New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan

Last night, with platters of sushi and bottles of Saki all over the place, I assumed the opening party for the new ABQ Japanese restaurant Azouma was a safe haven from the political alligators, at least for a couple of hours. But I guess I'm a marked man. Despite all the efforts of owner Frank Su to transport his guests to the Orient, and he does a heckuva job, I was soon surrounded by an alligator squad feeding me the latest political tidbits, and they were not cooked up anywhere near the Orient. Since my efforts to disguise myself as Tokyo Joe were a bust, here are the headlines from mi casa after my visit to Su's casa.

NEW BIZ BOSS FOR ABQ

Alligators feasting appropriately on sashimi, minus the green chili, dropped the news that former State Rep. Fred Mondragon, brother of former Lt. Governor Roberto, is getting back into the government game. Fred, also a veteran hospital administrator and onetime Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for ex-ABQ Mayor Ken Schultz in the 80's, will soon take over as director of the city’s Office of Economic Development. He'll replace banker Mike Albers. Mondragon represented the ABQ Old Town area in the 70's and has been involved in Democratic Party politics forever. The new post will pay a good chunk of change, in exchange for bringing some green stuff into the city. Fred will get the nod from Mayor Marty, reported the alligators, who also reminded me that Fred will be reunited with Clarence “Porky” Lithgow who served with him in the Schultz days and who is a former Santa Fe city councilor. Lithgow now heads the ABQ Solid Waste Department.

KERRY IS COMING

As I digested the Mondragon news, along with my generous serving of Tempura, another piece of news came my way and it was as hot as the wasabi--Prez candidate John Kerry will make a stop in New Mexico, his first since securing the Dem nomination, on May 4. The gator offering up this prized info had no details, but he is tapped in to the inner circle and had only been sipping the saki, not chugging it, so I took him at his word. In the only NM Prez poll so far, Kerry is in a dead heat with W. His May 4 pit stop will no doubt be the first of several.

TOPPINO TOPS IT OFF

Mickey Toppino, veteran NM ad man and party host, topped the evening off by repeatedly confessing that the was "anti-sushi, but pro-Kerry." We wondered what that was all about until we realized he was saying he was “anti-sushi, but pro-Kirin" as in the famous Japanese Kirin beer. Oh well, everything can't be about politics, nor should it be when you are in ABQ's version of the Land of the Rising Sun.

WE HAVE A NEW, SHORT WEB ADDRESS...REALLY!

I surrender. After months of ribbing, I have caved in and secured a new web site address. “New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan” can now be found at www.joemonahan.com. Really, that's it. No blogspot, no New Mexico, just my little ol' name to make it easy for anyone to find us anywhere on the world wide web. I think what broke me was when they had to shrink Dick Knipfing's head at KRQE-TV to fit my web address on the screen during a guest shot. Or maybe it was when KKOB's Larry Ahren’s demanded that I pay for all the airtime it took when he mentioned it on the airwaves. In any event, joemonahan.com is a done deal (And thanks to Dick and Larry and the many other media heavies for helping to spread the word about our site.)

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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KING
It's got to be the most bizarre polling duel in recent memory. The two Dem congressional candidates vying for the right to take on Rep. Steve Pearce in November both claim to have polls showing them way ahead of their rival. In King's case, he says his poll gives him a whopping 42 point lead over Steinborn! King's poll has him at 54% to Jeff's 12%. And it gets crazier. Steinborn's poll gives him 53% to King's 22%! How can this be? Is this a belated April Fools Joke?

Both candidates hired professional polling firms out of D.C. Gary, son of legendary ex-Guv Bruce King, says his 42% lead is straight-up, no "pushing" of likely voters when they were interviewed. Steinborn says he got his results "after likely Democratic primary voters were informed about both Steinborn’s and King’s biographies." In other words, they were "pushed" in Jeff's direction. But to political observers watching the race both polls are suspect. (Disclaimer: I helped Gary with some consulting early in his campaign)

"I don't believe Gary is 42 points ahead and I don't believe Jeff is 31 points in front of Gary. If you look at the results of the preprimary convention, Steinborn won 42% of the delegates and Gary got about 58%. I see the race much more in those terms than through these polls they are floating," reasoned a seasoned veteran of 2nd Congressional District politics.

King, who says he leads Steinborn "by a mile," also did a polling match-up with Republican Pearce for the General Election. Those results show Pearce with 52% and King with 33%. However, after voters were given a so-called "balanced" description of each candidate, Gary skyrocketed to 47% and Pearce dropped to 42%. In this case, "balanced" is another word for pushed.

PEARCE: WATCHING AND WAITING

STEINBORN
Both King and Steinborn, a native of Las Cruces who worked as an aide to Sen. Bingaman and then-Congressman Richardson, are using their polls to try to raise money in the final critical month of the campaign. Thus far, both men have labored mostly unnoticed with absentee voting now less than a week away.

"I think both of these challengers need to conduct very aggressive campaigns in May, if they are going to have any hope at all of unseating Pearce. Neither of them is firmly established in the public mind, so they have to put the pedal to the metal now to have any hope of pulling off the big surprise later," said our veteran observer.

But it takes big money to do that. And neither contender is flush with cash. Both have about a $100 grand to play with, so any TV buys, unless fast cash is raised, will likely be concentrated in the final two weeks.

Meanwhile, former Rep. Joe Skeen staffer, Bruce Donisthorpe, said the 52% vote for Pearce in the King poll "is very solid.
Anytime you get an incumbent over 50% he is generally pretty safe. Joe used to poll about the same in these mock match-ups in the early going, 51% or 52%. I don't see Pearce as very vulnerable at all." Said Donisthorpe a 25 year veteran of state politics. Pearce succeeded Skeen in Congress in 2002. Skeen died last year.

The Democrats don't have that many "swing" districts in the nation to target. Even though the southern CD seems more and more Republican as the years go by, considerable national funds could be expended on the winner of the King-Steinborn contest simply because the money has to go somewhere. As for the candidates' polls, they aren't going anywhere. No media in the southern district has published either of them.

E MAIL ME YOUR POLITICAL NEWS

I count on my readers to keep us informed on the latest happenings in La Politica, so be sure to email me your news. There is a link at the top right of this page and, of course, you can remain anonymous. We are interested in politics across the Land of Enchantment and New Mexicans in Washington. Keep us up-to-date so we can continue to be the New Mexico political community's best source for the very latest.

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We call him Big Bill, but young State Rep. Al Park may be calling him rich Uncle Bill. Certainly, the Guv has taken the ambitious attorney under his wing with word coming to us that Park will be the beneficiary of one of the highest priced ever fundraisers for a NM legislative candidate--$1000 a pop. Veteran politicos can only site the 2000 epic legislative battle between Raymond and John Sanchez as perhaps having an equally priced event. The fundraiser comes on the heels of Bill's famous $10,000 a ticket Wonton Party that was first reported here. (See my March 31 archive)

The 33 year old Park's “private reception and fundraiser" will be held May 4th in Santa Fe. It's being hosted by longtime politico and State Transportation Commission Chair Johnny Cope and Santa Fe attorney Bill Robins. Big Bill is listed as "special guest." Of course, he is more than that. Putting over $10 or $20 grand in Park's campaign kitty in one fell swoop will give him, if not ownership rights, certainly a long-term lease on the up and comer. The Guv said the money raised the night of the Wonton Party, perhaps hundreds of thousands, would be dedicated to Dem legislative candidates as well. Surely, our Guv and Dale Carneige both know how to win friends and influence people.

PARK FILLING HIS METER
AL PARK
Park has no problem turning to Bill as he will face Republican Kathy Leyendecker in the November election for House District 26 in ABQ's SE Heights. She is an appointee of former Governor Gary and has demonstrated fundraising acumen. As I have reported, the Park-Leyendecker battle will likely be the priciest legislative battle of the year. Park, a member of the House Judiciary Committee, is seeking a third two year term. He grabbed the limelight during the October special session when he shepherded a sex offender bill thru the House. He hopes to use that as a crime-fighting issue in the swing district which is 50% Dem, giving Kathy an opening for the upset.

But the big reason Park sees victory as essential this time is his future ambitions. He has eyes set on the 2006 Democratic nomination for attorney general, and a legislative loss to Leyendecker would be devastating. With Big Bill throwing him thousand dollar a ticket party's, Park is obviously ready to put it all on the line. Will Kathy respond? Or is Park hoping the huge dollar event will perhaps give her second thoughts about getting into a money race with him? Whatever the case, the Park campaign treasury is about to bulge. The Sandia Prep grad sent word thru the grapevine that he is up to raising $100,000 for his race if needed. When you are a Friend of Bill that could turn out to be pocket change.

GRAND OLD PARTY---FOR THE D'S

Some mischievous R's, looking to the Democratic National Convention, are already putting the needle in their rival party. Take a look at part of this "official schedule" for the Dem confab that some NM R's are getting laughs over.

6:30 p.m.- Anti-war rally no. 1. 6:40- Ted Kennedy proposes a toast. 7:00 - Tribute theme to France. 7:20- Ted Kennedy proposes a toast. 7:25- Tribute theme to Spain. 7:45- Anti-war rally no. 2. (Moderated by Michael Moore) 8:00- John Kerry presents one side of the issues. 8:25- Ted Kennedy proposes a toast. 8:30- Terrorist appeasement workshop. 9:00- Gay marriage ceremony. 10:15- Re-enactment of Kerry's fake medal toss. 10:30- Cameo by Dean 'Yeeearrrrrrrg!' 10:40- Ted Kennedy proposes a toast. 10:50- Pledge of allegiance to the UN. 11:00- Double gay marriage ceremony. 11:20- John Kerry presents the other side of the issues. 11:30- 'Free Sadaam' pep rally. 11:59- Ted Kennedy proposes a toast. 12:00 a.m. - Nomination of Democrat candidate.

