Big Bill
I now take you to the very epicenter of modern day New Mexico political power and report uncensored a raw, no-holds-barred meeting led by perhaps the most powerful figure in state history: Big Bill. This Roundhouse session was between the Legislative leadership and an impatient Guv. According to my senior Alligators, men who are accustomed to the most brutal tactics imaginable in the pursuit of power, the Guv strode into the room, looked around and bellowed at these top guns of La Politica: "You're fucking me!" The room was stunned, but there was more to come as Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez was singled out for particular scorn. "You don't return my calls...we're not communicating," berated Big Bill who has consolidated more power in his office than any previous governor.

Leader Sanchez, who indicated before the session that he would show a streak of independence, is said to have retorted that he is busy with his work and has things to do afterwards that have kept him from communicating with the leader of the Fourth Floor. What are those things? Playing racquetball for one, zinged Sanchez in a tense exchange that exposed the fault lines of the political game created over two centuries ago.

HIGH STAKES GAME
Leader Sanchez
PR wise the Guv has done well this session, but not much has passed yet and the results oriented chief executive is concerned that his pet proposals could get left on the table in the rush to go home in mid-March. He has also picked at the lawmakers for not approving his $29 million tax cut, for not giving state police bigger pay raises and for not fully funding a pre-kindergarten program. It's the Guv's fellow Dems holding things up. The R's love the tax cuts and have been bought off with capital outlay for their districts. Some D's are upset with policy--not liberal enough--and others want to assert Legislative power from what has been one of the most cowed Legislatures in history.

But the chance that little gets done is too big a chance to take with the governorship on the line in 06' and the Presidency itself beckoning in 08.' You don't get either without laying it on the line. "The Governor comes to play. If you are not prepared to stand your ground, or too fearful to defend yourself, you will die in the line of fire," commented one of the Alligators who has seen and done it all.

As the countdown begins on Legislature 05,' there will be more clashes of the heavyweights as final decisions are made on how billions of dollars will be disbursed. In years past, lawmakers have succumbed to heart attacks or taken to the bottle as the pressure became to great to bear. Now, the first heat from the flames of this year's battle have been felt. Only the most highly-skilled in the ancient arts of La Politica will be able to claim a seat at the table where Big Bill presides and where the battle for the power and glory is fully joined.

MARKS' CHALLENGE
Jason Marks
Can anyone save the dysfunctional NM Public Regulation Commission (PRC)?. That's the five member panel whose utility regulating members have had constant infighting and a commissioner, Shirley Baca, busted for pot possession. The newest Dem PRC member, Jason Marks, was able to get state insurance boss Eric Serna to back down from a bizarre fundraising scheme in which Eric raised money for a charitable foundation from the companies he's charged with regulating! Now, Marks has put up a web site he says will let him better communicate with the public. Good luck with the site Jason, but we also need a better PRC. For starters, how about meeting with Republican House leader Ted Hobbs and listening to some of his reform ideas?

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Mayor Larry Delgado
Forget Big Bill. Put Saint Pete on ice. Hands down, the most important New Mexico political figure of 2005 thus far has been Santa Fe Mayor Larry Delgado. How's that? Delgado touched off a coast-to-coast debate over the future of the nation's oldest capitol city when he proposed that the City Different purchase over two billion gallons of water from the Estancia Basin south of the city. It was a gutsy, in-your-face call rare for a politician; one that will ring in the ears of future generations of New Mexicans.

"Delgado has made public our dirty little secret. New Mexico does not have a water shortage as much as it has a water allocation problem. The move to reduce agricultural use and divert it to cities like Santa Fe will be the biggest issue of the century. Delgado is the first warrior in the battle," remarked a tapped-in Santa Fe politico.

Before his city council said no, Delgado not only wanted to spend $26 million to buy water rights from a group of agricultural users willing to sell, he wanted to put up another $100 million to pipe in the water! This, in one of the most "green" cities in America.

"Delgado may be accused of being in the pockets of the developers, but he's reflecting a vision of a lot of people. Agriculture is a declining industry. It's that water that city dwellers will eventually get. The screaming and kicking will go on for years, but when push comes to shove, I think Delgado's viewpoint will prevail. Trouble is, he probably won't be around to see it," said our Santa Fe insider.

Visionary or madman? Whatever the case, Santa Fe's Larry Delgado has secured himself a prominent place in the history of La Politica. Don't say we didn't tell you.

OUR RECORD BREAKING WEEK

We had a visitor explosion here this week and I want to welcome our many new readers. We have Heather Wilson to thank. We blogged of the GOP ABQ Congresswoman's difficulty with the Prez's hot-potato Social Security reform plan which was picked up by national blog Talking Points Memo. That link translated into over 6,000 new visitors here. I know we are in a sea change when it comes to media in the U.S., but I feel like I am riding a tidal wave. Thanks for your continued support.

MY MEDIA CORNER

Insiders at KOB-TV 4 in ABQ report that come April the station plans a 4 p.m. newscast to compete with KRQE-TV 13. Veteran Nelson Martinez is slated to anchor the program and will be paired with a female anchor. The new offering will expand KOB's news presence, but some insiders worry that it could strain manpower at the newsroom.....On its 10 p.m news last night, KOB-TV announced that "Eyewitness News has learned" that ex Mora State Rep. Bengie Regensburg was planning on challenging Big Bill for the 06' Dem Guv nomination. Hey Eyewitness News, you learned that from www.joemonahan.com Tuesday. Did you forget?......Dianne Anderson, formerly of KOAT-TV, had the line of the week when she told me at the launch party for her new radio gig: "I look forward to having bad hair days and no one knowing about them." The comely blonde will do an afternoon talk show on 106.3 FM in ABQ/S. Fe and will follow Larry Ahrens who will take on morning chores at the station come mid-March.

Over at liberal talk radio station KABQ AM 1350, listeners are getting a dose of a famous TV personality. Jerry Springer is on the air, sitting in for Randi Rhodes who's on medical leave. Springer is on the Air America affiliate here from 4 to 7 p.m. The station might want to pay a bit more attention to its product though. Often, two tapes are running at once making the program and news unintelligible. Of course, the R's would say the whole station, with or without technical problems, is unintelligible.

