Zozobra
We expect Mr. and Mrs. New Mexico to take full advantage of the last summer flings afforded them by the burning of "Old Man Gloom" (Zozobra) in Santa Fe last night and the opening of the NM State Fair today in ABQ. They could use an escape from the news. On Thursday alone they learned of the guilty plea of a former NM Treasurer and of the not guilty plea entered to another corruption charge by the former president of the NM Senate; they also saw the ABQ city election get muddied up over divorce and bankruptcy and heard the director of Los Alamos Labs warn that he needs to prepare for possible layoffs because of Congressional inaction on the budget. (Wasn't that supposed to be at least another year away?) Oh well, give us a match to light that puppet and a State Fair corn dog to munch on while those woes go up in smoke, at least until we tune in to the news again.

NEW BILL TUBE

Bill is tweaking Hill in his latest Iowa TV spot. He is stuck in fourth in the polls there, with at least a strong third place finish a must.

HEATHER'S HISTORY

History buffs will find of interest ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson's recounting of her recent visit to Manila in the Philippines and the cemetery there that is deeply connected to New Mexico.

MAYOR MARTY--AGAIN?

"I am not ruling out running for Mayor again." So declared ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez on KKOB-AM radio Wednesday. So you run for Mayor in 2009 and then run for the Democratic nomination in June 2010? That's a tight fit.

READY TO VOTE?

Who are these guys and gals? The League of Women Voters ABQ election guide is out with details on who's who on the October 2nd ballot, as well as the other stuff voters will be voting on, including a big pay raise for the city council. That has about as much chance as passing as Zozobra did of escaping the flames last night.

ANYTHING YOU CAN DO...



Keep the politics coming. Email your news and comments from the link at the top of the page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Rey Garduño
Bad news for frontrunner Rey Garduño's ABQ city council campaign has the politicos in the ABQ SE Heights district scratching their heads as they ponder how this one will end up October 2nd. Garduño, 64, made a rookie error by failing to disclose on his ABQ Journal questionnaire that in 1988 he had pleaded no contest and was found guilty of a shoplifting charge.

Garduño isn't the first candidate to foolishly omit such information and probably won't be the last. This, despite numerous examples over the years that the fudging often becomes a bigger issue than the actual infraction that the candidate fails to reveal. Two years ago, during the last city election, city council candidate Diana Dorn-Jones imploded when it was discovered she had not correctly answered the Journal questionnaire.

Garduño was accused of lifting a $200 phone from the ABQ Sears store. (What kind of phone was going for $200 back then?) The charge was a misdemeanor. Garduño now says he didn't remember being found guilty. He also says he didn't intend to leave the store without paying for the phone. But he revealed none of this when the Journal asked him and other candidates whether "they have ever been charged with...any misdemeanor or any felony in NM..."

"This definitely muddles the race. It's hard to say just how much it will hurt Rey, but the odds of there being a run-off in the district have just gone up," said a longtime SE Heights politico.

There are four candidates in the contest and if none of them gets 40% of the vote October 2, there will be a run-off between the top two finishers.

Democrat Garduño has been the darling of the many District 6 progressives and has even picked up the endorsement of outgoing City Councilor Martin Heinrich. But this is his second major problem since entering the race. He was also nailed for using a UNM e-mail address for his campaign.

The shoplifting charge is long ago, but Garduño's failure to come clean on the questionnaire has his opponents salivating because it will allow them to cast doubts on his integrity, a key issue for all voters. Still, Garduño has been seen as far ahead in the race and if his opponents don't take effective advantage, the damage could be minimized.

WHO BENEFITS?
Griffin
Garduño and Joanie Griffin have the biggest sign presence in the liberal district and seem to be running the most aggressive campaigns. However, Griffin, an ad agency owner, has baggage of her own. She was a registered Republican until recently and even though city elections are officially nonpartisan, she has taken hits. She has tried to convince voters she is now closer to the Democrats. Griffin has ties to Democratic Mayor Chavez, but he is unpopular in the district. Still, Griffin is proving to be a determined campaigner and has been handed a gift with Garduno's flub.

"Joanie has been the target of an anonymous Internet hate campaign from people who openly say they support Rey. With Rey taking this hit, the shoe is on the other foot, and voters who have been scared away will want to give her another look," a Griffin sympathizer said.

It may be some days before Griffin is fully engaged in the campaign, however. A friend reports she suffered a death in her family Wednesday.

Blair Kaufman, a self-described moderate Democrat, and Republican Kevin Wilson are also campaigning. At first blush, it could be Kaufman, an elected member of the CNM board (the old TV-I) who would stand to benefit most from the Garduno misstep.

