Quezada

Bernalillo County Commissioner Steven Michael Quezada, also an actor and comic, upstaged his fellow commissioners recently when he walked out of a commission meeting. We blogged about it and he responded:

 It's important to recognize that the U.S. Constitution protects the minority party's voice through the Bill of Rights, ensuring everyone can freely express their opinions. Although I am a Democrat and in the majority party on the Commission, my values of integrity and transparency seem to be in the minority. Additionally, the system of checks and balances in which our nation was founded on ensures that minority interests are considered in decision-making processes. 

Unfortunately, the interests of both (Republican) Commissioner Walter Benson, myself, and, most importantly, our constituents have been disregarded and silenced by Commissioners Barbara Baca, Eric Olivas, and Adriann Barboa. 

I walked out of the last Commission Meeting after proposing a compromise to allow each Commissioner to appoint someone to the County Manager selection committee. Regrettably, this compromise was defeated in a 3-2 vote. As an elected official, compromising hasn't always been politically easy for me, but it has always been the right thing to do. 

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government reported Commissioners Baca, Olivas, and Barboa to the New Mexico Department of Justice (Attorney general's office) for potentially violating the Open Meetings Act by conducting business outside of official public meetings in relation to the hiring of our new County Manager. 

And lastly, you’re correct I am not laughing. There's nothing humorous about the silencing of over 270,000 Bernalillo County residents' voices by three County Commissioners. It's particularly concerning and not funny when three out of the five Commissioners are under investigation by the NMDOJ.

MAYOR AND MEDINA PUSHBACK

Medina and Keller

The Tuesday blog regarding APD Chief Harold Medina's scheduled departure for the end of 2025 and an analysis of his record touched nerves at APD and the Mayor's office. First, the mayoral response

Interesting thesis on the Tuesday blog. Unfortunately half is factually way off. Medina saved reform at APD, taking the department from 38% DOJ compliance when he came in to 94% today. Homicides, auto thefts, burglaries and robberies are all down, and officer recruitment and retention are on the uptick. Of course, you wouldn’t know that based on media coverage, so no one can argue with your point about perception. 

Also, the Mayor has searched outside the state for a Chief multiple times, but City Council said Medina was the best candidate for the job and confirmed him 8-0. They basically reiterated this by not even considering the proposed no confidence vote a few weeks ago. 

Medina is the only chief who has taken on the decades old DWI scheme and working with the FBI to make sure anyone involved will never work for the City again. Through good times and challenges, Chief Medina is first and foremost a cop who cares most about serving the community. He speaks candidly and from the heart, and people appreciate that he is a local, authentic leader who responds the needs of residents and works hard day in and day out despite the vitriol and politics. 

The Chief's office came with this critique: 

--Crime continues to go down, following national trends. The one area that bucks the national trend – and the trend we have more control over – is solving homicide cases and arresting offenders.  So far this year, detectives have solved 21 of 26 cases, or 81%. Of those solved cases, 32 suspects have been arrested or are deceased. Our Investigative Support Unit and SWAT officers have also arrested all suspects; no suspect who has been charged is outstanding.  In addition, detectives this year have solved 8 cases from previous years and arrested 17 suspects. That’s a total of 40 solved cases and 49 murder suspects in 3 ½ months. We arrested 119 murder suspects in 2023 and 119 murder suspects in 2022. . .

--Police shootings – The DOJ commissioned an independent review of the spike in shootings in 2022. That review determined there was no pattern of unconstitutional, deadly use of force. Also, that vast majority of individuals shot and killed by police have been under the influence of meth, Fentanyl and very high blood-alcohol levels – likely altering their state of mind prior to the shootings. All six fatal shootings last year involved those drugs and/or alcohol. Also, nearly every shooting has in the past two years have involved individuals with guns, and suspects have shot police at least three times.

--The chief’s auto accident resulted from someone firing a handgun in the direction of his vehicle. We don’t know what that has to do with his temperament. 

--One city councilor continues to attack Chief Medina politically and not for cause. Interestingly, there have been no calls from the police union for a vote of no confidence. Just one councilor. 

--APD overtime? What abuse has happened during Chief Medina’s tenure as chief? 

--Ask again about the DWI scandal in a few weeks. We have said since the beginning this is more about a broken criminal justice system. Chief Medina took responsibility for getting to the bottom of APD’s problems and worked with the FBI to make that happen. 

As for the shootings at Coronado Mall, Ask the management there why they chose to post another law enforcement agency there under the former Sheriff. 

The office also attached  "a list of accomplishments" and a rebuttal to Councilor Louie Sanchez's criticism of Chief Medina. Here is that list.

LIKE BOSTON? 

Reader Bruce Shah writes: 

More and more this city is looking like the Boston I left 30 years ago. One party rule sucks no matter which party it is. Nice summary on Medina/Keller and the AWOL Federal Monitor. Thank you!  

 SPECIAL SESSION

MLG initially gave a special legislative session an 80 percent chance of happening then upped it to 85 percent. Now it's 100 percent. A special session dealing with crime has been called for Thursday, July 18. It is anticipated that it will last several days. 