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The path to another term as NM Republican Party chair is becoming less cluttered for Allen Weh. The insiders report that ABQ businessman Tom Tinnin of the moderate wing of the party is done toying with the idea of challenging Weh. "He will not do it," a friend of Tinnin's reports. "A family member is battling illness and the timing is just not right, even though he thinks a change is needed." Tinnin told me over the holidays that he felt the GOP was giving Big Bill too much of a free ride.

Anti-Weh R's complain that the staff has grown larger at state headquarters while the criticisms of Big Bill have grown muted. Weh has not appeared on TV in months. The insiders also tell me they believe Weh could be ousted because the GOP central committee which meets in May to decide the chairmanship remains dominated by supporters of former party chair Ramsay Gorham who was ousted in a bloody internal coup last year. "We showed we could do it when we beat Mickey Barnett for national committeeman. If we could get Mickey, we can get Weh," analyzed a R operating from the deepest of covers. For now, most R's seem happy to say good riddance to leading the still-divided, but somewhat sleepy Grand old Party.

MY GREAT CHILE DEBATE

"A major cultural transgression," is how longtime politico and newsy Janet Blair characterized the misspelling of "chile" on the blog this week. One of our readers complained about Wal-Mart selling roasted "chili" and claiming it was from the "chili" capital of Hatch, NM, when it wasn't. They also claimed Wal-Mart was undercutting local "chili" growers. Janet was joined in sounding the three chile alarm bell by ex-New Mexicans Linda Doran and many other readers. They are all right. The correct spelling is c-h-i-l-e. And as punishment for this transgression I will spend a weekend in Amarillo.

MORE FROM THE CHILE FRONT

If you get the idea that chile is taken seriously in these parts, you're right. Take this e-mail sent to us from Steve Dawson, President of Hatch Chile Co. & Hatch Farms, Inc. in response to the Wal-Mart complainer: "We have marketed canned and glass food items under the Hatch Select trademark since 1987. We obtained our Federal trademark registration in 1991. No party can use the word "hatch" as it relates to green chile peppers, unless the chiles are grown in the Hatch Valley.

The word "hatch" is deemed to be geographically descriptive and is protected by Federal laws. Other examples: Florida Orange Juice and Washington Apples. Any company that intrudes on the rights of the Hatch Valley growers should be quickly notified they are breaking federal law. Many years ago Luc Longley, the basketball player from Australia, began growing green chiles in Australia and was going to label them as Hatch Chile. Through the years we have learned that the intruders are just not aware of the issue. I think a simple letter from Santa Fe to Wal-Mart would suffice."

Holy Enchiladas! Enough already. Memo to chile Rep. Cervantes and Sen. John Arthur Smith: let's get that letter out to Wal-Mart pronto.

Have some political news? Gossip? Speculation? Be my guest. E-mail me from the top right of this page and help your fellow political junkies keep up with the latest.

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Regensburg
Who needs the movies when you have New Mexico politics? The supply of drama and comedy seems to be ceaseless. Take the latest told to me exclusively by deep insiders: Ex Dem State Rep. Bengie Regensburg is looking to unseat Big Bill in 2006! The plot line for this one starts a couple of years ago when Bengie of Mora split with the Big Guy on a variety of issues and found himself facing a Big Bill sanctioned opponent in one Hector Balderas, who easily defeated Bengie in the Dem primary and went on to capture the seat.

Now, Bengie has resurfaced and the insiders say he has even started to print up literature touting his gubernatorial bid. Many of you will best remember Regensburg for providing glorious entertainment in his final legislative session last year (See my Feb. 17, 2004 archives) when he got into a fistfight with state police who were summoned to his hotel room to take him back to the House floor for a vote. Bengie's forthright stand in favor of cockfighting also put him on the political radar.

Can Benjie go the distance? The Dem Guv primary isn't until June of next year. But he isn't poor and he has one of the strongest motivations in politics: revenge. Sure, Big Bill will see this as a mere thorn in his side, but for political junkies waiting for the idle R's to get an actor on the stage, Bengie will be nominated for an Oscar. Like I said, who needs the movies when you have La Politica??

FIRST THERE WAS FRAN

Fran Langholf
In today's politics women shine. Stars like Heather Wilson, Diane Denish and Patsy Madrid are the rule, not the exception. But their careers are built on a platform constructed by the likes of New Mexico's Fran Langholf. She started out as a GOP volunteer in the 60's and went on to manage the NM office of U.S. Senator Pete Domenici for over 20 years and to become a trusted and loyal confidant of just about every top Republican power player of the last generation.

Pretty heady stuff for the diminutive redhead from Iowa, armed as she was with just some business school, not the advanced degrees of today. But in politics it's instinct and people skills that carry the day and Fran, who will be honored by Republicans at a dinner Wednesday night at the ABQ Marriott Pyramid, has an abundance of both.

When she labored for Domenici in his only losing campaign, the 1970 race for governor, she thought the loss was the end and told Pete so when he approached her about his first senate run in 72'. "What makes you think you can win? We haven't had a Republican Senator in 38 years," she declared.

But win he did and Pete's races since have been cakewalks. But Langholf also spread her energies to dozens of other contests, many of which she ached over as Republican losses mounted in the Democratic dominated 70's. But she was there for the turn and witnessed the election of a couple of Republican governors and continued to move the party along as executive director of the Bernalillo County GOP.

The bottom line on Fran is that she builds things that last. A lifelong career in politics, a marriage of 59 years and a legacy to the women of today who can look back at the political wilderness of yesteryear and thank the Fran Langholf's who carved the path out. The Wednesday dinner will honor Langholf and GOP volunteers with proceeds going to Langholf's favorite charity: the Bernalillo County GOP. Ticket info at 505-298-3214.

Have some political news? Gossip? Speculation? Be my guest. E-mail me from the top right of this page and help your fellow political junkies keep up with the latest.

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Gary Johnson
At least two New Mexicans are not thinking about past occupants of the White House on this President's Day. They're pondering the future occupants and whether they will be one of them. We all know Big Bill has 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue on his mind, but did you know that former NM Guv Gary Johnson also dreams of the ultimate power trip? Associates of the former two term governor say Johnson just might pop up as a 2008 GOP Prez candidate using the issue that makes people love him or hate him: drug legalization. Governor Gary would seem a natural for the Libertarian Party, but as one wag put it: "Who cares if you run as a Libertarian?"

