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Thursday, May 22, 2025A Final Look At Legislative Session '25, Plus: Satellite Internet To The Rescue Former ABQ Dem state Senator Dede Feldman still pays close attention to the Roundhouse and writes frequently of the latest action. She comes with this appraisal of the 2025 session: The best part of the session was the speed at which both the House and Senate created a plan to reconfigure our failing behavioral health system to organize services for people struggling with addiction and mental health. The package also included several crime bills. The bipartisan measures came after last year’s catastrophic special session on crime and were passed by mid-session. This is the way it’s supposed to work. A constitutional amendment to end the “Pocket Veto” will be on the ballot in 2026. This time the Governor rejected 17 items passed by the legislature by simply failing to sign them without explanation. Under the proposed amendment, an unsigned bill would become law and the governor would be required to give reasons for all vetoes. For the third year in a row, taxes on alcohol escaped a long-overdue hike. HB 417 was turned down in the House Taxation Committee. Then, an overall tax package, which contained an alcohol tax increase, was vetoed by the Governor. The Governor vetoed $80 million appropriated to build affordable housing in Bernalillo County. The unified city-county plan depended on this funding, particularly in the wake of expensive cuts from Housing and Urban Development (HUD). The veto will have drastic implications, just as the city is beginning to make progress on the issue. CYFD continues to be a big problem for NM’s kids, and the Governor is resisting help and oversight from the legislature and now the Attorney General. She vetoed the funding and other measures for CYFD oversight. My biggest disappointment was the veto of the lobbyist disclosure bill. Lobbyists outnumber legislators in Santa Fe by as many as 10 to 1. This year, they spent about half a million to wine and dine legislators, to what end…nobody knows. Feldman comes with this update: #1 The Governor did not nix the $80 million in housing funds to come to Albuquerque and Bernalillo County outright. She used her line item veto power to move the badly needed funds away from the local governments (Las Cruces funding was in there too) into the Department of Workforce Solutions, an executive agency under her control. This is part of the dispute between the executive and the legislature, which comes in the wake of the legislature’s failure to let her create her own housing agency. #2 Subsequent reports from he Secretary of State show that lobbyists spent almost $1 million to wine and dine legislator during the 2025 session, not the mere half a million based on earlier reports. SATELLITE RESCUE  Recently my friend of over 50 years had a stroke. She is 69. I had gone to her place, knocked on the door and there was no answer. I thought she went shopping. As I was turning away, I saw her silhouette pass by inside. She could not talk, but she could walk. She was unable to unlock the door. I was able to get in touch with central dispatch using WiFi calling on Starlink and they sent an ambulance. Fortunately, she was able to get a window open for me to get inside. The EMTs called for a helicopter because it was a stroke and the T or C Hospital is not equipped for stroke victims. She went to El Paso. It took hours to track her down. Try to find your loved one in a big city with many hospitals without a decent phone connection. Only because we have Starlink was I able to provide critical medical history quickly and clearly to the hospital staff. It took 3 1/2 hours from the time I called for help until she got to the hospital. Think about how much longer it could have been with no phone service. She has been recovering remarkably well and was moved out of acute care to rehab. So the next time someone tells me to drop Starlink as a political protest, I will have a good reason why doing so would be stupid. Thanks, Dan. That's a good look at the communications issues impacting many rural areas and the technology readily available to help--if only the state can shake its obsession for high speed fiber as the sole solution. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. Wednesday, May 21, 2025Money Chase Will Dominate Guv Campaign For Rest Of Year; Haaland Already Spending Heavy; Bregman Raises His First Million; Duke's Past Donations To MLG Eyed That's because it will be all about the money which will makes voters' eyes glaze over but will be closely scrutinized by political junkies for signs of strength or weakness as well as for clues on how the candidates--one of whom will eventually be governor--manages their money. So before the glazing starts, let's get to it. . . If the early spending from Dem hopeful Deb Haaland is indicative of how she would manage the state budget, she won't be a skinflint. Haaland reported in April already signing checks for $1.17 million on a campaign that she launched in mid-February. And expensive TV ads were not among the bills. Most of the large outlay went to consultants who revel in what is now a
nonstop political cycle where spending for the next election begins as
soon as the last one ends. In fact, Haaland and other candidates now pay vast sums to groups and individuals who charge them for raising even more vast sums. Haaland appeared forced into the race early to dissuade Senator Heinrich from getting in which started the money clock. The spending included a collection of videos and digital ads that will be forgotten faster than yesterday's newspaper (they still have those, don't they?). Haaland now reports her total fund-raising has hit $3.7 million. She dearly hopes that she can bank most of that money for an eventual general election but there is a little problem. . . Well, he's not little but Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman got Haaland's attention when he announced his Guv fund-raising hit the $1 million mark in the first five weeks of his campaign. Bregman has always been a prodigious fund-raiser so his fast start out of the gate is no surprise to insiders. The problem for Haaland, the frontrunner for the nomination, is the more Bregman raises the more she has to spend or so those well-fed consultants will whisper in in her ear. More Democrats are expected to join the party but they may be poverty stricken compared to the Sam and Deb show. Las Crucs Mayor Ken Miyagishima is expected to make his bid official in the next month. Lt. Governor Howie Morales is keeping his name circulating as a possible. But why? He seems to have the inside track for the presidency of Western NM University and if he gets it he won't have any money worries--as long as he doesn't use the Dr. Shepherd accounting method. DUKE'S DOUGH Our report on possible GOP Guv candidate and marijuana magnate Duke Rodriguez got the anti-pot Republicans off the bench. Several of them pointed to Duke's $10,000 in donations to MLG's 2018 campaign as reason enough to disqualify him from the Republican nomination. MLG isn't the only Dem Rodriguez gave ample donations to. Details are on the SOS website. Hmm. Republican Darren White, candidate for ABQ mayor and fellow marijuana merchant, also donated money to MLG's campaign. Wonder how Republicans will feel about that? This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Tuesday, May 20, 2025Sparring Begins Between Camps Of Two Potential Heavyweight GOP Guv Hopefuls; Rodriguez Calls Sanchez "Recycled Name" While Legal Pot Worries Hover Over Rodriguez
