The mainly Democratic crowd gathered for the public inauguration of Michelle Lujan Grisham at the Santa Fe Convention Center New Year's Day was celebrating the departure of the Republican Governor as much as the arrival of one of their own. For them, to paraphrase Gerald Ford as he assumed the reins from President Nixon, the long state nightmare is finally over.

(Complete text of inaugural speech here. Complete video here. Video of midnight Capitol swearing in with New Year's countdown here. )

Here are the takeaways:

---The new Governor's first public statement was not verbal; it was made by her wardrobe. In a departure from the political norm, she donned a stylish bright white dress that magnified her presence. In psychology white is the color of new beginnings; it's a blank canvas ready to be written upon. (It is also symbolic of women’s suffrage). And so the new gubernatorial era began.

--A needed dose of self deprecating humor came at the outset of her speech. Almost always the shortest person in the room, she declared that all state podiums will now be lowered to match her stature. That got them laughing. It made her more approachable to New Mexicans but also served to take the edge off an environment where everything and anything is labeled politically incorrect.

--There was little news in the 30 minute speech, with the exception of this: She said she would propose the total elimination of the cap on financial incentives offered to the film industry, not just raising the cap. She referenced the over $180 million liability (and growing) accumulated under the current $50 million in incentives available annually to the industry and pledged to pay it off quickly.

--Eliminating the cap will be a battle. A number of states have backed off their incentives (Texas is considering eliminating them entirely), saying they can't clearly determine the financial benefits and that they feel blackmailed by Hollywood. Also. . .

--ABQ's win in getting a Netflix commitment to invest $100 million a year for ten years have some arguing that NM's incentives have done their job and now it's time to maximize that deal and move on to attracting other industries. And. .

--Film and TV production mainly benefits the ABQ/Santa Fe area. That leaves a lot of lawmakers skeptical of eliminating the cap when in their view that money could be put to use for the entire state.

At The Ball

---MLG made a significant rhetorical turn in her speech. In her advocacy for devoting a small portion of the Land Grant Permanent Fund to early childhood education, she used the official title of the $18 billion reserve, calling it the Land Grant "Permanent School Fund." That was an effort to make the constitutional amendment needed to tap the fund even more palatable to the public and to frame the debate not as a "raid," as opponents assert, but as an historically legitimate use of the 107 year old fund.

--By again signaling that she is all in on the constitutional amendment, she is setting herself up for an early, defining moment. Can she get it through resistant state Senate conservatives this session? If she does (and without reducing the amount to mere symbolism) it will be an epic victory. But what if she doesn't? The suspense is building.

--Fortysomethings Attorney General Balderas, ABQ Mayor Keller and Secretary of State Toulouse Oliver were all seated right next to each other on the inaugural stage, a reminder that a new generation of Democrats lurk, waiting for bigger things.

--The older generation of Dems was represented by 70 year old Senator Tom Udall (up for re-election in 2020) and his 80 year old wife, Jill Cooper Udall. She served as primary master of ceremonies and pulled it off with élan, dignity and without a hitch.

--The Republicans were pounded at the polls in November, but they had to be proud of their representation at the inauguration. Popular ABQ R Judy Nakamura, Chief Justice of the NM Supreme Court, was called on to make remarks. She did so with good humor and grace, giving the GOP a moment of pride.

--An emotional highlight of the ceremony came when new national singing sensation Chevel Shepherd of Farmington delivered a compelling version of God Bless America. The 16 year old was a reminder of the state's youth and its great potential, a major theme of the new Governor's speech.

A SAD END

All the hallmarks of the now finished Martinez/McCleskey administration seem epitomized in this statement left on the door of her communications director on his last day.

The spite, vindictiveness, vengefulness and yes, the hatred, that was the common currency of Susan Martinez's eight years in office is on full display in her final moments. And ultimately it was her undoing. What a waste. As for her legacy, readers of this blog know it all to well. We wrote it as it happened--for eight long years. Frankly, we don't care to devote more time to the subject. We've had our fill. Besides, it's sad.

CATCHING A TROUT 

Can a 63 year old former big name shock jock rejuvenate an ailing conservative talk station with an aging audience? That's the question ABQ's KKOB radio will soon answer as they add to their line up T.J. Trout, the morning jock who held forth for 25 years at ABQ's 94 Rock (KZRR-FM) until he hung up his microphone in 2011.

Radio insiders tell me Trout will replace talker Scott Stiegler on KKOB's 3 to 6 afternoon show this month, returning from his hometown of Cleveland where he retired to after his ABQ run. They hope Trout can give some spark to the 50,000 watt iconic station that has seen much better decades than this one in which they lost their #1 rating as well as considerable revenue.

T.J. Trout

Trout is respected as a clever entertainer but not known as a political guy. There's speculation that the station will try to keep him on a pop culture track, but that won't be easy considering the star personality on the station is right winger Rush Limbaugh. KKOB (770 AM and 94.5 FM) is decidedly pro-Trump so it will be interesting to see how Trout ignores that elephant in the room--if he does.

Trout, whose wife is in radio advertising, was a highly paid announcer in the heyday of ABQ radio before the Internet and smart phones marginalized the medium. When he departed he had to work to quash rumors that KZRR owner Clear Channel was dumping him to save money. Radio advertising in the ABQ market--ranked 69th in the nation-- has been flat for years. Trout won't be coming back to big bucks but the challenge should keep him focused. And unlike his past gig here he won't have to hear the alarm go off at 4 a.m.

KKOB is running ads teasing the return of a mystery big name to ABQ radio. Our Alligators spoiled that party today. They also put to rest the rumor that another big radio name from the past who recently returned--Jim Villanucci--would be Stiegler's replacement.

Villanucci, 56, who had outsized success as the KKOB afternoon show before being squeezed out, says he is staying put as the afternoon host at sports talker 101.7 The Team. Still, with TJ coming back to town and directly competing with him in the afternoon the "V" will have to keep his "A" game going.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019