Bregman

The NM Democratic Party--or at least a segment of it--made a U-turn Thursday. Gone was passivity, replaced by a new found feistiness that was quite stunning if only because of the quietude that's preceded it these past three years.That the awakening included an intra-party public squabble made it all the more compelling.

First up was Dem  Chairman Sam Bregman who had disappeared for months from the political radar, but popped back in sight in a big way--by dropping a bomb on conservative Democratic State Senate powerhouse John Arthur Smith.

Bregman's message was dramatic. He gave it at a news conference at party headquarters and later reiterated it in a phone conversation with us:

I hope legislative Democrats are able to unify and pass the constitutional amendment in support of early childhood education, but if {Senate Finance Committee Chairman} John Arthur Smith again refuses to hear the amendment in committee, he ought to join Governor Martinez's Republican Party.

And pressing Smith more, Bregman pledged if Smith of Deming continues to bottle up the measure "he will get a Democratic primary challenger" in 2016 (Smith had one in 2012 but he was easily dispatched).

Sen. Smith

The early childhood amendment would tap into the multi-billion dollar NM Permanent Fund to address the social conditions crisis that has seen the state plummet to 50th in child well-being. It has become a rallying cry for change advocates.

The reformers say only by investing heavily in the very young will the state ever see long-term educational improvement. The conservatives, as represented by Senator Smith, are equally adamant that going into the Permanent Fund and '"raiding it" will endanger the financial prospects of future generations.

The amendment has passed the House but Smith has corralled a group of what we've dubbed "Martinez Democrats" and thwarted the measure from advancing in the Senate.

Frustration has built among non conservative Dems as the state continues its economic and social descent which has been exacerbated by a brutal and stubborn recession/stagnation.

If the amendment passes the Legislature and is placed on the November ballot, it could drive the debate in this year's Guv election in which Martinez is seeking a second four year term. She is against the proposal, but it would not go to her desk for approval--but straight to the voters.

DOWNS AND THE DEMS

Sen. Lopez

Then there's the shady deal over the lucrative 25 year ABQ racino lease awarded by Martinez's State Fair Commission to the ABQ Downs. For several years the story has been like a submarine. It dives deep out of sight only to resurface.

Still, state Dems have shied away from addressing this possible pay to play deal, even as the national media, this blog and others have followed the trail. But with the National Journal hit in November being followed by the ABQ Journal taking another bite out of the Downs apple this month, the issue is now finally heading into the political arena.

ABQ Senator and Dem Guv hopeful Linda Lopez, who spoke out critically of the deal last year, is chair of the Senate Rules Committee and comes with the surprise announcement:

 The Senate Rules Committee, which has statutory authority to evaluate and approve the Governor'€™s appointments to the State Fair Commission, will convene a hearing in the upcoming legislative session to question board members of their knowledge and actions pertaining to the multi-million-dollar contract. . . .

 €œThe administration is claiming that everything in the bidding process was conducted above board, but the new behind-the-scenes information revealed in the media accounts points to the contrary.

Of course, we will also invite {Martinez political adviser} Jay McCleskey, who was apparently deeply involved in the awarding of the lease, and Governor Martinez to come talk to Senate Rules Committee as well," Senator Lopez said. "€œI'€™m sure that if everything is as above board as they say, they will be more than happy to explain to the public and the Legislature their side of the story.

Well, Jay and Susana are going to get about as close to that Senate hearing as a cat would to a cold bath. Lopez, is already being accused by R's of grandstanding and she apparently won't be using the legislature's subpoena power but she will force the issue into the public limelight €in an attempt to give the Dems  more  ammo to fire on the campaign trail.

FIRING THEM UP

Bregman also said state Democrats want to see a constitutional amendment raising the minimum wage in the state to $10.

Bregman and Lopez are sure to fire up the demoralized base of the Democratic Party and satisfy special interests clamoring for action. The down side will likely be having Governor Martinez join hands with Senator Smith and paint themselves as "moderates" and Sam, Linda and the gang as out-of-touch liberals.