Marijuana kingpin Duke Rodriguez is the first to go public with an attack as he tries to chase down former Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez whose supporters are plowing the ground for his entry. Rodriguez is the president of Ultra Health, among the largest players in the state cannabis industry. He is also was the Human Services department cabinet secretary under GOP Gov. Gary Johnson in the 90's. and is a former CEO of Lovelace Health System. He achieved fame and fortune (and notoriety) for advancing legal medical marijuana and later legal pot only to become a biting critic of how the state under MLG is handling cannabis. The 67 year old, who was born in California and moved to NM In 1971, says his chances of becoming a candidate hovers around "90 percent" and is threatening to deploy $2 million in personal money. Sanchez is also personally wealthy but more importantly he has support from the oil and gas industry where campaign cash flows as freely as all that Permian Basin oil. Reacting to our characterization of his possible effort as a "longshot" in our recent conversation with Santa Fe radio talker Richard Eeds, Rodriguez comes with this: Joe, I appreciated your conversation with Richard Eeds. That said, I’d like to offer a different take on who can truly compete—and win—in November 2026. John Sanchez had his opportunity. In his previous run for governor, he earned just 189,000 votes—failing to break 40%, even while Senator Domenici was pulling in over 314,000 on the same ballot. That was the second-worst Republican performance in a gubernatorial race in four decades. Even the GOP candidate for Secretary of State outperformed him. It’s hard to argue that a recycled name with a track record like that is our best shot this cycle. Now, I understand some see me as a long shot. But I also believe I’m the best shot to actually win a general election against Deb Haaland. And based on what I’m hearing, I’m not alone—more and more folks are ready to run with me, not just behind me. They want a new kind of campaign: one grounded in lived experience, smart policy, and a real plan to govern—not just to get elected. always been done. It’s about putting People First. Period. Sanchez is quiet, very quiet, but former GOP state chairman Ryan Cangiolosi is in his corner and told one of our GOP sources "he just doesn't see it" for Rodriguez, pointing to deep and lengthy connections Sanchez has within the party as well as the credibility to take down the Democratic nominee. But it is the Rodriguez ties to legal marijuana that the Sanchez camp--and not a few Republicans-- think could be the deal breaker for Rodriguez and justifies longshot label. Legal marijuana polls well among most demographic groups with the exception of Republicans who will be voting to decide the next GOP Governor nominee in next year's primary. While the Rodriguez and Sanchez rivalry heats up Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull can't be forgotten. He is already officially in the race, has raised $200,000 and is beating the bushes for support. There's also former state Supreme Court Justice Judy Nakamura in the wings as a possible contender. But Hull and any others may have to fight to be heard if both Sanchez and Rodriguez get in and make good on the threat to use those multi-million dollar megaphones. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Sunday, May 18, 2025Webber Waves Goodbye; There Will Be No Third Term For Santa Fe Mayor; Candidates Line Up For A Deeper Look From Voters As Race Goes To Jump Ball Status After delivering a state of the city speech that prompted speculation that Alan Webber just might seek a third term, the 76 year old two-term Santa Fe mayor bowed out of the race, He said he did so after "heartfelt" consultations with family and friends. Webber suffered what was described as a"minor" heart attack in February but health was not mentioned as a reason for his departure. In fact, he did not state a specific reason. No doubt the upcomkng campaign would have been been grueling with six opponents poised to fire away at him over the course of his administration. Still, it had to be tempting for Webber to keep going. Despite his plunge in popularity he was still seen as competitive in a fractured field. In the wake of Webber's goodbye, we dug into the state of the race to replace him with the New Mexican, saying the contest now appears to be a "jump ball" but that City Councilor Michael Garcia may have the best shot at becoming the front-runner because of name ID and a base of support in his council district. But all the candidates are going to get a closer look. While they breathe a sigh of relief that Webber's decision opens the race up, those candidates have to watch their backs for any late entry by a name with stature who might see Webber's departure as an opportunity (not that many name players are attracted to the treacherous job). Meantime, one of our Senior Alligators alerts us to keep an eye on candidate Tarin Nix, a Deputy State Land Commissioner for Public Affairs who is also an experienced political consultant: Although the 40 year old has said she won't officially leave her well-paying state job until August to campaign for the November election--which raised questions about her intensity--she appeared to have the meatiest answers in a series of interviews conducted with the contenders. Whether she or anyone else has the chops to take a lion's share of Webber's base or whether it will be cut into pieces is a key question going forward. As for Webber, he gave it his all and like many mayors had a mostly solid first term. It's the second term that is often cursed and so it was with him. Covid, the obelisk obsession and identity politics, a fentanyl scourge and a spike in crime all occurred during Webber's tenure. It can be argued that many of the problems were presented to the city (and other cities) under his watch and not caused by his administration. Whatever the case, the Webber years will offer much for history to judge. What seems fairly certain now is that our capital city is at an inflection point in addressing the stubborn issues of the 21st century. The pressure is on this generation to preserve and protect all that is special about Santa Fe. Who is best equipped to lead the charge is what the 2025 mayoral race is all about. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. |
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