Ousted Rio Arriba County magistrate Tom Rodella is causing a new set of problems for Big Bill. The husband of Dem State Rep Debbie Rodella claims the Guv knew his background was checkered with all kinds of wrongdoing when he appointed him to the bench in March. Rodella embarrased the Guv when he was recently forced to resign because of his checkered past. The story was breaking fast Wednesday night in the Espanola's Rio Grande Sun. Here's an excerpt.

"Gov. Richardson knew about the problems in Thomas Rodella's past when Richardson appointed the former State Police officer to be a judge March 31, Rodella said Tuesday, flatly contradicting numerous statements from Richardson's office. "I answered all the Governor's questions as pertained to the investigations in my State Police career," Rodella said. "I answered them truthfully. He did know."

A former wife filed a suit against Rodella in the 1980s, accusing him of repeated violent abuse. After he married his current wife, now a state representative, Rodella was repeatedly investigated by State Police for a variety of infractions, including ticket-fixing. Richardson knew about it all, Rodella said, and knew about it before Rodella ever applied to be a Rio Arriba magistrate." Reports the Sun.

FOURTH FLOOR REACT

The Guv's office is calling all this "complete fiction." And after his past escapades, Rodella has little credibility. What is more intriguing to Alligators in the North is the impact this could have on Rep. Debbie Rodella's 06' re-election bid. In the wake of her husband's fall from grace she has drawn a challenge from veteran Rio Arriba politico Moises Morales. Will Tom Rodella's ratting on Big Bill mean Debbie loses the Guv's support (and cash raising prowess) to Moises? On the flip side, the Rodella rat job is a sign of the continuing problems Big Bill has had in uniting the North behind him. Guv candidates Eli Chavez and Bengie Regensburg are warming up in the bullpen to throw some more hardballs at the Big Fella. Stay tuned.

LEGISLATIVE JET SET
Cessna Bravo Jet
NM General Services Department Cabinet Secretary Eddie Lopez Jr. blogs in to us as the Big Bill administration continues to fight back against public perception that they went overboard in buying a $5.5 million jet plane. Lopez reacts to that Legislative Finance Committee (LFC) report carried here that said the Big Bill jet would cost more to operate than the current state plane.

"I personally directed the procurement of the new state jet and negotiated the price and terms earlier this year. Please permit me to correct the LFC staff’s irrelevant and questionably motivated report that the new jet aircraft will cost more to operate than propeller driven counterparts.

Included in the jet purchase deal is an operations cost guarantee that the Cessna Bravo jet will cost no more to fuel and maintain than a new King Air 350 turboprop. If fuel and maintenance costs exceed the amount the General Services Department would spend to fuel and maintain a new King Air, Cessna agreed to refund the difference for three years. This fact is worth repeating: Cessna agreed to refund the difference," blogged Secretary Lopez.

Interesting that he calls into question the motivation of the LFC staff. It's the Guv's Dem party that controls the Legislature. But then Eddie is now a member of the Big Bill party. It was ABQ GOP State Senator Joe Carraro who requested the LFC plane analysis, which Eddie, son of the late legendary Santa Fe state senator Eddie Lopez, now claims was not the plain truth. Stay tuned. This story has wings.

BRAD AND MARTY: BOTH WRONG?

News that City Councilor and mayoral wannabe Brad Winter and Mayor Marty are both backing legislation to restrict how petition signatures are gathered to place issues and candidates on the ABQ ballot is quickly drawing fire. They are in a frenzy about the forgery that has marred the minimum wage petition effort, but their call to ban people from getting paid to collect signatures sounds blatantly unconstitutional to some. And Winter's proposal to have people register with the city before they even go out and collect signatures is also seen as a big loser in court.

"Politicians forget that the people have a right to petition the government. It's up to the government to weed out any fraud or corruption on these petitions, not to restrict our rights in asking for consideration of issues or to place candidates on the ballot. If the mayor and council are so worried about fraudulent signatures they might want to voluntarily check each and every signature they submit Friday to get on the October ballot. I bet there are more than a few bad ones," blasted one politico involved in past petition gathering.