But with the Governor favored to win re-election and the state House bring threatened by a GOP takeover,  Dems have to throw long. They have done very little to erode the power of Martinez or Smith the past three years or to give their party's base much in the way of legislative satisfaction. They still might not get that legislation for their base, but they may finally get their attention.

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Governor Martinez's approval rating of 55% among registered voters in a poll conducted for NM Common Cause is nothing to sneeze at, but gone are the heady days when she polled well north of 60%.

Pollster Brian Sanderof advises that a poll of "likely" voters--not registered voters--would mean more Republicans would be polled and would probably put Martinez's approval rating a couple points higher, but she is still far below the lofty levels she peaked at.

Martinez peaked in public polling at a hefty 69% in September 2012 in the immediate aftermath of a well-received speech before the Republican national Convention.

Martinez has completed 3 years as Governor and like her predecessors has gradually accumulated baggage. She also faces the challenge of being a Republican in a Democratic state as well as deflecting blame for one of the worst economic stretches in state history.

An incumbent is considered vulnerable when they poll below 50%. This survey shows that the worst is over for the Dems when it comes to Martinez's popularity, but they have their work cut out for them to bring her below 50% and get the '14 Guv race in play.

Still, if the Democratic nomination for Governor traded on the stock exchange at 10 bucks a share and you bought it early last year, today those shares would be worth modestly more.

Since Martinez has not been subjected to any significant paid media attacks in the past 3 years analysts will be watching to see what the first wave of attack ads does to her standing. Are there any hints of a glass jaw or is her support solid?

On the plus side for the Governor in this survey is her 55% approval rating among Hispanics who are predominately Democrats. Also, she scores 61% approval among men, many of whom are Republicans. She also nabs 53% of the independent voters. Dems have an opening with women as only 50% of them approve of Martinez's performance.

The poll was conducted Dec. 20 thru Jan. 2 by Research and Polling which also conducts political polls for the ABQ Journal, a part owner of the firm. This survey was commissioned by Common Cause. The MOE is plus or minus 4.5%.

THE BIG STORIES

Some sensational news stories involving the Governor have erupted since that poll was taken. There's the horrific abuse death of 9 year old Omaree Varela, allegedly at the hands of his mother. That the Governor and her Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) taking major heat. Then there's this week's school shooting in Roswell where two youngsters were wounded and the story vaulted into the national headlines. More now on both....

Coverage on Omaree continues with journalist Wally Gordon coming with a piece that examines the huge caseloads at CYFD:

Omaree had been on the CYFD radar for four years before he died, and the department had twice opened a file on him, once when his mother went to prison on drug charges and again in 2012 when Omaree showed up at school with wounds he said his mother had inflicted on him. 

Although the governor insisted nobody could have prevented the boy’s death, the former CYFD worker disagrees. CYFD had options, he says, and he doesn’t understand why they were not utilized. He said there needs to be a full investigation of this failure.

The reasons people don’t want to work at CYFD seem to begin with problems of salaries and management but focus even more heavily on the huge caseload. The typical caseload in one office is 30 to 45 clients a month, and many of those are emergency cases that must be resolved within six hours. In other words, the typical case worker has to deal with about two new cases every working day.. . .

Governor Martinez has proposed an additional $600,000 to hire 10 more CYFD social workers, but couldn't the Legislature in its upcoming session easily triple that to $1.8 million and hire 30? With these burdensome caseloads and Omaree's death in the background would government austerity hawks still carry the day? Would Martinez risk vetoing such an increase?

DATELINE ROSWELL

Chief Kassetas

Just as coverage of Omaree's death was winding down, the shooting that wounded two middle school students in Roswell brought us back to the state of the state's children.

The 12 year old shooter apparently came from a family that is well-off, but still that ranking of New Mexico last year as the worst state in the nation for child well-being haunts us each time something like this happens.

