Wednesday, February 23, 2022More Rockin' At Roundhouse: Sen. Ivey-Soto Fends Off Sex Harassment Charges From Progressive Lobbyist; Fate of Voting Rights Bill In Middle Of Controversy, Plus More On Paolo Soleri
The water is pretty muddy on this one. Ivey-Soto is chairman of the Senate Rules Committee and the most influential lawmaker when it comes to voting rights. Anaya is a lobbyist for the Voting Rights Act (SB 8) supported by progressives and who blame Ivey-Soto for its failure. So is Anaya extracting revenge and hoping to have Ivey-Soto removed from his powerful chairmanship by coming with the charges or was there truly harassment? Ivey-Soto's detractors point out he was busted for bullying Senate president pro tem Mimi Stewart on the senate floor at the end of the '21 session showing a misogynistic side and making Anaya's charges plausible. She claims it is common knowledge he has problems with his behavior around women but they have not come forth. The Anaya complaint (her full letter is here) was referred to the Legislative Council Service to hash it all out. But this is not Anaya's first foray into this territory. In 2017 Anaya, then a former staffer for then US Rep. Michelle Lujan who was seeking the 'l8 Guv nomination, acccused rival Dem Guv candidate Jeff Apodaca of attempting to kiss her on the mouth at a wiffle ball game. Nothing came of the charges that came following Apodaca’s questioning MLG’s treatment of a transgender intern in her congressional office. This time she accuses Ivey-Soto of pinching her butt and groping her in 2015 at a political reception while she was an MLG employee. She said the harassment continued at the recent legislative session where he yelled at her at the Bull Ring during a dinner as well as a Roundhouse hallway. She also claims he pressed her to drink wine while visiting his senate office and turned a conversation about home improvement sexual. Ivey-Soto points out that Anaya is a well-known lesbian and he would naturally not approach her in a sexual manner, but her attorney says that's being "gratuitous" because gay women can be subjected to sex harassment just as straight women can. Anaya is a past president of the board of directors of Emerge NM, the national women's political group that recruits and advocates for female candidates. While at Emerge she called for Senator Joseph Cervantes, chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee to resign, claiming he was abusive towards women testifying before his committee. At the same time she called for Ivey-Soto to resign because of his controversial debate with Sen. Stewart. NOT A SHOWSTOPPER Anaya again called for Ivey-Soto's resignation as she filed her complaint Tuesday. That’s not going to happen without an iron-clad case. Early progressive feminist warriors such as newly ensconced Santa Fe City Manager John Blair and campaign consultant turned state cannabis PR promoter Heather Brewer, who joined those pronouncing guilty before innocent as the new standard, are monitoring their prospective retirement checks. Out here in the real world where everyday people struggle to keep up with inflation, pay the rent and whatever is left over to pay the bills, the culture wars— especially between warring political partisans—are tiresome. To put it crassly, in 2022, an alleged, long ago pinch on the ass isn’t a showstopper. BEHIND THE SCENES
Anaya and the progressives blame Ivey-Soto for the failure of the voting rights bill at the recent session (SB8) saying he delayed its consideration at his committee, but other observers believe the interest groups, MLG and SOS Toulouse Oliver, all who backed the bill, doomed themselves when they included in the bill controversial proposals like allowing 16 year olds to vote, proclaiming Election Day a state holiday, making voter registration automatic at MVD offices and automatically sending out absentee ballots without voters having to request such ballots for each election. Before the session even started Republicans rallied supporters against the bill. The interest groups and their political allies failed to convince many county clerks to support it. But voting rights has become a one size fits all program from the national progressive interest groups, even in New Mexico which has an outstanding record in implementing reforms to increase participation. In fact, the last general election brought the highest turnout in decades. That MLG and SOS Toulouse Oliver, both of whom have strong records on voting access, got caught up in the ill-fated measure, attests to the power of the Dem Progressive left and its financial muscle come campaign time. Sex harassment is going to be a hot button topic this year no matter what happens with the Anaya-Ivey-Soto matter. Republicans are promising to take on MLG over sexual harassment claims of her former political consultant. Her campaign paid him $150,000 in lawsuit settlement money after he charged her with sexually demeaning him at a campaign meeting and throwing a bottle of water on his crotch. MORE PAOLO  It's unlikely the Paolo Soleri, built more than a half-century ago and a popular concert stop well into the 21st century, will once again play host to nationally known music artists. Rather, said Santa Fe Indian School superintendent Christie Abeyta, the plan is to use the space as a training ground and showcase for the school’s performing arts students, as well as a venue for other local schools with arts programs. The school estimates it will take $15 million to fully rebuild Paolo Soleri which was named for its Italian architect. They did offer a bit of wiggle room on future concerts, saying if and when the amphitheatre repens "community events" could be held there. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022 |
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