We'll start off with this invitation to the Nov. 16 ABQ fund-raising lunch Vice-President Joe Biden will host on behalf of NM Dem US Reps. Martin Heinrich and Harry Teague. Lunch is going for $1,000 a pop at the Hotel Andaluz downtown. That is the former Hilton, originally built in 1939 and recently reopened. A $2400 contribution gets you lunch and attendance at a reception for the Veep. The cash will be split evenly between Teague and Heinrich, but northern Dem Congressman Ben Ray Lujan isn't forgotten. He won't get any of the money but the invite dubs him "a special guest."

This is the ice-walking stage for Heinrich and Teague. We're all watching to see if they step to heavy and fall in the pond, giving their opponents an opening. Some say Teague already has by supporting controversial climate legislation. But what about Heinrich? He was castigated as a far-left Dem in '08 but he went on to rout his Republican rival by some 10 points.

If you are the R's, you have to be worried about the ABQ seat slipping away. Republican Jon Barela has had a so-so fund-raising start and the only available path right now to take Heinrich down is to tie him to unpopular national polices and hope Obama is sinking a year from now.

But Heinrich has access to the ABQ media market and has been forming an identity that connects with local issues and people. He is inoculating himself slowly but surely from the national environment. Even his opponents admit it has been well-executed--so far.

R's think Barela is an ideal candidate, a smart, Hispanic lawyer. His initial fund-raising efforts have been somewhat anemic, but he is more a victim of Heinrich's initial success. Barela needs an opening to get heard. Right now, when it comes to the ABQ congressional race, it's all quiet on all fronts.

DOUBLE-DIPPING

During this state budget meltdown we are hearing more than ever about those notorious double-dippers--government employees who retire with a nice monthly pension check, but then show back up on the state payroll at high-paying jobs, drawing two reliable checks. But how does that actually impact the budget? Someone would be doing the job the double-dippers were doing. The question popped up again this week when Light Guv Diane Denish said, if elected Governor, she could save $7 million a year by curtailing double-dipping. Reader Daniel Klein has the explanation:

...The state has to pay 100% of the double dippers retirement contribution (into PERA or ERA). So here is the math. The state says there are 2,200 double dippers. Let's say on average the double dippers salary is $50,000 and their average retirement contribution rate is 10%. That means the state has to pay $5,000 each year into the retirement fund for each double dipper. Multiply this by 2,200 double dippers and we get $11,000,000 that the state budget must come up with...

Now, I am sure the Lt. Gov. numbers ($7 million savings) are more accurate for each double dippers salary and retirement contribution rate. I'm just making the math easier to understand.

Denish says she would make some exceptions when it comes to double-dipping by public safety employees because she believes some of those positions are hard to fill, but Klein takes the opposite view:

There are plenty of great candidates out there. This is just a way for public safety to continue the good old boy system. Many will point to the ABQ police and say they have a hard time hiring. Hogwash. The problem is the hiring system. It can take months to hire a police cadet at $17 an hour. Yet Sandia Labs can hire someone who needs a security clearance within a month.

And the debate will go on, especially when the Legislature meets again on January 19.

SPACE WARS

Our defense Wednesday of the planned Spaceport for southern NM drew praise and darts. That's not surprising as there is no guarantee the public investment will pay off.

Here's a sample. First, Bill McCamley, a former Dona Ana County commissioner, who is now running for a southern Public Regulation Commission seat:

Though the cost is high, it is one of the few projects we have in the state that has the potential to bring private money in to our economy from outside the state. Furthermore, it gives us the chance to create jobs that will allow our talented young people to stay here in the state rather than having to move to nearby urban areas to find quality work.

But longtime reader Richard Anklam says we were way too indulgent when it comes to the Spaceport:

One thing we know for certain is that deadlines have slipped. They’ve yet to pave the runway, and Virgin Galatic is at least a year behind...The economy would likely dampen the optimistic projections even if Virgin and the Spaceport were really up and running. The $100 million (legislative capital outlay) you mention was only the initial investment, but the total price tag is much higher..We raised gross receipts tax in two counties...But capital spending aside, what economic activity is really taking place? And how much in the near future can we count on?

The report shows manufacturers’ headquarters, and assumes that propulsion, avionics, and airframes will be manufactured here...We have no good track record of attracting manufacturers, and the Spaceport doesn’t do much to change that...Our tax structure simply isn’t conducive...