Of course, the Dems can take heart that the R's are apparently worked up enough over them that they are getting an early start on the digs. With New Mexico's Big Bill chairing the Dem convention, the D's will have plenty of opportunity to return the fire.

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ELI CHAVEZ
According to my political experts, it's not clear just how much congressional hopeful Richard Romero helped himself when he went to court and successfully kicked Eli Chavez off of the June 1 primary ballot. The Dem primary is now a two man derby between State Senator Romero and ER doctor Miles Nelson. Chavez, a retired DEA agent, was ruled off the ballot by a Romero challenge for failing to come up with enough valid petition signatures. On the surface this seems good news for Richard. My experts say Chavez was positioned to get 3 to 5% of the vote, even though he had no money and no name ID. If Nelson was able to get the race in play, those mainly Hispanic votes could be crucial to Romero.

But the big issue is Romero's own standing in the large Hispanic community. Here's how one Dem insider frames it: "First, Richard joined with the senate Republicans and challenged Manny Aragon for the preisdent pro tem position and won. Then, in the 2002 campaign against Heather, he crowed about that success while attacking Aragon in a TV spot. Now, he has strong-armed a very weak candidate in Eli Chavez. It was like using an elephant's foot to crush a fly. He'll win this thing with or without Eli on the ballot. His challenge may help him get a few more points in the primary, but it may end up hurting him with Hispanics in November," said one politico who has followed the action in the 1st Congressional District since its inception over 30 years ago.

In reporting on this race, I earlier wrote that Romero was "landslided" by Heather in 02'. That drew some questioning on what constitutes a landslide. Well, according to the final figures from the Secretary of State's web site, Heather garnered 55.3% of the vote to Richard's 44.7%. That's a 10.6% victory margin. My benchmark for a "landslide" is generally at least 10 points, which in this case fits the bill. However, others have their benchmark set at a candidate getting at least 60% of the vote in a two-way race. I will split the difference and call Heather's win "overwhelmingly decisive."

There's some discouraging news this week for the D's as they try to unseat Republican Heather as well as Steve Pearce down south. The "political oddsmaker" from Campaigns & Elections Magazine, who boasts of a 98% accuracy rate, is out with his latest odds on NM's congressional races. He ups the chances of Heather winning to 3 to 2 or 60%. Ditto for freshman U.S. Rep. Pearce. With those kinds of odds, the Romero challenge to Chavez looks more like a gamble than a sure thing.

PEARCE UNDER THE LIGHTS

National Republicans trotted out Vietenam War veteran and NM GOP Rep. Pearce last night to take on John Kerry on the Hannity & Colmes gabfest on Fox News. It was a rare event for Pearce, a decorated fighter pilot, who was asked to carry water for the GOP for their attacks against Kerry for alleged flip-flops on whether he tossed away his Vietnam medals at protests in the early 70's.

Pearce gave a serviceable interview, but was slammed hard when he overstepped and tried to compare Kerry to then-radical anti-war activist and actress Jane Fonda. Liberal Colmes shut Pearce down quickly, but he rebounded with an attack on Kerry's "credibility" over his various explanations on just what he threw away way back then. Finally, Pearce, perhaps playing to his God fearing SE NM constituents, tossed in a hit against gay marriage, indicating Kerry was not firm enough in his opposition.

Comparing Heather's recent national TV shots with Pearce's, it would seem the two are on equal footing. What Pearce lacks in charisma he makes up with subject command. Heather is a bit slow to rise in interviews, but manages to exude a bit of personality and charm (excluding her over-the-top rant against TV executives earlier this year). Why should we care? Heather and Pearce could very well face each other some day for higher political office in NM.

HORSING AROUND: NM MAKES THE DERBY

Who doesn’t love a good horse race? Let's veer slightly from daily politics to share an exciting New Mexico sports story.

Sunland Park Racetrack & Casino owner Stan Fulton announces he will have a horse running in the "most exciting 2 minutes in sport"--The Kentucky Derby. Fulton's horse, St. Averil, a 3 year old, dark bay colt will Run for the Roses in Louisville, Kentucky on May 1st.

Fulton's lobbyist, Scott Scanland, tells us that St. Averil has been listed as a contender on the Kentucky Derby web site for weeks. "This horse has a real shot at winning because the 3 year old ranks are wide open this year. It's great for New Mexico and great for New Mexico horse racing,” said Scanland. Other Derby contenders include Smarty Jones, Lion Heart and Wimbledon.

Sunland knows something about thoroughbred racing having hosted the 2nd running of the $500,000 WinStar Derby for 3 year old horses in March. That race followed the WinStar Oaks, a $250,000 race for 3 year old Philly's.

Fulton has also made his presence known in New Mexico public affairs through big donations since becoming the owner of Sunland in 2001. He has given nearly $4 million dollars for a new building at New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, $500,000 to New Mexico Highlands University and a $1 million dollars to the Gadsden Public School District. But Fulton is sticking to horse races. He is not a politico, and as a resident of Nevada, is not eleigible to run here, but his horses are and they are off and running. Good luck to St. Averil.

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GOP CHAIR WEH
"The coup is complete." That's how one insider is assessing the firings of six state GOP staffers, including Executive Director Tom Carroll, by new GOP Chair Allen Weh. The spin from the inside is that the forces of ex-state party chair Dendahl, successful in forcing Ramsay Gorham to resign, have now been aided by the Bush campaign and congressional delegation in consolidating power at the top of the state party, if not at the grassroots level.

"Weh is taking orders from (Bush operative) Rich Beeson and (Sen. Domenici Chief of Staff) Steve Bell. They are basically ignoring the local players. Even though the State Central Committee is dominated by Ramsay's supporters, they have been ignored.
Guys like (former light Guv Walter) Bradley and (GOP Bernalillo County Chair) Ken Zangara have been dealt out. This is about the re-election of Bush, Heather Wilson and Steve Pearce. It's also about the big money that will be flowing into the state for the Bush campaign and who will get the contracts. Local candidates or building the party for the long term and healing the divisions is of no concern to these guys," analyzed another deep insider who has been close to the ongoing action.

Another party source told me "he felt duped" by Weh. "He was basically presented as having no dog in the fight, but it turns out he does. He never consulted with anyone over the staff firings. He just took his orders from the Bush campaign who needed these people out of the way so they could run the show here." The source also told me that a former campaign operative for Congresswoman Wilson, Glen Wilkins of Atlanta, appears to be in line to take Carroll's $60,000 a year post as executive director. "He will take orders from the Bush campaign and basically be a front guy," our source informed.

But Weh's advocates again hammered the "incompetence' of Gorham as the cause of the upheaval. "We needed to bring someone in to straighten out the mess she created with the Republican National Committee and the Bush campaign. It's not about who gets the money; it's about who gets the White House. Dendahl and (GOP Nat'l Commiteeman, attorney/lobbyist) Mickey Barnett have shown they know how to get the job done. It's too bad it had to come to this, but Gorham was unwilling to play ball. Now, it's our game to win or lose," said a Weh supporter.

Whether the party apparatus has been hijacked or rescued is a matter of opinion. However, the war for control is far from over. The Barnett-Buffett contest for GOP Nat'l Committeeman looms in June. And the bloody weekend sparked cries for Weh's resignation. But for the next six months, it appears the Bush campaign, aligned with the Dendahlites and congressional delegation, is calling the shots in the state GOP. Rank and file Republicans, legislative candidates and others lower in the pecking order may have to fight get their voices heard and their share of the party's resources.

THE READER MAILBAG: MANNY & JUSTINE


"Manny doesn't want the Highlands job!" "Justine Young is supported by both Republicans and Democrats." Those were some of the sentiments in our mailbag recently in reaction to stories we broke on this site. "Which is more important to Bill? Have a strong and accomplished ally in the Senate or a pal languishing in the backwaters of a non-rated school of learning?" That's how one reader reacted to our report (April 19 & 20) over the speculation on who would replace Manny Aragon in the state senate, if he did get the top job at NM Highlands University. Well, I would not call Highlands a 'backwater" and also think the post is prestigious enough to lure Manny away.

About that fundraiser being thrown by GOP State Rep. candidate Justine Fox-Young and being co-hosted by two prominent Democratic lobbyists. (April 21) "You misled your readers. There were 17 other sponsors of the fundraiser, and they were all Republicans," said one miffed correspondent. Another Young supporter, Democrat Mark Fidel, son of State Senate powerhouse Joe Fidel, e-mailed that he has hosted a coffee for Justine and that he "was proud to be a Democrat backing her." To my eyes, the big news was that Young was having any association at all with Dems during an intense struggle with fellow Republican and incumbent House member Bob White. I think most political observers would agree. But agree or disagree, your comments, criticisms and news tips are always welcome. Use the e-mail link at the top right of this page to send them in.

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JUDY
Foes of the Dendahl wing of the state GOP are going for a double play. They already have ex-State Rep. George Buffett seeking to oust Republican National Committeeman and chief Dendahlite Mickey Barnett. Now, I can report that the fellas will have to give some elbow room to the ladies who have a fight of their own. Former State Rep. Judy Vanderstar Russell, rumored to be preparing for a run against GOP National Committeewoman Rosie Tripp, confirms to "New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan" that the battle is on and she has Socorro Rosie in her sights.

"We need national committee representatives who are willing to work with all factions in the party," e-mailed Judy, making it clear that Tripp's alliance with Dendahl and attorney Barnett will be the big issue when the State Central Committee votes in June.

Some might dub Judy's run "Ramsay's Revenge." She is a close ally of former state chair Gorham who resigned this month after a bitter ten month battle with the Dendahlites. But this one won't be fought just for Ramsay. Judy ran against State Sen. "Lightning Rod" Adair for the 2002 GOP Light Guv nomination in a battle so bitter that she refused to endorse Adair after he beat her and Bill Davis. She also declined to endorse Dendahlite GOP Guv candidate John Sanchez.