"If Garduno supporters start to peel, they will be looking for another Democrat. Griffin's ties to the Republicans could cost her and Kaufman could benefit most, but he is going to have to step up and run a professional campaign,"analyzed our politico.

Kaufman, unlike the other three contenders, is not receiving public financing and has only raised a couple of thousand, compared to the nearly $30,000 his taxpayer supported foes each receive.

Analysts say Wilson, a hobby store owner, could also benefit from the Garduno goof because Republicans may be enthused at any faltering by Rey and rally behind their lone entrant. In a four way race, Wilson remains the dark horse to sneak into second and make a run-off.

City council races are akin to minor league baseball; there's a lot of hits, but also a lot of errors. Garduno now needs extra hits to balance his early blunders on the field of La Politica where he is learning the hard way that our game is played under the brightest and harshest of lights.

AN X RATED BILL

Gays gathered for a recent Big Bill Santa Fe fundraiser reportedly heard him use some salty language in explaining his recent gaffe at a debate on gay rights issues. "I fucked up," he is said to have told the friendly crowd enjoying the gubernatorial presence at a ritzy City Different locale.

The Guv also told the supporters he will place a domestic partners bill on the agenda of January's legislative session. The measure died during this year's special session, despite prodding from the Guv who has courted the gay community for support for his Prez campaign.

This wasn't the first time the Guv dropped the F-Bomb. Back on February 28, 2005 we blogged of a meeting between the Guv and legislative leaders.

"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..."

If that sent a chill down your spine, you're at the right Web site.

MORE BILL

The Guv didn't use the F word on the liberal bloggers who have been blasting him, but he did respond Wednesday to the attack from the Daily Kos in which he was called a buffoon.

THREE'S A CROWD?

Will it be just a two man race in the Dem nomination fight for the right to take on southern NM GOP Congressman Steve Pearce? It's looking more like it each day.

Dem Al Kissling, who won the primary to take on Pearce two years ago and lost to him in the general election, will formally announce his '08 challenge in Mesilla in Dona Ana county on Sunday. Dona Ana county Commissioner Bill McCamley has also declared, but Rick Bolanos, who was saying he was serious about a run, has fallen off the radar and shows no signs of launching a campaign.

Bolanos, a native of Las Vegas, NM and a Vietnam war veteran, ran for the US House from Texas two years ago. Even though he is not a Hispanic of southern NM, his entry in the race could jumble the numbers and complicate the bids of Kissling and McCamley. But Bonales, living in Dona Ana county, is looking more and more like a no show. Maybe someone had a talk with him. We'll keep you posted.

Have news? Comments? Send them via the email link at the top of the page and help us cover the latest New Mexico politics.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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No one will accuse Barbara Richardson of being the power behind the throne, and that's just the way she likes it. The wife of Big Bill, in a rare media interview, was pressed on why she is not as active on the campaign trail as the spouses of the other Prez candidates.

"Do I sit in on his meetings? No, nor do I care to. I would feel free to tell him what I thought of an issue, but in terms of day-to-day advice, I don't. He's not even around day-to-day. He isn't. He goes out for eight to 10 days at a time. He comes back for a day of rest. The last thing he wants is me yammering on about an issue...I'll never be as outspoken as some other candidates' wives because they're more comfortable at it," she said. "They have that comfort level."

Scrutiny is intensifying on all the candidates now that we have passed Labor Day, the unofficial start of the Prez nominating process. The Iowa caucus are now just about four months away--on January 14th. Well, they are if the Democrats can get a grip and end all the infighting about having states going even earlier. The process of running for Prez is humiliating enough without having Big Bill dressed up in a Santa suit pressing the flesh in some godforsaken outpost.

GOD HELP HIM

Speaking of God, on Monday Bill said the Lord has mandated that Iowa be the first Democratic presidential voting state. The Guv explained that it was "an off the cuff" remark. Of course it was. Everyone knows Bill only talks to God when the Legislature is in session.

NO HABLA ESPANOL?

Don't look for the Guv to invoke his Hispanic heritage anymore than he already has.

"I don't like to be typecast. I'm very proud to be Hispanic, but if I used my mother's maiden name (Lopez-Collada), you know it would be so obvious that I'm trying to just do it for votes,'' he said. ``I'm after everybody, not just Hispanics.''

There are not that many voting Hispanics in the critical early states of Iowa and New Hampshire.

