Heather Wilson may be cleaning John Sanchez's clock in the race for the GOP US Senate nomination, but if she gets past the lieutenant governor old problems loom for her and the Republican Party. Her most likely opponent is ABQ Dem US Rep. Martin Heinrich and he would start their face-off as the favorite:

Heinrich leads Wilson 47-40, a margin pretty much identical to the 47-42 PPP found when it last polled the race in June.

It is still a long way to go, but each poll is closer to the actual election thus taken more seriously.

Heather, a former five term ABQ congresswoman who held the seat Heinrich now occupies, has high name ID, so running behind Heinrich in the early going demonstrates the baggage she has with the electorate. Some 46% of the electorate have a negative opinion of Wilson. Heinrich, not as well known as Wilson, has negatives of only 35%. If she gets the nomination, she will have a difficult time erasing the opinions already held about her. That means she will have to win by tearing Heinrich down through negative campaigning.

Interestingly, underdog GOP contender Sanchez doesn't do much worse than Heather against Heinrich:

Heinrich leads Sanchez by 11 points at 48-37 and Greg Sowards by 18 at 49-31. (Dem US Senate candidate) Hector Balderas leads Sanchez by 7 points at 41-34 and Sowards by 14 at 44-30.

As for Hector Vs. Heather:

If Balderas was the Democratic nominee it looks like Republican prospects for picking up the seat would be a little better. He and Wilson tie at 43% each, as she wins independents by 20 points at 49-29.

The PPP poll is Dem-oriented but has a respected track record. It conducted its poll this past weekend using automatic phone calls.

The state GOP (aka Susana consultant Jay McCleskey) wasn't buying and decided to attack the messenger:

PPP has released a poll in which Republicans only make up 29% of the sample. This does not reflect actual voter registration in the state and is a stunning 9 points less than PPP's own poll of the state in 2010, in which Republicans comprised 38% of the survey sample. There is no explanation for reducing the GOP in the survey, except that this is a shameless attempt to cook the books for the Democrats...

Meanwhile, PPP shows Heinrich continuing to coast toward a win in the Dem US Senate June primary over State Auditor Hector Balderas. He scores 47% to Hector's 30%. That's still below the magic 50% level but tantalizingly close. Balderas is going to have to decide in a couple of months if he is going to go after Heinrich in a major way. If he attacks, he could move. But if it fails, his future political career could be endangered as a victorious Heinrich would be a dangerous Heinrich.

It's not over for Hector, but the path is rough. Here is the PPP take:

Heinrich's 47% standing is exactly where he was when we last polled this race in June, but Balderas has gained support from his 24% showing then. The key shift has been with Hispanic v0ters- Balderas has gone from a 39-36 deficit to a 41-35 advantage with them. He'll need a much bigger lead than that to offset Heinrich's 58-22 spread with whites though.

Heinrich's campaign moved to seize the momentum and put out a fund-raising plea:

This continues the trend of independent polls showing Martin with a commanding lead in this race.

PPP had some fun and threw in former GOP Guv Gary Johnson as a US Senate candidate. He does better than Heather against Heinrich, tying the congressman with 43% of the vote. Republican hearts should not jump--Gary is getting ready to get out of the GOP prez race but has ruled out running for the US Senate seat.

THE UPCOMING SESSION

It will be Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez (D-Valencia) and House Education Committee Chairman Rick Miera (D-Bernalillo) carrying the constitutional amendment to use a percentage of the the state's $12 billion Land Grant Permanent Fund for funding education and other social programs for children from birth to five years old.

The amendment would be presented to voters next November and might be the most significant bill before the lawmakers in their 30 day session that begins January 17. The measure will need a majority in both the Senate and House. The Governor's signature is not required.

The current distribution from the permanent fund is set to dip in 2013 to 5.0% of its value. That's from a peak of 5.8 percent under a constitutional amendment approved in 2003. Sanchez and Miera will propose setting the distribution at 5.5% and adding 1.5% for the early childhood programs. The fund totals around $12 billion so we are talking real money--over $100 million for each percentage point increase. The fund is mainly invested in stocks and bonds. The money it spins off goes to the state General Fund and specific beneficiaries such as the NM School for the Blind and Visually impaired..

