Our wrap on the '25 state legislative session was bumped earlier this week because of our coverage of the mass shooting in Las Cruces. Here's that report.

It was finally a legislative session steeped more in the everyday realities of the state.

The behavioral health bill, the tax code revision that eliminated the state income tax for minimum wage workers and beefier oversight for the troubled CYFD all address deep-seated ailments. The outlier was crime legislation where only relatively minor bills passed.

The behavioral health revamp has been delayed ever since it was wrecked by false allegations of fraud from Gov. Martinez. The approved bill--after a too long delay--begins to put the state back in the game as drug and alcohol addiction, suicides, domestic abuse, homelessness and crime continue at high rates. The bill was a bipartisan recognition of the crisis.

At the start of the session House Speaker Martinez pledged a cut to state income taxes for those on the lower rungs, accurately reading the results of the November election and also seeing the unfairness of billions of dollars piling up with taxes still being needlessly collected on over 100,000 New Mexicans. The bill could have gone much further by broadening the cuts with little fear of the state running out of money. But the compromise does move the state toward more tax relief in a time of massive oil surpluses and the rising cost of living.

An outright elimination of the personal income tax for households and individuals making less than $45,000 a year would give better definition to the party's message as well as reconcile the state's immense reserve funds--now $62 billion and growing--with a declining or stagnant standard of living for a large swath of the state's workforce.

The Legislature could have taken the wrecking ball to the troubled Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) but the political will was not there. Instead they passed a long-sought Child Advocate bill that will provide more oversight of the agency scandalized by horrific child abuse cases and incompetence. The Advocate, placed in the AG's office, will only see the results of the department's mistakes. Avoiding them will take more work to change the CYFD culture. (The Governor was none too happy about the encroachment on the executive branch but did sign the bill.)

OTHER ACTION

On the political front, there was the surprising approval of the open primaries bill that will permit 330,000 independent voters to participate in primary elections conducted by the Democrats and Republicans. When it comes to voting, the more the merrier. This change could generate more interest in state governance. Shout out to former state Rep. Bob Perls who labored for years to get it across the finish line

A major reform of the state's Game and Fish Department (soon to be the the Department of Wildlife) made it to the Governor. Proponents said they could live with her veto of a provision dealing with appointment of Game and Fish commissioners because of the other major changes approved.  

NOTABLE DEFEAT

A notable defeat of the session was the paid family and medical leave bill that was a bridge too far for moderate lawmakers. Everyone thought the defeat of several moderate House Democrats at last year's election would finally pave the way for the measure. It as a small but needed win for the small business community. A satisfactory solution has been found in other states so it's back to the drawing board to find one that fits here. 

DEFICIENCY ADDRESSED

One deficiency that has been more than fully addressed in this and other recent sessions is early childhood funding. Now the onus is on state government to see that money effectively deployed and demonstrable progress achieved. You could say the same about the planned rejuvenation of behavioral health. 

CRIME BILLS AND CRUCES

For those rejecting the session as a failure because it did not produce major breakthroughs on crime bills, keep in mind that addressing the holes in behavioral health and early childhood needs is fighting crime. 

And it's not all about repeat offenders. It's also about interrupting the creation of new criminals. The abhorrent murder by automobile of an ABQ bicyclist allegedly by three youngsters--one only 11--and the mass shooting at a public park in Las Cruces Friday night that claimed the lives of three and wounded many more is a bleak reminder of that. 

The Governor said in the aftermath of the Las Cruces shootings the Legislature "should expect" another special legislative session focused on crime. The one she called last year ended in failure. She declared:

The reluctance to have even one productive debate on reducing juvenile crime is shameful,When New Mexicans are demanding action, and we're seeing tragedies like what happened in Las Cruces, policy makers must respond with urgency and resolve.” 

Legislative leaders Wirth and Martinez disagreed with MLG's call for yet another special session, with Wirth indicating that unless legislation was agreed to before such a session, it will again end in failure. 

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Garcia Richard

The spring winds are kicking up and the legislative session is over, reliable signs encouraging next year's political hopefuls to come out of hibernation. 

The latest to emerge is State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard who announced for the '26 Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor and made no secret that she sees the office as a stepping stone to becoming Governor:

I do have designs on (being) governor some day, but right now it seems the best path forward for me, and the next logical step, would be as lieutenant governor.

Unfortunately for her, the office of lieutenant governor has been a hindrance to winning the top job.

In the 1990's under Gov. Bruce King, it was Lt. Gov. Casey Luna trying and failing to become Governor. He was followed by Republican Lt. Gov. Walter Bradely under Gov. Gary Johnson. He also failed to win his party's nomination for governor.

In this century Lt. Governor Diane Denish under Gov. Bill Richardson sought the Dem Guv nod and won  but lost that 2010 election to Republican Susana Martinez. 

Under Gov. Martinez, Lt. Gov, John Sanchez did not try to succeed her but in 2012 he did briefly run for an open US Senate seat only to lose.

Before Garcia Richard is inhibited by that history, she must first win the office that has proved so luckless to those with higher ambitions.