ROSIE'S SCENARIO

Russell of Rio Rancho will have a tough battle with Tripp. She's no stranger to politics, currently serving as a Socorro county commissioner as well as national committeewoman. Her husband, Don Tripp, is a well-known Socorro businessman and a Socorro state rep. During her four year term Rosie was appointed by RNC Chair Racicot to serve on the GOP's committee to determine a site for the 2004 national convention. She has been overshadowed by Barnett, who continues to sponsor candidates against fellow Republicans in legislative races and was a driving force behind the Gorham coup.

A key question for challengers Buffett and Tripp is whether the R's will be receptive to ousting their committee reps with Washington in the middle of a presidential campaign. Will the Bush campaign see that as detrimental to their man and work hard for Barnett and Tripp? No doubt, they are the White House favorites, especially Barnett, who has close ties to White House political savant Karl Rove. On the other hand Mickey, and Rosie by association, have made so much blood boil that the Gorham faction may have the muscle to finally end the war by kicking them out. This is going to be a good one.

And a final note. While Vanderstar Russell seeks to oust Rosie Tripp, it turns out an apparent Tripp relative, Dan Tripp Jr., gave a $1000 donation to Judy's 02' Light Guv campaign. Such are the crosswinds in our dysfunctional GOP.

ABOUT THAT PREZ POLL

Terrell
The New Mexican's chief political correspondent, Steve Terrell, e-mails me to point out that I was not alone in picking up on the first NM Prez poll of the season that we reported on Thursday (April 22 report). He also had the dead heat race on his weblog which he also uses this week to report on how a state senate candidate seeking the Roman Maes seat in Santa Fe misspoke when she said she had never been arrested for DWI. Check it out. And be sure to check us out next week for all the very latest on the wonderful world of NM politics. Have a great weekend and, as always. thanks to you for tuning in and to our advertisers for their continuing support.

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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It's what we all expected. The Prez race in NM is so tight an ant could not get between the two of them. That's the result of the first New Mexico presidential poll conducted by the respected national polling firm American Research Group (ARG). The battle between Bush and Kerry is fully engaged, with only 6% of the 600 likely voters surveyed calling themselves undecided. Overall, Bush has just a one point lead over the Massachusetts senator, garnering 46% of the vote to Kerry's 45%. Ralph Nader comes in with 3%. When Nader is dropped from the ballot the Kerry-Bush battle becomes a dead heat, with both men getting 47%.

Our Land of Enchantment is a key swing state in the Prez contest. Bush lost NM by under 400 votes in 2000. In this latest poll, he gets good news from his own party. The Republican warfare that has raged for months in the state has apparently not hurt Bush, at least not yet. The poll says 89% of likely NM Republican voters will vote for the incumbent. But there is disquieting news for Bush among independent voters. The ARG survey reports Kerry is winning that block with 48% to Bush's 35%, with Nader getting 6%.

The survey was taken earlier this month, but has not been reported in any news outlets here. It was brought to our attention by our friends at ElectYou.com, a sponsor of this site. National polls taken lately show Bush picking up a couple of points on Kerry but, clearly, New Mexico is again going to be a battleground state, with multiple visits from the candidates and their surrogates and plentiful media buys. If the race stays close local candidates will probably not feel any 'coattail' effect from either Prez hopeful.

The ARG results are based on 600 completed telephone interviews among a statewide random sample of likely voters in New Mexico. Of the 600 likely voters, 34% are registered as Republicans, 50% are registered as Democrats, and 16% are registered with a minor party or no party. The interviews were conducted March 30 through April 1, 2004. Complete NM poll details at ARG Poll

THE CONSPIRACY FILE: BILL & Hil

We don't indulge much in the rumor mill. Just about all my stuff comes from reliable sources cultivated over the years and from my astute readers. But the latest rumor making the rounds regarding Big Bill is so wild and entertaining I just have to let you in on it. Big Bill, the rumor goes, met secretly in Santa Fe with former President Clinton and Hilary Clinton this month and hatched a plot to draft Hilary for President at the Democratic convention at which Big Bill will preside as chair! That's not all. Bill, the tongue-waggers claim, has quietly rented office space in Florida and elsewhere that will be headquarters' for a Hilary-Bill 04' presidential ticket. Now, about Bill's membership in Skull and Bones........

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Justine
Now that they have a new chairman picked, top Republicans are starting to focus on their hotly contested primaries in the ABQ NE Heights where the first shots have been fired. First up is the generational battle between incumbent freshman GOP State Rep. Bob White and 24 year old Justine Fox Young. White tells me he has filed a complaint with the Secretary of State's office after a flyer went out attacking him for criticizing State Rep. Joe Thompson for getting picked up for drunk driving. The letter from "Republicans for Responsibility" chastised White saying the print shop owner had a DWI of his own back in 1962. White is not complaining about that. He says he estimates that the flyer was sent throughout District 30 and cost more than $500.00 If it did, the committee needs to be registered with the Secretary of State. He's checked. It is not and he has filed the complaint,

Meanwhile, Young, legal secretary to Mickey Barnett, attorney and ringleader of the braintrust of ex-state GOP chair Dendahl, is raiding the Democratic Party for support. In a fundraising invitation, she lists Dan Weaks and Marla Shoats as hosts of the April 30 event. Weaks is a lifelong Democrat and a leading Santa Fe lobbyist. Marla Shoats is his lobbying partner. Both are old friends of ex-House Speaker Raymond Sanchez. Justine's father is Democrat lobbyist Charlie Young. Even so, Justine says she is the anti-tax candidate and it's White who has been consorting with Democrats. White wonders just how long Young has been a Republican.

It's a strange concoction up there, with Young favored by prominent Democratic lobbyists and at the same time being positioned by Mickey as the bright hope of the GOP's Dendahlites to gain legislative power. White is the frontrunner in the race. But sources in the district report Young is walking hard and mailing heavy. Turnout may favor the 60 something White. But hard work never cost anyone votes. We'll keep you posted.

IGNITON BILL IGNITES RACE

Remember that ill-fated measure to force every New Mexican to install an ignition interlock on their car even if they had not been arrested for DWI? It required all motorists to purchase the expensive option and it came courtesy of Dem State Rep. Ken Martinez of Grants. Through the grapevine, Martinez expressed puzzlement on why I strongly felt the measure was a political disaster. Ken, here's your answer.

In the NE Heights of ABQ, where ex-State Rep. Rob Burpo is challenging fellow Republican and incumbent Rep. Larry Larranaga, Burpo has trotted out Larry's support of the ignition interlock bill which was soundly defeated, but not before a good portion of lawmakers signed on to the bill. It made national headlines and was ridiculed coast to coast. (did they read it before they voted!?) Burpo and others are going to touch a nerve with this one. Conservative R's who especially don't like big government are prime targets and that's where Burpo is aiming. The only consolation for Rep. Martinez is that it's Republicans who are fighting over the far out bill.

Much of Larranga's district used to be represented by Burpo, who left it to unsuccessfully seek the R nomination for Guv in 02.' Adding insult to injury, Burpo's campaign signs say, "Let's Return Rob Burpo" as if he had never left the Roundhouse. Well, he did leave, but the question now is can he get back by taking out Larranaga, who has allied himself with the forces of ex-state party chair Dendahl, a group that Burpo sees as public enemy number one. The district is solid R so no D's need apply. Burpo vs. Larranaga: A key race to watch for Primary 04.'

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RULER OF THE VALLEY
ABQ South Valley Alligators are in an uproar over our report Monday (see April 19) naming three possible replacements for Dem ABQ State Senate Majority Leader Manny Aragon, if Manny gets the nod for the presidency of NM Highlands University. A blizzard of phone calls and e-mail came in, most of them saying "No, No, No." One said: "The Governor will not appoint a replacement if Manny leaves. He will let the Democratic Party Central Committee name a candidate and keep the seat vacant until the November election. That way he will not appear to be taking sides." Sure. And who controls the Central Committee? If you guessed Big Bill, you win the grand prize. And gee, do you really think the Big Guy is afraid of the factions in the South Valley? Hey Gators, in case you haven't heard, Big Bill owns lock, stock and barrel any Democrat who walks in this state. And that includes Majority Leader Aragon, House Speaker Lujan and House Majority Whip Taylor. Think I'm wrong, fellas? Then stand up in public and disagree with him sometime! They haven't and they won't.

A 21st century alligator using e-mail told me one of the candidates on my list does not live in the district and cannot get the appointment, that anyone who gets it would have to be registered in the district at the time the Guv issued his call for the last legislative session in January. Of course, when Bill demanded and received the resignations of all University regents, members of the Judicial Standards Commission and other boards and commissions, they said he could not do that either! Believe me, in La Politica where a candidate lives and is registered is a never ending subject of intrigue. Don't rule anyone out on that basis because when there is big power at stake anything, and I mean anything, is possible in New Mexico.

Another alligator was so upset with my report he said he would place the name of the guy who will get the seat in a sealed envelope only to be opened at the time of the appointment! Thanks a lot Gator. But I never predicted who would get the nod, just some of the names floating around. And they are all possible, even if the various factions at work in the Valley are working overtime to nix any candidate they don't like.

If a senator, such as Manny, represents more than one county, the Guv gets a list of recommendations from the county commissioners and makes the appointment. Right? Well, remember when Bill was given a list of candidates from the judicial nominating commission for an ABQ judgeship and rejected all of them and made them send him the candidate he wanted all along? I do. But hey, he can't do that either!

POWER POLITICS: VALLEY AMNESIA?