Supporters of the amendment say the new money is needed to break the generations-old dysfunction in New Mexico families who regularly land at the bottom of the rankings in social success measurements. Critics say withdrawing more from the permanent fund would slow its growth and less money would be available in future years.

LISA BREEDEN

We were taken aback to learn of the untimely passing of Lisa Breeden, the well-liked and longtime state communications director for former NM GOP US Senator Pete Domenici. Like us, she started out in radio news here in the 70's and wound up in the colorful world of La Politica.

Before taking on chores for Pete, Lisa, a native of Oklahoma who was part Cherokee, was the assignment editor for KRQE-TV and held the same position as well as that of news director for KOAT-TV. She shined in both high-pressure positions. Her affable personality softened the most hard-nosed reporters and later earned Domenici many friends in the media and elsewhere. Most recently she served as development director for the Mind Research Institute, a group closely associated with Domenici.

Former TV news reporter Janet Blair, now PR officer for ABQ metro court, said:

She was my best friend and the sister I never had, Her passing will effect a lot of people around here who knew her and loved her. She was a wonderful friend to just about everyone she met."

Former Senator Domenici came with this statement:

Lisa joined my staff as a person with great communication skills. She left that behind to become involved with people and helping them solve their problems. She was a superstar. She loved people and thoroughly enjoyed projects like Character Counts. She cannot be replaced. There will be a big void in the hearts and minds of many people because of her passing. I will miss her, my wife Nancy and my family will miss her. We are grateful that 16 years ago she joined us.

She is survived by her husband Orlando Garcia and brother Jeff.

Lisa Breeden was five days shy of her 57th birthday when she succumbed to cancer.

That's it for this week. Thanks for stopping by.

Reporting from Albuquerque, I'm Joe Monahan

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The political news is hitting heavy, kind of like an overstuffed Christmas stocking so let's get to it.

First, a new PPP poll out on the GOP US Senate race puts Heather Wilson over the critical 50% mark and puts the pressure on Lt. Governor John Sanchez to take her down a peg. Heather leads John 55% to 20% with Greg Sowards at 6% and gadfly contender Bill English garnering 3%. The automatic phone poll was conducted this past weekend.

Wilson's favourables are nice and high--68% to 17% and she has plenty of money in the bank. Call her the clear front-runner, the lady to beat and the odds-on favorite. Just don't bet all the rent money quite yet. If national conservative groups team with Sanchez to launch an intense and negative campaign against her, we could still have a race. We just don't have one now.

And the Dem polling firm PPP tells us that Newt Gingrich is the favorite of New Mexico Republicans for the 2012 GOP Prez nomination. That reflects the flavor of the month nationally. It's Newt is at 39% Romney with 14% and former NM Guv Gary Johnson at 11%.

Nice to know, but New Mexico's June primary won't have an impact. The nominee will be known by then. And Johnson is about to get out of the race because of a lack of attention.

And then there's Big Bill. How about with the speculation from the Legal Beagles that we may never know the name of the state worker who says she was coerced into having sex with the ex-Guv and settled a potential lawsuit for a nifty quarter million bucks? The Beagles say these type of cases often keep the alleged victims name out of the public record.

The Beagles also remind everyone that while the federal grand jury investigating Bill is leaking like a sieve, there is no law preventing someone who has testified before the panel from talking to the press. But officers of the court--the attorneys etc. are sworn to secrecy.

Some secrecy downtown, huh? Are we going to be hearing about the ex-Guv's private parts soon?
Everything else is...well...being hung out there.

SHERYL'S MELTDOWN

The hot spotlight of La Politica has prompted numerous mental meltdowns over the decades. On Wednesday ABQ Dem State Rep. Sheryl Williams Stapleton, an African-American, became a member of that ignominious club. At a break during a committee hearing in Santa Fe she defamed GOP Governor Martinez, angrily shouting at Roswell GOP State Rep. Nora Espinoza:

"You're carrying the Mexican's water on the fourth floor."

