New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan

The search for accused cop killer Michael Astorga has come up empty-handed, and the longer it goes on the more public pressure builds to bring him to justice. The NM GOP wasted no time in trying to link Governor Richardson to Astorga's dastardly deed, but Republican Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White is moving to distance himself from his party's views. Big Bill is a willing partner in this make peace approach as you will hear by clicking on my audio blog posting.

Demesia Padilla
We blogged that the Dems have held the NM State Treasurer's office uninterrupted for 70 years, but something didn't ring right so I went back to the history books. And what do you know? It turns out that back in 1966, the same year R Dave Cargo was elected Governor, Republican H.E. Thomas was elected Treasurer and another R, Harold Thompson, snagged the State Auditor job. And there's more. Our check revealed that 66' was the only time in NM history that the R's have ever captured the Treasurer's office.

I rang up Dave to get more insight. The ex-Guv told me neither Thomas or Thompson campaigned much, but he made Dem financial practices a key part of his Guv campaign and feels that caused the wave of change. That history is relevant today because of the Treasurer scandal. Can the R's do a 66' repeat?

"I think Demesia Padilla is a very good candidate. She has worked in my campaigns and she is one sharp lady," said the 76 year old Cargo of the R's 06' Treasurer nominee from his ABQ NE Heights home.

But the D's will nominate well-respected ex-Treasurer James Lewis who they think can overcome voter doubts over putting another Democrat in the office in the wake of the scandal. Lewis is also well-known in vote heavy Bernalillo county.

DISHIN' WITH DEMESIA

I chatted up Padilla Wednesday while she was toiling away on a batch of her clients' tax returns at her ABQ office. First, I finally satisfied my curiosity about Padilla's name, Demesia. "I believe it is unique to my family. It comes from my grandmother and it means "of the Earth," she explained.

Ready to dish the dirt on the upcoming Treasurer's race, Demesia pointed out that there are a lot more Dems than R's in NM and getting voters of any stripe to focus on a down ballot race is always difficult but this year, as we all know, may be different.

Padilla, a CPA who is making her first run for political office, has been handed the issue of a lifetime in the scandal which saw the indictments of Dem Treasurers Vigil and Montoya. "I respect James, but it's time to break up the good ol' boy network in that office," she said, reminding us not just of the scandal but also that she would be the first woman State Treasurer.

She also said the media have laid the groundwork for the campaign through extensive coverage of the scandal and now "it's up to me to get myself before the public and let them know who I am and why I am qualified." She believes the heavy scandal coverage relieves pressure on her to run a negative campaign. She also seemed disinclined toward linking her race to an overall GOP attack on the Dem party. After all, she is going to need a lot of ticket-splitting if she is to pull the upset.

While Lewis is counting on Bernalillo county, Padilla is an ABQ South Valley native and hopes to attract her share of Hispanic Dems here. But her real challenge will be raising the funds to conduct a statewide campaign. The NM GOP has been supportive, but will need to back up kind words with cold, hard cash. Bucking history will take a big TV buy.

But the "of the Earth" Demesia says she's up to the task and will be running a down to Earth campaign. "I have worked hard for a lot of candidates and campaigns. I will be calling on them to return the favor."

NITPICKING THE NUMBERS

Veteran NM pollster Brian Sanderoff says he is known for his "nitpicking," and he picked one with our "retired Alligator" who informed us yesterday that a 10th NM county has now gone "majority" Republican. But, as Brian points out, while Roosevelt county does have more R's than D's today, it is a plurality, not a majority. Roosevelt R's now have 42% of the registered voters, the D's come in with 41%. It's a nit worth picking. I'll have more from Sanderoff on NM political trends next week.

TO POLL OR NOT TO POLL

Speaking of pollster Sanderoff, he has been running the numbers for the ABQ Journal for several decades, but don't look for any polls this primary season. There are just not enough high-profile races to send Sanderoff into the field.

Meantime, how do we track the hotly contested ABQ Congressional race featuring incumbent GOP Rep. Heather Wilson and her Dem challenger Patricia Madrid? It looks as if we will have to rely on polls done by the campaigns, if they release them or if my Alligators can get their jaws on them.

The first Journal poll in the race will probably come in late August or early September. Maybe one of the national news organizations covering the race will pony up the bucks to give us an early nonpartisan peek at Heather vs. Patsy, but I wouldn't count on it.

Comments? Questions? News? Drop em' in the e-mail. As always, we look forward to hearing from you.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Seven months out from election day Big Bill has few worries about retaining the New Mexican governorship for another four years, but whether he will be able to reach the mystical and magical 60% mark is highly questionable. That's the conclusion drawn by political insiders and Alligators assessing the numbers floating around from the most recent poll conducted by the Greenberg Quinlan Rosner group, longtime national Dem pollsters who are surveying for Big Bill and Senator Bingaman this year.

Big Bill's approval rating stands at 56% in the poll. A New Mexico Governor couldn't ask for much more after nearly four years in office, perhaps a Governor running for President could. But first things first. What are your neighbors saying about the Guv?

"They have fully absorbed his personality. The good and the bad is well-known. On the down side, they are critical of him for being pompous and sometimes a bully, but they approve of him because they see him as getting things done and moving the state forward," explained an insider who has seen the numbers.

The poll was apparently conducted a few weeks ago. It is important because it is not a "push" poll designed to deliver certain results, nor an automatic phone poll like the USA Survey that you see quoted on the Net and on the tube. This is the real deal, the real numbers the top strategists must have to keep and maintain their grip on power and run effective multi-million dollar campaigns.

THEN AND NOW

The ABQ Journal poll last year gave Governor Richardson an anemic 52% approval rating, but it was quickly pointed out that the survey was of registered voters, not likely ones. When I blogged that the Guv was "leaking oil" because of that poll, Big Bill chief of staff Dave Contarino was quick to head to the blog spin room and tell us their own surveys had his boss in the low 60's.

But that was then and this is now. The low 60's appear to be history as the GOP base appears to be solidifying as the campaign nears and as the news headlines have stopped being friendly toward the Fourth Floor.

If the political scuttlebutt is right and the Guv will near the $10 million mark in campaign spending--an incredible sum--he could see his numbers head a bit north. But a well-known incumbent does not have much wiggle room and this poll, coming as it does before the heat of the campaign, has the insiders saying it pretty much reflects his top number and where most of them see him headed in November.

The poll also shows the Guv getting mid 60's approval from Democratic women. The insiders think he has a shot to bump those numbers up come November as he strives for the 60% mark in the overall tally. (In 02' he received 55% to R John Sanchez's 39%. The Green's David Bacon polled 5%)

Some Guv critics are insistent that if he does not top the 60% mark his Prez campaign will suffer deflation. But would a mid-50's or better win really be remembered months down the road? Maybe, maybe not.

Still, when analysts and others are wondering what margin you will win by and not whether you will win, you have hit the sweet spot of La Politica.

MY BOTTOM LINES

That same poll shows Dem Senator Bingaman with a 62% approval rating, setting up a snoozer of a re-election campaign....

A self-described "retired Alligator" reports in with this news: "I just completed my analysis of voter registration from the Secretary of State's last registration report. Roosevelt County has just become the 10th county with majority Republican registration, Dems--4,614--41% GOP--4652--42%. Harding County is tied with 48% for both parties."

And I remember the 70's when there was just two R havens--Los Alamos and Lincoln counties. By the way Gator, you never retire from this game, they carry you out....

Republican Manuel Lujan is long gone from the U.S. House, but he still has a connection there--on the Democratic side of all places. NM Dem Rep. Tom Udall's new press secretary is Santa Fe's Marissa Padilla who counts Manuel as a great-uncle.....

"Joe, you flout the law, not flaunt it," corrects a reader on an English blunder from Tuesday's blog. So noted. They point out that you do flaunt your tattoos depending, of course, on where you have em'.

BOTTOM, BOTTOM LINE

And is this photo on the left of the Clinton's combined what Big Bill sees when he has a bad dream? If it does pop up in his mind's eye, perhaps he checks his New Mexico polling numbers for reassurance because Hillary remains atop all the national surveys for the Dem Prez prize. GOP Realtor Tony Olmi sent the pic in with the cutline: "Scary, isn't it?" It would seem Tony and the Democratic Guv have common ground on at least that point.

Your political news, gossip, corrections are welcome. Drop us an e-mail from the top right of the page and help keep the politics coming.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Willie Horton
Move over Willie Horton. Make room for Michael Paul Astorga. You remember Horton. He was the criminal featured in one of the most explosive political ads of all time; the one in the 88' Prez campaign accusing Dem nominee Michael Dukakis of being weak on crime because convicted killer Horton had been given a weekend furlough by the administration of the Massachusetts governor. Horton committed rape and armed robbery while on the furlough. The charge is similar to the one contained in a missile of blame launched by the NM Republican Party at the Fourth Floor of the Roundhouse in the aftermath of the shocking slaying of Bernalillo county Sheriff's Deputy James McGrane.

Astorga was on parole when he allegedly shot the deputy. He is also wanted for a November 05' ABQ murder. Will Astorga become Big Bill's Horton? The GOP Is going to give it a try.

The party lays blame for the lawman's death at the doorstep of Big Bill saying it was the Governor's parole board that let gangster Astorga free to commit the cold-blooded murder that left the state in shock.

"The parole board is appointed by and serves at the pleasure of, the Governor. It is Governor Richardson that put into place a board and a policy directed at releasing prisoners, rather than building new prisons," blasted GOP Chair Weh.

ABQ GOP NE Heights State Rep. Larry Larranaga, mindful of the R's historical advantage on the crime issue, went for the knockout:

"This administration does not look at the safety of the people of New Mexico. The answer is to adequately fund the prison system so that people that are unsafe to the citizens are kept behind bars."

Big Bill's office fired back that the GOP attack was "shameful" and that "the Republicans are using the murder of this officer in a desperate attempt to score political points." What else could they do? With public emotions raw, engaging the R's further would backfire. Besides, Astorga was indeed paroled and it happened on this Guv's watch.

POLITICAL TEMP RISES
Astorga
Interestingly, the R's nominee for Guv, J.R. Damron, is apparently not ready to play, losing yet another opportunity to let people know there is an election this year. But Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, longtime nemesis of Big Bill, piled on with his fellow R's.

"If parole/probation officers don't conduct warrant checks on their clients, they need to start. I would hope the policy change was written yesterday. Unfortunately for us, it's too late." So White said in reaction to the news that Astorga had checked in with his probation officer, but the officer did not check and find out that a murder warrant was out on Astorga for the November 05' slaying.

As the steam built the sheriff later said he "wanted the fingerpointing to stop," but the proverbial cat was out of the bag.

