It's Friday so let's send it over the top. The East Coast elites think they have touched a funny bone as they take off on that recent media report on how Big Bill touched the head of a pretty twentysomething blonde sitting in front of him at a recent Iowa baseball game. Since it's the latest in a list of incidents involving the Guv 's "touchiness," the jesters are suggesting that the 1960's Doors hit. "Touch Me" be adopted as his presidential campaign theme song. The New Republic, which did the touchy segment on the Guv, has even posted a video of Jim Morrison singing the "theme." If you think the boredom in the media elite is rising along with the summer temps, you would be right.

Southern NM GOP Congressman Steve Pearce is also the subject of a Web media hit, with an outfit called "Defenders of Wildlife Action Fund" including him with four other US reps they claim have "their heads in the sand" over global warming. They've produced an anti-Pearce radio ad that could grace the airwaves over the deserts of southern NM soon. Of course, in Pearce's conservative district he may wear the environmentalist attack as a badge of honor.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Here's an entertaining tirade from an ex-NM journalist turned Alligator on the tough time Big Bill has had with the national media:

"It's his own damn fault that he's not doing well...He doesn't have any practice answering tough questions; he always ducked them here and it's partly the media's fault, but after a while you get tired of them (the Guv's office) refusing to answer questions and questioning your motives...He hired a bunch of journalists who failed to prepare their boss for the real world...They insulated him from the media...They are basically a group of yes men and women...I say off with their heads. Give Big Bill a decent chance to run in this race."

And I say, have a great weekend and come back and visit the home of New Mexico politics soon.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Mayor Jackson
It's now just a matter of time. Last night's vote of no-confidence in Mayor Kevin Jackson by the Rio Rancho city council likely seals his fate, with political observers expecting a mayoral resignation soon. Jackson has been in the bunker since allegations of financial chicanery surfaced. His press has been awful, with the Rio Rancho Observer calling for his resignation. Now he cannot command even one vote on the six member city council. As the symbol of government in the city of 70,000, Jackson will now come under unbearable pressure from the business community and the public at-large to get out. He will or face removal by other means. A new mayor would be selected by the city council.

Another no-confidence vote getting attention around the state also took place Wednesday, but unlike Mayor Jackson, Santa Fe Police Chief Eric Johnson won a no-confidence vote taken on him by officers in the Santa Fe police union. 59 officers were in favor of retaining Johnson, with 30 wanting him out, despite an ongoing federal investigation into the department's narcotics division and a crime wave that has been sweeping the capitol city. Johnson said he bears "no grudges" against those who advocated for the measure and plans on meeting with disgruntled officers in the weeks ahead.

Cops tend to close ranks when one of their own is under fire. Chief Johnson would be mistaken if he mistook support from fellow cops for public support for his administration's crime fighting efforts. Multiple rapes remain unsolved; residential burglaries have skyrocketed and a sense of security can no longer be taken for granted. One assumes Chief Johnson would gladly forsake his no-confidence victory in exchange for having those problems solved.

NEW ABQ COUNCIL CANDIDATE
Blair Kaufman
There's political news in ABQ, too. The race for a SE Heights city council seat is getting hotter. Word comes to your blog that Blair Kaufman, an elected member of the Central New Mexico Community College Governing Board (CNM, formerly TV-I) since 1995, has jumped into the race. Kaufman, a career educator and currently an APS principal, describes himself as a "moderate Democrat" who is getting in the race because the other three contenders don't "represent my views." He singled out Rey Garduno who has developed a head of steam with the district's liberals which is represented by Martin Heinrich who is giving up the seat to run for Congress.

Kaufman, 56, says the main issue in the October election is to ensure that the district, which contains many older neighborhoods, gets "its fair share" of city government attention. He describes himself as "fiscally responsible" and believes his years of building name ID on the CNM board puts him in a good position to get the necessary petition signatures and raise the money to challenge Garduno who he calls the "frontrunner." Ad agency owner Joan Griffin is also in the district six race.

Hey, did I mention that politico Jeff Armijo sits on the CNM board with Kaufman? He does and he too made a bid for higher office last year when he briefly sought the Dem nomination for state auditor but had to withdraw when faced with sexual harassment allegations. Jeff can tell Blair no matter how rough the campaign gets, it can always get rougher.