Eventually the spaceport will see use and realize some of the promised benefits, but the less we get and the longer it takes to get it only reduces the return on investment and potentially to a point where it doesn’t make sense…

Total state investment in the Spaceport, including local taxes, is put at $198 million. MSNBC recently visited the project and filed this report.

WILL HE TAKE A CREDIT CARD?

From the NM GOP:

On Wednesday, Governor Richardson held office hours to hear constituent concerns...In order to speak with the governor, however, New Mexicans must verify their identity by presenting a valid state driver’s license. It’s curious that in order to talk with the governor for five minutes, New Mexicans are required to provide more proof of identity than when they participated in the very process which elected Mr. Richardson. And yet, research shows that New Mexicans overwhelmingly support legislation that would require individuals to show photo identification before casting a ballot.

Photo ID is required in ABQ city elections, but not statewide balloting. THE BOTTOM LINES

The names of those serving on the transition teams of ABQ Mayor-elect RJ Berry and who are examining city hall departments have not been released. A spokeswoman for Berry says the names will be included in the final transition reports, but they may not be available until after Berry is sworn in December 1. They are saying the teams are still not final, 25 days away from the transfer of power. Transition members are not paid, but in the past many have often gone on to work in the departments they oversaw during the transition. We'll see if that's the case with this administration once the public is given a full list of those taking part.

Meanwhile, City Hall Alligators come with some of the names you want to know. For example, Julie Dreike, a longtime top aide to former ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson is serving on the team overseeing the Human Resources department. Attorneys Pete Domenici, Jr. and Mark Jarmie are among those serving on the team looking at the Legal Department. Democratic State Rep. Kiki Saavedra is on the team examining the parks department as is Connie Beimer who now works in administration at the University of New Mexico but once worked under Saavedra who retired from parks. Kiki now chairs the state House Appropriations Committee which Berry served on when he was a member of the Legislature.

We're also told Jeep Gilliland, a former president of the New Mexico Federation of Labor--AFL-CIO, is working the transition for Berry. He is now a Santa Fe lobbyist. The big city employees union--AFSCME--endorsed Mayor Chavez, but they could not get him across the finish line.

Readers are now free to badger all these transition members for job information. At least several dozen citizens, including neighborhood reps, have traditionally taken part in mayoral transitions.

Earlier, the mayor-elect did release the names of six persons who are leading the transition, including businessman Sherman McCorkle, Sheriff Darren White, who will be public safety director, GOP State Rep. Larry Larranaga and Demesia Padilla, a CPA, who was the GOP candidate for state treasurer in 2006.

A GRILLED CHIEF

The insiders are also talking about a "seven hour grilling" undergone by ABQ Police Chief Ray Schultz by the transition team looking at the police department. They say Sheriff White, who will become Public Safety Director December 1st, appeared before the questioning started, put his arm around Schultz and told the team that he's a good man, or words to that effect. He said the team should not not be too tough on the chief. After that, the transition team went to work and started looking in "every nook and cranny" of APD, say insiders.

Speculation continues on how long Schultz will stay on as chief. He has a good relationship with White, but if Schultz is too responsive to him that could make it more difficult for Berry and soon-to-be chief administrative officer David Campbell to manage. Or so goes the riff from the wall-leaners.

THE MONEY MESSAGE

Berry has yet to send his first message over the city's fiscal crisis--a probable $10 million shortage for the budget year year that ends June 30. The first inkling of how he intends to mange city finances may come when he announces the pay for his incoming department directors and whether any deputy directors or other positions are going to be left empty. If his directors go in at Chavez era salaries--well over the $100,000 mark--he could lose some credibility after conducting a campaign emphasizing his desire to get city spending under control.

THE LEARNING CURVE

The Downtown Gators describe Berry, 46, as still in a learning mode. He does not have executive experience and that explains why the decision making process may be a slow go for his first year. Berry is said to have a "nice guy" image with the city employees he has thus far interacted with. Of course, he doesn't want it to be too nice.

GOING PRIVATE?

Will there be privatization of city services under this first Republican city administration in nearly 25 years? Maybe. The city's 311 citizen contact center could be targeted to go private, say our sources. And they say the city's Solid Waste Department could be another candidate for privatization. But such a move has implications with city employees and won't come without major involvement of the city council. A key issue is how much money would really be saved by going private?

