MLG Gets A Reset; Sheds The Mask For State Of The State And Sheds Some Political Baggage, Too, Plus: You Are There; Our Opening Day Photo Special

New Mexico's Governor had a new look at her first major speech of the election year--she wasn't wearing a mask nor was one dangling below her chin.

That symbol of our collective vulnerability that has become as central to MLG's wardrobe as her southwestern jewelry was shed for the annual State of the State speech. It made a difference. 

(Transcript here. Video here. AP coverage here. Journal coverage here. New Mexican coverage here.)

Appearing maskless, the negativity associated with her such as bankruptcies, death tallies, school closings and more, eased. 

And her disappearance in recent months from regular, live Covid updates and splashy media appearances made the midday speech--if not highly anticipated--at least somewhat novel. 

Badly in need of a reset as Covid stages a deadly resurgence, ABQ sets a homicide record and Biden's approval ratings plunge and hers remain mediocre, MLG's 25 minute speech delivered the political goods.

The conventional wisdom went along these lines as pulled from our mailbag:

This was one of her better State of the State speeches. There were no dumb jokes or asides. It had less swagger and more maturity. She took the event seriously and the talk was well-written. It turns out that taking her out of the usual setting of the state House chamber and speaking remotely from her office helped her focus and deliver. She did a good job of explaining her proposals and putting them in perspective. There might be holes in the details but any layperson would miss those. 

That she also may be wiggling free from the Covid trap was evident when one of the GOP Guv contenders put up a critical review of the speech that pointedly had MLG sporting one of her brightest masks--the R's way of trying to have her tied in political knots. 

The R's haven't lost their touch when it comes to slash and burn. The GOP Guv Association in DC came with speech reaction, declaring it would be her last such speech to the state and:

Michelle Lujan Grisham's tough talk on crime and turning around public schools are just empty promises from a scandal-plagued governor desperate to appeal to voters in an election year.

The Governor's reference to Covid was not cursory but brief, signaling her desire to move the political conversation ahead. After referencing the "pandemic that has wreaked havoc on the lives of every family," she was off to the races urging the Legislature to "think big:"

A timid mindset has afflicted people in this capitol building, a pessimism that can be self-fulfilling. Thinking small is a curse. Big and meaningful changes are possible, but the biggest change may be our attitude, our perspective. At a moment in time when we have the money to do it all, let’s not limit ourselves; let’s not be unnecessarily incremental.

That accurately sums up several generations of lawmaking that have been unable to free the state from the cellar in the major quality of life rankings. 

But her call for legislators not to be "unnecessarily incremental" could be said of her own policy pronouncements for the session--that what the Governor called "unimaginable financial resources" are not being deployed in a sweeping and innovative way that will eventually pry us loose from the cellar. 

Still, her mild rebuke of the institutional status quo sent the vibe that the state as a whole is finally rounding the intellectual curve and into new terrain that rebuts the notion that "this is the way it's always been and the way it always will be." 

In that context the policies outlined in the speech are small steps on the beginning of a long journey, certainly not an end game. 

Nevertheless, a Governor who has been appearing somewhat disheveled and out of sorts re-established her leadership credentials on the opening day of the '22 session. If perception is reality, she did herself a world of good by sealing cracks of weakness her opposition is counting on exploiting while giving voters what they must have--a smidgen of hope.

TAKING A SWIPE 

MLG's speech adhered to the high road but there was one swipe aimed at the lawmaker who is front and center this session.

Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Cervantes is publicly frowning on the Guv's crime package, saying it reminds him of the punitive (and ineffective) proposals he would hear from GOP Gov. Martinez. Cervantes could kill MLG's bills and that got her attention in the State of the State:

We have got to get crime under control. I don’t accept the argument that this is an issue in only one part of our state. I don’t accept that any decision-maker in this building would say that somehow this isn’t their problem. We all have a role to play in keeping New Mexico safe. 

Cervantes ran for the Dem Guv nomination against MLG in 2018 and has been at the Roundhouse for 20 years. You can fill in the blanks. 

SCOTTISH LAND GRANTS?

Colón and Egolf

Even as the pandemic kept in check the pomp and circumstance and the senate continued its meltdown, it was still an opening day and was filled with the traditional bipartisan cheer and backslapping. It's a scene best told in pictures:

Here's a keeper. It features "The most photographed man in New Mexico," also known as State Auditor Brian Colón, and House Speaker Brian Egolf. 

The speaker is showing off his kilt in homage to his Scottish heritage and Colón, well, he's just showing up, this time as a Dem candidate for the nomination for attorney general. 

Colón's rival for the Dem nod, BernCo District Attorney Raul Torrez, is counting on Egolf to help shepherd the Guv's anti-crime measures and then go on to score victory over Colón. 

As for the speaker, just one question: Are there any Scottish land grants in New Mexico?

RICH HISTORY 

Lopez & Pinto

Do you think this pic reflects our state's rich history just a bit? 

Posing for the opening day cameras are ABQ Dem state Senator Linda Lopez and fellow Dem Senator Shannon Pinto of McKinley and San Juan Counties. 

Linda was roughed up some at the Sunday caucus of Dem senators when she tried and failed to push through a vote of no confidence in Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart, but she seems to be taking it in stride. Maybe that's because so many Native Americans have come to her side for fighting against a senate redistricting plan they believed would dilute their voting strength and that Lopez was instrumental in defeating. 

As for Senator Pinto, in 2018 she filled the Indian Country seat her legendary grandfather, code talker and Senator John Pinto, held for so many years. He became famous for his singing of the Navajo Potato Song at the conclusion of each legislative session. Maybe Shannon will take up that tradition--once we all get our masks off. 

FRSHLY MINTED

Here's a good looking, freshly minted political family led by the newest member of the state House--Brian Baca of Valencia County. 

The Republican lawmaker was appointed to his seat this month by the Valencia county commission to succeed former GOP State Rep. Alonzo Baldonado who resigned. 

Baca is the deputy superintendent of Los Lunas Schools. 

Everyone is all smiles (beneath the masks of course) and, of course, Rep. Baca's smile may not be as noticeable when he soon confronts the overwhelming Dem majority in the House. But he can take solace in the fact that when he seeks election to the seat in November he should be a shoo-in. His district is crimson red.

THE BOTTOM LINE PIC

And yer little 'ol blog is always glad to be a part of the opening day information flow for folks across the state and at the Roundhouse. 

Here's a pic of a solon  browsing our Tuesday offering. No virus is going to keep our Alligators away from the action. 

Let's see what the 112 elected ones come up with as they get down to business. Like the pic says, we'll be looking over their shoulders--on your behalf.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022