Friday, November 21, 2008NBC Report Says Richardson To Be Named Sec. Of Commerce; Media Frenzy Set Off Late Friday; We've Got You Covered NBC News is reporting that NM Governor Richardson will be named Secretary of Commerce on Monday. If he gets the job, NM sources say they expect Richardson to remain Governor until January 20 when Obama is sworn in. That is the same say the 60 day NM legislative session begins. In early November our sources said Commerce Secretary was one of four jobs Richardson told the president elect he would be interested in filling. The other three were secretary of state, head of the World Bank and ambassador to China. We spoke with NBC affiliate KOB-TV about the latest Richardson developments, which credited our November 6th blog as being the first media outlet--nationally or locally-- to mention the possibility of Richardson becoming Sec. of Commerce. We also helped with coverage of the big story for CBS affiliate KRQE-TV. The New Mexican hits with a quick analysis ABQ Journal Washington correspondent Michael Coleman e-mails us with a smile saying the Journal deserves some love for being first in resurfacing the commerce story Thursday. No problem, Michael. But we're like dogs chasing the car. If Richardson gets this thing, then what? When Richardson leaves for Commerce, Lt. Governor Diane Denish will become governor and fill out the remainder of Richardson's term which runs through 2010. She will become the first female governor since NM achieved statehood in 1912. Denish, 59, is a native of Hobbs, NM. More as it develops.... (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2008 Not for reproduction without permission of the author New Mexico Asks: Where's The Change? Clinton Invasion Raises Question, Plus: Latest On Bill's Chances For D.C. Gig Where are the mavericks? That's the question as the traditional honeymoon for a president-elect evaporates along with billions in assets in crashing world stock markets and what appears will be millions of jobs. Is Barack Obama giving those over 40,000 supporters who flooded onto Johnson field at the University of New Mexico in late October for the largest political rally in state history what they hoped for? Well, he's not even president yet. But does his "all-Clinton, all-the-time" approach in his first wave of major appointments seems way out of sync with his mantra for "change" that catapulted him to a New Mexico and national landslide?The world has changed, sternly and irrevocably since Bill Clinton was President It was one reason his wife was rejected for the presidency. Obama's NM supporters have been quiet thus far on the reappearance of the same old wine in a brand new bottle. If the president-elect insists on the same old faces, his backers can only hope they come with new ideas. That's what they voted for. BILL'S CHANCES--COMMERCE? Obama's fascination with all things Clinton is not going to help Big Bill vacate the Governor's Mansion. If Hillary is Secretary of State, a major ambassadorial position for our Guv may be more doubtful because of the enmity caused with his old bosses by his primary endorsement of Obama. In other words, he can drop the Chinese language lessons. But don't believe the press spin that Richardson wouldn't love being head man in the country that is setting the tone for the 21st century. What, a foreign policy junkie doesn't want to help change the world!? Of course,Mrs. Big Bill may not take as kindly to such a far away posting. Richardson is now being mentioned for Commerce Secretary, perhaps a reach because of the economic calamity and Bill's lack of economic experience. Still, Obama will want to appoint a Hispanic to a major cabinet post and the Commerce rumor is getting stronger with the Washington Post now pushing it. The Guv could have to adjust his expectations. If Obama comes with an offer for Secretary of Interior, it may be the last and best offer. If he can't swallow hard and take it, Bill can look forward to playing power games with State Rep. Lucky Varela and the other Santa Fe Alligators for a couple of more years. For the first time in recent months, my sources are starting to talk out loud about that possibility, but most, if not all, see him getting out of here. Big Bill says he has the best job in the world. Will that be put to the test? We await Obama's move. (Do you wonder if ABQ Mayor Marty might have a chance at something if Hillary gets Sec. of State? He was one of her early supporters.) DON'T BANK ON IT Readers hit the e-mail box with updates on the plunging and startling stock price of NM based First State Bancorp. FSNM closed Thursday at $1.75 a share and is now valued at just $35 million. The bank issued assurances weeks ago that it was in good shape. What are they saying now? Stay tuned. WORST IDEA OF THE WEEK? Hey, layoffs and hiring freezes in the state all over the place, home values plummeting and people can't afford to retire because the markets have gone into the cellar. So what to do? Why, let's raise taxes on the working man! DOMENICI BOOKS?  There will be a book on the life and times of NM GOP US Senator Pete Domenici. That word from former Governor Garrey Carruthers. We wondered aloud about that Thursday while blogging that the Yates oil company out of Artesia is donating $500,000 to the Domenici institute that is begin set up on the campus of New Mexico State in Cruces where Carruthers is dean of the college of business. He says: We are firming up the plans for the first of two or three books on the good Senator that will be published by the Domenici Institute. A good book will cover not only Pete's many wins, but also the legislative and political setbacks of his career. We hope that's what we get. PETE AND TED After longtime Alaska GOP Senator Ted Stevens, 85, gave his swan song on the Senate floor, NM's Pete declared: "More than anyone else, you have taught me the meaning of representing my state."