THANKS, NANCY
Heinrich, Speaker Nancy & Ben Ray
Well, it looks as though NM newbie congressmen Martin Heinrich and Ben Ray Lujan are back on the same page when it comes to Indian health care. We blogged this week of how Martin's aggressive press posture over helping to get the Indian Health Care System reauthorized by the US House might have made Ben Ray feeling a chill. After all, his northern district is nearly 20 percent Native American.

But Wednesday it was Speaker Nancy to the rescue: From the D.C. PR desks:

US Representatives Martin Heinrich (NM-1) and Ben Ray Luján (NM-3) joined Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of Congress for a meeting in the Capitol with Jefferson Keel, president of the National Congress of Americans Indians, and other tribal leaders to highlight the benefits of health insurance reform to the Native American community.

Hey, how come Ben Ray is sitting closer to Nancy than Martin? Okay, we'll drop it.

DIGGING AT DI

Republicans are turning the heat up again under Lt. Governor Denish, the presumed 2010 Dem Guv nominee. They're now saying she spent federal monies on Christmas cards and polling. GOP Guv candidate Allen Weh wants a federal investigation. Why stop there? How about they investigate Weh's millions in federal contracts for his CSI Aviation which has done so much business in Iraq? Were all those federal dollars spent appropriately? Yeah, this game cuts both ways. At least around here. (Here's more dead tree coverage.)

DEATH CLAIMS JUSTICE FRANCHINI

Gene Franchini's final words were before the first year students of the University of New Mexico School of Law and they were about the importance of a judge following his conscience. Moments later the former NM Supreme Court Chief Justice and District Court Judge was gone, collapsing in the classroom from an apparent heart attack.

If he had to pick how he was going to go, that may have been how. He was well-known for his generosity with the state's youth. The Gene Franchini Scholarship for the NM Mock Trial program was established in his honor and he served as a mentor to numerous lawyers just starting out.

He was a real gentleman, just a wonderful man. He was from one of the original Italian families in ABQ and was greatly respected. He will not only be remembered as chief justice but for stepping down from the district court bench as an act of protest against mandatory sentencing passed by the Legislature, said attorney and ABQ Public Safety Director Pete Dinelli, who is also from one of the city's original Italian families that settled here in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Franchini, 74, had in fact mentioned his resignation from the bench just prior to succumbing, according to those attending the ethics lecture which was an annual event for the retired jurist.

He said it may be true that "you can fool all of the people some of the time, but you can never fool your conscience anytime."

Franchini loved his La Politica. He turned up on your blog last year, attending a farewell party for former State Senator Manny Aragon who had been sentenced to prison on federal corruption charges. That report garnered statewide attention, but Franchini's attendance was not to countenance any wrongdoing, but an expression of friendship. It was a reminder of how the blending of ethnic groups has made ABQ a city of such rich--and rare--diversity.

Franchini retired from the high court in 2002. He attended St. Mary's grade and high schools and was a 1957 graduate of the University of New Mexico. He earned his law degree from Georgetown University and began practicing law in NM in 1960.

His immediate survivors include his wife of 40 years, Glynnnie, and four children.

More on the life of Franchini in this interview he conducted in 2003 with Appellate News. ABQ Journal coverage here.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009
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Heather, you may have spoken too soon. So opined our Alligators Tuesday night as they eagerly monitored election results showing independent voters breaking for the Republican Guv candidates in New Jersey and Virginia. That is also the only path to power for this state's contracting GOP--an appeal to independents who are tired of the same faces--(Light Guv Diane Denish?)--the same old political corruption and what is becoming the same old economy--meaning lousy. But former ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson, perhaps the R's best choice to build a coalition of R's, conservative Dems and the crucial independents, has passed on the Guv race.

Denish, the presumed 2010 Dem Guv nominee, isn't oblivious to the jumpy independents whose growth in size matches their frustration. Today, only hours after the Tuesday election, she will unveil what she is calling "reform proposals" that she says would save the state millions. After eight years as Big Bill, Light Guv Denish has her work cut out for her to define herself s an agent of change, but she does have the odds on her side.

What is left of the state Republican Party is simply not positioned enough in the center to attract independents. Their two strongest candidates Allen Weh and Susana Martinez--are arguing over who is the most conservative, while Janice Arnold-Jones and Doug Turner send a message that appeals to independents, but is too moderate for the nominating wing of the GOP.