The Governor's announcement:

(The Governor) will call the New Mexico Legislature into a special session on Thursday, July 18 to take up additional public safety protections that New Mexicans demand. Gov. Lujan Grisham said she decided to convene a special session to allow lawmakers to finish what they started during the 30-day session. Based on discussions with legislative leadership, the governor anticipates that the special session will be completed within several days. “While we made some progress toward a safer New Mexico during the 30-day day session, we agree that we must do more,” Gov. Lujan Grisham said. “The special session in July will enable us to deliver additional statutory changes that reduce the danger and risk New Mexico communities face every day. The best proposals for making our state safer will be under consideration, and I welcome input from my colleagues in the legislature.” The July 2024 special session will be the fifth special session of the legislature during Gov. Lujan Grisham’s tenure as governor.

The state GOP reaction: 

When New Mexicans hear that Gov. Lujan Grisham is calling a special session to address public safety, a chill runs down their spines because her past actions prove that she is not interested in taking measures against criminals, but rather against law-abiding citizens. The Democrats are totally to blame for New Mexico's out-of-control crime. They need to explain why public safety wasn't their priority during the previous legislative session despite holding a majority in both chambers of the state legislature. During the last session, Republicans proposed several bills aimed at increasing penalties for multiple crimes, ending catch and release, and securing the border. Democrats killed every single one. Recently, the Governor expressed her intention not to take additional measures to secure New Mexico’s Southern border, even if she were to call a special session. She cannot claim to care about public safety while ignoring the numerous problems stemming from our open border, including the rampant influx of fentanyl, alarming prevalence of human trafficking, and criminal cartel activity. Despite this, the Governor is planning to spend hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans' tax dollars to convene an additional session that could result in another waste of time or in law-abiding citizens' rights being infringed upon. For the sake of New Mexicans, I hope that the Governor will engage in meaningful conversations with Republicans and heed their advice on addressing the criminal issues plaguing our state to ensure that this special session will be productive.

The Democratic legislative leadership reaction:

House Speaker Javier Martínez (D-Albuquerque), Majority Floor Leader Gail Chasey (D-Albuquerque), Majority Whip Reena Szczepanski (D-Santa Fe), and Majority Caucus Chair Ray Lara (D-Chamberino) issued the following statement: 

We anticipated this announcement and we share the Governor’s commitment to ensuring all New Mexicans can feel safe in their homes and communities. We also want all of our neighbors to be able to get the help they need when they or a loved one are struggling with mental or behavioral health issues. In the coming weeks and months, it will be critical for us as elected leaders to work together with stakeholders and experts to develop meaningful solutions to these challenges. In order to be responsible public servants and stewards of taxpayer dollars, we must enter the special session with a set of achievable goals that will genuinely make our communities safer, improve access to healthcare and services, and protect the rights of New Mexicans. In recent sessions, we have made significant progress toward making our streets safer and addressing the root causes of crime. We look forward to building on that progress in this special session, as well as in the upcoming 60-day legislative session, which is just around the corner.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.   

E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com

Call it the battle of the Democratic titans. Because it is. But it's not necessarily the candidates on the ballot. MLG and House Speaker Javier Martinez have a pleasant enough relationship but behind the scenes this primary season they are in a toe-to-toe battle in a key northern Democratic House Primary that could impact future state policy. 

The latest finance reports show that MLG has pumped $8,000 from her campaign accounts into the coffers of progressive Dem Anita Gonzales as Gonzales tries for the third time to oust conservative Dem Rep. Ambrose Castellano in District 70 which covers most of San Miguel county and a part of Torrance.

As seen at the top of this post, the Guv is hosting a fund-raiser for Gonzales tonight in Santa Fe that tops out at $2,500 a pop. 

Speaker Martinez is right behind her plowing $5,500 from his personal account and $500 in in-kind donations from his Speaker Fund into Castellano's effort.  

Castellano report here. Gonzales report here.

The heated money race has drawn an ethics complaint from former state Rep. Daymon Ely alleging that Castellano "violated state law by paying for personal expenses from his campaign account--for everyday expenses like gas reimbursements, regularly eating out, hotel stays in Albuquerque. . . 

Castellano's said of the complaint filed with the State Ethics Commission: "I welcome a fair and legal process but believe my campaign is in compliance with laws and regulations."

 You might wonder why Martinez, a progressive, is supporting Castellano. Well, a check of our exclusive April 10 blog making known that Martinez is backing all Democratic House incumbents--no matter their ideological bent--answers that question. 

And Castellano was all eyes when that blog hit, saying on social media:

In a recent insightful article by Joe Monahan, the dedication of our Speaker in steadfastly supporting his members has been highlighted. It is heartening to see such unity and strength within our leadership, particularly in times that call for solidarity and resolve. I extend my sincere gratitude to the Speaker for his unwavering commitment and support. His leadership exemplifies the values we hold dear and underscores the importance of standing together.

Thanks for the acknowledgment, Ambrose, but flattery will get you nowhere around here. However, a down to the wire, scrappy primary contest in the heart of the North does do the trick.

WHAT A RACE

Castellano shrugs off MLG's endorsement of Gonzales, claiming it would have no effect. But any impact at all could be enough in a race that could be as tight as the lug nuts on one of those '56 Chevy's gracing the front yards of Vegas.  

MLG is not a down the line progressive but Castellano's pro-life and pro-guns stances combined with his unabashed backing by the oil and gas industry is enough to move her to the front of the line for Gonzales. 

Speaker Martinez endorsement

The Guv's donations to Gonzales amount to nearly 26 percent of what she received in the October thru April period when she raised a total of $31,000 and reported $25,000 in cash on hand for the final two months of her duel with Castellano, a general contractor and rancher who was first elected in 2020.

