Tuesday, July 18, 2006Sources: Deal Cut With Manny; Will Leave Highlands U With Big Payday; Educator Manuel Pacheco Tapped As Interim School Prez
Manuel Pacheco
"The public may not like the big check he will get, but he has come to an agreement with the regents. This avoids further legal wrangling and sets the stage for Pacheco to come in and calm things down. A search for a permanent president will then get underway," reported a top Alligator with a record for accuracy. Aragon, a longtime champion of improving education for Hispanic youth, was overjoyed when he was named President of the school in a move widely believed to have been engineered by Governor Big Bill, but he ran into trouble when he moved to get rid of several professors. Later, questions arose about Manny's handling of his "President's Fund" as well as building contracts awarded by the school. But Aragon has not been charged with any wrongdoing. In fact, when the regents moved against him hundreds of students rallied in support of the Dem political giant who has ensured his place in state history through a nearly 30 year legislative career, widely considered to be unparalleled and a template for future leaders in the gathering and exercise of New Mexican political power. Overshadowing the controversy at the campus has been a federal investigation into the construction of two Bernalillo county courthouses and the metro jail. Aragon's name has surfaced in connection with that probe and speculation has mounted that the regents, despite their denials, were feeling pressure to get rid of Aragon fearing that he could be indicted by the feds. MANUEL T. PACHECO Highlands U When Pacheco left the University of Missouri a scholarship was set up in his name with this description: "To honor an academic administrator who exemplifies outstanding academic leadership at the University of Missouri. Former University of Missouri President Manuel T. Pacheco was recognized as a leader who exhibited humility and respect for others, and worked diligently to develop leaders around him. Candidates should exemplify these traits." As for Manny, students supporting him claim the regents earlier offered him a buyout of $250,000. Regents denied that. Whatever the case, our sources say money is coming and Manny is going. We blogged last week that his name has circulated as a possible to head the National Hispanic Cultural Center in ABQ. If the future is less rosy and the Feds enter the picture, attorney Aragon will be financially well-armed, not to mention intellectually. Manny Aragon has had a storied run in the annals of La Politica. For him to go quietly into the night would be the ultimate oxymoron. Breaking the big political stories and having fun doing it, we are the home of New Mexico politics and Campaign 2006. Newstips? Comments? Interested in advertising here? Drop an email from the top of the page. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2006 Not for reproduction without permission of the author |
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