All this pushed the buttons of some Dems who laid low knowing any criticism of law enforcement at a time of tragedy would be foolhardy. But behind the scenes their blood was boiling, especially at White who was the target of some undercover blog blasts.

"White is up for re-election this year and he played politics with the death of one of his own. The party attack was bad enough, but it's White's job to find the killer, not engage in partisan politics," complained a Dem ally of the Guv's.

Anothr D scored the sheriff for his hour long appearance Friday on Jim Villanucci's ABQ KKOB-AM radio talk show and his many TV news interviews. "Shouldn't he be investigating instead of interviewing?" He smacked.

The sheriff, former head of the Department of Public Safety under R Guv Gary Johnson, is popular and his re-elect prospects are good. He is unopposed for the GOP nomination and will face either Dem Jose Edgar Chavez or Geraldine Amato in November. However, he also has a political calculation. Astorga remains free, despite the largest manhunt in recent state history. If public enemy number one is still in hiding come election time, it won't be only the Guv and his parole board taking a hit, but the competence of the Sheriff as well.

Emotions on both sides are bound to cool, but you can already see the thirty second October TV spot featuring Astorga's mug with a pic of the Guv next to him. The history of the 1988 Presidential campaign is now required reading for the seekers of power in 2006 New Mexico. Don't say we didn't tell you.

LOVE AND THE LAWMAN
Rep. Rodella
A love affair with a NM legislator cost New Mexico's top cop his job. That's what ABQ's KRQE-TV news reported weeks ago. It was a story never shot down by chief Charles Maldonado. And there's new development from Espanola. The Rio Grande Sun has explored the relationship between Dem Rio Arriba State Rep. Debbie Rodella and Maldondano. Based on cell phone records, the paper concludes that there was a significant relationship between the two. Whether it was a romantic relationship is left for the reader to decide.

At the time of his resignation, it was reported that the chief was quitting because the spouse of a legislator was threatening to go public about his affair. The husband of Debbie Rodella is Tommy Rodella, who resigned as a Rio Arriba magistrate judge after violating procedures, but is again running for the job. Neither Maldonado or Debbie Rodella are talking, but Debbie is actively campaigning for re-election.

DEBBIE'S DOOR KNOCKING

In light of the rampant speculation over the Rodella-Maldonado relationship I asked an Alligator of long experience in Rio Arriba to analyze Rodella's chances for re-election as she faces June primary opponent, former Rio Arriba county commissioner Moises Morales:

"She'll hold that seat for as long as it is politically useful for (NM House Speaker) Ben Lujan to support her. Which means some really bad stuff would have to happen for her to lose. And given everything that's happened in the last 14 months, it would have to be really bad.

Morales's base is solely in the northern part of the county. With the right person in the race, she would have been beatable, I don't think Morales is that person," analyzed our northern Gator.

So the saga of the "Love Chief" ends with his abrupt departure from the hot lights of La Politica, but Debbie battles on, apparently toward a successful conclusion.

BOTTOM LINE

In case you missed it, GOP attorney general candidate Bob Schwartz called it quits over the weekend, leaving former assistant U.S. attorney Jim Bibb of Santa Fe as the sole R contender for the party nomination. Schwartz says he is thinking about seeking a district court judgeship in ABQ.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Pete & Jeff
The gripes of the day are those high gas prices and the no-end-in-sight Iraq war. And New Mexico's Congressional delegation, usually not the focus of much national press, is coming under increased scrutiny as it deals with these thorny matters. Much of the coverage is probably stuff they would prefer the folks back home didn't hear about.

Take this one on the energy front. GOP Senator Pete Domenici, chair of the Senate Energy Committee, felt the heat this week when NBC news unloaded on a former key Pete committee staffer, Alex Flint. Here's the heart of the scoop:

"In a move that appears to flout the U.S. Senate’s Ethics Manual, a former Senate staff member has repeatedly passed through Capitol Hill’s so-called “revolving door,” moving between public jobs intended to help oversee and regulate U.S. nuclear firms and lobbying posts in which he pushes the industry’s interests." So leads off the lengthy piece that examines Pete's nonstop boosterism for nuclear energy and his relationship with Flint.

JEFF IN THE BARREL

And Dem Senator Jeff Bingaman, the ranking D on Energy, is not immune to the hits. Ron Brownstein, writing in the Los Angeles Times, slams him for being too cozy with Pete and the R's as they move to approve offshore oil and gas drilling along the Florida coast:

"Jeff Bingaman is a personable, hardworking and very smart senator. But the New Mexico Democrat doesn't appear to be much of a poker player.

"Bingaman is now helping Senate Republicans and the energy industry advance one of their top goals: a bill to expand drilling for oil and gas in the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida coast. He's doing so even though Republicans are blocking the energy priorities of Bingaman and most other Democrats: more focus on conservation and renewable energy." So stung Brownstein.

The criticism is not surprising. When gasoline prices are nice and low the senators get a pass, but with household budgets being chewed up by $2.50 a gallon gas, their important role in national energy policy comes under the microscope.

PULLING CHENEY'S CHAIN
Heather
Over in the U.S. House, ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson might be becoming the go to gal when the press goes looking for Republicans who might be willing to part company with the White House. The Washington Post highlighted the four term lawmaker and recent critic of the Prez's domestic eavesdropping program in this piece on VP Cheney's rosy outlook on the Iraq war. Here are the money quotes:

"Rep. Heather A. Wilson said in an interview that Cheney was wrong about the insurgency being in its last throes and that she sent word to the White House recently to level with the American people about the challenges. "We need to assume that things are going to be very hard because when you do, you plan accordingly," said Wilson. "I am always cautious about always seeing things in the best light because war is not like that and the public knows it." So penned the Post.

While Heather may be expressing some concern about Iraq war policy, she is not yet joining her Dem opponent Patricia Madrid in calling for a timetable to get our troops out of Iraq.

MY BOTTOM LINES

It has been a jammed week around here with the weekend preprimary conventions and then the state House filings. The e-mail piled in too. Isaac Chavez of Dona Ana county had good reason to write. The 34 year old Republican is challenging Dem State Rep. Andy Nunez, but we blogged another name. Chavez tells me he is a salsa processor and owns an laundromat. I guess he gets them coming and going; spill the red salsa on the white shirt and then go to his laundromat. Chavez, 33, is a NM State grad. We wish him and Andy good luck and regret the error....

And oldtimer E. B. Baca had a correction with some cool info. In a Midnight blogging haze yesterday, fueled only by caffeine free diet coke and a soggy cigar, I said there were 40 members of the NM Senate. Of course, there are 42. E-Mailed E.B.:

"The last time I checked the NM Senate was composed of 42 members not 40. I think it has been that way since one man one vote forced the change from one county, one Senator and they added 10 members."

He's right. Until the 1960's each NM county was awarded one senator. Redistricting law took hold and the rest is history....

And Josh Geise from lobbyist Butch Maki's new campaign consulting arm, "The Victory Group," chimed in on my statement that the ABQ North Valley and Heights district of GOP State Rep. Teresa Zanetti is a "solid R bastion." Josh points out: "The district has a Dem registration advantage of 44% to 38% with 15% declined to state. That’s far from a “solid R bastion."

The consultant for Dem challenger Traci Cadigan is right. However, while not an R bastion, it is a "Zanetti bastion." After all, she has won there twice. Before her, R John Sanchez took the prize....

Thanks for the e-mail. I do my best to answer everyone and blog the stories requested and the solid tips received. Keep em' coming, and keep coming back here for more New Mexico politics.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

First, the big picture. Based on candidate filings for the 70 seats in the New Mexico House of Representatives Tuesday there should be no dramatic change in the party balance of power in 2007, but there will be some significant June 6 primary battles to watch. That's the assessment from my Senior Alligators who monitored the filing actions from all four corners of the state. (Bernalillo county candidates are here. House candidates and other offices that represent more than one county filed with the secretary of state.)

"We are looking at the Republicans possibly picking up a seat, maybe two. But that is not certain. What is certain is that the Democrats will remain in firm control of the House," remarked a Dem expert with long ties to his party and the Roundhouse.

Another Alligator in the pool, a Republican, agreed. "If we get the perfect storm it looks like we could pick up three, but one seat is more likely and perhaps no change at all," he said.

The Dems currently control the chamber 42-28. The 42 member state senate is not up for election until 08'. The Dems are also in control there.

TO THE ACTION

Controversial Roswell GOP State Rep. Dan Foley is in the crosshairs of Campaign 06'. The least favorite legislator of Governor Big Bill, Foley drew Republican opposition Tuesday from Roswell Wal-Mart assistant manger Steve Gavi. The Dems have fielded convenience store owner Wanda Valentine, but they are ready to help anyone who will help them rid the House of Foley.

"The Foliator" is in our sights and his opponents will get Democratic help," declared NM Democratic Party Executive Director Matt Farrauto as he scanned the freshly minted primary list from his ABQ war room.

Foley, an insurance executive, took hits when he had the NM National Guard conduct a fly over for the opening of a Roswell car dealership whose owner is a major Foley campaign contributor. He has been an ardent critic of the Guv who has repeatedly vetoed major portions of capital outlay projects for Foley's district. He was also aligned with a renegade faction of the GOP in 2004 when it ran candidates against fellow R's.

Can he be taken out? "If his opponents play it right, the race is in play. He has a lot to account for and his constituents could be tiring of the controversy," offered an in-the-know Gator.

THE DEAN IS DONE
Rep. Luna
The longest serving member of the NM House, Valencia county Dem Fred Luna, called it quits Tuesday after a 35 year run. His district has grown increasingly Republican in recent years and he has had a couple of close races. Can the R's make this one theirs?

"I think the Dems got a break when the same Republican (Jackie Farnsworth) who has failed to beat Luna is back again as their nominee. I would say this one leans D," said another Dem Alligator.

Salomon Montano and Elias Barela are the D hopefuls, Montano is a former county commissioner and the presumed frontrunner. We would be remiss not to pause and thank Fred for his lengthy service to all of New Mexico.

BOB IS BACK

Bob White, who lost his ABQ GOP NE Heights House seat in 04' to newcomer Justine Fox-Young, set up a rematch Tuesday. He said Justine voted against the death penalty even though she campaigned for it.

In 04' Fox-Young ran with a slate of candidates against fellow R's that were backed by her then-employer, lawyer-lobbyist Mickey Barnett. The Dem declaring Tuesday was John McWaters III, who reportedly has ample financial resources, but the seat is seen as solid R.

The Barnett-Foley alliance of two years ago that caused so much turmoil in the party was nowhere to be seen this time. In fact, the tables were turned. Roswell State Rep. Keith Gardner who unseated Earlene Roberts in 04' with the help of the renegades drew GOP primary opposition along with Foley and Fox-Young. Gardner is considered safe but will now have to work it.