That year he beat Gonzales in the Dem primary by the razor thin margin of 62 votes or 41.1 percent to 39.9. The remainder went to a third candidate

They had a rematch in the '22 primary and it was another nail-biter with Castellano prevailing 51% to 49 or just 78 votes. 

Money has been a problem for Gonzales, 44, who has been heavily outspent by Castellano. Apart from the Governor's big give, her major donations are on the small side and from individuals not corporations. But compared to her previous primaries with Castellano her financial condition is improved and that gubernatorial fund-raiser tonight will help.

Meanwhile, Castellano reports raising $85,000 in the recent six month period, not an overwhelming advantage over his foe. But the oil boys made the difference. Marathon Oil and Occidental each donated $5,000 and Exxon came with $3,000. As of April 1, Castellano had $65,000 in cash on hand.

Big oil's involvement gives added significance to this race for impact on state policy in addition to the battle between House progressives and Dem conservatives for more of the Roundhouse power pie (not that MLG or the Speaker have turned down oil donations).

Gonzales is not waving her progressive flag too high in the district where moderate Hispanics dominate and where a Hispanic woman trying to take down a Hispanic man still has electoral implications. Both factors probably played a role in her earlier defeats. 

THE PERSONALITIES

On the campaign websites its jobs and inflation for her, not guns or choice. Castellano has been talking rural New Mexico values, small business and economic growth. The communities are well aware of their split on the social issues from previous encounters.

Rep. Castellano

This is also a battle of personalities. Castellano's is big enough to fill two ten gallon cowboy hats. His voters are loyalists even as critics charge he plays too much footsie with lobbyists.

Gonzales, an MBA who is the Deputy Director for New Mexico Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (NM MESA), is rooted deep in the community, a native of Las Vegas with a list of community involvements that would take a separate blog to list. She takes hits for being too liberal for the region.

MLG has taken Gonzales under her wing but she is not running for re-election and is free to roam about the campaign trail in any direction she chooses. 

Speaker Martinez has made the shrewd move of backing all his House Democrats whose votes he will need to retain his post, but it leaves the progressives in the cold and perhaps eyeing a future power move against the House's #1. 

This race has it all. The Governor, Speaker, Big Oil, progressives versus conservatives, a third emotional rematch and the treachery and delight of Northern New Mexico La Politica. Heck, we might have to move the blog to the Las Vegas Plaza Hotel for a week. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Medina and Keller

APD Chief Harold Medina is leaving his job--but there's a catch. The Chief says he won't give up the reins to his controversial reign until December 2025. That just happens to coincide with the end of Mayor Tim Keller's second term in office. 

Keller says he plans to seek a third term next year and with Medina signaling that he will not be around for a third, the plan is obviously to remove the controversial Medina as a campaign issue. 

Well, good luck with that. 

--Medina has become somewhat of an albatross around Keller's neck as the ABQ crime scene settles into permanently higher rates, even though they have dropped from the spiked levels reached during Covid. 

--Then there is the rate of fatal police shootings, higher than ever in modern city history and the highest in the United States. This despite a decade long presence by the Department of Justice to bring that rate down. 

--Add to it the millions spent on a Federal Monitor for APD who has continually ghosted the city without repercussions, collecting his outsized checks but remaining a phantom.

--Then there is Medina's recent bizarre auto accident that critically injured an innocent civilian and brought into questions the Chief's temperament. 

--There are also problems at the City Council with a handful of the lawmakers expressing no faith in Medina but unable to garner a Council majority to approve a no-confidence resolution in the chief.

--There's more. The look the other way mentality when it comes to the huge amount of overtime pay going out the door at APD continues, despite Keller calling out the abuse when he was State Auditor as have other Auditors.

--Keller and company and public officials elsewhere continue to argue that the crime rate is down and that this is a perception problem. But that's only half true. ABQ homicides, for example, are down from the Covid spike but well above the pre-Covid rate.

--The APD DWI scandal that apparently goes back years continued under Medina's watch, a commentary on the checks and balances in the department.

--Also, the nature of crime--not only its frequency--is what raises public alarm.  

--Guns going off at Coronado Mall--the state's largest. 

--Brazen fatal shootings and others in the heart of Downtown. 

--Open air and ubiquitous drug use in the War Zone in the SE Heights. 

--Property crimes that reveal little fear among the city's drug-fueled criminal class. 

MAYOR 2025

Medina has been chief three years and under state retirement rules his high salary as chief--north of $200,000--will be applied to his retirement benefits. He could be eligible for as much as 90 percent of his current pay for the rest of his life. So Medina's decision to retire is not a shocker but as it is often the case with Medina it comes with a political angle, similar to his bobbing and weaving over the fatal police shootings and the ongoing crime wave

Keller may or not get re-elected. We won't know the lay of the land  until those hoping to replace him step forward. But if he fails to win again his decision to keep Medina will not be a fatal error. That would have happened soon after he took office in 2017 and promised a national search for a chief but ended up picking one from within the culturally dysfunctional APD. That pick didn't last but the culture did.

Medina has lasted but so has the lack of progress in reforming APD exemplified by the DWI scandal and the crime rate which can be partially explained by the pandemic but not fully. Medina or no Medina that will be key to determining the outcome of next year's mayoral election. 

DEBATING THE CANDIDATES

Domenici

Nella Domenici is trying to shed the heavy baggage that would keep her from mounting a serious challenge to Dem US Senator Martin Heinrich but the Democrats are determined to make her carry the burdensome cargo right up until Election Day. 

The 63 year old first-time candidate is now trying to bump from the campaign trail both Trump and abortion, the two super-charged issues that have painted New Mexico Republicans into a corner--and a very small corner at that. 