UNDER THE SCOPE

Big Bill must feel like he's under a microscope as the national scrutiny continues unabated. Here's the latest from the Washington Post's The Fix.

...We remain skeptical about his chances of winning the nomination for a simple reason: his unpredictability. That trait makes covering Richardson a delight--he is always ready with a witty one-liner and regularly treats reporters as though he's know them for decades. But, his tendency to veer off message is less appealing when it comes to the highly scrutinized atmosphere of a presidential campaign. Richardson is, frankly, too real.

A piece in the The New Republic captures Richardson at his most real... "Richardson thinks his informal approach is precisely the kind of authenticity that voters want, but in presidential politics, where every utterance is sifted for its ideological content and examined for clues about the candidate's readiness for the job, style takes you only so far." In the piece, there's a number of examples of this informality: he twice uses expletives on the record, he tickles the scalp of a young woman he doesn't know, he says that all North Koreans are named "Kim."

Taken separately, none of the incidents (with the possible exception of massaging the scalp of a total stranger) are a big deal. Taken together, however, they paint a troubling picture for a man who wants to be the next leader of the free world."

Massaging the scalp of a total stranger? Now that's giving the public service.

THE PETE BEAT

And "The Fix" is now ranking NM GOP US Senator as #9 on its list of most vulnerable senators in '08: "Domenici (R) has weathered the initial storm over his role in the dismissal of former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. But the issue remains in the news, and there is the distinct possibility it will rear its head again in New Mexico. Could the swirl of controversy combined with Domenici's health problems over the last few years make the incumbent decide against a seventh term? We think so, and for that reason keep this seat on The Line. (Previous ranking: 8)

We'd agree that a turnover in the Pete seat is more likely to occur from a Domenici retirement, rather than an upset at the polls by a still to be determined Democratic challenger. The Fix has ABQ GOP US Rep. Heather Wilson ranked as the eighth most vulnerable House member for '08. GOP Rep, Steve Pearce or Rep. Tom Udall do not make the vulnerable list/ Pearce put away his last two elections with about 60% of the vote. Also, a Hispanic Democrat would have the best chance of giving Pearce a hard time, but none are running. Udall's northern seat is safe Democrat and no one has announced a primary challenge.

MY BOTTOM LINES

I hope you didn't show up at the home of ABQ City Councilor Michael Cadigan last night for the fundraiser he and wife Traci Jo are hosting for fellow councilor and congressional candidate Martin Heinrich. If you did, you walked away without any munchies because the party is actually June 27th, not last night as we first blogged and subsequently corrected.

We don't know yet if Michelle Lujan Grisham will be showing up at any Heinrich parties. The former Secretary of Health is still considering a congressional run and expected to make a decision soon. She is the only potential challenger to Heinrich we see left on the field. Of course, we're the ones who told you to show up for the non-existent Cadigan party Wednesday night.

Keep us posted on all things political. Send your news and comments via the email link from the top of the page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Usually it's the Big Duke City grabbing the headlines, but today it's Rio Rancho and Santa Fe pushing ABQ off the front pages as they both confront major controversies. It's Censure Day in the city of Rio Rancho. That's when you're the mayor and you lose the confidence of the public and city council because of fiddling around with your city issued credit card and otherwise doing weird things. Mayor Kevin Jackson insists he won't resign. He probably needs to worry more about being indicted. If Rio Rancho councilors don't vote a no-confidence measure, the voters may do one on them.

In Santa Fe, there's also a no-confidence vote slated for today, not on Mayor David Coss, although he has come under fire for his city's crime wave, but on the Santa Fe police chief whose department is not only wracked by the crime wave, but wrongdoing charges against members of the SFPD. It will be Santa Fe's cops voting today. It would be unusual if such a vote were to go against a sitting chief.

Mayor Coss says the chief has his confidence, but wall-leaners are asking how much confidence does Coss retain with a Santa Fe electorate increasingly restless about law and order?

Meanwhile, back here in River City political watchers needn't fret over a lack of controversy. There's always something brewing. Currently, it's the recall effort against GOP City Councilor Don Harris of the far NE heights. His foes are gathering petition signatures and have launched this Web site. Don is even coming under fire from fellow R's which means he has a fight on his hands.

