It didn't take long for newcomer Don Wiviott to get the attention of the New Mexican political community. That happens when you announce (or threaten) to spend up to a million bucks of your own money on a race for the US Senate. Not surprisingly, one of the first reactions to our exclusive that Wiviott was getting in and had big bucks behind him came from another candidate seeking the Democratic nomination in '08 for the right to take on GOP Senator Pete Domenici. Jim Hannan, Wiviott's fellow Santa Fean, said his new foe has a money problem, not with what he plans on spending, but what he has donated:

...I've discovered that Don gave Republican David Pfeffer $2100 to run for the US Senate against Jeff Bingaman...David Pfeffer was a very unpopular city councilor here in Santa Fe, he ran for the US Senate in 2006. His main issue was support of the Minutemen movement in southern New Mexico. As I recall, he actually might have walked the entire border, hanging out with the Minutemen in their camps. I guess Don doesn't think that giving money to someone running against Jeff Bingaman is a big issue. Maybe not." Scored Hannan.

It appears Hannan is going to try to get Wiviott to spend the money he says he is willing to. It will be interesting to see how the Democratic left handles this race if Wiviott, Hannan and Leland Lehrman are the final field.

PEOPLE FOR PETE

Some of Senator Pete's supporters didn't take kindly to Wiviott's announcement or our coverage. Reader Fred Van Soelen put it this way:

"Joe, it's getting harder and harder to take you seriously. Despite your over-the-top salivating at having someone take on Pete Domenici, you can't be serious in thinking that this newcomer Wiviott will have a chance against Pete. I know you really want someone to give him a run for the money, but this guy has no chance at all. He will be mincemeat by the end of the campaign (if he stays in that long).

Fred, I plead guilty to salivating over the prospect of any contested election; I think that's what the game is all about. But I am not invested in any candidate in the '08 senate race, but do look forward to seeing how the mincemeat is made. Domenici, of course, is the favorite, if he stays in the race.

POPULARITY PROBLEMS

The historic unpopularity of the current Congress--only 24% approve in the Gallup poll--is no doubt playing a role in the declining poll numbers here of Domenici and even Dem Senator Jeff Bingaman. Pete's approval is at 51% and Jeff's at 59%, below their usual 60 plus. That brought this reaction on the state's junior senator from Democratic reader Jim in Arroyo Hondo, NM, north of Taos.

Bingaman has steadfastly remained middle of the road as New Mexico and the nation have moved to the left. New Mexicans, like most Americans, want: an end to the Iraq war, a responsible energy policy and more environmental protection. They also want leadership. Someone strong and someone daring. That is why (Domenici) has been so attractive because, despite what you may think of his policy choices, he is bold. Senator Bingaman is not bold. He has not taken a stab at leading us out of the mess the GOP has put us in. For most New Mexicans, he is another middle of the road Dem, comfortable in his DC office. That may have been fine 10 years ago. It's not fine now.

Bingaman was first elected in 1982 and has maintained a low-key style ever since. If there are a bunch of Jim's out there, perhaps we'll see the junior senator be more vocal, but we wouldn't bet our blogging pajamas on it.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Finally, from ABQ's South Valley, Andrew Leo Lopez chimes in about our blog mentioning the occupation of one of the contenders for the ABQ SE Heights city council seat. He says:

In New Mexico, a professor of Post Colonial Studies teaches current events!

Thanks, Andrew. And Long Live La Politica!

Have news, thoughts or your own political analysis? Send them our way via the email link at the top of the page.

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Don Wiviott
He's never run for political office, has no statewide name ID and confesses to being bewildered by the process of organizing a campaign. But Santa Fe developer Don Wiviott does have two things that will likely make him a player for the 2008 Democratic nomination for US senate--lots of money and fire in the belly for his pet cause--the environment.

The 51 year old 14 year resident of the capital city took his candidacy from rumor to reality Wednesday telling me in a phone call from Washington D.C., "I am in. I am running."

Wiviott says he plans on starting his campaign with $400,000 of his own money and is willing to spend $800,000 to $1 million, if necessary. So far, he is the only candidate in the race talking serious cash. Two other contenders are announced, but both have said they will not raise significant money, making Wiviott the frontrunner for the nomination on the first day he publicly announced.

Wiviott made his money developing "The Lofts" a series of environmentally sensitive mixed use communities that have proved highly popular in Santa Fe which prizes "green" causes. He cites "global warming, the Iraq war and the national deficit" as key issues. "Pete has lost touch with how quickly we need to move on these issues," he said of the state's longest-ever serving US senator. The freshly minted contender says he supports a timetable for withdrawing American troops from Iraq, resolving once and for all the #1 issue facing the American nation.

