It's hard to be pessimistic as the glory of Autumn returns to New Mexico, and there is some good news to accompamy the change in the calender. The severe drought has relented, we haven't had a fatal ABQ police shooting for a while (knock on wood), the Navajo Nation has been given over half a billion dollars to right the wrong over federal management of the Tribe's natural resources and we're just days away from the season's most colorful event--the ABQ International Balloon Fiesta. That will be a welcome sight for all those eyes already tired of the political ads on TV. Now out to the playing field as we head into the weekend. . .

As the Alligators expected, Tom Udall is getting more edgy in his race against Republican Allen Weh. The Dem senator, seeking a second six year term, comes with a negative TV hit on Weh, scoring him for advocating repeal of Obamacare. He also claims Weh "would destroy Social Security and Medicare" to give the wealthy tax breaks. The attack comes in the wake of Weh's negative ads that have been slamming Udall all month. Udall led Weh 51% to 38% in the mid-September ABQ Journal poll.


Democratic activist Teresa Trujeque writes:

It strikes me as strange that the woman who was elected Governor and allegedly stands for transparency in government does not have a problem with records being destroyed by her handpicked successor as Dona Ana County district attorney. Don't you think that those emails and hard drives may have had information about cases they were working on and may have been necessary for the new District Attorney or were those records simply destroyed because they contained information about their illegal activity? This administration has to be given credit for one thing they are very good at hiding their illegal activities. Look at the racino lease at the ABQ Downs.

As for the state House races. I will tell you that if the Republicans take over the House, it will not be for lack of trying by Speaker Ken Martinez. He is everywhere and working hard. I don't know when he sleeps or sees his family. I think because of his commitment and dedication, Democrats will again have a majority in the House.

TALKER GOES SILENT

Radio talk show host Jim Villanucci, who was a fixture at KKOB-AM in ABQ for over a decade but left last year for a job in Portland, Oregon, has now left that position:

There is little known at this time about what has transpired to cause midday talk show host Jim Villanucci to resign from his position with Alpha Media’s KXL, Portland but a Tweet from KXL’s Lars Larson states simply that Villanucci has resigned for “personal reasons” and that Larson wishes him well.

KKOB has tumbled in the ratings since Villanucci's departure. We're told he was drawing solid ratings in Portland.

ABQ VS. BURQUE

You thought we had laid to rest the argument over the ABQ nickname "Burque." No such luck. Carmie Toulouse writes:


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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2014. Not for reproduction without permission of the author