Johnson, holed up in Taos enjoying the outdoor life since leaving office in 2002, has always enjoyed the limelight A run for Prez would win him media invites and speaking engagements, but do little to unite his already divided party. But Johnson always prided himself on being the anti-politician and rarely did consider the impact his policies had on the party. So far, on drug legalization Gary Johnson has not been shown to be a man ahead of his time. In fact, no notable elected official is carrying the banner. But that won't bother Gary if he does decide to attempt a quixotic White House campaign. He has spent a lifetime tilting against windmills. Stay tuned.

HATCHING A PLOT

This next item is barely political, but it could turn in that direction. A concerned reader asked us to give the issue a shove in the hope that a concerned state legislator or two might take notice. Here goes:

"Wal-Mart sells chili under the name Hatch chili. There is nothing illegal about using the name Hatch. Their chili is imported from Mexico. Last year they sold the chili for $10.00 a bag roasted. Most local grower cannot sell the chili for less than $15.00 dollars a bag roasted. Because of this, most local growers are dropping out of a NM tradition of growing chili. What can be done to bring this issue to light?"

Well, gentle reader it's under the light now. How about it southern NM lawmakers? Does this fellow have it right?

THE BIZARRE BLOG

My Thursday blog was a bit bizarre containing as it did the more than usual grammatical errors. According to longtime reader and former top NM Capitol Hill aide Jack Daum, and several others, I had three of them in just the opening sentence! They have since been corrected so I can look smart for posterity. I was in a hurry to finish up so I could head over to Arizona to hit the little white ball. That was interrupted by the mother of all rainstorms, but I did bring back some Arizona La Politica for you and will post it this week. Until then, thanks for your corrections, email and news tips and, most of all, your company.

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Rep. Pearce
The Chief of Staff to southern NM GOP U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce is headed for the exits, and this latest and highest-profile departure from Pearce's den has the coffee klatchers speculating. Jim Richards, a congressional veteran and NM native who worked five years for Pearce's predecessor Joe Skeen and who has been with Pearce since he came into office, says he will leave at the end of the month to take a lobbying job with Cornerstone Public Affairs. Several other staffers have recently left Pearce who was elected in a landslide to a second term last November. A Washington D.C. Alligator reports for us direct from the scene:

"In the last six months Pearce has lost Gail Gitcho, press secretary, Ricardo Bernal, legislative aide/Press Secretary (replaced Gail), Megan McCarl, legislative aide, and now Richards. There may be a 5th on the way out the door as well, but that has not yet been confirmed. The word is that Pearce's is difficult to work for."

That is quite a few exit huggers over a short time period. And maybe Pearce is tough to work for, as our Alligator claims, but maybe he's also trying to find the right personality mix as he moves to higher ground in the U.S. House. Few top staffers are "lifers" on the Hill, usually moving on to greener pastures after several years. NM's Heather Wilson has also had regular turnover. But when they run into each other while heading out the door, the guardians of La Politica are awakened.

RESIGN REQUESTS

It has almost become a parlor game of NM politics; which party chair will be the first to call for an officials resignation when that official disgraces himself? So far, Dem chair John Wertheim is the hands-down winner, now calling for GOP drinking and driving Socorro Judge Tom Fitch to step down. Wertheim also called for the resignation of Dem Public Regulation Commissioner Shirley Baca when she was busted for pot possession. GOP chair Weh has not issued any resignation calls, but this being New Mexico, we have a feeling Weh will get a chance to compete with Wertheim soon in this ignominious contest. Meanwhile, Fitch has admitted his guilt and will get two days in the pokey and undergo addiction treatment,

Top legal insiders close to the situation tell me Fitch is not trying to hang on and plans to leave the bench, but because of questions over his retirement and future health benefits he has stalled on the resignation.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Phillip Muller, who managed the 2002 U.S. Senate campaign of Dem Gloria Tristani against Pete Domenici, has moved himself and his company, Political Technologies Inc., to our Enchanted Land. In addition to providing strategic advice and campaign management services, the firm specializes in building databases to win campaigns for Democrats. Muller recently worked for successful NM Court of Appeals candidate Michael Vigil.....Donna Kanin, wife of Corrales Mayor Gary Kanin, was known far and wide in New Mexico. The 71 year old actress, community volunteer, radio talk-show host, entertainment director for the NM State Fair and longtime organizer of the ABQ's Press Club annual Gridiron Dinner, was called by death February 13. The cause was lung cancer.

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So far, they number only three but the contenders for ABQ Mayor in the October election are starting to gun their engines. Incumbent Mayor Marty has not made it official yet, but is off and running and is hiring Bridget Cusick as his campaign manager. She's a young politico with a Minnesota and D.C. background who was a field coordinator for the Richard Romero Congressional campaign last year. The Mayor has also been recruiting volunteers for the upcoming battle.

Former NM Environment Dept. Secretary Judy Espinosa says she's having her former public information officer, now businessman John Geddie, come aboard as her campaign treasurer. Earlier, City Councilor Eric Griego hired Eli Lee and his Soltari consulting group to manage his mayoral bid. Soltari and Griego are also working to have liberal city council candidates in most of the contested council districts to swell support for Griego. All three of the known contenders are Dems. No Anglos and no R's in yet. The race is officially "nonpartisan," but has been anything but in recent years.

Many have asked about 02' GOP Guv candidate John Sanchez and a possible bid for mayor. I finally had time to check it out and am told by the insiders that John is building a new house but it is not in the city and he will definitely not be running for mayor, although he did check out the legal angles just in case. He is considering another bid for the guv's chair or a run for Jeff Bingaman's U.S. Senate seat.

BEHIND THE MIKE

KKOB's Villanucci
The AGM radio group is throwing a little money around after signing former KKOB-AM talker Larry Ahrens for a new talk show on 106 FM in ABQ starting Feb. 28. There are black and white billboards sprouting up on the freeways asking; "Where's Larry?" Over at Ahrens' old stomping grounds, talker Jim Villanucci recently received good news in the form of stellar ratings. Insiders say he continues to hold the #1 slot in ABQ radio for his afternoon show. Now that Larry has left it's also the longest running gabfest in the ABQ market. Jim is on weekdays from 3 to 7 p.m. on 770 AM. He is entertaining and funny, and I'm not just saying that because he mentions my web site. The Jim Villanucci Show is produced by Richard Eeds.


