Some may view it as a step down and perhaps a lost opportunity but John Sanchez, the 2002 GOP nominee for governor, thinks a run for the 2010 GOP nod for lieutenant governor is just the right fit. He tossed his hat into the ring for the #2 spot on the GOP ticket Thursday, making it a four way race with ABQ State Senator Kent Cravens, former Clayton area state Rep. Brian Moore and Santa Fe radiologist J.R. Damron. (ABQ nurse Bea Sheridan earlier announced a run, but has since dropped it, say party insiders.)

But it was another guv run, the prospect of which was first raised here, that the state's political community was most anxious about when it came to Sanchez, a successful roofing contractor who created a splash in 2000 when he upset NM House Speaker Raymond Sanchez for his ABQ North Valley legislative seat. John Sanchez served just one term before securing the 2002 GOP guv nomination. He faced off with an unbeatable Bill Richardson and third party candidate David Bacon. Sanchez scored 39 percent to Bill's 55 percent. Bacon came in with 5 percent.

Sanchez was a political greenhorn then, but he gained valuable campaign experience and name ID from the 2002 fray. He says his decision to seek the second banana spot is motivated largely by a desire to avoid more divisiveness in the GOP than already exists. There are currently four candidates seeking the GOP Guv nod. From our phone conversation with Sanchez:

Joe, this is all about winning. We have a culture of corruption and state spending out of control. We thought it would be in the best interest of the party and the state that I seek the lieutenant governor nomination...My getting in the governor's race would make it even more divisive.

Still, it is Sanchez's private enterprise success--apparently done with not much in the way of government contracts--that give him Guv appeal as the state faces the prospect of rebuilding its jobs base after a brutal recession. But running for Guv would subject Sanchez and his business interests to an intense negative campaign by the Dems. The heat is not as hot when seeking the light guv nod.

Sanchez, who will turn 47 next month, will be formidable. He told us he is prepared to self-finance his light guv effort, but quickly added that he also has a list of 3,000 past supporters to call on. Sen. Cravens and Moore are also high quality contenders so this is going to be a fun race to monitor.

For the Dems, they can be seen as dodging a bullet because Sanchez decided to shoot low.

Are there any more potential surprises before they wave the flag to formally start this 2010 Guv race? It doesn't seem likely on the Dem side as Diane Denish is putting all the pieces together, but there is still some rumbling going on in the R camp about yet another possible late entry. We'll keep you posted.

STILL AROUND

Gary Johnson, the governor John Sanchez was hoping to succeed in 2002, is back in the 2009 headlines. The Politico wonders if Johnson will emerge as a 2012 libertarian type presidential candidate.

NEW US ATTORNEY
Greg Fouratt
It was a real eyebrow raiser of a speech from US Attorney Greg Fouratt Thursday at the ABQ Economic Forum. Fouratt indicated that he knew who President Obama was going to name to replace him, that he and New Mexicans in general would be pleased with the choice and that the new US Attorney would be on the job in February or March, assuming US Senate confirmation by then.

All this raised the question of how Fouratt, 44, apparently knows who will be his replacement. That announcement is traditionally reserved for the senior senator of the president's party. In this case, that would be Sen. Jeff Bingaman Did Jeff let the cat out of the bag, or is Fouratt speaking out of school?

Fouratt has been at the center of a political storm. The Dems have feared replacing him because of the ongoing federal investigations he has launched into pay to play corruption. Appointing a US Attorney in the middle of these probes is seen as politically sensitive, but now that the White House is ready to move--insiders tell me they have five names on a short list to pick from---are they seeking approval from Fouratt to avoid criticism from him? As weird as that may seem, if Fouratt does indeed already know who will be the next US Attorney, it is not an illogical assumption.

Fouratt is a Republican and one assumes that his replacement will be a Democrat. Whatever the case, Senator Bingaman may want to check his business cards to see that they still say that he's the Senior Senator. After Mr. Fouratt's speech, filled with exclusive info, one wonders who is in charge of announcing what when it comes to the federal establishment around here.