MARTIN'S MONEY

He's not as busy as Big Bill when it comes to fund-raisers, but ABQ Dem congressional candidate Martin Heinrich is no slouch in making the rounds. He had his hand out last night at a "young professionals" money raiser and three of his fellow ABQ Dem city councilors--Cadigan, O'Malley and Benton--will host a fundraiser June 27th at Cadigan's house with the top tickets going for $500. There's three levels of giving--$100 is Juniper, $250 for Pinón and $500 for Cottonwood. Maybe a good excuse for not giving is to say you're allergic.

By the way, the Alligators are saying that Herb Denish, husband of Light Guv Diane Denish and major city lobbyist, is showing Heinrich the ropes and helping him line up heavy-hitting donors. Heinrich is trying to raise an impressive number for the second quarter and scare off other potential Dem challengers for the seat held by GOP US Rep. Heather Wilson.

One other note. Heinrich has hired Envision Communications to do his media. The Washington Post reports the firm, formed earlier this year, "boasts an impressive roster of longtime Democratic House strategists, including Peter Cari, a past political director at the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and Jen Burton, who has been with Murphy Putnam Shorr..."

HEATHER & THE HAWKS

Meanwhile, ABQ GOP US Rep. Heather Wilson, who stiff-armed the ABQ Tribune and refused to comment recently on the ultra-unpopular Iraq war, is talking to the paper again. She's trying
to come across less hawkish on the no-end-in-sight insight conflict, but doing so without changing her fundamental position which is to keep the troops there. But pressure is mounting in the ABQ district. Will Wilson and other R's in swing districts move away from the White House later this year? If they do, they won't be taking baby steps.

ROSE COLORED NUMBERS

Statistics can often disguise the truth, but this batch from the Governor's office feels right. Richardson praised a new report that showed New Mexico’s economic growth was the 5th strongest in the nation in 2006. New Mexico’s economy, adjusted for inflation, grew at a strong 6.2 percent rate last year--the fifth fastest in the nation and nearly double the national average of 3.4 percent, according to a report by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis..."

We say "feels right" because of the biz buzz we see in ABQ and Cruces. The best news is the unemployment rate, barely noticeable at less than 4% of our workforce. But it's not all Pollyannish for our New Mexican economy. Home foreclosures are on the rise.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Between a rock and a hard place describes precisely the position of Dem US Rep. Tom Udall these days when it comes to the proposed cuts for Los Alamos labs. The anti-nuke crowd is mad at him for not voting for the cuts and hastening the day LANL is put out of business, and the pro-nuke crowd is scoring him for so far not being able to stop the cuts. Udall labored in relative obscurity until this year when the Dems took over and he found himself with a plum spot on the House Appropriations Committee. What's that old saying? "Be careful what you wish for." Yup, that's the one.

Send your news and comments from the email link at the top of the page. Interested in advertising here? Drop a line. This is the home of New Mexico politics--www.joemonahan.com.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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You Know Who
Big Bill is trying to get his stuck-in-neutral Prez campaign back in high gear, unveiling another TV spot that continues the humorous shtick begun in his first two spots that popped his polling numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire. This one focuses on global warming, a hot button issue among Dem primary voters. But is the Governor casting himself as a character in his own little sitcom, and not putting enough meat on the bones of his campaign? The first two comedy spots went down well because of the novelty and creativity, but the third, mining the same vein, has less of an edge and raises the question for Richardson's somewhat quixotic bid for the USA presidency: "What's next?"

On the polling front, Big bill's boosters point out he is holding steady at 10% in the latest New Hampshire numbers. He's in the same territory in Iowa. Still to be answered: What happens to the Guv's numbers when the major candidates star airing their TV ads? Also, Hillary has opened up a giant lead in the Granite State.

AN HISTORIC BREAKDOWN?

Have the GOP members of the NM congressional delegation violated a 60 year tradition of bipartisanship when it comes to funding for Los Alamos and Sandia Labs? Big Bill argued that they have in a little noticed news release sent out ahead of the weekend.

