Governor Susana, ABQ Mayor Berry and NM Economic Development Secretary Jon Barela, a tip of the hat please for Obamacare.

We've got our first whopper real estate deal in the downtrodden metro since 2010. And it's not the private sector you can thank--but the Feds and the Prez:

The parent company of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of NM has closed a deal to lease almost 85,000 square feet of office space in the North I-25 corridor. The square footage...makes it one of the biggest office deals in the Duke City in recent years. It should give a major boost to the city’s office market, which has been bogged down by a high vacancy rate in recent years, hovering at about 18 percent...Health Care Service Corp. said...Obamacare is the main reason the office space was sought...Health care companies increasingly need extra office space to handle new requirements for Medicaid contracts, which have spurred hiring for accountants and other office workers.

Susana was down in Florida trying to drum up manufacturing jobs for NM when the big leasing news broke. She does get credit for approving Obama's Medicaid expansion for NM, unlike some other GOP Governors. But it's Obamacare putting the points on the NM economic scorecard. Where's hers--and Mayor Berry's?

The lease news goes to show that the Feds are still the commanding presence in the local economy. That's something for policy makers to encourage and embrace, not reject while they sip margaritas on the US-Mexican border and promise a maquiladoran paradise.

There are a lot of components to the New Mexican economy but as former ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez was fond of saying: "ABQ is the engine that drives the state." That means it has to be regularly oiled.

ROASTING TIM JENNINGS

Ingle and Jennings

Our Alligators in attendance report that some 500 state politicos were on hand Thursday night for a bipartisan celebration of the career of former Democratic Roswell area State Senator Tim Jennings.

The popular SE NM conservative was a Senate powerhouse for decades, but was defeated when he was targeted by Governor Martinez's political machine in 2012.

Here is Tim pictured at the Roswell Civic Center with Senate Minority Leader Stu Ingle who is not afraid of getting his back up when the Guv pushes too hard. The pair once shared office space at the Roundhouse.

There was even talk last year that the same Guv-financed machine that took Jennings out was going to target Republican Ingle because of his independent streak. That didn't happen and Ingle's position as GOP Senate leader is secure.

Talk about a bipartisan event. Even political neophyte and GOP Senator Cliff Pirtle--who the Martinez machine used to take out Jennings--showed up at the roast of Jennings which benefited Big Brothers/Big Sisters. Good for you, Cliff...

Rancher Jennings served as Senate President Pro Tem. His political days appear to be over but that doesn't stop his friends from floating his name as a possible candidate again someday.

GAY IN SANTA FE

A reader writes of the decision of ex-NM Dem Party Chairman and soon-to-be Santa Fe mayoral candidate Javier Gonzales to announce that he is gay:

Your piece on Gonzales did not mention that there is another gay candidate in the Santa Fe mayoral race. Councilwoman Patti Bushee has been out of the closet since she was named to replace Debbie Jaramillo in 1994 when Jaramillo, as a sitting councilwoman not up for re-election, won the mayor's office. Bushee has since been elected to the council five times in her own right. I'd say Javier Gonzalez is not likely to get a lot of gay votes next year if Bushee remains in the race. You're right to note that Gonzalez's sexual orientation was well known among insiders, but for those gay voters who didn't know it the announcement is not likely to be seen as courageous, and may even be seen as opportunistic. All of that said, it's nice to see public opinion has swung so far that one can speculate that Gonzalez came out in order to win votes.

LEWIS NAMED

This comes from the state Treasurer's office:

State Treasurer James B. Lewis was elected President of the National Association of State Auditors, Comptrollers and Treasurers (NASACT) at their annual conference in Boston.NASACT is an organization for state officials who deal with the financial management of state government....

NASACT's mission is to assist state leaders in enhancing and promoting effective and efficient management of government resources.

Lewis is term limited and can't seek re-election next year. Dems Tim Eichenberg and Patrick Padilla have announced their candidacies. Dem John Wertheim is also weighing a run. Republican Demesia Padilla is seen as a likely contender for the GOP.