The backdrop to this bizarre outburst? This:

Stapleton works as an administrator for the Albuquerque Public Schools. She said the district has a policy, almost 30 years old, of paying legislators who also are school administrators. But an Albuquerque television station did a story implying that Stapleton received special treatment and money she did not earn. Espinoza was a source in the television story and appeared on camera.

Stapleton tried to backtrack from her meltdown, but it was feeble:

She said she meant nothing by calling the governor a Mexican. "I am half black and half Spanish," Stapleton said. "I didn't mean for it to be inflammatory."

Stapleton is also the House Majority Whip and she just lost a whole lot of credibility. Following the media hits on her over the APS controversy we blogged that it appeared unlikely it would have an impact on her re-election plans for her ABQ SE Heights seat. The stories were not that damaging, but now you have to wonder anew if someone just might step up and challenge her in the June primary. If they do, Stapleton will have even more heat put on her, and yelling racial epithets is not going to make it go away. Chill, Cheryl.

More money lines from Sheryl:

“I’m pissed,” Stapleton said as she confronted Espinoza during a lunch break at the committee meeting, “I’ve been waiting for you.” Espinoza got a few words in before Stapleton said, “You said I’m corrupt. Prove it!” “I’ve been falsely and biasly accused,” Stapleton told reporters a few minutes later. “It was a biased story and my colleague added to it by saying I committed corruption.”

Bernalillo County Republicans piled on, saying:

Bernalillo County GOP Chairman Chris Collins called on State Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton to apologize for inflammatory remarks about the governor.

“Elected officials, be they Democrat or Republican are expected to be held to a higher standard and they should be. Representative Sheryl Williams Stapleton should immediately and publicly apologize to Governor Martinez for her inflammatory remark.”

Stapleton's district is heavy Dem and it is unlikely an R could take it which leads you back to wondering about a primary opponent.

ANOTHER LOSING HAND

While Sheryl was doing a Rolling Stones 19th nervous breakdown routine, something that really mattered was happening in another neighborhood of the Capitol and continues a negative trend for Susana:

The state Supreme Court ruled that Gov. Martinez illegally vetoed a bill on the state's unemployment insurance tax. Martinez struck down part of a bill that raised the tax. She left intact another part of the bill that reduced benefits. Six Democrats in the Legislature sued Martinez, a Republican, saying she overstepped her powers.

Susana has had about as much luck before the Supremes as you've had playing the Powerball.

NO CREDENTIAL PROBLEM

That university reader who questioned the academic credentials of the five finalists for the University of new Mexico presidency drew sharp retorts from others on campus. Here's one that sums it up:

Your reader commented that 4 of the 5 finalists have "non-academic advanced degrees (i.e. business and the like) from second or third tier institutions." The five candidates possess PhDs in business, clinical psychology, cardiovascular pharmacology, economics & history (2 PhD degrees), and food science & technology. Which four of these are not academic? Their PhD degrees are from the University of Nebraska, UNM, University of Texas HSC San Antonio, Cal Tech, University of Pennsylvania, and Virginia Tech, which are all of UNM's stature or better. Your ivory tower reader appears out of touch with what modern universities are all about and what constitutes an 'academic advanced degree'. I feel this is a pretty good group of candidates, and we should all be thankful that New Mexico political hacks were not included in the list of finalists.

THE BOTTOM LINES

A reader writes in on the blogging here over service at ABQ restaurants:

Perhaps the fact that waitstaff is paid a derisory minimum wage and Albuquerque diners are notoriously cheap tippers may go a long way to explaining the quality of service.
Love your blog.

Thanks, Lawrence. And we even learned a new word: derisory.

And reader Nancy Hendrickson says Mike Santullo's standards for judging service that he wrote about on Tuesday's blog are too tough:

While I understand where Mike is coming from formal service is not as important to us. We cherish being greeted like family and given hugs when we leave. A friendly greeting is more important than hovering waiters topping off water glasses.