A "PLACEHOLDER" FOR BIG BILL?

The political neophyte, born in Spain of military parents, willingly discussed the conspiracy theory that he is getting in the race to be a "placeholder" for Governor Richardson who may want to seek the senate seat if his Prez campaign fizzles next year. He says he is acquainted with fellow Santa Fean and Big Bill campaign manager Dave Contarino. "I did discuss my candidacy with Dave as I did with many others, but if I was going to be a placeholder I would not be putting up this kind of money or investing this kind of time," he asserted.

But how much Wiviott will actually spend will be a subject of intense interest. If no other major contenders get in the race, he may not have to spend much on the primary election, leaving the money to spend against Pete. By announcing he is willing to spend his own dough, he may keep out a candidate or two who has been toying with a run. Not that there has been a clamor for the nomination. The Dems have been stunned that even with Domenici plunging to a 51% approval rating in the latest Survey USA poll, no one with broad name ID or experience has surfaced. Money, Domenici's legend and the fear that Big Bill could indeed make a play for the seat are all cited as reasons for the reticence.

GETTING IT GOING
Kelley Owen
Wiviott, who is married to Santa Fe real estate agent Kelley Owen, is moving quickly to assemble a campaign team, some of whom have ties to Big Bill, including the Greenberg, Quinlan, Rosner polling firm and media consultant Doc Sweitzer. His fundraiser, Kim Scott, worked for President Clinton. Wiviott is soliciting funds on the ActBlue Web site for Dem candidates.

I spoke with the new candidate from the Take Back America conference being held in D.C. and attended by several Prez candidates, including Big Bill. Wiviott also visited with the Democratic National Committee. His willingness to put up his own money and hire national Dem operatives is sure to keep the DNC welcome mat out for him.

A political amateur has obvious disadvantages starting off at the highest levels of politics, but as a newcomer, Wiviott will have the advantage of running as a nonpolitician when voters are frustrated with politics. His willingness to get in the race and fill a vacuum could be greeted with open arms by party leaders, desperate to get a serious challenger on the field against a weakened Pete. While most seasoned politicians think the Dem nomination is worth about as much as a wooden nickel, by this time next year its value could be much more. Wiviott plans to be around to find out.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Another hit for Rep. Tom Udall over Los Alamos labs funding as the House rejected overwhelmingly (312-121) his bid to restore the budget cuts and prepared to send it over to the senate where we will now watch to see what Sen. Domenici can do. But before it goes there, the NM GOP takes one last bite out of Tom's hide. R's Pearce and Wilson supported Udall's amendment, but a majority of House R's voting on the measure joined the Dems and went against it.

We wondered the other day about the whereabouts of former Dem ABQ City Councilor Richard Chapman, the only ABQ official to be subjected to a recall election in modern history. He survived that election in the late 80's. As for where he is today, State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino tells us:

"Richard and his wife Laura Ferrary live in Downtown ABQ. He works as a consultant on water conservation issues and is happy as a clam being out of politics. His counsel is still valuable and I get it every chance I have."

Thanks, Jerry. Say hello to Richard for us. And thanks to you for tuning in to New Mexico's #1 political blog. Send your news and comments to our mailbox.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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Jack Fortner
The 69% Richardson victory of '06 has left the GOP humbled and shocked, the ideal circumstance for a political newcomer to pick up the pieces of the crystal vase no one wants. Some R's think they have found that new face who can lead them out of the wilderness and back to the Fourth Floor of the Roundhouse where the GOP's Gary Johnson presided for eight years before Big Bill came along. Their hope is Farmington attorney and University of New Mexico Regent Jack Fortner who has dropped his name in political circles, even if he is not making any public comments. But our Alligators are commenting. Here's the Fortner File from one of them with a favorable view.

"The Republicans were grooming two conservative Hispanics for 2010. One of them was (former US attorney) David Iglesias. With David no longer in contention, the stage seems set for Jack Fortner (Hispanic mother like the Guv) from Farmington. Jack is in his early 50’s and is in his second term on the UNM Regents. He served two terms (chairman on three separate occasions) on the San Juan County Commission. He is a political animal, and knows how to raise big money...Genuinely conservative (both fiscal and social) but has good personal relationships with many Democrats, including the Guv who appointed him to his second term as a Regent. Jack’s mom, Corky Trimble, is a long time Democratic party activist in San Juan County."

