Thursday, May 09, 2024Big Oil Active In Legislative Races; Chevron, Marathon And Conoco Phillips GIve Generously to Both Dems And R's, Plus: Raising Money From Domenici's Money News There may be a strong antipathy in some quarters toward the powerful oil and gas industry but the news is not filled with reports of a ban on fracking or a hike of the royalty rates the industry pays. Maybe, just maybe, that has a little something to do with the financial support the industry gives many of our 112 lawmakers in Santa Fe. That conclusion is hard to escape when scanning a list of contributions made by Chevron, just one of the oil giants drilling away in the lucrative Permian Basin in SE New Mexico and reaping millions in profits but also filling state coffers with historically high royalty and tax payments. Chevron lobbyist Patrick Killen's lobbyist report for the January-May period shows $248,000 in contributions to legislators and the party committees involved in the legislative races. That may not be very much for Chevron but it is a tidy sum for the smallish legislative campaigns. Chevron's donations for the period are weighted to their GOP allies but eight Democrats, including the two most powerful--the Speaker of the House and the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee-- also received donations. That can help getting an opinion heard when it comes time for decision-making on key industry issues. We put Chevron's contributions to the majority Democrats in bold. Take a look: Republican Campaign Committee of New The Speaker Fund (House Democratic PAC 22 (Senate Republican legislative caucus New Mexico House Republican Campaign 3/27/2024 New Mexico Senate Democrats $27,500.00 3/27/2024 GOP Rep. Jenifer Jones Chevron USA, Inc. $3,000.00 3/29/2024 GOP Rep. Alan Martinez Chevron USA, Inc. $3,000.00 3/30/2024 Dem Rep. Pamelya Herndon Chevron USA, Inc. $3,000.00 3/30/2024 GOP Sen. William Sharer Chevron USA, Inc. $3,000.00 4/1/2024 GOP Rep. James Townsend Chevron USA, Inc. $3,000.00 4/1/2024 GOP Sen. Pat Woods Chevron USA, Inc. $3,000.00 4/30/2024 Dem Rep. Meredith Dixon Chevron USA, Inc. $5,500.00 This is from only one oil company. There are others also giving. Through their lobbyist, ConocoPhillips donated $45,000 to 41 lawmakers--about half of them Democrats--during the reporting period, with Speaker Martinez and Chairman Small receiving the largest donations, $5,500 and $2,000 respectively. Most other donations were $1,000. Through their lobbyist Marathon oil came with $60,000 for 14 lawmakers, including 11 Democrats. $5,000 went to Dem Sen. George Munoz, chairman of the powerful Senate Finance Committee and $2,500 was donated to Marsella Duarte who is challenging ABQ westside Dem progressive Rep. Yanira Gurrola in the June 4 primary in District 16. While the donations may have influence we would add that proposals such as banning fracking and raising the royalty rates on oil are not widely supported--with or without contributions--since the industry remains vital to the state's economy as well as the health of the state budget. WHAT TO DO?  Martin’s hedge fund executive challenger is worth up to $94 million. We knew that she was a multi-millionaire who built a career out of making the ultra-wealthy wealthier, but new financial disclosures give us a bigger picture of how much she can invest in this race — from sending misleading mailers to launching bad-faith TV ads. She’s already poured half a million dollars into this race, and she could drop millions more at any time to tip the scales in her direction. Meanwhile, she’s largely avoiding sharing her stances on the key issues New Mexicans care about. She would rather buy this election than actively participate in it. We can defeat Mitch McConnell’s handpicked candidate one grassroots contribution at a time. Will you help us prepare for the inevitable flood of massive spending and attack ads by pitching in with an emergency donation of $10 or more now? Several readers reacted to our blog this week where we pointed out that several wealthy politicians had no problem getting elected and re-elected. They pointed out that ABQ businessman Phil Maloof famously spent $8 million to try to unseat ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson in 1998. Here's more on the long lodt tale of Phil Maloof. 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 2024 Wednesday, May 08, 2024Range of Domenici Wealth Revealed: Her Worth Could Be Near $100 Million Or $21 Million On Low End; How Much Will Go To Her Senate Race? Dems Howl: "We Want An Election Not An Auction"; Our Exclusive Deep Dive Into The Monied World Of A Would-Be Senator
In her US Senate candidate financial disclosure report this week Domenici, 63, and making her first bid for elective office, was required to give only a broad range of her personal wealth. But even the low end of that range at $21 million puts her in rarefied air in a place where simple millionaires are as rare as a crime-free ABQ weekend. On the high end of the range--$94 million--even the East Coast circles where Domenici accumulated her wealth as an investment banker and financial chief for a giant hedge fund, would win her a nod of approval. (Her full disclosure statement is here. Highlights to follow below.) But in the public arena she is walking on egg shells--as gold-plated as they may be--as she tries to assure everyday voters that she is one of them--or at least used to be--until accumulating a fortune that is akin to hitting a nice-sized Powerball. Martin Heinrich, one of the least wealthy of the 100 US Senators, must be terrified and elated at the same time. Terrified that Domenici could flood the