The Contenders
There was no chill from Hill and that was good for Bill. The leading Dem presidential contender popped up on NM TV screens late Thursday doing an interview with KRQE-TV and showing no signs of holding a grudge against the NM Governor. When asked by anchor Deanna Sauceda if she would consider Bill Richardson as a VP pick, she said:

I have the highest regard and admiration for Governor Richardson. He is a great American in every sense of the word and I would be honored to have him part of my team in this campaign and in my administration because he has so much to give to our country. He has a tremendous track record of success in everything he has done and I look forward to working with him.

Well, you didn't expect her to actually answer the VP question, did you? Still, after the sour note struck between the Richardson and Clinton campaigns at the Iowa caucuses, Hill's mini-tribute to Big Bill had to fall softly on Bill's ears. His chances to be on the ticket are seen as slim, but there are other job possibilities if 2008 is a Clinton replay.

A Richardson operative told us last week to expect a presidential endorsement from the Guv before "Super Duper Tuesday" when NM and 21 other states have Dem caucuses and primaries. An endorsement of Obama would be a stunner, considering the Guv's long ties with Hill and Bill.

As for when she will visit here, the New York Senator said: " I am going to get there as soon as I can. I love coming to New Mexico. I'm excited about campaigning there so I will get there as fast as s possible.

Hill's NM campaign chair, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, now says she expects two Clinton visits--one from Hill and one from Bill.

THE TRUTH SQUAD

Insiders said Friday that Obama will visit NM February 1st.

While Hillary was hijacking the airwaves here, her chief rival, Illinois Senator Barack Obama, was forming a NM "truth squad" to prepare against any attacks from the Clinton camp. "If what has happened in the other primary states is any indication, we could get the same here," warned Obama spokesman Trevor Fitzgibbon. The truth squad will be announced today and be charged with shooting down what the Obama camp sees as any out of line attacks. Obama squad members will include State Reps Kenny Martinez and Al Park and State Treasurer James Lewis.

WANNA KNOW A SECRET?

Former ABQ GOP State Representative Rory Ogle says KOB-TV is none too happy over his decision to exclude all media from the first joint appearance scheduled between the two candidates seeking the GOP nomination for the ABQ congressional seat. Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and State Senator Joe Carraro are scheduled to appear at Ogle's monthly Saturday morning breakfast at a local restaurant. Rory says the candidates have agreed to the "no media allowed rule." He says the candidates will be more "candid" with the party insiders invited to the session if the press is excluded, What? They will be telling a different story when the cameras are on?

If the first joint appearance by White and Carraro ends up as a donnybrook over media access, the candidates will only have themselves to blame. The weather has been frigid lately. Maybe one of them can call in sick. If not, their "secret" debate will be a headline maker, and not the kind the R's need or want. We'll let you know what happens.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2008
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

SOS MTO

Initial indications are there will be no major disruption of New Mexico's June 2 primary election--virus or no virus---but the state will push hard to dramatically increase mail-in ballots in response to the virus threat.

Health experts are uncertain how long the coronavirus pandemic will last. Most put it in a range of "several weeks to several months." If correct, that gives New Mexico some breathing room.

We asked Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver where things stand today:

For now we are focused on a heavy push toward absentee balloting. We will be opening up the online portal to accept applications starting next week. As for what we will do with in-person polling locations, that’s still under consideration. But we are working with the Governor’s office and county clerks to figure out the best and safest path forward.

Absentee ballots are not unpopular but have been overshadowed by the advent of early in-person voting where voters have several weeks to cast ballots at numerous voting locations before the official Election Day.

Usually about at least half of an election's total vote and sometimes much more is cast before the actual election day. The challenge for the SOS, Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover and other clerks across the state is to begin educating voters to adopt absentee voting and reduce in-person voting as much as possible in case the coronavirus lingers into mid-May when early voting begins.

Political consultants are getting ready to join the early push to get voters to cast mail-in ballots. Several  expect to see some of the big name races begin paid media earlier than usual and urge an early mail vote.

There's also the issue of campaign rallies and other voter contact. It will be curtailed until there is more clarity over the virus. The consultants look for social media to pick up some of the slack. This will be a big change to New Mexican politics where personal contact has been a cornerstone of election campaigns.

The most impoprtant job for the SOS and county clerks is to preserve the integrity of the election. This year that means acting early so there is no election postponement or adoption of any measures that cast suspicion on the results. In other words, giving us an election as close to normal as possible in these abnormal times.

THE COUNT

As of Sunday night the coronavirus count in the state was 17 with rural New Mexico still dodging the bullet. Two of the cases have been reported in Socorro County, but one of our Senior Alligators reports the cases are in Veguita near Belen which can be considered a part of the ABQ Metro. Our source also reports that another two cases in Bernalillo County are related to the Socorro County cases. All four victims are from the same family that recently traveled to Egypt and returned with the virus. Two of those stricken live in BernCo.

The other counties showing cases are Santa Fe and Sandoval.

Are all 17 cases reported the result of travel out of the state? Apparently. The state has not said in recent updates the origins of the latest cases as they did in initial updates. If they are all due to travel, the dreaded “community spread” of the disease has not yet taken hold here. We are awaiting definitive word on this from state officials.

Nuclear Option
Despite pleas to make the peace, Pete is ready to go nuclear. That's the inside word as the U.S. Senate inches closer to a showdown over whether to lower the number of votes from 60 to 50 needed to get Bush's controversial federal appellate judge picks in place. A senior GOP Alligator at the ABQ Old Town Thursday lunch for VP Cheney where Pete was in attendance has the inside scoop: "During his talk, Pete thanked Cheney for being ready, if necessary, to cast the deciding vote to end Democrat filibusters over judges. It was clear that the senator will be voting for the "nuclear option" if it comes to that, informed our source.