So Valley Alligators, lizards, wall-leaners and assorted politicos, I thank you for your sage advise and questioning comments. But in case you haven't noticed there's a new sheriff in town by the name of Big Bill. Those who have been in Santa Fe for a while, legislators, lobbyists, bureaucrats (especially from the ABQ Valley), remain in denial. They can't believe the way Big Bill is consolidating power right under their noses. They only hope he will go away and run for President or something. But he hasn't gone away and those grumbling the loudest in secret refuse to take him on in public. If Aragon leaves the senate, Bill may get more power because the plain fact is there is no one in that body capable of taking him on. Aragon was it and decided not to so he could get the Highlands job. To all of the denialists, a final splash of cold water in your mugs: Throw out your old rule book because Big Bill is writing a new one and it's a work in progress. You are now free to howl in anguish.

WARD CAMP---PAID POLITICAL

We welcome advertising from NM's political candidates, and when they come aboard, we give them space to tell us about themselves. Ward Camp is a GOP candidate for the Public Regulation Commission. Here is his pitch to his fellow R's as he seeks the nomination to fill the ABQ seat being vacated by Herb Hughes.

“Working to bring greater energy efficiency and more information to customers about their utility bills has convinced me that we can improve our utility system here in New Mexico. Having worked with more than 15 state regulatory agencies throughout the United States, I have seen what works and what doesn’t. New Mexico can do much better.

Dramatic increases in insurance costs to small businesses, the need to crack down on uninsured motorists, and the lack of customer services are also areas where the PRC has fallen short. The PRC can be improved in so many ways. Isn’t it about time, we had a PRC that was responsive to the people of New Mexico?"

For more on the Camp candidacy click on his ad. And for details on how you or your candidate can get before New Mexico's most likely voters, give me a call at 505-243-4059 or email me at jmonahan@ix.netcom.com. There's a link at the top right of this page.

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends.

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MANNY
There I was...again. So deep in the ABQ South Valley that I could smell the politics, not to mention the alligators in search of another unsuspecting wannabe power-broker to topple. My journey into the most guarded recesses of La Politica had a mission: Who would replace powerful Dem State Sen. Manny Aragon if, as is quite possible, he is named to the presidency of NM Highlands University in Vegas? No doubt, I would have to bring to bear all of my humble skills on this highly classified mission. After all, I am a gringo from Pennsylvania attempting to penetrate the very shrine of 400 years of unparalleled power-seeking, power-grabs and the legendary "movida."

I walked past homes where feuding neighbors have not spoken a word to each other for over forty years, where I heard muffled cries of "you will pay" as disputants settled their differences in the ancient ways and where Alligators reported my every move. Finally, I arrived. My meeting with "El Lagarto" (The Lizard) was on.

"Manny is positioned to get it. That's why he has been quiet. He does not want to rock the boat and give the Governor or the Highlands regents any reasons for doubt," he blurted out. "But there's another wrinkle; if Manny does not get the job, look out, Bill. That would be one unhappy Manny in the senate." Truly, I was now in the shrine of La Politica digesting this sublime and treacherous logic. Let's see, Manny does not have the job, he needs the Guv's nod to get the job, but in order to get it he can use the threat of his senate post as retribution. Clearly, I had reached an inner most sanctum of the legendary South Valley.


But El Lagarato, cut to the chase. Who are the leading candidates to replace Majority Leader Manny, if he vacates the seat he has had for over thirty years? Big Bill would make the appointment because it is a multi-county district (Bernalillo and Valencia). He would make his choice based on recommendations from the county commissioners. (Of course, the Guv has no influence with the commissioners!) "I am hearing three names," The Lizard murmured softly. "Vince Villanueva, Diego Gallegos and Al Valdez." Mission accomplished. I threw a buck on the table for the three day old cold coffee and emerged into the light of day,

Villanueva is a longtime politico who ran for the legislature years ago and made big money in the pharmaceutical industry. Diego Gallegos is none other than the brother of Bernalillo County Commissioner Steve Gallegos, who I and other crystal ball gazers have said could be a possible Manny replacement. Diego is an assistant superintendent with Albuquerque Public Schools who was defeated for the county commission seat once held by our next contender: Al Valdez, the former eight year controversial South Valley commissioner and head of the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services who has ties to Big Bill.

Which of the three will it be, or will a dark horse emerge? We'll just have to wait. You hang around Alligators too long and you become prey.

WEH DEMANDS SALUTES

Retired marine colonel and CSI Aviation owner Allen Weh, newly installed over the weekend as the new state GOP chair, sent chills up the spines of the half-dozen full-time staffers of the GOP when he demanded the resignations of the party's executive committee and offered no words of encouragement to the staff. An insider at the state convention told me: "No one would be surprised if he cleaned house. He also seems to be warming up to the (former state chair) Dendahl faction of the party. Bush operative Rich Beeson, (who tangled with ex-chair Gorham) was glad-handing Weh and (consultant and new Bush worker) Jay McCleskey (who Gorham fought tooth and nail to keep out of the state GOP headquarters) was also chatting him up. These guys are all with the Dendahl bunch, and some people are upset because Weh was supposed to be a neutral candidate."

Other insiders speculated that Weh is indeed a Dendahlite who will start the contracts flowing again to the likes of State Sen. "Lightning Rod" Adair and others who Ramsay cut off the gravy train. Even if the contracts don't flow, they say the heads may and Dendahlite sympathizers will be installed, including one to replace GOP Executive Director Tom Carroll, a former Democrat hired by Ramsay who has drawn special fire from the Dendahl brigade. But a Weh sympathizer told me: "He is not a Dendahlite. Alan may bring in new people, but he is just trying to end the party strife and get the state ready for the President. He needs new faces to do that so the party, at least for now, can put the infighting behind it."

Whatever the case, soldier Weh has a new command, but if he thought dealing with the Sunnis in Iraq was complicated, he ain't seen nothing yet.

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Buffett
The next major test for the strife-ridden NM Republican Party is underway with ex-State Rep. George Buffett firing missiles at Republican National Committeeman Mickey Barnett and Mickey returning fire as the two square off for the committeeman's position at the June GOP state convention. The pitched battle is really a test between the forces of ex-chair John Dendahl, represented by attorney/lobbyist Barnett, and those of ousted GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham with Buffett as their surrogate.

Barnett's paid lobbying and his controversial support of drug legalization and Indian gambling is targeted by Buffett in a piece of lit he has sent to the several hundred member GOP Central Committee who will make the decision. The committeeman and committewoman (Rosie Tripp) represent NM Republicans with the national GOP and work with the Bush re-election campaign.

"The Republican Party should not be for sale," thundered Buffet, who served 24 years in the House from ABQ's NE Heights. "It's a tremendous conflict of interest for the party's elected officers to be paid lobbyists.” Buffet goes on to list Barnett's current and past lobbying clients, including Santa Ana Pueblo, on whose behalf he gave $1000 to the re-elect effort of Democratic powerhouse Manny Aragon.

BARNETT'S BATTLE

In his own campaign letter, Barnett, who has also come under fire from Buffett ally, Rep. Ron Godbey for “primarying” fellow Republicans, claims the support of Senator Pete Domenici. "I am honored to hear directly from Sen. Domenici that he is supporting my re-election," writes Mickey, but other Republicans are saying Pete has not publicly endorsed Barnett.

Mickey indicates Buffett, well into his 70's, is too old for the job. "We need a committeeman who has the energy to continue this commitment over the next four years. Barnett, who counts State Sen. "Lightning Rod” Adair and Rep. Dan Foley among his allies, takes credit for bringing in $1.8 million into state GOP campaigns the past four years. And, in an ironic note, Barnett says, "It's time for the tired, old infighting and bickering in the GOP to stop!” Of course, Barnett’s Republican foes lay the party's division at his doorstep because of his recruiting of Republicans to run against sitting GOP legislators, including his law secretary Justine Fox-Young who is campaigning against ABQ Rep. Bob White.

Interestingly, the two letters do not go into differences over tax or other policy. Buffett is a true-blue conservative. Barnett, a former state senator from Portales, started off as a member of the conservative Christian right during the Reagan years, but his support of drug legalization and gambling has given him a hazy image. That's what Buffet is counting on. Barnett is sure to score some points with the old age argument against Buffett, who got in the race when former Light Guv Walter Bradley backed off from a run.

BOTTOM LINE

Buffett is not the strongest candidate for the position because of his advanced years. The job requires a lot of traveling and meetings. Barnett is not the strongest candidate because he is leader of the Dendahlites, his lobbyist baggage and the enemies he has made with fellow Republicans. The race could go either way. What the GOP really needs is fresh faces; new candidates with no dogs in any of the fights going on. But who wants to get between two pit bulls? Thus, it is Barnett versus Buffett.

E MAIL ME YOUR POLITICAL NEWS

I count on my readers to keep us informed on the latest happenings in La Politica, so be sure to email me your news. There is a link at the top right of this page and, of course, you can remain anonymous. We are interested in politics across the Land of Enchantment and New Mexicans in Washington. Keep us up-to-date so we can continue to be the New Mexico political community's best source for the very latest.

As always, thanks for reading and have a great weekend.

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Alan Weh
Republicans deep on the inside tell "NM Politics With Joe Monahan" that retired marine colonel and businessman Alan Weh only wants to serve as GOP chair through the November election, opening up the possibility of more internal party strife over who will lead the party for the long haul.

Weh became the consensus candidate among the state's congressional delegation after embattled GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham resigned the post, and after a year long fight with the forces of former state chair John Dendahl. But Weh, according to the insiders, let it be known this week he has no plans to hang around and heal the rift. There is talk that Weh may be challenged for the chairmanship this weekend, but any other candidacy that does emerge will likely fizzle as the GOP is exhausted by the infighting.

Meanwhile, some Dems are already sniping at Weh as he prepares to be voted in as party chair at a special meeting this Saturday in ABQ. One of them points to Weh's "business dealings" in Iraq and wonders if he is just "another of the President's fat cat contributors who is being rewarded with contracts." Weh is a retired marine colonel and head of CSI Aviation in ABQ. Contracts, those handed out by Chair Dendahl and those not handed out by Chair Gorham, were at the center of the recent party warfare.