Ironically, there was a Barnett who filed for a House seat Tuesday. Republican James Maxwell Barnett is running against R State Rep. Tom Anderson of ABQ's West Side. We are told James is no relation to Mickey.

THE SOUTHERN SWING

Down south GOP State Rep. Ed Boykin is giving up his seat and that opens the door a bit more for Dem Jeff Steinborn who almost beat Boykin in 04'. With the incumbent gone, Steinborn is seen as one of the more promising possibles for a Dem pick up. However, in November he will have to get past retired Navy captain Scott Witt of Las Cruces who comes in to bat for the R's.

Back in the Big Duke City, Traci Cadigan, the wife of ABQ city councilor and 2009 mayoral hopeful Michael Cadigan, filed for the Dem nomination for the House seat held by Republican Teresa Zanetti. The district is another solid R bastion.

Back in Dona Ana County, Dem State Rep. Andy Nunez will again have to fight hard to keep his swing district seat. Isaac E. Chavez, a salsa processor, will carry the R banner. It will be watched closely.

NAVA SAYS NO

I was mildly surprised to see that Dona Ana Dem State Senator Cynthia Nava failed to file for the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) seat held by Dem Shirley Baca. I blogged recently that she was passing out petition signatures in preparation for a run. (Hey, no one's perfect.) In any event, NM State Fair Chair Sandy Jones, whose candidacy was announced first here, did indeed file to challenge Shirley. And it will be a heck of a race.

Shirley's arrest on pot charges in 04' went national and again when the charges were dismissed. Sandy is a friend of Big Bill and that will help with the money raising. Shirley, despite her penchant for controversy, cannot be counted out. She is one tough politico. Several R's filed for the nomination, perhaps thinking if Shirley gets the Dem nod they could pull the upset in the D district.

There's a bunch of Dem candidates running for the PRC seat being vacated by Lynda Lovejoy. The Alligators say Navajo Derrith Watchman-Moore is the favorite in the five person race. Steve Gallegos and Andrew Leo Lopez, both seeking the Dem nod, will kick when they read that, but maybe it will double their determination. Remember, this district was carved out for a Native American.

A NEW MEXICO FIRST

For the first time, at least in the memory of this blogger and his Alligators, two African Americans from the major political parties will face off in a general election battle. That after GOP State Rep. Jane Powdrell-Culbert filed and Dem Trish Stewart did the same for the Rio Rancho-Corrales district. The area is heavy Anglo. The race is an example of the healthy ethnic diversity in La Politica. The R's are favored because they have the seat, but this is also on the watch list.

Let's go back to Valencia county for a moment where we will have a Democratic party battle royale for the seat of Kandy Cordova who is retiring. It's a six way duel that includes Chris Martinez, a longtime aide to retiring Rep. Fred Luna. There has been talk that the R's, who will nominate David Young, could pick this one up, but some of my experts say a Hispanic Republican would be stronger in that district which is experiencing big growth.

HERE, THERE & EVERYWHERE

In the north, we'll have to keep our eye on Dem State Rep. Debbie Rodella who, as expected, drew primary opposition from onetime Rio Arriba county commissioner Moises Morales. The seat will stay D even if Debbie runs into trouble with Moises. The Rio Arriba county area is overwhelmingly Donkey. No Elephants need apply.

The most likely seat the R's will pick up, say my Gator experts, is that of retiring Carlsbad area Dem State Rep. Joe Stell. Bill Gray is the sole R contender and the probable new House member.

Up in the Four Corners GOP State Rep. Sandra Townsend did not file for re-election Tuesday. My insiders say the seat will stay R with Paul Bandy taking over. Sandra was a "moderate" R who survived repeated primary challenges engineered by then NM GOP Chair John Dendahl. In the end, she got to leave in her own way.

Finally, was that former 1980's era Bernalillo county clerk Dolores Waller filing as a Dem for the ABQ NE Heights seat held by Larry Larranaga? Yes, indeed. Dolores is one of several loyal Dems who will hold the party banner high in districts that are overwhelmingly R. They could increase Dem turnout for doing it.

A TIP OF THE BLOG HAT

There you have the highlights of House filing day 06.' Thanks to the AP's Barrey Massey in Santa Fe who I bugged while he was on deadline, but he still helped out; to Dem Sisto Abeyta for helping track the filings; to R Bruce Donisthorpe for navigating the Web on our behalf. And, of course, thanks to the Alligators of La Politica, who must go unnamed, but who I can assure you were well-fed for their services.

Comments, corrections and your news are always welcome. E-mail me from the top of the page.

Hasta manana, New Mexico!

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

It's one big statewide cattle call for New Mexico politicos today as contenders for 70 state House seats make their intentions known by filing their declarations of candidacy. No question that a lot of incumbents are nervous, not quite sure if they will draw primary opposition. But there is another group of hopefuls who will also file today who have even more butterflies flapping in their stomachs. They are the 16 judges on ABQ's Metropolitan Court. Why? The answer is all over the front pages announcing that the FBI has launched a far-flung probe into the construction of the new metro court, district court and detention center buildings. Were bribes taken? Were contracts inflated? Were commissions illegally boosted? You know, all the stuff we became overly familiar with during the recent state Treasurer scandal.

It's fair to point out that no metro judges, according to the news reports, have been mentioned in connection with the probe.

All 16 metro judges face voters this November, a dozen of them in those obscure "retention" elections. The remainder are in contested elections. Incumbent metro judges are up for retention every four years. If they do not get 57% of the voters agreeing to retain them they are outta there. (That rarely happens.)

Chief Metro Court Judge Judy Nakamura has been racing to stay ahead of the news curve, announcing that metro has been fully cooperating with the Feds. But the money line in her recent statement was that no one employed at the court "in the last two years" is a target of the investigation. At least not to her knowledge. But what about employees there 24 months ago? Apparently that's another story. If it turns out to be a sour one, you wonder if voters will be stirred up enough to shower their wrath on the sitting judges, justified or not.

Then again, the Legislature failed to pass any significant reform in the wake of the Treasurer scandal, and the notorious theft from the ABQ police department's evidence room of some $60,000 in cash, (probably more, according to one high-ranking lawman) went unprosecuted. With that record, maybe the judges are nervous over nothing.

NEW HAMPSHIRE HORNETS NEST

They say all politics is local and that again proved true when Big Bill hit the New Hampshire presidential campaign trail for a second time this past weekend. The Guv apparently stepped on a hornets nest when he spoke of a New Hampshire congressional primary race featuring several competing Dems. It prompted this e-mail to your blog from the Granite State congressional campaign of State Rep. Peter Sullivan:

"Richardson managed to anger a large group of New Hampshire Democratic activists during his trip. Speaking at the Manchester Democratic Committee's St. Patrick's Day breakfast, Richardson fawned over State Rep. Jim Craig, calling him "the next congressman."

What Richardson didn't seem to realize is that Craig faces three other major opponents in the September primary.

Supporters of State Rep. Peter Sullivan, as well as those of Rochester Democratic Chairwoman Carol Shea Porter and Rye school committeeman Gary Dodds, are furious that Richardson would choose to meddle in a contested race with the primary still six months away," said the e-mail.

Sullivan and the others are seeking the right to face off with GOP Congressman Jeb Bradley. As for Big Bill, he learned fast that Alligators are everywhere in NM. Now he's finding out that they get bigger as you go up the political food chain.

TUESDAY BOTTOM LINES

The candidates who file for state House seats in Bernalillo county today will be posted on the Web by county clerk Mary Herrera starting after 5 p.m. A tip of the hat to her for the wise Web use....Campaign workers for Santa Fe's Letitia Montoya, like Herrera, a Dem candidate for secretary of state, say she will submit additional petition signatures to get on the June ballot. Montoya failed to get the required 20 percent of the vote at Saturday's preprimary convention....One of the favorite names floating around for the New Mexico NFL football team that Big Bill hopes to someday attract to our Enchanted Land? "The New Mexico Kickbackers." Why am I not surprised?

Thanks for the company. See you soon.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Geno Zamora
The roaring spring winds weren't the only ones blasting across the state Saturday. Democrats and Republicans, gathered for their preprimary conventions, saw the political winds rage and crack open the Dem race for attorney general as well as reduce visibility for those hoping to easily predict the winners in other June 6 primary contests.

The stunner was the third place finish of Gary King in the Dem race for attorney general. Touted as the frontrunner by his polls and party insiders, King managed to garner only 31 percent of the delegate votes, with Santa Fe's Geno Zamora, former chief legal counsel to Big Bill, taking first with 36 percent and Sandoval county prosecutor Lem Martinez close behind with 33 percent.

"It was a big blow to Gary. It shakes up the race and signifies that he has more work to do than he perhaps thought." Said one of my Dem Alligator-delegates attending the weekend confab.

But Gary, e-mailing in to the blog spin room, saw it differently: "We did not take any steps to exclude the other candidates and I felt that the best overall result for me would be to have the convention split along even lines...now all voters can make this crucial decision, not just the party bosses," spun King the day after the Saturday drama.

Even a speech by Gary's dad, legendary ex-Guv Bruce King, was not enough to move him into first as new life was breathed into Zamora and Martinez, both of whom were at risk of being knocked out by a strong King finish.

"The results could free up more campaign money and endorsements for them. Joe, a lot of us didn't know Zamora or Martinez. But they are both first-tier candidates and this proves it," analyzed a Dem Gator with no dog in the fight.

WHERE TO NOW?
Lem Martinez
There was a glimmer of a silver lining for Gary. If Geno and Lem remain strong, the odds of them splitting the Hispanic vote in June grows. King is the only Anglo on the ballot and has solid name ID. But what looked liked an easy romp for the former state rep has been turned into a marathon. While on paper the race may still tilt in his favor, it is no longer his to lose. Yes, there is now a chance that either Geno or Lem could break away and beat the conventional wisdom that two Hispanic candidates hand the race to the Anglo. Money for TV and field operations will be key. Zamora has some. Martinez needs some. King's got it. Now he needs to spend it.

THEY'RE BIG ON BIBB

Over at the ABQ Marriott some 400 plus state Republican party power players were gathered and ex-Big Bill crime adviser Bob Schwartz felt their muscle. He was left reeling and his political fortunes in tatters when he failed to get the needed 20 percent of the delegates' votes to make the June ballot. Newcomer Jim Bibb, touted as a rising star by GOP insiders, lived up to his billing and landslided the outspoken Schwartz by taking in a whopping 86% of the vote. Schwartz can still get on the ballot by filing extra petition signatures, but is it worth it?

"His chances of winning the nomination now are slim. There was a clear message sent and it is going to echo in Republican wards across the state. Bob's ties to the Democrats came back to haunt him. It is simple as that. These are party regulars and the first order of business for them is loyalty," analyzed one of our GOP Alligators direct from the scene of the carnage.