I can't vouch for all the background here, as Fortner did not return our call, but our Alligator is of the Senior variety and from Fortner's region. It's probably the most favorable stuff Fortner will have said about him if he decides to make a run for Governor. The long knives are never rusty for long for those seeking center stage in La Politica. Already some insiders say Fortner has pitched Senator Domenici for a federal bench appointment, but has come up empty. They wonder why.

Fortner would have the advantage of running as a new statewide face, and we may not have to wait long before he makes some noise. Democrats Diane Denish and Marty Chavez are already busy raising big money for the race. If Fortner chooses to play at that level, he will have to shake a leg. Stay tuned.

LYONSGATE

Another name that has been mentioned for the GOP Guv nod is State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons, but he is now mired in a war with the ABQ Journal, having hung up the phone on a reporter for the paper inquiring about campaign donations in connection with a controversial land deal in Dona Ana county. Lyons also told the reporter not to call him back. It appears to be a fateful and fatal error. Reports of Pat Lyons' political death are not premature. Reports that he will be watched like a hawk are correct.

CITY COUNCIL CHASE

When we broke the news recently that Blair Kaufman had joined the race to replace Martin Heinrich on the ABQ city councilor in the October 2nd election, we did not mention all the contenders. And Feroza Jussawalla let us us know that, reporting that she is also seeking the seat and making it at least a five way race--Republican Kevin Wilson is the other candidate I did not mention.

Jussawalla is a Dem, president of the Victory Hills Neighborhood Association and a Professor of English and Postcolonial Studies at the University of New Mexico.

Once again, this SE Heights district has a strong field. It's the one council race of the four in play this year that could give us some suspense.

BIG BILL: "I'M THE MAN"

"Governor Bill Richardson issued the following statement saying he is pleased that North Korean leaders kept their promise to him to invite the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to monitor the shutdown of North Korea’s Yongbyon nuclear facility. 'North Korean leaders followed through with the commitment they made to me and our bipartisan delegation in April...'

OK, Bill, but be careful. The Commies could pull a Bruce King on you--they gave you their "commitment," but what about their promise?

MARTY AND THE MARLBOROS

ABQ Mayor Marty is reacting to the long-shot effort to recall him from office for ordering that smoking be banned from all city property, including bus stops. "I would never do anything to discourage citizens from exercising their rights," he told the Journal.

It was the right statement as an antagonistic one would only get his foes fired up. Still, it has to be scary for any politician to see recall petitions circulate as they are against Chavez. Marty told TV news last night that he is backing off of the ban somewhat, now allowing smoking to resume on city golf courses. The rest of the ban remains in effect, but no big push to enforce. Sounds like someone is getting the Mayor's attention.

A smoker identifying himself as S. Pyke has put up a Web site to gather the needed 22,000 signatures for the recall. The jokester who said the effort was really being headed by "D. Denish" gets kudos for laugh of the day.

With the ban on cellphones, smoking and the red light cameras, Chavez may have gone too far and awakened the anti-big government feelings that are part of the ABQ culture. The recall, as quixotic as it may be, is a warning shot across the bow of the hyperactive mayor. Bernalillo county commissioner Alan Armijo recently dubbed Chavez a "dictator." It's an image that could grow legs if the big government initiatives continue.

Also disturbing is the mayor's war with KKOB-AM radio's afternoon talk host, Jim Villanucci. The two have been friendly, but now the red light camera issue has them at each others throats, with Villanucci pounding the mayor daily on the 50,000 watt outlet and Marty supporters slamming the talker. Who has the most to lose? The last we looked only one of these fellas was seeking elective office. Maybe they can call in Big Bill to make the peace.

PETE, JEFF & THE POLLS

No bounce in the polling numbers for NM GOP US Senator Pete Domenici in the June Survey USA poll released Tuesday. And for a change, Dem Senator Jeff Bingaman is also sinking. Pete scores a 51% approval rating, down one point from the previous survey and the lowest approval rating in memory in any public poll. Bingaman drops below the 60% approval mark for the first time in a long time. He gets 59% approval, compared with 64% in the previous survey. (MOE 4.1% June 8-10)

The unpopular immigration bill, the no-end-insight Iraq war and the US attorney scandal are all taking their toll on Pete. As for Jeff, a general disgust with Washington, high gas prices and the war seem to be taking a bite out of him as well. What can they do? For Pete, start helping us get out of the Iraq quagmire and be more candid on the US attorney scandal. Jeff is still relatively high in the popular rankings, but he appears to be behind the curve when it comes to the war, dilly dallying over the details of getting out, but not exercising the leadership the nation is calling out for. With about 70% of the electorate telling pollsters the nation is on the wrong track, Domenici and Bingaman are lucky their numbers are not even lower.