MY BOTTOM LINES

There will be no Zamora dynasty, at least not for a while. Monica Zamora, sister of Big Bill legal counsel, Geno Zamora, did not get the Guv's nod to take Judge Wendy York's seat in ABQ. We reported Feb 7 that she was on the short list sent to the Guv, but he has given the trial lawyers a victory and picked lawyer Clay Campbell for the York vacancy. Maybe Geno's sister will now have time to help him start cranking up a campaign for attorney general.

In Tuesday's blog I referred to Senator Bingaman's "unabashed liberalism." Several readers saw it differently saying, for example, that compared to northern Dem Congressman Tom Udall, Dem Bingaman's not all that liberal. That may be true, but by the usual measures our Jeff does tilt left. The liberal Americans for Democratic Action gave Bingaman's 2003 voting record a score of 95 out of a possible 100 points; the American Conservative Union gave him 10 points. You be the judge.

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Heather
In a move that could have major political implications, ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson is now refusing to rule out giving her support to measures allowing individuals to invest their Social Security taxes in the stock market. The Heather shocker comes on the heels of her statement that she would not support allowing the "government" to invest such funds in the markets, but when asked whether "individuals" should be able do so, Heather stiff-armed ABQ Journal reporter Michael Coleman and refused to answer the question. Heather's alarming quote: "I don't play word games and I don't deal with hypothetical situations. I try to do things to benefit my constituents."

But since when did major policy that impacts thousands of New Mexicans receiving Social Security checks become hypothetical? Dems have been screaming over this one and are led by the liberal blog Talking Points Memo(scroll to Feb. 10) which moved the issue front and center. In 1998 Heather said she would support stock market investments for social security, but when asked about it during a KOB-TV debate during last year's campaign she gave a one word answer that stunned her opponent: "No."(See my Feb 7 blog for Heather's first reaction to the Bush reform plan)

SPLITTING THE HAIRS

But now it appears she is trying to have it both ways; wanting to keep her older constituents who oppose such investments from freaking out and also trying to keep in the good graces of the hard-core conservatives in the House who favor such investment. From this corner, she is playing with fire coming as she does from a moderate district that is constantly on the Dem's radar. But it could have even more impact when she takes her ambitions statewide. A position that is apparently now neutral on the hottest of hot potatoes leaves a nice big hole for someone to drive thru.

Heather's pouty refusal to answer the question shows, that despite nearly seven years in the Congress, her skills in the complex world of our La Politica are still rough around the edges. Manuel Lujan Jr. and Steve Schiff, who preceded her, never refused a question or an inquiring phone call. And they deflected the tricky ones suavely. Heather might be well-advised to take a lesson from them, rather than from her hard-right Texas colleagues who are having fun cornering her. Don't say we didn't tell you.

JEFF GOES ALL IN

His ears must have been burning. The chatter had grown so loud lately it seems Senator Jeff Bingaman finally decided to throw in the towel. He announced Monday he will indeed seek a fifth, six year term to the U.S. Senate. In a Valentine's Day love note to his supporters Dem Bingaman leaned heavily on those old liberal standbys, education and healthcare, to tell his friends that at age 61 he is not ready for the rocker.

Bingaman's decision means political junkies won't get a dream scenario of all three of NM's U.S. House members seeking to replace him. It also has some at the Roundhouse crying in their beer because it means Big Bill is not getting out of their way via the Bingaman exit. For the Republicans, it was no big whoop. They did not have a significant candidate to run against the popular Silver City native before the announcement and they still don't have one.

Even though he has only a quarter mil or so in the bank, Bingaman should have no problem holding on to his seat. The money will now flow and he remains well-liked and respected. Check that well-liked statement. Remember, Jeff is a liberal in a conservative era, but his liberal "sins" are overlooked by many righties because of his sincerity and demonstrated concern for the state. Bingaman, a Harvard lawyer and former NM Attorney General, has also had no ethical lapses.

THE CAMPAIGN AHEAD

The rap on Jeff is that he is disinterested, lacks national stature after all his years in the senate and has a so-so legislative record. That might hurt his ego, but it's hardly the stuff that will sow the seeds of his defeat. Besides, the Bingaman persona of being civil while disagreeing has even greater appeal in a Washington tearing itself to shreds in partisan strife.

But history tells us anyone can be beaten. The R's have a responsibility to field a respectable candidate. A younger, vibrant type may be the best bet to contrast against an aging Jeff and to score him for his unabashed liberalism. But with a strong Bingaman and strong Big Bill, the R's are now pressured to come up with at least one strong contender of their own at the top of the ticket or risk down ballot bleeding in 06.'

Even after nearly thirty years in the game, Bingaman still reminds many voters of the anti-politician. He is the last to grab a microphone and the first to offer it to a colleague. He plods along, under the radar at a tortoise like pace. But he does his homework and shows up for work. Sounds like a lot of people you know, no?

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Judge Fitch
How sloshed do New Mexico's judges need to get before the head-in-the-sand State Supreme Court stands up and does something relevant? The DWI arrest of Socorro District Court Chief Judge Tom Fitch is number two on the judicial Richter scale which was set off last year when Bernalillo County Chief District Judge John Brennan was busted for driving while slammed and snorting coke on top of it. Fitch blew a .17, double the limit, after wrecking a state owned van just outside Santa Fe Friday before he was scheduled to appear before a Legislative committee. The judge's open bottle of vodka survived the crash.

The arrest is another major setback for the state's image and the efforts to bring New Mexico roadways into the 21st century. Will the 'high court' in Santa Fe finally see the light and institute some kind of program for judges who are washing down Bloody Mary's with their cheerios? Or are we going to hear more lame excuses that this is an "isolated case." If it is, the isolation ward is starting to fill up.

The same questions that haunted us in the infamous Brennan case haunt us here; where were Fitch's friends? His colleagues? His judicial superiors? The high court boss says he is trying to promote "integrity" in the state's judicial system. But first, how about some responsibility? No one seems to want to take that.

