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Monday, March 18, 2024

Trump Shadow Emerges In GOP State Senate Primaries; Some Candidates Heap Their Praises; Others Look To Lay Low, Plus: A Blog Reader Who Has Never Missed  

This is New Mexico not Alabama so there are still Republicans here who don't genuflect at the mention of Donald Trump. And that is going to be an issue in GOP state primaries.

Already former Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block is touting his love for Trump as he faces non-Trumper and former state Senator Candace Gould in the GOP race for District 12 in Sandoval County  County and parts fof BernCo. His campaign says:

Commissioner Block (has endorsed Trump). He has been a longtime supporter. At his last campaign rally in New Mexico in 2019 in Rio Rancho Block was honored to have been selected to greet President Trump  and ride in his motorcade. 

Americans, and specifically New Mexicans, have had their backs broken by Biden's failed policies. Our dollar is now worth much less because, instead of building back better, Biden built back broke. As a border state, New Mexicans see the impacts of a wide open border. . . Crime and addiction to fentanyl are at an all-time high. Under Trump's Presidency, our economy was booming. .  Donald Trump had my support in 2016, 2020, and I’m proud to endorse him again in 2024. 

Block looks to cash in on those Trump credentials because Gould was close to the Gov. Martinez's political machine which was not close to Trump.

Supporting Trump may not be Block's only advantage over Gould. The new District 12 is made up of much of Block's old commission district and includes Rio Rancho and Paradise Hills neighborhoods in Bernalillo County.

Gould was defeated in her 2021 re-election bid by Dem Katy Duhigg in Senate District 10. Much of that old district has now been absorbed into District 12. She still has a shot at the win but the chances were higher before Block announced his bid.  
 
The primary winner stands to take the November election The new district is 37% Democrat and 37% Republican. Phil Ramirez is the sole Dem seeking his party's nomination.

ENDORSES TRUMP

Like Block former state Senator Michael Wiener, who is running in a three way GOP primary for District 21 in ABQ's NE Heights, expects most primary voters to be Trump backers. Wiener, who served in the senate in the 90's and is a former BernCo Commissioner says:

I am adding the words "Endorses Trump' to all my campaign signs because I believe backing him against Biden is essential and because I want to show that there is at least one candidate in the race who is behind him. 

Wiener's opponents in the GOP primary are Nicole Tobiassen and John Craig Morton. Morton is known to be a Trump supporter. Tobiassen is seen as the middle of the road contender who, like ex-Sen. Gould, may try to thread the needle when it comes to the ex-president. 

District 21 is represented by the retiring Mark Moores, the only GOP senator from ABQ. 

Retired law enforcement officer Phillip Snedeker and Athena Ann Christodoulou are seeking the Dem nod in the June 4 primary.

NEVER MISSED ONE

Monahan in 2006 (Bralley)
Longtime reader Patrick Milligan (and we mean longtime) writes:

Hi Joe, this is Patrick Milligan from two decades ago. I ran for ABQ City Council way back in 2003. I just wanted to say hi. I haven’t missed reading a single day of your work since 2003. Great job! 

I retired from Sandia Labs after 32 years two years ago and moved to Abilene, Texas and love it here. It’s a little closer to my political DNA. 

Anyway, I just wanted to say hello and put in a good word for one of my ex-employees from Sandia. Republican Clay Pryor is running for Bernalillo County Clerk. I know he has a tough road ahead but I will be interested to see how he does. 

Again, hello from Texas and I love your work. It’s a must read for me every morning. 

Yikes! That reminds us of how long we've been at this (20 years as of last October) and of the times and memories we've shared with so many New Mexicans and others. Thanks for those kind words, Patrick, and for that incredible streak of checking in here. Here you are on the blog of April 3, 2004

That entry was from a Saturday, reflecting a time when we reported and blogged up to seven days a week as we worked to establish the blog as the go to place for New Mexico politics. 

We succeeded in that ambition, thanks to Milligan and so many others.

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Thursday, March 14, 2024

Post Filing Day Clippings From Our Newsroom Floor, Plus: On The Media Beat; Santa Fe Paper Goes Up For Sale 

We came with a monster blog on candidate filing day Wednesday but even that was like chipping away at an iceberg. Many political stories fell to our newsroom floor as we pulled together the drama of the GOP's top legislative leaders announcing they have had enough and will leave the Roundhouse. 

That said, lets take our broom and sweep up clippings left behind from a hectic day. . . 

It's not just the R's with leadership changes in store. On the Dem side of the aisle in the state House Majority Leader Gail Chasey ends her tenure this year so the race is on to replace her in the #2 leadership spot. Santa Fe Rep. Linda Serrato and ABQ Rep. Day Hochman-Vigil are the two major contenders. The post will be filled following the November election.

Meanwhile in ABQ SE Heights District 18, where  for decades Chasey held forth, four Dem candidates have filed for the seat, including progressive lobbyist Marianne Anaya whose claim to fame is her accusations of sex harassment by ABQ Dem state Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto. Yet after nearly two years there still has been no complete resolution of the charges, other than Dems kicking Ivey-Soto out of his Rules Committee chairmanship. 

The other Dem hopefuls for the Chasey seat in the June 4 primary are Anjali Taneja, Juan Larranaga and Gloria Doherty. No R filed for this all Dem all the time district.

 In ABQ NE Heights House District 31, which is solidly Republican, Nicole Chavez, who announced earlier she would seek the GOP nomination to replace outgoing Rep. Bill Rehm, has company. 

Leadership trainer and NRA advocate Patrick Huested and Sarah Jane Allen, who once sought the state GOP chairmanship, have also filed for the seat. Winning the primary there is tantamount to winning th election in this district, the only remaining one in the city with a GOP rep. But Dem Vicky Estrada-Bustillo filed her candidacy and will give it a shot. 