STRAFING STRATTON

It looks as if former NM Attorney General Hal Stratton left his post as head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission just in time. The New York Times is the latest media outlet to investigate the federal agency and found it wanting. Stratton, a former ABQ GOP State Rep, takes some unpleasant hits for his stewardship of what the Times said has become a woefully underfunded agency and one that despite its name often advocates more for big business than consumers. Stratton left the agency in July 2006 to go into private law.

A TIN EAR?

Defending GOP Idaho Senator Larry Craig of restroom fame? NM GOP Senator Pete Domenici, raised the eyebrows when just before Craig resigned he urged there be no "rush to judgment." Some of the Alligators speculated that because Pete faces a possible Senate ethics probe over his behavior in the US attorney scandal and doesn't want his colleagues to "rush to judgment" in that deal, he came with the soft response on Craig. Whatever the reason, the comment made Pete look like he has a tin ear, and in need of some top-level strategists for the campaign ahead. Meantime, Senator Craig stirred the late night hours Tuesday by threatening to stay in the Senate. Is that his final "stance?"

THE BOTTOM LINES

The switch of the calendar to September finds us preparing for our next Election Night broadcast. Per tradition, it will be on KANW 89.1 FM where we have called them all since '88. The election falls on October 2nd, so we'll have our pre-game show to analyze the races on October 1. Dem State Rep. Al Park will join us as he did last November when we had the exciting all-nighter of Heather vs. Patsy. We'll have more news for you on this as we get closer....Speaking of Park, R sources are saying they have come up with a candidate to take him on next year. I'll try to get a name for you. Whoever it is will need a lot of money to make a serious play. Park collected $150,000 for a run at attorney general, most of which is still sitting in his campaign kitty...

We have a sponsorship available for Election Night on public radio. If you're interested, drop us an e-mail. And drop by here anytime for the latest from the wonderful world of La Politica.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Councilor Mayer
ABQ City Hall insiders burned up the phone lines over the holiday weekend analyzing a likely major change in the political dynamic of the state's largest city. It comes in the wake of Mayor Marty Chavez's abrupt and controversial removal of the head of the city's animal control division. The removal so enraged City Councilor Sally Mayer, a longtime animal rights advocate and a key mayoral ally, that she warned Chavez that he can no longer count on her vote on issues that come before the nine member council.

"I am not going to engage in spite voting. There are philosophical issues on which the Mayor and I agree, but on issues which I am not directly invested, he is not going to get my vote," the Republican councilor told me in a Labor Day phone exchange.

With that statement Mayer, 56, aimed both barrels directly at any major Chavez initiatives in his remaining two years in office. The Mayor has already faced a veto proof council, recently losing several issues on 6 to 3 votes. Mayer has been one of his three reliable votes along with Councilors Sanchez and Loy. He must currently work for one additional vote to halt a six councilor override coalition, but finding one vote is a lot easier than finding two. The loss of Mayer could decisively tip power away from the 11th floor and to an increasingly liberal city council.

Mayer was easily re-elected to a second four year term from District 7 in the NE Heights in 2005. Like Chavez, she has been supportive of development and real estate interests, so it's hard to see her breaking with the mayor on those issues, but there are plenty of others where she could demonstrate a new found independence, effectively killing any mayoral legislation and giving the council a consistent super-majority to enact bills to its liking.

Chavez's removal of Denise Wilcox won some support from animal rights groups, but it wasn't overwhelming as the career city worker was generally well-liked, and given credit for making strides in improving animal control. Most important, she had earned the support of Mayer who along with Chavez authored the city's major animal protection legislation.

In a brutally frank conversation, the kind usually classified as "off-the-record," Mayer told me she had specifically asked the Mayor not to remove Wilcox, and she described her conversation with him following Wilcox's dismissal.

"I said to him, 'You told me a week ago you would not fire her, but now she is gone.' You know what he said back to me? 'That was last week,' a still angry Mayer relayed. A friend of the councilor's told us the mayoral phone call ended with Mayer hanging up on Chavez.

SALLY DOES DEBBIE
Deborah James
The councilor, hotter than Hatch's best green chile, also unloaded on Chavez press aide Deborah James. She called James a "media manipulator" who has pushed her own animal rights agenda with the mayor and has had undue influence beyond her station as a PR flack.

James released a mayoral statement saying Wilcox's removal was justified because "rescue groups have not received cooperation. Volunteers have not been well utilized." But Mayer says James wants "zero" animals euthanized which may be ideal, but "is unrealistic." Wilcox is a career city employee who will be offered another job or opt to retire.

As another example of James' influence, Mayer pointed to the hiring of former ABQ Journal city hall reporter Jim Ludwick to a $70,000 a year job as an animal program analyst. He was hired to reach the goal of having no animals euthanized. "We've already done that research. The position is a waste of money that could be used to increase the salaries of animal control officers, " blasted Council Vice-President Mayer.