zone with cash, move the polling numbers and get their race in play in a Democratic state. Elated because that same wealth gives him a meaty issue to contrast himself with Domenici in one of the poorest states in the nation. Domenici, the daughter of the late GOP US Senator Pete Domenici who accumulated power but not money during his long carreer, has already opened her checkbook to the tune of $500,000 to kick-start her campaign, a mere pittance for her. The prospect of her risking a backlash and coming with several million is more conceivable now that we know she could be closing in on centi-millionaire status. Heinrich reports $4 million in cash hand in his latest report which sounded like a hefty bundle but now seems oddly vulnerable. Domenici is like Santa Claus with a huge bundle of gifts thrown over her shoulder. How many of them will she put under her tree? DEM REACTION The state Dems had this to say: DOMENICI'S DISCLOSURE  --Her investment in True North Capital Advisors in Nashville, whose founder is husband Patrick McDonough, is put at $5 million to $25 million. The firm provides strategic advice to major business clients. Analysis: So much for McDonough being a "kept man." --Her New York City Fifth Avenue apartment is assigned a worth of anywhere from $5 million to $25 million. Analysis: Big Apple real estate listings point to the higher figure. --The couple's Stamford, CT home is also valued in the disclosure at $5 million to $25 million. She also two mortgages--one for $5 million to $25 million and another for $1 million to $5 million. The couple also own a Santa Fe home. Analysis: Yes, there is an irony that homelessness is a major issue against that backdrop. --She reports having $1 million to $5 million in stock in Bank of America. Analysis: The stock has doubled in value since 2016 so if she's a long-term holder this is a winner. --She reports holdings of $2 million to $10 million in two Neuberger Berman stock mutual funds. A Merrill Lynch mutual fund is valued at $1 million to $5 million. Analysis: The stock market has been the place to be the last decade. And even if the future is not as bright, she's not going to be hurting, --She reports owning United Health stock valued at $500,000 to $1 million. Analysis: Another long-term market winner --Her Morgan Stanley employment plan is valued at $1 million to $5 million Analysis: Earn a lot, save a lot. THERE'S MORE  Analysis: When you're wealthy you're on the inside of companies with nonpublic stock that could explode in value. --She has an investment in Element US, a Florida recyclable waste company valued from $1 million to $5 million. Analysis: Google it and get nothing--unless you're worth north of $20 million. --Domenici pulled down about $850,000 in earned income in 2023 much of which came from the financial asset management firm AllianceBernstein where she sits on the board of directors. Analysis: Everyone needs some walking around money. In a news release Domenici's campaign says: In the past seven years Domenici and McDonough have donated more than $1 million to charities and other causes, nearly half of that donated to Excellent Schools New Mexico. That works out to about $140,000 a year in charitable donations and Democrats are already questioning whether that level of charity is commensurate with her striking wealth. MONEY AND NM POLITICS  Nella has broken barriers for women in business and has been incredibly successful. She and Pat have been blessed, and are committed to giving back to New Mexico and working every day to give New Mexico families the opportunities they had to achieve their own versions of the American Dream. Well, this is the American Dream on steroids and in an age of historic income inequality might be dubbed a nightmare by her populist detractors. But we haven't seen wealthy candidates punished for their status. Former GOP Governor Gary Johnson was worth several million and spent some of it like Domenici to start his campaign. Of course, he was not in her league financially. Former Gov. Bruce King had millions in land holdings but never did use much of it for political purposes and there was little resentment of his wealth. But he made his money in New Mexico--not New York. Around the nation this cycle there seem to be more rich candidates. That includes David McCormick, Domenici's former colleague at the Bridgewater hedge fund, the world's largest. He's spending big while running as a Republican for a Senate seat in Pennsylvania. If their campaigns don't work out at least Nella and David can still exchange stock tips when they meet up. 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 2024 Tuesday, May 07, 2024ABQ Council Power Play Develops As Incumbent Mayor Struggles; Plan Would Lower Number Of Votes Needed To Get Elected Mayor Or Councilor; Also Gives Council Power Over Key City Appointments; Voters Would Have To Approve; The News And The Analysis Up Next
A virulent form of anti-Kellerism has taken hold at the ABQ City Council and has led to sweeping proposals to reduce the power of the Mayor in favor of the nine member body. Mayor Keller immediately labeled them politically motivated: Our community expects, and deserves, us to be focused on tackling crime and finding solutions to curb homelessness, not wasting time on distractions that are ultimately political ploys for power. I’m always open to a charter reform task force and community discussion, but over-politicizing police and fire, removing safeguards for patronage and corruption, and ignoring the public’s referendum for ‘majority wins’ elections, is simply out of step with what our city needs.” Keller's full response is below.
