The news that GOP ABQ City Councilor Michael Cook will resign as a result of being busted for DWI highlights the upcoming battle over which party will control the ABQ city council after the October election.

Cook's NE Heights seat will very likely decide that control. That's because Dems expect to win the seat held by appointed GOP Councilor Roxanne Myers. That would make the council--currently 6 to 3 Republican--5 to 4 in favor of the R's. But if the Cook seat were also to go Dem, the Dems would likely control the council with a 5 to 4 majority,

Cook was saying he would seek a second term before his arrest, but now an interim councilor will be appointed by GOP Mayor Berry.

Actually, that might be a break for the GOP. Cook was one of the quietest councilors to ever represent the district. Dem Diane Gibson, who has announced for the Cook seat, was already scoring points by telling voters she would be a presence in the district. There have been complaints that Cook has been a no-show at neighborhood meetings and generally not engaged with his role as a councilor.

Berry's appointee will have no such baggage and perhaps hold down the district for the R's and thus the entire council at least until the 2015 election.

LOBOMANIA


It was one of those rare weeks when sports topped the news agenda as the turmoil of University of New Mexico basketball was tracked breathlessly by both media and fans. Coach Alford's departure and the installation of his assistant Craig Neal as the new head coach launched a fiery debate on just what the UNM program should aspire to.

The dream of the most possessed Lobo fans is to have the team make the "Sweet 16," in the NCAA tournament. But can a medium-sized state without the resources of big name schools realistically achieve that goal? The answer for forty years has been a resounding "no."

Reader Isaac Padilla probably doesn't mean to rain on the Lobo parade but says UNM and the city need to dial down Lobomania and get real about the future:

Getting into the Sweet 16 would be exciting for a year, but it would not be historic. Our state is suffering because our economic outlook is bleak. We all know an improved educational system is essential to turn our economy around. So why are we focused on basketball when UNM, NM State, the business community and the political class should be focused on improving academics at New Mexico's institutions of higher learning?

It would be historic if UNM were to recruit a Nobel Laureate or two to improve science, technology, engineering and math at UNM. This would keep New Mexico's best students in the state and new companies would start looking to locate in New Mexico. Two Nobel Laureates would cost about 1/3 of the salary for the coach.

The students who started Google did not go to Stanford because of the football program. The students who started Facebook did not choose Harvard because of the basketball program.

The University of Chicago was a founding member of the Big Ten and Maroons reached the sweet 16 in 1935. Does anyone remember that “historic” event? The University of Chicago withdrew from the Big Ten in 1946 to focus on academics. Obama was a professor at the University of Chicago. He left the University of Chicago when he was elected to the Senate, and he became the first African American to be elected president. Now that is historic.

UNM might not ever be on par with the University of Chicago, but New Mexico can compete with leading public institutions. PayScale’s College Salary Report ranks UNM 465 based on average starting salary and mid-career salary for graduates. NM State is ranked 396, and NM Tech is ranked 34. The one state school that does not focus on athletics is by far the best institution. The school (UNM) that spent $60 million to renovate its basketball facility came in a distant 3rd. 

If we duplicated Tech’s success at UNM and State, our economy can complete with Colorado, Arizona, Nevada and even Texas for the jobs of today and tomorrow. But basketball and football will not get us there.

AT THE MOVIES

Reader Eric Lucero monitors films that would be of interest to a politically oriented audience and comes with a couple of great escapes for this weekend:

“Olympus Has Fallen” is the 21st century’s “Die Hard” and has North Korean terrorists as the foe. It is topical and is set in a post-Obama, ‘right of center’ presidency. Actor/Producer/ Gerard Butler, Hero of “300,” takes American patriotic furor to new extremes. His character, secret service agent and former Army Ranger Mike Banning, is a man of action, resolve and dogged focus, who does not suffer fools and like McClain (Bruce Willis), is a one man wrecking machine. The director, Antoine Fuqua, offers realistic non-stop action and peppers the production with a top notch supporting cast. As an added bonus you get a ‘White House Tour’.

“GI Joe: Retaliation” is a decent follow-up sequel, also set in a post-Obama world, but takes a markedly left of center political turn, complete with eye-popping action and effects that introduces us to new villains as Hasbro struggles to develop the franchise. Bruce Willis (A Good Day to Die Hard) plays the role of the original G.I Joe ’64 Hasbro figure and leader. 

That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping by. Reporting this week from Albuquerque and Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, I'm Joe Monahan.