And reader Mick wants to know:

Is there any place locally that meets Santullo's standards?

Well, we'll ask him, Mick.

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The five finalists for the presidency of UNM aren't setting the campus on fire. That's for sure. Here's some representative opinion from one of our university readers:

As we observe the selection of a new UNM President, it may interest you to know that four of the five candidates have non-academic advanced degrees (i.e. business and the like) from second or third tier institutions and that one of them was fired from a high position. The faculty are already saying "here we go again." Don't expect much good to come of this. On the other hand, the Interim Provost and Dean of Arts and Sciences are vast improvements over their predecessors. There are a lot of positive changes in the works.

UNM's troubles have been legendary the past few years--from a faculty vote of no confidence in the current president to a bizarre athletic department. With that as a backdrop, you are not going to attract presidential candidates who sizzle.

But as soon as we posted the above, other university observers defended the finalists' academic credentials:

Thanks for the great laugh by including the quotes regarding the UNM President search. Your reader commented that 4 of the 5 finalists have "non-academic advanced degrees (i.e. business and the like) from second or third tier institutions." The five candidates possess PhDs in business, clinical psychology, cardiovascular pharmacology, economics & history (2 PhD degrees), and food science & technology. Which four of these are not academic? Their PhD degrees are from the University of Nebraska, UNM, University of Texas HSC San Antonio, Cal Tech, University of Pennsylvania, and Virginia Tech, which are all of UNM's stature or better. Your ivory tower reader appears out of touch with what modern universities are all about and what constitutes an 'academic advanced degree'. I feel this is a pretty good group of candidates, and we should all be thankful that New Mexico political hacks were not included in the list of finalists.

Insiders are also closely watching the fate of David Harris, the UNM executive vice-president who has been at the center of the action (and turmoil). Hard to believe he would stay on with the new Prexy, but stranger things have happened. If he does, look for the new administration to pick up where the old one left off--with plenty of controversy.

THOSE PESKY LICENSES

Even supporters of repealing the law that allows illegal immigrants to get a New Mexico driver's licenses must be dreading the upcoming 30 day legislative session. After all, it will be third time the Guv has asked the lawmakers to take up the matter and each time it leads to ugly and divisive debate and no repeal.

There is a way out--a compromise bill that would get the ball rolling toward total repeal. Not that Susana is going to take it. She and her political team seem obsessed with getting political mileage on the repeal issue. They continually refer to an ABQ Journal poll in which 72% iof the public supports repealing the licenses. But a September poll that just crossed our computer screen from the Dem firm Lake Research is interesting. It indicates a compromise is a safe path for the politicos:

...A recent statewide survey shows overwhelming support for legislation that would subject undocumented immigrants to additional requirements in order to attain a driver’s license... Nearly two-thirds of voters (64%) support a compromise proposal that would continue to license undocumented immigrants, but subject them to additional requirements before obtaining their licenses, including strengthened identity and residency requirements, re-verification of documents and more frequent renewals, a fingerprint database for law enforcement, and additional felonies for fraud....Support for this measure is rooted in intensity, as a 52% majority supports it strongly. Just 26% of voters oppose this proposal....

The poll was conducted for Somos Un Pueblo Unido, an immigrant rights group.

Martinez thinks she has the Legislature on the defensive and she does. But if she goes a third time without winning, does she start to look ineffective? Of more consequence is the rhetoric surrounding the issue. If it continues to be heated and divisive, does it start to backfire on her?

The issue has been effective for Martinez because this is an angry electorate, upset about the economy and looking to assign blame. The licenses plays right into that mood. But the reality is that illegal immigration into the state has taken a nosedive since the onset of the recession.

Martinez might have won repeal of the licenses by first supporting the compromise measure and then coming back in future sessions for more. But the way her political team has gone after Dems who supported a compromise (e.g. Rep. Bill O'Neill) it's clear the Fourth Floor (and Fifth) is more interested in the political gain--not the legislative win.