House Minority Leader Ryan Lane will shed that title today. After announcing he will not seek re-election to his Farmington are state House seat, Lane Wednesday said he will resign the seat effective today. That means the San Juan County Commission will recommend a replacement to fill out the remainder of his term which runs until the end of the year retired FBI agent William Hall filed for the seat this week. We'll watch to see if that's the name the Commission sends to MLG who ultimately makes the appointment. 

THE MEDIA BEAT

The 50 year old Santa Fe Reporter is the latest media outlet facing an existential crisis as the weekly paper's longtime owners have put it up for sale and are seeking a local buyer:

(As owners) Richard Meeker and Mark Zusman. . . embark on a new project in Oregon, they are actively seeking a New Mexico buyer to become the fourth generation of SFR stewards. . . the Santa Fe Reporter is in good health, both journalistically and financially,” Meeker says. . . Today local, independent ownership is the real key to success in the newspaper business. We are making this public announcement in the hopes it will attract interest from residents of Santa Fe.”

The first hint that the Reporter, founded in 1974, was reassessing its model was when they began soliciting financial support from readers even as the paper continued to attract a stable of advertisers. That the Reporter is publicly seeking a buyer suggests private efforts to sell it have not been successful. 

That's not to say the product has diminished but public interest has waned in local news and when it is in demand, readers are on the internet. Publishing in ink is expensive and nearly an anachronism.

Last year a group of conservative NM investors including former NM GOP chairman Harvey Yates, Jr. purchased the Rio Grande Sun and the Artesia Daily Press. Perhaps the Reporter will follow the same path, although not with conservative ownership. There are still things in Santa Fe that don't change. 

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Wednesday, March 13, 2024

Filing Day Drama: Top Two GOP Legislative Leaders Announce They Will Not Seek Re-election; On The Way Out Sen. Baca Slams Dems Over Redistricting; Hands Off Seat And Draws Criticism; House Minority Leader Lane Also Bows Out, And: BernCo Oldtimers Vie For Treasurer And Clerk Posts 

Sen. Baca
The official filing day for the state's 112 legislative seats turned dramatic Tuesday as the top two Republican legislative leaders decided not to seek re-election, throwing open both their leadership positions and their legislative seats and stunning the long-suffering GOP rank and file.  

All legislative and county candidate filings here

The unexpected decision of state Senator and Minority Leader Greg Baca of Valencia County and state Rep. and House Minority Leader Ryan Lane of Farmington added to what was already a lengthy list of voluntary departures from the Roundhouse. 

Dem consultant Sisto Abeyta reports 13 of the 42 senators have decided not to seek re-election and 9 of the 70 House members are also leaving, making for one of the largest departing groups in recent history. 

There are many individual reasons for those leaving and a couple of House members are now running for Senate but Abeyta said increased polarization of politics is extracting a toll. He says the state GOP has a lot in common with their brethren in the US House where Trump and anti-Trump factions continually battle.

Baca and Lane have been at the center of that polarization not only with the Democrats but within their own party. 

The Republicans have suffered some of their worst electoral results in their history in the last decade. All statewide offices and the entire Legislature are controlled by the Democrats. The R's have been reduced to bystanders at the Roundhouse with the Dems dominating the Senate 27-15 and the House 45 to 25. 

Sanchez said the outcome of legislative redistricting--controlled by the Dems--was behind his decision

It is clear to me that the greatest good I can do for the people of my community and the State of New Mexico does not lie in seeking another term in the legislature. Though this announcement may come as a shock to some, careful observers of the progressive plan to pit two Hispanic Republicans against each other through redistricting may have seen this coming. In short, I refuse to allow the radical left to pit brother against brother.

THE SANCHEZ-BACA PLAY

Sanchez and Baca

Soon after Baca announced he was out, GOP Senator Josh Sanchez of District 30 announced he would switch districts and seek the Baca District 29 seat. In the redistricting Sanchez, also from Valencia County, was placed in Baca's District 29.  

Baca endorsed Sanchez on social media Tuesday night.

Sanchez will be unopposed in the GOP primary and will face Democrat Tina Garcia, a former Valencia County Magistrate Judge in November. 

Our Senior Republicans say the race leans Republican but does have swing characteristics that make a Dem win possible. 

In District 30 that Sanchez has represented, former Dem state Senator Clemente Sanchez will be in a primary with Angel Charly of Acoma Pueblo, endorsed by Sen. Heinrich. 

With no Republican running the Dem primary winner will be on their way to the Senate. Some R's were critical of Baca and Sanchez for the lateness of their switcheroo, saying it did not leave time for a GOP candidate to gather signatures to compete in District 30 and unnecessarily handed the Dems the seat. 

One Dem consultant called the hand-off a "sleazy move" that demonstrates the "incompetence" of the Senate Republicans who now give up a coveted seat without a fight. That's probably a story line Sanchez will endure from Dem rival Garcia. 

While Baca cited redistricting for his surprise, our sources noted that his decision was abrupt. They report just prior to his decision to not seek a third term he quarreled with prominent and wealthy Republicans over candidate recruitment and fund-raising. 

We're told those party powers were especially irked over Baca's support for having disgraced GOP Senator Cliff Pirtle run for a vacant Roswell state House seat after bowing out of his Senate seat. 

After the scandal broke over the married lawmaker's affair with a Senate staffer, Pirtle said he would not seek another term but later said he might reverse that decision. He ended up not running for anything.

Roswell State Rep. Candy Ezzell made her candidacy for the Pirtle seat in the Roswell area official Tuesday and is expected to have few problems winning the primary and general elections. 