He has a point. Where in the Constitution does it say you have to tell the government you plan on petitioning it? A big thumbs down to Mayor Marty, Councilors Mayer, Cummins and Winter on this one. No wonder Rio Rancho and the ABQ suburbs are kicking ABQ's butt.

HOUSE OF PAYNE

Now two of the GOP's hot talkers are on the radio. ABQ State Rep Greg Payne, always ready to throw down the gauntlet, is back on New Mexico radio giant 770 KKOB-AM radio every Saturday at 1 p.m. Payne was brought in to replace Dem Mayor Marty who is on the campaign trail. But the freshman lawmaker says it's no endorsement of the mayor and he will be doing his own thing. Payne joins State Senator "Lightning Rod" Adair on the airwaves. Rod hosts his radio talk on low power outtlet KEDU-LP 102.3 FM in Ruidoso. Are the liberal Dems going to let that duo have it all to themselves?

Remember to email me your political news, opinions, and thoughts.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

You Know Who
The guns of August are about to be fired by ABQ Mayor Marty. And they will be supplied by a stack of campaign money that will be dumped on all media. He told supporters Tuesday the campaign aims to raise a final, astounding total of $1.2 million to battle what he expects to be a very nasty and accusation filled final stretch. He also told supporters his TV ads will start in early August and stay on until the October 4 election. He indicated he will have as many as ten, if not more, TV spots in rotation. If no candidate gets 40% there will be a run-off between the top two contenders. Mayor Marty is obviously going for the 40% with a multi-media blitz. He has already raised $700K so hitting the $1.2 million goal is not unrealistic.

What is interesting is the willingness of the givers. When the mayor ran into a buzz saw in the form of the ABQPAC scandal, his supporters feared it would hurt his future fundraising because people would not want to be associated with him after his ethics board reprimand. On the contrary.

THE ALLIGATORS ANALYZE

"That is a huge pot of money and puts the field on notice that all charges coming his way will be answered. He will take heat for raising so much cash, but in the end the voters will decide on what is said, and Marty is going to have a megaphone to blast home his message. Still, an incumbent with high name ID is capped in how much he can grow his vote. Marty's campaign is more about hanging on to what he has. Is that 40%? The first polls should tell us," analyzed a senior Alligator who has been eyeing these things since we started them back in 74'.

Another Alligator bemoaned the big spending. "How in God's name do you spend that kind of money in a medium size city to become mayor? Does he plan on banking some of it for a future race?" mused the stunned Gator.

Our insider reports the mayor defended his big spending saying he is going to take hits from all directions, including "soft money" from opposition groups and will need every dime as his opponents gang up on him. Of course, if there is a run-off that will require even more dough.

The mayor's announcement at a breakfast for insiders puts Republican Brad Winter on notice. He is going to have to raise at least several hundred thousand quickly to stay on the playing field. There have been no polls on the race. The Alligators think we may be facing a three way deal, with Judy Espinosa and David Steele perhaps failing to make the ballot because of a lack of petition signatures. If that happens it would be the smallest field ever.

How do you raise a million for mayor? Well, for one thing you sell coffee. "Marty's Blend" was on sale for ten bucks a pound at the insider breakfast. They say it's quite smooth, a contrast to the bitter brew that his opponents are concocting for him.

ON THE BALLOT OR NOT?
ABQ Councilor Heinrich
What people around New Mexico really want to know about the effort to raise the ABQ minimum wage is whether it will make the ballot. Supporters say despite the admission of forgery on several hundred of the over 33,00 signatures they turned in, the bid to hike the minimum to $7.50 an hour appears headed to the Oct. 4 ballot. Here's the latest from ABQ city councilor Martin Heinrich, who supports the wage boost, and has been blogging for us.

"When I e-mailed you last time, I was confident that this proposition would make it onto the ballot. I still am. Not just because of the total number of signatures that were turned in, but more importantly because as the City Clerk's office went through them and about 60% were checking out.

I think anyone that forges someone else's signature should be prosecuted and those signatures that are suspect should not be counted. However, I also don't think that a few bad signatures should ever disenfranchise the honest voters who want this measure on the ballot," blogged the SE Heights councilor who is said to have a run for the Dem nomination for state land commissioner on his mind.