This is the dichotomy between political consulting and governing. In the consulting world it is winner take all. In the governing word, it is winner take some. Until Martinez is willing to recognize the distinction, this is an administration that will remain stuck in the mud when it comes to enacting a legislative program that matters and will be remembered.

To that point, there is a sign or two that Susana may be getting it....

GOVERNOR COMPROMISE?

Those hoping for any kind of progress on the education front will join with the Las Cruces-Sun News and its praise for the Guv's second bite out of the apple on the bill to improve third grade reading scores.

We are pleased to see that Gov. Susana Martinez has pared down and refocused her school reform efforts designed to ensure that students master reading by the end of the third grade. Unlike this year's legislation, the new bill would limit the number of third-graders who could be held back to 4,000 a year, and those students could only be held back one year. Perhaps most important, officials at the state's 89 school districts would all be consulted before the final details of the bill are written. There should be no surprised with what finally emerges from that process.

Maybe if she gets this through the Legislature in the January session the Governor will see the benefits of compromise? As we've said, getting major legislation approved has been a glaring weakness in her first year on the job.

BILL PROBE

A reader writes:

In your Tuesday blog , you posted the following:

"One of our reliable Alligators checking in wonders if we are on the cusp of something politically explosive: Did anyone get immunity or take a plea deal? If there were indeed plea bargains on the part of aides associated with Bill, it will send strong shock waves through the state Democratic Party.

The answer to that question seems to appear in the December 1 Wall Street Journal article on the Richardson probe, a link to which was included in your blog on December 2. That article states:

"Several of Mr. Richardson's close associates have been granted immunity from prosecution in exchange for their testimony before the panel in Albuquerque, the people said."

Thanks for that reminder. The article did not talk about any plea bargains being struck by Richardson aides, but that also remains the subject of intense speculation.

HUCK TO ABQ

A GOP heavy-hitter is headed into town:

Former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee will keynote the 2012 campaign kickoff event for the Right to Life Committee of New Mexico (RTLNM). “An Evening with Governor Mike Huckabee” will be held at 6:00PM the evening of Thursday, January 12, 2012 at Sandia Resort.

COMING ABOARD
Smith
The ABQ GOP congressional campaign of retired Army Seargent Gary Smith is bringing aboard some national experience:

The campaign has retained Tyler Harber of the Prosper Group for general consulting and strategic counsel. The Prosper Group is a top Republican consulting firm that has earned numerous awards for its work with campaigns all over the country, recently including Scott Brown (MA-Sen)...Paul Hatch of 101 Strategy Partners will serve as the campaign’s finance consultant, focusing on national major donor operations and campaign finance strategies.

Smith has seeded his campaign with $50,000 0f his own cash. He is competing for the nomination against ABQ City Councilor Dan Lewis and former State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones. Their fund-raising has been anemic in part because of continued speculation that Jon Barela, the state economic development chief and 2010 GOP congress nominee, could get in the race.

THE BOTTOM LINES

Conan O'Brien: "During Saturday's debate, Michele Bachmann kept referring to Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich as Newt Romney. Experts say it's the closest she's come to endorsing gay marriage."

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The ABQ Federal grand jury investigating Bill Richardson for allegedly having a sexual relationship with a state worker and then paying hush money to keep it quiet is leaking like a sieve. Numerous news stories reveal confidential information about the probe. (Can't Dem US Attorney Ken Gonzales keep a lid on things over there?). None of it is confirmed but it seems more potent than the other investigations of Bill that have come and gone. One of our reliable Alligators checking in wonders if we are on the cusp of something politically explosive:

Did anyone get immunity or take a plea deal? If there were indeed plea bargains on the part of aides associated with Bill, it will send strong shock waves through the state Democratic Party.

Richardson aides copping pleas? If true, the R's will act like they're on Ecstasy and the case will shadow the 2012 election here.

News reports have said the woman in question was paid $250,000 to keep quiet and that the money was wired to her lawyers from a bank in Mexico.

The I-Phones and Blackberries are working overtime as the guessing game intensifies over who the woman is at the center of the potential scandal. She has been identified as a state employee. Was she a member of Richardson's staff. An advisor? Hmm....