BRENNAN'S SOFT LANDING

There was a lot of outrage expressed over the mild sentencing Judge Brennan received for his well-publicized antics. A two day house arrest and no follow-up on where a sitting judge got his cocaine supply is a much better deal than you would probably ever get. Be that as it may, Brennan, according to legal insiders, is moving on and apparently not doing too badly, They say he is now working for the Maloof companies of California.

The billionaire family has extensive business interests including a major casino in Las Vegas, the Coors beer distributorship in ABQ and a sports franchise. Brennan is a longtime friend of family matriarch Colleen Maloof. Maloof's son, Phil, sought the ABQ Congressional seat as a Dem in 1998.

DIANE RETURNS FIRE

New Mexico Light Guv Diane Denish has been under the gun lately, but she's firing back. We blogged here Feb.9 that the R's are hoping to slow down the state's Number Two by sidetracking her prized preschool initiative for four year olds. They call it "daycare" and the $9 million to start it up a waste of money. Denish blasts back with this:

"There's a mountain of data and studies that show that pre-K programs lead to more student achievement, lower dropout rates and ultimately to taxpayer savings on the back end through juvenile justice savings and savings on special education programs. It's not daycare, it's giving our kids a good start to school.

I'd also like to note that Republican Governor Jeb Bush is a Pre-K champion and recently signed Florida's Pre-K program into law. Proof again that pre-K is simply the right thing to do and should transcend the political realm."

Denish continues to try to build her resume in anticipation of future political plans. A victory on this one would be big because of the controversy it has brought.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Jeff Siembieda will be off the tube but on the radio. The KRQE-TV news anchor's contract has not been renewed and he will be gone at the end of the month. But he will continue with what he likes best--talking sports--on 1310 AM in ABQ weekdays at 4 p.m.....Here's a cockfighting solution offered by a reader: Let the cocks wear gloves. Ok, no mind wandering on that one please.

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The Merry Roundhouse
Word from Santa Fe has Big Bill soon coming with an election "reform" package that the Dems hope will rob the R's of their dream of painting them as obstructionists when it comes to cleaning up the state's election messes. Big Bill's bill will propose a form of voter ID, but not stern enough to alienate hardcore opponents. The Big Guy and his party have been backed into the corner a bit on this one with the general public highly supportive of voter ID. Not so much because there has been a bunch of fraud shown, but because counting the votes and just running elections over the years has been such a mess they feel the whole system must be broken, including the ID part.

House Speaker Lujan and Majority Leader Martinez would rather wish the whole thing away by forming a commission to "study" the matter. But that only gives the R's more fodder so Big Bill has to come with something. The question now is whether he will fight for it or let it die and claim "we tried." Political consultant Eli Lee has been working this one for the Fourth Floor and downstairs Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino and his consultant Harry Pavlides have been badgering for a bill. The Guv's measure would likely be introduced by Elections Committee Chair Ed Sandoval.

DA PLANE! IT'S BACK

Remember last year when Big Bill took all that flak from GOP Leader Hobbs and other R's over his plans to purchase a new state airplane? The Big Fella nixed the plan after public fall out, but now insiders say it may be back. Roswell State Sen. Tim Jennings, no friend of the Fourth Floor Fella, is looking at introducing a bill that would include all the "pork" Bill vetoed last year and Jennings would put money for the plane in the measure! The Guv could get his plane but Chaves County lawmakers, who bore the brunt of the vetoed capital outlay, would get their construction projects. Pretty clever, huh?

Wall-leaners tell me that a recent Dem caucus meeting was particularly grief-ridden as Dem senators anguished over the Guv's determination this year to dictate where most of the big construction projects will be placed in this years capital outlay bill. But, as usual, the issue comes down to who is going to stand up and be counted---besides Tim Jennings?

OFF THE WAGON

Did Farmington GOP State Senator Bill Sharer fall off the wagon? Something might have hit him on the head as he is proposing that New Mexicans convicted of DWI not be allowed to buy booze for five years. How about a compromise? If the Legislature passes this one, it promises not to meet for five years.

BOTTOM LINES

Readers commenting on my post this week about how Hispanics dominate the top tiers of NM politics pointed out that none of the reporters covering them for the major news organizations is Hispanic. Gil Gallegos of the ABQ Trib was the last one and he was scooped up by the Guv. What about the New Mexican's Steve Terrell? No one really knows Steve's background. He just showed up in Santa Fe years ago and started writing. His editors and fellow scribes are too fearful of the grizzled veteran to question him. He has, however, written sympathetically of Penitente rituals giving rise to speculation about his heritage.

Have some political news? Gossip? Speculation? Be my guest. E-mail me from the top right of this page and help your fellow political junkies keep up with the latest.

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NM's #2
A few years back when the going got rough in her contest with Jerry Sandel for the Dem nomination for Light Guv, Diane Denish intoned: "Politics isn't for sissies." Well, now Lt. Gov. Diane may be saying it again, and soon. It appears the GOP has formed a posse to catch Diane over her prized pre-school program for NM four year olds. They see it as a natural to trip up the ambitious number two who would someday like to succeed Big Bill.

"This bill sound like a social service program with no clear results targeted. It will also cost a bundle," said one R close to the action at the Roundhouse. He also blasted the measure for being a "daycare"' bill, not a true education measure.

The administration proposes lawmakers approve $9 million for preschool programs for about 3,000 four-year-olds across the state.

So far, the preschool measure has split on party lines, giving Diane a safe margin for eventual victory. But the R’’s are just warming up the band and hope to turn the public their way and stall this one before the session ends.The bill was voted out of a House committee Tuesday.

Last year Big Bill gifted Diane with a package of bills addressing the methamphetamine crisis in the state and she easily shepherded them through the Legislature, winning public accolades. But a year later the stakes are higher. Future power is now in sight. If the R’s can take a bite out of Diane they will and with pleasure as they have been completely stymied by Big bill.

As Diane indicated in her campaign, even the ladies must show their machismo in the game of La Politica. Looks like it's her turn again.

