(Journal, Eddie Moore)

Embattled APD chief Harold Medina (back to camera) appears anything but as Gov. Lujan Grisham and ABQ Chamber of Commerce President Terri Cole appear highly entertained by ABQ's top cop whose recent auto accident in the city's homeless district caused a sensation. 

Just what's going on at that table at the Chamber meeting? Maybe. . . 

MLG: And then you went straight through that red light like a bat out of hell--kinda like a Formula One guy, didn't you chief? 

COLE: You really pulled a fast one, Chief. Well done!

MEDINA: Ladies, you're too kind, although I will say those who accuse me of not being in the fast lane when it comes to cleaning up APD have something to think about.

Unfortunately for Chief Medina, the laughs are going to be few and far between in the months ahead as federal indictments over the department's DWI scandal are soon expected to drop. (The man injured in the accident caused by Medina is recovering.)

SPEAKER POLITICS

Supporters of House Speaker Javier Martinez are calming those who think a coalition of conservative Dems and Republicans could sprout up in the House after 11 Dems joined with the R's to defeat the paid family medical leave act. They point to this campaign kick-off for the Speaker with co-hosts from House Dems across the board. Absent from the list, of course, is former House Appropriations Committee Chair Patty Lundstrom, who Martinez removed from that post and who would be the presumed ring leader of any coalition.

While Martinez is not threatened by any effort to take over the Speaker's chair, the possibility of "floating coalitions" on certain bills that bring conservative Dems and R's together is omnipresent at the Roundhouse as seen with the paid leave act..  

Meantime that $5,500 top ticket price for his kick-off--which takes place on March 12, filing day for all legislative candidates--should keep him in good stead for his re-elect as well as his House Dems who will share in the booty.

Over in the Senate, Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Cervantes seems like a one man coalition when it comes to dissing the possibility of MLG calling a special session to take up her crime bills that were left behind at the regular session. 

Tuesday he posted on social media that any special, if there were to be one, should be on the crisis at CYFD. Now he's out with reasoning on why a special on crime should be a no-go:

New Mexico's crime problems in Albuquerque are not about an absence of laws, or a lack of strict penalties available to judges. What's lacking is enforcement of existing laws, and an unwillingness to prioritize spending on crime prevention. Expecting the Legislature to solve anything, by creating new crimes which won't be enforced or punished, is purely theater for public appeasement in an election year. 

MLG says she is still contemplating whether to call a special session. On Wednesday she began signing some of the 72 bills lawmakers passed at the 30 day session..

THE BOTTOM LINES

From the state GOP:

On Saturday, March 2nd, the Republican Party of New Mexico will hold its 2024 Pre-Primary State Convention at Hotel Albuquerque. This Convention will bring together Republican delegates from across the state to elect the GOP candidates for U.S. House and Senate to be placed on New Mexico's Primary Election ballot.

And from the Libertarian Party of NM

The Libertarian Party of New Mexico will host its 2024 Annual State Convention on March 2, 2024 at the Albuquerque Convention Center, 401 2nd St NW, Albuquerque, at 1:30 p.m. All Voting Members must be in good standing 30 days prior to the convention. For more info contact secretary@lpnm.us. 

State Dems will conduct their Pre-Primary Convention via Zoom to place candidates on the June 4 primary ballot: 

The 2024 Democratic Pre-Primary Election Nominating Convention will be held virtually Saturday, March 9th at 10:00am. Zoom will open at 9:30am. 

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.