Speculation is rampant that if there are to be any indictments in the case, they will come by the end of the year.

And then there are the guffaws. Was Big Bill really so careless as to have an affair with a staffer and then agree to sign off on a huge hush money payment? If so, it would be a mistake of epic proportions in a lengthy political career marked by careful planning and with "cover your ass" as his working slogan for day-to day-governing,

If all of this results in an indictment it will roil the waters for the 2012 election. But if this is another case of the Feds teasing and coming up empty-handed, there will be some serious questions to ask about their modus operandi. Stay tuned.

PERMANENT MONEY

A reader says we need to put aside for a moment that proposal to increase the draw down from the state's $12 billion permanent fund to fund early childhood education programs aimed at breaking the generational cycle of dysfunction in New Mexico. Eduardo Holguin of the National Education Association writes that keeping what is currently coming out of that fund and into the general budget each year is at risk:

That 5.8% distribution from the Land Grant Permanent Fund currently going to schools will soon be a fleeting memory if the Legislature does not act to put a Constitutional Amendment before the voters in 2012 to keep the distribution at 5.8%. If the Legislature does not act or if the voters do not vote to keep it at 5.8%, it will drop to 5.5% in 2013 and to 5% in 2017. This means a $30 Million hole in public schools funding in 2013 and another $50 Million on top of that in 2017 for legislators to fill. This also affects the other recipients such as the state universities, NMMI, School for the Deaf and the School for the Visually Impaired among others.

Thanks, Eduardo, We well remember the 2003 special election that increased the draw down of the permanent funds to pay for higher teacher pay and other educational needs. We were supposed to be able to do without the increased amount begging around now, but then along came the worst recession in modern state history.

We haven't heard if the legislative leadership plans on putting this before the voters in November of 2012. If they don't, they will be betting on a stronger economic recovery than the one we are getting.

IDEA BANK

Former Dem State Senator Roman Maes, now a lobbyist, said here recently New Mexico need to challenge itself to come up with ideas that will lead to a better economy. Jon Hendry, president of the State Federation of Labor, says he welcomes the challenge:

--Level the playing field with combined reporting. It shouldn't just be NM based companies that pay corporate tax.

--Issue bonds while rates are at historic lows to allow cops, firefighter, teachers and state employees to refinance there residences. And while we're in bonds why don't we offer say $200m to contractors to buy foreclosed properties and remodel them for sale?

--Let's get some of these half finished projects ( for example the Anasazi building on 5th and Central in ABQ) moving. We're well under our capacity at the various state bonding agencies.

--Move all state funds from National to State Banks. Better yet set up a State Bank like North Dakota. We have an average of $3 billion in B of A, the official state bank. Imagine what that would do for NM Banks.

--Let the Tourism dept place there own ads and the ads for other departments That could double the ad buy because of the savings in commissions.

--Tell the State Investment Council that they need to hire someone to act like a shareholder and and encourage the companies that we invest in to hold a minimum hold meetings here (good for tourism) open branch offices or buy NM goods. At the very least we can exact some jobs from the companies we invest in.

--Fill state jobs already budgeted. This isn't the time to be running up surpluses based on employee savings.

--Remember ABQ Mayor Berry's sportsplex? Put it at the State Fair.

Thanks for the food for thought, Jon.

More ideas? Email 'em in. And speaking of food....

FOODIE CORNER
Mike Santullo
It started when we complimented the Hotel Andaluz in downtown ABQ on their Sunday brunch service. That led to ABQ attorney Jeff Baker wondering why restaurant service in ABQ is so generally off the mark. And that brings us to today and a response from talk radio pioneer and longtime New Mexico foodie Mike Santullo:

As far as service, Albuquerque is one of the worst dining locales in the United States. One of the chief reasons is that many of the local restaurants have “absentee owners" and the staffs don't get the proper training or direction necessary to ensure good service.

Additionally, many of these locales lack an adult at the helm. Entire restaurants are left to “kids” to manage. So you have kids managing kids. Many of these young people do not know what it is to sit down and enjoy a genuine dining experience which includes attentiveness to the customer.