Her candidacy may have been better off if Sen. Martin Heinrich had decided to go for Governor. Garcia Richard would have balanced the ticket by gender and ethnicity.

That would also be the case if BernCo District Attorney Sam Bregman, who is busy making plans to run for Governor, captures the Dem nomination. But the front-runner for the '26 nomination is former Sec. of Interior Deb Haaland who, like Garcia Richard, is a woman of color. Haaland and Garcia Richard would be two very woke progressives running together.

For now, Garcia Richard remains the sole candidate for the #2 spot. After two successful statewide elections for Land Commissioner, her chances of victory seem reasonable. 

OTHER NAMES

Former Las Cruces Mayor Ken Miyagishima says he is looking at running for Governor but he might want to take a look at lieutenant governor since he would provide a good balance for either Haaland or Bregman. (Mostly for Haaland since Miyagishima leans to the moderate side like Bregman.)

As for Howie Morales, the current Lt. Governor, he is not expected to seek the governorship but as we reported in February he is hoping to become the next president of Western New Mexico University. 

Maybe someday Howie could run for Governor from that position. History says his chances would be better making a bid from there than as lieutenant governor.

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A lot of feedback on our Monday blog exploring that mass shooting in Las Cruces Friday where three young men were killed and 15 other people suffered gunshot wounds. Here's a special edition of Reader Vox Populi. . .

John Ortega, mayor of the Village of Questa in northern New Mexico, writes of police understaffing issues that the Las Cruces police chief said played a part in that shooting spree:

Joe, My first priority after being elected in 2022 was to bring back the Questa Police Department, that my predecessor let go of. It took a year to hire a Chief and four officers, but we were able to do it. Even at only five officers in Questa, it has been a struggle to maintain that staffing level. I would venture to say that there a very few if any Law Enforcement agencies in the state that are not struggling with staffing. We are all always in a bidding war to see who can pay a higher wage to keep our certified officers and attract others as well. Questa is a small municipality, but a Chief and five officers is still not enough with the crime that is going on. We do not have the budget in our small municipality to hire additional officers. I would love to have additional officers and the means to pay them to stay long term and I believe all Mayors in the state feel the same way, it's just been extremely difficult. 

Michael Hays of Las Cruces writes: 

Joe, LCPD Chief Story is whining. Many police departments are understaffed. At the same time, they have data which shows “hot spots." The problem of understaffing is addressed by the prioritization in the allocation of resources. I am sure that the LCPD and Story know that Young Park is one “hot spot.” He should have had one or two police cars present at or cruising around Young Park and able to call in additional cars if needed. The LCPD needs a leader who understands how to manage the personnel and technical  resources available. 

State Senator and Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces writes:  

Critics have misrepresented what I've said about crime. I've never said crime is an Albuquerque only issue. What I've actually said is Albuquerque crime requires Albuquerque solutions. And requires leadership there. I've met repeatedly with Las Cruces Chief Story and he now gets it after being used as a prop in the past. His candor should be praised and is a step in the right direction toward real progress. To his credit Chief Story attended the Governor's Town Hall, but then came to mine which followed. He now understands why the Legislature is not going to pass the unconstitutional laws touted by uninformed and short sighted critics. And he now understands the crime crisis is not the result of an absence of laws.  

I don't know of a single legislator from Albuquerque who has condemned the DWI corruption ring, which now extends beyond APD to BCSO and State Police. Probably the worst police corruption scandal since days of Al Capone ad Chicago.  

ABQ reader Ron Nelson writes: 

Joe, I’d like to see your research that backs up this statement that you made Monday

“ The people of New Mexico do not have "blatant disregard" for the rule of law and order. Over 99 percent of them obey the law each and every day.” 

Granted, there are many that don’t go out and commit serious crimes - but look at how many laws are broken by the drivers in this community, and get yourself a ring camera, and personally observe the petty larcenies that neighbors commit against each other

Larry Gioannini of Las Cruces writes:  

Joe, you did a good job of identifying the proximate causes of the tragic shooting and deaths in Las Cruces. But unmentioned was the root cause: Americans' uncritical acceptance of the universal availablility of firearms of all types, including military-style weapons, to the entire population. The context justifying the Second Amendment disappeared at least a hundred years ago. 

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Before the political bloodletting gets out of hand after the real blood spilled Friday night at a public park in Las Cruces that left 3 young people dead and numerous others wounded, let's focus on the most salient fact of the mass shooting being ignored by the Governor and most state lawmakers. 

Here it is as relayed by Las Cruces Chief of Police Chief Jeremy Story at a Saturday news conference:

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The Roundhouse a comforting cocoon for the 112 lawmakers replete with fawning staffers, lobbyists and citizens kissing up to them as their favorite legislation hangs in the balance. 

But outside of that comfort zone fresh polling shows a political storm rages over governance of New Mexico as well as the nation, results that should shrink those oversized egos that grow with the nourishment provided within the Roundhouse bubble.