In a podcast interview, Domenici, daughter of the late GOP US Sen. Pete Domenici, sought to separate herself from Trump who lost New Mexico by ten points to Biden four years ago (54-44) and is poised to lose it again in '24. She also offered more substance on her abortion stance after her first interview last month that was skimpy on details.

On Trump, the leader of her Republican Party and soon-to-be '24 presidential nominee, she declared:

The use of the word "independent" is telling as she faces the long-odds task of keeping her losing margin in big Blue Bernalillo County to manageable levels and without alienating hard-core Trumpers elsewhere who are essential to pulling off an upset.

Because of her father's pedigree as a moderate Republican, she may have some luck convincing voters that she does not worship at the altar of Trump but the Dems will spend big money to block the pivot. 

ON ABORTION

Heinrich

Her fuller stance on abortion, explained in the podcast, is more problematic. It came after Trump announced that he was against a national abortion ban but before the court ruling in Arizona that bans just about all abortions under an 1864 law. She said:

NO JOKE

Oh my. What could have been. Imagine this here and now it's happening right across our border:

TSMC ’s Arizona subsidiary is set to receive up to $6.6 billion in U.S. government funding under a preliminary agreement announced by the Biden administration. The funding, under the U.S. CHIPS and Science Act, will support Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co.’s more than $65 billion investment in three cutting-edge fabrication plants in Phoenix, according to the nonbinding agreement. 

While chip maker Intel in Rio Rancho is also expanding it's not the game changer state economic planners are still looking for as they seek the elusive "diversification" of the economy. But the longtime cornerstones of the economy are solid. 

--New Mexico is now the second largest producer of oil in the USA, trailing only neighboring Texas. And the bull market still has legs, with peak production still several years away.

--Los Alamos National Labs is seeing unprecedented job and budget growth as the "pit" production program for nuclear weapons gets underway and will last for years.

--It's not on the scale of Los Alamos but ABQ's Sandia National Labs is also seeing steady job and budget growth. 

--The large footprint of ABQ's Kirtland Air Force Base remains and is not threatened by federal closure but NM base watchers are keeping an eye on Cannon AFB in Clovis since restructuring there transferred over 300 personnel to Arizona.

Back on the diversification front, economic gurus are nervous about a $1 billion investment in a solar manufacturing plant announced last year by Singapore-based Maxeon Solar Technologies at ABQ's Mesa Del Sol. Maxeon's stock has since plumbed new lows. In fact it hit a new all-time low of $2.33 on Wednesday. The company is sensitive to higher interest rates and is now valued at only $150 million. 

Federal subsides, however, are key to that Maxeon ABQ invesment and a favorable announcement is expected soon.

And the stock of billionaire Richard Branson's Virgin Galactic, the chief tenant of the NM Spaceport, has also been trading at new lows as doubts continue about the viability of the company's plans to put thousands of thrill seekers paying hundreds of thousands dollars apiece to be launched into space. As with Maxeon, this company important to the state traded Wednesday at a new all-time low of only $1.04 a share. At that price the company is valued under $450 million, crashing from multi-billions in valuation. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Speaker Martinez

Progressives targeting high-profile conservative Democrats like Rep. Patty Lundstrom won't be getting any help from House Speaker Javier Martinez. In fact, his political arm says, Martinez and his Speaker Fund will be supporting all incumbent Democrats this primary cycle even as progressives try to enlarge their numbers by going after Lundstrom and others.

That's not shocking since the current roster of House Democrats made Martinez the Speaker. And even though he stripped Lundstrom of her powerful House Appropriations Committee chairmanship in a show of strength after she ran against him for Speaker, his punishment does not extend to vindictiveness as is often the case in La Politica.

Lundstorm from District 9 in Gallup has has two June primary opponents with Christopher Hudson endorsed by the Better Future for NM PAC run by a trio of progressive consultants. But they may want to offer an early concession. Besides having two candidates splitting the anti-Lundstrom vote, she has nearly $280,000 in cash on hand, says her latest report, while Hudson has just $2,900. The other challenger has raised no money at all. 

In fact, Lundstrom's cash beats out the progressive PAC which reports $262,000 in cash on hand but has to cover a bunch of targeted races with that money and anymore they can raise in the short time before early voting begins. 

If Lundstrom does indeed retain her seat it is critically important to state politics because Lundstrom has the force of personality and a long record of Democratic conservatism. As long as she sticks around that viewpoint will create strength and cohesion for her fellow conservative Dems even as the chamber is dominated by progressives. 

The Speaker's decision to support all incumbents--including Lundstrom--could also be critical down the road if restless progressives challenge his leadership.

Another reveal in the finance reports is the strong financial position of Speaker Martinez whose Speaker Fund reports $377,000 in cash on hand plus his personal campaign account with $76,000 in cash.

HOUSE ACTION (CONT.)

Dr. Anjali Taneja

Let's pick up where we left off yesterday and take a look at more of the state House campaign reports where there are contested primaries. 

In the race to replace longtime Dem Rep. Gail Chasey in ABQ SE Heights District 18, the four way contest quickly became a three way race with lobbyist Marianna Anaya raising $70,000 in the six month period and family medical doctor Anjali Taneja close behind with $66,000. Nurse Gloria Doherty came with $32,000. 

Anaya is the chief sex harassment accuser of Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto. Her list of contributions is a who's who of progressives including Senate President Mimi Stewart who has no love lost for Ivey-Soto. She had her committee give Anaya $5,500. Stewart has over $90,000 in her campaign account. 