Meanwhile, it's not one for all and all for one between Pete and Jeff. They are fighting each other over provisions of the energy bill. That ought to help their poll numbers. Not.

UDALL OUTREACH

More damage control measures from northern NM Dem US Rep. Tom Udall as he deals with impending House cuts to the Los Alamos Labs budget. If you nurture dreams of being a US senator someday, you need to do something. Udall can hardly wait for this budget to get over to the Senate and get the heat on Pete to restore the cuts. After all, that is the Dems real target. Udall is collateral damage.

Keep us up-to-date. Drop us an email with your news and comments.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2007
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There's no shortage of applicants for the position of executive director of the NM Democratic Party, reports chairman Brian Colón who adds that "about 25" applications have been received to fill the shoes of outgoing exec Matt Farrauto. A fair share of the applicants come from out of state. A finalist list will be drafted from which a new ED will be selected. Colón would not discuss scuttlebutt that Art Terrazas Jr. a Las Cruces political operative who supported Colon for the chairmanship, was in line for the post, but other party insiders told me to look elsewhere.

"Terrazas helped Colon win the chairmanship. If he pays him back with the director position, it would be doing exactly what he campaigned against," claimed one of them.

It is a major decision for Colon who will want to pick someone without ethical baggage since that has been a headline maker for the state's majority party, as well as someone who has the ability and temperament to run a war room during the 2008 campaign. State GOP Chairman Allen Weh recently named Adam Feldman of Kentucky, an experienced campaign operative as the R's executive director and also put in place a new press officer, signaling the preparations for the months of hard fought political battle which will climax with the November '08 election.

VIVA LAS VEGAS

Months ago he said he needed to win in Nevada. Now Big Bill says he needs "to show some strength" there in the January 19 Dem Prez caucus. He continues to work the state harder than the other candidates, but isn't delusional, saying Iowa and New Hampshire are the big momentum makers. It's hard to believe, but we are now only seven months away from the Nevada vote, and the Prez campaign will be over in only eight.

MEET ME IN FARMINGTON

Maybe we should all head to Farmington for lunch today where the San Juan County Democratic Party announces "a fabulous luncheon will be served" and where ABQ Mayor and potential 2010 Guv candidate Marty Chavez will appear. What is really shocking is the lunch buffet is apparently free. When is the last time you heard of that?

We say ""potential" Guv candidate because Chavez is keeping his options open, including yet another run for ABQ Mayor in 2009. He would not rule out the possibility when questioned by a reporter last week. Meanwhile, Chavez has been surrounded by controversy of late--with the city council overriding his jail funding veto--with the red light program--and with the cellphone and smoking bans. The Mayor's smoking ban on all city owned property has led to a a half-serious effort to force a recall election of Chavez. It would take 22,000 signatures by mid-August to get a recall election. Are there that many smokers around?

The only recall election held in ABQ happened back in the late 80's. And guess what? It was also over smoking. Then-Councilor Richard Chapman proposed a tougher smoking law and was subjected to a recall. He survived the effort, but I can't recall what happened to his smoking law--I think it passed the council--and I can't tell you where Richard is these days. I lost track of him.

THANKS, COUNCILORS
ABQ Council
We should thank the ABQ City Council today. Last night,on a 6 to 3 vote, they overrode Mayor Chavez's veto of a pay hike proposal, and the measure will now appear on the October ballot. Since the 70's, voters have refused on ten separate occasions to raise the pay of the councilors who get 10% of whatever the mayor is making (about $100,000 a year now), but it will be city voters' pleasure to vote "no" an eleventh time. If the councilors feel they are underpaid, they can feel free to meet less often. Voters won't miss the extra laws.

LOSING LOS ALAMOS

We noted Monday the political fix that Rep. Tom Udall finds himself in over budget cuts for Los Alamos labs in his northern NM district, but several emailers wanted to know why Udall is being singled out. "What about Pete and Heather" asked one reader referring to GOP Senator Domenici and GOP Congresswoman Wilson.

There are a multitude of political angles on the Los Alamos-Sandia Labs cuts, but the most immediate one impacted Udall. If the Senate does not restore the money, each member of our congressional delegation will be the target of finger pointing, and each will do their best to avoid having that finger touch them.

THE BOTTOM LINES

KRQE-TV wanted to follow up on our story about the letter going around to politicos asking for money for the defense fund for former state senate powerhouse Manny Aragon, but we both were having trouble tracking down Cate Stetson, the lawyer and former Bernalillo County Chairwoman who insiders say is spearheading the drive. Maybe if we spelled "Kate" as "Cate" we would have had an easier time. That's the correct spelling of her name, and here's her high-powered background...