It's called the nuclear option because if the majority GOP makes it just 50 votes to end a filibuster, it would be a radical change to the rule of the senate and unleash all kinds of consequences.

Domenici and other "moderate" R's have been getting pressure to tell their brethren to back off. Here's an example in the Capitol hill newspaper "Roll Call" from political junkie Norm Ornstein:

"The fate of the Senate now rests in the hands of a handful of Republicans who have been great figures of the Senate,
each will be judged by history on their choice in this matter. They include Pete Domenici of New Mexico.

Through most of his 32 years in the body, Domenici has fulfilled...promise of being an institutionalist. But now comes the real test.

The Senate is on the verge of meltdown over the nuclear option, an unprecedented step that would shatter 200 years of precedent over rules changes and open up a Pandora's box of problems..." opines Ornstein.

But judging from our insider's report, Pete is ready to let the nuclear trigger be squeezed, If it comes to that. Stay tuned.

THE VEEP'S CLOSED DOORS
Cheney
Maybe I'm an old school, but I don't remember the Prez or VP coming to NM and having no contact with the general public or press. But so it was at that Cheney lunch for ABQ GOP Rep. Heather Wilson at which over $200 grand was raised for her campaign kitty. Thanks to my on scene Alligators, I can report that the speeches were rather boring, with Cheney starting off with Social Security and then riffing on national security and terrorism.

But Domenici's statement was real "news" because of the tension back in D.C. There should be at least a pool reporter allowed at these events, and there should be protests from the media if there isn't. Oh, I forgot. We're at "war" and we do this in the name of "security." If you did not cough up the $1000 for the lunch, here's the meal you missed: salad, pork roast, squash medley and dessert of cheesecake with cherries and caramel sauce. No booze at the event.

JUDGING THE GRAND JURY

I received a number of responses to my plea for help to determine what discretion, if any, a judge might have if a group of citizens petitioned for a grand jury investigation into the ABQ police department evidence room scandal. I had speculated that he might have some and it turns out I am probably correct. First, the law:

"... a grand jury shall be ordered to convene by such judge upon the filing of a petition...signed by not less than the greater of two hundred registered voters or two percent of the registered voters of the county."

Yes, the petitions mandate a grand jury, but a legal beagle with experience at the district attorney level, tells me the petition language must be specific and ask for something in the jurisdiction of the court. "It just can't be a broad brush statement. There has to be a specific probe requested," our beagle reports. So, it seems if citizens did craft a narrow and specific petition for a grand jury for the APD evidence room affair they could get one. How come no one has?

NO COPYCATS, PLEASE

Let's go back to D.C and that plagiarism scandal out of GOP Rep. Steve Pearce's office. His press secretary Jim Burns copied portions of a think-tank article and passed it off in NM as original Pearce thinking. Burns is 52 and has been around the block. What was he thinking? As a former Hill press secretary myself (early 80's, Rep. Manuel Lujan) I don't have much sympathy. All Burns had to do was rewrite the relevant sections in Pearce's style and tone.

Some commentators are closing ranks behind him, but from this corner the U.S. Congress and its constituents deserve better. There are plenty of other jobs for the wayward press secretary, but they should not be on Capitol Hill. As for Pearce, this is his third press secretary in the last year or so. Time to tighten things up.

MY BOTTOM LINES

Around here, we never plagiarize, we just mangle the English language. The latest example is when I referred to the critics of Sen. Bingaman who called him "disinterested" in the job. How about "uninterested" write my critics...And did I say "empanel" a grand jury last week when I should have said "impanel?" Guilty again, but constantly repenting .

Thanks for tuning in today. Let's get together again tomorrow for more from the wonderful world of La Politica.

Have some news, gossip, intrigue about NM politics? E-mail me from the link at the top of this page and let's keep the news of La Politica flowing.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

A 5,400 word missive on the life and times of the state's most controversial and powerful political player landed on the Land of Enchantment Friday, shaking the terra firma with such force that observers immediately wondered if it will permanently alter the political landscape.

It certainly changed forever the life of Jay McCleskey and perhaps that of his benefactor, Governor Susana Martinez.

The anticipated article from the National Journal on McCleskey--known variously as the "Shadow Governor," the "Fifth Floor" or the "Karl Rove of New Mexico"--lived up to its hype.

It was a smash hit in the political community where it began circulating in thousands of email boxes and on Twitter and Facebook accounts in the early morning hours. It was a bomb with McCleskey and his acolytes who have held power with a tight grip for three years, not hesitating to use a toolkit packed with the implements of intimidation and deployed without restraint on anyone who dared blocked their path.

If there has been a man more feared or loathed in New Mexican politics in the past 50 years, we can't remember it. You could almost hear the sighs of relief from his many foes as he was finally unmasked but in a fair and temperate manner that hung its hat on the raw truth. And, oh my, how the truth hurts.

The article from the venerable, nonpartisan DC-based National Journal--read widely and deeply among America's political leadership and intelligentsia--was so exhaustive and left in its wake so many political and legal threads--that it was like someone kicked over a basketful of snakes. You could only watch with wonder and amusement as they slithered in all directions. It will be impossible for the Governor and McCleskey to put them all back in the basket. The best they can hope for is to contain the most poisonous among them.

It's true--as a number of readers pointed out--that much of what was revealed to the nation about McCleskey and the state of New Mexico politics has been reported or alluded to on this blog. Obviously, we're pleased to see our rigorous and mostly lonely blogging on McCleskey's questionable activities and the unprecedented accumulation of governmental power by a political consultant confirmed and vindicated.

But this piece by Chicago-based writer Daniel Libit was chock full of new revelations, exhaustively researched and reported and packaged in a form that delivered the high impact that only American journalism practiced at its highest levels is capable of.