AGGIE ANGST

Veteran NM lobbyist Ray Davenport was one of many to put the needle in yesterday when he read my blog saying NM's two largest cities, (meaning ABQ and Santa Fe) are led by Hispanic mayors. I was wrong, of course. Las Cruces is the Land of Enchantment's second largest city, not Santa Fe. And Las Cruces State Rep. Joe Cervantes saying his area, like Rodney Dangerfield, gets no respect, even did some legwork for us so we could set the record straight. According to info given him by the state librarian and passed to us, Cruces has a current population of 76,990 and Santa Fe comes in at 66,476, not even close! On top of that, Las Cruces has an Anglo mayor. Thanks to Ray and Joe, among others, for pointing out the error of my ways. I guess I will never be an Aggie.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Not all my readers are on board the Big Bill for Prez train. They're a sharp-eyed bunch as revealed in this e-mail: "This business about Bill running for President (or VP) may only be a smokescreen for him to garner enough backing to sell to another candidate." The reader goes on to say he doesn't think the Big Guy is ""svelte enough," that the American voter is "intractable about body image."

The Alligators leave no stone unturned in assessing the Guv. I do agree that he could just as likely be running for VP as Prez. Hey, at that level a lot of what happens is beyond your control. As for "body image," bulky Dick Cheney made it. Is that a good omen for our Guv?

Have some political news? Gossip? Speculation? Be my guest. E-mail me from the top right of this page and help your fellow political junkies keep up with the latest.

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM, one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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Big Bill & Manny
They are marking "Hispanic Culture Day" at the Roundhouse today. Anyone who spends more than a week here can tell you that the culture remains strong and vibrant. And neither is the political culture lacking in Hispanic representation. In fact, the current Legislative leadership is one of the most Hispanic ever. In the State Senate, leaders Altimirano, Sanchez and Garcia run the show. In the House, Speaker Lujan is the boss, assisted by Majority Leader Martinez. Only African-American Majority Whip Sheryl Williams-Stapleton breaks the Hispanic hold on the key power positions. Up on the Fourth Floor rules one of the most powerful Guv's in state history, Big Bill, who is also Hispanic. (All right, half-Hispanic.) Elsewhere, the state's two largest cities are guided by Hispanic mayors.

THE D.C. ISLAND
KKennedy & Sen. Chavez
The big ache for Hispanics is the all-Anglo NM Congressional delegation. The seat held by Tom Udall up North was designed to be Hispanic, but because the D's tried to take it over with a politically wounded Eric Serna, Udall has warmed the chair. The greatest U.S. Senator in NM history was Dennis Chavez whose election in the 30's was a major breakthrough, but since Joe Montoya in the 70's, no NM Hispanic has served in the "world's most exclusive club." And since Big Bill vacated the northern U.S. House seat NM Hispanics have been shut out in D.C.

One of the few remaining attractive attributes of modern New Mexico politics is the ability of the Anglos, Hispanics, Native Americans and African-Americans to get along. There is surprisingly little overt racism in the day-to-day political dance. Sure, behind-the scenes it can get rough, but New Mexico's politicos have been careful not to make race an issue. We may end up last in just about every national ranking, but when it comes to respecting one another on the political battlefield we rank near the top. May it ever be so.

GOP FEED BACK

Our write-up Thursday on GOP consultant Jay McCleskey and ex- state GOP Chair Dendahl drew comments worth noting. A McCleskey fan pointed out that he successfully managed John Sanchez's 2000 upset of then-State House Speaker Raymond Sanchez and also was a player in Bush's NM campaign where he beat out Kerry. Those go along with the prominent defeats the new Regional Political Director for the Southwest for the Republican National Committee has chalked up which were mentioned in our report.

And, according to a top R insider, current GOP Chair Allen Weh is not a "Dendahlite," contrary to our implication. "He does what Pete (Domenici) or sometimes (Heather) Wilson want, not what Dendahl wants," spoke our very tapped in corrector. Fair enough.

As for Weh's future with the party, GOP insiders say no prominent opposition candidate has emerged yet to take on Weh who was put in after Ramsay Gorham was couped by the Dendahlite's last year. ABQ R businessman Tom Tinnin told me two months ago that he was considering a run, but nothing since. Weh has indicated he will seek another one year term at the April GOP convention.

BOTTOM LINES

Michelle Arviso-Devlin, a former TV reporter who served for several years as spokesman for the Bernalillo County sheriff's department, is back in the TV game, but not in front of the camera. She recently started as a noon news producer for KOB-TV.....Big Bill crime advisor Bob Schwartz, reacting to our report that he won't seek the ABQ Mayors job this year, tells inquiring minds that he is "undecided." But Schwartz would have to give up his good-paying job to make a second run and the betting line remains against it.

Have some political news? Gossip? Speculation? Be my guest. E-mail me from the top right of this page and help your fellow political junkies keep up with the latest.

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM, one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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Is the sister of Big Bill's top lawyer about to land a district court judgeship in ABQ? That's the question buzzing in insider legal circles as word is out that three names have been recommended to the Guv to replace retiring ABQ Judge Wendy York. One of those names is the sister of Geno Zamora who just happens to be the chief legal counsel in the Guv'office. Geno's sister is 44 year old Monica Zamora, a UNM Law grad.

"It has some teeth grinding for sure," commented one legal beagle. Also raising eyebrows is that just three names, not the usual five, have been submitted to Big Bill for his decision on the judge vacancy."That increases her chances," said one legal beaver.

When a vacancy is created in a district judgeship the Judicial Selection Commission recommends names to the Guv. Do you think the Guv has an inside track to that commission? Nah, no way!
Stay tuned.

GENO'S DREAM

Meanwhile, Geno Zamora is also surfacing in the conversations of La Politica as a possible Dem candidate for Attorney General this year. It is talk that he is not discouraging. The legal sharpie is well-respected in Dem party circles. If he makes the run he would face-off with, among others, ABQ State Rep Al Park who has all but announced his intentions. Big Bill raised big bucks for Al's run for State House last year. Where will he be on the AG's race if Gino runs?

HEATHER THE ELUSIVE
Wertheim
Dems thought they had an opening when ABQ GOP U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson went before the Legislature and called for an overhaul of Medicaid but did not even mention Social Security. The D's immediately fired off an e-mail: “When it comes to her position of upholding the promise of Social Security, Heather Wilson has waffled like a Belgian baker. Congresswoman Wilson needs to explain her preference to line the pockets of stock brokers instead of seniors, ” fired D state Chair Wertheim.