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Javier Gonzales

It's the campaign action in two mayoral races spicing up this summer's La Politica.

How about former NM Dem Party Chairman Javier Gonzales coming out of the closet and announcing that he is gay? That sure got the chatter going in the City Different where Gonzales will soon announce his candidacy for mayor.

Gonzales will be joining numerous others in seeking to succeed Mayor David Coss in Santa Fe. Does he get the lion's share of the large gay vote in the city and thus get propelled to the top of the heap in a multi-candidate race.

(When I ran into Gonzales last week at the annual dinner/auction for the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, he told me he will be making the mayoral run).
Why didn't Gary King follow-up last week's tough stance on the Mary Han case with a more clear and definitive position on gay marriage--one that could start rallying the Dem base for him and also put the GOP Governor on the defensive? (She says send the gay marriage issue to NM voters).

King is apparently assuming a low-turnout election and does not want to upset conservatives in the rural SE and northern Catholics. But he may be assuming too much--that he thinks he is within shouting distance of Martinez. He may not be--at least not right now.

She maintains a high  approval rating north of 60%. And beating any incumbent demands aggressive plays--not safe ones.

Here's some of the language King came with in light of the Dona Ana marriage license decision:

We previously advised that it was not a good idea to issue the marriage licenses to same sex couples due to the uncertain status of state law. We do not have authority over county clerks in NM. We do not intend to bring any action against the Doña Ana County Clerk. 

Our position that the current law is unconstitutional remains unchanged and presents a barrier for us to bring any sort of court action now that would stop him from issuing the marriage licenses. As the situation evolves, we will determine our response at the appropriate time.  It is a lot safer course for same sex couples to wait until the NM Supreme Court rules before moving forward...

It sounds as though Gary wants to deal with the gay marriage issue as much as he wants to eat a plate full of spinach.

King sent a jolt of electricity through the Dems with his assertion that the Han case should not be classified as a suicide, but he has to keep the juices flowing. Or maybe State Senator Linda Lopez or another Dem rival starts stealing his thunder on gay marriage and an array of other issues?

POLITICAL THEATER?

Reader Stephanie DuBois writes:

Joe, on Tuesday night KRQE-TV had  a lengthy story about the governor's sister. The promotion for the piece showed the Governor with her  developmentally disabled sister and said that she had kept her sister out of public view until now. I know families that have a similar situation and struggle with it everyday. Not only monetarily but just facing the challenges that come with caring for a disabled loved one

The Governor has cut the funding for how many families in this situation in New Mexico? This is purely political theater by exploiting her disabled sister before her second bid for Governor.

The families I know would not embarrass themselves nor their loved ones by parading around their disabled charges. If the Governor's handlers thinks this shows a gentler, kinder and softer side to the public to get votes. I don't think it will sit well with those families that are feeling the pain of her not so gentler, kinder cuts that had help families in the situation she is in.

Thanks for that, Stephanie.

USING THE MEDIA

Meanwhile, the media also continues to be used by the administration to selectively leak information from an audit of 15  behavioral health organizations. Those organizations have had their Medicaid funding frozen amid allegations of fraud and abuse. Five Arizona groups have been brought in to take over.

First it was a news report about the salaries of some of the executives at one of the health nonprofits. and now this report about an employee of another who receives an allowance for using his personal air plane.

The administration nor the attorney general will release the audit the state paid for. That leaves us with these selective media trials with information obviously being leaked by Susana's team so they can bolster support for their controversial decision.

The freezing of the funds without anything amounting to due process has sparked outrage and dissent. Was it justified? Is there indeed widespread fraud? According to the Governor, we are supposed to believe there is because she says so. Not everyone agrees. Here are ten unanswered questions about the freeze.

And then there's this: The Legislative Finance Committee votes 15 to 1 against transferring monies to the Arizona companies. The administration can do it anyway, but the fact that Martinez Democrats like John Arthur Smith voted against Susana on this one rings the bill that she could pay a political price for this mess.