The shooting had Governor Martinez and top state law enforcement officials rushing to the Roswell middle school to offer assistance and to take charge of dispersing information.

The NM State Police which has had a dreadful run of public relations in recent years was finally seen in a positive light. That was mainly due to State Police Chief Peter Kassetas, a 20 year veteran of the department, but who only assumed the chief's position last August.

Kassetas offered concise, professional briefings and stood patiently for questions as the national spotlight fell on him. He came across confident, open and informed--key traits to alleviate worry in a panicked public.

With the state police and ABQ police department both surrounded by so much controversy of late, it was a relief to see that the ball was not dropped during this most emotional and tender moment for New Mexico.

OPEN A WHAT?

Ferguson

A newspaper? In this economy? And aren't they supposed to be going the way of the horse and buggy, anyway? Well, hope springs eternal for veteran NM reporter Dan Vukelich and longtime ABQ personal injury attorney Will Ferguson. Vukelich, a stand-out from the old ABQ Tribune, says he will start a new ABQ weekly newspaper and Ferguson says he will provide the financing for the venture--at least $500,000.

Vukelich tells us more about the "ABQ Free Press:"

It's not news, as in chasing events, but analysis, investigative and interpretive reporting. Chasing issues would be a better description. Pieces will be written by paid freelancers who show me they can write with authority. . . We’ll be covering politics, the economy, civil liberties, privacy and things that actually affect the lives of people. . . I have seen the need for a more centrist and inclusive voice in the media in this town.

The paper hopes to hit the street in May. Like the Weekly Alibi, Vukelich says the Free Press will be...well...free.

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Hey, this town is getting us down. Emcore lays off 25 and Albertson's closes its store in the Four Hills shopping center where the movie theatre had already shuttered and where Wells Fargo announced it's pulling up stakes. That was once an affluent neighborhood.

Then Charlie's Front and Back Door restaurant--in biz for nearly 50 years--stops rolling enchiladas for good. And up in Santa Fe, ABQ-based Baillo's electronics ends a several decade run and bids goodbye.

Then there's the news that we're still near the top of the heap among states that folks are leaving. The annual United Van Lines survey has us as 9th worst for 2013, up from an even worse 5th place in 2012, but still...

Oh, and we almost forgot this:

ABQ home prices declined by an average of 2.3 percent from November 2012 to November 2013. . . the real estate data provider’s Home Price Index shows. If distressed sales are taken out. . .home prices in the metro increased 2.2 percent. Nationwide. . . excluding distressed sales, prices increased nationwide by 10.4 percent. according to CoreLogic.
Whew! We need some of those happy pills that Mayor Berry must take when he rolls out of his Four Hills driveway in the morning and heads downtown.

And when he gets up to the the 11th Floor of City Hall he must supplement the happy pills with rose-colored glasses. How else to explain his decision to pay the city's new communications officer $90,000 a year when the old one got $81,000?  Or his decision to pay that former communications director over $85,000 in their new job at transit? Or how to explain the over-the-top $33,000 pay raise for Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry?

All this while the city struggles to hand out barely noticeable one percent pay raises to rank and file workers and as layoffs continue and businesses go bust, terrifying the metro.

TWO NEW MEXICOS

One of our Senior Alligators surveying the economic wreckage says it seems more and more like there are two New Mexicos--one for the haves and one for the have nots:

--The Tramway and Central Albertson’s closes while Mayor Berry and the City Council point with pride to approving millions in taxpayer subsidies so an upscale grocery store can be built Downtown by a politically-connected developer.

--The city is refusing to accept new applications to the HUD Section 8 housing assistance program because of demand and funding issues. In contrast, city leaders have lowered and waived developer impact fees and will spend millions on pet projects like the $20 million remodel of the Convention Center.

--Then there’s CYFD. Governor Martinez knew there were serious issues at that department after Leland Valdez was killed in 2011. Months later a legislative report said CYFD was understaffed and underfunded. The Guv’s response? Martinez’s CYFD returned almost $7 million to the state general fund last year.