But while attorney Bibb, son-in-law of former Dem Guv Toney Anaya, may be basking in the victory, he won't be for long. Not when he remembers that only one GOP contender has been elected attorney general in the past 70 years or so.

BACA GETS BOMBED

And how about that pounding administered to Jim Baca by Ray Powell in the Dem land commissioner race? Was it personality? That's what several of my Dem experts offered in the wake of Baca getting only about 26 percent of the vote to Powell's overwhelming 74 percent.

"Jim has never been well-liked within the party. His personality can be liking touching a cactus. While this does not knock him out of the race, it does even the playing field with Ray, especially for money," said a junior Alligator who was at the Highland High School convention.

Both of the old pros headed to the blog spin room in the aftermath with Ray calling his win a "watershed" event that provides his campaign "an enormous amount of positive energy." Powell served as land commissioner for ten years. But Baca, a former ABQ mayor, told Ray not to get too excited. "Ray called in a lot of chips with the old party line folks. 24 years ago the same machine ground me up at the convention and I won the primary and then the general election," spun the veteran of 35 years under the hot lights of our beloved La Politica.

Watching it all was current land commissioner Pat Lyons. His insiders are hoping Baca wins the nomination because they think he is easier to attack. Despite his convention clubbing by Powell, that could still happen. He has an edge as the only Hispanic in the two way race, but Powell delivered a home run and altered expectations. This battle goes forward.

MARY'S MOVE
Mary Herrera
Maybe there's a little familiarity fatigue setting in. Bob Schwartz, Gary King, Jim Baca and Joe Carraro. All are longtime fixtures and all took hits this weekend. And add the name of ex-secretary of state Stephanie Gonzales to the hit list. Bernalillo county clerk Mary Herrera pulled off a mild upset with the 1400 plus delegates by coming in first with 34 percent of the vote, inching past Stephanie's 33 percent. Another ex-secretary of state, Shirley Hooper, made the ballot with 21 percent. Santa Fe's Letitia Montoya was knocked off, getting only 11 of the required 20 percent, Her campaign says she filed enough petition signatures to stay on and they say she will.

Herrera has taken big hits from the party's left wing for opposing Big Bill's all paper ballot voting plans. But her base in vote heavy Bernalillo county held and keeps her campaign alive. Gonzales had a chance to put this one to bed, but Mary's win steals her momentum. Gonzales, with statewide name ID, is still the favorite, but this is another race we now have to watch. And don't forget Shirley. If Mary and Stephanie start splitting the Hispanic vote in a big way, Hooper could make a move. Was that why Gonzales indirectly slammed Shirley in her convention speech?

SILLY FOR THE SENATE

The chance to take on Dem Senator Jeff Bingaman is not what one would call a once in a lifetime opportunity. The senate vet is heavily favored for another re-elect, but Farmington doc Allen McCulloch took a major step toward the sacrificial lamb gate when he bested ex-Santa Fe councilor David Pfeffer and ABQ state senator Joe Carraro. The news here was the third place finish of Joe. The money changers are going to look skeptically at his chances now as McCulloch took 40 percent of the vote to Pfeffer's 32 and Carraro's' 28. Also the doc has a couple hundred grand in the bank. It will be up to Carraro and Pfeffer to raise a like amount to make this one competitive June 6th.

NEW BLOOD YEAR?

Granted, the conventions were a gathering of politicians, but the upsets and mild upsets raises the question of whether we are seeing the first anti-incumbent rumblings. Familiar faces took most of the beating this weekend. Maybe they took things for granted and did not work it hard enough as some of my experts offered. Still, we are in an unsettled political climate nationally and perhaps that is being felt on the local level. New faces, or ones seen as such, might have a better shot in that environment.

MY BOTTOM LINES--CONVENTION EDITION

Who won the most delegate votes at the Dem convention? Big Bill? Senator Jeff? Nope. It was unopposed state Treasurer candidate James B. Lewis. The Dems, fearing a voter backlash over the Treasurer scandal and others starting to percolate on the front pages, gave Lewis more votes than even the popular Bingaman who garnered the second biggest total....

And, yes, that was GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson blasting her Dem rival, Patricia Madrid, over the Treasurer scandal at the annual Lincoln Day Dinner Saturday night following the convention action. Wilson accused the attorney general of not doing anything to stop the scandal. Patsy, of course, can point to all kinds of GOP ethics mishaps on Capitol Hill. And you can bet she will...

And was that the Hispanic Roundtable protesting the Big Bill administration at the Dem convention? Sure was. They claim not enough of the Guv's top hires have been Hispanic. Early noise that ex-State Rep. Benjie Regensberg would challenge the Big Guy fizzled months ago, removing a potential protest vote in the June balloting. But the open protest was a sign that Big Bill's opponents are more willing to go public.

Thanks to my many contributors for today's in-depth blog. They make possible the fair, balanced and exclusive inside coverage you expect when visiting here. See ya' later, Gators.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

State Republicans shunned Bob Schwartz Saturday and made Jim Bibb their sole candidate for the GOP nomination for attorney general. Schwartz will still get on the June 6th primary ballot by submitting additional petition signatures he has already collected, but the landlide victory by Bibb--374 to 60--could very well end any hopes Schwartz has of capturing the nomination.

In the GOP race for U.S. Senate, Farmington urologist Allen McCulloch was awarded the first ballot position at the ABQ pre-primary convention garnering 173 votes. David Pfeffer came in second with 138 and ABQ State Sen. Joe Carraro came in third with 123 votes. The winner in the June 6th primary will take on Dem Senator Bingaman.

In Democratic action, all three candidates for attorney general made the ballot, but Gary King finished third behind Geno Zamora who came in first with 36 percent and Lem Martinez who received aabout 33 percent. King tallied 31 percent. Ray Powell was the big winner at the convention. He beat out fellow Dem Jim Baca in the land commissioner's race getting 74 percent to Baca's 26 percent. Both Jeff Armijo and Tom Buckner made the primary ballot with Armijo coming in first in that state auditor contest.

Bernalillo County Clerk Mary Herrera came in first for the Dems for secretary of state narrowly beating ex-secretary of state Stephanie Gonzales. Shirley Hooper came in third and Lettita montoya failed to get the necessary 20 percent for a ballot position.

More later.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

With no top of the ticket action hundreds of NM D's and R's who will flock to ABQ Saturday for their pre-primary conventions will have to look elsewhere for excitement. And they won't have to look far. There is plenty of it in the down ballot races that will keep the political junkies fixated.

Both parties--the Dems's at ABQ's Highland High School--and the GOP at the ABQ Marriott, will convene Saturday morning to nominate candidates for the June 6th primary ballot. To make it on a contender has to get 20 percent of the convention votes. If not, they will have to submit extra petition signatures to win a spot.

The race getting the most attention is the Dem battle for attorney general. It's a position from which many a political career has been launched so it's no wonder. Gary King, who says his polling shows him in front, will have to deliver Saturday or the race could be cracked open. Geno Zamora and Lem Martinez have been battling the perception that this one is King's to lose because they will split the important Hispanic delegate votes this weekend and again in June. Zamora and Martinez are hoping to break away from each other. If one of them doesn't, this one could have King written all over it come June 7th.

On the R side, political newcomer Jim Bibb and former Big Bill crime adviser Bob Schwartz are vying for the nomination. Schwartz has been under angry fire from the likes of ex-GOP chair Dendahl who calls the onetime prosecutor too liberal. Schwartz retorts that his R critics are the same folks who advocated drug legalization and who represent a fringe wing of the GOP. The onus is on the experienced Schwartz. If he doesn't come in first or a close second, Bibb will be given a big boost.

MORE KEY RACES

Both former Dem land commissioners Ray Powell and Jim Baca are expected to win approval for the June ballot. Political pros give Baca the edge for the June nomination because of high Hispanic turnout. This one is getting tenser by the day and we could see it go negative as we come out of the convention.

Incumbent Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons won four years ago because voters rejected his Dem opponents background which included drunk driving charges. But can Lyons win on his own against heavyweights Baca or Powell? Lyons is unopposed for renomination Saturday. But perception is starting to harden that the D's will be able to take this one back on the strength of traditional party line voting. Pat has his work cut out for him.

As we blogged yesterday, the R's have lost their candidate for state auditor, so the Dem nominee may get a free ride. That nominee is expected to be Jeff Armijo who has been working it, but some Dems are uncertain about him and trying to muster late support for Tom Buckner. Armijo is still the favorite.

Former Secretary of State Stephanie Gonzales is getting the pre-convention spin and will have to meet expectations. She should do so with a solid northern base. But Mary Herrera, Shirley Hooper and Lettita Montoya will try to slow the Gonzales train and at least win spots on the June ballot, but it is unlikely all of them will succeed.

R Vickie Perea, who switched from D to R in 04, is unopposed for the nomination.

Who comes in first at the pre-primary convention is not always an indicator of who will prevail on primary night. The most obvious example is the 94' GOP race for Governor. Gary Johnson squeaked on the ballot with just one delegate to spare. But he went on to stun the field and win the primary and later the November election.

I'll update on the action over the weekend and have a full analysis of the conventions on Monday so be sure to drop by.

MARTY AND THE MINIMUM

ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez says he is willing to work a deal with the city council to try to come up with some kind of increase in the minimum wage in the state's largest city. The Dem Mayor says he does not want the "far left" to prevail in the next round in the minimum wage battle and hopes to craft an increase with the council that would come in below the $7.50 an hour that is being sought by ACORN, the group passing around petition signatures to again place the proposal on the city ballot. The ABQ Tribune's Erik Siemers has more on Marty and the minimum.

We blogged this week that a Democratic Hispanic mayor opposed to a boost in the minimum wage would face rough sledding if he was to seek statewide office in a Dem primary. His Trib statements make clear he is angling for a way out of the dilemma. If he doesn't get something done, he will likely be faced with a special election this summer on the $7.50 an hour rate, forcing him to either support the big boost and risk the wrath of his many conservative supporters, or reject it and further damage his prospects with many Dem voters.

And while the mayor may call those circulating the petitions members of the "far left," those signing them, as many as 20,000 registered voters, are anything but. They represent a political mainstream in a city saddled with a low-wage environment. Stay tuned.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Sen. Bingaman
He's not exactly in Heather Wilson (R-NM) mode--making big splashes to show he is a "moderate," but Dem U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, up for re-election this year, is doing a bit of positioning of his own. After turning off liberals but pleasing conservatives by voting last year for a bankruptcy bill liberals said was punitive to consumers and then teaming with GOP Senator Domenici to pass an energy bill they deemed too friendly to big oil, the libs have been thrown a Bingaman bone to chew on.