Baca, an attorney, had a glorious start to his political career in 2016 when he won election by ousting Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez with the help of GOP Gov. Susana Martinez, an arch-enemy of  Sanchez's. Now the tables have been turned as they so often are on the treacherous terrain of La Politica.

CHANGING LANES

The double dose of GOP chaos continued with GOP House Minority Leader Ryan Lane who, our sources report, held a virtual meeting of the House Republican caucus last night to officially inform them that he was not seeking re-election and cited family considerations. However, his status as leader was left unresolved.

Lane announced Wednesday he will resign from his seat which means an appointment to replace him for the rest of this term will be made by the San Juan County Commission.

The leadership position for the Farmington attorney has been trying. When chosen in November of '22 he was seen as a possible force for bringing the House Republicans together. But that was not to be and the pressure of fund-raising also hung over his head

 A Senior Alligator opined that he expected Lane to be replaced as Leader "sooner rather than later." Former Minority Leader James Townsend could be placeholder. He's running for state Senate and has an easy race. 

Former state Rep. Rebecca Dow left the House to run for Governor and is running again for the House in the south with a good chance of winning. Her name as a possible Lane replacement came up because the rules allow her to keep the seniority she previously accumulated and she is seen as politically savvy.  

Unless the Governor calls a special session there are no legislative session scheduled until January of next year. But there is the matter of distributing and raising funds for House Republicans that the Minority Leader is traditionally involved in. That does add a note of urgency to replace Lane. 

Republican retired FBI Agent William Hall has filed for the Lane seat and is running unopposed.

BERNCO ACTION

Eichenberg
Some veteran politicos turned up Tuesday in an effort to renew their careers in the state's largest county.

Former Bernalillo County and State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg filed for county treasurer and former BernCo Assessor and PRC Commissioner Karen Montoya filed for County Clerk. The two are longtime political allies and well-known moderate Democrats. 

Eichenberg, now in his 70's, also served a stint as an ABQ state Senator and has widespread name ID and personal wealth to spend on another campaign. Deputy County Treasurer Ken Scott also filed for the Dem primary setting up a two way race. The seat has not gone Republican for years. Current Treasurer Nancy Bearce is term limited after eight years in office.

In the Clerks race Deputy County Clerk Michelle Kavanaugh will be in a Dem primary battle with Montoya. Current Clerk Linda Stover is term limited. She is said to be eyeing a possible run for ABQ mayor in 2025.

Two Republicans are also running for Clerk--Clayton Pryor and Robert Kwasny--but no R has won the seat in years.

In the BernCo race for district attorney, we earlier reported that progressive Dem Mathias Swonger was ending his campaign but he filed for the position Tuesday along with fellow Dems Sam Bregman and Damon Martinez. However a spokesman for Martinez tells us Martinez has met with Swonger who told him he was indeed suspending his effort because of a lack of valid petition signatures. 

Whoever wins the Dem DA primary wins it all. No Republican filed for the seat despite the party's emphasis on crime as a key issue.   

BernCo Commissioner Adriann Barboa will be busy for the June 4 primary. The Democrat from ABQ's SE Heights District 3 drew two foes--Robert Padilla and Laura Chavez.

In South Valley District 2 being vacated by term limited Michael Quezada, Frank Baca, who was defeated by Quezada in the 2020 Dem primary and William Walker are seeking the Dem nomination. 

 Republican Commissioner Walt Benson of NE Heights District 4 won a free ride on filing day. He was the only one to file for his position and will be getting a second four year term. 

Just think, Walt, now you can read the blog in peace.

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Tuesday, March 12, 2024

Heinrich Wades Into Fiery State Senate Primary; Endorses Foe Of Embattled Incumbent Ivey-Soto; He Snaps Back As He Combats Progressive Challenge; Analysis And Context Of This Top Tier Contest 

Senator Martin Heinrich has waded into the emotionally charged Democratic primary in ABQ state senate District 15 with an endorsement for Heather Berghmans, a challenger of Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto. But unlike most of Heinrich's dozens of other endorsements this one is anything but routine and he's getting blow-back from the embattled incumbent: 

I wasn't aware that Senator Heinrich lived in my district, in fact I'm pretty sure he doesn't. Still, I wish him well trying to vote for her. 

That sniping is not something the senior senator--who is not a resident of that district--is used to but he did step step on the cat's tail.

Heinrich's endorsement does nothing to improve his standing with Hispanic men--a weak polling spot--so  seeking re-election in his own right this year, he isn't about to get into a direct fight with the wily Ivey-Soto. 

The state senator is an attorney with decades of La Politica experience now in combat with Dem Party progressives over sexual harassment charges and also because of his moderate politics that have repeatedly thwarted the hard left of the party.

For Heinrich it is imperative that he hold his large progressive base in Bernalillo County against Republican Nella Domenici so even if he didn't want to endorse Berghmans he had little choice. He is known as the First Endorser and must go where those votes are.

Heinrich did not make reference to Ivey Soto's ethics issues with progressive lobbyist Marianne Anaya, who has accused the state senator of harrassment dating from 2017, but Ivey Soto points out he has been found guilty of nothing--not by a court of law and not by the Ethics Commission.

But progressives have lowered the bar for such accusations and say Ivey Soto's behavior with women at the Roundhouse has often crossed the line. Berghmans says :

I am challenging incumbent Daniel Ivey-Soto in the Democratic Primary who has has been credibly accused by multiple women of sexual harassment and other forms of abuse over the last two years. 

The stakes are high. A Berghmans win in the primary and general would add to the progressive ranks of the Senate.

CENTRAL ISSUE

Berghmans
This will be a central issue in the June 4 primary: Is Ivey Soto so damaged by the charges that he has already lost the race or will voters scrutinize more fully the charges and determine they are an overreach?