Insiders recently reported here that Ludwick had taken a job with a local animal protection group, but it turns out he actually went to work two weeks ago for the government he covered for the paper. The former reporter never returned calls seeking confirmation of his job status. Now we know why. His city job was only revealed this weekend in the Tribune piece on the Wilcox firing. Prior to his newsroom departure, Chavez critics were lambasting Ludwick for being "too soft" in his coverage of the mayor, charges the ex-journalist denied.

This political dog fight doesn't need Michael Vick to garner attention. If the Mayor has permanently damaged his friendship with Mayer by ceding his power to a mayoral aide, the doghouse he is already in with a majority of the council could become much more confining.

THE HARRIS FACTOR

If Mayer bolts from the Mayor's side, the recall election of GOP Councilor Don Harris, who has gone against Chavez on key votes, becomes less critical to citywide policy. If Harris loses the recall, Chavez would get to appoint a replacement, but if he is already down 7 to 2 as a result of the Mayer defection, the replacement councilor would only get him back to 6 to 3. Two incumbent anti-Chavez councilors--Winter and O'Malley-- are expected to survive election challenges backed by the mayor. The election is October 2nd.

MENDING THOSE FENCES

Playing in the background is the way-too-early music of the 2010 campaign for the Dem nomination for Governor in which Light Guv Diane Denish is an announced candidate and Mayor Marty has formed an "exploratory committee." Chavez needs to get a handle on the council, but Denish also has work to do.

Her relationship with Hispanic Democrats was injured early in her political career, particularly when the Denish forces crushed the lieutenant governor campaign of ABQ State Senator Linda Lopez. So it was with more than passing interest that we noted an op-ed piece co-authored by none other than Diane and Linda. The topic was the state's new child helmet law sponsored by Senator Lopez.

"Just as we make sure our kids are properly using a car seat or booster seat or seat belt, let’s make sure they’re wearing their helmets when they climb aboard their bikes, tricycles, skateboards and scooters or when they strap on their skates." Said Denish and Lopez.

The Alligators say wearing a crash helmet is a good idea if you are running a three year campaign for Governor. Accidents are bound to happen.

PETE ON PETE

Our Friday reminisce about the 1984 US senate campaign featuring Republican Senator Domenici and Democrat Judy Pratt noted that there was only one one televised debate between the pair. Pete, far ahead in the polls, fended off Judy's demands for more. However, ABQ assistant city attorney and former City Councilor Pete Dinelli recalls there was another debate between the pair, although non-televised.

"Domenici did debate Pratt before the Albuquerque Kiwanis club in front of...about 300 people at the old Four Seasons Motel. The debate turned out to be on Halloween, which was a good opening for a number of cheap shots. The Senator was appearing before a heavily Republican crowd. He was and still is a member of the club. Judy held her own, but the audience was a Domenici's." Remembered Democrat Dinelli who moderated the debate.

If serious opposition to Domenici develops in '08, the matter of televised debates will be critical as Dems think they will have the advantage over the 75 year old. But if they are not threatening him in the polls, there is little chance they will meet the senior senator in prime time.

JUSTICE PAMELA MINZNER

Death claimed NM Supreme Court Justice Pamela Minzner much too early. She was only 63 when she succumbed to cancer Friday, but she made her mark in the time allotted. The tributes to the Harvard grad who came to the court in '94 and was its first woman to serve as Chief Justice were notable for their unabashed praise.

I interviewed here only once. It was on KANW-89.1 FM on our Election Night broadcast. She had probably just won a retention election, but all I recall was her reticence to tout herself and her desire to end that interview quickly. This was a self-effacing public servant not given to calling attention to herself. She did, however, grab the attention of several governors during her 13 year stint on the high court.

Minzner's 1995 opinion requiring Republican Governor Johnson to seek legislative approval for compacts legalizing gambling on Indian land was one example. Another came this year when she argued against requiring a state commission to give Democratic Governor Richardson more choices when he filled a judicial vacancy.

NM Court of Appeals Judge Roderick Kennedy gives blog readers this poignant account of Justice Minzner's final official action.

"The last order I know of that she put her name to was on August 28th. The court made Mary Walters, our state's first female Supreme Court justice, an honorary Chief Justice posthumously so Mary's portrait could be hung in the Hall of Chief Justices. Doing for someone else up to the last would be her way. She set an example of collegiality and scholarship for all of us judges that's damn near impossible to meet."

This is the home of New Mexico politics. Stop by again soon.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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