CAN IT PASS?

Meanwhile, the political pros are uncertain how the wage proposal would fare. An unscientific poll conducted via the Internet for KRQE-TV has the measure passing 53% to 45%. "This could be one that splits right down the middle," offered GOP analyst Bruce Donisthorpe. Bruce also adds that forged signatures "happens in just about every race. It's hard to avoid it with overzealous volunteers and even paid workers. The important thing is that there is enough valid signatures. I think this one will make the cut," predicted the onetime gubernatorial and congressional staffer.

RIO RANCHO REDUX

Our recent blogging on Rio Rancho and how it's starting to steal ABQ's thunder has sparked debate in several quarters, including the blogosphere. Although you wonder what there is to debate. Just take a drive out there. Soon there will be a big arena with a downtown business core. Sounds like a city to me. On the ground sources say get ready for more, that Rio Rancho city administrator Jim Palenick did not fall out of an Albuquerque tree.

ON THE AIR

Hard to believe that the ABQ election is just a couple of months away, but it is and we will soon gear up for our 18th consecutive year of delivering live Election Night results to New Mexico over the powerful airwaves of public radio station KANW 89.1 FM. Heck, Rio Rancho was a glint in our eye back in 88'. Top NM Lobbyist Scott Scanland will be with me along with the other usual suspects. I will blog more details as we get closer, but for sure it will be our traditional wall-to-wall coverage.

Thanks to my loyal readers, friends, informed sources, advertisers, supporters and critics for their help in producing this most rewarding effort.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

New Mexico's stance on two key social issues mimics the rest of the USA, but also reveals our conservative streak is alive and well. Poll numbers on abortion and gay marriage from Survey USA were gathered July 8 thru 10. On abortion, New Mexico remains firmly pro-choice. The poll asked: "Who should have the final say on abortion? Your state government? The Federal Government? Or should the government have no say? Sixty-two percent replied "neither." That may sound high, but not compared to California and many other states where neither received 75%. Our 62% puts us on the lower rung of approval.

It's not surprising. We talked about the reluctance among many northern New Mexicans, particularly Catholic Hispanics of a pro-life bent, to support Dem John Kerry in last November's election. What is news to me came from a conversation with longtime pro-lifer Dauneen Dolce of the NM Right to Life Committee. She told me her group did election literature drops at Catholic churches in the north and earned the wrath of several Catholic priests. "A lot of them are Democrats and were mad about us doing it," she said.

That caught my attention because the focus after the election was on how some Catholic priests apparently discouraged parishioners from voting for Kerry because of his abortion views. Combine that with the Right to Life activity and those weak Kerry numbers there come even more sharply into focus.

Dolce told me parental notification remains her current goal. "It passed the senate last session but failed in the House. We will try again," she said of the measure which would require a minor to notify one parent if they planned on having an abortion. The procedure would then be halted for 24 hours. The minor would still have final say on whether to abort. Dolce said with Big Bill in the governor's chair her group has an uphill battle in getting the measure to his desk.

GRIM FOR GAY MARRIAGE

And what about about gay marriage in NM? It seems to be a nonstarter, but not overwhelmingly so. Forty-six percent of those surveyed chose "neither" when asked who should have the final say in gay marriage, the federal or state governments? A majority of 51% chose the government, meaning gay marriage advocates have their work cut out for them. Conservatives may say the opposition number is not high enough. They have a point. Survey USA does not screen for registered voters as rigorously as other polls. That group could be expected to be more opposed to the notion of men and women marrying the same sex.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

They can argue until another bridge is built over the Rio Grande, but the facts speak clearly: money is moving to the northwest in the ABQ metro area. Friday, the stock of Amrep, which owns thousands of acres in Rio Rancho and is a major residential builder there, hit a new 52 week high on the NYSE. ABQ's political gridlock has expedited growth there. All the talk about infill, downtown redevelopment and attracting major new industry within the city limits is mostly talk. (Rio Ranchos's Intel announced more hiring plans Monday). What is happening is the formation of a Dallas-Ft. Worth here. All the government paid economists, think-tank spinners and politicos can argue otherwise, but on Wall Street they're betting on it with their money. Who do you think is right?