Berghman's candidacy is further tied to that judgement because her life and work experience is light. If elected, she would be the youngest senator. 

A third candidate, animal rights activist Marcy Britton, has previously said she would also run for the Dem nod. Filing day for all legislative candidates is today.

Heinrich leaned into identity politics to give his favored candidate a boost: 

Heather has experience working with many of our Democratic elected officials to pass key legislation on workers’ rights, environmental protection, reproductive care, and common-sense gun safety. Her experience, enthusiasm, and solid understanding of the issues will serve her well in representing State Senate District 15. . . There are only 11 women in the State Senate, and even fewer in her generation. If elected, she’ll be the youngest woman in the State Senate. We need folks like Heather stepping up to run.

Berghman's primary work experience has been as a political aide to the House Dem campaign committee and policy aide to House Speakers Brian Egolf and Javier Martinez. 

She will rely on the well-oiled progressive machine (and unions) to see her through as Ivey-Soto has banked over $100,000 for the contest.

Ivey Soto, first elected in 2012, was a Senate powerhouse, chairing the Senate Rules Committee and presiding over election law legislation like a czar. He was toppled from that chairmanship after the harassment charges and voters will have to decide whether he is still effective going forward. 

There's no question Ivey-Soto is on the ropes and the primary will tilt progressive. But this is a district with a lot of working class Dems, a fair number of Hispanics and perhaps a political atmosphere that may not be quite as punitive for Ivey Soto as last year. We'll keep an eye on it.

As for the Republicans, this is not a district where they will get blown-out. It's 46 percent Dem 27 R and 25 independent but it's close to being "all D all the time" which makes the Ivey-Soto-Berghmans face off all the more critical.  

GOOD START BUT. . .

Reader Michal Hays comments on the Monday blog highlighting Sec. of Education Arsenio Romero:

Secretary Romero is off to a good start, but the finish line is a long way ahead. Once the length of the school day and absenteeism are addressed, the two really big problems will present themselves. One is a state curriculum which, reflective of Common Core, is a demonstration of mediocrity which ensures continued mediocrity. The other is the capabilities of teachers, particularly elementary school teachers. . .The fact is that the majority of their students are not proficient in reading or math by the end of 4th grade. 

Richard Eeds of Santa Fe's KTRC radio sends along this interview he conducted recently with Romero.

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Monday, March 11, 2024

Telling It Like It Is: Education Secretary Again Calls Out State's Last In Nation Ranking As 180 Day School Year Is Enacted, Plus: Heinrich's Biden Moment At SOTU; Nervous Over Nella? 

Sec. Romero
They say the first rule of being a good teacher is to set a good example. So it is with Secretary of Education Arsenio Romero. He barreled through withering criticism to enact a rule that mandates public school kids attend classes 180 days a year, a plan already in effect for ABQ and Santa Fe schools but that could eliminate the four day a week schedule in some rural areas, although PED is providing a variety of exemptions.

Romero's perseverance, while notable, was not his stand-out moment. That has been his repeated insistence on doing something few--if any--political leaders here do. He continues to cite the state's last in the nation standing in public school performance, laying down a marker for his department and the state to improve on that dismal ranking, saying:

We've had it with being the last and the worst performing state in the union. We know that this isn't reflective of who we are, and we're going to do everything we can to challenge us and change that.This is about doing what's right for kids, even if it's hard.

Unfortunately, our standing is reflective of who we are. Otherwise, Romero gets an A for his frankness. 

New Mexico ranks last or near last in other critical standings (child well-being, child poverty etc.) but the political class has for years shied away from that truth. When was the last time we heard a legislator take to the floor and cite what Romero is citing or any other category we lag in and declaring it must be reversed?

Few have wanted to assume that political risk but accepting and condemning that truth is essential for positive change.

Romero's insistence on reciting the truth awakened a status quo culture of teachers, parents, unions and legislators who rose up in full fury to defend the current indefensible public school culture--the one that has us last in the nation. 

MLG AND ROMERO  

Romero is MLG's fourth Secretary of Education in five years but at the risk of jinxing him, she seems to have finally found one she can stay in the same room with. She was steadfast in her support for the 180 days rule even vetoing a bill that would have prohibited the PED from doing so.

Why not? Isn't this the Governor that has been funding the public schools and teacher pay at record levels? If  anyone has the right for an ask from the educational complex, it is her. 

As for Romero he is going to have to reconcile himself to making new enemies and even friends unhappy. But you don't go from the worst to even mediocre without breaking some glass along the way.

Now that that the length of the school year is out of the way Romero and MLG can go after chronic absenteeism. Without kids attending school, having those extra school days will be for naught. Then there's the Yazzie-Martinez lawsuit, an improved school curriculum and. . . well. . . let's not get ahead of ourselves. Just be happy for this 180 day a year moment. 

ON THE SOCIALS

The 180 day school rule had them talking on the socials. Here's Jerri Lily

New Mexico will be joining 29 states that currently have 180 days of school. All are ranked above us. We are dead last in education rankings. Status quo is not the solution. Additionally, New Mexico has laws on the books relating to chronic absenteeism that are not being enforced. 

Yes, school subjects need to be more compelling and relevant to students. We need to focus on the basics and college readiness, but also provide more offerings that appeal to students who are choosing a different path such as wood working, sewing, car mechanics as well as develop more apprentice partnerships with trades people. Offer credits for our students with part time jobs based upon employer feedback and training for successful employment.

 NERVOUS OVER NELLA?

Our state's usually reserved senior US senator was anything but at Thursday evening's State of the Union speech from President Biden. 

Favored for re-election to a third term this year but facing an unexpected name challenger in Nella Domenci, Heinrich maneuvered his way to the House aisle where the President walks down on his way to the podium and made sure to grab his hand for a quick shake. 