THE BOTTOM LINES

They're going to throw a grand party in Roswell tonight for former NM Democratic State Senator Tim Jennings. He was defeated in the 2012 cycle but has been a longtime community favorite and some 500 politicos from both sides of the aisle are expected to show up at the Roswell Civic Center to roast the rancher. All proceeds to benefit Big Brothers/Big Sisters of SE NM. The events starts at 5 p.m.

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Martinez & Udall (Journal)

Tom Udall was recently ranked as the Senator with the most liberal voting record in the USA. But you wouldn't know it judging by his recent statement about that controversial corporate tax cut pushed through the '13 Legislature by Governor Martinez. With no formidable foes in sight and none expected, Udall is parting companies with fellow progressives and patting Susana on the back.

It’s a big issue how we can move forward in developing business and promoting growth and economic development in New Mexico. There’s a sense that we’re lagging surrounding states, so I think the tax reform was a good thing to put us on an equal basis...

"A sense that we are lagging other states?" Hey, Tom, we are at or near the bottom of the barrel in just about every economic ranking you can name.

But when you are waltzing to an easy re-elect, the status quo becomes your best friend.

The operative theory is that the R's want to keep turnout low to better the chances of Martinez's '14 re-election. Giving Udall and (ABQ Dem Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham) basically free rides assist with that goal.

The corporate tax cut was vigorously opposed by the populists and liberals who are normally strong backers of Udall, coming as it did at time of historic income inequality. But it was supported by key Dem legislative leaders who Udall is now aligning himself with. Like them, Udall apparently sees playing nice with the GOP Governor as the best bet. It may be for Udall who has little to worry about but not so for legislative Dems. They need to increase turnout for their legislative races. Cutting corporate income taxes is not exactly a core value among the activist base they need to get to the polling places.

One of the big stories next year is going to be the GOP effort to take over the state House. They only need a few seats and they are already drawing up their list of targets.

TEA PARTY COOLED

A big win for UNM last night as Rio Rancho voters decided against repealing a portion of a tax in support of the UNM West campus in the ABQ suburb.

The repeal effort--supported by Tea Partiers who have muscle on the Rio Rancho city council--went down on a vote of 59% to 41%. The raw vote total was 3,611 against the repeal and 2,480 for. Voter turnout was just under 11% of registered voters. Pretty high for this kind of election. Auto dealer Don Chalmers led the drive in support of UNM. Maybe they will give him season tickets to The Pit, if he doesn't already have them.

(Kudos to city of Rio Rancho for not only reporting timely results, but explaining what they meant. Maybe the ABQ city clerk was paying attention?)

BERRY TV

Mayor Berry comes with his first TV ad of the campaign--and surprise--he touts the downtrodden ABQ economy. It's the old tactic of trying to turn your weakness into a strength.

"We're moving in the right direction." asserts Berry in his TV ad. That as the city continues to show no or very slow employment growth, a commercial real estate depression and flat tax collections.

A city council candidate's campaign told us that jobs and the economy are now the number one issue in his district, compared to 2009 when it was crime. That's why Berry and his shadow--Jay McCleskey-- are playing defense. That Berry is trying to prop up his economic record tells the Dems all they need to know about where he is vulnerable. But do they know how to take advantage?

We give the spot a "C+."  It works in a vacuum, but does not stand up to the economic reality on the ground.

ON THE TRAIL

Tonight will mark the first joint appearance by the three men who would be Mayor. Will sparks fly?

...Mayoral candidates will discuss their views on how to improve the city’s economy and support local businesses at a forum sponsored by the...National Association of Women Business Owners. The public is invited. Candidates Pete Dinelli, Paul Heh and incumbent Mayor Richard Berry will participate in this forum August 21, at the Sheraton Uptown. The event includes dinner and will be from 5:30 to 8:00 p.m. The price is $32 for NAWBO members and $37 for others...