Now about those snakes. Let's start chasing some...

THE DAMAGE DONE

Let's start with the obvious. The article was extremely damaging to Martinez on the national level (as well as McCleskey). That it centered on Republican discontent with McCleskey--not Democrats--is  the blow that knocked her to the canvas.

That it is revealed that she is essentially a figurehead who has ceded just about all of her power to McCleskey is another sharp right to the jaw. And her Sarah Palinesque aura--not quite knowing all she should--completed the definition of her as a poseur--a pretender--not anywhere near vice-presidential. Heck, not even gubernatorial. The charade has ended. If she wants back in, she has mucho work ahead of her.

Even if the casual reader did not delve deeply into the content, they were greeted with this damning headline:

"The Man Who Discovered Susana Martinez Could Also Be Her Downfall"

That was surely enough to catch the attention of Governor Christie and his aides and that of Senator Rand Paul or any of the other would-be Republican presidential nominees. It also raised eyebrows and more questions for the national press gaggle that specializes in all things presidential. The story was widely distributed by national reporters via social media.

Suddenly, a small packet of pixels had Susana's place on the list of VP contenders dropping as fast as a penny thrown off the Empire State Building. She went into free fall and if she's going to reverse it, someday she will have to do something about her McCleskey problem. It's simply too bothersome for a possible president or his operatives to deal with.

Unlike her, the Prez contenders aren't joined at the hip with McCleskey. Susana would need a surgeon practiced in separating Siamese Twins to rid herself of Jay. But in Washington, dropping troublesome operatives is done as casually as bursting a pimple on a nose.

Many of you in the bleacher seats are saying, "So what, Joe?" Susana never really has had a chance to be on a national ticket. It's a fantasy manufactured by Jay."

You have a point if you feel that way, but if Susana doesn't share your view and believes in life after Santa Fe--and really has fire in the belly for some kind of slot on the national scene--she is going to have to do something about McCleskey. He's now so radioactive in DC that they'll grab for their Geiger counters when he rolls down K Street.

ROT AT THE TOP

Susana's national aspirations--fantastical or not--are not her immediate concern. What is, of course, is her forthcoming campaign for re-election next November. This article lighted up the skies far brighter than any of the five Democratic gubernatorial hopefuls have thus far and it's an open question if any of them will effectively use it and the revelatory information it contains to break out of the pack.

Gary King was first to react, condemning the McCleskey behavior detailed in the article as "unethical" and as proof that Martinez "had abdicated" her office to a "vindictive" McCleskey.

Dem hopeful Allan Webber dubbed the revelations in the National Journal as The Rot at the Top.

Lawrence Rael chimed in: "(It's) time for New Mexicans to look. . . closer at the man behind the myth of Martinez."

State Sen. Linda Lopez came with this:

Thanks to the article, we have sources close to her operation detailing how Jay McCleskey is empowered to dictate policy, influence contracts, and keep millions of dollars in dark money well-cloaked and at an arm’s length from the governor, who can, politically, legally and conveniently feign ignorance.

State Senator Howie Morales, also a Dem Guv candidate, did not make a statement on the explosive article.

Attorney General King also said the conventional wisdom that Martinez is unbeatable was trashed by the damning article. Maybe, but that's going to have to be put to the test. And it's going to take a lot of money--a commodity about as plentiful in the Democratic camp as snowballs in Palm Springs.

THE LEGAL PERIL

Andrea Goff

King did not call for a formal investigation of McCleskey's questionable handling of campaign money, the Achilles Heel that now seems to ache for attention. Maybe that's because there's good reason to believe there is an active federal investigation underway on that topic as well as one on the down and dirty lease deal for the Downs at ABQ racino.

Regarding the latter, former Martinez fund-raiser Andrea Goff dropped a bombshell in her interview.

She revealed that she received incriminating text messages from McCleskey after her father-in-law, Buster Goff, joined with other members of the State Fair Commission and voted to delay approving the controversial 25 year Downs racino lease.

"Buster screwed us. . . .He was supposed to pass it." McCleskey said in one text.

Buster Goff later switched his vote and the current Downs owners won the lease over a competitor.

That text and others that Goff turned over to the FBI sent our Legal Beagles barking. To them it was  damning evidence against McCleskey and meant that there indeed had been bid-rigging.

To the Beagles:

The text messages Goff  turned over to the FBI are direct evidence of wrongdoing and are admissible in court. McCleskey's own words implicate not just himself, but through his use of the word "us" the other conspirators in the rigging of the deal. . . .McCleskey's writing that Buster Goff was "supposed to pass it"--is proof of the rigging, and "Buster screwed us" of the conspiracy to rig. 

McCleskey also linked the reason that Goff needed to approve the deal to the impact his failure to do so would have on William Windham, the Martinez campaign donor and an owner of the Downs. That's evidence that the deal was a quid pro quo which is necessary for the prosecution of some but not all federal corruption charges.

McCleskey also discussed ways to conceal additional campaign contributions that Windham attempted to make, but did not because he did not have a vehicle in place to conceal the funds from public scrutiny (conspiracy to commit money laundering, efforts to derive personal benefit, wire fraud, etc).

In response to Goff the Governor's office said: "Andrea Goff is a disgruntled former consultant who is no longer affiliated with the governor, and her wild-eyed accusations have no credibility."

Perhaps a year or so ago that statement would look as strong as reinforced steel. Not today. Not when everyone can see the blood in the water and the steel looking like tin.

MORE LEGAL BEAGLES

We can't certify the certitude of the Legal Beagles, but their barking is noteworthy. Here's some more:

McCleskey's efforts to convince Andrea Goff to work on his behalf "off the books" could be used as pattern and practice evidence to conceal information from disclosure (reinforcing the money laundering). The texts--because they come from McCleskey--are as good from an evidentiary standpoint as if Andrea Goff had been wearing a wire.