There is also a lack of “quality control” by management and a lack of “re-training” which is frequently necessary at many restaurants. Also, many of the menu items are priced too high for this market thus forcing diners to leave a smaller tip.

There are also good reasons why Santa Fe’s restaurants rank higher in customer service. The capital city is a well-known “international” dining and tourist destination. It attracts a more skilled crop of food specialists, including expertly trained chefs that take the dining experience more seriously.

If the dining public is willing to accept mediocre service and not demand better, that is exactly what they deserve. Service in this city will never improve until we as consumers start insisting that it be the rule rather than the exception.

Well said, Mike. It reminds us of the old laugh line about service in certain restaurants around here: "Order everything all at once because you're only going to see them once."

THE BOTTOM LINES

"I have not failed, I've just found ten thousand ways that won't work." – Thomas Edison

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That old western saying "whiskey is for drinking and water is for fighting" is part of the political lexicon around these parts, so why isn't there much fighting over the doings at the agency that governs the use of water in the state's big metro? There is certainly plenty happening, much of it is not very good for water consumers and worth fighting over. An Alligator quenches our thirst for more info and comes with this insider report:

City water rates and the water utility used to be one of the more controversial matters at City Hall. But ever since then-Senate Leader Manny Aragon ripped control of the utility out of the city's hands and placed it with the "Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility Authority" water issues--and the water utility--have dropped off the political radar. That's something of a surprise given the importance of the subject to our high desert metropolis.

A water rate increase that ranged from 9-19% drew some media attention this past summer, but mostly parroted the Water Authority line that there hadn't been a rate increase in some time. The rate increase was something of a one-two punch. It arrived with the news that the Water Authority's bond rating had been downgraded because of the high level of debt the utility has incurred and has ratepayers on the hook for.

This week it was reported the Authority's sewer treatment plant is under an Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) order because of violations that range from too much chlorine and ammonia being pumped into the Rio Grande to electrical hazards and holes in the floors of the facility.

Authority officials cite the age of the treatment plant as the reason the EPA has stepped in and say they will need $250 million--an additional rate increases--in order to fix the problems and get the Feds off their case. But some of the issues the EPA cites, such as "failures in equipment maintenance, emergency planning and record keeping," may indicate a lack of management and oversight rather than a lack of money.

Not so long ago, issues like these could mean political death to a mayor or city councilor because they were responsible for the city's water system. The mayor still has a seat on the Authority, but how many people know that? Who is and who actually runs the Water Authority?

Out of sight might be out of mind. But with government bureaucracies that's rarely a good thing..

Interesting stuff. As to who runs the water board, the governing board is composed of Bernalillo County commissioners, ABQ city councilors and the mayor. The longtime executive director is Mark Sanchez, one of the highest compensated public officials in the state.

NEWT AND HEATHER

If Newt Gingrich can take command of the GOP presidential nomination contest basically overnight, what does that mean for the NM GOP US Senate race, if anything?

Well, it means we can't adopt the conventional wisdom that the race is in the bag for Heather Wilson and that Lt. Governor John Sanchez might as well give up. The lesson may be that Republican primary voters are looking for what they deem the true conservative candidate and that Wilson--despite a commanding lead in the early going--could still be vulnerable.

Wilson lost the 2008 US Senate nod to the more conservative Steve Pearce. She may have thought that she was out of danger in 2012, but the rise of Newt again raises the specter. In other words, don't put the GOP US Senate race to bed just yet.

DOWNS DOINGS

The digging on the down and dirty Downs deal continues. Michael Corwin of the liberal Independent Source PAC came Friday with fresh info on campaign contributions to the Governor from the Louisiana owners of the Downs:

We found more contributions from the Louisiana owners of the Downs to Governor Martinez after she was elected. We also looked a little bit deeper into their backgrounds. Also, a bit on Goff getting to help amend the contract. It now looks to me like Susana went to bat on this one for the Louisiana boys not for Paul Blanchard, the former president of the Downs who was a close political and personal associate of former Gov. Richardson and who retains an ownership interest in the racino.