--Topping things off, the unforgettable highlight of the 2013 Legislature (House and Senate controlled by Democrats) wasn’t a vote on Early Childhood Education or acting on the CYFD issues raised in its own report. Instead it was the frenzied, last-minute drive to push through the Governor’s corporate tax cut that will have to be paid for by the state's cities.

--If you can afford lobbyists, can make campaign contributions or are otherwise politically connected, the NM political system will work for you. If not, good luck. To those whose concern about the death of Omaree Varela goes beyond spin and damage control, it sure seems that if you’re a "have not" in this state, you’re on your own.

Sounds like the making for a book titled "Two New Mexicos."

A RUT IN ROUTE 66

ABQ is a city whose streets are paved with gold compared to what's happening around it. Take a look:

Much of Moriarty has been boarded up, including the famous "Comedor de Anayas." Santa Rosa is suffering too. John Martinez, owner of the Comet II Drive-In Restaurant, says that Santa Rosa is dying slowly by the vine. "I counted up 22 boarded up buildings not too long ago. 4th Street, which used to be our Main Street, used to be lively. It's deserted now," Martinez said. Residents, like Keith Ross, the owner of Silver Moon Cafe, says the bad economy has made things worse. "The recession has not been easy on Santa Rosa in general. Like other communities, Santa Rosa has been struggling," Ross said.

After five years of charting New Mexico's historic economic downturn, we agree with NMSU economist Chris Erickson that there are no short-term solutions. Because of a variety of factors he forecast in the immediate years ahead is for no growth or sluggish growth. The long-term solution is investing in educating the next generation to prepare them for the jobs that we hope to attract to replace the many being lost.

OMAREE VARELA

Roswell was plunged into pain Tuesday when a school shooting there left two students aged 11 and 13 wounded and stunned the state. It came on the heels of the tragic abuse death of ABQ's 9 year old Omaree Varela of which Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O'Malley writes:

I meant to thank you earlier for continuing to express your outrage at  nine-year old Omaree Varela’s tragic death. When I first learned the  heartbreaking news that a mother had beaten her young son to death, I cried, and I am sure I’m not the only one. I thought, “Why is this happening  in our community?” 

Just over a year ago, a 5-year old boy was killed by his mother’s boyfriend for having a accident in his pants. As punishment, this “boyfriend” threw this poor little boy against a dresser. Last year, soon after this little boy’s death, I sponsored a proclamation in recognition of Child Abuse Prevention month. At the commission meeting, there were representatives of several non-profit social service agencies who spoke about the work they do to prevent child abuse. As you can imagine it’s very difficult and emotionally taxing to interact with dysfunctional families every day. It’s admirable what these agencies accomplish with modest resources, but clearly it’s not enough.

THEY LIKE IT

We hear you. Let's end this blog with an upper...

Aspiring attorneys attending the University of New Mexico School of Law are a happy lot--or at least happy with the education they are getting there.

The website Above the Law asked law school students around the USA to rank their experiences. UNM scored in the top ten in the nation:

Let's make it a media beat Tuesday and start it off with this:

The ABQ Journal officially announced that it will cease printing its Tuesday-through-Sunday northern edition in favor of a weekly publication starting in February. The Journal North said the weekly edition will publish Fridays beginning Feb. 7. 

That decision means less competition for the Santa Fe New Mexican, but one of our Capitol City watchers tell us to watch for beefier coverage from that paper:

They have added reporters Milan Simonich and Patrick Malone from Colorado (both seasoned reporters). Their primary beat will be the Roundhouse to increase what reporter Steve Terrell has been able to cover. 

The legislative session starts January 21.

Simonich comes to the New Mexican after a stint with the Texas-NM Newspapers chain that serves a number of state papers. His Santa Fe position was eliminated.