Jeff was one of only ten senators to vote earlier this month against renewal of the Patriot Act; an act that has been scored on the left for being a threat to civil liberties since it was first passed following 9/11. Oh, almost forgot. The left wasn't too happy either when Jeff refused to support a filibuster against Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito. Maybe he will give them another gift to make up for that one.

Not that the liberals have much to howl about when it comes to the four term NM senator and Silver City native. The liberal Americans for Democratic Action give him a 2005 ranking of 95 out of 100. That's up from his 04' rank of 90. So while it may not seem so on a couple of high-profile issues, in the end the Jeff Jiggle is a pretty stationary dance.

Meanwhile, three R's are vying for the nomination to take on Bingaman, but several R predictors say Bingaman will lead the D ticket this year. "Richardson is tough to beat, but Jeff will be even tougher. He isn't mired in the local issues," analyzed one who believes Bingaman will out poll the Guv.

BEAUTY AND THE BLOG
Princess Allison
But enough about Jeff. The real star in his office these days is Allison Block, the 2006 NM Cherry Blossom Princess who works for the senator as a legislative correspondent. The Santa Fe beauty with brains is a UNM grad who will be feted by the New Mexico State Society in D.C. and represent our state at the national festival. Sorry guys, I do not have Allison's number, but I understand she likes to dance and travel. Remember, you didn't hear it here. And Jeff, hire a security guard for the extra office traffic.

A FREE DEM RIDE?

It may be a free ride for the Democratic nominee for state auditor. NM GOP Chairman Allen Weh told me Tuesday that Dan Alvarez, the lone R seeking the post, is dropping out of the race because of "family considerations." Alvarez recently returned to the scene after a stint in the National Guard. The party is researching the rules to see if they have time to get a replacement candidate on the ballot. If not, Dem Jeff Armijo or Tom Buckner will become the next state auditor succeeding retiring Domingo Martinez. Armijo, say party insiders, is the favorite for the nomination.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Chris Garcia is the new "personal assistant" to Governor Big Bill. Now, you long-timers probably raised your eyebrows and said: "You mean Chris Garcia, the former Prez of UNM, is going on staff to the Big Guy?!" Fear not. Chris is doing fine and I assume picking up a nice check from the university. It's ABQ South Valley native Chris Garcia, no relation to UNM professor Garcia, who will be doing the assisting. He worked in the Guv's campaign and for his now defunct political action committee, Moving America Forward. Chris replaces Rochelle Thompson who is moving on. I wonder if we could get Rochelle to write a book in time for the 08' Prez race...

Siri Khalsa has been a personal assistant to the Governor since he took over. She is well-known among insider political types for her quiet competence, winning personality and for representing the Governor's office and the state with class. Maybe she should run for something...

Early Monday morning readers may have seen here that Rep. Terry Marquardt challenged Ted Hobbs for House Minority Leader in 04'. It was Brian Moore of Clayton who made that challenge...We haven't hit the ABQ radio ratings in a while so here are the latest top five stations hot off the Nielsen presses:

KKOB-AM--8.3 share, KMGA-FM (Magic 99)--6.2, KLVO-FM (Regional Mexican)--4.7, KKOB-FM--4.6, KABG-FM (oldies)--4.5, KBQI-FM (The Big I)--4.5.

MY BOTTOM, BOTTOM LINES

It's Kansas Senator Pat Roberts as headliner at the NM GOP's Annual Lincoln Day Dinner this Saturday at the ABQ Marriott. R's were hoping to line up Florida's Mel Martinez, the first Cuban-American senator, but had Roberts as back-up. His will be a timely appearance as he chairs the Senate Intelligence Committee. We imagine GOP ABQ U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson will be paying close attention to his speech. She broke ranks with the White House over its domestic eavesdropping program and called for more congressional oversight, but Roberts' committee voted along party lines to reject a proposed investigation of the administration's warrantless surveillance of Americans. It voted instead to create a White House-approved subcommittee to oversee the operation.

I know, I know. We've got to do a preview of the D & R pre-primary conventions set for this weekend. Check back tomorrow to see if I got my act together on that one. Meanwhile, thanks for spending part of your day here.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Domenici
When he strode to the victory podium on Election Night 02' NM GOP U.S. Senator Pete Domenici had his family gathered at his side and indicated that it would be his last race. Not everyone believed it and it looks as if the skeptics were right. The 73 year old Domenici has indicated he will seek re-election in 2008 to an unprecedented seventh, six year term. He did it in a fundraising letter dated March 3rd sent to key supporters across our Enchanted Land.

Now, let me hedge a bit. This letter is written in a way that the money Domenici is raising could possibly go to other campaigns, not neccesarily his own re-election, but if that is the purpose he has me fooled.

Again, no one is surprised, especially Democrats who have long joked that only the Grim Reaper will keep Pete out of the World's Most Exclusive Club. For the record, here are the money lines from the Domenici letter: "I realize it may seem early to raise money for re-election, but as New Mexico's population grows and due to the high cost of television advertising, it is more challenging than ever to collect the funds I need...With your help, I am determined to press forward with a bold agenda in the coming year and to run a positive re-election campaign..."

Domenici will be 76 years old in 08'. His health has been an issue. But a recent treatment has relieved arm pain and my observers on the trail report that, for the most part, Domenici appears to be doing well. The question remains, however, how he will feel in two years. The apparent re-elect announcement may be intended to keep the field clear for the powerful chairman of the Senate Energy Committee. But ambitious hopefuls will keep a close eye not only on the senator's voting records, but his medical records as well.

There will also be questions whether the senator's legendary political antenna are as receptive as they should be. His recent staunch support of the Bush Dubai ports deal went completely against the grain of mainstream American political thought, but he picked up an IOU from the White House and appears to have suffered little, if at all, for the controversial position. So it goes when you have free tickets to every ride in the amusement park.

THE DOMENICI FILE

Domenici's key staffer is Steve Bell, who continues to play a behind-the-scenes role in the NM GOP, sometimes attempting to shape the party to the liking of this boss. As for the Dems, they long ago gave up on ousting the ABQ native. The last real Domenici race was in 78' when Toney Anaya gave him a run for his money. It's been easy street ever since, but one has to wonder if a strong candidate might emerge this time, if for no other reason but to position themselves for the day that Pete does eventually vacate the seat.

Re-election is not Domenici's for the asking, but it's as close as you get. The age issue is not what it would have been 20 years ago given today's longer and healthier life spans. Most important is the senator's continued and unmatched record of success in bringing vast amounts of federal funding into this low-income state.

When he gave up (or was eased out) of the helm of the Senate Budget Committee, some D.C. Alligators read it as a diminishing of his fortunes. And it may have been. But the energy committee chairmanship has given him even deeper roots in federal funding back home, winning him ardent support among the thousands of workers and contractors whose jobs depend on Uncle Sam's deep pockets and Pete's ability to pick them.

As a NM icon, it is extremely difficult for his opponents to tie the senator's prospects to those of any national administration. And even though the current White House is one of the most unpopular in his 34 year tenure, Domenici's in-your-face support of the Dubai deal shows just how much rope he has to burn.

Pete's somewhat aloof personality and tendency to dictate has held him back from winning popular personality contests. But this game is about power, politics and, in Domenici's case, delivering the goods. On that score, he is at the head of the class. Barring any health setbacks, our senior citizen-senior senator is in no danger of being flunked out by Mr. and Mrs. New Mexico.

LUCKY CRAPS OUT

The long knives of La Politica came out in force in the aftermath of the Monday withdrawal of Santa Fe State Rep. Lucky Varela from the Dem primary for State Treasurer. "There was an ethnic factor here. A lot of people were saying they would not support Lucky because a Hispanic was not electable after the indictment of (Treasurers) Vigil and Montoya. Lucky was a victim of that," said one tapped in D insider.

Victim or not, Lucky calling it quits puts James B. Lewis in the catbird's seat as the only Dem Treasurer nominee contender and the odds on favorite in the General Election. Lewis, an African-American, will take on ABQ's Demesia Padilla who is unopposed for the R nomination.

More on the Lucky withdrawal. Alligators in San Miguel county say he ran into trouble there when he went searching for votes at that county's recent Dem convention. They say relatives of ousted Treasurer Robert Vigil, a native of San Miguel, got their revenge by backing Lewis over Lucky because Lucky supported Vigil's impeachment in the Legislature. Vigil resigned before he was to be impeached on corruption charges. He now awaits federal trial.

Also, Varela recently toured southern NM and found a cool reception there. His son, Jeff Varela, told me, "we did a reality check and the withdrawal was the result."

PRESSING HIS LUCK

Lucky is now going to run for re-election to his legislative seat, and his chances look good. Former Santa Fe Mayor Larry Delgado, who got in the race when Lucky went for Treasurer, says he will now step aside in favor of Varela. Probably best for Larry. He grew so thin-skinned as mayor, he refused to talk to his hometown newspaper anymore. Sayonara, Larry. Now you can talk all you want without the fear of anyone caring what you say.

The Varela supporters were unsure what, if any, role Big Bill played in Lucky hitting the wall, but they were suspicious. They reminded everyone that the veteran representative will likely be back in the Legislature next year using his expertise in fiscal affairs and more than ready to play the thorn to the Guv's rose.

Meantime, it will be all roses and lollipops for Lewis this weekend when the state Dems meet to nominate their statewide candidates. But after that it will be fence mending time for Lewis with those Hispanic Dems who today are swallowing the bitter pill of defeat.

BOTTOM LINE

Monday's blog, completed after an exhausting weekend of merrymaking, was left up with a glaring spelling error. One victim of our negligence, a Dem candidate who once sought the ABQ House seat being vacated by Ted Hobbs, Chris Catechis, caught up with us and wrote:

"My last name is spelled "Catechis." The hard part is trying to pronounce it. I have to agree that District 20 is a very solid R seat. Because of straight party voting, even Elvis could get elected as State Rep if he ran as a Republican in this District."

Thanks, Chris. You mean Elvis could not get elected if he ran as a D? Now, that's what I call an R district.

There's more politics to come this week. Let's get together again tomorrow right here. See ya' then.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Rep. Hobbs
Ted Hobbs is not the type of guy to wax sentimental or let his emotions run high. And he wasn't about to change as he broke the news that he will end a seven year run as State House Minority Leader and also give up the ABQ NE Heights seat he has held for a dozen years. "It's been a good run and I am looking forward to spending more time with my wife (Nancy) and enjoying some real retirement," Hobbs told me this weekend as 50 mile per hour winds roared over his Four Hills home.

Through the years Hobbs held steady as a low-key and pragmatic political personality, even as his Republican party was often wracked with divisions and infighting. But they kept going back to the self-described "mainstream Republican" to lead them, perhaps because he was the calm in the storm.