Chief among those proposals is to eliminate the requirement that a Mayor or city councilor be elected by majority vote--50 percent. A bill sponsored by Republican City Councilors Dan Lewis and Renee Grout and Democrat Klarissa Pena would change that to just 40 percent to win election with a run-off election held between the top two vote-getters if no candidate achieved the 40 percent in the initial balloting. This proposed changes to the City Charter would have to be approved by voters. (Full Council news release here.) The election standard has been changed through the decades. Republican Mayor Richard Berry was elected with 44 percent of the vote in 2009 when the 40 percent requirement was in effect in his three way race with Mayor Marty Chavez and Dem Richard Romero. The 2017 election where Mayor Tim Keller was elected was held with a required percentage of 50 percent and a run-off election if no contender reached that mark. Keller beat Republican and now city Council President Dan Lewis in a run-off, getting 62 percent of the vote. Keller was re-elected in 2021 by getting 56 percent of the vote in a three way contest. The proposal comes amid heightened animosity between Keller and the Council which in his second term has taken a more conservative tilt with conservatives--four Republicans and one conservative Dem--often forming a majority on the nine member panel. It takes six votes to override a mayoral veto which the Council has for the most part been unable to assemble as progressive Keller has used that weapon more often in the face of Council opposition. Councilor Pena from the city's westside is the key Council swing vote. Her sponsorship to lower the threshold to win election to Mayor reflects her desire to have a westside candidate. Martin Chavez was the last Hispanic and westside resident to win the top job when he was re-elected in 2005. Republican Lewis has made no secret that he will be running in the 2025 mayoral election when Keller will be seeking a third four year term. Keller trounced Lewis in the '17 mayoral run-off by 62 to 38 percent. The city has grown more Democratic this past decade and the only way a Republican can be elected is probably by a non-majority. The proposed change could bring in more candidates of all political stripes including--City Hall observers say--the possibility that Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman runs for Mayor--if he defeats Damon Martinez in the June 4 Democratic DA primary. (There is no Republican running in the primary.) A RETURN TO 40?
They point to Democrat Jim Baca who was elected in 1997 with a mere 29 percent of the vote in a crowded field of seven which included Sam Bregman who came in fourth. The Baca administration was marked by bitter controversies with the Council which was attributed to the personalities of the time but also Baca's lack of a mandate for his progressive policies. Baca was defeated for re-election in 2001 in a four way race. He came in last while Chavez won with 38 percent of the vote. That election had no 40 or 50 percent voter requirement and unlike Baca Chavez went on to win another term in 2005. The main political meme surrounding Keller is that in spite of his unpopularity, no-one of note is running and no-one will because of the difficulty of the job. But lowering the bar for victory to 40 percent would almost certainly change that dynamic. Keller, now deep into his second term, has seen his approval ratings dive in the face of unrelenting troubles with the ABQ police department--now engulfed in a officer-involved DWI scandal--in addition to the ongoing crime crisis and dissatisfaction with the leadership of APD Chief Harold Medina. The Keller Council critics are striking at a time of weakness and could get the six votes they need to place the mayoral/council election change on the general election ballot this year. Such process changes to the City Charter have been routinely approved by voters unless there is vocal opposition.