The texts revealed by the National Journal from McCleskey to Goff reinforce the collusion in the administration that was depicted in the widely covered Downs emails. That is something the local media has not done. 

While the Feds can take years to bring charges, this article confirms that there is a strong chance that it will eventually happen. Corruption cases are often filed many years after the crimes were committed.

Thanks, Beagle.

JUST AN ADVISER

What stands out in the aftermath of all this is McCleskey's humble public moniker as the Governor's "political adviser."

He is not a government employee and has no official power but he has wielded more of it than anyone--seemingly even the woman elected to the office. He didn't get the nickname "Shadow Governor" for nothing. (Did you read the part where he sets up shop in a little anteroom next to Susana?)

But what of the real Governor--the one who took the oath of office that cold January 1 in 2011? She's an ambitious politician who unhesitatingly hitched her wagon to that of Jay's and now has to do some unhitching. Whether she has come to that conclusion or not, just about everyone else under the sun has. For our codependent Governor, the day of reckoning for the deal she struck with her Svengali draws near. Even Nixon had to dump Haldeman and Ehrlichman.

Will there be a breakup of this symbiotic political duo? It depends. Did the Governor read that National Journal article like a partisan or like the former District Attorney she is? We know she has to be fretting over what the piece did to her political standing among national donors and the national media when it comes to the VP prize. But does she feel threatened by something much more troubling?

There's the ABQ Downs racino wheeling and dealing. Then there's the millions of dollars that have flowed through her SusanaPAC, her re-election campaign and the 2012 Reform NM Now PAC. All of them were led by McCleskey who received hefty commissions from them and who--according to the National Journal--appears to be pulling in some $300,000 a year, not counting advertising commissions.

That's an astounding sum in a little state like ours. And the spending and expense records of these entities may be ripe for exploitation not only by her political opponents but by government and media investigators (We'll save the "NM Competes," the dark money nonprofit entity for tomorrow).

No matter how tight Jay and Susana may be, they are not husband and wife. If and when she sees that her survival interests conflict with his, will she just swallow hard and stay the course? Or will she start to slowly oar away?

Susana Martinez has needed Jay McCleskey in an almost desperate way, so much so that in the words of Harvey Yates, he was allowed to assume extra constitutional power. Now the worm has turned and McCleskey needs Martinez as much as she needs him--not just for a meal ticket--but for protection from the pack of wolves that has taken up residence outside of his "Fifth Floor"office.

THE FLOODGATES

The floodgates are now open in the NM Republican Party. It was not lost on anyone that all the named critics in the National Journal piece were prominent Republicans--and most prominently--former NM GOP Chairman Harvey Yates. And then there was that diss of McCleskey by current NM GOP Chairman John Billingsley. The argument by the McCleskey faction that it was a handful of disgruntled R's was not convincing. An untold number cower in fear.

The outing of McCleskey dilutes the potion he has relied on to keep everyone in line. That potion is equal parts fear and intimidation. Now with the national media--and we assume law enforcement--on high alert for any McCleskey mischief, disgruntled Republicans (and Democrats) have less reason to remain closed mouth in their dislike for the current regime. Not that Martinez is going to draw a Republican primary foe next year, but that prospect has gone from unimaginable to something like highly unlikely.

POSTSCRIPTS....

The perceived invincibility of what one of our readers dubbed "The Machine" has been dented--big time. How much so we will see by the aforementioned actions of GOP critics of Martinez and through any increased bravado by the Dem Guv candidates, at the next legislative session and any further inquires by the national media and law enforcement.

Several readers wondered if we will now get an investigation of allegations that law enforcement has been used to run checks on the license plates of political opponents as well as using the NCIC data base for political purposes. We know it's a story that one TV station was looking into....

Yes, it was strange that McCleskey posed for a series of pictures for the magazine article. The supposed #1 rule of a political consultant is not to become the story....

The author of the National Journal piece--Daniel Libit--was born and raised in ABQ. He graduated from ABQ Academy...

Gators want to know

First Gentleman Chuck Franco says that controversial 2011 trip to Louisiana he took with two state policemen was for "alligator hunting." Well, now that the Guv refuses to release additional records on that trip it's predictable that the Alligators of La Politica are on the hunt for details about the trip. Off we go...

The curiosity is now especially intense because the Guv's office this week refused to say where Franco stayed during the nearly week long excursion that took place at the same time the hyper-controversial  25 year lease for the ABQ Downs racino lease was begin negotiated by the Martinez administration, Two of the three Downs' owners live in Louisiana. Bid-rigging has been alleged in the awarding of that lease. It has been the subject of FBI queries, according to two former Martinez campaign staffers and one of their attorneys.

The administration will only say that Franco and the officers on paid duty to provide security for Franco were "privately hosted," meaning there are no lodging records to be released. The Governor will not voluntarily reveal who the private hosts were, The state cites security concerns and also says Franco was on a private trip so it's none of our business--even though the two state employees who were with him were publicly paid employees. The Guv also says the private hosts who entertained the hunting party have no business with state government or involved with politics here. So why not say who they were to ease the suspicions?

Governor Martinez--through her operatives on social media--has expressed her upset with our blog because of our questions about whether the Downs lease and Franco's trip are connected. First of all, we and other media are wondering if there is a connection--not "claiming" there is one as the Governor is asserting we are. That's why we want the Governor to release all records.

Here's how the Santa Fe New Mexican reported it:

In answer to a reporter’s question, (Governor spokesman) Knell said Franco’s Louisiana hosts aren’t associated with the Downs of Albuquerque racetrack nor a hotel company owned by John Turner, one of the Downs owners. Turner and another one of the three principals of the Downs, William Windham, live in Louisiana. Franco’s trip took place while the Downs was bidding on a 25-year contract. The company was awarded the contract later in 2011.