ALLIGATOR INSIGHT

From a Senior Alligator at the Fouratt speech at the Economic Forum:

(ABQ Mayor) RJ Berry was there and so was (Chief Administrative Officer) David Campbell. Berry sauntered in alone, comfortable and sat in the back of the room. No entourage, no body guard. It is a big change.

That unpretentiousness may turn out to be one of the mayor's best assets, especially in sour economic times. But that doesn't mean Berry is without security all together. From yet another Alligator:

Hey Joe, Don't be mislead by your senior alligator re: no security detail for the mayor. Just because they don't walk in with him doesn't mean they aren't lurking in the bushes outside...

Rep. Campos
Don't call Joe Campos a giant killer, but his second place showing in a straw poll in Sandoval County Thursday night did recast the crowded race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor and got the Santa Rosa state representative right in the thick of things.

The straw vote, taken among the Democratic Women of Sandoval County and the Sandoval County Democratic Club, had Brian Colon winning with 39 votes, but Campos' second place showing with 30 ballots was the surprise. Lawrence Rael, who is second in raising money behind Colon came in third with 27 votes, followed in fourth by State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino with 25. State Senator Linda Lopez claimed 11 straw vote ballots. Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano did not compete.

Insiders have been framing the light guv contest as a two tier battle with Colon and Rael in the top tier, but the straw vote results had Campos campaign manager Carlos Trujillo spinning a new tale.

"This is going to make people take a second look at Joe Campos," Trujillo declared. And newly emboldened by his candidate's victory, he fired a shot at Colon and Rael who have never held elective office. The lieutenant governor's position is "no place for on the job training," zinged the operative.

Campos is chairman of the House Voters and Elections Committee. He has close ties to House Speaker Ben Lujan. Carlos Trujillo was the campaign manager for Ben Ray Lujan's 2008 congressional campaign. Ben Ray, of course, is Ben Lujan's son.

Campos, who also serves as mayor of Santa Rosa, made his first move to prove he was serious when he loaned his campaign $100,000. Now the results of the straw poll could help his fund-raising and also quiet talk that Campos would get out of the race in time to run for his state House seat.

For Colon and Rael is was the proverbial wake-up call. Stay tuned.

THE SANTA FE CUTS

Before she left to begin a new job in D.C., Human Services Secretary Pamela Hyde warned beneficiaries of Medicaid--the medical insurance plan for the state's poor--that serious cutbacks may be coming in services because of state budget woes.

If you live in ABQ or Santa Fe the face of New Mexican poverty is not as evident, but travel around this state and you are going to see real need. Some emailers ask if Sec. Hyde has been aggressive enough in cutting administrative expenses and whether State Auditor Hector Balderas and Attorney General Gary King are being aggressive enough in going after Medicaid fraud.

We know Gary and Hector aren't great fans of one another, but working together (joint task force?) they might be able to find millions in Medicaid fraud--money wrongfully going out the door and that could go directly to medical services and avoid some of these cuts. (The AG's office already has a Medicaid fraud division.)

AVOIDING THE PITFALLS
Falls
We can't think of a cabinet secretary who is going to be more challenged in the new year than Katie Falls, who takes over from Secretary Hyde.

Falls had been HSD deputy secretary before Bill elevated her to secretary. She has been with the department since 2003. She worked for the Department of Health from 1995 to 2000 and before that with Navajo Indian Health Services. The North Carolina native comes to the cabinet with a Master's in social work from Smith College.

While Falls has a long background in delivering health care and welfare services, is she able to crack the budget whip on vendors and her own agency heads? Can she embrace efforts to clamp down on fraud? She will not only be expected to find ways to lessen the impact of Medicaid cuts in poverty-ridden New Mexico, but to ensure that private companies are delivering what the state is paying for.

There's not much room for error and not much coasting to be done in some of these top government jobs anymore, not when the standard of health for thousands of people is at risk. With that said, welcome aboard, Secretary Falls.

WHAT TURNAROUND?


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Don't expect New Mexico's top lobbyists to be front and center in next month's legislative session. The state faces a severe fiscal crisis and Roundhouse veterans say a good lobbyist knows when to be seen, and this is not one of those times.