Dinner and a mayor debate. Who walks away with indigestion?

SPACEPORT BLUES

You can feel the oxygen being sucked out of Spaceport America. The project is losing momentum and the news that it needs more than $6 million to complete road work threatens to further antagonize opponents. The Spaceport needs firm and unequivocal support from the Governor if it is to regain  momentum. Martinez resisted the project at the start of her term, with many of her backers mocking the Spaceport as a "legacy" project of former Governor Big Bill. She has since mellowed. Now her support awaits this new test.

WATER WARS

Roman Maes made a pitch here for addressing our drought by importing water to New Mexico from areas that are flooding by building a pipeline. That drew a sharp retort from Steve Harris of the group Rio Grande Restoration in Embudo:

I don't know how to begin to tell you how wrong-headed Roman Maes' quote actually is. A look at the historic precipitation pattern would show that one year's drought-plagued area is next year's flood-stricken area (and vice-versa). And what the NASA report he cited actually says is that this pattern of extreme variation is expected to continue. The only sane solution to our water problem lies in a new way of thinking about how we are to occupy the SW. Some suggestions:

--Reduce overall, and per capita, water demand (see San Antonio, TX).

--Reserve fossil water for use during drier than average spells, rather than pumping aquifers dry to support new development.

--Develop technologies for water efficiency and reuse.

--Transition our economy from (failing) Construction and Manufacturing sectors into Technology, Alternative Energy and Tourism.

--Recognize that the water is where it is supposed to be: no area can afford to export what it's got.

Southwesterners can and must adapt to the reality of geography and climate. Senator Maes and (I'm afraid) too many other "leaders" are expecting that we can make reality adapt to our expectations/aspirations.

THE BOTTOM LINES

In the first draft of the Tuesday blog we had a sentence that indicated ABQ Judge Alan Malott supported a proposal that would limit the scope of the ABQ minimum wage. As evidenced by his quote in the same story, the judge in no way supports limiting the recently approved increase in the minimum wage. Sorry, judge. Nolo contendere on that one.

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Readers are starting to send us the media of Campaign '13. Here's one of Mayor Berry's first entries.

Judging from that slogan "Steady, Responsible Leadership," Berry has been doing some focus group testing.

His finance report shows he recently conducted a $20,000 poll.

It will be up to Dem Pete Dinelli to turn that slogan around on the mayor who has had high polling numbers throughout his four year tenure.

Can Dinelli get voters to read "steady" as "stagnant?" After all ABQ is just emerging from years of  its worst jobs recession in modern history, its workforce has shrunk and the jobs being created are mostly of the low-paying variety. Commercial real estate remains in a deep funk.

As for "responsible." it will be up to Dinelli (and Republican challenger Paul Heh) to turn that into "irresponsible" leadership--as in the numerous fatal police shootings under Berry's watch. They have begun to cost taxpayers tens of millions of dollars and prompted the US Justice Department to launch a civil rights investigation into the APD.

FIRST PUNCHES THROWN

Mayor Berry is absorbing his first serious punches of the campaign. A committee composed of ABQ police and firefighters comes with a TV ad claiming Berry has failed to "fully fund" public safety as the shifts city funds to "boutique projects" that are part of his "ABQ: The Plan."

The 30 second spot is titled "Failed" and says: "Mayor Berry: You have failed to keep us safe."

In the past three years the number of APD officers has dropped 15%.

The ad is airing on broadcast TV and cable. The committee says so far it has raised about $40,000. A spokesman says it will air various spots questioning Berry's public safety record through the October 8 election.

MONEY TALK

Berry is reporting about $430,000 in cash on hand as we begin the six week sprint to Election Day October 8. Dinelli has about $330,000. That's not a big difference, but Berry has had a healthy lead as witnessed by his refusal so far to go negative on Dinelli or grant him many debates.

While Dems are gladdened that the money difference between the duo is not canyonesque, Berry has the ability to raise money quickly should Dinelli start breathing down his neck. Dinelli opted for public financing and can't raise any more cash. Heh has not qualified for public financing nor raised serious private money.