He means the part about bringing the pork home, not using oil company money to fix up your Alaska house, right? Stevens lost his bid for an eight term after his felony convictions THE LOST SUMMER There was not much summer reading around here, considering the epic of political events and the nonstop blogging they entailed. That means we were unable to give you a review of Santa Fe writer David Roybal's enjoyable biography of longtime NM politico Fabian Chavez. We even interviewed David via e-mail in preparation for a review. Suffice it to say, if you are interested in state politics this tale takes you through much of post WWII New Mexican politics in the footsteps of former State Senator Chavez. It's a fun read and a nice gift for that political junkie on your Xmas list. We appreciate you making us part of your day. Have a news tip or comment? E-mail us. Like to advertise here? Let us know. Interested in having us speak to your group about NM politics? Email us for info on that as well. I'm Joe Monahan, coming to you from Albuquerque, New Mexico. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2008 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Thursday, November 20, 2008R's Look To ABQ Senator Payne To Replace Ousted Rawson, Plus: Today's Name Drop: Lawrence Rael And Steve Pearce, Also: More Post-Election Musings
Sen. Payne
 New Mexico Republican state senators seem poised to turn to a military man to keep the troops in line on key votes in the upcoming legislative session. Santa Fe wall-leaners say ABQ GOP Senator William Payne is the likely pick to replace Lee Rawson as Senate minority whip. Rawson was ousted from his Dona Ana County seat in this month's election.Payne has had a long and distinguished naval career, attaining the rank of rear admiral. Even now he is on reserve duty and unavailable for comment on the report that he will be selected by the GOP Senate caucus as the right hand for Sen. Stuart Ingle who is expected to be re-elected Senate minority leader. Payne, a University of New Mexico Law School grad, is the only attorney among the 15 remaining R's in the 42 member Senate. Insiders say he has not been involved much in the intra-party squabbling that has beset the party in recent years. If he gets the nod from the R caucus, Payne would give ABQ some representation in the legislative hierarchy. The whip post would be a nice boost for Payne who was first elected in 1996 and was re-elected this year without opposition. But he might not have that much to do as whip. The era of Democratic dominance in Santa Fe will continue in January with even larger majorities. Then again, with a possible budget shortfall of several hundred million or more, other than slashing budgets, the Dems might not have much to do either. NAME DROPPING  How about longtime politico Lawrence Rael as the #2 pick for Light Guv Diane Denish if Big Bill leaves for D.C. and she becomes the new guv? Hmmm...he may know where too many bodies are buried. Meantime, young State Auditor Hector Balderas is still considered Di's most likely #2 choice--if she gets to make one. Balderas has a heavy radio buy up in the ABQ market asking for public help uncovering problems in state government. Those spots, of course, have nothing to do with his statewide ambitions. Of course not.And how about Steve Pearce for NM GOP chairman? Pearce had his clock cleaned by Tom Udall for the US Senate seat. Any political hopes he has are on life support. The southern NM congressman could probably capture the chairmanship and was asked about it this week on a telephone call with supporters, but our Gators monitoring the conference call say he made no commitments and believe a run is unlikely. What a step down it would be. And could he really launch a decent 2010 Guv bid after serving as the GOP hit man? And Pearce is from the south when the party needs leadership from big Bernalillo County where they got wiped out. And he's still madly in love with Bush. Can he fall out of love for the sake of big Bernalillo? Allen McCulloch of Farmington, the '06 GOP Senate loser, seems to be actively campaigning for the post. Insiders now report that McCulloch has a meet and greet slated for Friday night at the Holiday Inn Suites in NE ABQ. Also, keep your eye on Roswell oilman Mark Murphy who put up several hundred thousand of his own dollars to take out fellow R and State Rep. Dan Foley in the June primary. Murphy has been urged to go for the chairmanship and "clean out the nest" at state GOP headquarters. Lisa Torraco, the GOP loser for the Bernalillo County district attorney's post, is hearing her name dropped for chair because she showed some gumption on the trail. Also being mentioned is Anthony Contri, a defense department contractor. And the list goes on. The chair election is in January. Pearce could