Corwin's PAC filed a bid-rigging complaint with US Attorney Kenneth Gonzales who says he has forwarded it to the FBI.

The newspaper hit with a weekend front-pager also detailing the Louisiana money connection and also covering some of the NM GOP connections to the Downs deal that have been previously talked about here (That would be Pat, Mickey, Darren, Jay and the gang).

The state Board of Finance is expected to give final approval to the 25 year lease deal for the Downs which also includes approval of a new $20 million casino that neighborhood groups have opposed. The bid-rigging charge stems from the short time frame--30 days--that the state fair commission solicited bids to build the Downs racino. Was that done to ensure that there would be few bidders? ABQ businessman Tom Tinnin resigned from Board of Finance after telling the Guv that the Downs deal that was brewing was a stinker.

The Downs deal has been the first major ethical crisis of the Martinez administration which rode into office pledging to reverse what they called the sleazy ethical practices of Big Bill and company. It is not one of those stories that is going to cause Susana to plummet in the public opinion polls, but it is a chink in her armor with longer-term consequences.

APD'S MOUNTING COSTS

Retired ABQ Police Department Seargent Daniel Klein has been tenacious in following the many lawsuits that the city is contending with over APD actions, and today he has more for us:

This is a link to a KRQE-TV news story regarding how much money the ABQ Police Department has paid out in lawsuits in just the last two years--$7 million and counting. Go back to when Ray Schultz took over as APD chief and I figure the number goes to double digits. Remember, we have the $900,000 settlement for Schultz's actions against one of his officers. Isn't this where the chief is directly accountable--how he manages our money?

Just as the chief is supposed to hold officers accountable for their actions, being a good steward of taxpayer money is where the chief is to be held accountable. More than anything else, this is the reason Schultz needs to be sent packing and a new chief brought in. He has shown an inability to manage our money in a prudent manner. He would have been dismissed for losing this much money if he were employed in the private sector.

So where is Mayor Berry and the City Council on this issue? Just how many millions of taxpayer dollars can the police department lose, before someone stands up and says someone must be held accountable? Do we have anyone steering this ship? I am beginning to think we don't.

Rumors abound that Schultz is on his way out and perhaps he is if Mayor Berry is assessing his political health. The Department of Justice is expected to launch a probe into the numerous fatal police shootings that have plagued the city. That would put the leadership of Schultz under the microscope, an ordeal that could be difficult for him to survive. The chief has been in charge for nearly seven years. Even he must see the need for change.

Newsman Jeff Proctor says the root of APD's problems may go back a decade when then-Mayor Chavez touted the need for a larger force and some entrance standards were relaxed. Whatever the case, the shootings and other mayhem within the department have taken place under the watch of Mayor Berry. He cut his losses when he dumped Darren White as public safety officer. Will he do the same with Schultz?

BILL'S NEW HOUSE

It's a vacation home. He says his primary residence will still be Santa Fe:

Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson and his wife, Barbara Flavin Richardson, paid $1.67 million for a house on Fox Pond and Strong Island Road, according to the deed recorded on Sept. 15. The couple secured a $675,000 mortgage from the Cape Cod Five Cents Savings Bank and purchased the 2,278-square-foot house from Gerald and Stephanie Coughlan of Wellesley.

Mrs. Big Bill has long ties to the Cape Cod area.

WHERE IS EVERYONE?

Will the upcoming session of the legislature tackle this?:

Miles Conway, a political coordinator with the Communications Workers of America, says the administration is targeting the entire Department of Health, in which vacancies are currently widespread. “It’s hard to imagine there’s not some deliberate strategy to set the Department of Health to fail,” Conway tells SFR.

Conway cites the 396 DOH vacancies within his union, which represents more than 1,000 state health employees, as an example. Similarly, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, which represents 1,100 state health employees, estimates its DOH positions are at a 30 percent vacancy rate...

Thanks to our contributors for giving us such a meaty blog today. It's why "New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan" remains the undisputed....home of New Mexico politics.

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