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Hey, you'd be smiling too if you were running for re-election and no big name opponents had yet emerged to take you on. Beaming for the camera are northern Dem Congressman Ben Ray Lujan and ABQ Dem Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham.

The two Lujans are unrelated (well, with a four century old New Mexican name you never know) but they could become like family in the years ahead unless the R's are able to pull a rabbit out of the hat.

Ben Ray won his heavily Dem seat in 2008 and will seek a fourth, two-year term next year. His main threat is probably a challenge in a Dem primary and none is on the horizon. GOP Rancher Jeff Byrd, who was handily defeated by Lujan two years ago, is making rumblings about a rematch.

Michelle is serving her first term and finding her sea legs. As a freshman she is at her most vulnerable in 2014, but the R's have no big names floating. Maybe it's because she beat her '12 foe by winning 59% of the vote.

The two reps are pictured at the recent convention of Berna,illo County Democratic Party.

Have a politico pic for us? Email it in.

PEARCE CHALLENGE

While the Lujans don't seem to have much to worry about when it comes to major challengers, southern GOP conservative Congressman Steve Pearce may have a name chasing him in 2014:

Former state Rep. Joe Campos is considering a challenge to Rep. Steve Pearce, the only Republican in the state’s congressional delegation who is two terms into his second stint in Congress, after losing a Senate bid in 2008.

“We’re taking a look at it, but we haven’t confirmed anything yet,” Campos said in a phone interview. “We’re just looking at it, and I would say by the end of the month we will tie everything up and see if it’s doable.”

Campos could be a strong candidate. His big challenge is low voter turnout in an off-year election. Speaking of which...

THE BIGGEST CHANGE

What has been the biggest change in the New Mexico political calculus in this new century? This assessment from public opinion firm Research & Polling sums it up quite well:

Twenty years ago both Albuquerque and Las Cruces were considered swing cities, politically. But as they continued to grow, they began taking on the political characteristics of urban areas, namely, leaning more and more to Democratic Party candidates. In the 2012 presidential election, Barack Obama won Bernalillo County by about 44,000 votes and Doña Ana County by a margin of about 10,000 votes, making it nearly impossible for Mitt Romney to offset New Mexico’s two largest cities. 

So how do state Dems get those voters to the polls in off year elections like 2014? Or the 2013 ABQ Mayor's race? And how do R's win them over to their side---or keep them home?

FADING POWER

The mighty 770 KKOB-AM is getting a lot less muscular. The latest Arbitorn ratings for the ABQ market still have the 50,000 watt conservative talk station at the top of the heap--but not by much and at a level that appears to be at an historic low.

For the December-February period KKOB scored a market share of 6.1 percent among listeners aged 12 and over. Coming in second was KMGA-FM (Magic 99), a soft rock outlet that garnered a 4.9 percent share.

The ABQ market ranks #68 in size in the USA.

Not that many years ago KKOB routinely scored a share of over 9 percent, but the station has suffered cutbacks, increased media competition and a fading in popularity of the hard-right format that is the staple of the station.

These latest ratings came before the forced departure in March of longtime afternoon personality Jim Villanucci so radio watchers wonder if the ratings decline will accelerate or stabilize at these lower levels.

THE BOTTOM LINES

We somehow got it stuck in our head that Sam Bregman challenged Javier Gonzales for the chairmanship of the Democratic party four years ago, but a number of readers point out Bregman's unsuccessful challenge was two years ago...

Reader Michael J. Garcia writes:

Keep up the great work Joe! I've enjoyed reading your blog since I was an undergrad student at UNM 10 years ago...

Has it been that long, already?

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Don't ask us who is going to win the battle for the Dem Party chairmanship. ABQ Attorney Sam Bregman and his team tell us that based on local county convention results--especially in big Bernalillo--that they have it wrapped up. In fact, Bregman is emphatic that he has the votes.

But Carlsbad attorney Roxanne Lara continues to campaign vigorously. Alligator speculation is still on the fence. They say with only a little more than 400 central committee delegates voting, predicting a race in which both leading candidates have shown pockets of strength is a guessing game. They say the "whip counts" of both sides could be soft.

The election is April 27th in Las Cruces so over the next month the delegates will expect to be personally wooed by the duo and that could mean votes switch around.

Bregman started the race as the front runner since he only lost by a handful when he challenged Javier Gonzales for the chairmanship two years ago. He has also lined up numerous endorsements from major Dem figures like State Senate Majority Leader Sanchez, Sen. Linda Lopez and House Majority Whip Maestas, but not all of those endorsing Bregman are central committee members and eligible to vote.