“There is a long tradition whereby the delegation works together to secure funding for our national labs...It’s disappointing that the Republican delegation has decided to lower itself to partisan posturing...The important thing is to secure the funding that keeps those jobs...(and that Los Alamos) creates new clean energy jobs that ends our dependence on foreign oil. “

Is Richardson right? He is certainly correct that our delegation has had a history of unity over Los Alamos and Sandia, but that unity has rested on the principle that the labs, particularly Los Alamos, will concern themselves with the nation's nuclear weapons programs. That principle is being challenged by Richardson and the new Democratic majority in Congress as seen in the bill reducing lab funding. It was passed last week by by the House Appropriations Committee. Here's committee member and NM Dem US Rep. Tom Udall:

"...It is necessary to direct increased funding toward renewable energy programs as included in the Appropriations Bill. "...I voiced my opposition in the committee to the manner in which it is being proposed because I want to ensure that...the role for our national labs is not unfairly disadvantaged in the process."

GOP Reps Wilson and Pearce, in a letter, come down hard on what they think this means to the labs current mission.

"If this bill becomes law, Los Alamos will not have the tools to certify 80% of America’s nuclear stockpile without returning to nuclear testing. These deep cuts are unprecedented...and would fundamentally weaken the nation’s stockpile stewardship program that ensures the safety and reliability of nuclear weapons without nuclear testing. "

Renewable energy programs may or may not be the way to secure the future of LANL, but such programs have not been a basis for our congressional delegation's generations-old bipartisanship. The case for a dramatically changed mission must be made. If it is, the delegation may find a new basis for unity. The NM Republicans may be acting partisan, as the Governor argues, but they can't violate a "long tradition" on a matter in which none exists.

RUDY CLEANUP
Rudy in Cruces in '04
We have some tidying up to do in the aftermath of the ABQ Saturday visit of GOP Prez hopeful Rudy Giuliani. We've been going around on when Rudy last visited NM. One of his supporters said it was 1998 for a Guv Gary Johnson fundraiser. An Alligator corrected that saying it was in 1998, but for the GOP annual Lincoln Day Dinner, not Gary. And now a bunch of readers, including Larry Ahrens, Marcus Wilson and Steven Rogers, remind us that Rudy was actually in ABQ in 2004. However, it wasn't an independent visit. He appeared at a rally with President Bush who was campaigning for re-election. Not only that, Dr. Chris Erickson at NM State University in Las Cruces, reminds everyone that Rudy and the Prez also stopped in Cruces during that '04 campaign swing.

Being obsessed with this junkie stuff, I came up with the White House photo posted here, showing the President and Rudy visiting with a local in Las Cruces on August 26, 2004. Yeah, I got OCD bad when it comes to La Politica, real bad. Apparently so do you folks. I received more corrections on this Rudy thing than anything in recent memory.

WHITE'S WORLD

As for GOP Bernalillo county Sheriff Darren White being named state chair of the Giuliani campaign, that did not go unnoticed by the Dems, one of whom landed this broadside: "Voters do not like sitting sheriffs engaging in partisan politics. He is sheriff for all and not just Republicans who like Giuliani." White took similar heat when he headed up Bush's Bernalillo county campaign in '04, but his defenders say he is a partisan politician and has every right to play, even while serving as sheriff.

White has been mentioned as a potential candidate for every conceivable office. Insiders say he is most interested in Heather Wilson's congressional seat should there be a vacancy. Some saw White hooking up with liberal Republican Giuliani as a move to attract more moderate voters in the future. However, his embrace of Giuliani could put at risk his support from social conservatives who find Rudy's abortion and gay rights positions nonstarters.

Finally on the Rudy front, Robin Dozier Otten, who we blogged will head up a women for Rudy group, ran for the U.S. Senate from NM in 1994, not "back in the 80's" as we originally blogged. Colin McMillan won the GOP nomination that year and went on to be defeated by Senator Bingaman.

THE BOTTOM LINES

NM Dems tried to take advantage Monday when NM GOP US Senator Pete Domenici went ahead and voted on a resolution to express "no confidence'' in embattled US Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. The resolution was blocked by Senate Republicans, including Pete, who called it a meaningless gesture. NM Dems said Domenici should have recused himself from voting because of his involvement in the US Attorney scandal: "Today, Pete Domenici showed that he has no remorse for pressuring (NM US attorney) David Iglesias to bring politically-sensitive indictments days before an election. Domenici backed Attorney General Gonzales by voting against a no-confidence resolution." Scored the D's.