LOWERING THE COUNT

Blog reader Alan Schwartz was one of several to react to our call yesterday for a lowering of the petition requirement to get on the ABQ mayoral ballot. After all, it is higher than that for candidates seeking statewide or congressional office. Said Alan: "Given..the bloat in the voter registration rolls (moved, dead) why not tie the signature requirement to actual election participation?

The current 2% of registered requirement equates to almost 6% of votes cast in the last mayoral election. By contrast, 2% of that same vote count would require less than 2,000 signatures."

Well put Alan. And something the next city council might want to take a look at.

BLOG HOUSEKEEPING

At the very top of the page I have included the blogger "search" bar. It can search my site from its inception for anything that has appeared here. So if you are looking for past references to your favorite or not so favorite politicos or news events, just type it in the search box. We're www.joemonahan.com, making blogging improvements since 2003.

Remember to email me your political news, opinions, and thoughts. I'll see you hear Wednesday.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Rep. Rodella
"One Rodella down, one to go," chided a critic of the husband and wife team who are keeping the political buzz going across our Enchanted Land this summer. First, Big Bill forced magistrate judge Tom Rodella, husband of State Rep Debbie Rodella, to hand in his walking papers after questionable ethical behavior. Now comes word that Debbie has drawn a serious challenge in next year's Dem primary for her District 41 seat up North.

Not a few seasoned observers think it was Rodella who cast the most significant vote in the history of the New Mexico legislature. Her last minute switch made possible Indian casinos, an industry that now generates a half billion dollars a year, making it one of the most powerful economic forces in the state.

Rodella will need all her political skills and more as she faces the legendary Moises Morales in the primary. He goes way back and is a former Rio Arriba county commissioner. Others could join the Dem primary against Debbie, diluting the opposition and increasing the odds she could hold on to the seat she has held since 1992. Still, the recent damaging headlines about her husband have put her seat in play and the movida masters of the North are unleashed and hunting.

JUDY ON THE EDGE

Is Judy Espinosa on the endangered list? Could be. She sent out an urgent missive late last week urging her supporters to sign her petitions so she can make the October 4 ABQ mayoral ballot. Judy is not the only one having trouble reaching what seems an onerous 5,811 signatures, or two percent of the city's registered voters. Even R Brad Winter has had to hustle to get signatures, paying pros to hit the streets. Winter should get the number, but David Steele, like Judy, is a question mark. Mayor Marty and Eric Griego appear to be OK. If Judy doesn't make the cut, Griego's campaign will get a major boost as the two liberal Dems could be expected to divvy up many of the same votes. The petition deadline is 5 p.m. Friday.

Meanwhile, over at the ABQ Trib reporter Erik Siemers and I kicked around the prospective mayoral candidacy of 20 year old Dominic Gallegos. I weighed in with the view that we may need to revisit how many signatures we require to run for the city's top job. Candidates are spending too much time getting the signatures and hopefuls who may not be able to win, but have something valuable to say about the city's future, are being excluded. How about lowering the requirement to one percent of the registered voters? Just a thought.

GOODBYE AND HELLO FROM ANDY

Andy Lenderman, the young and aggressive ABQ Journal politics writer, is headed out the door and into a new newsroom. The 31 year old will leave the state's largest newspaper to take up a new position for the Santa Fe New Mexican, covering Los Alamos and the science beat. No word yet on who will replace Lenderman. He had the politics beat for about 15 months. His predecessor, Loie Fecteau, went to work for Big Bill. The beat has been a short-lived one in recent years, not like the old days when the late Bob Beier held forth for decades, followed by a lengthy stint by John Robertson who is now state editor and oversees the paper's political coverage.

YOU'LL WANT TO GO

Poking fun at New Mexico politics is an age-old pastime and it reaches it's zenith at the annual Gridiron Dinner in October. It's put on by the NM Broadcasters Association. You may have noticed their banner here. The dinner proceeds fund scholarships for deserving New Mexican students. It's a fun night featuring the likes of Big Bill and company, skits and music. Get your tickets now by clicking on the banner. And enjoy.

Thanks for stopping by. See you manana.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
Not for reproduction without permission of the author