RADIO ROUND-UP

On your ABQ radio dial, conservative talker KKOB-AM continues to feel ratings pain. There could be more now. The station is losing star national talker Sean Hannity on top of losing veteran local talker Jim Villanucci who said farewell last year.

The latest Nielsen Audio ratings show KKOB with a 6.1% share of the ABQ area listening audience. That's down from a 6.7% in the summer ratings and a precipitous decline from the 9% shares the station at one time routinely scored. The #2 ABQ station in the Nielsen fall ratings was country formatted KRST-FM.

TRANSPARENCY BUST

Banks & Berry

Everyone who takes power promises to conduct "the most open administration in history." But it never seems to turn out that way. ABQ Mayor Berry is one of those who made the pledge, but the Berry-friendly ABQ Journal is finding out the hard way that he is more than willing to stiff-arm them. His administration refuses to turn over public records regarding police shootings:

The Albuquerque Police Department hasn’t provided 911 calls, lapel camera videos or other documents relating to a recent spate of officer-involving shootings, often asking for indefinite delays without reason, denying requests by citing “ongoing investigations” and keeping one request “under review” for unspecified reasons. The Journal has made nine requests under the state Inspection of Public Records Act since late October for records relating to the shootings. . .

Only 9 requests? Maybe 13 is the lucky number? The question media watchers have is will the Journal do more than complain if Berry does not come with the records? Will they file a lawsuit?

Lawsuits is what the Associated Press and Santa Fe Reporter have had to resort to in trying to get public records from Governor Martinez.

KOAT-TV is also in a struggle--just to get an interview with the cops. They want to ask about the department's contact with 9 year old Omaree Varela whose own mother is accused of beating him to death. It's a story that has sent shock waves throughout the state. After prodding, APD came with a statement on how it is committed to preventing child abuse, but failed to produce the chief or anyone else to stand for questions.

CANDID CAMERA

And then there's this. A cameraman recently filming ABQ Chief Administrative Officer Rob Perry at a city council meeting wasn't a member of the media, but he got a first-hand taste of the bunker mentality that apparently has taken over City Hall. KRQE-TV came with the story:

Charles Arasim, one of APD's fiercest critics, was videotaping reaction of top city leaders to harsh public comment against Mayor Berry's administration. . . Arasim claims Perry proceeded to try and . . . block his camera tripod. . .But Perry says, "I never touched his tripod. . ." Both men agree Arasim then tapped Perry's arm. "Don't step on my camera please," Arasim tells Perry on a video recording. . . "Keep your hands off me," Perry tells Arasim. . .About 20 minutes later, Arasim was walking to his car in the city's underground parking garage when he spotted Perry and Greg Wheeler, assistant city attorney. . . "Mr. Wheeler. . . called me a very derogatory name," Arasim said. "He. . . held his hand up in my face." "It's an unfortunate emotional response and the city attorney will speak with Mr. Wheeler. . ." Perry said. Arasim said, "These gentlemen are supposed to be professionals. I'm still in shock. . ."

And here's the kicker: The TV station requested surveillance video of the confrontation. But guess what? A city spokesperson said they couldn't get that video to the station in time for the report.

The only record the Berry and Martinez administrations can seem to deliver to the media in a timely matter is the broken record they keep reciting about how transparent they are.

RISE AND SHINE

Over at KOB-TV, there will be a change in the scenery on the 6 and 10 p.m. news broadcasts and not a very welcome one. Anchor Nicole Brady, who recently gave birth to her second child, will not return to the evening newscasts following her  leave. She announces that she will go back to her TV roots and co-host the station's early morning news broadcasts. That's where she was when she was called up for evening duties six years ago. No word on who will be paired with longtime evening anchor Tom Joles, but Nicole, who took the anchor baton from the well-liked Carla Aragon, will be missed among the night owl crowd.