The lobbyists will be on hand, of course. They are part of the Santa Fe furniture. Lawmakers come and go but year after year and session after session, the lobbying corps returns. Those around for decades are part of the institutional memory of the place. The best ones don't like to see their names bandied about much, so some of them will cringe to see themselves listed here as we today update the list of key Roundhouse wall-leaners.

Business has been good, but not booming for the lobbying contingent. We're told that most are holding on to the clients they've got, but adding new ones is a challenge as all companies appraise their bottom lines in a tough economy. A top level lobbyist in New Mexico can gross over $250,000 a year. It is a lucrative, but often maddening job, dealing with often hard to handle personalities and new ethics rules, that, if violated, can quickly damage a career.

There's also the significant down time between sessions. There are interim committee meetings to attend, but if you're an action junkie, the lobbyist life, while lucrative, can also be filled with weeks of monotony.

THE A LIST

The dean of the lobbying corps is attorney Bob McBride, longtime lobbyist for tobacco company Altria, and a former district court judge and state senator who has been lobbying for decades. Another former state senator and attorney, Tom Rutherford, also makes the list of lobbying notables with clients like Chevron Mining. Former state rep and attorney Dick Minzner is another key player with the University of New Mexico is among his clients. Former Santa Fe state Senator Roman Maes is a familiar sight at the Roundhouse, representing Qwest and others.

Former ABQ State Rep. Tom Horan followed his father into the lobbying game and continues to maintain a lengthy list of clients, including Presbyterian Hospital and Sandia Pueblo. Domonic Silva, son of former ABQ State Rep. Dan Silva, is based in Las Cruces. His clients include NM State University.

It's true that being a former lawmaker gives a lobbyist unique understanding, but it's not a requirement. Also on the list of leading wall-leaners is Dan Weaks who with wife Marla Shoats represents clients like the NM Hospital Association and Bernalillo County. Scott Scanland once sought a seat in the Legislature and today counts Sunland Park Racetrack and Pfizer among his long list of clients.

MORE LOBBYIST A LIST
Lobbyist Mahr
Robert Rivera handles lobbying chores for Ruidoso Downs, and is another Roundhouse denizen insiders point out as being politically savvy. Dan Najar, rarely quoted in public, is another longtime lobbyist who has built a thriving lobbying business that includes clients Intel and Lovelace Healthy Systems. Ed Mahr, 70, is on retainer for the Downs at ABQ and General Electric, among others. He also knows how the media works, having long ago served as the managing editor of the ABQ Journal.

Butch Maki worked for Big Bill before he became governor. His lobbying firm has been high profile at the Roundhouse during the Richardson years with lobbyists like Mark Fleisher representing SunCal and others also playing prominent roles.

Other names that have achieved longevity and results in the lobbying game include attorney John Lee Thompson, Joe Menapace who reps AT&T and J.D. Bullington, who reps numerous clients, including Laguna Development Corp.

Single issue lobbyists of note include Vanessa Alarid, a former executive director of the NM Dem Party, spearheads SunCal's lobbying efforts. Leanne Leith and Sandy Buffet of Conservation Voters NM are leading liberal lobbyists.

Lobbying has grown much more professional in Santa Fe in recent years, and perhaps not quite as much fun. Back in days of yore, leading legislators would hold forth at their favorite bar rooms, fueled by endless rounds of expensive liquor gladly paid for by whatever lobbyist was handy. Today campaign contributions to fund the ever more expensive legislative campaigns is the most common way lobbyists show support. And with a more demanding public and ever more complicated legislation facing state legislators, lobbying is a much more sober undertaking than those days of long ago.

ON THE SCENE

We crashed the gate at Dem light guv candidate Brian Colon's fund-raiser last night. We couldn't wait to see what the historic Armijo House (most recently the Maria Teresa restaurant) on the edge of ABQ's Old Town looked like now that it was renovated, reopened and renamed Casa Esencia. We weren't disappointed. It's a meandering hacienda with wonderful hardwood floors and restored adobe walls that invite you to linger far longer than you intend.