In recent years challenges to Hobbs, who became leader in 99', have grown more spirited as he has grown weary. The timing of his departure is good as the GOP is slowly healing its self-inflicted wounds and has a stable of veteran legislators who appear ready to provide more aggressive leadership.

THE POST-HOBBS ERA

There will be no shortage of contenders to replace Hobbs as minority leader, a position that may not exactly be a powerhouse in the Dem dominated Roundhouse, but one that nevertheless provides a statewide platform for its occupant and the chance to throw some roadblocks in front of the Dems.

Minority Whip Terry Marquardt is a natural candidate. And Rep. Brian Moore of Clayton, who tried to unseat Hobbs in 04', has also bid for the top job, so count him in. Don Bratton of Hobbs will also be in the running and so could ABQ's Larry Larranaga who has also made a previous play for the power post.

And what about Hobbs' House seat in the GOP heavy ABQ NE Heights? The outgoing minority leader says he hopes to see Jim White succeed him. White is retired from the Air Force and a Four Hills Homeowners association leader. "He's a smart guy and a conservative," said Hobbs. Dem Chris Cathecis once ran against Hobbs. Perhaps a D may have a better shot this time with no incumbent in the race, but don't bet on it. This one is most likely solid R.

MARTY'S CHOICE

Can a Democratic Hispanic mayor get by without taking a firm stand in favor of an increase in the minimum wage when the issue is thrown right in his lap? That's the question Dem insiders are asking as ABQ Mayor Marty Chavez wrestles with the dilemma.

Chavez faded the heat on this one last year when organizers managed to get an increase in the minimum wage on the ABQ ballot. He argued then that it was a matter best left for the Legislature. Voters narrowly defeated the increase. But since then legislators went south and failed to pass an increase. Now, organizers are back collecting petition signatures. They will likely again succeed in getting a proposed increase in the basic wage to $7.50 an hour before city voters. A special election could come this summer.

Chavez, long criticized by his party's liberal wing as too conservative, is again looking for wiggle room, but he's finding the space cramped. Big Bill, a wage backer, is talking it over with him, but again Chavez is noncommittal saying that the Legislature should hike the wage in a special session. Trouble is there is not going to be a special session anytime soon, and even if there was there's no reason to think the wage measure would fare any better than it did in the recently concluded session.

For Chavez, who still harbors hope of statewide office someday, perhaps a Guv run, failure to stand up in favor of the wage could fatally wound him in any Dem statewide primary contest. But if he supports the increase, his many conservative and R's supporters will go ballistic.

The way out? Perhaps If the city council acted before it made the ballot and approved an increase with a veto-proof majority it would let Chavez off the hook. Or maybe Chavez could propose a smaller increse and hope to defuse the petition drive. But a Democratic mayor in a low-wage city is eventually going to have to take a stand, if not now, then on a future campaign trail.

GOD AND RIO RANCHO

Speaking of mayors, the new one in Rio Rancho is Kevin Jackson who heads up the NM Family Council, a conservative group that keys in on social issues important to evangelicals. Will that influence government policy? Several analysts, including yours truly, take this one on with Megan Arredondo at the ABQ Tribune.

What's happening in politics where you are? Drop me an email and keep us posted. Meantime, come back here again soon for more fair and balanced coverage.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Wouldn't it be great if you could catch your NM Legislature in action in the wee hours of the closing moments of a session? No? You mean you have a life? OK. But for insatiable political junkies there appears to be hope. While Big Bill Wednesday vetoed a measure putting up $75,000 so we could see our glamorous lawmakers Webcast live on the Internet, his office reports there is another 75 grand in the capital outlay budget for Webcasting that he did not veto. Why there is two versions is a story for another time, but now we are watching to see if the money is actually used to provide the Webcast or, as sometimes happens, simply stays on the books unspent.

Hey, maybe they can Webcast the activities of the State Treasurer's office too. Now, that would be interesting viewing. And, of course, if the Legislature ever does come to computer screens, the proper viewing snack will be pork rinds.

Big Bill's veto pen still has some ink left in it, but he did spill a bunch of it Wednesday, the last day for him to act on bills sent to him by the recent Legislative session.

RATING THE RATINGS
KOAT Anchor Izaguirre
The hotly competitive ABQ TV news scene was beset with confusion this week when an ad agency for KOAT-TV reported the station had gone from the number three position in the all-important 10 p.m. news ratings to the top spot. The numbers also showed the ABC affiliate had done it in a big way. But it turns out the numbers were off the mark, so I asked my media Alligators for the real story.

They report that KOAT-TV, long the cellar dweller at 10, did take the #1 spot in the February sweeps, but because KOB-TV was airing the Olympics and their news was not coming on for most of the month until 10:30, a true 10 p.m. reading will not come until the May ratings. But the battle will likely remain nip and tuck as it has been for a couple of years now.

In Feb. KOAT, anchored by Cynthia Izaguirre and Doug Fernandez, came in with a 9.5 rating, KRQE-TV took second with an 8.2 and the late post-Olympics news on KOB sunk them to third with a 7.7. In the November 05' book KRQE was first, KOB second and KOAT third.

Even though Channel 7 has to wait for a clearer reading until May, there's nothing wrong with coming in #1 under even under unique circumstances. It shows that people were willing to sample them when they could not find the news on the competition. The station, the market leader from 1974 until 2000, failed to get its helicopter up in time to cover the historic 2000 Los Alamos fires. KOB did and grabbed the ratings crown away. In the last few years KRQE has joined the fray for first. So what promo was Channel 7 running during the recent sweeps? Ironically, it was one bragging how fast it gets its helicopter in the air to cover breaking news.

By the way, the politicos will soon be flooding the airwaves and insiders say thirty seconds on the 10 p.m. news in ABQ will cost the hopefuls anywhere from $1000 to $1500. When that dough starts flooding in all the stations will be winners, at least in the cash flow ratings.

TV ON THE RADIO?

And if all the TV stations are so proud of their efforts as they constantly trumpet in mind numbing promos, how come none of them airs their product on the radio at 5 or 6 p.m. when just about everyone is in their cars? KOB-TV used to do it, but no more. Grandma and grandpa are home at 6, but what about the rest of the audience? Isn't there an idea in there somewhere?

While you can't hear the TV news in your car, you can catch it an hour earlier and a lot of folks are, according to the ratings. At 9 p.m. KASA-TV, Channel 2 broadcasts an hour of early news with Jessica Kartalija and Jeremy Jojola anchoring. It is another one the polticos will hit heavy, especially to target older viewers.

Back to radio, we are in the early planning stages for primary Election Night coverage on KANW- 89.1 FM. It will be year 19 for us at the public radio outlet. Top NM lobbyist Scott Scanland will again be back as our chief analyst, along with many other familiar voices. It's a New Mexico tradition and the most listened to Election Night radio coverage in the state. We are pleased to be part of it and will keep you posted on this year's plans.

FINAL BUZZER FOR FRANK
The UNM "Pit"
If you grew up with the UNM Lobos, or just about any other New Mexico sport, you grew up with Frank Maestas. The colorful sports scribe held forth at the ABQ Journal for nearly thirty years, from 1962 to 1990, a time that saw the basketball Lobos achieve legendary status, and along with them, writers like Maestas who covered their rise and the fall.

Maestas died of lung disease at his ABQ home Wednesday. His son, attorney Moe Maestas, is a candidate for the Dem nomination in ABQ Westside House District 16 and says he has suspended his campaign "indefinitely" in the wake of his dad's death.

Maestas was a sports junkie whose wild hair was his trademark and made him nearly as famous as the UNM Pit he spent so much time in. I don't think he would mind if I mentioned that at the end of his career he got in trouble for sports betting. In today's wide-open gambling atmosphere the incident looks quaint. In fact, Moe and I joked about it over lunch recently.

A memorial celebration is set for Monday, March 13, at 3 p.m. at the YDI Wool Warehouse, 516 First Street NW, ABQ.

Frank Maestas, a native of Las Vegas, NM and a graduate of Highlands University, loved the games of sports and of life. He was 70 years old.

Thanks for the company today, and for your e-mail. Keep me posted. There's a mail link at the top of the page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Rio Rancho Mayor Jim Owen was turned out of office last night by Kevin Jackson, fellow conservative and founder of the evangelical group, the New Mexico Family Council, providing the highlight of city elections around New Mexico. In Santa Fe, as expected, the liberals regained control of City Hall with David Coss taking the prize. Checking in near midnight with John Foster of the Rio Grande Sun in Espanola, we received the news that not only had Joseph Maestas bested Floyd Archuleta to become the new mayor, but that his slate will now control all eight city council seats in the northern NM city. Archuleta was hurt by allegations of vote-buying. Here's a complete list of all the Election Night results.

MICKEY BARNETT GOES POSTAL

Barnett
He's controversial and he's tenacious. ABQ GOP lawyer-lobbyist Mickey Barnett, ousted by fellow R's from his national committeemen post in 04', has found some friends in the White House and has been nominated by President Bush as a governor of the U.S. Postal Service. His friends will be rooting him on, and his enemies promise to hold his feet to the fire when he goes before the U.S. Senate for confirmation hearings.

Insider R's report that former GOP state legislators Earlene Roberts and Ron Godbey are prepared to testify, or submit written testimony opposing Barnett's' nomination to the 11 member board. Roberts was defeated in 04' by fellow R Keith Gardner who was backed by the Barnett group. ABQ's Godbey easily defeated several Barnett backed foes in GOP primaries before leaving the Legislature and moving to Texas.

The postal service term is for seven years and pays $30,000 a year plus $300 for each meeting. The board is powerful, overseeing postal service employees across the nation. The employees are unionized. That was one of the issues covered when this postal service blog (There's a blog for everything!) reported on the Barnett nomination.

Barnett has been a longtime ally of Bush. Scott Jennings, White House Deputy Political Director, managed Bush's 04' re-elect effort in NM.

Barnett's nomination will be voted on by the Senate Homeland and Government Operations Committee of which NM GOP Senator Domenici is a member. Barnett served as a legislative assistant to Domenici during the senator's first term in the early 70's. It is rare for this type of nomination to be rejected but, according to one R familiar with the process, "it is not a slam-dunk."

MICKEY'S OLD MAIL

Barnett's profile has been lowered from the raucous days of 03' and 04' when he led a faction of the GOP to oust State GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham. Gorham was eventually ousted, but Barnett paid a price as his fellow R's then voted him out of his prestigious national committeeman post. Also, the legalization of drugs, which Barnett backed and which tore the party apart, is no longer on the radar.

The last time Barnett made news was earlier this year when it was reported that he had become the personal lawyer for Big Bill favored lobbyist Butch Maki. That association with a prominent Dem brought renewed criticism of Barnett by his longtime GOP foes. Barnett also was in the public eye as the lobbyist for payday loan companies.