Last night, with Indys moving to R's on the East Coast, New Mexico Republicans looked like a starving man behind bars, staring at a rib-eye a foot away, but unable to get their hands on it.

Point of information--no self-identified conservative has been elected Governor of New Mexico. (No, Gary Johnson was a libertarian, not a conservative. Maybe Ed Mechem in the 50's came close, but he got in on an anti-corruption platform.)

And that brings us back to Wilson who could have won the nomination and then pivoted toward the center for November's main event. The question now is whether the two independent minded Republicans ratchet up the rhetoric and use New Jersey and Virginia as a calling card to persuade the conservative and marginalized NM GOP to give them a listen.

LAS CRUCES AND TEAGUE

In Las Cruces--the state's second largest city--three progressive candidates swept to victory in a low turnout city council election. That could bode well for Dem US Rep. Harry Teague who is facing a stiff challenge from Republican Steve Pearce. Teague's margin of victory in Dona Ana County--home to Las Cruces--will be critical to overcome Pearce's East Side strength. Having Dems in charge in Cruces will continue to help, unless those Dems try to push Harry too far to the left. Sun-News coverage here.

BIDEN CONFIRMED

We told you Tuesday about VP Joe Biden coming to ABQ to raise money for US Reps Heinrich and Teague. Now the confirmation:

Congressman Heinrich’s office says the VP will be in town on Monday, Nov. 16 at the Hotel Andaluz in downtown Albuquerque. It’s part of a fundraiser for Reps. Martin Heinrich and Harry Teague, who are also Democrats. This will be Biden’s first visit to Albuquerque since taking office.

AUDITOR CLASH
Balderas vs. Pacheco
An interesting face-off is underway between State Auditor Hector Balderas and northern District Attorney Angela "Spence" Pacheco and breaking in the pages of the Rio Grande Sun. Balderas is claiming Pacheco is dragging her feet in bringing charges against former Jemez Mountain School district business manager Kathy Borrego for allegedly stealing over $3 million in public finds. Pacheco continues to gather evidence, but Balderas who accused Borrego over two months ago says:

I understand the delay, but you know (Second District Attorney) Kari Brandenburg (in Albuquerque), (Eighth District Attorney) Donald Gallegos in Taos, their styles on a huge case like this would have been to commit to a time frame and try to stick to it...

We're sure DA Angela relishes the comparison with DA Kari. Not!

She says Hector's report was a starting point and that the FBI and other agencies need to complete their investigations before any charges are brought. in other words, she's saying Hector's word is not the be all end all.

Balderas is up for re-election next year. He has no announced opposition. Pacheco was elected in 2008 as DA for Rio Arriba, Los Alamos and Santa Fe counties.

PROGRESSIVE PINO

If ABQ State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino is not the most "progressive" candidate in the race for lieutenant governor then Mike Locksley doesn't know how to throw a punch. From Pino's entry statement as he opened his ABQ campaign headquarters last week:

In the Senate since 2005, Ortiz y Pino has pushed for universal health care, gay rights, children's issues and alternative energy, among other things.

I stand today as not just a Democratic Party candidate for lieutenant governor, but as a leader of all New Mexicans no matter how they vote, how they live, how they work or how they love...

Pino is also for another key progressive plank--rolling back the 2003 personal income tax cuts, a position not shared by the other light guv hopefuls. That's a 100 percent batting average for him with party liberals. Will their support follow?

RAEL RETIRING

Dem Light Guv contender Lawrence Rael will retire--not take a leave of absence--from his job in charge of the Rail Runner. Details here.

SPACE SPENDING

There is much to commend in this opinion column about the state budget crisis from Tony Barajas, an official with the state labor union, AFSCME. For example, he cites the abundance of highly paid exempt employees, the need to roll back the 2003 tax cuts for the wealthiest New Mexicans and the waste in many capital outlay projects. But Mr. Barajas lost us with this assertion:

They (the Legislature and Guv) have failed the citizens by overspending on high-dollar projects that no average New Mexican could possibly benefit from; the spaceport is one that comes to mind!