JOURNAL BASHING

It's an open secret that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction among state Democrats with the much more conservative tone the state's largest newspaper has adopted in recent years. Here's how that recently played out on Facebook with this broadside from former ABQ Dem City Councilor Michael Cadigan:

Jay McCleskey

Jay McCleskey, the Governor's powerful, talented and extraordinarily controversial political adviser, became even more radioactive this weekend as the ABQ Journal followed-up on an explosive November National Journal exposé. 

It left in its wake questions about not only McCleskey's future effectiveness but the legal peril that he and the administration could face over a shadowy lease deal for the ABQ Downs racino.

The tabloid style headline on the Sunday editions screamed: "Buster Screwed us." It hit the streets while the nation was being regaled and disgusted by the New Jersey scandal in which a top aide to Governor Christie came with the now famous email phrase: "Time for some traffic problems in Fort Lee."

Will McCleskey's "Buster Screwed us" email become its New Mexico equivalent?

The ABQ Journal was plenty dismissive of the National Journal's 5,400 expose of McCleskey and company. The author of that piece--Daniel Libit--came with payback and dissed the ABQ Journal piece on Twitter, saying the Journal's competing article "regurgitated" what he had reported on the Downs deal two and half months ago.

It was NM Politics with Joe Monahan (and the S. Fe Reporter) who were there at the start--well over two years ago--raising the critical questions, offering in-depth journalism and analysis and urging further coverage of the Downs deal and the shadow government.

In fact, one of the Governor's top political aides is quoted in the Santa Fe New Mexican as dismissing the National Journal coverage of McCleskey as being based on our blog. As if that shot down its credibility--or ours. And then there have been the ongoing heated and ad hominem attacks on our character and those of others who dared question the administration.

Well, in the aftermath of the Sunday Journal piece the operatives and others aren't snickering at us or our Alligators, are they? Our retort to them--and our friends on the Fourth Floor--is simple: "Read it and weep."

Okay, enough back slapping. To the action...

THE COMA IS OVER

The ABQ Journal, awakening from its self-induced coma on the state's major political story, did, in fact, break new ground, reporting that Governor Martinez had been interviewed about the Downs by the FBI:

The FBI has investigated the contract, which was awarded to the Downs at Albuquerque in December 2011, with agents interviewing people involved with the Martinez campaign and others about the lease. . . the governor also answered FBI questions about the Downs as they related to an ongoing case involving emails allegedly stolen from her campaign.

Martinez--who has pledged the most transparent administration ever and who is a former prosecutor--could not find it in herself to sit for an in-person interview on the Downs and clear the air on what she insists was not a down and dirty pay to play deal:

The Journal asked to interview Martinez about the texts and other Downs-related matters. She declined to be interviewed on the advice of her attorney because of her expected testimony in the trial of a man charged in federal court with stealing her emails. She provided written responses through her spokesman.

But damaging text messages between McCleskey and former Martinez fundraiser Andrea Goff are not in any way related to the prosecution of former Martinez campaign manager Jamie Estrada who is accused of hijacking her campaign email account. Could not the Governor and newspaper have established ground rules for what they would discuss and get on with the interview complete with critical follow-up questions? So much for transparency. Bunkers don't have any windows.

ARTICLE AUTOPSY

Andrea Goff

The famous "Buster screwed us" text sent by McCleskey to Andrea Goff concerned the failure of Goff's 's father-in-law--Buster Goff--a member of the State Fair Commission--to vote for the Downs lease thus killing it. He later reversed his vote and the 25 year lease was approved. Does that email mean this Downs lease was a pay to play deal from the start and that Buster went off the reservation?

With the help of the Legal Beagles and Alligators let's dig deeper into the Downs deal article and those text messages between Goff and McCleskey.

The paper writes of the urgent messages:

 "The text exchanges continued into the night, and with each one McCleskey continued to dig a hole the Martinez administration is still trying to dig out of."

That's an acknowledgement from the paper that Martinez and company are far from out of the woods and it was McCleskey's own communications--which are admissible in court--that undercut all of the efforts to paint the deal as on the up and up.