But the D's were shut out on this one. Heather told the ABQ Journal's Mike Coleman that she is against Bush's plan to privatize part of Social Security. She was smart to do so. A defining moment of her last campaign against Dem Richard Romero came when Romero tried to trip her up on the issue, one in which she has changed positions on since first running back in 98.' But Heather flattened Romero on live TV with a one word answer on privatizing: "No."

For popular Senator Pete it's easy to come out for the Prez's controversial plan, but for Heather a misstep on the issue could spell the end of her political career. Pollsters tell me her strongest backers are those over 55 and that's the group most opposed to Bush's plan. Heather also has to worry about splitting with the White House on yet another major issue; She did the same on a Medicare bill and observers say it cost her a seat on the House Armed Services Committee. But Wilson did what had to be done and while Wertheim's hasty hit shows the Dems are lying in wait, it also shows she remains elusive prey.

BOTTOM LINES

Rep. Steve Pearce has been added to the Homeland Security Committee and the House Financial Services Committee, say the Washington insiders....Pete Ross, an assistant district atttorney in Sandoval County passed away over the weekend, acccording to my insider e-mail. Ross lost a bid for D.A to Dem Lemuel Martinez, who is now on that list of possible contenders for Atttorney General in 06.’

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What exactly does it mean for Big Bill to have all those former reporters on the state payroll? There's been a lot of talk about the number of ex-scribes he has hired, but not much discussion of just what it means in terms of what New Mexicans see and hear about the Guv. The subject caught the eyes of the editors of the American Journalism Review (AJR) who called on former ABQ Journal reporter turned freelance writer Leanne Potts to take a look for a national audience. During an interview, I agreed with Leanne that the hirings may have had more of an impact than just getting more press for Big Bill, but may be shading the coverage a bit in his favor. Other New Mexico journalism observers disagreed. Here's the full article hot off the press.

BACK ON THE CIRCUIT

GOP political consultant Jay McCleskey, part of the Dendahl/Barnett faction of the state GOP, was laying low after an intraparty feud raged last year. It ended with the resignation of Ramsay Gorham as GOP Chair and the installation of Dendahlite Allen Weh. But now Jay is back with a high-profile, according to insider sources. They say he is a regional coordinator for the national GOP. His patron, Mickey Barnett, was ousted as GOP national committeeman last year by ex-State Rep. George Buffett.

McCleskey came under fire in the 03' ABQ CIty Council elections for running a highly negative campaign on behalf of Barnett candidates. They lost. Previously, he helped manage John Sanchez's campaign for governor.

DENDAHL REDUX

Former GOP Chair John Dendahl remains an articulate critic of Big Bill via a syndicated newspaper column. He is saying the things that the current chair can not or will not. But Dendahl had his run and no matter how much he plays the music, much of the GOP will not dance, not after the divisions he helped create in the party in his final years.

Dendahl will always be remembered for resurrecting the party and making important gains in the Legislature and capturing the governors chair. He will be equally remembered for allowing a faction to be created that feasted on party largess and advocated the losing position of legalizing drugs. That Dendahl remains one of the most effective critics of Big Bill, even from his out-of-power position, says it all about the need for new blood in the Grand Old Party.

TV NEWS DOINGS

Our initial report regarding Deanna Sauceda's return to the KRQE-TV anchor chair has now been confirmed by a couple of inside sources. Sauceda, recently of Intel, returns to 13 as anchor for either the noon or 4 p.m. news or both, say the inside sources.

13 recently took the top spot in the 10 p.m. November news ratings for the first time in memory. But that hasn't stopped former 10 p.m. #1 KOB-TV from trying to hold on. The station ran a promo pointing out that in an overnight rating they took the top spot--for one night! Come on promo writers, give the other fella their due. When you take a sweeps period--a month--your top dog---one day doesn't cut it. But then again in modern TV "news" just about anything goes.

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM, one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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Pete & Jeff
They call it the "world's most exclusive club," but the bottom line is that it's a hundred guys and gals and thousands of staffers who are supported by your tax dollars. That's the premise of our two part series on what the top aides for the NM Congressional delegation pull down each year. And judging from the reaction to part one, most of you agree.

Old-timers chuckled via e-mail that this stuff used to be common knowledge and they were glad to see it out there again. Others warned that it costs a lot more to live in D.C. than NM, so don't begrudge the higher pay. We don't. We just begrudge the amateurish secretiveness of the Congress in trying to keep this info hard to find. So in that spirit let's go to part two of the wages of Capitol Hill.

CHIEF OF THE HILL

As in the House, Chief of Staff is the top job in a U.S. Senate office. But the job pays a lot more if you manage to get in thick with one of the 100 Senators. Surprisingly, it appears from the digging we did, that the Chief of Staff for Dem NM Senator Jeff Bingaman noses out his counterpart in the office of GOP NM Sen. Pete Domenici. Figures from mid-2004 show Bingaman Staff Chief Stephen Ward taking in $152,852 compared with Domenici Chief of Staff Steve Bell who, by our calculations, was making $151,492.

Bell is the longtime alter ego of Domenici and one of the Hill's more powerful staffers, speaking for Pete with authority. He made a lot more money when he left the Senator's staff in the the 90's and went to work at a Wall Street investment bank. Now, instead of big pay for Bell, there is the lure of power that can only be found at the center of government. There may have been pay raises since our count, so Ward could be behind Bell. If not, Steve may have to call Pete and use some of his persuasive powers to get up to par with his rival.

Both Bell and Ward are close to the cap of what a staffer is allowed to make. This year it goes to the $156K area with Rep's and Senators making $158,100. Never have staffers been able to get that close on the wage scale to their bosses.

If a Senator is chairman of a committee, or in the case of the minority Dems, a "ranking member" on a committee, they get to name staff. For Bingaman, ranking member on the Senate Energy Committee, he has put in place Robert Simon who appears to be the highest paid staffer associated with the NM Congressional delegation at $153,164. "Committee is where a staffer can make the good money," said one former Hill aide. Alex Flint, a Domenici staffer on Energy, started off last year at $138,940, but, according to my Alligators, has probably already risen to the Simon area.