No smear, just natural reportorial curiosity about whether the trip had any connection with the Downs lease.

That's how we do things in America. We ask annoying questions of people we give power to in order to keep them honest. We are taught to do that by the founders of the Republic and to stand up and defend ourselves from false attacks and intimidation by those holding power--whether it be a county commissioner or a sitting Governor of New Mexico. We don't have a large corporate owner to go to bat for us, but we have something even better--the First Amendment of the Constitution. Use it or lose it.

To the Gator pond...

Regarding Chuck Franco's 2011 hunting trip to Louisiana accompanied by two state police officers one of them asks State Auditor Hector Balderas if it is legal for the two state police officers who accompanied Franco to accept free accommodations:

The state cops are on duty. Their reports showing that have been released. Is accepting free accommodation legal? For example, what if the hunting party stayed one of the nights at the home of a relative of one of the state police officers? What's the rule on that?

Or how about a state legislator asking Attorney General King for an opinion on the issue?

Another Gator offers this:

Mightn't the ink-stained wretches at the New Orleans Times-Picayune, the Baton Rouge Advocate or the Shreveport Times have an idea about hunting trips for out-of-state politicos? I seem to recall that there have been some political dust-ups in Louisiana a time or two, so they might be aware of the comings and goings of New Mexicans accompanied by body guards. 

And reader Dennis Gabaldon says he would like the kind of hunting trip Chuck had:

The Governor says his trip had nothing to do with politics or state business? Then why don't you take me and some buddies of mine for an all expense paid hunting trip? I mean, like if you're handing them out or something.

NO TRANSPARENCY

The AP comes with this report on the trouble it is having getting state police records released from the "transparency" Governor. Again, where is Attorney General King who has said "security" concerns can't be used in refusing to release financial records for a state security detail.

MORE GATOR HUNTING

Susana and Chuck

Las Cruces reader Greg Lennes has been having fun tracking the Franco trip and dug deep for this info:

Joe, This is pure speculation since Chuck Franco is not releasing details on his trip. 

Maybe Franco and dozens of alligator hunters made their way into the Louisiana swamps for their search for gators for the 2011 alligator season beginning on August 31st. It was a 30-day hunting season. Joe--these aren't your type of alligators.

The Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries allowed lottery hunts on 22 public lakes, including several in northwest Louisiana. Only successful lottery hunters can participate. So did Chuck Franco participate? Interested hunters had to fill up an application from LDWF's website or request an application. Applicants had to be a legal Louisiana resident and 16 years of age or older. All successful applicants were required to purchase an alligator hunting license ($25).

The Louisiana alligator season ran from Aug. 31 through Oct. 6. Hunts were allowed on four Coastal  Nongame Resources Division Wildlife Management Areas and 13 Wildlife Division WMAs in addition to the public lakes.

Among the area lakes were Lake Bistineau in Webster, Bossier and Bienville parishes; Wallace Lake in Caddo Parish; Black/Cypress Lake in Bossier Parish; Cross Lake in Caddo Parish; Kepler Lake in Bienville Parish; Caddo Lake in Caddo Parish; and Black Lake in Natchitoches Parish. Maybe that is why he traveled in such a circuitous route--lake to lake

It is strange there is so much silence about Chuck Franco's hunting trip. He should be bragging about his hunting experience and about what he bagged in Louisiana. Did he use a bow or rifle in his hunting?

Actually, Greg,  if Chuck was hunting alligators he would have been using a harpoon. You know, the kind the Fourth Floor likes to throw at our Gators..

That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping by. Reporting from Albuquerque, I'm Joe Monahan.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2013 Not for reproduction without permission of the author

The big story of Primary Election 2012 wasn't necessarily who won and who lost, but the dismal turnout. Even a dead heat race for the Democratic nomination for the ABQ congressional seat could not get them out of the bleacher seats and down on the field. Only about 24 percent of the registered Dems appeared to be stirred enough to make a decision between Michelle Lujan Grisham, Eric Griego and Marty Chavez. Statewide Dem turnout appears to be around that same 24% mark. GOP state turnout dipped even further to 21%.

Some blamed it on the lack of tight races other than that congressional contest and they had a point, but other political pros took it as a sign that people are fed up with politics and politicians and have a negative view of policies--yes, even our beloved La Politica.

Many, many more voters will be engaged for the main event in November, but this primary revealed that the parties and the politicos have a lot of work to do to make themselves relevant to the everyday lives of Mr. & Mrs. New Mexico.

BERNALILO COUNTY ELECTION RESULTS ARE HERE. RESULTS FOR THE ENTIRE STATE ARE HERE.

MICHELLE--DEM BELLE

Those who did care to vote in that too close to call ABQ congressional race gave Michelle Lujan Grisham what looked like a mandate after days of chatter about how tight the contest was. Three polls showed it to be a dead heat, so when she bested State Senator Eric Griego by five points--40% to 35% with Marty Chavez at 25%--the gap looked like the Grand Canyon, even if it was relatively close.

Michelle had the momentum going into the final two weeks and she had the muscle--major third party money from the women's group EMILY's list. In an after Midnight radio interview on our KANW-FM broadcast, Michelle did not hesitate to credit women for her victory, saying the "radical Republican attack on women's health care" was important in driving women to the polls for her.

Analyst John Wertheim noted that the Dem Party is now dominated by women. Griego led with them early, but in the polls they were the most undecided group going into the final stretch. They broke sharply for Michelle and she now wears the crown.