Maybe we drank the Kool-Aid on this one, but the $100 million in capital outlay we put up to build the Spaceport in southern NM seems to be one of the better gambles taken by our Governor and Legislature during the boom years. The state has a long association with all things scientific and the Spaceport dovetails nicely with the national labs and the military bases.

One of the problems with New Mexican culture is the tendency to stare at its belly button and not the world at large. That has retarded efforts to improve education and build a robust economy. And often when we have looked outward, we have been shortsighted or gullible.

The Spaceport is so much more than the now defunct Eclipse Aviation which shredded so many taxpayer dollars and so much more than various call centers which have been generously subsidized by the state. And the timing just feels right. The national laboratories--Sandia and Los Alamos--appear to have reached a plateau. What will be the next big thing? Might it be space exploration and development? If so, the Spaceport could one day rival the size of Los Alamos and Sandia. Maybe some third graders sitting today in a T or C classroom will be in charge. That's worth an investment buck or two.

This is the home of New Mexico politics. Email your news and comments.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009
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Rep. Heinrich
There appears to be some confusion regarding the decision by the State Police and the state General Services Department to block online data for use of their aircraft. There were two major features to the data: in-flight tracking of aircraft and flight histories for aircraft. The security concerns of the state dealt with the in-flight tracking feature, but the state's decision to block the online data also means that flight histories are no longer available online for government aircraft.

It is true that that information can still be obtained from the state. But having to go to the state for the paper documents on aircraft use is much more inefficient for me and others interested in tracking aircraft use. Also, there is a cost to taxpayers when the state has to provide the paper documents.

Okay, all those willing to disclose their flight path in exchange for a ride on Bill's jet, please raise their hands.

STOP THE RAID

Reader reaction now to that proposal floated here Monday by State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez that we raid the state's Land Grant Permanent Fund for $2 billion to bail out the state budget for the next several years. Sanchez told us he expected opposition to the bombshell proposal, and he was right. Reader Kevin Garcia is a prime example:

I’m disappointed to hear of yet another Legislative effort to raid the Permanent Fund. It’s always the same old song –“Think of the Children.” If we had listened to all the legislators who have sung this same “song” in the past fifty years in their attempts to raid this fund, then we would have nothing in the Permanent Funds today!

Since the Senate and House both went along with Governor Richardson’s spending binge, they should both be held accountable to make tough decisions when the party’s over. No one likes cleaning up this mess, but I for one am sure glad that these Permanent Funds--which generate millions every year to fund education--were protected for future generations. They are called “Permanent Funds” and not ‘Rainy Day Funds” for a reason, and I can assure you many New Mexicans feel the same, and will not vote for such a raid on these funds even if our Legislators do...

THE BOTTOM LINES

We said in our first draft on that Sanchez proposal that it would take a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to place the constitutional amendment on the ballot. That's incorrect, as pointed out by several readers, including ABQ Dem State Rep. Mimi Stewart:

Interesting read this morning. But it only takes a majority of those elected to pass a constitutional amendment, 36 in the House, 22 in the Senate.

This is the home of New Mexico politics. Email your news and comments.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2009
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Sen. Sanchez
We went for enchiladas and chicharrones on a recent trek to the Barelas Coffee House in the ABQ South Valley, but we were also served up a plate full of news. We were scoping out recent political developments with a Senior Alligator and in walks State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, a key player at the center of the financial maelstrom roiling the state's political waters. We flagged him down and brought him by the table for a briefing. We didn't offer him any of our chicharrones, but we probably should have as he offered some provocative analysis that was every bit as tasty as the pork morsels and red chile.

First, Sanchez confirms what most suspect--tax increase proposals are an inevitable centerpiece of the January legislative session where a budget shortfall of upwards of $1 billion will confront lawmakers. He told us "sin taxes"--those on booze and cigarettes will be in the spotlight as lawmakers look for "revenue enhancements" to solve the historic deficit. We did not go into detail, but we also got the vibe that a rollback of the 2003 personal income tax cut for the wealthiest NM taxpayers will also be on Sanchez's list of things to do.

We are still about 11 weeks away from the Jan. 19 session, but the Belen leader also had some specifics on the spending side. He said millions in outstanding state contracts are in for legislative scrutiny. We did not put the trial lawyer on the spot and ask if that included legal contracts. There's a lot of money to be found there.