Things will become more clear for the GOP when several intraparty wars are settled at the June 1 primary and shortly after when Republican National Committeeman and chief Dendahlite Mickey Barnett squares off against ex-State Rep. George Buffett for the committeeman's spot at a state convention. They are already firing at each other and I will have that story for you soon.

BLACK DAY FOR THE GREENS

A court ruling Wednesday upholding the Secretary of State's disqualification of two Green congressional candidates has the small party reeling and wondering what's next, if anything. The Green's held a pre-primary convention and designated two candidates for the Heather Wilson seat, Abe Gutman and Jeremy Brown, but party officials failed to file certification papers with the Secretary of State and, as a result, she ruled they could not be on the ballot. Judge Theresa Baca agreed, and in another blow to the party's hopefuls, said they could not gather petition signatures to get on the ballot as is customary when candidates fail to make the ballot at a pre-primary. The question of whether Gutman and Brown can run as write-in candidates in the November election is unclear. The Green's could appeal Baca's ruling but as things stand, Richard Romero, the likely Democratic nominee against Wilson, won't have to worry about the Green's drawing liberal Dem votes away from him.

Earlier, Green legislative candidate Trey Smith was thrown off the ballot in his bid to challenge ABQ Dem State Rep. Gail Beam.
Brown was not properly registered as a Green, the court ruled. All this has Green Co-Chair Carol Miller under fire and giving rise to speculation that she will be challenged for the chairmanship next year.

JEFF'S JUGGLE

Some follow-up on my earlier report (see March 29) on speculation about the re-elect plans of Dem U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman in 06.' "He won't be rushed" into announcing early, a Jeff insider told me, which did little to stop the guessing game. Until he gives a definitive answer the wondering will continue. One observer tells me it's possible that Bingaman wants to see if the Dems take back the senate majority this November before deciding whether to seek re-election. "He may not want to serve in the minority for six years. If the Democrats get it back, he gets back his Energy Committee chairmanship."

That's probably as close as we're going to get to the senator's thinking at this point. I would only add that in looking at his campaign finance statements I see that he has only $250,000 in cash on hand. That is considerably less than several other senators who are also up for election in 06'.

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He's got the cash, but will he know how to spend it? That's the issue for Dem Richard Romero as he gears up for his second run against incumbent ABQ GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson. Romero has raised an impressive $400,000 since beginning his effort against Heather, $180,000 in the past three months, and he has $300,000 left in the bank. That ain't hay, but it can burn up like hay if he isn't careful.

Political pros monitoring the race tell me Romero needs to spend a good chunk of that dough on TV ads in May hammering Heather. And, they say, he needs to focus particularly on her solid support with senior citizens. "Richard needs to go after Heather on Social Security and Medicare, and crack her support with the old folks," said one observer close to the action.

Before State Senate President Pro Tem Romero gets to take on Heather one-one one he needs to get thru a pesky Dem primary against ER doctor Miles Nelson and retired DEA agent Eli Chavez. That will be no problem as Nelson and Chavez have empty piggy banks while Richard's is bulging. "Romero can't waste time on them. He needs to frame the race between Heather and him right away. Two years ago he did not have the money to do that, now he does." commented another congressional watcher.

Romero was landlslided by Wilson two years ago, losing by over ten points. She has well over half a million bucks in her campaign kitty already and a couple million more to come. Romero's long hours on the phone and the support of Big Bill in raising money has paid off. But it was the minimum he needed to do to have any chance at all against entrenched Heather. Like they say, he has the ball and a chance to score early. Let's see what he does.

BACON: ALWAYS ON THE POLITICAL MENU

ABQ City Council Prez Michael Cadigan, on the firing line over the road boondoggles in his ever-growing west side district, e-mailed a response to our March 25 report (see archives) in which some of his opponents were sniping at him over the loss of the city bonds last October, and in particular, the defeat of the bond money to extend Paseo Del Norte in the area of the Petroglyph National Monument.


The Prez writes: "Please keep in mind that the bond failed because voters in other parts of town turned it down. Voters in my district approved it by an overwhelming majority. Nevertheless, in the past few months, I have secured from the Governor $2 million for improvement of roads near Coors & I-40, $2 million for Unser, and I am working to have the Governor release $3.5 million for Paseo del Norte."

Dem Cadigan is working it hard because former police union chief Paul Pacheco and the GOP’s Sander Rue are both eying possible challenges to Cadigan, who broke into the blog news when he sent out a fundraising letter for the ABQ election last month even though the balloting isn't until October 2005. This week Big Bill has been playing politics with the Paseo extension, trying to pacify ardent environmental foes. But if the road remains stalled, quite unlikely, Cadigan and any politico in west side ABQ associated with the roadblock would more than likely be thrown out of office. The Westies have already talked about forming their own city so they can get roads built.

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the link at the top right of this page or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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Rep. Gail Beam
It has more Green Party members than any other House district in the state, but that doesn't mean there will be a Green candidate to choose from in November when Dem Rep Gail Beam stands for re-election in the SE ABQ area. District Judge Wendy York has ruled against Green Trey Smith. He argued that he was unfairly excluded from the ballot by the Bernalillo County Clerk, who said Smith was registered as a Dem at the time the Guv issued his January election proclamation and, therefore, could not be the Green candidate. Smith argued that he had re-registered as a Green before the proclamation and his paperwork must have been lost. But the Clerk showed proof that Smith had actually voted in the February Democrat Prez caucuses! Smith said it was not so. The judge threw the book at him and then threw him off the ballot. Beam gets a free two year ride. No R is running.

YOUNG GUNS LEAD NM POLITICAL COVERAGE

Expect some energetic political coverage this election year at the state's largest newspaper, the ABQ Journal. Andy Lenderman, a young and aggressive scribe, took over this week as the chief Journal politics writer. Andy, 30, is a four veteran of the ABQ Tribune where he covered the crime beat before crossing the aisle to the Journal and heading to Santa Fe for a year. Now he's back in ABQ and ready to follow La Politica full-time. As a PR rep, I worked with the Indiana native a couple of years ago and can report he is a crisp writer, a straight shooter and a solid journalist. In Santa Fe, Kate Nash, another Trib alumnus, and David Miles round out the Journal's political coverage team. Unlike his predecessor, Loie Fecteau, Lenderman will be based in source rich ABQ. State editor John Robertson, himself a former longtime Journal politics writer, is Lenderman's immediate boss.

Loie left the paper to go to work for the Big Bill administration (like a bevy of other reporters). Back in the old days the Journal never hired away Trib staffers. But they are wise to have changed that policy as the Trib remains one of the better written afternoon papers anywhere. Lenderman will compete with his former colleague, the also young and aggressive Shea Andersen, who heads up the Trib's political desk. Scuttlebutt has it that Shea was offered a job with Big Bill, but turned it down. With Andy and Shea in place all of you junkies are in good shape for daily political coverage in the months ahead, that is, if Big Bill doesn't start waving dollar bill's at them and scoop them away.

MISSING BARKER'S BITE?

Meanwhile, over at Journal news partner, KOAT-TV, apparently the powers-that-be miss the investigative skills brought to their airwaves for all those years by Larry Baker, who jumped ship over a duty dispute with 7 and is now ably serving Channel 13. (see my November archives)Here's part of a recent help-wanted ad run by 7:

"KOAT-TV is looking for an Investigative Reporter to uncover and reveal issues that impact our viewers. In addition to exposing political corruption and fraud, this reporter will also turn consumer investigative stories."

Since Barker's departure 7 has been splitting the investigative chores among several staffers. The stickler for Larry was the part about doing consumer pieces, as well as investigative pieces. That was not part of the deal he had with 7 and the reason he is now gone. Investigative reports aired during the "sweeps" months have been big ratings boosters for the local TV's. Hearst Co., owner of 7, is trying to save money by having the investigative reporter also churn out consumer reports, but their penny-pinching ways may be costing them some late-night viewers. For the first time in memory, (I've tracked the local ratings since 1974) KOAT came in third at 10 p.m. in recent news ratings.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT ON THE RADIO

I will run down the key races and the the wild month in NM politics on 770 KKOB-AM radio on Wednesday (April 14) from 9 a.m. to 10 on the Larry Ahrens Show with guest host Mike Santullo. Be sure to join us and call in with your comments at 243-3333.

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the link at the top right of this page or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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Karl Rove
He was speaking in El Paso but his eyes were on New Mexico as Karl Rove, the Prez's top political advisor told Texas Republicans: "We're building the biggest grassroots organization in the history of New Mexico politics. We have county chairs in all 33 counties. We're literally organizing leadership down to the precinct level."

Rove made his boast to a 100 R's who gave a thousand dollars a pop to hear the political sage analyze the election landscape. Texas, of course, is in the bag for the Prez, but New Mexico is worrisome. He lost it by 366 votes in the last go round, and the recent resignation of GOP party chair Ramsay Gorham has heads spinning and open wounds smarting. Rove and the White House never did see eye-to eye with Gorham and her insistence on having more control over the Bush campaign here. That headache is now gone and the new chair-to-be, retired marine colonel Alan Weh, is a loyal soldier who will see it the White House's way through November. But NM Democrats not fond of overstating their chances are telling me that Bush is looking solid only in SE NM. Perhaps that's why Rove, according to the El Paso Times, told the GOP fat cats Bush plans regular personal appearances in our enchanting land.

Expect more of those visits to be in the Duke City area which is going to be the big battleground within this battleground state.

NM AIR WAR UNDERWAY

Rove's boasts over the Prez's ground operation here are backed up with TV spots that you have been seeing nonstop for the past several weeks. Just how much cash have the Bushies dumped on local tube buys? Industry experts tell me Bush spent $320,000 on NM TV In March, compared to zero dollars for Kerry. But the Democrat's March presence was maintained here through independent liberal groups Moveon.org and The Media Fund which bought $270,000 on our airwaves. It doesn't take much to make an impact in the NM media market. That Bush 320k was a drop in the bucket. Nationally, the Prez spent $15 million on the tube in March, Kerry about $6 mil.