The campaign fault lines go like this: Bregman fans say he would be an aggressive chairman who would resurrect the moribund Dems and give them a fighting chance in the ABQ mayoral race and the '14 Guv duel. Supporters of Lara say she would be more measured than Bregman and as a Hispanic woman would match-up well against Governor Martinez.

Much of this is about style, but with such a yawning contrast between these two personalities, why wouldn't it be?

HOW MANY SPACEPORTS?

Governor Martinez Tuesday signed that Spaceport liability bill, but don't think there isn't a whole lot of work to be done before launches begin and that there isn't a deep bench of competitors closely watching what we are doing:

The nation has 18 launch sites and spaceports in eight states and one foreign country (Marshall Islands). That doesn’t include Sea Launch, a company that launches from an ocean platform in international waters using a U.S. based platform. And if that wasn’t already enough, there are 10 more proposed facilities that are under consideration or being actively pursued by different entities.

Martinez traveled to the Spaceport to sign the liability legislation--a sign that the administration has pretty much taken ownership of the project. Her quote:

Martinez said in a statement after a signing ceremony at the nearly complete $209 million project in southern New Mexico that her administration was "not only reaffirming the major commitment New Mexicans have made to Spaceport America but we now have an even stronger opportunity to grow the number of commercial space jobs at the spaceport and across our state. This legislation will prevent lawsuit abuse and make it easier for businesses related to the space travel industry to thrive and succeed right here in New Mexico."

But the main anchor tenant for the Spaceport--Virgin Galactic--sounded a worrisome note, focusing on how the political foot-dragging on the facility may have hampered the additional tenants Virgin needs and was told would help shoulder expenses going forward:

“All stakeholders must now turn their attention to the future and to recruiting additional companies to the spaceport to fulfill its full potential and maximize new job growth.”

We've lost valuable time, no matter that the Legislature and Governor are patting themselves on the back in getting this liability bill.

DRUG TEST PEARCE?

Reader Stephanie Dubois writes of southern GOP Congressman Steve Pearce and his proposal that people receiving unemployment be subjected to drug tests:

...It's curious that Congressman Steve Pearce wants people on unemployment to be drug tested. As a congressman he receives a "government check" and only has to be at the job three days a week. Why do "we the people" assume that those in elected positions shouldn't be subject to drug testing as well? I am not suggesting the Congressman is using illegal drugs but prescription drugs can become addictive and in some cases alter common sense thinking.

That's a clever poke, and she had some more:

The new wrinkle with Congressman Pearce is to have a "virtual congress," meaning not even going to Washington for those three days and collecting the $178,000 salary. Wasn't it just a couple of weeks ago when Pearce called everyone without a means of employment, lazy and not willing to work and just looking for check from the government? My, oh my, Mr. Pearce, you are the clever man. You have figured out a way to be one of those lazy people and make it sound like a good idea when you propose it....

Well, we hope Steve can take it as well as he dishes it out because Stephanie seems to have his number...

THE BOTTOM LINES

Funeral services for former state Senator and longtime lobbyist Odis Echols will be held Thursday at 2 PM at French-Lomas in ABQ. A celebration of his life will follow at Kelly’s Brew Pub on ABQ's Nob Hill. Echols died Saturday. He was 82.

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What's the #1 rap on today's Republican party? From Gallup:

Asked to name the single thing that they disliked the most about the Republican party, one in five people in a new Gallup poll said the GOP was “inflexible” or “unwilling to compromise?"

Governor Martinez launched an unprecedented hit campaign against incumbent legislators last November and she lost most of what she fought for, but she made the turn after the election and started labeling herself a "compromiser."

Key Democratic legislators bought into it and gave her several legislative wins. It made her look more "flexible" than her first two years in which she was truly "Governor No."  In effect, they helped her break away from the badly damaged national Republican brand. That could help her when she seeks re-election next year,

As we've blogged extensively, most analysts agree the Dems came out of that legislative session with the short end of the stick, compromising mostly on the Guv's terms, even though it was the Dems who scored the most 2012 electoral success. Compromise is fine when you get something. Not so great when you walked away empty-handed.

MINIMAL DAMAGE

Even on the minimum wage--a core value of the Dem Party--New Mexico the D's were unable to inflict any serious damage on the Republican governor,

Last Friday Martinez vetoed a buck an hour increase in the minimum wage. You might think that would hurt her in low-income New Mexico, but the bill was so watered down that the working class hardly noticed.