Network microphones picked up Heinrich telling Biden, "it's good to see you, Mr. President." Biden was looking at him but we did not hear any audible response.

Heinrich's relationship with the White House appears solid and that will help with fund-raising that he may need if Domenici, who is independently wealthy, decides to tap her own fortune in a big way or has success raising private money. 

Heinrich's pursuit of the president hasn't always been so ardent. There was one occasion when Biden came to ABQ where Heinrich failed to show up to greet him at the Sunport. (Yes, those darn Alligators have long--very long--memories. 

SOTU REACT

Heinrich on Biden:

Democrats have delivered monumental wins for working Americans. Under President Biden, we secured the largest expansion of health care for our nation’s veterans in generations. We created an American manufacturing boom by making historic investments in our workforce and in our infrastructure. And we've taken unprecedented strides toward lowering costs and accelerating a clean energy future. Meanwhile, Republicans were consumed by chaos, dysfunction, and extremism—bent on taking away freedoms, diminishing our democracy, and giving tax breaks out to their billionaire friends and ultrawealthy hedge fund executives.  

Domenici:

Rather than offer real solutions in his speech, Biden tried to rewrite history and shift blame for policies that have let us down on the cost of living, the border, and crime in our streets. These are policies Senator Heinrich has supported 100% of the time. The two of them have failed New Mexicans. It is time for new leadership. I‘m dedicated to building consensus, delivering results, and fighting for New Mexicans - that's why I'm running for the U.S. Senate.

THE BOTTOM LINES

In a first draft Thursday we mistakenly had retiring ABQ Dem state Rep. Gail Chasey as chair of the House Judiciary Committee. She is the House Majority Leader.

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Thursday, March 07, 2024

Last House Republican Standing In Bernalillo County Leaving And Works To Hand Off Seat To Fellow R, Plus: Large Field Expected For Rep. Chasey Seat, Also: NM Guests At Tonight's SOTU Speech And MLG's Impactful Veto  

Rep. Rehm
GOP state Rep. Bill Rehm holds a somewhat ignominious honor in his party. He is the sole Republican left serving the state's largest county in the state House of Representatives. But he will soon shed that title. The retired BernCo Sheriff's deputy, who has relentlessly proposed tough on crime measures in the Democratic controlled House with little success, announces he will not seek re-election. 

Rehm is causing a bit of a dust-up as he heads for the exits. He wants to bestow on his constituents what he considers a gift but critics consider bullying. 

Chavez
Rehm waited until almost the last minute to announce that this term will be his last. When he did he immediately endorsed Republican Nicole Chavez, an unsuccessful legislative candidate in District 28 in 2022, as his candidate to replace him in his far NE Heights District 31 where he was first elected in 2006.

Chavez became an advocate for crime victims following the murder of her son. She ran against Dem Pamelya Herndon while touted as a GOP dream candidate in crime-plagued ABQ. But she was faulted for not running an effective campaign while Herndon, the first Black woman to represent the district, galvanized her party.

Rehm is making a classic hand-off move. Filing day for the legislative candidates is March 12 and there is GOP scuttlebutt that another GOP candidate could emerge to compete for the nomination with Chavez. 

Will the GOP be able to keep a toehold on its one and only House district in big BernCo? Registration in District 31 is 39 percent Republican, 36 percent Democratic and 24 percent independent so the odds favor them. 

We'll see next week if the Dems plan on offering a serious challenge.

REPLACING CHASEY 

Rep. Chasey 

Look for a crowded field next week when candidates file for ABQ House District 18 which is being vacated by longtime Dem state Rep. Gail Chasey

She has held forth in the uber-liberal district near UNM since 1996 so there is pent up Democratic demand to take her place. (No R's need apply. This one is all D all the time).

Chasey, who started her House years as Gail Beam, survived cancer, earned a law degree and married former NM attorney general and House Speaker David Norvell (an event commemorated back in October 2003 on one of our very first blogs.)

She ends her career as Majority Floor Leader. Her landmark achievement was the repeal of the state's death penalty under Gov. Richardson. House Speaker Javier Martinez said of the 79 year old's departure:

As the longest-serving member of the House, Leader Chasey has had an incredible impact, shaping policies that uplifted New Mexico children and families, made our systems more equitable and fairer, and protected New Mexicans’ fundamental rights and freedoms. She’s also been a wonderful colleague, friend, and mentor to countless lawmakers for nearly three decades—always quick to share both her deep institutional knowledge and words of encouragement. I am so grateful to have learned from and served alongside Leader Chasey for the last nine years and wish her the very best in her next chapter.

With Chasey's departure ABQ state Dem Miguel Garcia, 73, becomes the sole dean of the House. Wikipedia says he took office January 1, 1997, the same time as Chasey so apparently she shared the longest-serving title with him. 

SOTU TONIGHT

President Biden delivers his State of the Union speech tonight. Dem US Rep. Melanie Stansbury will use the occasion to highlight reproductive rights: 

. . . Stansbury announced Dr. Destinie Marquez as her guest at President Biden’s State of the Union Address. Dr. Marquez is from Roswell and focuses on antepartum and postpartum maternal health. . . “Dr. Marquez is a passionate advocate for women’s reproductive rights, particularly in underserved communities. Her dedication to ensuring access to comprehensive reproductive healthcare for all women makes her a crucial voice in addressing critical issues facing women today." Stansbury said.  

Senator Ben Ray Luján announced that Tina Cordova, co-founder of the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium, will be his guest for tonight's address. 

IMPACTFUL VETO

MLG Wednesday signed into law the $1.8 billion capital outlay and bond package as well as the $10.2 billion state budget. She also signed a tax bill that makes modest adjustments to state tax brackets and provides a number of tax credits. 