probably have the job for the asking. But he needs to ask himself if it's worth asking. WHY, OH WHY? Senator-elect Sapien  The post-mortems continue to pile up on the big upsets of Election '08. We knew veteran Sandoval County GOP State Senator Steve Komadina would be getting a stiff challenge from Dem John Sapien, a Bernalillo native and Corrales resident, but most thought Komadina would pull it out. He lost to Sapien, an insurance agency owner and son of a former Sandoval County Commissioner, by a mere 121 votes. Maybe that June GOP primary challenge from Barry Bitzer hurt Komadina who is a medical doctor and two term Senator. Here's a take from a reader who claims Komadina's roughing up of Bitzer may have cost him in November.The last time a Republican in that Senate district drew a primary challenge it was also enough to open the door for the Democrat in the general election. Pauline Eisenstadt beat Senator Virgil Rhodes in '96. Komadina came out swinging with mail against felow Republican Bitzer. Did that primary cost Komadina the 50 votes he lost by in November? And some spin on that brutal state Senate Race in the ABQ North Valley area featuring incumbent Republican State Senator John Ryan and Dem Victor Raigoza. Raigoza went ballistic when the state GOP hit with mail that implied Raigoza was gay and would support a gay agenda as a lawmaker. Ryan was scored for the attack, but his friends say the piece came after Raigoza hit with mail that brought up Ryan's teenage felony conviction for burglary, an issue that had already been vetted when Ryan was elected to the seat in 2004. In politics, there are usually two sides to the story... ALL TOGETHER NM's New D.C. Delegation (pic from Jeff's office)  What's not to smile about? But how long will those grins last? This is the first pic of the state's new and all Democratic congressional delegation getting a greeting from Senator Jeff Bingaman Wednesday. I think Jeff is telling the newbies (except Rep. Udall who already knows the ropes) that fresh donuts and coffee are served each day at Jeff's place at 5 p.m. However, if they don't help him secure funding for the national labs, he's canceling the coffee klatch and they are all on their own.For those just coming to this party, pictured left to right is northern Congressman-elect Ben Ray Lujan, ABQ Congressman-elect Martin Heinrich, Rep. Udall and southern NM Congressman-elect Harry Teague. PETE'S PLACE NM oil money is going to make sure the record of NM GOP US Senator Pete Domenici isn't forgotten. Yates Petroleum of Artesia is coming with a cool half-million to help fund the Domenici Policy Institute at New Mexico State University in Cruces. The institute will provide a place for scholars to research Domenici's 36 year Senate record and related issues. With this kind of money, one would hope the chances of getting a good book on Domenici and his life have gone up. We still don't have one on the late Senator Dennis Chavez. IT'S SPREADING ABQ city government has a hiring freeze on as does the state. The city of Santa Fe's finances are also on the ropes. And don't go looking for a job in Rio Rancho government. This nasty and deep recession is now hitting there and causing cutbacks. Welcome back, Mayor Swisstack. your old seat in the the Legislature may not look anywhere as near as hot as the one you're sitting in now. THE BOTTOM LINES  La Politica takes us on long and winding roads. Take, for example, this week's Bottom Lines blogs about onetime boom town and now ghost town Kingston, NM. After refuting reports that it was the largest town in the state in 1890, inquiring minds asked for an exact location of the town which boomed with some 7,000 residents, most of whom were mining silver. Here's a google map. The town, west of I-25 in Sierra County, is in the middle of nowhere, but still has 25 residents. We even found a Web site put up by a couple of residents there. They had their priorities in Kingston. There were 22 saloons in town and three newspapers to argue over....Hard times in the newspaper biz means the annual bonuses for employees of the state's largest paper, the ABQ Journal, have been canceled. That word from the Duke City Fix.... So first we hear from reader Bill Hume telling us that NM US Marshall Gorden Eden does indeed spell his first name G-o-r-d-E-n. Then when we made the correction we made another typo by dropping the "R" from "Republican" when identifying Eden's party. The readers piled on, including Mike Parks: Obama's cutting edge use of cyberspace has obviously influenced politicians and officials of all stripes, as evidenced by Gorden Eden now being identified as an "epublican." Did we invent a new word? We have an insatiable craving for attention and validation. Please feed our neurosis and E-mail your news, comments, political gossip and rumors of wars. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2008 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Wednesday, November 19, 2008Capitol Steps: NM Freshmen In The House In D.C., Plus: Reaction To US Attorney Job Story, And: Washington Insider Blogs of "Long Cold Winter" For GOP Here's one of the fist pics of newly minted NM congressmen-elect Ben Ray Lujan and Martin Heinrich. The two Dems were hanging out on the steps of the Capitol Monday with other incoming House freshman and having their class photo taken. Heinrich is in the right corner while Lujan is at top left next to the woman in the yellow dress. Our other freshman, Dem Harry Teague, was also there.Heinrich has already hired a chief of staff, Steve Haro, 31, who served as the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee's Western Regional Political Director. Insiders say Lujan will bring to his congressional offices several staff members who work for him at the NM Public Regulation Commission. He has not announced a chief of staff pick yet. The new congressmen are attending orientation sessions in D.C. this week. US ATTORNEY ACTION We received some good stuff from the legal beagles in reaction to our Tuesday piece on who Obama, in consultation with NM Dem US Senator Bingaman, will select to be the new NM US attorney. All this was sparked over speculation that---Holy abominations!--the current GOP US Attorney could keep the position. ABQ Defense lawyer Ray Twohig was among several making the following point: (Current GOP US Attorney Greg) Fouratt was appointed by the federal district judges. The US attorney general made the interim US Attorney appointment of Larry Gomez and when his time ran out the judges had the choice under the statute, and named Fouratt. The state's senior senator now has the prerogative, and that's Jeff Bingaman. And another e-mail on this important plum job from a legal insider close to the action: "Fouratt ....was never confirmed by the Senate Judiciary Committee as (Republican) David Iglesias was. He's just Christmas help until the next administration comes in. If he had a hope and a prayer of going in to the next administration, even if it were Republican, he'd have to be recommended by Bingaman, vetted by the transition team, nominated by the President then confirmed by the US Senate like everyone else. With all that happened with the US Attorney Scandal, the Democrats want and need to clean house.." "Christmas help?" Yeah, that's the La Politica needle at its best, politics fans. All of this got confusing because of the US Attorney scandal in which David Iglesias was forced out and another nominee was never sent up to the Senate by the White House--the usual course of events. Our interest was also sparked when several newspaper editorials popped up recently urging the new Dem President to retain the current GOP US attorney because he has done a good job prosecuting political corruption cases. Dems are not about to let that happen because in the USA "to the victor, go the spoils." And they should. WHAT WENT WRONG?  "A long cold winter" faces New Mexico Republicans, says one of our top GOP Alligators in Washington who closely monitors the action here. He weighs in with his deep on the inside take for you on the election that was.(GOP US Senate candidate Steve) Pearce) lacked funding, messaging and a real campaign team. (Udall) ran a smart campaign, reinvented himself without being adequately called out, had the bucks, the environment and the Obama/Richardson ground operation. State R's are in complete disarray and I don't see a bench to fix it in the near future. The Obama camp took what we did in 2000 and 2004 and made it better. The McCain camp wouldn't know a get-out-the-vote effort or ground game if it bit em in the ass. It not only hurt hem, but R candidates across country. I'm actually surprised we didn't lose more House seats. (Southern NM Dem Congressman-elect Harry) Teague will have that district for as long as he wants it, and will be a good Member. ) GOP US House candidate Ed) Tinsley couldn't have run a worse campaign. Bad candidate, bad campaign. (ABQ Dem US Congressman-elect Martin) Heinrich could be vulnerable in 2010 as he'll go wherever (US House Speaker Nancy) Pelosi tells him to go. But see bench comment above, who takes him on? (ABQ GOP US Rep.) Heather Wilson is done. The games she and her crew played post primary on Pearce were deplorable. A losing primary candidate who works internally to ensure their opponent loses the general election to prove a point will be remembered in any future Republican primary. The only thing she didn't do was publicly endorse Udall. A long cold winter faces NM Republicans, maybe nationally as well. Folks, that's the kind of stuff you get only here. It's why this Web site is the undisputed