insiders report political operatives have been making inquires about Woods at the Curry County assessor's office, a sure sign that they are looking for dirt on Woods who is the first major Republican candidate to take on the Guv and McCleskey since she took office. And that's what makes this a contest with statewide ramifications. If Woods manages to prevail, he will weaken Martinez and McCleskey who now have an iron grip on the GOP, a grip that a number of veteran GOP legislators are known to be chafing under. Spears, 38, a niece of Pat Lyons and related to DA Chandler through Chandler's wife, is seen as being more compliant with the Guv's agenda than Woods, but in reality there would be little difference in their Senate votes. Both candidates are expected to be well-financed for the final crucial weeks of this banner contest. Angie might be viewed as a Susana puppet, but she's no lightweight. She is a native of Tucumcari, a mother of four and clinical director for TeamBuilders Counseling Services, a nonprofit children's mental health agency. If the race is already framed in voters' minds as a choice between a homegrown candidate and one being imposed on them from the outside, Woods, 62, could win in a walk. And even if Woods loses, Martinez's standing with east side Republicans is bound to take a beating. We know Martinez knows how to make war, before this one is over we may find out of she knows how to make the peace. GOING GAY  President Obama's bombshell announcement that he now supports gay marriage will harden opposition against him among social conservatives in southern New Mexico, but create more enthusiasm for him in the urban center of ABQ. Conservative Democratic Catholics--especially up north--will be displeased with the Prez, but this is not going to be a make or break issue for him here.Both Dem NM US Senate candidates and all three ABQ Dem congressional candidates supported gay marriage before Obama made his switch. (By the way, Balderas beat Heinrich out of the gate on this one). Statewide support for gay marriage was at 45% in a December 2011 PPP poll. There still has never been an openly gay male elected to the New Mexico Legislature but that could change if Jacob Candelaria wins the Dem nomination for the ABQ west side Senate seat being vacated by Senator Bernadette Sanchez. He is opposed by Carlos Villanueva. No Republican is running. For those who grew up in the 60's and 70's and before, the President's announcement was a demarcation line between the generations. Such an announcement was unthinkable back then, but polls show younger citizens are overwhelmingly in favor. Soon it will be their country and Obama is ratifying that future today. Still, this action by the Prez qualifies as political bravery. He is going to be hit hard. SANDEROFF SAYS  Veteran pollster Brian Sanderoff tells us he will do a poll of the major congressional primary contests for the ABQ Journal. He doesn't release when he will do the survey but a good bet is at or toward the end of the month. He's been doing polling for the Journal since the 80's and is known for getting it right. He was recently asked about the role of Hispanics in the Dem primary:"In a Democratic primary, Hispanics play even a bigger role because most Hispanics register as Democrats, so they'll be up to 50 percent of the vote in a Democratic primary, and on the Republican side, they'll play a smaller role because fewer Hispanics register as Republicans," said Sanderoff. Sanderoff, head of Research & Polling, is also an analyst for KOAT-TV. TV news coverage of the primary is getting rolling. KRQE-TV's Katie Kim comes with this report on the hotly contested ABQ Dem congressional race and... Radio ads are hitting in that two way race for the GOP nomination for the northern Congressional seat held by Dem Congressman Ben Ray Lujan. Jefferson Byrd of Tucumcari is up with these two spots touting his conservative credentials. Rick Newton is the other candidate in the race. AVENGERS Reader James Meiers writes: I was just watching TV news about scenes from The Avengers that were shot at Albuquerque Studios. Given its stupefying success, do you think that this will be used to try and convince Gov. Martinez and others to reconsider their opposition to the film credits program here in New Mexico before all the movies go off to Louisiana and Michigan (especially with In Plain Sight and Breaking Bad wrapping up)? HOMETOWNING IT  Reader Jacob Trujillo weighs in on Congressman Martin Heinrich emphasizing in his latest TV ad for the Dem US Senate nod that he often spends weekends not in DC, but camping with his wife and kids:The theme that D.C. politicians no longer live in their home states has become more and more media powerful (as it has become, for a number of reasons, less meaningful). How times change. Years ago, before I left politics in California to go into academia, Rep. Philip Burton (Nancy Pelosi's predecessor) was the powerhouse congressman of San Francisco politics. For years, Phil had been registered to vote at the Townhouse, a motel on Market Street in San Francisco. I don't know whether Phil actually ever lived there, or even stayed there. The Townhouse, like the motel at the ABQ Winrock Mall, had once been respectable but had deteriorated as had the neighborhood around it. Still, even when it was little more than a flop house, Phil maintained that it was his voting residence. Although it may be apocryphal, the story goes that, in fact, Phil stayed registered to vote at the Townhouse for several years after it was torn down and made into a parking lot... Thanks for the reminisce, Jacob. Not only doesn't Heinrich live in DC, but he is one of the representatives who sleeps in his office and showers at the House gym. That was pretty much unheard of when we worked on the Hill in the early 80's, although there were plenty of congressmen who shared an apartment and whose refrigerators were stocked with cigars and beer and little else.. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's political community? Advertise here. Email us for details. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012Not for reproduction without permission of the author. Wednesday, May 09, 2012Big Names And Not So Big Out On The Campaign Trail, Plus: Alligator Strike On Steve Pearce, And: A Big Bull Market In One NM Corner
Judges Zamora & Hadfield
 Even the candidates without primary opposition are working the hustings. For example, two judges--Briana Zamora and Alisa Hadfield--are pictured here at a weekend event for the National Council of Negro Women (ABQ), even though neither Democrat has a rival in the June 5 primary. Now that's dedication. ABQ Metro Court Judge Zamora will face off with Republican Brett Loveless in November as she tries to win a seat on the District Court Bench. And Hadfield, a current district court judge who was appointed in 2010, must now run in a contested election to secure a six year term. She will face the winner of the GOP primary, either David Standridge or Sanford Siegel. Zamora, a UNM law school grad, is no stranger to La Politica. Her mom is ABQ State Senator Bernadette Sanchez who will retire from the Legislature at the end of the year. NO FIGHT HERE  There has been simply no contest when it comes to garnering Indian support in the Dem US Senate primary. Martin Heinrich is running the table, announcing this week that Zia Pueblo has endorsed his candidacy and joining this long list of pueblos backing him:The Pueblos of Isleta, Laguna, Ohkay Owingeh, Pojoaque, Santo Domingo and Taos, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, the Eastern Navajo Agency Council, Shiprock Chapter of the Navajo Nation, the Northern Navajo Agency Council, and former President of the National Congress of American Indians Joe A. Garcia. Heinrich says he has been attentive to Indian needs and they obviously agree. They are an important Dem constituency and also a considerable part of the work load of a United States Senator from New Mexico. MICHAEL SANCHEZ Do you think State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez is working to inoculate himself as SusanaPAC prepares to fire their cannons at him in the general election? Take a look: Senate Majority Leader Michael S. Sanchez (D-29-Valencia County) announced a $23.5 million grant from the state Public School Capital Outlay Council for the first of two construction phases to rebuild 75 percent of Los Lunas High School. Sanchez faces no opposition in the June 5 primary, but Valencia County GOP State Rep. David Chavez has been recruited by Guv political adviser Jay McCleskey--who runs SusanaPAC--to take on Sanchez in November. The PAC is expected to dump thousands of dollars into Chavez's campaign. The race does not seem winnable to most observers, as Chavez is a deeply flawed candidate. For example, he said he was getting out of the state House because his law business was hurting. He then almost immediately turned around and announced he would run for the Senate. But there is a deep personal animosity between Sanchez and the Governor. This race appears to be more about that than strategic political thinking. ALLIGATOR STRIKE  Joe, This appears on the Pearce Facebook page. "Steve Pearce was born in 1947 to a large working-class family. He was raised in Hobbs, New Mexico, where his father worked as a roustabout, selling vegetables on the side of the road to make ends meet. With six children to feed, times were often hard in the Pearce household." This does not seem to mesh with the facts. His father, Mr. Melvin Pearce had a good job with the Humble Oil & Refining Company/Exxon as Technician where he worked until his retirement in 1984. Here is an excerpt from the obituary of Congressman Pearce's father--Melvin Marcus Pearce-- published September 3, 2008: ...In 1951 (Melvin Pearce) began working for Humble Oil & Refining Company/Exxon as an Instrument Technician where he worked until his retirement in 1984. He enjoyed hunting coyotes and fishing trips to the Delaware River near Loving, N.M., where he often took his children to build good relations. Outfitted with fishing poles, ham, eggs, potatoes, pork and beans and an iron skillet, he headed for the river for a couple of days of fun and feasting. His children count these times as among the fondest memories of their childhood.... I believe Mr. Pearce is exaggerating his so-called poverty to get the Hispanic vote. Now that's what you call a first-class Gator strike. Pearce faces no opposition this year in the GOP primary. His Dem general election opponent is Evelyn Madrid-Erhard of Las Cruces. THE ECON BEAT  Much of New Mexico's economy may be growing at a snail's pace, but not all of it. Get a load of this--they think a housing bubble could be forming in Carlsbad--of all places:Carlsbad’s building boom has some in the city of 26,000 describing it as a real estate bubble. For the past four years, Carlsbad experienced unprecedented job growth as the