She also made a number of line item vetoes to the budget. The most impactful was this:

(The Governor vetoed a provision that) would have prohibited the state Public Education Department from spending money on implementing a requirement that public schools spend at least 180 instructional days with students per year. Vetoing that language appears to lay the groundwork for the PED to move forward on a measure educators from around the state lambasted late last year. The governor, who has expressed strong support for the measure all year, wrote only that the language would “interfere with the executive managerial function.”

New Mexico has fallen so far behind in public school performance---the PED Secretary says we rank last in the nation--that kids could use eight days a week in classes--never mind just five.

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Wednesday, March 06, 2024

He's Back: Manny Can't Say No; Former Sheriff Scarred From The Battles Of La Politica Plans To Seek State Senate Seat, Plus: Reaction To Former US Attorney Slamming DA Bregman Over DWI Dismissals  

There seems to be no amount of public humiliation that will keep former Bernalillo County Sheriff Manny Gonzales off the campaign trail. 

The lawman and Marine suffered a landslide defeat in his 2021 ABQ mayoral bid after it was discovered his campaign forged petition signatures to qualify for public financing. This year he was forced to withdraw from the race for the GOP US Senate nomination when he failed to collect enough petition signatures and in between those events he was disgraced nationally when federal authorities named him a multi-state machine gun scheme. (He says the action was political).

That would seem to be enough to stop anyone from facing the voters again but Gonzales, a former Democrat, has embraced Trump and like him a tunnel vision concerning his past defeats and offenses and is now preparing for yet another comeback. He plans on filling petitions next week to seek the GOP nomination for ABQ westside state Senate District 23 and the right to face Dem Senator Harold Pope in the November election.

The working class district does have swing characteristics. Pope unseated incumbent Republican Sander Rue 52 to 48 in 2020 and current registration is 43 percent Dem, 32 Republican and 24 independent. 

Also, Pope is a full-fledged progressive who could be viewed as potentially vulnerable and which Gonzales will poke at. But Gonzales' many prominent past peccadilloes should be enough for Pope to keep the stubborn ex-sheriff at bay. 

Still, you'll want to stay tuned for any surprising developments. Remember Gonzales is the candidate who was interrupted by a sex toy flying on a drone while giving a campaign speech for mayor. 

Let the games begin. 

IGLESIAS REACTION 

Our exclusive report Tuesday about former NM GOP US Attorney sharply critiquing BernCo District Attorney for dismissing 200 DWI cases as a result of the APD DWI scandal brought reaction. First, here's ABQ attorney and former state House member Daymon Ely defending the DA:

Joe: I was disappointed with David Iglesias’ criticism of Sam Bregman’s dismissal of the DWI cases after it was revealed that there were allegations of corruption among law enforcement and at least one criminal defense attorney. I write as the sole state House sponsor of the state’s ethics commission, a lawyer who has spent a career pursuing bad lawyers and as one of the people who contacted the FBI after receiving allegations of corrupt behavior. 

Daymon Ely 
Mr. Bregman had no choice but to dismiss those cases implicated in the scandal and start over. The District Attorney’s job is to pursue bad actors. But, in addition, the DA needs to act as a guardian of the criminal justice system which Bregman has done. The DA has the obligation protect the integrity of the criminal justice system. Any allegedly corrupt “cog” in the justice system affects that integrity. The DA is in a unique position to protect the system when things go bad. By moving quickly and decisively, DA Bregman took the right and ethical action – announce that those cases which involved allegedly crooked cops had to be dismissed and reexamined. I applaud him for his actions.  

Former police sergeant and APD watchdog Dan Klein agrees with Iglesias: 

Very good stuff from former US Attorney Iglesias on the Tuesday blog. He has it correct with one exception. It appears that the past BernCo District Attorney Raul Torrez was the one who began not notifying APD about officers missing their court cases for DW arrests. If this is true, then asking now Attorney General Torrez to take over the handling of the issue would be a conflict. If anything, Torrez may be a witness to be asked why he stopped having his office report on officers missing court. This should be turned over to another District Attorney, not the current AG. 

Bregman is being challenged for the Democratic nomination for BernCo DA in the June primary by former US Attorney Damon Martinez. Republican Iglesias has not publicly endorsed Martinez. 

Klein also offered thoughts on Monday's APD City Council meeting where on a 5 to 4 vote councilors decided against involving an outside law enforcement agency in investigating a serious auto accident involving APD Chief Medina: 

A majority of the ABQ City Council ignored the two members who were past APD officers Sanchez and Champine) and continue to believe that Medina’s car crash investigation will be handled professionally and with transparency by the city. How naïve are the five Council members when they believe that APD investigating their own chief is going to result in anything that the public will have confidence in? Why is Mayor Keller so frightened to allow an outside agency to investigate Medina’s fleeing the scene of a shooting and almost killing a citizen? 

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Tuesday, March 05, 2024

Hot DA Race Down To Two With One Dropout And As Former US Attorney Iglesisas Slams DA Bregman Over DWI Dismissals In APD Corruption Scandal 

David Iglesias
The hot and heavy race for the Democratic nomination for Bernalillo County District Attorney is down to two hopefuls after progressive attorney Mathias Swonger has dropped out after his campaign was unable to gather the required number of nominating signatures.

That word comes from an operative associated with former US Attorney Damon Martinez who is now the lone challenger to DA Sam Bregman who was appointed to fill a vacancy by MLG and is now seeking election.

The position is especially high profile this cycle because of the APD scandal that saw Bregman dismissing 200 DWI cases allegedly involving officers involved in a scheme with at least one defense attorney that had them failing to appear in court so their DWI arrest cases would be dismissed in exchange for bribes paid to them and the defense lawyers. 