home of New Mexico politics. KING'S RULE QUESTIONED Not all are happy with NM Attorney General King's move to force certain political nonprofits to register with the state as political action committees, a story we blogged Tuesday. Charlotte Roybal of Santa Fe says Gary is disappointing her: "Joe: Now that we have (Dem) Jerome Block Jr on the Public Regulation Commission, I see Gary King as a total opportunist. He did nothing (to stop Block) in his role as AG before the election. As far as I am concerned, he is not doing his job as AG and has NO business running for Governor..I always supported him in the past and will not again.. The old guard ways of Northern NM is not the way we want to elect officials. King for Governor? He did a poll earlier this year and has run for the top job twice before. He previously told us he is not interested, but circumstances change and so can political minds. THE BIG DISCONNECT Rep. Arnold-Jones  Time for the bizarre case of the soon-to-be out-of-power State House minority whip Dan Foley of Roswell. He's trying to excuse Republicans for the state budget crisis by attacking overpsending by Governor Big Bill and the Dems. But didn't Dan and his gang join with the Dems and vote for most of those Big Bill big state budgets that Foley now claims are to blame for the projected $500 million budget shortfall? They sure did.ABQ GOP State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones tells us she and other R's are hopeful that new GOP House whip Keith Gardner, along with minority leader Taylor, will usher out the blame game era and usher in some constructive conservatism. The new team takes over in January. MORE ON MAYOR MONEY Here's more for you 2009 ABQ city election watchers on the complicated money rules for the mayor and council races. We will have continuing coverage right here... THE BOTTOM LINES
 It was an interesting piece that story we put in our Tuesday bottom lines about the abandoned town of Kingston in southern NM. But the mining outpost was not the largest town in the state in its heyday in 1890, as the article said. That word from Inez Russell of the Santa Fe New Mexican who forwards this research Anselmo Arrellano:"By 1890, San Miguel County was the largest and most populous county in the New Mexico Territory. Extending from the eastern flank of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains to the Texas Panhandle border on the east, the county boasted 24,204 of the state's 153,593 residents. Las Vegas was the largest city in New Mexico, followed by Santa Fe and Albuquerque..." She's right. The mining boom made San Miguel a wild and busy frontier town. The politics over there are still that way.....We've never seen "Gordon" spelled G-o-r-d-E-n. But that's how NM US Marshall Gorden Eden spells his name. Former ABQ Journal editorial page editor Bill Hume says he was often tripped up by the spelling as we were when we blogged about a potential successor to Republican Eden who will be headed toward the exits now that a Dem prez has been elected. I hope he or she has an easier name to spell.... E-mail your news and comments. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2008 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Tuesday, November 18, 2008King To Act On Political Nonprofit Mess By Year's End, Plus: Money & The Mayor Run, And: Some Bottom Lines For A Fall Tuesday
AG King
 Attorney General Gary King says the political nonprofit mess in New Mexico has not fallen off his radar. The state's top law enforcement official tells us that by the end of the year he will take more action. The argument is over the refusal of the nonprofit NM Youth Organized (NMYO) to register with the Secretary of State as a Political Action committee (PAC). That would mean it would have to fully report its donations and expenditures. Currently, the group can operate behind a veil of secrecy because it says it is not advocating for or against political candidates, but is an "issues advocacy" group.NMYO, operating under the umbrella of the Center for Civic Policy, is headed by "progressive" political consultant Eli Lee. King and Secretary of State Herrera maintain that Lee's group is blatantly political and cite the literature the group sent out targeting three Dem legislators who were defeated in the June primary. In late August, Herrera, on the advice of King, demanded that NMYO register with the state. The group refused. King told us the hefty fines levied by the SOS on Public Regulation Commission candidate Jerome Block Jr. (over $21,000) for violating public campaign finance laws is an example of what he has in mind for nonprofits he deems in violation of sate law. NMYO and Center for Civic Policy benefit as federally tax exempt groups and annually receive hundreds of thousands of dollars in tax deductible