STAFF PAY FOR NM SENATORS

Legislative Directors

Edward Hild, Leg. Dir.--Sen. Domenici--$94,520
Trudy Vincent, Leg. Dir.--Sen. Bingaman--$114,336
Randall Soderquist, Leg. Asst.--Bingaman--$70,516
Daniel Alpert, Leg. Asst.--Bingaman--$85,626
James Dennis, Leg. Asst.--Bingaman--$80,590

Communications/Press

Chris Gallegos--Domenici--$92,044
Matthew Letourneau--Domenici--$36,136
Lisa Breeden (NM)--Domenici--$68,788
Shaye O'Donnell--Domenici--$26,694

Jude McCartin--Bingaman--$75,552
Maria Najera--Bingaman--$30,222

STATE OFFICES

Terry Brunner, State Dir.--Bingaman--$71,386
Joe Trujillo, Field Rep.--Domenici--$75,072
Poe Corn, Roswell--Domenici--$66,476

Other Salaries

Lynden Armstrong, Admin/Systems Dir.--Domenici--$96,172
David Pike, Dep. Chief of Staff--Bingaman--$69,682
Joyce Pullen, ABQ Off. Mgr.--Domenici--$44,200
Virginia White, Ex. Asst.--Bingaman--$71,698

And there you have it. Not a complete list but the highlights. A couple of staffers listed in our reports the last two days are now gone, but their positions continue. Pay raises may have been given to some staffers since these mid-2004 numbers were compiled.

NOTABLE PASSINGS

While we were putting together our D.C. salary report, word came to us of the death of Peter Wellish, onetime press secretary to Senator Domenici. Wellish, a radio news reporter, worked the ABQ market before signing up with Pete in the late 70's. He went on to become Rev. Peter Wellish and executive director of the Hospice of Saint John in Lakewood, Colorado. It's reported that Wellish had heart problems. He died December 8. He was 54.

New Mexico also took note of the passing of a veteran former state senator this week. W.S. "Smitty" Eoff, a 12 year member of the senate from McKinley County, died at his Pagosa Springs, CO ranch January 25. Eoff was 84.

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM, one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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What government info is some of the hardest for regular Joe Citizen to come by? Spy satellite locations? Nuclear weapons design? Nah. That's all floating around the Internet. But what isn't and takes the prize for hardest to find is the salaries of those who toil on Capitol Hill on behalf of our congressmen and senators. It's not on the Net or in the newspapers or on the blogs...until now.

With the help of several Alligators, I prowled the federal bureaucracy in search of this prized info. I soon found myself traversing through rarely seen catacombs and did not give up until I found my elusive booty. I found it alright. But it wasn't easy telling just what I found. The Alligators and I needed a calculator to figure it all out because only quarterly pay is reported. And then there's the "Christmas" bonuses on the U.S. House side. But we spent some hours parsing and are confident that our numbers are on the money so to speak. If they are off it's only by a little.

Oh yeah, we earned our keep on this one. Not to mention that my nice two-ply cashmere sweater now has big gray elbow dimples on it from crawling on my hands and knees on a dusty concrete floor to retrieve the most recently available "Statement of Disbursements of the House," and the one for the U.S. Senate too. This thing has literally thousands of pages and lists every congressional office expense (in the finest of fine print, of course) including bottled water bills.

But what good is a blogger if he doesn't get out of his pajamas once in a while and dare to go where he is dared not to? So here we go. Part one of my exclusive report on the wages of Capitol Hill. Today the U.S. House. Tomorrow the Senate. Does it sound like we're taking over?

HAIL TO THE CHIEFS
Bryce Dustman
The highest paid staffer in a congressional office is the Chief of Staff. That's the guy or gal who bosses the other 20 or some employees in the office. Congressmen and Senators are paid $158,100 a year. Under new rules, a staffer can max out at over $156k. almost as much as the big boss! None of our NM Chief's of Staff in the House neared that total, but they are doing pretty well. Our figures are from mid-2004 when the maximum was about 154k.

Bryce Dustman, top dog to GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson of ABQ appears to take the prize for highest paid NM House staffer. He pulls down about $127,300, according to our calculations done on a solar-powered calculator in the dank and dark rooms where we scoured the reports. Jim Richards, chief to Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM) is right behind, getting about $126,000 a year. Pulling up the rear is the chief for the only Dem in the NM delegation, Rep. Tom Udall of the North. He's Tom Nagle and he makes $95,000. A Capitol insider tells us the average chief of staff on the Hill pulls down $108,000.

WHAT THEY ARE MAKING

LEGISLATIVE DIRECTORS: Erik Einerton---Rep. Wilson--$52,000,
Michael Collins--Rep.. Udall--$50,000, Matthew Meagher--Rep, Pearce--$61,000.

DISTRICT OFFICE MANAGERS: Julie Dreike--Rep. Wilson--$65,000, Michelle Jacquez-Ortiz--Rep. Udall--$66,000, Peggy Mallow--Rep. Pearce--$66,000

COMMUNICATIONS/PRESS: Enrique Knell--Rep. Wilson--$53,000, Joel Hannahs, Press Asst.--Rep. Wilson--$44,000, Glenn Loveland--Rep. Udall--$46,000, Gail Gitcho--Rep. Pearce--$53,000 (Gitcho recently left Pearce's office)

OTHER SALARIES OF NM D.C. STAFFERS

Johanna Polsenberg, Sr. Leg. Asst.--Rep. Udall--$50,000,
Donda Morgan, Off. Manager--Rep. Udall--$57,000

Ricardo Bernal, Sr. Leg. Asst.--Rep. Pearce--$55,000,
Barbara Cohen, Ex. Asst.--Rep. Wilson--$45,000

SHOW US THE MONEY

Chief of Staff is the plum Hill job, with a pretty steep- fall-off after that. But the other salaries aren't shabby and for New Mexicans who labor in a low-wage state, they aren't exactly lemons. Now, if my Alligators and I are off by a couple of hundred bucks I am sure we'll hear. To that we will respond: why not just make it easy for us Congress folk and release, as was done years ago, salary info in an annual salary report? If not, don't worry. Every once in a while a field trip is good for us bloggers. We have to launder those pajamas sometime.

Be here tomorrow for Part Two of my exclusive report on congressional wages when we look at the U.S. Senate!

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM, one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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