oil/gas and potash industries have kept unemployment below 5 percent and driven the city’s median wage to more than $50,000. This attracted developers from Las Cruces, Texas and Arizona, who are building multifamily apartments and residential subdivisions as quickly as they can to house the infusion of workers. We've blogged of a reduced work force at WIPP--the federal low-level nuclear waste disposal site near Carlsbad--due to budget cuts. But the oil boom is more than making up for it. And Hobbs is also hitting on all cylinders in the SE corner. The AP comes with this: A scientific ghost town in the heart of southeastern New Mexico oil and gas country will hum with the latest next-generation technology--but no people. A $1 billion city without residents will be developed in Lea County near Hobbs, officials said, to help researchers test everything from intelligent traffic systems and next-generation wireless networks to automated washing machines and self-flushing toilets. Hobbs Mayor Sam Cobb said the unique research facility that looks like an empty city will be a key for diversifying the economy of the nearby community, which after the oil bust of the 1980s saw bumper stickers asking the last person to leave to turn out the lights. Some 350 permanent jobs are expected for already booming Lea County because of this deal. We're told ABQ Mayor RJ Berry was quite taken with Oklahoma City when he visited there and modeled some of his ABQ The Plan after that city's efforts, but we think he might be best advised to pick up the phone and call Mayor Cobb down there in Hobbs to see how things get done. AROUND OUR TOWN  It's a hole in the wall with red vinyl booths, but a killer diner menu served inside or at the old-fashioned drive-in spaces. We opted one afternoon for a Denver omelet with toast and were surprised by the size--like a large pancake--and the price--under seven bucks. You're going to pay near ten at that chain diner down the road. They didn't get squeamish on the ingredients, either, filling that delight with chunks of ham, bell peppers and onion and lacing it with a generous portion of cheddar. We finished our repast, asking ourselves why more places can't do this. (They also have something call the Disaster Burrito which we will leave to more adventurous souls). No wonder whether it's recession or boom, Hurricane's hangs around. It's nothing fancy, but neither are the times in which we live. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's political community? Advertise here. Email us for details. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012Not for reproduction without permission of the author. Tuesday, May 08, 2012Heinrich Says He Has No DC Disease; A Look At His New Ads, Plus: Heather Blames Dems For Lab Cuts, But R's Join In, And: It's Opening Day For Primary 2012
Martin Heinrich
 In their latest TV ad the Heinrich campaign brags of how he is home in New Mexico almost every weekend, meeting with constituents or camping with "Julie and their boys." They also get in the now mandatory Dem line about protecting Social Security and Medicare. Heinrich concludes his ad by declaring that, "Our problems won't be solved by the powers that be in Washington, but by the hard working people of New Mexico." A couple of things. What camping in the wild has to do with doing a better job as a United States Senator is left to the viewer's imagination because it certainly isn't evident. One supposes it shows he isn't partying it up on the weekends in DC, but the producers might be more clever when they position Heinrich as a family man. This time it seems somewhat out of context. Second, it is the failure of the "powers that be" in Washington to solve critical national problems that has them in such low self-esteem. The "hard working citizens" of New Mexico have made their views known and it is up to our elected representatives to get the job done. We can't "solve" anything. That's what we pay Heinrich and his colleagues to do. It may be fashionable--even politically essential--to run away from Washington this election year. But saying the voters have the answers is like telling the mechanic not to worry about fixing the car---the passengers will do it. SE HABLA ESPANOL Heinrich also comes this week with a Spanish language radio ad. In it he highlights jobs, the minimum wage and...you guessed it...Social Security and Medicare. Heinrich's staff says he doesn't speak Spanish with fluency but he managed to get off this line in his flat, Midwestern accent: Martin Heinrich: I’m Martin Heinrich, candidate for Senate, and I approved this message. Martin Heinrich: Yo soy Martin Heinrich, candidato para el Senado, y apruebo este mensaje. Heinrich can't match the ethnic bona fides of Balderas, a Hispanic native from Wagon Mound, but Heinrich will get credit in a number of precincts for not ignoring the language that is spoken daily by as much as a third of the state. STEP ON IT, HEATHER We get this assessment from the DC Hotline on the forthcoming NM US Senate race. It mirrors our own--soon-to-be GOP nominee Heather Wilson needs everything to go just right:Speaking of needing to run a perfect race, that's what former GOP Rep. Heather Wilson has to do. Wilson has to win over Hispanic voters, who make up a huge percentage of the state's electorate, and moderates in her old Albuquerque district, no easy feat when Democratic rival Rep. Martin Heinrich represents the same area. Heinrich faces a primary from state Auditor