Kerry's campaign will raise its head in the state Tuesday night at the La Posada in ABQ where a $25.00 a person fundraiser will be hosted by Dem heavy hitters Jeff Bingaman, Diane Denish, Tom Udall, Richard Romero, John Wertheim etc. Not on the card, however, is Big Bill, even though he continues to have fun with his possible Veep chances with the Massachusetts senator.

A LITTLE DAB WILL DO YA

Big Bill has three chefs working at the mansion, but what he really needs is a good hairdresser. And he may have found one, judging by his appearance on CNN last week. The big Guy's wiry do has had his close advisers fretting for years on its impact on his all-important TV image. When he was UN Ambassador it looked like they pulled in Christophe to shape the stately locks. Recent efforts shave proved less successful, with the Guv sporting an unkempt brillo pad look. The new do includes shorter locks and something to keep the unruly strands tamped down. As far as we know there is no botox involved.

WARD CAMP---PAID POLITICAL

We welcome advertising from NM's political candidates, and when they come aboard, we give them space to tell us about themselves. Ward Camps is a GOP candidate for the Public Regulation Commission. Here is his pitch to his fellow R's as he seeks the nomination to fill the ABQ seat being vacated by Herb Hughes.

“Working to bring greater energy efficiency and more information to customers about their utility bills has convinced me that we can improve our utility system here in New Mexico. Having worked with more than 15 state regulatory agencies throughout the United States, I have seen what works and what doesn’t. New Mexico can do much better.

Dramatic increases in insurance costs to small businesses, the need to crack down on uninsured motorists, and the lack of customer services are also areas where the PRC has fallen short. The PRC can be improved in so many ways. Isn’t it about time, we had a PRC that was responsive to the people of New Mexico?"

For more on the Camp candidacy click on his ad. And for details on how you or your candidate can get before New Mexico's most likely voters, give me a call at 505-243-4059 or email me at jmonahan@ix.netcom.com. There's a link at the top right of this page.

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends.

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Sen. Kernen
We cast our net statewide to capture the hottest contests in La Politica and we've got a good one for you down in oil country where two Republicans are facing-off. State Senator Gay Kernen, a third grade teacher in Hobbs appointed to her seat two years ago by Governor Gary to fill a vacancy, is feeling the heat from Will Palmer. An oilman, Palmer is hitting Kernen for backing Big Bill's constitutional amendments to spend more money for education. The amendments passed narrowly statewide last September, but were soundly rejected in the Kernen senate district.

It's a strange political brew with the forces of anti-amendment ex-GOP chair John Dendahl backing Kernen, even though she supported the amendments. Maybe the Dendahlites feel loyal to her because she is an appointee of Gary's who made Dendahl GOP chair or, perhaps they are looking for support in future GOP Legislative leadership battles. Whatever the case, Kernen is defending her turf saying the measures were necessary to get funding to meet President Bush's "No Child Left Behind Act." But Palmer says a true conservative would have voted no. Kernen fires back that none other than Senator Domenici also backed Big Bill on this one. But Palmer can point out that ex-State GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham fought the measures.

Whoever wins this GOP primary will take the seat as there is no Dem running in the solid R district.

Palmer lives in Lovington. Kernen in Hobbs. The district is big, taking in some of Roosevelt and Curry counties, as well as Lea, and a precinct in Roswell, where Dendahlite Sen. "Lightning Rod" Adair resides and is backing Kernen. For you oldtimers, this is the old senate seat of Republican firebrand Billy McKibbben, so it is bedrock conservative. But incumbent Kernen is a well-respected local with the support of Lea County GOP Chair Ann Batson. She also has ties to Light Guv Diane Denish, who, like Kernen, grew up in Hobbs. They went to high school together, with Diane two years behind Gay.

Palmer says he sees an opening, that Kernen's support is concentrated in Hobbs while he is claiming support further north. He has raised money and has already done some polling and mailing. Kernen and Palmer squared off when the seat became vacant with both fighting for Gary's appointment. Today, Kernen is mum on Palmer. "I've heard of him," she told me, "but I am not campaigning about him." But Palmer is certainly campaigning about her. In Hobbs, they like their weather hot and their politics even hotter.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN HIGH--IF HE WINS

We leave the far corners of our state to take you way up north--to Colorado--where word comes that Brewery giant Pete Coors has entered Colorado's U.S. Senate race. The candidacy potentially gives Republicans a well-known and well-financed candidate to challenge Ken Salazar, the Democratic attorney general. Salazar is a fifth generation Coloradan from the San Luis Valley, just across the New Mexico line. Hey, isn't that where New Mexico political heavyweight Ed Romero was born? Sure was.

DEAR READERS,

Thanks for your support for our web site which turns six month old this week. And a special thanks to our advertisers. Please click on their ads and check out their offerings. Your support of them will keep the New Mexico politics coming. And, please continue to send me your political news, tips and comments so we can all keep up-to-date this busy election year. There's an e-mail link at the top right of this page and, if you wish, you can remain anonymous. I respond to all my mail. Again, thanks to all of you, my loyal readers, for making the first six months of this endeavor so worthwhile and rewarding. Have a relaxing holiday, and we'll see you back here Monday.

Best Wishes,
Joe

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Two down and one to go. That's the count for Ben Ray Lujan Jr. as attorney Carlos Fierro backed out of the hotly contested race for the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) up North. Tuesday was the last day for candidates to withdraw their names from the June 1 primary ballot. Ben Ray, son of powerful House Speaker Ben Lujan, earlier scored when Johnny Montoya, husband of State Rep. Rhonda King, also dashed his bid for the Dem nomination. When I talked to Ben Jr. months ago he said he was going to "sit down" with all the Hispanic candidates in the race and see if "they could agree" on just one of them running.

Whether he, his father or Big Bill has been doing the "sitting down" is not known, but today Ben Ray and former State Sen. Art Rodarte of Espanola are the only two Hispanics left in he race for the 90K a year job. Ex-state Rep. Bob Perls and former Bruce King aide Keith Dotson also remain in the hunt.

Fierro, ex-legislative aide to U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, came back from D.C. with his eyes on launching a political career, but Big Bill's unprecedented public endorsement of Ben Ray put a cramp on Fierro's ability to raise the money to get in the game. Fierro, a Santa Fe native, was spotted at the Guv's office this week. Was there talk there of him getting out and endorsing Ben Ray? That's what Johnny Montoya did. Fierro was playing his hand close to the chest Tuesday telling me he is not "ready to endorse" anyone, but did not rule it out.

Perls and Dotson are hoping that the Lujan's are overplaying their hand and that their aggressive campaign to clear the field of challengers will create resentment and benefit them. But Tuesday was a good day for the junior Lujan. Like Fierro, his base is in Santa Fe County. But the stakes are high for the young hopeful and for his dad and Big Bill too. They are pulling out all the stops and their failure to deliver would be seen as a major political coup. Fierro is just 31 and, if nothing else, he is learning some important lessons in the game of power politics as practiced by those political Ph.D's Big Bill and Big Ben. Perhaps the next time he runs, they will be on his side. Now, that wouldn't surprise you, would it?

MANNY'S MINIONS

More candidate intrigue in the ABQ Valley, this time in the North Valley where Dem State. Sen. Dede Feldman was drawing a primary challenge from Carlos Cordova. But a district court judge kicked Carlos off the ballot because he did not file enough valid petition signatures. Speculation swirled that Cordova was another candidate from the camp of Senate and Valley powerhouse Manny Aragon, who earlier this week was dealt a blow when Sen. Linda Lopez successfully thwarted a primary challenger in court who was widely thought to be a Manny supporter. Feldman, like Manny, is a liberal, but she has not been close to him. With Cordova off the ballot Dede gets a free four year ride, and Linda continues to work her for support for her run for Senate President Pro Tem. No R is running in the sold D district.

Manny is batting 0 for 2 this week, giving rise to speculation that his heart is just not in it anymore; that he is fixated on the presidency of Highlands University and will grab the appointment if and when it is offered.

GOP CURRY'S SOME FAVOR

It's been the most turbulent couple of months in the history of the NM Republican Party, but there was some good news for the R's during the final days of turmoil of Ramsay Gorham's reign. They became the majority party in Curry County in Eastern NM. The latest figures give the GOP a nearly 300 vote edge over the Dem's. That gives the R's a majority of voters in nine of our state's 33 counties. It's the first time in Curry County's 95 year history that the GOP has come out on top there.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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Philip Runnels
They were one of the most prominent Democratic families in southern NM history, but their latest entrant onto the political field has split with tradition and is seeking a seat in the State House as a Republican. "I'm the black sheep of the family," joked Philip Runnels in a conversation from his office in Alamogordo where he presides as general manager over three radio stations.

Philip's dad, Dem Harold Runnels, served as U.S. Congressman form southern NM from 1971-1980. Philip says he got the Republican bug while living in Paris, Texas. He moved to Alamogordo to preside over three of the seven stations of Runnels Broadcasting and is now challenging fellow Republican State Rep. Gloria Vaughn, who is seeking a sixth term in the House.

"I was hoping Gloria would not run again, but she has and I decided to stay in." said the hopeful.

Runnels' mother, Dorothy, ran to replace her husband in Congress when he passed in 1980. She ran as a write-in candidate along with Joe Skeen who ultimately took the seat in one of the most famous elections in state history. "She is still a Democrat, living in Lea County, and at 82, still very active, But my political beliefs do make for interesting discussion when we sit down to Thanksgiving dinner," Runnels remarked.

Runnels' brother Matt, president of the broadcasting business, is still a loyal Democrat and the Chair of the Grant County Democratic Party in Silver City.