Bregman said judicial ethics gave him no choice but to dismiss the 200 open cases that involved the APD officers.

The dismissals are drawing fire in a state with some of the highest rates of alcohol deaths and DWI arrests in the nation. Former GOP US attorney David Iglesias is one of the more prominent legal experts now blasting the Bregman decision:

Bregman’s handling of the DWI corruption cases is unacceptable. The District Attorney controls the prosecution of a case, including letting APD leadership know when officers fail to appear in court which results in the charges being dismissed. This procedure had been common practice. D.A. Bregman’s change in practice is an egregious failure. His attempt to shift blame by characterizing these notifications as a “courtesy” is shamefully wrong.  The DA’s mission, according to their website, is: “To be relentless in holding people accountable …  [by] unwavering commitment… [to] the community.” But when cops failed to appear, Bregman didn’t even bother to notify APD. This action is a dereliction of his duty to the community. 

When Bregman was a criminal defense attorney, he had DWI cases dismissed involving one of the main APD officers currently under federal investigation. Therefore, Bregman had the ethical responsibility to recuse himself from anything to do with the 195 dismissed DWI cases. Neither he nor his office can impartially prosecute this apparent public corruption. He should have turned the matter over to the New Mexico Attorney General, where I served as a prosecutor many years ago. 

On January 2nd, the US Attorney notified Bregman of a confidential investigation and his response was to issue a press release and speak to the press about dismissing the DWI cases by blaming the FBI investigation. This action allowed the news media to connect the dots with the FBI’s lawful searches of a defense attorney’s office and three police officers’ homes. Bregman’s conduct was inexcusable and politically motivated. Albuquerque needs an ethical District Attorney. Without that non-negotiable requirement, the fox has the keys to the henhouse. 

Of course, we welcome any reaction from DA Bregman. 

Iglesias served as the United States Attorney for New Mexico between 2001-2007 and retired from the U.S. Navy JAG Corps in 2014. He has not endorsed former US Attorney Martinez.

The departure of Swonger from the DA's race will have marginal impact as he was not expected to raise much campaign funding. However, a two way race could benefit Martinz since Swonger was positioned to win some of the anti-Bregman vote.

No Republican has yet announced for the position. Filing day is March 12. No R has been elected to the post since the 90's. 

NOT JUST PROGRESSIVES

On the Monday blog we pinned the legislative failure for an increase in the alcohol tax as a means of reducing the state's nation-leading rate of alcohol deaths on the progressives. But reader Bruce Shah has an addendum:

Perhaps it is simply a coalition of $$$ that blocks everything. Did you not say earlier that there are more registered lobbyists than legislators? 

GUN BILLS

(Journal)
She didn't get the tougher gun laws she wanted but the Legislature did approve four gun safety measures and that was enough for the Governor to set up a major photo op with the kids at ABQ's West Mesa high as she signed them into law. 

Meanwhile, the chances of her calling a special session to deal with more public safety legislation is seen as slim.

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Monday, March 04, 2024

Progressive Letdown; What They're Leaving On The Table, Plus: A Santa Fe Coalition To Resolve Wrecked CYFD?, And: GOP Preprimary Results 

It's been almost four years since progressive Democrats busted the state Senate's conservative coalition by successfully primarying conservative D's but now it's the progressives looking shop-worn when it comes to the generational issues they promised to confront. For example. . .

New Mexico's Governor and Legislature, faced with by far the highest rate in the nation of deaths caused by alcohol (more than 2,000 in '22) again failed to address the crisis in the recent legislative session. Unfortunately, our neighbor to the north also has their heads in the sand. From the Denver Post:

Colorado’s quiet killer: Alcohol ends more lives than overdoses, but there’s been no intervention; Part 1: Colorado alcohol deaths surged 60% in 4 years, but there’s been no public outcry or push to save lives;Part 2: Colorado has some of the lowest alcohol taxes and highest drinking deaths. That’s no coincidence, experts say. Part 3: Beer and wine became more widely available in Colorado even as drinking deaths rose;Part 4: Alcohol addiction treatment is available in Colorado, but people struggle to get the help they need. 

Here are the big letdowns of progressive politics in Santa Fe: 

The failure to protect the most vulnerable New Mexicans dying from alcoholism at astounding rates; ditto for those suffering from  widespread fentanyl and other drug addictions without adequate treatment facilities and the failure to protect our children from violence and abuse by ignoring the years-long collapse of the Children, Youth and Families Department.

Progressives in Santa Fe go into a frenzy over abortion rights but when it comes to the conditions of those already born and suffering their option of choice is often silence.

The public most impacted is catching on:

The Times/Siena poll also noted a dramatic decline in Biden's support among less educated working-class voters of color. Four years ago, Biden won that demographic by 50 points but the poll suggested the margin over Trump had since plummeted to just six points.

Political consequences? GOP legislative candidates have an ideal issue in the CYFD disaster to confront progressive incumbents over; the chances of Republican Yvette Herrell breaking through in ABQ's Democratic South Valley are increasing along with her chances of upsetting progressive Dem Rep. Gabe Vasquez and Republican Nella Domenici is going to keep Dem Martin Heinrich busier than he would like.

Maybe the conservative coalition of 2020 is not alive in the Legislature but a coalition of working class Democrats, independents and Republicans may be taking shape

A CYFD COALITION? 

Maybe a coalition could form in Santa Fe to straighten out the wreck at CYFD, writes Kevin Berry a Republican and licensed marriage and family therapist in Roswell. He writes of our recent coverage:  

Joe, Democratic Senator Cervantes hit the nail on the head when stating that the failure of CYFD deserves a special legislative session. Without getting into specifics, my agency was involved in the CYFD case you wrote about last week that ended in the death of 7 year old Samantha Rubio and that the state settled  for $5.5 million. This is a tragedy that could have been avoided if CYFD cared more about the safety of the child than the rights of parents who abuse their children. 