Sanchez also fired a shot across the bow of the myriad state boards and commissions. Many have highly paid executive directors and well-paid staffs, but their necessity in a time of economic angst is open to question. He says he wants to take a look. We can already see the long line of commission protectors forming outside his door.

BOMBSHELL DROPPED

Then there was the bombshell Sanchez dropped that had us choking on the chichrarrones. He said he is studying the possibility of offering a constitutional amendment that would permit the Legislature to take $2 billion directly fronm the state's Land Grant Permanent Fund to deal with the fiscal emergency which he says is going to last several years. "We could use that money to get over the hump. This is not just going to last another year or so."

After clearing our clogged throats, we analyzed that stunner with Sanchez, who agreed that such a proposal would have long odds of passing. First, it would take a majority vote of the Legislature to get it on the ballot, then win approval from voters and quite possibly an act of Congress. It was Congress that nearly a hundred years ago made possible the transfer of federal lands to New Mexico that annually generate millions that we stash away in the permanent fund.

We take a certain percentage out of that fund each year--valued as of June 30 at about $8 billion--to fund mainly education (over $435 million in fiscal 2007) , but we aren't allowed to take huge lump sums out--and for good reason. The politicians could spend those billions in a blink and the state would be left panhandling for tortillas.

Many states have burned through similar funds established in the early part of the last century and have lived to regret it. But Sanchez argued the founders established the permanent pool of money as a "rainy day fund" and "it is now raining."

INSIDE THE BOMB

Sanchez did not make this case, but there are some who say the permanent fund has been allowed to grow too large. That the billions need to be drawn down to meet the very real human needs of a state that ranks last or near last in most key quality of life measures. We also have a severance tax permanent fund which was valued at about $3.2 billion as the end of June. That gives us about $11.8 billion, but we've been at $14 billion when the stock market was roaring. (There was also improvement in the funds in July quarter.)

But this is a state that has struggled to build a private economy that could generate the tax receipts necessary to replace the money generated from oil and gas royalties and grazing rights. That is the money fed into the permanent funds. If we start drawing down those funds with huge withdrawals, it is argued we will be even worse off in future years, not better.

In 2003, voters passed a constitutional amendment that refigured the way we take money out of the permanent funds, allowing us to tap them for more. We proposed something similar to Sanchez as a possible compromise. Rather than taking a huge fist full of cash now that could seriously deplete the funds available for future years, maybe we ask votes to temporarily approve an increase in how much we can take out for the next five years.

Sanchez is no doubt feeling heat from the Democratic Party's powerful interest groups--teachers, labor unions and state workers--and his proposal to have us write a $2 billion check from our state's savings account could be seen as pacifying those groups. Realisticallys is a long-odds plan. Still, that the Senate leader would even throw it onto our crowded luncheon table for consideration shows just how financially parched we are.

BILL'S OPTIONS

The most pressing budget matter before us is whether Big Bill will veto the Legislature's budget fix that calls on him to trim state agency budgets under his control by 7.6 percent. He is balking, and as we have blogged, has orchestrated doom and gloom scenarios to gather public support against the cuts. But insiders are now pointing to a scenario where Richardson will indeed cut those agency budgets but still cast a veto. They say he could reject the 7.6 percent cut by casting a veto, but issue an executive order calling for cuts of 3.5 percent or about $43 million, the amount he asked the Legislature to cut. He has until November 12 to make up his mind. The cuts are for the current budget year which ends June 30.

WHICH IS IT?

ABQ Journal reporter Dan Boyd says the state budget has grown 40 percent under Big Bill; reporter Thom Cole says it is 50 percent and the Journal editorial pages go with "more than 50 percent." Which is it? We're going with the 50 percent since the state budget was about $4 billion when Bill came in and went to $6 billion. That has been chopped to $5.5 billion and headed lower as we speak. By the time this epic bear market is finished and the federal stimulus dries up, we wouldn't be surprised to see the state budget back near that $4 billion level.

HE'S OUT
Cris Sanchez
It was the week from hell for Cris Sanchez. The retired Bernalillo County Sheriff's lieutenant started the week as one of the favorites to replace Sheriff Darren White who is resigning to become ABQ's public safety director. But Cris's school teacher daughter, 33 year old Kristy Sanchez-Trujillo, burst into the headlines as the focus of a sensational sex scandal. She admitted to having sex with a 13 year old student. That prompted this withdrawal statement that Sanchez emailed in:

Effective today I am withdrawing my name from consideration for the appointment to Sheriff for Bernalillo County. For over twenty three years I placed a priority on public safety. Right now is a time where I must commit myself to the immediate needs of my family. I ask that the media respect the privacy of my family during this time.