Gerry Maestas of Española thinks we strayed Monday when we said Los Alamos labs has been over funded. "Over-funding the labs, Joe? What do you base that on? Do you have some insight to what the funding levels should have been? Or is it an anti-nuke philosophy?" Asks Gerry.

No, it isn't an anti-nuke philosophy. The statement was based on the insight of former congressional aides who think Los Alamos, unlike other defense agencies, was spared budget cuts at the end of the Cold War when they should have been weaned from some federal dollars...

We welcome your news and comments. Email them in, and thanks for stopping by.

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Rep.Udall
If Tom Udall is looking for the rest of the state's congressional delegation to bail him out over impending budget cuts for Los Alamos national labs, he may find himself wading in water up to his hips. The northern NM Democrat, whose district includes storied Los Alamos, stands to take a political hit for being unable to stop budget cuts for Los Alamos and ABQ's Sandia Labs expected to pass the US House as soon as this week. This, despite Udall landing a powerful spot earlier this year on the House Appropriations Committee. He called for a summit with his fellow lawmakers in a Friday letter saying, "We need a bipartisan, statewide effort to ensure our scientists have the funding needed to do the nation's work in the post-Cold War, post-9/11 world. I believe we need an open discussion about the best way our labs can diversify their missions."

Even Udall's fellow Dem, US Senator Jeff Bingaman, gave a tepid response to that not so subtle call for help, saying "it makes sense" but the job right now is to do what Udall could not do in the House--stop as much as the cuts as possible.

Udall may be unfairly shouldering the burden of the Los Alamos cuts that have the air of inevitability after years of over funding the labs, but it is happening on his watch and it is his political skills being scrutinized.

WEATHER CHANGE

One of our media Alligators checks in with the news that TV viewers will no longer be seeing Rick De Reyes, KOB-TV weatherman, grace their screens. "His contract was not renewed," reports our informer of De Reyes who worked the El Paso and L.A. markets before coming to KOB where he spent three years.

THE CAPITOL CRIME WAVE

The seemingly devil may care attitude toward the Santa Fe crime wave by Mayor David Coss, the city manager and the city council is so glaring that the New Mexican is bringing up the subject of recalling the elected officials. And why not? Coss and Company have in their hands the reputation of our nationally treasured capitol city as well as one of the nation's premier tourist destinations.

"If anyone ought to be facing a vote of no confidence, it’s the council and the mayor-- and there are recall provisions in the city charter. The longer they put off a heart-to-heart community meeting on the most basic of public services, the sooner someone’s going to challenge their taking up space in City Hall."

The mayor and company may want to change their modus operandi which seems to be "carpe mañana."

There is no cause to celebrate the crime rate in Albuquerque either. The meth heads continue on the rampage, giving Mayor Chavez cause not to coast, not to mention his chief of police. Please don't blame it on the budget. ABQ taxpayers are funding public safety agencies at record levels.

THE PETE BEAT

The inability of state Dems to put up a first-tier candidate to take on GOP Senator Domenici has the WaPo's political handicapper, lowering Pete's vulnerability a notch. "The Fix" now has Domenici as the 10th most vulnerable senator for re-election in '08, down from the ninth slot.

"After a huge hubbub over his involvement in the firing of former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias, things have calmed down somewhat for Domenici. But the "no confidence" measure on Attorney General Gonzales that came before the the Senate produced a story about whether Domenici should have recused himself from the vote. Not good. Still, Domenici has a lot of good will in the state, so it's hard to imagine that if he runs for reelection that any serious Democrat will emerge to challenge him. In an open-seat scenario, however, all bets are off."

NM Dem chair Brian Colón says he continues to meet with potential challengers to Domenici as precious weeks of fund-raising time melt away.

MONEY FOR MANNY
Aragon
If you're a politico who has received a plea for funds to help former NM State Senator powerhouse Manny Aragon pay his legal bills, you're not alone. Several insiders report that they've received a letter inviting them to be part of Manny's "loyalty club" and kick in a couple of hundred bucks for his defense fund. Aragon was indicted earlier this year on corruption charges. His trial is not set to begin for another year. Insiders say that longtime Aragon friend and Dem party politico Cate Stetson is behind the fund drive. Meanwhile, friends say Manny has been laying low, spending much of his time at his ABQ South Valley residence.

Send your news and comments via the email link at the top of the page and help keep the politics coming.

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