Anaya reports $55,000 in cash on hand for the final weeks and Taneja $60,000. The doctor received strong support from the Indian community as well as fellow medical doctors and is positioned as the chief rival to Anaya in what has become a race to watch. Doherty reported $31,000 in cash and appeared to lean more on out of state and out of ABQ contributions than the other two. Candidate Juan Larrañaga has just $1,500 in cash on hand. No Republican is running for the seat so the primary winner takes the prize.

In District 31 in the far ABQ NE Heights, the only Bernalillo County House seat to be represented by a Republican--the retiring Rep. Bill Rehm--there is a three way primary for the GOP nomination. Nicole Chavez has the money lead with $50,000 in cash on hand but Sarah Jane Allen comes with $26,000. Chavez is the favorite but she did lose a House race to Dem Pam Herndon in District 28 two years ago. Democrats will make a serious play to win the seat in November with Vickey Estrada-Bustillo reporting $30K in cash. She is unopposed in the primary. 

In District 41 centered in Rio Arriba County, there was talk that Dem Rep. Susan Herrera, a progressive, could be in for a strong challenge from conservative Margaret Campos. But it appears that challenge is fizzling. Campos reported just $48 in her campaign coffers while Herrera came with $18,000.

There's no primary in House District 38 in Socorro and environs but the general election money battle is fully underway. Former GOP Rep. Rebecca Dow, who represented much of the district before leaving to run for Governor, reports $87,000 in cash on hand. Tara Jaramillo, who won the district in '22 in a cliff hanger, reports $67,000 in cash. This will be near the top of the races to watch come this fall.

DEM INFIGHTING (CONT.)

As New Mexico in large part has become a one party state the infighting between the moderates and progressive Dems intensifies as we are seeing in this cycle. Here's another example from moderate Dem and former Lt,. Gov. Diane Denish commenting on the progressive PACattack against ABQ NE Heights Rep. Marian Matthews:

There is absolutely no proof that progressive candidate Greg Seeley has a strong history of supporting reproductive choices (and comes no where close to Matthews’ strong support on the issue), paid family medical leave (PFML) or environmental protection. His website is focused primarily on his veterans experience, which is valuable, and his many jobs over seven years with elected reps and government agencies but that simply doesn’t translate to a “long history of support for…) any of these issues. Rep. Matthews problem is she is smart, pays attention to detail, tries to protect caregivers (which Dems wanted to eliminate in PFML) and asks tough questions that apparently can’t be answered by bill sponsors. 

Candidate Seeley, of course, is welcome to respond. 

After progressive Dem Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino came to the defense of embattled Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto on the blog recently the email rolled in and we're still trying to catch up. Here is reader Charity Townsend: 

In response to Senator Ortiz Y Pino’s comments last Thursday, when it comes to who stands with women and who are the reproductive health care champions we should support in the upcoming election I trust Planned Parenthood. If an incumbent has been good on their issues they will support the incumbent. But in the case of SD15 and Daniel Ivey-Soto, Planned Parenthood has proudly endorsed his opponent Heather Berghmans. 

THE BOTTOM LINES 

In the Tuesday monster blog on the campaign money reports, we omitted the name of Republican Frida Susana Vasquez from the Senate District 9 race. She had $212 in cash on hand. And when we reported on the new GOP House leadership we had the incorrect party breakdown in the House. It is currently 45 Dems, 24 Republicans and one vacancy.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

The tense race in the winner-take-all chase for the Democratic nomination for Bernalillo County District Attorney could be tight as a drum and despite being confined to only one county this potential nail-biter now leads the state for money raised in reports filed Monday with the SOS.

(All state and county candidate reports here. The period covered is October 3, 2023 – April 1, 2024.)

Sam Bregman, appointed to the DA's post by MLG to fill a vacancy, is trying to shake a decades-long losing streak since winning an ABQ City Council seat in the 90's. To do it the noted trial attorney and former state Dem Party chairman has raised a total of $410,000. He reports $319,000 cash on hand for the final weeks of Primary 2024.

Former US Attorney Damon Martinez went into his own pocket and loaned himself $170,000 to keep pace with Bregman. Martinez, who got in the race later than his opponent, raised a total of $302,000 and had $204,000 in cash on hand.

In individual contributions, Bregman reported that a property concern of Democratic oldtimer and businessman Paul Blanchard came with $5,000. Trial attorney Lisa Curtis donated $2,000. And another Lisa--but this one a Republican--gave the sometimes black-hatted Bregman $1,000. Long ago, Lisa Torraco ran for DA--that was when the GOP didn't take a walk in the contest. 

Bueno Foods, maker of popular Mexican foods, gave Martinez $2,500. Attorney Antonia Roybal Mack came with $1,000. And Martinez had his own GOP supporter. Former NM GOP Chairman Edward Lujan donated $200.

The R's have no candidate on the ballot so they might as well pick sides among the Dems. 

And how about this. Bregman and Martinez have both spent $98,000 so far. To be exact Bregman reports $98,364 in spending and Martinez $98,061. Is that a prelude to how tight this race will be Election Night? Could be and with no Republican running in November this all or nothing primary battle is going to go over the top and under the belt. We promise. . .

SENATE ACTION

Heather Balas

We enlisted the help of our Senior Alligators (longtime trusted sources) to help bring you a cascade of money report news. 