The latest polling reveals much more public skepticism of Santa Fe's political actors than years past. The Garrity Perception Survey, conducted during the current legislative session (Feb. 3-16) by state polling firm Research and Polling, shows only 19 percent of the public "trust" state government officials

From Tom Garrity, whose PR firm commissions the annual survey: 

The findings show that trust of state and federal government officials is at a record low and distrust is at an all-time high. Only 17 percent of New Mexico residents trust federal government officials and 19 percent trust state government officials. Trust in Federal government has been low since the inaugural 2011 survey, ranging from 14 percent in 2013 to 29 percent in 2020. The current sentiment about the federal government (17 percent trust) is likely driven by the fallout from the presidential leadership transition, DOGE and mass layoffs at federal agencies. The percentage of residents who distrust state government has risen from 35% in 2020 to 51% currently. The impacts of the legislative session may be a reason why residents feel this way.

The marked decline in trust in state government leaders since 2020 comes in the aftermath of the lengthy COVID shutdown, a continued rise in crime and homelessness, sensational child abuse cases, disappointment in the performance of public schools and a significant escalation in the the cost of living.

More recently the legislature and governor have taken hits over their inability to craft legislation to address violent and juvenile crime.

ANOTHER REASON

The low trust in both state and federal government officials is a sign of the times but for state government to be hitting such lows absent any major scandal and a Governor who is off her peak approval ratings but not dramatically, is a bit surprising.

There could be another reason for the crash in trust in Santa Fe. Garrity says:

Knowing that government is the largest employer in the state, it was surprising that 51 percent of residents feel that government is trying to do too many things.

Doing too many things and not doing enough of them right. 

Now those fawning staffers and lobbyists will need to double down on their stroking of lawmakers as they prepare them for a return to the real world after 60 days in the comfort zone.

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The Roundhouse Twirl (Moore, Journal)

About the 2025 legislative session set to close the books Saturday. . .

That bill legalizing medical psilocybin passed the Senate and late yesterday the House did the same. The hallucinogenic is touted as a breakthrough therapy for depression but we remember it from the 70's as a sister to LSD, taken mostly to evoke kaleidoscopic images while listening to Bob Dylan lyrics or something.

Besides being unnecessary when there are already many legal pharmaceuticals available to treat depression, look at the past mismanagement of the state's medical marijuana program and now the bureaucratic bungling of legalized pot. The bill's sponsors say, don't worry, only limited use of psilocybin will be allowed. Okay, but the bottom line and our decidedly minority opinion is this: the last thing this drug-riddled state needs is more mind-altering drugs.

The bill establishing a Child Advocate to oversee the troubled Children, Youth and Families Department has been mostly de-fanged by lawmakers but a milquetoast version has reached the Governor who has been adamantly opposed to the measure but did support a late amendment. Clearly, she should sign it after erroneously claiming the bill is aimed at her and not at fixing CYFD. Sign the bill, Guv. It's not personal--just business. 

Whatever happened to those sweeping bills that would give legislators full-time salaries and have the legislature meet year round? Nothing. Thankfully. (With apologies to Santa Fe legal mastermind Cliff Rees.)

Are they going to raise the royalty rate on oil pumped out of state lands from 20 to 25 percent to match the rate in Texas? Here's the broken record on that deal: Raising taxes on anything in this environment of economic challenges and immense surpluses should be a nonstarter--even for an industry as dreaded as oil is by the far left. 

Missed at this session: For the umpteenth year in a row no legislator got up on the floor of either chamber and gave a rousing speech about the state's poor national rankings in education performance, violent crime rates, drug addiction etc. Local Chambers of Commerce are popping the prosecco in celebration. (Can Senate Leader Wirth let us do that speech and we promise to leave right after?)

Not missed at this session: Abortion arguments. Finally, they're over. 

During the session there were no drunk driving arrests of legislators, no fights in bar parking lots and no senators introducing their out-of-wedlock child whose mother is a legislative staffer. In other words there was no scandal du jour in the 60 day session. Well, there's still a few days for someone to go off the rails. If not, we'll have to relive memories of Senator Pirtle.

FRED'S BENCH  

Here's a memorial that legendary New Mexican and former US Senator Fred Harris, who died last year at 94, would appreciate. His friend Al Stotts does the honors:

Friends of former U.S. Senator Fred Harris of Corrales have created a unique memorial to him at the Barelas Coffee House in Albuquerque's South Valley. It is a Spanish Colonial style banco crafted by Rik Gonzales, Edward Lujan, Juanito Jimenez and Ted Martinez. Lujan, Jimenez and Martinez studied Spanish Colonial arts at El Rito with Gonzales. 

The plate on the back of the bench reads: 

In memory of Fred Harris -- Senator, Professor and Friend of the people. 

The plaque with Fred's photo explains that Fred met regularly at the restaurant with friends who called themselves the Barelas Athletic Club. Barelas Coffee House owner Mike Gonzales took a political science course with Fred in 1978 and welcomed the idea of the memorial at his business. 

It really is time for a stop at Barelas. Once the wind dies down, we'll have to get Sen. Campos and Valley politico Dan Serrano to join us for lunch and a look at Fred's Bench (and not because they usually pick up the tab.)

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Job losses at Los Alamos Labs? Isn't that sacrosanct territory, especially for a Republican administration?