Party goers distributed themselves in cozy rooms in two wings of the Casa which began life in 1783 as the home of Salvador Armijo and has been on the National Register of Historic Places since 1976. Sadly, the property sat vacant for five years after the restaurant went bust in 2004, but Heritage Hotels and Resorts which operates the Hotel ABQ next door has brought it back to to life, not as a museum, but as a a home to be enjoyed and shared. A tip of the hat to them.

It was appropriate that we ran into Clara Apodaca, foundation director for the National Hispanic Cultural Center, another building that has breathed new life into a ABQ neighborhood. We told the former first lady (75-79) we'd like a tour to get updated. She agreed and said lunch at the center's La Fonda del Bosque would also be on the agenda.

At Casa Esencia there was no shortage of history to breathe in or food to accompany the festivities. Brian's wife, Aleli, told us there were five food stations set up throughout the home. No, we did not visit all five. But properly sated, we headed into the Old Town night and thought of the fast approaching Christmas season, much like Salvador Armijo may have done on the same spot and on a similar evening over two centuries ago...

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Heinrich & Barela
ABQ GOP congressional candidate Jon Barela has to keep his foot on the gas for the final weeks of fundraising for '09. That's because his race against freshman Dem US Rep. Martin Heinrich is not yet considered a must-watch contest--either here or in Washington. Barela had a so-so first quarter, picking up $107,000, compared to Heinrich's $238,000. Insiders on both sides say the attorney needs to come with more muscle in the December quarter if the race is going to hit the radar screens and become seriously targeted by national R's.

Heinrich had over $600,000 in cash at the end of September, a formidable, but not an insurmountable advantage if Barela can start playing catch-up. If he falls too far behind too early, the money could dry up. One saving grace for Barela: the uncertain environment. If a strong anti-incumbent mood remains next year, he would not need as much money as usual to mount a credible challenge.

So what does Barela need to show on his January report? Well, a dip below his previous $107,000 would be deadly. Alligators in the know say a strong showing would be in the neighborhood of $200,000.

HEINRICH POSITIONING

And how about that support from Heinrich for Obama's plan to first expand then reduce the American troop presence in Afghanistan?

President Obama articulated both the necessary resources and a clear strategy to accomplish our goals in Afghanistan and the region...This is a critical step forward, and frankly, it should have taken place years ago.”

Liberal Democrats are especially disappointed with Martin. They are not alone. The war has voters divided, but Heinrich's decision to give Obama his backing probably plays well in a general election in what is still largely a centrist district and one with a large military presence. It also deprives Barela of a rallying cry for his fellow R's.

Another point. Liberal Dems have had some success primarying some state legislative Democrats, but when it comes to national issues, the progressives here have been flaccid. Heinrich faces no Dem primary challenger, giving him more wiggle room and keeping him in the center as he prepares for his first re-election test.

That leaves the question of turnout on the table and keeps Barela hoping. If the Democratic base voters are turned off by Heinrich's new found centrism, perhaps they stay home next November, exaggerating conservative strength.

DI'S REPRIEVE?

She won't be what you would call a distant memory, but insiders who have been saying here that the GOP race for governor is about to take a turn away from attacking Diane Denish seem to have it right.

The ABQ Journal's Sean Olson reports GOP Guv contender and Dona Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez came with the first negative barrage. She says of competitor Allen Weh: "I will never speak ill of him, but I do not believe that at the end of the day that he can defeat Diane Denish in the November election.

That would be retired Marine colonel and former GOP NM party chairman Allen Weh. He responded to the attack by saying "it's a shame."

It's s prelude of what's to come and it is likely to give Denish a bit of a breather from the early assaults of campaign '10.

One other note. It's no surprise that Martinez is doing the attacking. Republicans in the know have pegged Weh as the early front runner for the 2010 GOP Guv nod as he is the only Anglo conservative in the contest and has the personal wealth to finance a campaign. Candidates Arnold-Jones and Turner hope the Weh-Martinez infighting will give them a shot at the nomination by shooting it up the middle.