--Retiring GOP Senate leader Greg Baca reports $150,000 in cash on hand, much of which he will likely hand out to fellow GOP senators through the course of the election year. 

--In ABQ's Senate District 13, incumbent Bill O'Neill was outraised by Dem primary challenger Debbie O'Malley. She raised $60,000 and had $51,000 in cash on hand. O'Neill raised about $32,000 for the cycle and reports $27,000 cash on hand for June 4 primary. 

In what may be the hottest GOP legislative primary, Steve McCutcheon, the rancher appointed to fill a SE NM Senate vacancy by MLG, reports raising $104,000, with cash on hand of $43,000. The oil boys came through for fellow oil boy Larry Scott. The state rep going up against McCutcheon raised $203,000 and had $184,000 in cash. This one is all R all the time. The primary winner takes the prize.

In ABQ's District 15 in what is the hottest Dem Senate primary, progressive Heather Berghmans reports raising $87,000 with cash on hand of $65,000. Moderate Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto reported $128,000 cash on hand but $111,000 of it was raised before October 2023.. This seat is a top target of the progressives and their PAC(s) are targeting Ivey-Soto but a surprise endorsement of Ivey-Soto from progressive Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino has been a booster shot for the incumbent.

In District 30 state senate action, former state Senator Clemente Sanchez is trying to get back to the Senate to represent the Grants area and environs. He had money left over from his last campaign outing when he lost the seat and reports $137,000 in cash on hand. His opponent, Angel Charly, a progressive fave challenging the conservative Sanchez, reports raising $50,000 with $35,000 in cash on hand. The state's leading progressive PAC is expected to supplement Charly with outside spending.

In Senate District 9 on ABQ's westside and Corrales and Placitas, public policy expert Heather Balas and Cindy Nava are battling for the Dem nomination for a seat being vacated by Dem Brenda McKenna. Balas reports cash on hand of $51,253; Nava cash is at $28,610. Balas is the moderate and Nava the progresssive so the Balas money muscle is perking up the moderates' hopes. The winner of the primary will face either Republican Audrey Trujillo, who reports $21,600 in cash, or Frida Susana Vasquez who had $212 in cash on hand. 

In the GOP state senate primary in District 21 in the NE Heights, the last ABQ Senate district represented by a Republican, Nicole Tobiassen reported raising $38,000 in the latest reporting period and $52,000 in cash on hand. Former GOP state Senator Michael Wiener reported $46,000 in cash on hand. Most of his donations came from the Wiener Family Trust which came with $50,000 in loans and he loaned himself $10,000. Candidate Craig Morton reported just $2,000 in cash on hand.

HOUSE ACTION 

Rep. Matthews

In ABQ House District 27 Rep. Marian Matthews has been targeted by progressives who have fielded Greg Seeley against her in the Dem primary. But Matthews, an attorney, is off to a solid fund-raising start, reporting cash in hand of $118,000 versus just $10,600 for Seeley. 

Up north in House District 70 in the Las Vegas area, it's another rematch between Rep. Ambrose Castellano and Anita Gonzales. He won the first two by minuscule margins. Gonzales reports $26,000 in cash on hand and Castellano reports a cash kitty of $63,000. Looks like this one will again keep Las Vegas up late on Election Night. 

The progressive PAC Better Future for NM that is heavy into the legislative contests reported cash on hand of $263,000 and spent $76,000 in the reporting period.

More on the money races as the week continues. For now thanks for joining us and remember. . .

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Rep. Alan Martinez

For a minute it appeared that state House GOP members might hew to the middle and choose Rep. Gail Armstrong as their new House Minority Leader. Instead there was a swing to the hard right and former House Minority Whip Rod Montoya of Farmington defeated Armstrong to become the new leader. Armstrong retains her role as Caucus Chair. Freshman Rep. Alan Martinez of Rio Rancho (District 23) is the new Minority Whip.

It's a return to power for Montoya, who served as the minority whip when he and House Minority Leader Jim Townsend left leadership following the poor GOP election results in 2022. But the GOP members turned back to Montoya, 57, a scrappy, confrontational lawmaker from Farmington who will now front the election year effort for the House GOP, including critical fundraising.

The House R's are overpowered by a Dem majority (45-24) that is not expected to change substantially with this year's election.

Rep. Martinez, a retired career employee of the state veterans department, and Rep. Armstrong, a rancher and business owner, are seen as more moderate members of the caucus. 

The House Dem dominance has led to a topsy-turvy pattern in GOP leadership. Townsend departed to run for the Senate and Minority Leader Ryan Lane of Farmington resigned not only from leadership but also from his legislative seat. 

Lane tried to work collaboratively at times with the Dems but lacking experience and with the Trumpers breathing down his neck, he got lost in the maze of Roundhouse politics. 

Supporters of Montoya, a real estate broker who has been in the House since 2015, like his backbone. Critics dismiss him as ineffective and abrasive. 

While serving as minority whip Montoya tussled with House Speaker Egolf. Now he will have a new foil in Speaker Javier Martinez.

WHERE GOP STANDS

Rep. Montoya

The House Republicans only register a heartbeat when they are able to form a coalition with conservative House Dems to defeat progressive legislation as they did this last session with the family medical leave act. Otherwise they suffer from a diminished relevance that has depleted their ranks of political heavyweights.