We and others have dismissed the possibility of widespread budget cuts under Trump for the state's nuclear outposts--Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs--and that probably will hold true. But the NYT now reports that National Nuclear Security Administration employees have been paid off after their positions were targeted in cuts recommended by the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).

At Los Alamos the number of employees leaving is modest but does signal that under DOGE  nothing is off limits. That will keep the Labs on their tippy toes as they look out for any further cuts. From the NYT:

The field office that oversees the NNSA's laboratory in Los Alamos, N.M., where plutonium pits are made, lost nine staff members, according to the documents reviewed by The Times. Budgeted for 97 employees in the fiscal year ending last September, it is now operating with 76. Among those who left was the deputy facility operations manager, a top job. 

Terry C. Wallace Jr., who ran the laboratory in 2018, said that it carried out some of the agency’s most high-risk operations. The government is ultimately responsible both for ensuring the public’s safety and for authorizing work to proceed, he said.  He is “quite certain” that fewer government staff members “will have a negative impact on the operation,” he added. A spokeswoman for the Energy Department said in a statement, “N.N.S.A is committed to continuing its critical national security mission through the development, modernization and stewardship of America’s nuclear deterrent and nonproliferation and counterterrorism efforts.”

Employment levels have skyrocketed at Los Alamos in recent years as work continues on nuclear weapons modernization, so much so that the lab had to open up office space in nearby Santa Fe.

Senators Lujan and Heinrich are the state's DC watchdogs for the national labs' budgets. With this development, they have something to bark at.

VOTE FALLOUT

More on the vote that rocked the Roundhouse--the defeat in the Senate Finance Committee Saturday of the Paid Family and Medical Leave Act on an 8-3 vote. We blogged of the surprise yesterday. Today we get this from from a Senior Alligator at the capitol:

Joe HB 11 was dead from the start because local advocates became lobbyists for out of state special interest groups that go state by state passing the same template for the PFML. They wanted no changes and did not fight Senate Finance. 

House Speaker Javier Martinez had the bill cut in half, giving a victory to business by taking employee leave from 12 weeks to 6 weeks and providing free maternity leave of $9,000 per newborn.  That cash assistance was in lieu of a paycheck for either parent who had a job and who would have qualified for PFML. This would not have been overly expensive because it would not cover all 22,000 births per year. That is a different issue for a different session. The expense could have been covered by the huge growth in surplus revenue. This amended version of HB 11 passed the House on a vote of 38-31 and would have not gone into effect until 2028. Senate Finance Chair Muñoz was mistaken. This was not a bill “wanting it all" but a reasonable compromise. 

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Progressive Democrats spent major league dollars and countless campaign hours to defeat the conservative coalition in the state House in the June 2024 primary only to be ambushed by the resurrection of a coalition in the state senate Saturday. 

The surprise attack spelled the end of their cherished paid family and medical leave plan as it was firmly rejected by the Senate Finance Committee, led by unapologetic Chairman George Muñoz.

The stunning turn of events over (HB 11), which was defeated when the House was peppered with those now defeated conservative Democrats but approved by the Senate, finally sailed through the House this year. Then Saturday in Senate Finance sudden death struck on an 8 to 3 vote, leaving Roundhouse progressives grieving their loss, like this one:

Joe, we cut off the head of the snake in the House only to see it grow back in the Senate. The shock is like an earthquake in the middle of the night.

Indeed. Tremors were felt across La Politica:

Three Democrats who voted for the bill in past years voted against it Saturday: Sens. Pete Campos of Las Vegas, Benny Shendo of Jemez Pueblo and Roberto “Bobby” Gonzales of Ranchos de Taos.

Sen. Muñoz has long opposed the plan as have GOP committee members. With the new Dem votes they killed the bill and delivered a body blow to the dominant left wing of the Democratic party. 

The measure, always controversial, was complicated this time by progressive overreach. 

It included a new provision that would have the state give the family of every newborn a $9,000 cash payment estimated to cost nearly $200 million a year. The giveaway arose out of thin air like one of those Oklahoma tornadoes. 

While groundwork may have been laid for it in solid progressive states, it didn't sell in low-paying New Mexico where small businesses often struggle to make a profit. 

IRONY GALORE

There was irony galore as Dem Rep. Christine Chandler was the chief House sponsor. She hails from Los Alamos, not only the wealthiest county in the state but one of the richest in the the entire USA. The main employer is Los Alamos Labs with some of the highest salaries in the state and plenty of perks, including paid leave. 

TAX RESENTMENT

The small tax increase in the measure to finance up to six weeks of paid medical leave for employees (12 weeks for family leave) provided more ammo for the ambush squad.

Never mind that the increases were only a fraction of a percent. They were the equivalent of a kick in the you-know-what for employees and employers in the face of billions in oil surplus funds that Santa Fe is struggling to deploy effectively. 

It didn't help progressives that the '24 general election results revealed an emerging conservative streak among economically impacted voters, with Trump losing here by a respectable six percent.

Could it be that those handful of conservative House Dems taken out by the left at the '24 primary fell because of the red-hot abortion issue and not because of their economics? (Yes, it could.) 