As for brother Mike Runnels, who served as NM Light Guv under Gov. Toney Anaya in the 80's, Philip reports he is practicing law in Ruidoso. Mike also served many years as Sandoval County District Attorney. The family sold their oil-related business years ago.

Philip, 55, is a long shot in his bid to oust the popular Vaughn. But the former Navy jet pilot says "she will retire someday," and if he doesn't win this time, there may be another run in the future, but it will still be as a Republican. That probably would not bother his late father all that much. In his heyday the conservative Harold "Mud" Runnels pulled as much support from the GOP as he did from the Dems.

PUSHING THE BEAM

Longtime Dem State Rep. Gail Beam has no Republican foe in her re-election bid, but up until this week she did have a Green Party opponent ready to take her on; that is until the Bernalillo County Clerk's office said Trey Smith was not registered in the ABQ Southeast Heights district at the time the Guv issue the election proclamation as required. But Smith says he has proof showing he was indeed registered there at the time. The clerk still says he's off the ballot, so Smith is headed to district court. The Beam House district is one of the "Greenest" in the state making it important to the party that Smith stay on the ballot. The Smith episode follows disqualification by the Secretary of State of the Green Party's Congressional candidates from their party's primary ballot. That ruling is also headed to the courts.

DEAR JOHN DENDAHL, I AM FINE. HOW ARE YOU?

Remember Kevin Moomaw? He was right-hand man to former NM GOP Chair John Dendahl, until John went left on the drug legalization issue, and Kevin steered his way over to Texas. Before their parting of the ways, Moomaw and Dendahl made major strides in electing Republicans here. Now, Moomaw is plotting strategy for Texas Lieutenant Guv David Dewhurst. Apparently the former executive director of the NM GOP is getting the job done. Capitol Inside, a leading political newsletter in the Lonestar State, ranks Moomaw #2 on its list of best GOP Texas political consultants. Moomaw still keeps up with NM politics and remains a behind-the-scenes player. Meanwhile, retired marine colonel Alan Weh, the apparent new chair-to-be for the state GOP arrives back in ABQ from Iraq today where he served as chief of staff for the Coalition Military Assistance Training Team.

HESS YNTEMA---PAID POLITICAL

We welcome paid advertising from NM's political candidates, and when they come aboard, we give them space to tell us about themselves. Hess Yntema is a GOP candidate for the Public Regulation Commission. Here is his pitch to his fellow R's as he seeks the nomination to fill the ABQ seat being vacated by Herb Hughes.

“My experience at City Hall and as an attorney has taught me that independent skepticism is usually the best approach to matters in which taxpayer or ratepayer funds or public safety are at issue. Often, detailed investigation will disclose key facts that are not apparent at first glance. On the PRC, I intend to exercise thorough, independent and where appropriate skeptical oversight over the public utilities, telecommunications companies and insurance companies which are regulated by the Commission. When environmental issues are implicated in a regulatory decision, conservation of public resources should be an important consideration.

For more on the Yntema candidacy click on his ad. And for details on how you or your candidate can get before New Mexico's most likely voters, give me a call at 505-243-4059 or email me at jmonahan@ix.netcom.com. There's a link at the top right of this page.

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Lopez
Who is Al Armijo? That question was left unanswered in the media reports on Armijo's failure to keep his candidacy alive against ABQ Dem Valley State Sen. Linda Lopez. Not only did the mysterious Armijo not turn up at the court hearing resulting from Lopez's challenge, he failed to turn in enough petition signatures and the address he gave turned out to be a piece of vacant land!

Obviously, Al failed alligator school. According to my Valley watchers, Armijo is a former employee of the state senate and an acolyte of none other than Senator Majority Leader Many Aragon. Manny has no love for Linda since she was responsible for getting him ousted from his pro-tem post. But Linda's alligators did a better job than Manny's as she is now without primary opposition. Tom Benavidez, who she beat eight years ago, is back as a Republican and she'll face him in November. Was the Armijo candidacy a Manny operation, as my sources report? If so, it was a bungled job. Come on Manny, you're getting sloppy on us.

OFF THEY GO

The NE Heights of ABQ can never match the Valley for raw political power plays, but the intrigue surrounding the GOP Heights race pitting former State Rep. Rob Burpo against current Rep. Larry Larranaga and, until now, Patrick Milligan, comes close. Milligan, a Burpo foe, told me he was joining the race to split the anti-Larry vote with Burpo to insure Larry's re-elect. Then, a couple of years later when Larranaga retired, Milligan would be positioned to take the seat. But now Milligan has had a change of heart and apparently feels its best for him to stay off the ballot to help Larry, so he has quit the race. Patrick, give Manny a call. He could use your talents in the Valley.

Tuesday is the last day for candidates to withdraw their names from the June 1 primary ballot, but some of them are falling off ahead of time. In Roswell it's a free primary ride for State Rep. Pauline Ponce with her opponent thrown off the ballot. Over in Santa Rosa, Rep. Jose Campos was gearing up for a primary battle, but the Dem challenging him is now out. TV news reporter Janet Blair will be the Dem nominee in the race against incumbent GOP Rep Eric Youngberg in Sandoval County. Thomas Nordstrand has dropped out.

RAMSAY OUT

It's over. That's the word on Ramsay Gorham's senate bid. She announced her resignation as state party chair last week and threw the towel in on her ABQ North Valley senate seat as well, but rumors persisted that she might renew the fight. Not to be, according to high GOP sources. That leaves John Ryan as the sole GOP contender for the Gorham seat, which will be contested heavily by the Dems.

PETE & MICKEY

R's were circulating rumors last week that Mickey Barnett, leader of the brain trust of the Dendahl wing of the strife-torn GOP, might pick up the backing of Senator Pete in his race for another four year term as NM Republican National Committeeman at the June state convention. But Pete's camp is striking that talk down saying he will stay neutral in the Barnett-George Buffett contest.

HIS WEH

Alan Weh, the apparent new State GOP chair-to-be ( see my EXCLUSIVE April 2 report) is already drawing some questions from battle-scarred Republicans. Will he be too close to the Congressional delegation and concentrate on their races and the Prez's re-election bid at the expense of state legislative candidates? And, would Weh be a chair who would stand up against Big Bill as Ramsay did when she went against the Guv's constitutional amendment to get more money for education from the State Permanent Fund? Remember, Pete backed Big Bill. And my first and last bad pun on this: We are sure Weh (pronounced Way) will weigh in soon. Happy Monday.

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Developments have been fast and furious as state Republicans pick up the pieces left by the abrupt resignation of GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham. Sources in Washington and New Mexico confirm to "NM Politics with Joe Monahan," that businessman and retired marine colonel Alan Weh is the consensus pick of the three Republican Congressional delegates and that Weh has the inside track to become party chair at a special GOP meeting set for ABQ Convention Center April 17th.

My Washington source told me; "The delegation is solidly behind Weh. Ken Zangara and Walter Bradley (two other possible contenders) have thrown their support to Weh and his support will become evident in coming days."

The Weh pick has the White House stamp of approval all over it. Weh is president and chief executive officer of CSI Aviation Services Inc. in Albuquerque, an aircraft charter and leasing service. Weh is currently in Iraq. In 2002 He was appointed national chairman of the Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1966 at the University of New Mexico, Weh received his Marine Corps commission. He received the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with "V" for heroism, and three Purple Hearts during his service in Vietnam. "He can be expected to work well with the White House political operation and the Republican National Committee," said a New Mexico insider.

Weh is not associated with either of the warring factions that have ripped the state GOP apart in the past year. "His agenda will be the President's re-election. The Congressional delegation (Sen. Domenici and Rep's Pearce and Wilson) saw the party imploding, felt the pressure from the White House and came up with Weh," said another player in the game.

Weh is a longtime behind-the-scenes player in state GOP circles. His military background might come in handy with party factions that have been reluctant to take orders from anyone. "This is about New Mexico's five electoral votes and clearing the decks before the presidential campaign really gets intense. That's why you are seeing a quick move to a compromise candidate. I don't see Weh really aligned with either (former state chair) Dendahl or Gorham. He will take his orders from the national guys," said another Washington insider."

Weh has been in Iraq the past several months and has not seen the hand-to-hand combat that has taken place here, but he will see the resulting wreckage when he takes over the party's reins and attempts to institute a peace treaty and move the R's forward in the critical months ahead.

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Zangara
On Christmas Eve 2000 President-elect Bush made a call to Ken Zangara and asked him to serve on an advisory committee for his presidential transition. Now, politicos wonder, is Ken's phone ringing again?

Zangara, Bush NM campaign finance director, Bernalillo County GOP Chair and known best to New Mexicans as the ebullient TV pitchman for his ABQ Dodge dealership, emerged Thursday as the front-runner to become the next chairman of the New Mexico Republican Party.

A tip-off to Zangara's new status came in an e-mail from former state chair John Lattauzio who told me: "I think Ken Zangara should take the Chair. He has respect and resources." Lattauzio of Alamogordo has close ties to GOP brothers Manuel and Edward Lujan, who in turn have close ties to the Bushes.

"I think it's is if he wants it and has the time for it." said one insider. "His ties to the President are key. The Bush campaign can't afford the infighting to continue. Zangara would have the President's confidence. There are no other candidates with those credentials."

However, sources in Washington were also floating the name of retired marine colonel Alan Weh as a possible Gorham replacement. Weh, a longtime behind-the scenes player, "has the support of the Congressional delegation and I think you may see him surface as a contender next week," said one D.C. insider. Weh is president and chief executive officer of CSI Aviation Services Inc. in Albuquerque, an aircraft charter and leasing service. Weh is currently in Iraq. In 2002 He was appointed national chairman of the Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1966 at the University of New Mexico, Weh received his Marine Corps commission. He received the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with "V" for heroism, and three Purple Hearts during his service in Vietnam.