In addition to the election changes, the anti-Keller Council contingent is proposing that the Council share with the Mayor the power to fire the city's Police Chief, City Clerk and City Attorney. That power has belonged to the mayor with some appointees requiring the Council to confirm them before they assumed office. The resolution that would be sent to voters if approved by the Council states: The Police Chief and Fire Chief shall have an employment agreement
with the City specifying the terms and conditions of employment
including a provision for early termination of employment. The Mayor may
terminate either employment of the Police Chief or the Fire Chief at
any time. The Council may terminate the agreement at any time, with
notice to the Mayor and affected Chief, by an affirmative vote of
two-thirds of the entire membership of the Council. Mayor Keller's woes have only grown in recent weeks--not only with the APD DWI scandal and the controversial auto accident involving Chief Medina. Now there is a report that the city's Inspector General is looking into special payouts given to top city officials who have resigned--including Sarita Nair, Keller's former CAO who has since been appointed to MLG's cabinet. KELLER PUSHBACK Here is the full news release from Keller's office on the City Council plans: A group of City Councilors is introducing a slate of charter amendments under the guise of streamlining City government procedures for hiring selection and City elections, but these charter amendments reflect the opposite of transparency and efficiency. It is unfortunate that faced with crime and homelessness, a group of Councilors are wasting time on the politics of power, instead of bringing real solutions to the table. “Our community expects, and deserves, us to be focused on tackling crime and finding solutions to curb homelessness, not wasting time on distractions that are ultimately political ploys for power,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “I’m always open to a charter reform task force and community discussion, but over-politicizing police and fire, removing safeguards for patronage and corruption, and ignoring the public’s referendum for ‘majority wins’ elections, is simply out of step with what our city needs.” One proposal would modify the minimum votes required for candidates for Mayor or Councilor from 50% down to 40% of the total number of votes cast. This proposal is not only undemocratic, it reverses an 11 year old public referendum, when voters decided that our elected leaders should be elected with a majority of the votes to hold office. Further, the proposal would not eliminate the need for runoff elections. They are also suggesting that our City change the procedures to appoint and remove the City Attorney, City Clerk, and Chiefs of Police and Fire. These ‘govern by committee’ proposed changes would erase critical checks and balances that are in place to prevent corruption and patronage. They would essentially make these key city jobs “at-will,” and beholden to the needs of a few council districts, rather than the city as whole – as represented by the Mayor. The additional bureaucracy, creating 10 bosses for most executives, would politicize recruiting and promotion of professionals, create more turnover, and weaken the stability of police and fire leadership that our community relies on. Given the enormity of the potential impact and the number of changes, the appropriate course of action would be to convene a Charter Review Task Force made up of City Council, the administration, and other representatives. THE BOTTOM LINES State Sen. Siah Correa Hemphill, whose decision to withdraw from her Senate race after the June 4 primary was the subject of Monday's blog, reacts to a comment about her future political plans submitted by one of the Alligators: Hi Joe, I read your blog. I have never been asked to run for Lieutenant Governor and I have never told anyone that I have been asked by Senator Martin Heinrich. I’m focused on my family and not interested in running for office. Okay, applications remain open for the position of lietenant governor on the '26 Dem ticket. Please call Martin Heinrich for an application. On second thought, you might want to call Deb Haaland first. 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 2024 Monday, May 06, 2024Dem Star Bows Out Of State Senate Race Giving GOP Golden Opportunity; Correa Hemphill Cites Family And Finances As Departure Reasons; Could She Still Pop Up In Future?