UNCOMPROMISING PROGRESSIVES

Senator Muñoz

Senator Muñoz was confident enough to offer a compromise but the progressives would not deal. Appraising the battlefield in the aftermath, he declared: 

ABQ Mayor Tim Keller has officially announced his bid for an unprecedented third consecutive term, defending his leadership on crime and homelessness and asserting that the "turmoil from Washington" requires "an experienced fighter."

News release here. One minute video here. 

Keller said:

At City Hall, we are relentless problem solvers, tackling Albuquerque’s toughest challenges head-on every day. We hear your concerns about long-standing local issues, compounded by the turmoil from Washington, D.C. That’s why now, more than ever,  Albuquerque needs an experienced fighter who will protect its future—and that’s why I’m running for reelection.

The ongoing crime wave will be the central issue of the campaign leading up the November 4 election and Keller's campaign, while acknowledging the "challenges" the city still faces, contends that crime is on the wane:

When Mayor Keller took office, crime was rising across the board, and officers were leaving the force. Today, under his leadership, crime rates are declining, the police force is being rebuilt, and the department is nearly finished with DOJ-mandated reforms. Additionally, the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) Department has helped free up police resources, enabling faster emergency response. We remain committed to ensuring every street in our city is safe.

With that Keller set the city up for a spirited debate on whether crime is indeed coming down or remains as fierce as ever.  

On the other top public concern--homelessness--the campaign says:

When Mayor Keller took office, Albuquerque had no city permanent shelter beds for the unhoused. Last year, his administration delivered a breakthrough, opening the Gateway System, which shelters 1,000 people each night. Now, Mayor Keller is doubling down by expanding housing units to get even more people off the streets.

The Gateway is open but not near full capacity which sets up another contentious cross fire with his foes. They include former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and former Bernalillo County Economic Development Director Mayling Armijo with conservative radio talker Eddy Aragon saying he will run again but who has not yet made it official.

(Art by Peter St. Cyr)

Crime and homelessness will be the battlegrounds but Keller's leadership record in other areas is less controversial. His campaign calls that leadership "visionary.":

Seven years ago, there was no clear vision for Downtown, the Railyards, or expanding family-friendly activities. Today, that has changed. The CNM Railyards Media Academy is set to bring hundreds of students into the heart of our city every day. Downtown is experiencing a revival, with new restaurants, hotels, and vibrant developments. The Rail Trail will soon connect Albuquerque’s historic neighborhoods through a scenic pedestrian parkway that celebrates our city’s rich diversity. Meanwhile, Netflix continues to grow, employing thousands of local residents and solidifying Albuquerque’s place in the film industry.

The more those issues are discussed the better for Keller whose popularity has been submerged by a general decline in the quality of life in the city as crime and homelessness have become more commonplace.

His administration argues ABQ is part of a larger picture with those complex issues challenging not just ABQ but cities across the nation.

Keller's mention of the "turmoil" in DC plays into his hands as ABQ progressive Democrats may feel again compelled to go to the polls to protest the rule of Trump as they did during the President's first term during the mayoral election of 2017.

So far, Keller is the candidate in the race with the most appeal to the city's large progressive block and he listed notable progressives endorsing his candidacy in his announcement release.

Keller has opted for public financing. If he qualifies as he did in his first two runs, he will receive a hefty $756,000 in taxpayer money for the campaign. 

In addition, a PAC apart from that funding that will seek private donations to bolster his chances is expected to form as was the case in his first two runs. 

THE KELLER FILE

When first elected seven years ago Keller was the State Auditor and a former ABQ state senator about to turn 40. His boyish good looks, media charisma and political smarts enabled him to win in a landslide over City Councilor Dan Lewis.

Seeking re-election in 2021 and already dealing with the crime wave and homelessness, he still dominated, scoring a 56 percent win over his two opponents and avoiding a run-off election that would have been forced if he had not taken a majority of the vote.

Getting 50 percent this time and avoiding a run-off may be more complicated considering his weaker poll numbers and with perhaps more than three candidates qualifying for the ballot.

But there's no question Keller has dodged a bullet thus far by not drawing an opponent similar to the candidate he was in 2017, a relatively new face bursting with enthusiasm to take command of the city.

Keller, now 47, is a graduate of St Pius High and has an MBA from Harvard. His wife, Elizabeth Kisten Keller, holds a PhD and works in policy analysis at Los Alamos National Labs. They are raising two  young children. 

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Efforts to reform the state's medical malpractice system are going nowhere at the Roundhouse. Reformers are now hoping that they at least can get a bill that does away with what remains of the tax on medical services as they work to ease a severe shortage of doctors. Malpractice reform is falling victim to the sway of the powerful trial lawyers lobby. They're kind of like the powerful liquor lobby was back in the day. . .. 

Not that today's liquor lobby is toothless. The bill to increase the tax on booze as a means of combating the state's high death rate from alcohol related diseases also is not going anywhere this session. 

There's still a shot at getting outside oversight placed at the troubled Children, Families and Youth Department but it's a long one. The House approved HB5 that calls for placing a child advocate at the AG's office to oversee CYFD. It gets a hearing from the Senate Judiciary Committee today. The optimists are not out in force.