Zangara, 51, was a major ally of Gorham, but could not save her from the long knives used on her by supporters of ex-chair John Dendahl. But if the word goes out from the White House that Zangara is the man it's hard to see how the infighting, at least publicly, could continue. Whether Zangara has the political acumen and force of personality to fend off Dendahl, GOP National Committeeman Barnett and State. Sen. Adair is an unknown, but Zangara supporters are hoping he won't have to, that the White House will issue the order and that the fight, for now, is finished.

Zangara has raised more money for the two Bush Prez campaigns than any other New Mexican. He and his wife, Kathy, have spent social time with the First Couple at their ranch in Crawford, Texas. And Zangara has never paused in his loyalty to Bush. His latest quote: "There's no doubt he is facing a long, hard battle in the upcoming election, but he's the man to lead this country."

Zangara's friends say he can call a halt, or at least negotiate a truce, to the intra-party war. They say he has demonstrated ability to work with a diversity of groups. He's on the board of the Robert O. Anderson School of Management at UNM, the board of the "Faith Comes By Hearing Foundation," a Christian group devoted to spreading the bible in poor countries, and served on the Bernallio County unification commission last year.

"He is not a policy guy," remarked a politico who has worked with him. "He has good people instincts, but if he becomes chair I see him doing the PR and money, not the day-to-day grunt work." Another veteran Republican chimed in: "Ken has the profile for the job. He has the personal wealth, a wife who travels easily in the political world and, most important, the ear of the President."

Zangara, like anyone else, has a bit of baggage. He pleaded no contest in 1992 to misdemeanor charges of fraud, embezzlement and concealing a crime in connection with a retirement fund for auto dealership workers. He agreed to pay $73,000 in restitution to 80 employees and was sentenced to 400 hours' community service and three years' probation.

But for Republicans looking for a way out of their mess that seems to be of little concern. "This guy has paid his dues in the party. If there's anything we need right now it's a good salesman and negotiator. You don't sell cars without those skills," said one GOP graybeard. And, we might add, you don't get votes without them either.

LOVE LETTER FOR RAMSAY
John Ryan
Two Republican state senators will circulate a letter today urging Republicans to persuade former chair Ramsay to get back in the race for her ABQ North valley state senate seat. State Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle and Sandoval County Senator Steve Komadina are spearheading the drive to revive Gorham's political career. She said she was quitting the senate as well as the chairmanship when she resigned this week, but she has to file a letter of withdrawal with the Secretary of State by Tuesday to make it official.

If Ramsay is talked into staying, the question arises whether former Dendahl GOP executive director John Ryan will get out of the race. Ryan and the Dendahlites called for Gorham to quit because they said it was against the rules for a state chair to be in a contested primary. Ryan had said before getting in the primary that he would withdraw if Gorham quit the chairmanship. Well, she has. Will Ryan make good on his word if Gorham rejoins the senate battle? Stay tuned.

LET'S WRAP IT UP TONIGHT ON TV

What a wild week in the GOP, and deserving of some final analysis. We will do that tonight on KNME-TV with Kate Nelson, managing editor of the ABQ Tribune and hostess of "In Focus" which airs at 8:30 p.m. I want to thank all of you who helped this week, all my incredibly informed sources, media that credited our web site for the stories we broke and my new advertisers who I will have more to say about next week. It's been an exhilarating experience covering it all, and I want you to know your support of our work is deeply appreciated. Have a great weekend and we'll see you back here Monday.

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The crisis in the New Mexico Republican Party reached the breaking point Wednesday, leaving all to wonder who will pick up the pieces. The sudden resignation of Chair Ramsay Gorham after a ten month political melodrama that pitted her against the forces of John Dendahl, the chairman she ousted just last year, served only to heighten concerns that the party was hopelessly divided and, as a result, President Bush could be robbed of the state's precious five electoral votes in the coming election. I have the complete story with exclusive details from the very top sources in New Mexico.

GOODBYE RAMSAY, HELLO WHO?

As soon as Ramsay hit the exits speculation bordering on the ferocious began on who would succeed her. The names that bubbled to the top included former Light Guv Walter Bradley, Bernalillo County GOP Chair Ken Zangara, Ex-GOP Congressman Bill Redmond, real estate developer Tom Tinnin, Roswell oilman Mark Murphy and political fireman and longtime Domenici aide Lou Gallegos. Anyone who gets the top job will ask this question: "Will I be the next target, or will the impending presidential election deter any further coup attempts? One man who will not be seeking to regain the party chair is John Dendahl. In an e-mail to "NM Politics With Joe Monahan" he wrote:" She (Gorham) has acted courageously and in the best interest of the party. I am not the appropriate successor."

But that gracious response masked the no-holds-barred political warfare that has torn the party asunder and left a leadership vacuum that is unprecedented. "I don't know if anyone can unify this party now," worried one top Republican. "Events have simply spun out of control."

For now, GOP Vice-Chair Bill Humphries will man the gates, but will not seek the top post when the State Central Committee meets later this month to name the successor. State Executive Director Tom Carroll, fielding a deluge of phone calls from Republicans statewide, emerged briefly to tell me: "We need unity now. The party will continue to function, but we need unity,"

If chaos were unity the GOP would have it in abundance. The utter breakdown in the command structure has the fingers pointing from Raton to Roswell. Why hasn't Senator Domenici prevented this? What about the White House's vaunted political operation? And why could no one deal with Gorham?

DOMENICI: THE GODFATHER GIVES NO ORDERS

Pete Domenici holds a sacred place in the heart of the party faithful, but his inability, indifference or encouragement of the party strife has him taking heavy fire. "Pete had a chance to solve this years ago when Dendahl came out for drug legalization and Pete warned him it could cost him the chairmanship. But Dendahl was allowed to stay," said one embittered R. Another speculator said: "Pete lost control of Ramsay soon after she took over. The first sign was when she fired a fundraiser who was the wife of Pete's campaign manager. The second sign was her fight with the Republican National Committee over who would run the campaign here. He may have felt it best to have her taken out by the Dendahlites, rather than deal with it himself." Another R said: "Pete's staff could not stand Ramsay. He received no encouragement to resolve the differences between the factions, and he didn't."

It was a strange role for Domenici who, for nearly quarter a century, has been looked to for leadership on all key Republican issues in the state. Apparently that era has ended.

THE BLAME GAME

Others took aim at Republican National Committeeman, attorney/lobbyist and Dendahlite ringleader Mickey Barnett. "Mickey is a cancer on the party. Legalized drugs, legalized gambling and the primarying of Republicans; these all came from him and mean the slow but certain destruction of the party," said one Gorham backer in the heat of the moment.

As for Mickey, he was cool as a cucumber when I spoke with him from his ABQ law office. "I want to thank Ramsay and Frank for the countless hours they have devoted to the party," he murmured softly.

But Gorham wasn't sparing either Barnett or Dendahl. As she slammed the door she cited “lobbyists and special interests” as part of her undoing, and mentioning Dendahl by name, she said he and Barnett are "motivated by money," not the good of the party.

Insiders tell me Ramsay made her decision to get out over the weekend She “was worn out and felt the fight would never end,” said a friend who mentioned the call by the Dendahlites for a Central Committee meeting to oust her as the proverbial straw breaking the camel's back.

Those glad to see Gorham gone said she had a stubborn personality, could not work well with others and insulted the President's re-election staff. "Ramsay was clearly in over her head," said a Dendahlite sympathizer.

RAMSAY IN THE SENATE...STILL?

But Ramsay may not be gone completely. Party insiders were telling "NM Politics With Joe Monahan" late last night that Gorham, who announced she would not seek re-election to her state senate seat, should not be counted out completely. "Ramsay has to file a declaration of withdrawal with the Secretary of State. She has not done that yet, and some senators are urging her to stay in the race." If that happened, it would stymie the hopes of former Dendahlite GOP executive director John Ryan who helped force Gorham out when he challenged her right to run for the senate against him and still be party chair. Democrats John Hooker and Vic Raigoza, vying for the senate nomination, are watching it all from the wings. My experts in ABQ North Valley politics peg Gorham an easy re-election winner should she run, but Ryan a probable loser because of his move against Gorham and his past felony conviction for which he was pardoned by Governor Johnson.

CENSURE MOVE AGAINST DENDAHLITES?

Insiders close to the Dendahlites say they may have gotten more than they bargained for when Ramsay announced her resignation. "They wanted her senate seat for sure, but were surprised when she resigned as chair. That forces their hand. It could limit their influence with the new chair because if they make another power play the party rank and file will say enough is enough." Others deep on the inside told me there is talk of censuring Dendahl and State Senator Rod Adair and removing them from the Central Committee for their move against Gorham.

It's important to remember that the hardcore Dendahlite faction is today a relatively small percentage of the state GOP, but makes up with intensity what it lacks in numbers.

This turmoil and rancor takes place against the backdrop of a presidential election in which our five electoral votes could play a critical role. One Republican veteran said it may be time for the Bush White House to step up to the plate. "I think they will weigh heavily getting involved in the chairmanship issue, at least from behind-the-scenes. They must have someone who can keep this thing glued together for the next several months. It's the president who has the most at stake in this battle," commented a Bush backer. Scott Jennings, Bush re-election director here, was not returning phone calls.

MONAHAN'S TAKE

An old politico once told me: "Anytime you are arguing process, and the other side is arguing policy, you are going to lose." The process imbroglio that has engulfed the Republican party puts it on a losing path for November. The Bush White House may believe it can come in and create a unified party out of thin air with giant television buys, but the people on the ground and the party still matter and still make the difference in close races. Right now, the Republican Party is in need of major reconstructive surgery. The problem is there is no doctor in the house. Political surgeons like Colin McMillan, Joe Skeen and Edward and Manuel Lujan are either gone or retired. In years past they operated efficiently and put a damper on factional strife. Who will perform that role for this new generation? There's a patient in the emergency room who is in dire need of an answer.

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details.

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