ON THE TRAIL

Weh did not show up at the conservative Rio Grande Foundation's governor forum last week. Neither did Martinez or Dem Denish. But the two lesser known GOP hopefuls--ABQ State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones and ABQ PR executive Doug Turner--did make it. One of our Alligators gives us an insider's take:

It was a full house....I estimate well over 100 people. Allen Weh had his campaign manager give a short speech...Lots of Marine stuff--two purple hearts, wounded in Vietnam, Iraq tour, etc. She also emphasized that she was going to get Weh to tone down the "take a bat to Santa Fe" language.

Janice Arnold-Jones and Doug Turner were center stage. No real upsets on either side. The applause was polite, strong for both, and consistent.

Doug is very articulate and had some factual knowledge about state government that was generally well received. He appeared stronger than Janice at times, but maybe because he is a man. However, he sure did not give the impression that he has ever had calluses on his hands...

Janice was fine...She emphasized the mess that the state is in. You know the topics---pay to play, corruption, cronyism, etc. She played her "I am an experienced representative" card a few times. Fine, but didn't light any fires... Turner in my mind was just a little more intellectual (worldly) than Janice, but overall it was a draw.

Your unpaid Alligator.

Thanks for that, but what's with the "unpaid" moniker. Are the Alligators feeling the recession? Maybe there's a rumor going around that we are now paying our Gators. We've seen a marked increase in the number of requests lately to be named one. Especially off-putting are those under the age of 45 pressuring to be named a "Senior Alligator." Hey, we know these are somewhat desperate times and it is the Christmas season, but there are still some things that can't be bought.

For the record, a Senior Alligator is at least 45, has at least 20 years experience in La Politica--preferably consecutively--has given us over the years two major, exclusive and accurate political stories and has (preferably) sought and lost political office either as a candidate or campaign operative (We learn more from losing).

Unless you meet these qualifications and then some, don't expect to see a note in your Christmas stocking awarding you coveted Senior Alligator status.

MANAGING THINGS

And another GOP Guv note. This one from Arnold Jones:

....Arnold-Jones has brought in Steve Kush, of Kush and Associates, a political consulting firm that has worked races throughout the country. Most recently Kush served as a political director for New Jersey Governor-Elect Chris Christie’s campaign. Kush will assume the duties of campaign manager.

NOT MUCH ACTION

There's a bunch of 2010 races for governor across the USA, but New Mexico's doesn't even make the list of the top 15 most competitive ones, says the WaPo's political analyst.

That's good news for the Dems and Denish. It will make fund-raising outside of the state more difficult for the eventual GOP nominee. It also dampers public interest in the contest. Of course, any polling showing Denish in trouble will get the animal spirits aroused and the R's into this thing.

Denish continues to mix in a high-dollar fundraiser or two, along with many cheaper priced events to appeal to donors in a weak economy. Today at 5:30 she will be at ABQ's Artichoke Cafe seeking $1,000 donations. From the email:

We invite you to support Lt. Gov. Denish by becoming a Member or Renewing your Membership in the Denish Cabinet. Membership--$1,000 per person

ETHNIC GAP OR NOT?

ABQ blog reader Peter Ives writes of our sympathy toward an Hispanic Education Act as proposed by Big Bill:

What we are really seeing is...a bit of ethnic grandstanding by the Guv. Outside of bilingual education, which NM has already addressed in law, what's the point of this Act? Passing a redundant law will not help anyone "focus."

Also, the ethnic statistics Sec. of Education Garcia quotes are grossly misleading without an economic-class component. That kind of breakout (per each ethnic group) would truly show where any "focus" might be needed...Easier to fawn over simple minded ethnic categories than to suggest that the culture of poverty might have more to do with the "achievement gap" than the culture of ethnicity. One wonders how low-income Anglo students compare to middle and upper-middle income Hispanics? Where are those stats?

A valid point. Let's ask Secretary Garcia's office to give us those stats--if they have them--and we'll blog back. The Journal is doing a good, long series on the "achievement gap"and hit with their latest installment Sunday.

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