contributions. Lee disclosed some of them for a one year period after public pressure mounted. Most of the money revealed came from foundations such as the McCune Foundation, but individual donations and expenditures were not disclosed. The nonprofit says additional information is available on federal tax forms , but those forms are nowhere nearly as detailed as what is required of a state registered PAC. If the nonprofit is found to be a PAC and not an advocacy or lobbying group, it could lose its federal tax exempt status and in turn much of its donation base. Eli Lee  In Santa Fe, legislators, especially those with a pro-business bent, are worried about who is next on the nonprofit hit list. That NMYO can operate in secrecy is especially galling to critics who point out the same group and similar ones are arguing for ethics reforms in the Roundhouse. Look for action in the sixty day session, with Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez being the key player.Supporters of NMYO are working to paint this as an argument over free speech, but critics assert it is an argument over transparency, what constitutes political campaigning and the public's right to know exactly who is spending and donating what cash to campaigns. While King moves to enforce the law and lawmakers grapple with possible legislation, the issue may end up in court which at this point doesn't seem like a bad idea. BILL'S TRAVELS Yes, Big Bill did meet with Obama Friday afternoon in Chicago. And, yes, the two did discuss a possible role for the Guv in the Obama administration. That comes from an Alligator with knowledge of the meeting. Richardson apparently also headed to Las Vegas, Nevada over the weekend to celebrate his 61st birthday which was Saturday, says a Senior Alligator. Richardson's office denied our original report that a meeting with Obama was scheduled for mid-November. Insiders are saying we were not intentionally misled, that the meeting was set up on very short notice. Of course, we believe that because we just bought a bridge from the same insiders. As we have blogged repeatedly, the chances of Richardson becoming Sec. of State seem small. However, we feel our Senior Gator report that stated Obama asked Richardson to list four jobs he was interested in is solid. Our source said one of the jobs listed was ambassador to China. And our senior source also said that is the most likely one the Guv would get. In recent days speculation has mounted that the Guv could have trouble passing the "vetting" process for a high-level job because of a federal probe into campaign contributions he received and any role such contributions played in awarding a state contract. The story has been in the ABQ Journal, but nothing new of late. Meantime, the speculation on the next high-stakes move by Bill will continue because it is high-stakes for the future government of Mr. and Mrs. New Mexico. MAYOR MARTY ABQ Mayor Chavez give his "State of the City Address" Tuesday night at six at the Alamosa Community Center 6900 Gonzales Rd SW. A poll conducted for New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan by Positive Contacts Consulting last month showed Chavez's favorable rating was at 45% in Bernalillo County. It will take a showing of 40% in next year's ABQ mayoral election for the mayor to avoid a run-off election. Chavez seems to be off and running unless a better job offer surfaces. MONEY FOR MAYOR Mayor Chavez  And we have to dip our toes into the dreaded and opaque waters of campaign financing for the 2009 city election. We've probably already screwed up how the new law is going to play out, but we are getting a better handle on it as we talk with those who know. Not only did the law set up public financing for the mayor's post, but if you run and don't take part in the financing, you are still prohibited from taking campaign donations from any business or individual that does any business with the city. The law also bans corporate contributions, which means unless you are going to self-finance your campaign, you are going to want to take part in the public financing. That's the word from Mayor Chavez's inner circle. Marty, they say, will be restricted from raising big money from the development community as he did in 2005 so if he runs he will take the public financing. Each mayoral candidate who qualifies will be eligible to collect around $300,000 (a buck per registred voter) to run their campaign, but only if there is enough money in the public kitty. That's another issue. The bottom line? Unless a wealthy self-financed candidate surfaces, the public finance playing field stands to benefit the well-known and incumbent Chavez. How ironic. The measure was pushed big by then city councilor and now State Senator-elect Eric Griego, a longtime political foe of Mayor Marty.
