Tuesday, June 29, 2021Resetting The Races For State Treasurer And Auditor, Plus: More Reader React On ABQ Crime Wave And Cops It turns out that northern Public Regulation Commissioner Joe Maestas is mulling a run for the Dem nomination for state auditor--not state treasurer. He made that clear at a weekend event in Rio Arriba County. We had Maestas as a possible treasurer contender because of the aforementioned bungled text. Maestas' possible entry makes that race all the more intriguing. Already in is Zach Quintero of Dona Ana County and sitting on the sidelines pondering an entry is State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg who is term limited. A Maestas candidacy has to be tantalizing for Eichenberg as it sets up a possible ethnic vote split with Quintero. As for the Treasurer's post, the Alligators are now pointing to former Sandoval County Treasurer Laura Montoya as a possible Dem hopeful. The race could get busy but Montoya starts off with some momentum. Obviously, she has the credentials, being a current treasurer, but she also made a run for the 2020 northern congressional district Dem nomination. She lost to Teresa Leger Fernandez but in the process picked up more name ID. The Treasurer's office has not been a stepping stone to higher office. On the contrary, a number of past treasurers have run into ethical issues that have forced them from office and sometimes into prison. On the other hand, the post of Auditor currently held by Brian Colón was made into a stepping stone by Tim Keller who ran and won the ABQ mayor's job from the position. Colón is trying to do the same as he runs for the Dem nod for attorney general. As for the forlorn R's, they are currently shut out of all the statewide executive offices. There are no early signs that that will change in 2022. (We're sure GOP Chairman Pearce would be glad to administer any wet noodle punishment to our backside after that reality check.) COP AND CRIMES (PART II)  Typical and trivial. Police get little respect because they fail to perform with competence and consideration of the citizens whom they are supposed to serve. Keep in mind that Shaun Willoughby speaks for a union protecting and promoting its interests, not for a professional organization oriented toward public service. Their immediate loyalty, as they are trained, is to their partner, not to the public. As for the small number of “bad apples,” remember that they spoil the barrel. How good can the “good apples” be if they tolerate the “bad apples”? Mike Davis writes from Austin: A few notes to accentuate the point that Albuquerque and Mayor Keller, who I am biased about in a positive way, are conjoined by a cavalcade of others "in the same boat" in our nation's cities. President Biden was recently forced into the fray with a speech and a "new" set of initiatives. For those who deride Mayor Keller for Albuquerque's ongoing violent crime amid a mayoral campaign, I urge them to feel Austin Mayor Steve Adler's pain with local murders up 80% year over year and his attempts to explain to us Austinites how a music aficionado tourist from New York City can be killed by a stray bullet fired by teenagers firing from semi-automatic pistols trying to settle a "beef" while amongst thousands of merrymakers in the downtown entertainment district of the Live Music Capital of the World. Reader Kelley Vigil writes: Joe, My personal and admittedly little experience with APD is that they are unapproachable, arrogant and not at all community oriented. You can walk past a police officer and not be acknowledged in the least. Very unfriendly, an Andy Griffith they are not. I've had two experiences, one when our home was hit for the third time with eggs by an ex-girlfriend of my then teenager. My experience with APD was sterile, cold, non personal. Almost a judgmental attitude as if we were bothering them and should have better kids. The vandalism was bad enough that APD filed charges against the girlfriend. On the other hand, the court and judge treated us as the responsible homeowners we are. The girlfriend got a lecture and an admonishment, which is all we wanted. Never happened again. Reader Tim Miles writes: I do believe the majority of law enforcement personnel are professionals and it is a minority of bad apples acting in egregious, headline-grabbing ways. But it does seem that politics and power have denied any systematic recording or publishing of such individual egregious behavior and this allows “bad apples” to just freely move from department to department and city to city. This would also have to mean that policing management and culture either doesn’t care too much about that or even condones bad apples in their cities/departments. Reader Larry Anderson says: Joe, Chronic felons should be banished. When crime hurts innocent people it is horrible and unacceptable. That said, most of the victims of the homicides were people involved with criminal elements themselves. The remarks by Shaun Willoughby using the crime wave to deflect from the shortcomings of his own profession while attacking those trying to recognize and resolve it, is indicative of a longstanding lack of respect from the law enforcement industry culture whose many privileges exceed those of most civilians. This is the home of New Mexico politics. Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021 |
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