The five member Bernalillo County Commission--three Dems and two R's--will name a replacement to fill out White's term which expires at the end of 2010. ABQ Police commander Conrad Candelaria has been cited as another favorite by insiders. It shows. He is now being attacked in various emails circulating.

Sanchez was thought to have the support of Commissioner De La Cruz, so his withdrawal from consideration shakes this thing up. White says he will not resign until November 30, which means the commission may meet that day to name his replacement.

DARREN AND SUSANA

Speaking of White, he is apparently not shying away from politics, even as he prepares to join the administration of fellow Republican and Mayor-elect RJ Berry. Republican Guv candidate Susana Martinez uses this quote from White in a recent fund-raising letter:

Susana Martinez is a strong leader with rock-solid convictions. There’s no tougher prosecutor in the state and she has a real record holding corrupt public officials accountable...

Now that's not an outright endorsement in the four way fight for the GOP Guv nomination, but White's name is out there on Martinez letter head.

White is a longtime support of former ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson who announced last she will not seek the GOP Guv nomination. Wilson has not said if she will make a primary endorsement, but it would be highly unusual.

EICHENBERG UNLOADS
Sen. Eichenberg
New Dem State Senator Tim Eichenberg had some big ideas for a freshman--he was going to seek the 2010 Dem lieutenant governor nomination, but dropped out after mulling it over and talking to presumed Dem Guv nominee Diane Denish. But Eichenberg is not too happy about how things turned out. He showed up at a Saturday morning meeting hosted by GOP Guv candidate Janice Arnold-Jones and unloaded on Di, saying she can't win the Guv's race.

Blogger Mark Bralley was at the meeting and quoted Eichenberg as saying that because of Denish's “complacency or complicity with the ‘pay-to-play’” atmosphere surrounding Governor Bill Richardson, and standing quietly behind him, Eichenberg was unwilling to invest a half million dollars in a losing campaign. "I looked her square in the eye when I said that. I told her I didn’t think she was going to win."

Tim's Senate district overlaps with Janice's House district. He ousted incumbent GOP Senator Diane Snyder to take the seat in 2008. Eichenberg would have been the only Anglo in the all-Hispanic Dem guv field and if he managed to win, it would have been a disaster for Denish who needs a Hispanic on the ticket for traditional ethnic balance. Eichenberg obviously felt the heat and got out. As for his plans to invest $500,000 in the light guv race, we'll have to check with Mrs. Eichenberg to nail that one down.

RULES OF THE GAME

Some city employees loyal to outgoing ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez are scurrying to find safe harbor as new GOP Mayor-elect Berry prepares to take office. We found this newspaper update useful on the rules of the game:

Some department heads and other "at will" executives have a right to stick around, though not necessarily in a top job. City rules say that an employee who has spent 10 years in a "classified," or protected, job has a right to return to such a job — even if they've been promoted into an at-will position. Acting Parks Director Jay Evans, for example, moved back into a classified job this month in the Open Space Division. He took a pay cut from about $103,000 a year to about $76,000 a year.

Safe hiding, all you Chavezistas.

COME FLY WITH ME

Some follow-up on our blog about the ABQ Journal complaining that it has been blocked from tracking the flights of the state-owned jet for "security" reasons. A reader says that doesn't mean the paper can't find out who is flying where:

Although flight information is blocked, the state jet's travels would become public record after the fact through inspection of public records requests, wouldn't they?

We suppose they would, But it raises an interesting question. For example, if the press calls a cabinet secretary and asks where they plan on driving their state-owned car that day, is that public information?

On that plane blog, a reader complained that you can't track flight info for the ABQ Journal jet which raised the issue of the jet flights. That comparison did not wash for several readers, including this one:

Joe, Regarding those who want to know where the state jet is heading. They need to ask for a log of where it has been to date. That way Big Bill's security will not be at risk. This should be open information. Also, I could give a rats-ass where the Journal flies its airplane, or for that matter what type of airplane they own. Someone is doing a major stretch when it comes to comparing a state owned jet paid with taxpayer dollars and a jet owned by a private company....

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