THE BOTTOM LINES  Kingston, New Mexico? We confess that w e never heard of it until we read this excellent piece of New Mexico journalism from Sam Conn in the Las Cruces Sun-News. Kingston was at one time the largest city in the state? What a fascinating history we have around here...Thanks to reader Michelle Meaders and others for pointing out that in our first draft of the blog Monday we called the Nevada job of former ABQ mayor Schultz a "union" job. He works for a contractors group in Las Vegas.E-mail your news and comments. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2008 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Monday, November 17, 2008Ex-ABQ Mayor Schultz Resurfaces In Nevada Job, Plus: Positioning Starts For NM US Attorney Post, And: White ABQ Mayor Bid?
Ken Schultz
 Former ABQ Mayor Ken Schultz may be disgraced and unemployable in the city he once led, but the politician turned lobbyist who pleaded guilty to being a bagman in the epic ABQ Metro Courthouse corruption scandal is drawing a paycheck. Insiders report Schultz, living in Henderson Nevada, is chapter executive for the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Association for Southern Nevada in Las Vegas. Schultz, who served as ABQ mayor from 1985-89, has had the post for at least several months. Records show he briefly participated in a Nevada State Contractors board meeting on behalf of the contractors he now toils for. A check of Nevada state lobbying records does not show Schultz practicing his old profession in the Silver State.Schultz's luck in finding new employment may not be sitting well with others in the courthouse caper that snared powerful former State Senator Manny Aragon and others. Aragon has been sentenced to over five years in federal prison for ripping off over $600,000 in the scheme that bilked over $4 million from taxpayers. Schultz copped a plea with federal prosecutors in which the U.S. Attorney's Office agrees to recommend a sentence lower than federal guidelines, meaning Schultz could hope for no prison time. Schultz in his plea deal admitted being the "go between" carrying money from courthouse architect Marc Schiff to Metro Court administrator Toby Martinez, and Schiff admitted making payments through Schultz under threat of losing his contract. Schultz awaits sentencing as the remaining courthouse corruption case in which his testimony may be needed is played out. It is assumed the once powerful mayor is drawing a comfy salary and enjoying the benefits of the Nevada weather as Aragon preps for the dank setting of a federal prison camp. NEW US ATTORNEY? Betty & Pete Dinelli & The Man  Meanwhile, talk is circulating in the press that seems based on fantasy. That's the possibility that current Republican US attorney Greg Fouratt should be kept on the job so he can lead the US Attorneys Office in continuing prosecuting public corruption cases in Democratic controlled New Mexico. But that's not the way the system works. Fouratt, who came in after the US attorney scandal which led to the political firing of Republican David Iglesias, serves at the pleasure of the president. Removal for political reasons is generally perceived as a no-no, but not when there is an election and a new president takes power. That's when US attorneys everywhere are given their walking papers if they belong to the opposite party. In our case, expect Dem and New Mexico's soon-to-be senior Senator Jeff Bingaman, in consultation with Obama and his team, to play a key role in naming a new top NM federal prosecutor. And why shouldn't they?The US attorney scandal has damaged the reputation of the office. Several top Dems stand ready to apply for the post, including a couple of prosecutors currently in the office. More notably and realistically, Santa Fe politico and attorney John Pound and ABQ Dem State Rep. Al Park are two possibles for Obama. Also, ABQ public safety boss and lawyer Pete Dinelli is a former chief deputy district attorney with heavy prosecuting experience who could easily fit the bill. Other names floating include NM Dem Party Chair Brian Colon and Santa Fe's Geno Zamora. Fouratt has won praise for doing a laudable job in finishing up the public corruption case, but the larger principle of turnover in the government after eight years of GOP control is more important than a singular case. Why? Because the long-term concentration of power in the hands of one party inevitably leads to abuses. We already saw that in the US attorney scandal. The new president deserves to hire his own people and be judged on their performance. Look for a new US attorney. ANOTHER PLUM There's another plum federal job that hangs in the balance as we wait for Obama to take power in January. That is the