Longtime Dem pollster and analyst Harry Pavlides--who had given the edge to Michelle before the polls closed--explained that Griego's ballyhooed get-out-the-vote program fizzled:

Griego's GOTV did not work because the voters were not receptive because along with a good field operation, you need a candidate who can move voters. He wasn't articulate and over the years he has proven to be abrasive. She, on the other hand, was a fresh face who came on strong during the one and only TV debate when no one expected it and she did not make any major mistakes. The negative TV attacks made on Griego's driving record might have made a difference of a couple of  points. But Eric's field operation just did not move the numbers--even at the voting center at Bandelier Elementary in the heavily liberal SE Heights. The bottom line in following the results was that Griego's wins were not big and her wins were just big enough....

So is a congresswoman born? Lujan Grisham, currently a Bernalillo County Commissioner, is a nightmare candidate for Janice Arnold-Jones who was unopposed Tuesday for the GOP primary nod.  She could have drawn a sharper contrast with Griego. Now she faces another woman who showed an ability to appeal across her party. She might be able to do the same with the broader electorate.

Apart from that, there are the demographic trends of the district. National pundits already rank it "likely Dem" for the November election. 

THE SENATE
Wilson
The race for the nominations for the US Senate seat being vacated by Jeff Bingaman were as anticlimatic as everyone expected. ABQ Rep. Martin Heinrich took down State Auditor Hector Balderas on a 58% to 42% vote and former ABQ Congresswoman Heather Wilson easily dispatched Greg Sowards of Las Cruces. She trounced him 70% to 30%. That Balderas performance was a bit better than expectations. GOP pollster and analyst Bruce Donisthorpe explained it this way:

Heinrich had broad support across the state. He won on the shoulders of a huge victory in ABQ. Hector benefited from the sole TV debate held a couple of days before the election because it closed the stature gap and helped him with those who voted on Election Day....

We interviewed both Wilson and Heinrich following their big wins and both took pot shots at one another. Surprise!

Heinrich starts the race as a slight favorite because the state is majority Dem and Wilson has been unable to break out of the low 40's in the early polling. She has trailed Heinrich in all the recent polls, but she has the ability--and the money--to win it.

MARTINEZ TOLD NO

Governor Martinez got a black eye Tuesday night courtesy of Clovis rancher Pat Woods who handily beat Angie Spears--52% to 45% (a third candidate who had dropped out got 3%) in the most prominent legislative battle of the evening. Martinez, stretching the gubernatorial envelope, not only endorsed Angie, she made a personal campaign appearance for her and allowed her chief political operative, Jay McCleskey, to pull out all the stops and run a slash and burn campaign against Woods. It backfired, as voters sent a message that while they may like Susana--they like her as Governor--not as the decider of who will represent them in Santa Fe. Donisthorpe came with this:

This race was fought hard in Clovis and Woods did very well there. That closed it out. People decided they can support their friends and neighbors despite outside interference. You are always cautioned in politics to pick your fights very carefully. If they had a do over on this one they would think long and hard before doing it again.

The loss had implications well beyond the results of the race. A lot of Republicans gave money to the Govenror's SusanaPAC envisioning that she would used that money to take out Democrats, not Replications. They wondered why the money was being spent on a primary race when it could be used later to help the GOP take back the state House.

Pollster Brian Sanderoff said the Woods-Spears contest would not have much impact on the Governor when it comes to her dealings with the Legislature--that Woods would vote with the Guv on all the major issues. Perhaps, but GOP consultant Bob Cornelius says he wants to see how Republican legislative leaders--particularly Senate Minority Leader Stu Ingle of the east side--play it. Ingle was rumored to also be in McCleskey's sight for a primary challenge that never materialized.

Most important, several of our analysts agreed on the most substantial development that could happen as a result of the Spears loss. It is not about senators complying with Martinez's legislative agenda, it is now about McCleskey who became a public issue via paid and free media in the Woods-Spears race.

If the Governor loses any confidence in McCleskey--easily the most influential advisor to a Governor in recent memory--because of lost political battles, she could dilute his power and broaden her circle. That could result in a change in government polices and what legislation she pursued with the Legislature. After all, they don't call Jay "The Fifth Floor" for nothing.

But former prosecutor Martinez has shown that she loves a good fight--win or lose. It would be surprising to see her move against McCleskey--unless, of course, her own popularity starts to take a hit.

LEGISLATIVE ACTION
On the KANW Air
My KANW analysts, including State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino and former NM Democratic Party Chairman John Wertheim and the aforementioned Cornelius, did not see any major change in the balance of power in the Legislature as a result of the primary. They said we will have to wait until November to see if the R's can pick up any House seats and take over the chamber which now is almost evenly divided. The Governor had a big loss in Clovis, but the Reform NMPAC that was closely linked to her put some points on the board, when Santa Fe Mayor David Coss was upset by Carl Trujillo for the Dem nod for the state House seat being vacated by House Speaker Ben Lujan. Trujillo rejected the help, but now that he is going to the Roundhouse (there is no R running in the district) he will be closely watched to see if he plays cozy with Susana.

But there was mostly give and take in the legislative battles and most old hands recognize the recipe for gridlock when they see it. That's what we have had in Santa Fe for two years and that's what we are going to have for two more--despite Susana and Jay's best efforts to take over the world as we know it.

For example, you could argue that Dem Michael Padilla who won the nomination for the Senate seat being vacated by Eric Griego will be a more moderate voice than Eric (No R is running). True, but then Jacob Candelaria will be going to Santa Fe to replace outgoing Senator Bernadette Chavez, a Dem who often has conservative instincts. Candelaria does not.

Dem Senator David Ulibarri was defeated in western New Mexico by either attorney Maxine Velasquez or Clemente Sanchez. Only three votes separated them for first place. Either of them would be more liberal than Ulibarri. The winner, however, will have to get past Vickie Perea, a particularly tough GOP contender.