Hector Balderas, but he's the heavy favorite. Still, the National Republican Senatorial Committee sees an opportunity here—they've already reserved millions in television time for the Fall. HEATHER ON THE HOOK? Heather pounds the Obama administration and the Dems for the big budget cutbacks that struck Los Alamos Labs this year, resulting in hundreds of lost jobs. But it looks like she has some 'splanin to do: A key group of House Republicans signaled their support for the Obama administration’s decision to eliminate funding for a multi-billion dollar new plutonium laboratory at Los Alamos, suggesting the possibility of bipartisan agreement on the controversial move. Some Republicans in Congress have objected loudly to the administration’s decision to indefinitely defer work on the project. But the (Republican-controlled) committee with jurisdiction over the nuclear weapons budget...endorsed the administration’s proposal. So is Heather going to publicly break with those Rs who support Obama's Los Alamos plan? Her far-right opponent for the GOP nomination--Greg Sowards and his anti-government brigade-- would shed no tears if the entire Federal government here was shuttered. Heather still quivers at the possibility of a late Sowards surge. Yes, that's how crazy it has gotten in a large swath of the NM GOP. Poor Heather. As she wrestles in the final month of this primary with how not to alienate the wing nuts populating her party, she reminds you of a nurse in a mental ward who has to play cards with the patients and pretend everyone is normal. (By the way, the DC hands are reporting that the budget shaping up for 2013 looks pretty fair for Sandia but no so for Los Alamos labs where continued cuts are expected.) GARY'S VEEP Reader Greg Lennes writes from Las Cruces after hearing that former NM Governor Gary Johnson will be the Libertarian Party's 2012 presidential nominee:Nobody mentions the VP candidate for the Libertarian Party. He is former Judge James “Jim” Gray of California. Johnson handpicked Judge Gray, a prominent advocate of marijuana legalization. A Johnson staffer said: this selection “puts pot front and center in the campaign.” I guess the economy is not so important! “I was a drug warrior until I saw what was happening in my own courtroom,” Judge Gray said in 2010. And speaking of drug legalization, reader Jim McClure recently chimed in: Joe, I liked your piece about the proposal to legalize marijuana in Washington state. Legalizing drugs could give New Mexico an economic boost. After all, the industry already is flourishing here and needs no incentives from the state. A marijuana tax is bound to be more popular than a tortilla tax. And there's a kind of poetic justice in using tax revenues from school dropouts to support education. I'm just saying... We heartily disagree, Jim, but you may win this one when we are in the blogger retirement home. WE CAN'T WAIT  Joe, early childhood education is a great start, however, we can't wait 15 years to infuse the workforce with qualified workers. It would behoove the powers that be to get over the one size fits all educational philosophy and start funneling students into career paths they would like to go into instead of pointing everyone toward a college prep curriculum and having 40% of the kids drop out. Magnet schools and trade schools are so needed right now in NM. It's not discrimination and it's not tracking. It's realizing that people are different and have different interests. Forcing all students into college prep mode is a form of discrimination. Those who don't fit the mold have historically been denied the training to become successful in a field of their choice. There is nothing that breaks my heart more than seeing a student be the first person in their family to graduate from high school and then have to work at Burger King because they can't do anything else and they don't want to go on to college. Alicia, we haven't heard anyone say it better. Someone send that one to Susana. PETE AT 80 We forgot to mention that Monday was the 80th birthday of legendary US Senator Pete Domenici. He's had his health battles but is still out and about and debating public policy at the Bipartisan Policy Center in DC. Hey, Pete, do you think you could come back to the Senate for a couple of months and tap a billion or two from the federal budget for us? We sure could use it. YOU CAN VOTE NOW Today is the first day of voting in Primary Election 2012. Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver informs: Early Voting will begin on Tuesday, May 8 at the Clerk’s Annex My Vote Center, 620 Lomas Boulevard, NW from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. This location will be open from 8:00 am to 8:00 pm Monday through Saturday, June 2. We have also been accepting applications for Absentee Ballots and the mailing will begin today as well. Voters have until today at 5 p.m. to register to vote to participate in the Primary Election on June 5. Please visit the Clerk’s Office at One Civic Plaza, NW, 6th floor or state services offices such as the Motor Vehicle Division to complete the form. And the first one to say, "Vote early and vote often" gets ten lashes with a wet noodle. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's political community? Advertise here. Email us for details. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012Not for reproduction without permission of the author. |
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