Another McCleskey text to Goff reads: "the gov is furious." He (Buster Goff) was supposed to pass it."

That text puts Governor Martinez into the thick of the Downs dealing, with no ability to claim she was out of the loop. It seems clear that Martinez directly communicated her anger to McCleskey, which triggered his contacting Andrea Goff.

Also, the impression is made that Buster Goff was appointed by Martinez with the expectation that he would do her bidding--especially because his daughter-in-law worked for Martinez and McCleskey. This is reinforced by Buster's offering to resign from the commission after he voted against the lease.

The article does not impugn the integrity or credibility of Goff who has been roughed up by the Martinez administration which has called her "disgruntled" and her accusations "wild-eyed." Goff is   presented as a credible figure by the Journal as well she should be.

Goff long ago announced she had lawyered up. Is McCleskey lawyered up?  The article does not address the matter or any contact he may have had with the FBI.

The texts reveal that McCleskey looked for a way to take campaign money from one of the Downs owners who offered it, but hide it. He said of the campaign cash: "We should run (Downs owner) Windham's (contributions) through a different PAC."

A Legal Beagle speculates: "That's something the Feds would look at. It is a direction not a question."

NOT MENTIONED

The Journal's lengthy missive was also of interest for what it did not mention. What about the infamous Alligator hunting trip of Martinez husband Chuck Franco to Louisiana--the home state of owners of the Downs? It took place while the state was doing the Downs deal. And what about McCleskey's alter ego Darren White who assumed a top job at the ABQ Downs after the lease deal was sealed? No mention--yet.

THE POLITICS

Top state Dems and their party have treated the Downs deal like an unwanted stepchild and have shied away from taking on McCleskey with any effective force. They just won't go there.

Who among the five Dem Guv candidates will get out in front of the story before the June primary? The Democratic leadership in the state may be comatose, but the Democratic base is hungry for action--and red meat.

The Democratic legislative leadership and the state Democratic Party have been so quiet about the Downs deal, Jay McCleskey and his shadow government and the recent CYFD scandal that its given rise to a conspiracy theory. The theory goes that many Dems don't want Martinez to lose re-election so they can run for Governor with an open field in 2018--no Dem incumbent. The second leg of the theory is that legislative Dems--in the majority--are simply happy that Republican Martinez has to come to them to cut deals. Ridiculous? Or not?

Here's Senior Alligator analysis of the Dems and Martinez:

She has so many fights going on--with the teachers over evaluations, the Downs deal, the role of McCleskey and how he has become the story; the intra-party fight over him; the CYFD scandal over the death of Omaree Varela and the jobs and economy which are both in the gutter. If the Democrats had any fire at all they could package this stuff and take her popularity below 50%. What are they waiting for? 

It was McCleskey's picture splashed on the front page Sunday--not the Governor's. She was pictured on the inside pages. Clearly, McCleskey has a big target on his back. Will it impact his ability to run the Governor's campaign? To raise money? To do political deals with operatives who now have every reason to be nervous about contacts with him? To keep in line his many acolytes who hold high ranking administration jobs?

Andrea Goff says she was contacted by the FBI again after the National Journal piece hit in late November. If you thirst for political melodrama and legal intrigue, stay tuned. This looks like a long-running series....

THE BOTTOM LINES

The Koch brothers are pulling back in NM. From ProgressNM:

. . .Only a little over a year after setting up shop Americans for Prosperity (AFP), the special interest group bankrolled by the Koch brothers, is saying “adios” to the Land of Enchantment. Pam Wolfe, AFP’s Field Representative in New Mexico, confirmed  that AFP was in fact “reallocating their resources elsewhere” and will no longer have any “boots on the ground” in New Mexico...

The NM Dem Party announces that party activist Lissa Knudsen has been hired as the party's executive director. She was an assistant to Congresswoman Lujan Grisham when Grisham was a Bernalillo County Commissioner.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)

Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.      

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2014. Not for reproduction without permission of the author