post of US Marshal for New Mexico. It has been held by Gordon Eden, Jr. since 2002. He served as head of the NM motor vehicle division under GOP Guv Gary Johnson before becoming Marshall. The office is the government's lead agency in going after fugitives. We are not hearing a lot of names as possible successors to Eden, but one does stand out. That is ABQ Police Department Captain Conrad Candelaria. The policeman was eying the Bernalillo County Sheriff's post if Sheriff Darren White managed to win a seat in Congress, but he was trounced by Dem Martin Heinrich. Candelaria, we're told, may be polishing up his resume. Dropping his name may get the Alligators splashing. Conrad's police career has not been without controversy. WHITE'S WORLD  Speaking of Darren White, his friends are dropping hints that the beaten down sheriff could actually try to make a run for ABQ mayor in 2009. This, despite his ten point thumping and the first-ever Republican loss of the ABQ US House seat to Dem Martin Heinrich. White polled well for mayor before the congressional election, but now the hard-core Bush-Republican is in the doghouse with the Dems, especially for running a last minute attack ad that was nasty and did nothing to alter the race. Also, White's campaign failed to enhance his image as a politician with executive experience. In fact, it may have damaged him in that regard.White may climb back someday, but after the beating Heinrich gave him in his home city, the sheriff starts at the base of the mountain. If he does get quixotic and decides to play on the mayoral playground, look for the Heinrich camp to pay attention. They don't want any mayor with long shot thoughts of making another run for Congress. And, yes, look for a sizable contingent of disgruntled R's to also make life uncomfortable for White if he tries to rear his political head so soon after his whipping. EMILIO AND HISTORY  Our obit of NM political legend Emilio Naranjo brought forth interesting comment from Raul Huerta of the Academic Enrichment Center at Morrisville State College in Morrisville, NY.Joe, I beg to differ with you regarding your comment: “Naranjo was an historical figure in that he built a bridge for Spanish speaking New Mexicans to deal with the new Anglo economy. Until the 30's, when the Great Depression forced Spanish Northerners to integrate economically, there was not much need for an Emilio Naranjo.” The true bridge between the Anglo and Hispano community was built by Senator Dennis Chavez...He was tireless in his efforts to allow Hispanics to become fully integrated into the economic, educational and political life of the US. I was recently in Puerto Rico at “Somos El Futuro” which is a public policy event put on by New York Latinos...I mentioned Senator Chavez’s advocacy throughout his senatorial career for Puerto Rican statehood. Many of the participants were very familiar with his love for Puerto Rico. Emiliano Naranjo, IMHO, was a bit player when contrasted with Senator Chavez or even Senator Montoya. No question that Senator Chavez was the major Hispanic player in NM history. No way were we trying to usurp his legacy with that of Emilio who remains a figure of political fascination but nowhere near the consequence of Chavez. In fact, it is painful for many Republicans, but because of the way Senator Domenici finished his Senate tenure--mired in the US Attorney scandal, the Dem sweep of the state in the '08 election and his association with the failed Bush presidency, the contest for the state's most important US Senator ever is not a contest. Chavez remains the undisputed champion. THE BOTTOM LINES
Rep. Gardner  State House Republicans have their leadership team set for the 60 day legislative that starts in January after the GOP caucus meeting in ABQ over the weekend. No ABQ reps were selected for leadership posts. Rep. Tom Taylor of Farmington was re-elected Minority Leader. Rep. Keith Gardner of Roswell was elected Minority Whip, replacing defeated Rep. Dan Foley also of Roswell. Rep. Anna Crook of Clovis was re-elected Caucus Chair. "With our leadership team in place, the next item on our agenda is to begin tackling the serious budgeting challenges that face New Mexico," said Taylor.There are now 25 R's in the state House, down three from before the election. There are 45 Dems.... We ran a photo of the late political boss Emilio Naranjo Friday that Kevin Bersett of the Rio Grande Sun says came from his paper. If it was indeed from the Rio Grande Sun in Emilio's Rio Arriba County, we thank the Sun for its use. E-mail your news and comments. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2008 Not for reproduction without permission of the author |
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