The campaign of Dem Guv candidate Deb Haland is cashing in on her high profile and reports raising $2 million in her first month on the trail. Could Dem Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman do the same if he gets in the race? Probably not but neither would he be in the poorhouse. Will he run? As of today, all systems are go, according to several of his close friends we spoke with. That more or less freezes the Guv race until he formally decides.

STOP TRUMP DERANGEMENT?

Let's dip into the reader mailbag for thoughts on issues of the day. 

Loyola Chastain comes with this missive on the legislature as well as President Trump:

Joe, I wanted to add my $.02 to the discussion of the Democrats childish, tantrum display at President Trump's address to Congress. I am sick of the Trump Derangement Syndrome (TDS) that has gripped half of our nation. If all the Democrats can do is act like petulant children, that party is doomed. 

Look at our own Legislature. They have all of this money from the oil and gas industry and they do nothing but put it in rainy day funds and refuse to improve our impoverished state. As you have stated many times, it is pouring in this state, however the legislature turns a blind eye to the many problems we face. 

I have grown up in this state and witnessed the good old boy politics that persists, where it is not what you know but who you know that wins the day and has kept New Mexico in the doldrums. New Mexicans have suffered greatly because our legislature refused to do anything to raise New Mexicans standard of living when they have had ample opportunity to do so. 

I have been tired of the "uni-party" we have in this country for a number of years. I find it doesn't matter who sits at the Resolute Desk, the Congress does nothing for American citizens. Again, this is why Trump was elected. 

I am no fan of Trump, however, I am a fan of America and I am hoping Trump is able to do something for the people. If he is unable to accomplish anything to improve the lives of the citizens, then it shows America is doomed to remain an oligarchical country. 

MELANIE'S SIGN

Reader Andre Larroque of Cedar Crest has thoughts on that viral moment at Trump's address to Congress that had ABQ Dem US Rep. Melanie Stansbury sporting a sign that read, "this is not normal.":

Congresswoman Stansbury was only stating the obvious with her tiny sign at the presidential address last week. ‘Normal’ would have been a presidential message to the nation fostering unity instead of partisan division. While the Dems in the audience holding manufactured signs seemed orchestrated in comparison to Melanie’s individual act, she got her point across in an effective manner. Having a sophomoric GOP represenative from Texas grab it from her hands and rip it to bits like a schoolyard bully helped amplify her message exponentially. That was not normal.

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Trump & Secretary Lutnick

The element of surprise is a hallmark of the Trump administration and they've pulled a big one when it comes to providing high speed broadband to rural residents here and nationally who are still waiting for a connection. 

The surprise could mean a major breakthrough in getting high speed internet deployed years sooner to the 140,000 "underserved locations" the Governor cited in 2024 when announcing the state's $675 million share of federal broadband funding.

The roll out of of broadband is excruciatingly slow and expensive for New Mexicans in need of service because of the difficulty in laying high speed fiber optic fiber--up until now the preferred method of delivery. 

But to the shock of the state Broadband Office and to the delight of rural residents, US Commerce Secretary Harold Lutnick has torn up the old broadband script and placed high speed satellite delivery front and center:

The Commerce Department has launched a rigorous review of the BEAD program.  The Department is ripping out the Biden Administration’s pointless requirements.  It is revamping the BEAD program to take a tech-neutral approach that is rigorously driven by outcomes, so states can provide internet access for the lowest cost. Additionally, the Department is exploring ways to cut government red tape that slows down infrastructure construction. We will work with states and territories to quickly get rid of the delays and the waste. Thereafter we will move quickly to implementation in order to get households connected. “Under the revamped BEAD program, all Americans will receive the benefit of the bargain that Congress intended.  We’re going to deliver high-speed internet access, and we will do it efficiently and effectively at the lowest cost to taxpayers.”

There is controversy over that bombshell announcement because satellite company Starlink is owned by Elon Musk and could obtain $10 to $20 billion in contracts under the new rules. 

Telecommunications companies are currently receiving the lion's share of the billions in federal broadband funding.

Satellite has been criticized for not being as fast as fiber but that does not take into account future higher speeds that are anticipated. 

Also, the current satellite speeds available are more than sufficient for the vast majority of internet-deprived New Mexicans to perform their necessary tasks and similar to what many city residents are now utilizing.

We challenge those critics to contradict those facts.

Letting political views interfere with a dramatic advancement for the state's stranded homes and businesses would only hold back educational and economic development. 

The Broadband Office here has told the legislature that relying more on satellite and other nonfiber alternatives is not realistic because changing the method of funding would require congressional approval. But that appears to not be the case as Trump and Secretary Lutnick advance the adoption of satellite (and hallelujah to that).

Amazon also has a satellite interent service and that will be another option for states in addition to Musk-owned Starlink. 

President Biden deserves credit and thanks for pushing through the massive funding to bring the nation up to speed. But this decision with such a positive impact on New Mexico might prompt even staunch Trump opponents to ask: "What's not to like?"

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The ABQ mayoral field is growing. The newest addition is former Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and also includes Mayor Tim Keller, radio talker Eddy Aragon, former Sandoval County Deputy Manager Mayling Armijo, Patrick Sais, who tried and failed to make the 2021 mayoral ballot, and retired firefighter Eddie Varela.