The Dems were breathing fire and brimstone, but the smart crowd wondered where was their major candidate bashing Pete? The answer is that Dem Chairman Colón and company still don't have one, and until they do Pete will vote on any damn thing he likes. And that's the bottom line.

Thanks to my reader-editors for the help. Send your news, comments, and corrections via the e-mail link at the top of the page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
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Mayor Jackson
A mayor embroiled in a financial scandal. Layoffs of over a thousand workers at Intel. A housing bust to match a long running housing boom. So it goes in Rio Rancho, NM as the city of 70,000 experiences growing pains. Mayor Kevin Jackson, elected in a low-turnout election (18%) in '06, is resisting calls for his resignation because of his alleged misuse of city credit cards, but a poll being conducted on the Web site of the Rio Rancho Observer shows discontent with Jackson who insists he won't resign the part-time Mayor's job which pays around $12,000 a year. In an editorial, the newspaper called on the mayor to get out and suggested some possible replacements.

The City of Vision may have some mud in its eye, but it can be expected to recover. One of the reasons? A very low crime rate that suburban dwellers find attractive and a pro-growth local government.

THE SANTA FE SCENE

If only Santa Fe, similar in population to Rio Rancho, had that city's crime rate. Alas, it does not and the Santa Fe crime wave (residential burglaries up 91 per cent since April of '06) is
starting to have some political repercussions. Cops will take a no-confidence vote on their chief as the business community, roused by the burglaries and a rape outbreak, is putting pressure on Mayor David Coss to break the back of the crime wave before it becomes a permanent feature of the state's capitol city. The biz folks see a threat to the tourism economy brewing. Not to mention the lousy fate of those who have been victims of the wave.

ON THE TRAIL

We joined the Los Angeles Times (Sunday circ. 1.2 million) on the campaign trail via phone last week as they prepared this latest in-depth look at Big Bill's Prez efforts.

"In fact, Joe Monahan, a longtime observer and a blogger on New Mexico politics, believes that Richardson's pace can lead to "sloppiness." "People here say Bill has a bit of attention deficit disorder. He loves the activity. He crams in so much. How can you possibly be prepared without downtime and getting properly briefed?" But if anyone has the energy and stamina for the one-on-one in New Hampshire and Iowa, Monahan continued, it's the governor of New Mexico, "as long as his hands can still shake."

Now over to New York where the Times weighs in on the importance of the Hispanic vote to the Prez candidates, including Big Bill. From there, we go down to D.C. where the Guv holds forth on CNN's Late Edition,saying, all troops out of Iraq,none left behind.

Bill, you're tiring us out just reading about you.

RUDY'S ABQ VISIT
White
Ex-NYC mayor and GOP Prez contender Rudy Giuliani spoke to an ABQ fundraiser at a private home Saturday, but did not do any media. His campaign named Bernalillo county Sheriff Darren White, 44, a New York state native, as chairman of his NM campaign. White served as Bernalillo county chair for President Bush in '04. People who attended Saturday's closed event told us Rudy spoke at length--including time spent taking questions. He was not asked about his stances on abortion or gay rights, issues on which he breaks with Republican orthodoxy. He dressed formally, in a charcoal suit with blue tie. He headed for Colorado after the ABQ appearance.

When was the last time Rudy was in NM before this weekend and what was he doing here? We quoted one of his supporters last week as saying it was in 1998 for the campaign of GOP NM Guv Gary Johnson. But one of our insiders has a more definitive answer: "Rudy was at the Lincoln day dinner for the state party in 1998. The dinner was a tribute to (NM GOP Congressman) Steve Schiff who died a couple of weeks before the dinner. It was not a Gary Johnson fundraiser. The Mayor was an outstanding speaker." So informs our informer. (Emailers are now saying Rudy was here in '04 with Bush. We'll re-blog this one Tuesday.)

THE BOTTOM LINES

Attorney David Norvell is chairman of the state Gaming Control Board. In our Friday blog on restaurants we mentioned him as being on the racing commission. He was previously chair of that commission, but the former NM attorney general has switched over to the gaming panel.

News? Comments? Criticisms? Send 'em our way via the email link at the top of the page. Interested in advertising on the home of New Mexico politics? Drop us an email.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
Not for reproduction without permission of the author