Barnett continues to host a weekly Republican luncheon. Insiders say Legislators aligned with him include Justine Fox-Young, his former legal secretary, State Rep. Dan Foley of Roswell, Eric Youngberg of ABQ and Roswell GOP State Sen. "Lightning Rod" Adair.

Unlike 2004, Barnett so far has not fielded any candidates against incumbent GOP state legislators. But party insiders will closely watch this month's filings to see if Barnett again goes after lawmakers not to his liking. If he does, it could complicate his efforts to become a postal service governor. Also, party operatives, exhausted by the infighting of the past two years, are hoping that they can finally put the divisions behind them.

Barnett, a former state senator from Portales, will have plenty to do if he is confirmed. ABQ's slow-mail woes hit the news recently, and if a New Mexican becomes a postal governor, he can be sure to get an earful.

Interested in advertising here? Contact me via e-mail from the link at the top of the page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Johnson
The familiar, high-pitched voice of ex-GOP Guv Gary Johnson (1995-02') was heard again recently as he emerged from his Taos cocoon to take a whack at Big Bill's semi-controversial hiring practices. Johnson, who last made news in September when he announced he was busting up with his wife and ex-First Lady Dee to be with another woman, condemned Big Bill for having a direct hand in hiring some 60 state employees at an annual cost of $3 million.

"I'll just say that we didn't do this once, not once," he argued in a statement that may or may not stand the scrutiny test.

But a Dem e-mailer wondered if Governor Johnson ever handed out contracts to various contributors and supporters. "In New Mexico the Dems get the jobs when they are in power and the R's give out contracts." She wrote.

The Fourth Floor low-keyed the response to the Big Bill hiring spree apparently thinking the story would mostly blow over. But some Dems, like liberal radio talk show host Mike Santullo, who seems to surface when things are at a low tide for the Guv, believe the issue has more legs than some political pros may be counseling the Guv. He expects to see plenty of TV ads about it come October and went preemptive now.

"Maybe the reason Johnson never hired anyone is because he never wanted to do anything. He vetoed over 200 bills and frittered eight years away. Now we have a Governor who is getting things done and needs help doing it. Gary ought to stick with legalizing drugs and climbing mountains. He knows a hell of a lot more about that than he does state government," weighed in Santullo.

His drug reference was to Johnson's long-standing and hyper-controversial support for legalizing dope; a position that spilt the NM GOP in part in the late 90's and from which it continues to be on the mend even to this day.

PAVLIDES ON PATRONAGE

Harry Pavlides, one of the "Governor exempt" employees, (also known as "Gifts From The North" at the offices where they are employed) is not hiding underneath any rocks after being highlighted in various media reports as being hand-picked by Big Bill for a $45,000 a year State Fair administrative job.

"Is Johnson running again for something? His statements are purely political. I am proud to be working for the most progressive Governor in state history." Offered Pavlides. He challenged questioning media reports, and said he is performing a needed job. He supplied a long list of his activities including how he "arranged for admission to nearly 5,000 physically and mentally challenged, or foster children to the Fair."

Pavlides is a longtime Dem pollster and occasional contributor of election analysis to this blog.

Both Pavildes and Santullo are old-timers at manning the political battle lines and have no fear of taking on the opposition which they have done through the decades for other Dem Guvs. Others, especially those named in the media reports, prefer a more low key approach in job starved NM.

The Guv's problem is not so much expanding the number of state exempt employees, (political appointees who can be fired at will) but the way he has gone about it. However, if it is illegal, as some legislators claim, why aren't they in court filing lawsuits or asking for an attorney general's opinion?

As for Gary, if he does plan on making a comeback he will quickly realize that there's no legislative leaders around like Raymond Sanchez or Manny Aragon to kick around and play his foil like the old days. This time he'll be on his own.

OUR L.A. LADIES

The national coverage of the hotly contested ABQ congressional race featuring GOP incumbent Heather Wilson and Dem challenger Patricia Madrid has begun in earnest. I sat down recently with Los Angeles Times national reporter Mark Barabak whose paper has chosen our district to focus on as a bellwether for how the country may go this November. The Times is among the nation's top five papers with a weekday circulation of about 908,000 and Sunday coming in at 1,254,000.

Mark and I picked each others brains for better than an hour over at Yanni's on ABQ's Nob Hill. He then scoured the district for clues and some face time with Heather. His insightful take with quotes from your blogger and NM pollster Brian Sanderoff hit the Times Saturday.

As we wrapped up our conversation the national political junkie and I shared a conclusion. We both hope neither candidate makes a big, early mistake or we won't have anything to write about.

Thanks for tuning in today. Come back again soon.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the autho

Summers & Guv at UNM
Word came late Sunday that Tommy Jewell has declined the Governor's appointment to become the head of the NM Children, Youth and Families Department. Outgoing Secretary Mary Dale Bolson will remain on the job until a replacement is named. The news came as new twists developed in the controversy surrounding the retired ABQ District Court judge. The woman who filed a 1999 domestic violence complaint against Jewell, Karen Summers, contacted this blog to rebut charges leveled here Friday by an attorney friend of Jewell. That attorney claimed Summers was "pissed off" and trying to embarrass Jewell. And in another twist, Summers says she was a student in Governor Richardson's University of New Mexico government class last year and served as a Governor's intern at the Human Services Department last summer. She said the Governor was not aware of her past involvement with Jewell at the time.

And in yet another ironic twist, Summers told me her daughter is a student at New Mexico State University and was enrolled in Big Bill's government class at that campus.

"I would like to tell the Governor my side of the story. My main concern is the secrecy in this case. I did not file my complaint because I was "pissed off" or trying to embarrass Tommy or his wife." Said Summers. (Jewell's wife, District Court Judge Angela Jewell, handles domestic violence cases.)

"I had a genuine (domestic violence) complaint. I had a long term (8 years) relationship with Tommy. I was in love. I loved him." She declared softly.

Summers, now in hear early 50's, said her complaint resulted from a quarrel about ending the relationship.

Last week Jewell denied any violent behavior, telling the Santa Fe New Mexican: "I have not been violent in my life." He also pointed out that he was never charged with a crime in connection with the complaint.

The Summers complaint ended up being filed in Sandoval county even though the alleged incident took place in Bernalillo county. "I filed my complaint in Bernalillo county, but immediately (ex-Chief District Court Judge) John Brennan had the case moved to Sandoval county and to Judge Louis McDonald. Then it was sealed. That was wrong and several of the other judges questioned the action," she said.

At the time McDonald justified the sealing of the case by saying: "The file does not contain any information which would serve any purpose other than to gratify private spite and promote public scandal." His version on why he got the case has yet to be heard. Perhaps it was because it was thought there would be a conflict of interest for a Bernalillo county judge to hear the case of a fellow judge. But Summers sees darker motives.

COCAINE AND THE COURT
Brennan
Summers' complaint was settled with both parties agreeing to the secrecy agreement. Judge Brennan resigned from the bench in 2004 after being arrested on cocaine possession and drunk driving charges.

Summers claims she was intimidated into signing the 99' agreement and that the case was moved to Sandoval county because she knew of Brennan's cocaine use and he wanted the complaint quashed. "Those around the courthouse knew about his cocaine use. It was common knowledge," contended Summers.

She also said she believed the case was sent to Sandoval county in the hope that she would not pursue it. "But I did. I hopped in my little car and made the drive out there. I don't think they expected that."

Summers, a single mother of five children ranging in age from 32 to 19, also cleared up the mystery over the title of the complaint which said: "Domestic violence w/ children."

"There was no violence with regards to the children. They were present at the time and suffered emotional trauma, but there was no physical abuse." she said.

Summers worked as a paralegal for the city of Albuquerque. She said she lost her job as a result of "blacklisting" but later filed suit and settled with the city over the dismissal.

Later she enrolled at the University of New Mexico, majoring in psychology. She also applied for and was accepted in Governor Richardson's government class. That, she said, led to her appointment as a Governor's intern last year in the Human Services Department.

TOMMY & KAREN: THE POSTSCRIPT
Jewell & Summers
Despite the sour ending to her relationship with the former Children's Court judge, Summers said she was not urging the Governor to reject Jewell as CYFD cabinet secretary. She says she has been blacklisted by Jewell's friends in the legal community and fears her plans to attend UNM Law School could be jeopardized by them so she is going public.

"Tommy Jewell himself has not done any of this (the alleged blacklisting) to me or my children and I believe he truly does have the best interests of the children of the state at heart. Unfortunately, he is surrounded by some seriously dysfunctional people that feel the need to do things like making that false statement to you about me and the case." Summers explained.

Jewell, 51, has refused to talk about his relationship with Summers or the domestic violence case, citing the secrecy agreement. The incident, despite being reported in the newspaper, never came up in the vetting of the Jewell appointment. In his New Mexican interview Jewell reports a hurried and somewhat chaotic background check.

Obviously, if Jewell had detailed the incident, or if it had been discovered through a complete vetting, the story might be different. The issue is particularly sensitive because of New Mexico's horrific rate of domestic violence cases and because CYFD is the lead agency charged with solving the problem.

And so ends a tale that now enters the never ending book of La Politica; a tale that may serve to remind those who seek the power and glory that secrecy is not their friend.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Judge Jewell
The plot thickened Thursday in the Tommy Jewell saga with the woman who was involved in the 1999 domestic violence case in which Jewell was named telling KRQE-TV news that she is available to discuss the case with the Governor, and insiders supportive of Jewell contacting this blog to claim the secretary-designate of the NM Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) may be the victim of a set up. Meanwhile, Governor Richardson's office issued a statement saying they will "evaluate" the situation and then issue a "decision."

Based on the KRQE report and sources for this report, it is apparent that the woman involved in the case is not Jewell's wife, Angela Jewell, a Second Judicial District family court judge with the Domestic Violence Division. Which takes us to the set-up claims.

(Here's the latest for my weekend readers from the ABQ Tribune.

A friend of the Jewell's, an ABQ attorney, claims the woman who made the charges, which are under court seal by agreement of both parties, was upset with Tommy Jewell and knew domestic violence charges against him could end up in the courtroom of Judge Angela Jewell.

"She was pissed off about something and knew exactly how to hurt Tommy the most. She filed a domestic violence complaint knowing full well it would go to Angela. It was terrible. Tommy and Angela were counseled by their parents and there was a lot of soul searching. They were determined to keep their family together and they did. I wish they had not sealed the record. I can not imagine a person more qualified to take leadership of CFYD," e-mailed the attorney.

KRQE reported that Jewell was served with a temporary restraining order in 1999 after being accused in the domestic violence case that allegedly somehow involved children. Sandoval County District Judge Louis McDonald did not move the charges forward calling the allegations "unsubstantiated" and sealed the case file.