State Senator Siah Correa Hemphill has announced she is bowing out and while her name will appear on the June 4 Democratic primary ballot she will withdraw the day after. Members of the Democratic Party Central Committee from the three counties in her SW NM district will be charged with naming a replacement for the November ballot. Correa Hemphill, a school psychologist, says she is leaving in part because of family financial considerations: When I first started, I had money in the bank, and I was thinking that I’d be able to do some work during the interim. I had no idea that the interim was so busy, and of course, being on the Legislative Finance Committee, that’s a blessing and a curse because it’s so much work and required so much time away from home, and additional time that I’m not able to work. … And ultimately, it just wasn’t conducive to the life or the work of a school psychologist, because you have to be able to give consistent therapy sessions and consistent behavioral support to the schools for parents to be happy and for kids to be able to make progress. It just was not feasible.” The Senator is the mother of four with three children still at home, one who has a severe disability. Her husband works in marketing for Western NM University. She relayed a conversation she had with Gov. Lujan Grisham: She called me and just wished me well, and expressed her gratitude for me serving in the Senate. I just again framed it around needing employment — it’s particularly challenging in Senate District 28. Because when you’re a legislator in Santa Fe, or Albuquerque. . .you know, it’s like 15 minutes (from the Roundhouse). So the bulk of legislators don’t have to figure out how to save money to go up and serve during a 60-day session — that’s a good $10,000. ELATED CONSERVATIVES
As progressive Correa Hemphill, a member of the powerful Senate Finance Committee bows out, conservatives are celebrating. They believe that prominent Silver City businessman and former Grant County Commissioner Gabe Ramos, who was appointed to fill a vacancy to the senate seat as a Democrat but lost to Correa Hemphill in the 2020 primary, is well-positioned to take it over. He is running for the seat this year as a Republican. An ABQ friend of Ramos reacted to the news: Sen. Martin Heinrich's #1 progressive candidate from the 2020 primary who he endorsed and raised money for was Sen. Correa Hemphill. That primary election saw her defeat moderate Democrat Sen. Gabe Romas. Ramos was 1 of 7 moderate Democrats that Heinrich went after. Moderates lost 5 of the 7 seats. Correa Hemphill has been telling people Heinrich has asked her to run for Lt. Governor in 2026 and become his running mate should he run for Governor in 2026. We hear Ramos is defeating Correa Hemphill in polling in the district so it's not surprising she's dropping out. She sees the anti-progressive movement coming her way. Our sources report that Correa Hemphill's polling shows her down against Ramos by high single digits. But her decision to head for the exits does not necessarily speak to an anti-progressive wave but it may speak to the new composition of her district. The 2020 district she represented was composed of Catron, Grant and Socorro counties, giving it a more Democratic tilt than her new district which includes portions of Grant, Hidalgo and Luna counties. While the new District 28 has 48 percent registered Democrats, a Dem consultant says polling shows 12 percent of those Dems identify as conservative and 83 percent of independents, who make up 23 percent of the registered voters, identify as conservative. That makes the district fertile ground for the Republicans since Correa Hemphill only won by 386 votes against a Republican in the 2020 general election and has never run in Hidalgo or Luna counties. A POLITICAL FUTURE? The notion that the outgoing senator could get involved in the 2026 race for Lt. Governor is not without foundation. She seriously considered running for the Dem nomination for the southern congressional seat in 2022, but Sen. Heinrich adopted Gabe Vasquez as his favorite and kept Correa Hemphill out. We covered Heinrich's endorsement of Vasquez and Correa Hemphill's decision not to run for the US House on our Sept. 21, 2021 blog. Correa Hemphill reported $93,000 in cash on hand in her campaign account at the end of March. SENATE OUTLOOK
The Senate is currently dominated by the Dems 27 to 15. Consultants on both sides of the aisle predict the margin will be similar following the November election, the first under the redistricting that followed the 2020 census. While Ramos would add to the GOP numbers, Dems are destined to pick up Senate District 30 in Cibola county where the winner of the Dem primary--either conservative Dem and former Senator Clemente Sanchez or progressive Angel Charley--will win the seat in November as no R is running. However, progressive Charley is heavily favored to take the primary which has a large Native American vote. YES, AN ENDORSEMENTSpeaking of Heinrich and his many endorsements, we reported last week that he had "indirectly endorsed" ABQ Dem senate candidate Heather Berghmans who is challenging Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto in the primary. But what does that mean? Well, it turns out Heinrich
has explicitly endorsed Berghmans, according to her literature. We
called it "indirect" because it is Heinrich's wife, Julie, who was put
forth as the hosts for a Berghmans and Angel Charly fund-raiser this Wednesday--not the Senator.
Our use of the word "indirect" was incorrect. But then it's not easy easy tracking of all the races the state's "First Endorser" gets involved in. Try it when you have a spare week or two. NO ENDORSEMENT And in an early blog draft Thursday we said that MLG had issued "a rare endorsement" in the Democratic primary for Santa Fe District Attorney Mary Carmack-Altwies who is being challenged by former DA Marco Serna. The Governor has not endorsed a candidate. However, she did give complimentary quotes about both candidates to their campaigns that they are using in their literature. Go figure. . . 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 2024 |
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