The bill the Dems sent Susana exempted firms that employed fewer than 11 persons as well as all agricultural workers. To top it off, the measure allowed employers to have a training wage of $7.50 for an hour for a worker's first six months on the job. $7.50 is the current state minimum.

The minimum wage is already $8.50 in ABQ--approved at that level by city voters last November. It's  over $10 an hour in Santa Fe--also approved by the voters.

To score a clear political win the legislative Dems needed to send the Guv a clean bill that raised the minimum to $8.50 statewide without all the loopholes. They didn't so Susana's veto is only going to itch her, not puncture any skin.

'IN THE CITY 

Reader John Geddie writes:

Joe, Since I travel virtually non-stop these days, your blog is vital to keep me in touch with what's happening back at home. I am so glad to see you raising the flag about the stagnant economy in New Mexico. I travel a lot -- around the US and Canada, and it is so clear that economic conditions are better in almost every state and province than they are here. My client base -- engineers and architects just isn't growing here - thus, the need for me to travel elsewhere to build my business. Ironically, because my clients are out of state, New Mexico doesn't benefit from the gross receipts taxes in-state clients would generate. I don't know if anybody is listening, but thanks for keeping the pressure on.

Thanks, John. And this news about recently retired NM Dem US Senator Jeff Bingaman isn't going to do anything to alleviate the concern over the brain drain going on here. Pay site E&E Daily reports:

Former Senate Energy and Natural Resources Chairman Jeff Bingaman is bringing his energy policy expertise to Stanford University's law school, where he will focus on building up state renewable energy programs. Bingaman, a 1968 alum of the Stanford Law School, today joined the Steyer-Taylor Center for Energy Policy and Finance as a distinguished fellow. The former senator for the next year will focus on the future of state renewable portfolio standards and ways to ensure their objectives are met. A grant from the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation is funding the senator's fellowship through April 2014.

MAYOR '13

Labor will play in the '13 mayor race.

In preparation for the 2013 Mayoral race and the 2014 election cycle, Jon Hendry, president of the New Mexico Federation of Labor (NMFL), AFL-CIO, announced the hiring of James Hallinan and Tamara Watkins. Hallinan will serve as a General Consultant and Political Director while Tamara Watkins will serve as Communications/Field Director.

NO BENEDICT

Reader JD Robertson writes of departing UNM Lobo basketball coach Steve Alford being labeled "Benedict Alford":

Mr. Monahan - Because I am a direct descendant of Benedict Arnold I am not without bias. You equate Alford with Arnold in that they both bailed. Alford stuck it to UNM and left for more money. Arnold on the other hand loaned his entire family fortune to the 'cause' and even when it could - Congress refused to pay it back. He nearly succeeded in capturing Canada for the Americans, built the first American fleet, and repeatedly battled the British to a standstill. Arnold was never paid for his services and never honored by Congress for his victories. In fact, because he was a favorite of Washington, he was the object of jealously on the part of many, many people in the government. He never held the rank of general in the American army - being constantly by-passed by members of congress who for myriad reasons despised him. He was a suburb soldier and deeply patriotic - at some point, however, he said enough was enough.

TELECOMMUTING CONGRESS

Rep. Pearce

How would this suggestion from GOP NM Congressman Steve Pearce impact all you lobbyists out there?

Rep. Pearce wants to create a "virtual Congress," where lawmakers would leverage videoconferencing and other remote work technology to conduct their daily duties in Washington from their home districts.

NM lobbyist Roman Maes responds:

Glad you asked. Pearce's proposal would clearly localize the lobby effort on a state by state area. It would gradually reduce the influence of "the true high-powered lobbyist." Locals would have more influence and communicate readily with their DC delegation. What will "the lobbyists do"? As a person born, educated and working in New Mexico, I would welcome the change.

Steve Alford

The Easter weekend news that UNM Lobo coach Steve Alford was joining what sometimes seems like an exodus out of ABQ hit the town like the crash of an unexpected comet. Alford has been the star on the state leadership stage. He and his winning Lobos have provided relief from the never-ending funereal news backdrop that today frames the city. Unfortunately, his departure fits right in with the Albuquerque and New Mexico zeitgeist of 2013.

Just grazing the headlines reveals about the only thing looking up around here is the Duke City crime rate. Traffic has plunged at the fabled ABQ Sunport, the ABQ metro is the worst in the west in creating jobs and the Mayor's proposed city budget shows negative growth when inflation is factored in.