Both the Governor and Lt. Governor Denish, chair of the Children's cabinet and who recommended his appointment, have asked Jewell to explain the charges and he has agreed.

But even if details of the case break his way, Jewell and the administration are still faced with the fact that Jewell failed to disclose the incident when he was vetted for the post. The vetting issue has haunted the Governor who has run into similar problems in the past. He said the process for vetting high ranking appointees would be changed to insure thoroughness. Apparently the new procedures have also come up short.

BILL & BARBARA & CYFD

Guv & First Lady
Insiders at the Capitol pointed to the obvious as they weighed the political fallout saying the charges would not be quite as sensitive if Jewell was being tapped for any other agency but CYFD which deals directly with the domestic violence issue.

They pointed out that First Lady Barbara Richardson has been in the forefront of the fight against the abuse of New Mexican women. Two months into his administration, Big Bill announced the creation of a domestic violence task force, of which Barbara Richardson is a member. Two months later, he created a Domestic Violence Control Commission and named his wife as the chair. In 2004, he appointed Sandra Gardner as domestic violence "czar" and proposed law changes, including new and tougher penalties for offenders, expanded treatment for offenders and more resources for victims.

This aggressive approach to a problem that Denish has called "an epidemic" in the state has earned the First Lady accolades and won the Governor widespread support among groups battling domestic violence as well as children's advocates. But if Jewell can not lift the cloud hovering over his head, and the appointment goes forward, there could be significant political damage.

A member of the State Senate Rules Committee was just catching up with the story when I spoke to him late Thursday. He said he did not know what to make of the charges against Jewell who he praised as highly qualified. But when informed that the retired children's court judge failed to inform the Governor of the domestic violence case, he sighed: "That's bad." The Rules Committee presides over confirmation hearings for cabinet secretaries.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Various e-mailers checked in here with the theory that others who sought the cabinet post were responsible for leaking the Jewell story. A few said there was a published report of the 99' incident and that it was widely known in the legal community. After speaking with several attorneys, the notion that the matter was well-known does seem to hold water.

But that's the insider Alligator talk. What matters now is the leadership of a state agency charged with the well-being of thousands of New Mexican women and children who face an uphill struggle in the game of life. It is now up to Governor Richardson to make the right call on their behalf.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Tommy Jewell
A blizzard of bizarre political news fell over our Enchanted Land late last night as KRQE-TV in ABQ led off its 10 p.m. newscast with two stunners. First, that Judge Tommy Jewell, Big Bill's pick to become the new cabinet secretary for the Children Youth and Families Department, (CYFD) was involved in a 1999 domestic violence case that involved children. Second, that Carlos Maldonado, the recently retired chief of the NM State Police, quit because he was confronted with evidence of an extra-marital affair he had with a state legislator.

On Jewell, the station reported he reached a settlement over 1999 domestic violence charges that kept records of the case permanently sealed. Jewell, 51, was asked to comment, but said he could not because it might violate that agreement. He is married to ABQ District Court Judge Angela Jewell. The couple has two children. However, because of the seal on the case KRQE could not report whether it was members of Jewell's family who were involved in the case or other individuals.

The Jewell story had Big Bill's office running for cover with a spokesman saying they had no idea of the Jewell case, that he never told them, but they would ask the retired judge about the matter. Meanwhile, they are sticking with the Jewell appointment, for now.

THE LOVE CHIEF
Maldonado
Then there's the case of State Police Chief Charles Maldonado who announced recently he was retiring after over 20 years of law enforcement and three years as state police chief. But KRQE reported Maldonado, 44, was pushed over the cliff; that he resigned when the husband of the state legislator he was having an affair with confronted the department with evidence of the illicit romance. On this one, the Guv's office refused comment. The station did not say if the female legislator was a member of the House or Senate. Talk about grist for the Roundhouse mill. It doesn't get any more sensational than this.

And there was even more on the Night of the Bizarre. KRQE's Larry Barker hit with an investigative report that said Big Bill has created unauthorized positions for over 60 state workers at a cost of over $3 million. Dem State Senator Cisco McSorley asserted the hires were illegal. And former Governor Gary Johnson said Big Bill "has crossed the line." Guv Chief of Staff Dave Contarino, on the defensive, maintained there was nothing wrong with the hires, but GOP State Senators Carraro and Rawson joined McSorley in saying they sidestepped legislative approval.

It was an impressive night for hard-hitting news in a medium usually obsessed with the murder meter. If the GOP had a gubernatorial campaign fully up and running, Wednesday night would have been even worse for the Fourth Floor. But that was about the only saving grace for the Governor. Now he and his staff are manning their battle stations in preparation for the media onslaught sure to follow. Oh yeah Guv, welcome home from D.C.

EYES ON EDWARDS

There is a guy in the Big Duke City today who just may have a message that will appeal to a wide cross section of voters. He's John Edwards, the 2004 Dem Vice-Prez candidate who is campaigning for Madrid and his own possible 08' Prez bid.

Edwards' theme has been "Two America's," one where a minority is well-off, but another where millions toil just to keep their necks above water. It got him the VP slot in 04' and with the gap between the rich and poor still growing the theme could serve him well again.

A recent poll shows Edwards coming in second for the Dem nod, behind Hillary. Granted, a lot of that is simple name ID. But Edwards did not seem to suffer as much from the 04' defeat as Kerry who is also high in the 08' rankings becuse of name ID but who is having trouble persuading party faithful that a second time could be the charm.

Edwards placed fourth with 10% of the vote in NM's 04' Prez caucus. But in a poor state like this he's a candidate to keep your eye on, especially if Big Bill is not around to claim favorite son status.

NORTHERN LEGEND PASSES

Word came late Wednesday of the death of one of the last political patrons of the North. Donaldo "Tiny" Martinez of Las Vegas is dead at 82. More from the AP:

A political activist who endorsed Bill Richardson's first run for Congress and helped Hispanics in northern New Mexico has died. Donaldo "Tiny'' Martinez died in his sleep early Wednesday, local leaders said. He was 82.

Martinez served for 16 years as district attorney, he was a district judge for six years, a local Democratic Party chairman for 12 years, a state representative for one term and chairman of the West Las Vegas school board for 18 years.

Governor Richardson called Martinez a "Democratic political icon" and credited him with boosting his political career by endorsing him during his first congressional campaign in 1980. "He was a man of action and conviction and a true public servant," said Big Bill.

The last surviving Northern patron is Rio Arriba's Emilio Naranjo whose relationship with the Guv is not nearly as warm as it was with Tiny.

We need your help covering NM politics. E-mail me your political news and gossip. There's a link at the top of the page. Thanks for stopping by. Hope to see you again soon.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

Gallegos
An interesting race is shaping up for the race for the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) seat held by the retiring Lynda Lovejoy, and former ABQ City Councilor and Bernalillo County commissioner Steve Gallegos has just made it more intriguing.

"I just gave (NM Transportation Secretary) Rhonda Faught my letter of resignation. Because I intend to run for political office and the Department of Transportation receives federal funds, I am covered by the Hatch Act. I also want to avoid any possible perception of a conflict of interest and I am ready to "hit the trail running." So bloggged in Gallegos whose name stirs the Valley Alligators like few others.

And they're stirring again. Andrew Leo Lopez, also seeking the Dem nomination for the seat that covers some of the Hispanic Valley wards but is designed for a Native American, is already hammering Gallegos for being a past employee of telecommunications company Qwest, which is regulated by the powerful five member panel. But Gallegos is not biting. "Andrew is being Andrew," he sighed over his cellphone from the state capitol.

Gallegos retired from the phone company and has been a Big Bill appointee at the Department of Labor and most recently at transportation where he was a liaison with the Legislature. He is also a former State Senate sergeant-at-Arms, courtesy of then-Senator Manny Aragon.

But Lopez and Gallegos are just two of several players in this one, including Derrith Watchman-Moore, who, like Lovejoy, is Navajo. She is also a relative of ex-State Rep. Leo Watchman. Two other Navajo candidates are also said to be eyeing the seat.

The Gallegos camp thinks with his superior name ID he can easily out poll Lopez and then hope for a split in the Native American vote to take the nomination. It is a solid D seat so no R's need apply. Candidates have until mid March to get their nomination petitions in and that will give us a better idea what the ethnic angles will be in this district that takes in a good portion of the Navajo Reservation in the Four Corners region.

For his part, Gallegos, who suffered a mild heart attack a couple of years ago and said then that he was taking a break from La Politica, told me the best part of public service is "helping people" and he misses that. Lopez, who sought a PRC sat as a Republican back in 98', says he's crisscrossing the district in search of votes.

It's definitely a race you'll want to keep on your political radar.

MY BOTTOM LINES
Rep. Cervantes
Moving from Navajo Country to way down south, supporters of Dem State Rep. Joe Cervantes, chair of the House Judiciary Committee, continue to tout him for higher political office someday. The Las Cruces Sun-News recently checked in with the blog to talk about Cervantes and his future. You can read it right here.

The first paid TV ads of Campaign 06' didn't make much of a splash, but they have aired. ABQ GOP State Senator Joe Carraro was up on he tube for a couple of days with a small buy (about $4500) touting his candidacy for the Republican nomination for U.S. Senate. Also running is Santa Fe City Councilor David Pfeffer and Farmington urologist Allen McCulloch. Dem Senator Bingaman will defend the seat.

By the way, in that piece we did on the GOP race for attorney general Tuesday our early readers did not get a link to the Bob Schwartz Web site as they did for Jim Bibb. We could not find it, but several readers did and Schwartz's site is now linked in that blog. I worked in a campaign in 01' with Bob on the opposing side so the omission stood out for me. But, as with all the races this year, we will shoot this one down the middle, giving you the fair and balanced coverage you expect when coming to this space.

EVEN MORE BOTTOM LINES

And hold your horses on Fred Luna. The longest serving member of the State House is still weighing whether to seek another two year term, say politicos in Valencia county. Or we should hold our horses because it was we who blogged earlier that Fred looked like no go seeing as how he was getting dialysis treatment three days a week during the legislative session. But the longtime ally of House Speaker Lujan, now pushing 80, is telling friends he "might" run again. We'll see. If he does, he can count on a stiff GOP challenge from Belen banker Edward Archuleta in this district that has the potential to go R because of recent population changes.

And "all hell has broken loose," in the Dem race to replace State Rep. Kandy Cordova who announced she will retire after this term. That from an Alligator there who reports there are as many as half a dozen D's seeking the seat. And there's an R running too. Like the Luna seat, this one is no longer safe D and a must-watch contest for you Roundhouse mavens. We will know who is all in when filing day rolls around in a couple of weeks.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006
Not for reproduction without permission of the author