The House GOP put this spin on their new leadership: 

Representative Montoya, known for his powerful conservative message and bold presence on the House Floor, vows to take his vision directly to New Mexicans and focus on policies that promote education choice, job growth, safe communities, and affordable and reliable energy. Representative Martinez, as the new Whip, complements this vision with his commitment to public service and government accountability. His track record of working with diverse stakeholders is expected to be instrumental in advancing the Republican Caucus’s priorities. Representative Armstrong looks forward to using lessons she has learned across 30 years of business ownership to strengthen the Caucus.

The bottom line is that the GOP in the state House and the state at large is deeply isolated--almost historically so--but is still determined to rebuild by waiting for the Democrats to trip over themselves rather than redefine their party.

The waiting game has paid off in the past but since then the GOP and its positions on social issues has made it an anathema in a Democratic state, urgently needing a refocused party that can again attract moderate Dems and independents,.

That may happen when the Trump era ends but for now New Mexican politics is like an intramural contest between the progressive Dems and conservative Dems with the GOP House occasionally being called off the bench to participate.

Speaking of which. . . 

DEM PRIMARY INFIGHTING

A fiery rebuke of a progressive PAC attack on ABQ moderate Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto by progressive ABQ Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino has the PAC firing back.

The trio of  Dem consultants whose Better Future for NM PAC is seeking to defeat Ivey-Soto in the June Dem primary with challenger Heather Berghmans, sent out a fund-raising letter that the blog published last week and that revealed the well-financed PAC's conservative Dem primary targets.

Here's Amanda Cooper and company of the Better Future NM progressive PAC doubling down on their Ivey-Soto hits in the wake of Ortiz y Pino's defense:

In response to your blog published on April 4th, history cannot be rewritten once it has been documented. You don’t have to search for long to find when Sen. Ivey-Soto refused to support access to abortion care after the fall of Roe or to pinpoint his history of obstruction, for example to paid sick leave. Taking the right vote during an election year does not erase history, but let’s not lose sight of the elephant in the room: multiple credible accounts of harassment in the Roundhouse. Let’s not forget that the report by the independent special counsel (hired by legislators) found "credible evidence" in harassment allegations against Sen. Ivey-Soto. The ethics and accountability system at the Roundhouse is broken, but the voters have the opportunity to help make an unsafe space safer by voting for a change on June 4.  

Former Dem State Rep and attorney Daymon Ely, who was a key player in ethics rules and legislation, came with this:

Your readers should know that the process used to investigate Sen. Ivey-Soto was broken, making it impossible to hold legislators accountable. Senator Ivey-Soto was investigated by a well-respected attorney. He concluded that there was probable cause to the claims of sexual harassment. However, because of a flaw in our rules, the Senate was allowed to stop the prosecution in its tracks by the interim ethics committee reaching a tie vote of 2-2. This had two consequences: (1) the process could not move forward; and (2) the Senator could (and did) proclaim his innocence while, at the same time, the complainant was gagged from talking to anyone. As a legislator, I worked to change the rule on the possibility of a tie. And, in the following session, the Majority Whip, Reena Szczepanski, removed the gag provision. No one should confuse the conclusion of that process as a vindication for Sen. Ivey-Soto. 

The voters' decision on Ivey-Soto comes down to a political assessment, not a legal conclusion because  as Ely said none has been rendered--an opinion from the solo investigator is not a conclusion and as  stated no prosecution is contemplated. 

CONSERVATIVE DEMS SPEAK

Campos

Margaret Campos, seeking to unseat progressive Dem Rep. Susan Herrera in District 41 centered in Rio Arriba County, also hit back against the progressive attack against her that claimed she is "well-funded by oil and gas and other special interests."

Campos pointed to a $5,500 campaign contribution to Herrera from Chevron lobbyist Partick Killen. She notes that Herrera lists Killen's employment as a "lobbying organization" failing to mention Chevron. 

That could be an effective hit. A fallacy of state politics is that the oil boys are all Republican all the time. Not so. They have given to virtually all members of the Legislature. No one is turning down that money. 

Progressives can pretend otherwise but big oil has a seat at all the tables in Santa Fe and Campos' hit on Herrera proves the point.

Marsella Duarte, a conservative Dem is running against Rep. Yanira Gurrola in the House District 16 Dem primary on ABQ's westside. The progressive PAC said in their fundraising letter that "Duarte was  recruited and is supported by high-profile corporate lobbyists." Duarte responds:

When did it become wrong to be labeled a conservative and right to be to be known as a progressive? I am neither. Pundits would have the voters in my district believe that I am a one-dimensional candidate with a limited thought process. . .That could not be further from the truth. It’s a polished lie. I will listen to everyone whose agenda is to improve my west side community. My campaign is fueled by a lifetime living in my District. I will represent it with dignity and gratitude. I know what life can be like when all hope is lost. And I know the joy when hope is regained. Conservative or not, my vote is my vote. I was not hand-picked by a group whose goal is to lead a legislator around by the nose.

MONEY WATCH

GOP US Senate candidate Nella Domenici reports that from mid-January when she announced her candidacy through the end of March her campaign has raised $1.25 million. However, that includes $500,000 the wealthy hopeful contributed to her own coffers. Aside from that she raised $750,000. 

Dem Senator Martin Heinrich has not done an early release of his first quarter fund-raising numbers which are due at the FEC April 15. At last count in October he had $3.5 million in cash on hand. 

Domenici has healthy initial fund-raising but without firmer signs she is a real threat she may have to rely even more on her personal funds to keep pace with the two term Senator. She has the money. The question could be if she has the desire to dig deeper into her bank account which will be answered in due time.

