The former TV weatherman with high name ID and coming off a 2020 US Senate loss leads the seven person pack seeking the nomination and could walk away with it if his chief rivals can't keep pace. His campaign wasted no time in trying to shape the narrative:
Ronchetti's fundraising haul, comprising over 3,500 donations, dwarfs the fundraising of his primary opponents and reflects the kind of broad grassroots support necessary to compete against Gov. Michelle lujan Grisham and defeat her in the general election.
State Rep. Rebecca Dow, who most analysts are pegging as Ronchetti's strongest opponent, reported raising $440,000 in her campaign report filed last October. She announced her run in early July 2021. However, $100,000 of her funds were a transfer from her legislative account. Ronchetti says he did not transfer any funds or give himself any loans in raising the $1.2 million. He says 96 percent of the donations came from within the state.
One of our GOP readers reports that Dow told him in the wake of Ronchetti's report:
We just keep going! I'm not far behind on fundraising.
Dow did not disclose any numbers.
ABQ financial consultant Greg Zanetti reported raising $150,000 in last October's report but he also listed $185,000 in loans. With the Ronchetti report he now has to weigh how much more of his personal wealth--if any--he is willing to risk as the GOP race rapidly becomes a Ronchetti vs. Dow contest.
The next candidate money reports are not due until April but Ronchetti obviously wanted to use his early fund-raising prowess to try to give an air of inevitability to his campaign.
He did not release any donor names or amounts from individual donations.
FIRST TEST
The first major test for the Republican field will come at the February 26 preprimary convention in Ruidoso. Delegates will vote to place the candidates on the June primary ballot. If a hopeful fails to win 20 percent support, they would have to seek additional petition signatures to appear on the ballot. The convention is Dow's best bet to demonstrate strength and viability.
Ronchetti, who reports $1.146 million in cash on hand from the $1.2 million raised, is backed by establishment Republicans but is not beloved by the grassroots. That was amply demonstrated when at the 2020 preprimary convention, he came in third place in the balloting for US Senate but did go on to easily win the June primary.
In addition to the early report on his fund-raising, Ronchetti tried to shake up the Democrats by reporting internal polling that has him tied with MLG. However, he did not release any poll.
MLG's approval rating has been hovering around the 50 percent mark. In last October's finance reports she reported raising $2.5 million.
"MLG, YOU ARE A CROOK!"
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| Zach DeGregorio |
Racketeering, securities fraud and whistleblower persecutions are just the top notes in a sweeping civil complaint filed against the state with explicit references to state officials, Spaceport America staff and others by the facility's former chief financial officer. In a 250-page complaint filed in district court in Santa Fe, Zach DeGregorio alleges he was effectively terminated after he filed a whistleblower complaint that triggered a 2020 investigation into allegations of financial mismanagement, ethical violations and abuse of power by the spaceport's former director, Dan Hicks. Hicks, who did not comment publicly on the claims, was terminated in 2021.
Apparently DeGregorio, a CPA, who does business videos on YouTube and from which we got his photo, is serving as his own lawyer.
He cut an emotional video in announcing the lengthy lawsuit. It ends with DeGregoria exclaiming:
You, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, you are a crook!
In December 2020 there was this:
A highly critical investigation of Spaceport America has determined the New Mexico state government should consider formal criminal and/or administrative charges against former Executive Director Dan Hicks and former Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Zach DeGregorio for their mishandling of the spaceport’s finances.
The Governor's office declined to comment on the suit.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022