White says he will attempt to qualify for public financing as will Keller. If they do, their campaigns would each receive $756,000, a large amount for an election expected to draw 100,000 plus voters. 

Aragon says he will also seek public financing. Sais and Varela, 72, will also try but are seen as having little chance of succeeding. Candidate Armijo will not seek public financing. 

The magic number in the first found of voting November 4 is 50 percent. If a candidate reaches that level, they declare victory and avoid a run-off election a month later. If not, a run-off is held between the two top vote-getters.

In 2021 Keller beat Aragon and BernCo Sheriff Manny Gonzales by garnering 56 percent of the vote in the first round. 

2025 is creating a sense of deja vu, with Keller, 47, and Aragon, 50, running again and White, another conservative Republican and controversial Sheriff, taking the place of Gonzales (who ran in '21 as a Dem but is now an R.)

White launched his campaign with a two minute video devoted to lamenting the city's high crime rate with a side of homelessness throw in. He cited the 660 murders that have have occurred since Keller became mayor seven years ago. That's a stunning total but so far this year murders are dropping considerably.

APD reports five homicides in the first two months of the year, compared to 10 at the same time in 2024. If the rate stays low, it could soften the blows Keller will take as he seeks a third consecutive term.  

White outlines his platform on his web site, leaving little question that his will be an all-crime-all-the-time campaign. In a fund-raising letter he sent out before he officially announced, he highlighted his opposition to ABQ being a Sanctuary City as a key campaign plank:

One of Keller's first acts as Mayor was too make ABQ a Sanctuary City for illegal immigrants who commit crimes. Now we have case after case of violent crimes being committed by illegal immigrants, many of who have been arrested multiple times but turned back onto the streets by this Mayor's backward policies. As Mayor, I will end the Sanctuary City law immediately.

NO FREE PASS

Eddy Aragon

But White, 61, will not get a pass on the crime rate nor on the APD/SheriffDWI scandal or on his skills managing a police department.  His rivals are already busy pushing out White's record.

He was ABQ's Chief Public Safety Officer in charge of APD under GOP Mayor Richard Berry when in 2011 he was forced to to resign amid controversy over police shootings and a car accident involving his wife. The APD officers union gave him a vote of no confidence.

In 2010 White and other lawmen "trampled" through the home of noted attorney and police critic Mary Han who had been found dead in her car in her North Valley garage. The death was called a suicide but the cause was later changed to "undetermined. The AG at the time said the cause--which could have been murder--could not be definitely determined because of the botched police investigation.

During his time as sheriff from 2002-2008 the decades-long DWI scandal was operating with officers taking bribes that went undetected by White and other law enforcement leadership. 

When White was state Director of Public Safety under GOP Governor Gary Johnson he was an adamant foe of legalized drugs and resigned in protest when Johnson came out for legal pot. But when Susana Martinez became governor White supported legalized marijuana and benefited from a state license he was awarded to sell medical marijuana. 

In 2018 White's marijuana company donated $11,000 to the Guv campaign of Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham. He has since sold his share of the company.

In 1999 the NM State Police Officers Association voted no confidence in White. They said he wasn’t doing enough to get State Police equipment and cars. White called the charges “ridiculous.” 

THE DONALD FACTOR

Hovering over this election, as he did in 2017, is Donald Trump. That presence helped Keller take the mayoral office that year with a landslide win in a run-off election against City Councilor Dan Lewis.  

Former ABQ city councilor, attorney and political consultant Greg Payne says Trump's large shadow could again impact the vote:

That will probably help Keller. Even though his polling numbers are low, none of the candidates is challenging his Democratic and progressive base. Even with enthusiasm for him not at previous levels,  many voters could decide to go for "the devil you know" rather than switching horses.

The simple math is that there are more Dems and Dem leaning independents than Republicans and right leaning indys. For Dems who do not want Keller, they have little alternative in the current field.

Trump did grow his vote percentages in the north in the 2024 election, but there was only a very slight uptick in his Bernalillo county performance where for a decade the vote has been trending heavy blue.

KELLER'S ODDS

Mayor Keller

The best bet for the anti-Keller crowd is to force him into third place in the initial election thus ending his political career. The odds of that are low, although in the past it has happened.

A run-off electon with any of his foes, including Armijo who is at best a nominal Democrat, might not be a lay-up for Keller but also not a very steep climb. 

The $755K in public money is difficult to qualify for (3,780 qualifying $5.00 donations) but Keller has the campaign machine to do it. Also, a PAC separate from Keller's campaign is expected to form giving him additional ammo to fend off the multi-candidate attack now forming against him.

It is uncertain if White and Aragon will be able to qualify for the public financing.  

And there is already battling between Republicans White and Aragon. Aragon attacks White as a "corrupt failure" and promises a "bloodbath" between them. He adds that White supporters lobbied him to get out of the race. Aragon received 18 percent of the vote in 2021.

City Hall Alligators report Keller briefly considered responding to White's entry into the race but  concluded it did not merit one. 