Her campaign comes with this spin:

Despite only being in the race for just over two months, the campaign received donations from more than 1,100 individuals. Nella's total is significantly larger than any GOP U.S. Senate candidate raised in New Mexico in the first quarter of an election year. The previous record for a Republican was set in 2012 with $760,000.

But if you don't count the personal funds Domenici has contributed, she falls $10,000 short of that 2012 record. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.  

Sen. Ortiz y Pino

The progressive onslaught against centrist ABQ Dem. Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto, the latest of which was carried on the Wednesday blog from a fund-raising letter from consultants urging that Ivey-Soto be defeated at the June 4 primary, has been met with fierce pushback--and by a progressive Senator. 

ABQ Dem District 12 Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, whose liberal credentials are unquestioned, comes to the defense of Ivey-Soto who has been under siege over sex harassment charges and his voting record. He is begin challenged in the primary by progressive Heather Berghmans. 

Oritz y Pino writes: 

 Joe, I’m furious after reading the letter from Amanda Cooper, Nick Voges, and Jim Gollum you reprinted in yesterday's blog. Three separate, major falsehoods in what they said about Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto cannot go unchallenged. I have known Amanda and Nick for many years and am shocked that they could have penned such an effort at misinformation. Potential donors need to know they are resorting to fabrication in trying to defeat Daniel. 

When Amanda, Nick, and Jim allege that Senator Ivey-Soto “refused to support the legalization of abortion after the fall of Roe v. Wade,” I have no idea what they are talking about. The truth is that not only did he vote to legalize abortion rights in both 2019 and 2021, he was part of the Senate presentation on this issue, speaking on the Senate floor in favor of it as part of the coordinated presentation of these bills. As long as I have known Senator Ivey-Soto (including his service on the committee I chair), Daniel has been a stalwart ally supporting the fight for abortion rights. 

Their letter said that the Senator “voted against paid family and medical leave.” Senator Ivey-Soto, whom all his colleagues in the senate know is a stickler when it comes to reading the details of bills, may have voted against the 2023 version of the bill, but voted for the bill in 2024. I was there when he told our Democratic caucus that his change in vote came as a result of changes in the language in the bill that satisfied his concerns the previous year. So their claim does not tell the truth: he supported the measure when the bill matured from one year to the next. To me that attention to detail in getting it right is a quality we should all want in our legislators. 

Berghmans

Finally, the PAC operatives repeat the allegation that Daniel Ivey-Soto is a "disgraced incumbent" one who has faced "multiple credible claims of sexual harassment, bullying, and ethics violations." When did so-called "progressives" begin equating allegations with guilt? Daniel has not been found guilty of any of those allegations. He has demonstrated great character in the face of unproven claims. It would be a great loss if the Democratic voters of his district fall for this package of falsehoods and fail to re-nominate him to the Senate. His work there has set high standards for diligence, attention and transparency. I certainly count him among the legislators New Mexico has benefitted from in the past—and now I hope for four more years. 

Shame on Amanda Cooper, Nick Voges, and Jim Gollum for these lies and deceptions. They may prefer another candidate, but they shouldn't be permitted to resort to falsehoods to try to promote someone without half the background and independence that Senator Daniel Ivey-Soto has. 

Yep. The Dem primary battle in Ivey-Soto's District 15 is going to be a brass knuckles, take no prisoners brawl.  And you're going to see it all right here. But you already knew that.

COMMENTARY CORNER

Netherwood Park

Talk about the crime not fitting the punishment. 

Former Lt. Governor Diane Denish used her influence with MLG to have her veto $200,000 targeted for a playground at Netherwood Park in ABQ neighborhood and Denish took plenty of heat for it. But this ageist rant from the ABQ newspaper sounds like a verbal lynching, not reasoned opposition.

We get that Democrat Denish hates the Journal and has for years and that the Journal despises her. But is taking her bait and talking about her and seniors like their irrelevant rag dolls a mature response? 

Some samples from the rant:

You don’t have to be a man to be part of the Ole Boys Club in New Mexico politics. You can be a 70s-something female, too.

Is there ever consensus in a neighborhood on anything? Isn’t two-thirds support enough to override a grumpy old woman’s opposition?

As for Denish, she should focus her golden years at yelling at kids to get off her lawn

And if the sound of kids having fun outdoors bothers Denish and other Scroogies in her neighborhood, they can close their windows and mumble themselves to sleep. 

"Mumble themselves to sleep?" The average newspaper reader is probably near 70 these days so beating up on seniors doesn't seem to be the most persuasive tool.

More to the point. Denish lobbied the Governor. Contrary to the implication of the news story and the editorial and the claim of the sponsor of the vetoed appropriations, that is done all the time. And we mean all the time.

It's fair to ask whether Denish's influence outweighed those of her neighbors but was it unethical for her to call the Governor to express her opinion as a private citizen? Certainly not. 

Also, floating a flimsy survey where people emailed City Hall and implying it is scientific proof that the neighborhood was dying for the playground is plain old phooey. (Oops, we're aging our self with that word). 

It's the ageist vilification that is the worst part of this tempest in a teapot. There hasn't been a playground at Netherwood Park for 75 years which is known for its expansive and unobstructed views. Not everyone wants to be around noisy kids. That's no crime and it is a weak peg for an all-out investigative report and an even weaker excuse for a diatribe that condemns an entire class of people for the sake of getting revenge on an old enemy. 

Now get off our lawn!

THE BOTTOM LINES

We recently blogged that Republican Jay Block is a former Sandoval county commissioner. He is a current commissioner whose term expires at the end of the year.

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