And it seems many of our best and brightest would rather take flight than stay and fight--Alford among them. He and his family will be part of the statistics that put NM among the top five states that folks are fleeing and seeking greener pastures.

And in this case the grass is greener on the other side not only for Alford. Look at Colorado:

Colorado added 10,800 payroll jobs in February, and the state's unemployment rate edged down to 7.2 percent, the lowest level in four years, the Colorado Department of Labor and Industry reported. It's the state's lowest unemployment rate since February 2009, and the eighth consecutive monthly decline in Colorado's unemployment rate. Unemployment stood at 7.3 percent in January.

All around us the economic garden is starting to bloom, but ours is still in a freeze.

A former New Mexican turned holiday visitor comments,

The town is dead--stagnated. Driving around on the week nights, nothing seems to be opened and I don't see many young people out and about. And it looks and seems a rougher replace than I remember...

Well, four years of recession will do that. Here's more:

Average weekly wages in Bernalillo County fell by 3 percent between 2011 and 2012, and by 2.3 percent in New Mexico, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics said. In addition, the number of jobs in Bernalillo County dropped by 0.3 percent...The average weekly wage in Bernalillo County was $809, putting it in 276th place among the 329 largest U.S. counties. The average weekly wage was $761 in New Mexico.

The city has lost much of its spirit, along with its economic fortunes. For a brief, shining moment, Steve Alford and the Lobos took our collective mind away from that, but only for a moment...

THE UNM STORY

Paul Krebs

Alford's sudden departure for UCLA had die-hard Lobo fans scowling and damning Alford for being a turncoat, even though he has been here six years and three times delivered the Lobos to the NCAA tournament. But it has never been enough for the die-hards for 40 years. So why change now?

Actually the Alford departure was another in a long series of blows to the management of the UNM Athletic Department and its director Paul Krebs. Just before UNM met Harvard in the first round of the NCAA Krebs announced with bravado that Alford was signing a new 10 year contract with UNM. And then this...

UNM President Bob Frank has a chance to dial down expectations with Alford's departure. For a variety of reasons UNM is not and probably never will be a national basketball power that regularly goes to the "Sweet 16" of the NCAA. Maybe he needs some new faces at the athletic department that match those expectations?

Even as Alford was calling the moving vans, Krebs was insisting that New Mexico is a "Top 25" team. Well, maybe some years, but not all of them and therein lies the rub. Unless this university administration wants to spend money it can't afford to take it "to the next level," it's staying where it's at.

SANDIA AND UNM

The embarrassment over how Alford's departure came about reinforced the views of the Alligators that UNM appears to be overreaching in its bid to have a major management role at Sandia National Labs. Their first line of concern is that we could see politics enter into the hiring at the labs. not an unfounded concern given UNM's history. A Senior Gator with experience at the school comes with this:

In the past, it It was correctly decided not to pursue broader control at Sandia but to continue with the many cooperative agreements the University already has with the Labs. The thinking then and that I believe holds true today is that  UNM has enough difficulties managing itself, much less also assuming the huge responsibilities of taking on the management of Sandia Labs.

Hallelujah to that, but kudos to President Frank for trying. He seems to understand more than most how wobbly the state's current economic model is.

ALFORD REACT

You've heard plenty of reaction about Alford bolting from UNM, but our Alligators have the takes you won't get elsewhere:

The folks that we need to stay in ABQ--like Alford--can't get out of here fast enough. And the ones who need to go--like APD Chief Schultz--have to be dragged away kicking and screaming.

And another:

I have a suggestion for UNM: Instead of wasting the one million from the buyout of Alford's contract on UNM athletics, apply it to providing a decent pay increase to UNM employees who have received nothing in five years.

It's unclear whether UNM will get $150,000 or $1 million in buyout money as a result of Alford's departure.

MAYOR'S RACE

From the mayoral campaign of Dem Pete Dinelli:

Today Pete Dinelli, the only candidate for Mayor seeking public financing, will submit all remaining contributions received to the City Clerk. In total, Dinelli will submit over 4,800 $5 contributions from voters in every corner of the city and from all across the political spectrum, including over 18% from registered Republicans. The campaign will also submit nearly 5,000 petition signatures.

It takes about 3,600 individual $5 dollar contributions from registered voters to win $362,000 in public financing. It appears Dinelli has them. It also takes 3,000 petition signatures to make the ballot and he appears to have them as well.

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E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)

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