LOSING PAPEN

The bitter battle over funding behavioral health in the state is costing Governor Martinez one of her most important Democratic allies--at least for now. State Senate President Pro Tem Mary Kay Papen, part of the conservative coalition that generally supports Martinez, is livid over the way Susana has shut down providers here and brought in Arizona firms to take over.

Here's her take:

(Human Services) Secretary Squier can and should immediately restore Medicaid funding to the providers and end the crisis that she created, while instituting an extremely strict review process of every reimbursement claim submitted by behavioral health care providers. This would ensure that behavioral health services continue to be provided to the state's most fragile citizens and that no Medicaid reimbursement claims are approved unless they are completely in order. Such a prepayment review is not unusual and should be standard practice.

Wall-leaners wonder if Mary Kay will still be upset with the Guv when the Legislature convenes in January for its final session before the '14 election.

THE MAES WAY

We need to give New Mexico's drought more attention and seek out ideas---like this one from Santa Fe lobbyist and former state Senator Roman Maes:

New Mexicans are keenly aware of our water problem. We can criticize all we want but we now need solutions. Our congressional delegation should unite with other Southwestern congressional members and propose water solutions. As we created the National Highway System, we can create a national water system. If we can pump oil from Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, why not pump water from areas that are flooding to areas that are in drought? A national canal and strategic water storage system would solve many of the economic problems of the US--for sure in New Mexico and the Southwest United States. According to the NASA report, our dry weather pattern is to continue for many years into the future. President Obama should visit our drought stricken states and move forward with a progressive plan.

Well said, Roman. In so many areas New Mexico needs to start investing and building instead of abiding by a fiscal austerity that has so many playing ostrich.

STEVE AND HARRY

Teague & Pearce

Well, look at this one. That's former southern Dem Congressman Harry Teague chatting it up with GOP Congressman Steve Pearce--the man who defeated Teague in 2010 after Teague served just one term in the US House.

Harry is looking trim and Steve still doesn't look his 66 years.

We reported last week that the national Dems are planning on targeting Pearce in 2014 and that the likely Dem candidate is former Eddy County Commissioner Roxanne Lara.

Both Teague and Pearce have been in the oil business in Lea County.

THE BOTTOM LINES

ABQ Judge Alan Malott comes with the quote of the day as he comes out against the effort to limit the scope of ABQ's new minimum wage law:

I grew up in the restaurant business. My parents always paid their people more than minimum wage because they believed “If you pay peanuts, you will get monkeys.

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Mary Han

Gary King delivering a punch to the body politic? You mean the "good 'ol boy" who has become everyone's favorite punching bag as he goes about his seemingly mundane business as attorney general while also campaign for the 2014 Dem Guv nomination?

Yep. That Gary King.

The laid back and soft spoken AG surprised nearly everyone by roaring into Campaign '14 Friday with this news:

The attorney general issued a scathing critique of the Albuquerque Police Department over its finding that a high-profile civil rights attorney committed suicide, saying the death scene was "terribly mishandled." The mysterious death of Mary Han in November 2010 has been the source of controversy in New Mexico ever since Albuquerque police quickly ruled it a suicide. 

Han was a vocal adversary of the police department and her family believes officers failed to look at other explanations for the feisty lawyer's death after she was found dead in the driver's seat of her BMW inside her garage.  Attorney General King said his review of the case found the evidence fails to definitively indicate she took her own life. He said the real cause of death may never be determined because of the "puzzling police investigation."

That was more than enough for King to end up on all the TV nets, not a usual occurrence for him. And it also provoked the ABQ city attorney's office into implying that King was making a political play not a legal one, calling his critical report of APD "highly suspicious." In other words, they think he is playing politics.

But the problem for Mr. & Mrs. Albuquerque is not who is playing--but who's paying. The King report is going to be fodder for Mary Han's family as they seek damages from the city for what appears to be a very botched investigation.