Senator Lynda Lovejoy of NW New Mexico lost her seat to Jemez Pueblo's' Bennie Shendo Jr. He is not expected to vote much differently than Lynda (No R is running).

Still, Senator Ortiz y Pino looked at his glass as half empty because while the Guv did not advance her cause a whole lot, either did his side. He came with this analysis of the ReformNM PAC, financed by big oil and with the same address listed as the Guv's SusanaPAC:

...The Governor's Super PAC, Reform New Mexico Now, sent out mailers blasting candidates in at least five races. The only incumbent Democrat that RNMN targeted was Grants area State Rep. Eliseo Alcon, who won handily anyway and is now chomping at the bit to work against her agenda in the next session.

But the other four races worked out well for the Governor. She sent out negative material against the progressive challengers to Senators John Arthur Smith and Phil Griego, both of whom won Tuesday night. And she sent out negative material on Rep. Eleanor Chavez and Santa Fe Mayor David Coss, progressive candidates in two races for open seats and both of them lost. So RNMN has got to consider its money well-spent. After all, they blocked four progressives...

True enough. But blocking is not scoring. Which leads to the current Santa Fe slogan, "Let the Standstill Continue"

PARK'S PLACE

Al Park may have suffered the most damaging result of any politician in the state on Primary Election Night. He spent well over $150,000 on the Dem nomination for the ABQ area Public Regulation Commission seat and lost. He was ahead most of the evening, but as results rolled in around 11 PM he began falling behind--and more behind. Bernalillo County Assessor Karen Montoya gave us our big upset of the evening as she defeated Park who suffered more humiliation when he finished third behind Cynthia Hall.

We broke the story of Al's three person law firm taking in $600,000 in a state risk management contract from the Republican administration over the course of only ten months and it was all down hill from there. Montoya, aided by last minute matching funds for her publicly-financed campaign, put a spot on the air comparing Park to disgraced former PRC Commissioner Jerome Block, Jr. and it worked.

Park's political career may have soared if he had won, but his decline actually began when he sided with the Guv on repealing driver's licenses for undocumented immigrants, That was the first sign that Al was moving away from the liberal wing of his party--the wing that nominates.

A TOUCH OF HISTORY

History was made on ABQ's west side last night. Jacob Candelaria, 25, ensured that he will became the first openly gay male elected to the state Senate and possibly its youngest member ever. He trounced primary foe Carlos Villanueva. There is no Republican running for the seat so Candelaria will get a four year term and replace Senator Bernadette Sanchez who did not seek reelection.

Candelaria, who works on equality issues professionally, did not see his sexual preference make much of a difference in the contest. During the course of the campaign President Obama announced that he now supports gay marriage.

Obama's announcement and Canadelaria's election show how an issue that used to pack so much political punch is now fast becoming moot.

By the way, Candelaria is much more liberal than Senator Sanchez who on occasion showed some sympathies toward GOP Governor Martinez.
 
THE BOTTOM LINES

GOP pollster Donisthorpe made a bold call that Eric Griego would win the Dem nod for the ABQ congressional seat. When he didn't, we asked Bruce what went wrong. "We Republicans have some things to learn about these Democrats," He joked....

In fairness, Bruce's May 22 poll for this site was spot on, showing a dead heat in the ABQ congressional race but he says he overestimated the effectiveness of Griego's ground operation...

Marty Chavez took his loss graciously, appearing on our radio show to take his lumps. Will we ever seem him run again? He is too much of a pro to rule it out, but we would not bet that we will see him back on the ballot....

All three congressional campaign managers went unheralded during the campaign but Alan Packman for Chavez, Ed Yoon for Griego and Dominic Gabello did bang-up jobs for their candidates. Even if that means being good at being negative...

Bernalillo County Clerk Maggie Toulouse Oliver had a pretty good night managing the new way of voting--69 early vote centers instead of 180 voting sites. The vote count was slowed a bit but the clerk was not defensive when offered some constructive criticism. She said she is going to do some tinkering to improve on the speed of the vote-counting for the presidential election. Toulouse Oliver has slowly but surely improved the election performance of the clerk's office from the epic disasters of the past...

Thanks to all of those who contributed to and listened to our KANW 89.1 FM broadcast. We signed off about 1:10 AM and are finishing the blog up at about 5 AM...Wonder if there's an Election Night party still going on?.....

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012
Not for reproduction without permission of the author

It's the unexpected that can change the direction of public policy as fast as a flip of a coin and that makes political sport as fascinating to watch as Super Bowl Sunday.
I don’t have much sympathy for some of these folks. For years they have tried to block new natural gas pipelines--especially the residents of Placitas. Several years ago when Enterprise was putting in a new gas pipeline from Hobbs to Wyoming, 1400 miles of construction in existing right of way--right of way that existed before homes were built--the only community that provided negative information in the Environmental Assessment was Placitas.
We have reached capacity, there have been no new power stations or major improvements in many, many years. You sow what you reap.

DATELINE TAOS

Taos was one of the hardest hit towns because it is at the end of the natural gas pipeline. Governor Martinez visited there Friday, but she did not get much sympathy from Dem activist and local lawyer Helen Laura Lopez. She also thought our initial analysis of the Guv's performance was off the mark:

Ace Hardware In Taos did more than the Governor and acted faster. They brought in 1200 space heaters from Colorado Springs Thursday night and stayed open til 11.

Joe, you didn't get cold enough to give the Governor's weak "too late to the party" performance a more critical eye. Big Bill was good at emergencies. He would have been outside in his winter gear checking on people as an example for others, after he sent the National Guard to the rural communities with water and blankets. (No one reported that when the electricity goes out, community water goes out too.) Up here it was not a mini-crisis. It's the real deal.

Gov. Martinez did on Saturday mobilize 50 Army National Guard members to help restore gas service in the North.

