Some items of interest that fell to our newsroom floor this week but have been recovered. . .  

There's still hope that ABQ will avoid a radical change in its election process. City Councilor Klarissa Pena, a sponsor of the City Charter amendment approved this week that would eliminate run-off elections for mayoral and council elections, may be wavering. Mayor Keller announces he will veto the proposal that Councilors want voters to decide at the November election. Pena says: 

Regardless of a veto, she said something needs to be done (about low turnout) — even if it’s not the charter amendment.“I’m not sure plurality is digestible for people. I just hope people recognize we need to do something about waking the sleeping giant.” 

Keller says he will veto the proposal because it would give an edge to incumbents in crowded fields of candidates that could arise if victory could be won with a very low percentage of the vote. 

But that's a secondary concern. In open mayoral and council races the threat would come from far left or far right candidates getting elected with a very small plurality of votes.

The council approved the amendment on a 6 to 3 vote so one supportive councilor will have to switch if Keller's veto is to prove successful. If it isn't and the amendment goes to the voters, trying to defeat it by saying it would help incumbents is too anemic. The right approach would be to also condemn the amendment for encouraging extremism--not majority rule. 

WEAPONIZING ETHICS?

Jeff Apodaca, the ABQ businessman and and force behind the NM Project seeking to get more Hispanics voting and elected and for less progressive politics, has made his first response to a lawsuit filed against his group by the State Ethics Commission. The suit says the nonprofit NM Project is violating the law by not disclosing their donors. Apodaca says:

Outside ultra-liberal progressives demand the votes of Latino Democrats but want to silence our voices, expecting us to remain complacent. The minute we challenge them, they launch attacks on our political leaders and Latino community. The national progressive movement has used New Mexico as a testing ground for their agenda, targeting and attacking our Latino leaders and elected officials. Their agenda and policies have failed. Just look at the numbers:

--Worst state for healthcare in the country with 2,500 doctor openings; most violent and most dangerous state; Worst in education; Homeless, mental health ranked last; Lowest job growth in the USA.

Ultra-liberal progressives within our own Democratic Party have now weaponized the NM Ethics Commission to stifle the voices of Latino voters and our first amendment rights of freedom of speech.

Much of the group's funding has come from oil and gas and development interests. But it did not make a big difference in this month's primary election. Conservative state House candidates were defeated by progressive Dems in the races the NM Project participated in. Apodaca says they plan to be active in the November election.

COPPER CAPERS  

Jim Thorpe of JT Land and Cattle in Newkirk (east of Santa Rosa) comes with this: 

Joe: Are our legislators going to tackle the very serious copper theft epidemic in NM from construction sites and businesses? Recently a number of popular Santa Fe restaurants (Horseman’s Haven, Rustica, Ranch House) were sall hut down for the busy Father’s Day weekend because thefts had left them without power and spoiling food in refrigerators. As with stolen catalytic converters, can’t our state create an effective system to stop the fencing of stolen metals at the scrap yards? That might be a good topic for the upcoming “crime” session? 

That July 18 special legislative session has been surrounded by confusion as the Governor tries to get lawmakers on board with her crime bills. 

Copper crime is not on the list yet but the outbreak of destructive fires in Ruidoso could be a late addition to the session agenda.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.