In a field with no stand-out candidate who could unite the anti-Keller sentiment, the race remains Keller's to lose. That may go against the expected odds but it is the mayoral math of 2025. 

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Our criticism of Sen. Martin Heinrich for boycotting the presidential speech before Congress this week and Rep. Melanie Stansbury's behavior at the joint session brought reader reaction. Like the nation it was quite divided. 

And with that we kick off this edition of the always popular Reader Vox Populi. 

First up is reader Freddie Lopez;

Hi Joe, I must say, this is probably the best blog you’ve written so far. The behavior displayed by the Democrats during the President's Congressional speech was truly embarrassing and ridiculous. Everyone knows where the Democrats stand with President Trump so why the pointless theatrics? If the Democrats simply showed maturity , they could slowly rebuild momentum to possibly retake the House in 2026. But if this continues, Republicans will expand their majority. As you rightfully mentioned, showing respect for the Presidential office does not mean showing respect for the current occupant. Perhaps Melanie and Martin should read your blogs more often. Outstanding analysis! 

 Reader Diane Ochoa sees it differently: 

Yeah right, "respect for the Presidential Office" you say. Where were those words when Trump was being disrespectful to a war torn Ukrainian leader!? Or Republican Reps Green or Boebert yelling out at Democratic Presidents during their speeches? I could go on ad nauseam. Perhaps a little protest sign is more effective than Trump's so called third grader "sharp arrows", you say. Thank you Democratic Representative Melanie Stansbury for your tasteful protest against this felon! No respect for this abnormal person has become the norm in my mind and many others that refuse to be brainwashed by this grifter. 

Reader Ron Nelson comes with this: 

 Great job, Joe. However, I take issue with this one statement - “Stansbury is the brightest bulb in the entire congressional delegation”  What amazes me is the top Democrat pundits were warning them “don’t do anything stupid” at the speech.Y et here we are. They have created a file called “stupid things from our legislature representatives” for the next midterm election. So far their voting record goes against core family values - all 5 voted against the Liken Riley Act and all of them voted against males competing in female sports. That made it through the House but allthe Dems in the Senate shut it down. 

Roberta Winchester writes:

Dear Mr. Monahan, I disagree with your statements about Senator Heinrich and Congresswoman Stansbury. It is great to finally have some Democrats with a backbone. Let’s talk about showing respect. Was it showing respect for DT to call Senator Warren "Pocahontas?" Was it showing respect when Republicans shouted “Liar” during Obama’s speech, or for the toddlers Marjorie taylor Greene and Lauren Boebert to stand up and yell during Biden’s speech? Did they get thrown out of the chamber? No, of course not because Republicans are hypocrites

THE NM GOP writes of Stansbury holding her sign at the Trump speech that read, "this is not normal": 

--Allowing Transgender Surgeries for Kids – Supporting irreversible medical procedures on minors without their full understanding or consent—is not normal. 

--Stripping Away Parental Rights – Advocating for policies that remove parents from critical decisions regarding their children’s education, healthcare, and upbringing—is not normal. 

--Ignoring Women’s Rights – Failing to protect biological women by allowing men to compete in women’s sports, undermining fairness and safety—is not normal.

 RIGHT TO KNOW

One of our Legal Beagles writes with reaction to the continued media and public blackout at those plea hearings in ABQ US District Court in the DWI scandal involving numerous APD and Sheriff's deputies admitting that they took bribes from attorney Tom Clear. From the Beagle:  

Joe, Friday February 25 the US Attorney's office announced that Sheriff's Deputy Jeff Hammerel had pled guilty to charges resulting from the DWI Enterprise. I immediately went to the Federal Court's online search engine (Pacer) where all court records and dockets are posted. Hammerel's name resulted in nothing found. This was at 7 p.m, on February 25. Once the court opened on February 26 I checked again for Hammerel and his entire case was now available, stating every document was filed with the court late on February 25. None of this information was made public prior to Hammerel appearing in court, so therefore no media outlet and no one from the public was in the courtroom.  

The NM US Attorney with the cooperation of federal magistrates seem to be holding “star chamber” proceedings regarding the DWI Enterprise. Where, outside of public view, they charge defendants, do plea deals with them, get release conditions and guilty pleas all at the same time with no one in the media or public given prior notice. The Albuquerque DWI Enterprise is bad enough, we don’t need the US Attorney and federal courts acting in secret.  These dockets should be announced 24 hours in advance on Pacer so the media and interested citizens can be in the courtroom. It causes more harm to the local criminal justice system when the US Attorney and federal judges act in secret. The US Attorney and federal magistrates would do well to remember that the public's right to attend court proceedings are enshrined in the 1st and 6th amendments of the Constitution. 

Previously we reported of at least one media outlet complained to then-US Attorney Alexander Uballez about the lack of notification of the plea hearings. Now the plea to open up the pleas in the scandal falls to Acting US Attorney Holland Kastrin. 

In the meantime there are no "perp walks" of the convicted felons on TV, no reporters questioning them outside the courthouse and no reporting or drawings of the criminal proceedings from inside the court in the largest public corruption scandal in ABQ area history. 

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