We did characterize the gas shortage as a "mini-crisis" because at its peak it impacted 30,000 residences, not 300,000. But we get it. If you're out of a job, the economy is in a depression. And if it's your home without heat, it's a crisis.

As for not getting cold enough to look at the story with a critical eye, we note that our own domicile suffered burst pipes and several shut-offs of heat and water. But fear not. We promise to shower thoroughly before going to Starbucks later today.

NORTH DAKOTA VS. NEW MEXICO

Another reader wanted to talk about this explanation by El Paso Electric for the company's inability to deliver electricity down south during the record cold:

This is a once-in-a-long-time cold freeze," (El Paso electric spokesman) Souza said. "Our area hasn't experienced something like this in years. This isn't common for our area. We knew it was coming, because we'd heard reports from the National Weather Service...so in preparation we tried to bring some of our generation units out of maintenance mode, put them to work, but the cold freeze, it was just too much and everything froze. The instrumentation froze."

Our reader retorts: "So how come the instruments work in states like North Dakota? Sounds like El Paso Electric got a few of their parts on the cheap."

SPIRO'S SPIN

We asked several of our readers expert in the natural gas area for their comments. Longtime energy investor and ABQ Republican Spiro Vassilopoulos comes with an explanation that those investigating this shortage are going to want to pursue:

BernCo Clerk Stover

Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and Bernalillo County Clerk Linda Stover had no time to cry in their beer following the decision of the NM Supreme Court rejecting their request for an all mail June 2 primary election because of the coronavirus.

Stover told us moments after the high court decision, "We must move forward" and SOS MTO said, ". . .Voters will still have everything they need to make their voices heard. . . My Office will comply with the court’s order and mail absentee ballot applications to all voters registered with a major political party."

Sending absentee applications to all voters is new, but the court rejected her request to send actual ballots to all voters.

The Court's decision may in fact be a godsend because sending actual ballots to every registered voter of a major political party (Dem GOP and Libertarian) could have been a logistical nightmare with charges of fraud, unreturned ballots and/or missing ballots.

The state Dem Party asserted that because of the ruling from the Democratic majority high court that:

Many poll workers and the general public will have to choose between exercising their right to vote and protecting their health.

It's hard to see that happening with MTO, Stover (both Dems) and all county clerks having the eye of history staring over their shoulders. In fact, Stover says she is ready to act on making the election safer and will immediately go to District Court asking that she be allowed to reduce the number of polling sites:

We are looking at perhaps 8 or 9 convenience centers for early in-person voting and using the same centers for Election Day voting. Having fewer locations means a safer voter. Also, many usual polling locations are not available because of the coronavirus.

Stover added:

SOS MTO

This is a primary election with no independent voters eligible so turnout will be lower than a general election. We will make a major advertising push to get people to vote by absentee and that will help cut down the in-person traffic at the polls. We must and will move forward to give the people of Bernallio County an election of integrity and efficiency.

The clerk also said she will look to younger citizens to man the polls to replace older poll workers who have expressed concern about contracting the coronavirus. She noted the many unemployed young people available for such work as a result of the stay at home order.

GET THEM EARLY

Veteran GOP political consultant Bob Cornelius, speaking from Austin, said with election officials and candidates pushing absentee voting instead of in-person balloting, absentees could make up as much of 60 percent of the total votes cast. He added:

Older voters, who comprise the majority of Republican primary voters, will be the first to respond to absentee voting, but the candidates will push that option to all voters and it will have high impact. It wil also impact the campaigns by making candidates get their media and messaging out now. Absentee ballots will start to go out May 5. By the middle of May, if they are coming in heavy, some of these elections will have effectively been decided before June 2. 

The state GOP filed the action that the Supremes approved and were pleased with the decision.

(It) will protect the health and wellness of voters. . . while preserving the integrity of the election. The court’s refusal to rewrite New Mexico election law—to allow the unsolicited mailing of live ballots as part of an all vote-by-mail (VBM) election--shows the proper respect for the importance of election integrity,

But this could just be round one. The decision by the court, headed by Republican Chief Justice Judith Nakamura, was made because the justices did not believe they had the power to change election laws to provide for an all mail election, saying only the Legislature could change the election laws.

The Legislature in a special session could make the November election an all mail election but much will depend on health conditions going forward and also on how the June primary balloting turns out.

You can request an absentee ballot here and mail it in beginning May 5.

CORONAVIRUS DATA UPDATED

We're getting a much better look at the Coronavirus pandemic in New Mexico thanks to a new dashboard from the Department of Health.

The first sad revelation from it is the alarming rate of coronavirus among Native Americans tested. They now account for over 37 percent of the state's cases, although they only represent about 11 percent of the statewide population. Predictably, most of those cases are in the Indian County counties of San Juan and McKinley.

Twenty six percent of those tested and proving positive are Hispanics. 23 percent are whites.

It was wrenching to hear state Senator George Munoz explain the necessity of an order from the McKinley County Commission that hard liquor sales at convenience stores in the county be halted. The city of Gallup has done the same. Munoz said that's because groups of homeless gather and pass around a bottle of liquor, furthering the spread of the virus. "They pass around the whiskey bottle and panhandle," Munoz said.

Poverty, alcoholism and other health conditions make the Native population vulnerable to the virus, experts say. Other observers note that the Indian culture is close knit and that obeying social distancing can be very emotionally painful.

About 33,000 coronavirus tests have been administered in NM and have turned up 1,407 cases.

McKinley County has about 15 percent of the cases (204).

BernCo has had 464 cases or about 32 percent of the state cases. BernCo's population of 678,000 is 32 percent of the state's total of 2.095 million,

McKinley's population of 72,000 is only 3.4 percent of the state total yet has 15 percent of the virus cases. And that's a big part of our state's story of Pandemic 2020.

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