Political Potpourri: Race Shaping Up For State House Majority Leader, Scuttlebutt Over Challenge To Speaker Martinez Heard And Tight Las Cruces House Contest In Store

Some political notes to start with today. . . 

The race is on to replace House Majority Leader Gail Chasey of ABQ who retires from the Legislature at the end of the year. Four names are circulating for the position that will be decided by the House Democrats following the November election. They are ABQ Reps Day Hochman-Vigil of the NE Heights, Joy Garratt of the Westside and Snata Fe Rep.Linda Serrato. Rep. Eliseo Alcon, who represents Cibola and McKinley counties is also said to be weighing a bid. His thinking being that if Hochman-Vigil and Garratt split the ABQ votes, he might have a shot at the number two House leadership position. 

Will House Speaker Javier Martinez be challenged for re-election as Speaker after the election? Scuttlebutt has been heard for several months that progressive women in the 45 member House Dem caucus could make a move against Martinez who took over the position in January of 2023. Insiders say a challenge is far from a sure thing this cycle but could come in the future. They say Santa Fe Rep. Reena  Szczepanski, House Majority Whip and an acolyte of former House Speaker Brian Egolf, could be the challenger. 

But Speaker Martinez's supporters say he has been a strong leader, commanding respect from the caucus, standing up to the Governor when necessary and having the back of his members. Martinez, an unabashed progressive, made a bold move when he announced that he would support all of his caucus members--conservative and progressive--at the June primary election. Several Dem conservative reps lost to progressive Dem challengers and that is probably stirring the pot over the speaker's future.

SOUTHERN SHOWDOWN

Silva and Winterrowd

Community organizer Sarah Silva of Las Cruces is the latest progressive woman trying to make her way to the Roundhouse but she will have to fend off a strong GOP challenge.

She was picked as the new nominee over two other contenders by eight State Dem Central Committee members from House District 53. She replaces Jon Hill, who won the June primary, but passed away from cancer. 

Silva says she raised $10,000 in the immediate aftermath of that vote but Republican and special ed teacher Elizabeth Winterrowd, who lost a close race (51-49) for the seat two years ago to Rep. Willie Madrid, is back and last reported over $50,000 in cash. 

The seat is one of the few swing seats left. It covers the eastern part of Doña Ana County and a slice of Otero County. Progressive Hill, who defeated the conservative Madrid in the June primary, endorsed Silva before his untimely death. Republicans are already calling Silva a "Socialist" as they try to snatch the seat.

NOT A PHOTO OP?

Forbiddden photo?

That scathing commentary on ABQ's fentanyl and crime problem in the SE Heights from GOP US Senate candidate Nella Domenci, who spent time touring the area with APD, had the Mayor's office reacting. Not about  the commentary but on the photo of her with APD officers sporting their official department patches. They say that is a campaign violation:

Her team made a rookie mistake by posting photos with APD's patch. The photos were not authorized and should never have been posted. She should have known better. Our lawyers are notifying her to remove the photos from her website. It violates APD's SOP 1-1-6E which states: "Prohibited political activities which include the following... F. Using Department-issued equipment to engage in political activity" and the Hatch Act. 

The City does sometimes accommodate ride alongs for candidates, but the photo was not authorized, especially not to be used for campaign materials. The department as an organization cannot and does not endorse political candidates, and the photo could give that perception. 

We asked Domenici's campaign for a comment but they did not respond. Her photos with APD officers remain on her website.  (The photos were gone by mid-morning Wednesday).

CHIEF MEDINA UPDATE

In a first draft Tuesday we quoted APD watchdog Dan Klein as saying the city ought to force Medina to be personally responsible for his legal fees in a lawsuit brought against the city Tuesday by the seriously injured driver of the car that Medina rammed into at a February accident. 

But even if Medina was found to have caused the accident, his legal fees still have to be paid for by the city, says ABQ attorney Tom Grover who has defended police in multiple cases

Medina has caused the city major exposure to liability because of his actions. Because his acts were “official” the city will have to indemnify him for his liability. 

Under a change to the City Charter approved by the City Council this year and that will be voted on this November, the Council would need to approve the firing of the Chief by the Mayor:

The Police and Fire Chiefs may only be removed from office for cause by the Mayor for any reason. The Police and Fire Chiefs may also be removed or with an affirmative vote of two-thirds plus one of the entire membership of the Council after cause has been determined by the Inspector General.

Seven of the nine Councilors would have to approve of a Chief's firing, if the amendment wins voter approval. The current Charter does not expressly say how or whether the Mayor can fire the Chief, although mayors have not been reluctant to fire them in the past and without Council approval.

And. . .We had APD Chief Medina retiring in March of next year. Not so. As we reported on April 14, Medina announced he will retire in December 2025, after the November '25 mayoral election.

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