Children are literally dying because of the philosophy that reunification is always in the best interest of the child. At what point will legislators have the resolve to unite and be the voice for these children? At what point do we start caring about the right of a child to live in a safe home? Legislators need to realize that the presumption that parents' rights to their children trump the children's rights to safety and welfare is wrong. 

Senator Cervantes and I may be on the opposite sides of the aisle, but I applaud him for having the resolve to publicly address this issue. This is a winning issue for legislators if they will unite, create bi-partisan legislation, and move forward with, or without, the governor.

Thank you for continuing to highlight our broken child welfare system. The public needs to know what is going on so more people can be a voice for these children. 

Berry points out that Sen. Crystal Diamond has been among those on the GOP side leading the charge for CYFD reform and that an open alliance with Cervantes could be the springboard for a bipartisan solution. 

That wouldn't be easy with a Governor resisting external reforms but she will assume lame-duck status following the November election which usually reduces the fear factor among legislators reluctant to break with a chief executive of their own party.

GOP PREPRIMARY RESULTS 

Louie Sanchez at preprimary
From the NM GOP:

The Party held its 2024 Pre-Primary Convention at Hotel Albuquerque Saturday. . .Nearly 500 delegates  voted for the GOP U.S. House and Senate candidates who will appear on the June 4 primary ballot. Three of the statewide GOP positions are uncontested.

Candidates must receive at least 20% of the delegates’ vote to appear on the primary ballot. A candidate who does not receive 20% of the vote may still appear on the primary ballot by collecting additional petition signatures.

These are the candidates that delegates chose to be placed on the primary ballot: 

US REP.--1st CD: Louie Sanchez 157 votes - qualified to be on the primary ballot. Steve Jones 9 votes 

U.S. Representative for 2nd CD: Yvette Herrell 152 votes - qualified to be on the primary ballot. 

U.S. Representative for the 3rd CD: Sharon Clahchischilliage 183 votes - qualified to be on the primary ballot. 

U.S. Senate: Nella Domenici 487 votes - qualified to be on the primary ballot.

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Thursday, February 29, 2024

Sidebar TO MLG Chamber Speech; Chatting Up APD Chief Medina, Plus: House Speaker Supporters Calm Coalition Talk, And: More Pushback On Possible Special Session From Senate Judiciary Chair  

(Journal, Eddie Moore)
Embattled APD chief Harold Medina (back to camera) appears anything but as Gov. Lujan Grisham and ABQ Chamber of Commerce President Terri Cole appear highly entertained by ABQ's top cop whose recent auto accident in the city's homeless district caused a sensation. 

Just what's going on at that table at the Chamber meeting? Maybe. . . 

MLG: And then you went straight through that red light like a bat out of hell--kinda like a Formula One guy, didn't you chief? 

COLE: You really pulled a fast one, Chief. Well done!

MEDINA: Ladies, you're too kind, although I will say those who accuse me of not being in the fast lane when it comes to cleaning up APD have something to think about.

Unfortunately for Chief Medina, the laughs are going to be few and far between in the months ahead as federal indictments over the department's DWI scandal are soon expected to drop. (The man injured in the accident caused by Medina is recovering.)

SPEAKER POLITICS

Supporters of House Speaker Javier Martinez are calming those who think a coalition of conservative Dems and Republicans could sprout up in the House after 11 Dems joined with the R's to defeat the paid family medical leave act. They point to this campaign kick-off for the Speaker with co-hosts from House Dems across the board. Absent from the list, of course, is former House Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Lundstrom, who Martinez removed from that post and who would be the presumed ring leader of any coalition.

While Martinez is not threatened by any effort to take over the Speaker's chair, the possibility of "floating coalitions" on certain bills that bring conservative Dems and R's together is omnipresent at the Roundhouse as seen with the paid leave act..  

Meantime that $5,500 top ticket price for his kick-off--which takes place on March 12, filing day for all legislative candidates--should keep him in good stead for his re-elect as well as his House Dems who will share in the booty.

Over in the Senate, Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Cervantes seems like a one man coalition when it comes to dissing the possibility of MLG calling a special session to take up her crime bills that were left behind at the regular session. 

Tuesday he posted on social media that any special, if there were to be one, should be on the crisis at CYFD. Now he's out with reasoning on why a special on crime should be a no-go:

New Mexico's crime problems in Albuquerque are not about an absence of laws, or a lack of strict penalties available to judges. What's lacking is enforcement of existing laws, and an unwillingness to prioritize spending on crime prevention. Expecting the Legislature to solve anything, by creating new crimes which won't be enforced or punished, is purely theater for public appeasement in an election year. 

MLG says she is still contemplating whether to call a special session. On Wednesday she began signing some of the 72 bills lawmakers passed at the 30 day session..

THE BOTTOM LINES

From the state GOP:

On Saturday, March 2nd, the Republican Party of New Mexico will hold its 2024 Pre-Primary State Convention at Hotel Albuquerque. This Convention will bring together Republican delegates from across the state to elect the GOP candidates for U.S. House and Senate to be placed on New Mexico's Primary Election ballot.

And from the Libertarian Party of NM

The Libertarian Party of New Mexico will host its 2024 Annual State Convention on March 2, 2024 at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, at 1:30 p.m. All Voting Members must be in good standing 30 days prior to the convention. For more info contact secretary@lpnm.us. 

State Dems will conduct their Pre-Primary Convention via Zoom to place candidates on the June 4 primary ballot: 

The 2024 Democratic Pre-Primary Election Nominating Convention will be held virtually Saturday, March 9th at 10:00am. Zoom will open at 9:30am. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

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