Han was a tough lawyer who won millions in lawsuit settlements against the city and APD for official wrongdoing.

The Han death scene is now widely seen as a disgrace to law enforcement, with then-ABQ Public Safety Officer Darren White and then-APD Chief Schultz failing to secure the scene and allowing a ghoulish mess to develop.

Han's cadaver was removed from her car, laid on the garage floor and viewed and photographed by an array of law enforcement and city staff. An astounding 26 officers and others were reported to have been at the scene.

Among them was Han's law partner Paul Kennedy who was the one who found her dead. APD has been chastised for allowing Kennedy to leave the scene with Han's cell phone and laptap computer.

If Mary didn't kill herself, she died as the result of an accident or was murdered. King is doing his best to give her some justice. The "terribly mishandled" scene courtesy of Messrs. Schultz and White makes achieving complete justice more than elusive.

BANKING ON BANKS

APD Chief Banks

Interim APD Chief Allen Banks showed no remorse over the findings of the AG, steadfastly standing by the APD investigation of Han's death. He was one of those at the scene when Han's body was discovered.

Mayor Berry is now being prodded by some to make Banks the permanent chief of the troubled department. But Banks' insistence that nothing went wrong with the Han probe is going to be viewed by APD critics as more evidence that a a chief from outside the city is needed to clean up the soiled department culture.

What would Chief Banks do differently than Chief Schultz? That's the question and Banks' response to the AG's Han finding indicates the answer is nothing much.

By the way, Chief Banks, the AG says he considers the Han investigation to be an "open, ongoing investigation." Rather than whining that the AG didn't call you, why aren't you calling him asking to help him find the truth? And telling him what you saw when you were at that scene? Isn't that what officers of the law are supposed to do? Please, US Justice Department, help us out here.

(And we're sure the local law enforcement folks (and current and former district attorneys) know enough to stay off the NCIC computers when they get upset and are looking for info on their foes. That, of course, is against the law.)

KING VS. LOPEZ

Now back to the politics of all this. King's bombshell announcement that Mary Han may not have killed herself as previously ruled by the medical investigator also shook some of  the ground under the sleepy ABQ mayor's race.

It again turns the spotlight back on APD which is the target of a federal civil rights investigation because of numerous police shootings--many that resulted in death--that plagued the city during the first half of Mayor Berry's term.

Dem Pete Dinelli--Berry's main challenger--is a former ABQ Public Safety Officer--the same job White had before Berry was forced to bounce him out. Don't be surprised to see Dinelli now devote a line or two of his stump speech to Mary's mysterious death....

As for the Guv's race, the report was a breath of life for King's heretofore moribund campaign. It was getting so bad for him among political insiders that State Senator Linda Lopez--also chasing the Dem nomination--was starting to pick up support just for showing up.

The Han report showed the Dems--and the Republican Governor--that King is still capable of making the big move. He dropped his bomb right in the middle of a mayoral campaign, giving rise to that snarky comment by the city attorney's office, but there's no denying it was a deft move for the AG.

JEFF AND SUSANA

Jeff Bingaman

We've been going round and round with our R friends on whether the Dem members of the NM congressional delegation could give Martinez a good run if any of them decided to challenge her for Governor--which they won't. We think they'd have a darn good shot in a blue state like this, even as she retains high approval ratings. The R's say nonsense, that Susana is a powerhouse who would coast to re-election against the likes of  a Senator Heinrich or Udall.

Well, we don't have any polling to back our case among the current congressional delegation, but we do have some polling on a former member--retired Dem US Senator Jeff Bingaman. One of our Alligators tell us a recent labor union poll here shows Jeff beating Susana in every corner of the state--including the conservative south--to take a 10 point lead over her for the Guv's chair.

Jeff served 30 years in the Senate, turns 70 in October and has no intention of running again for political office. But if he ever did, the betting windows would be lined up with confident Dems and skeptical R's anxious to get a piece of that action....

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