Tuesday, March 21, 2023Rumbles From Roswell: Locals Eye Replacement For Scandal Stricken Sen. Cliff Pirtle; Will He Resign? Will Ethics Complaint Be Filed? Senate Leadership Remains Mum Pirtle showed no outward signs of distress after a sheriff's department deputy was called to his Santa Fe apartment Sunday morning March 12 where he had been confronted by his wife Aysia, her mother and the couple's three children. Aysia said upon arriving she caught Pirtle in bed with another woman. A loud argument ensued at the apartment and that got the law involved. A deputy lapel camera video shows Pirtle calmly answering questions about the incident. In the final half hour of the session Saturday he promoted a memorial for senate consideration as if he didn't have a worry in the world. Of course, he does. The rumor mill has the other woman Pirtle is involved with being a young woman working in another GOP senator's legislative office. He has not responded to inquires asking him if that is the case. If true, it would be a major ethical violation and another sign of impending doom for the Republican lawmaker--not that the isn't already a dead man walking. Republican operatives/Alligators report that local R's are waiting on word from veteran GOP state Rep. Candy Ezzell to signal whether she is interested in replacing Pirtle. Says one: Candy is seen as having first dibs on the seat because of her nearly 20 years in Santa Fe and her consistent conservatism. That she is a woman doesn't hurt as the district may be looking for that in the wake of the Pirtle scandal. Ezzell, 69, who owns a ranch with her husband, has been in the state House since 2004 and is also seen as someone MLG could appoint if she were called on to fill the vacancy that would occur in the event Pirtle got out: They have opposite political views but there is no real bad blood there and I believe the Governor would honor the wishes of the conservative district if the county commissions in the three counties sent her name up to fill the vacancy. Another local observer says the gubernatorial reception for GOP Chaves County Sheriff Michael Herrington, who is another possible name floating as a Pirtle replacement, could be more chilly: Mike took on the Governor directly during Covid, saying his department would not enforce the mask mandate the Governor ordered. He would be a strong candidate in a Republican primary, but an appointment could be difficult. Senate District 32 is solidly Republican. Pirtle took the seat when he narrowly defeated conservative Democrat Tim Jennings in 2012 after winning the GOP primary by a scant 9 votes. Jennings is now mayor of Roswell. Pirtle has proven popular--until now. He ran unopposed for re-election in 2016 and 2020 but if he does not resign his seat before the '24 primary the scandal that his senate colleagues were so willing to only whisper about will not find his Bible Belt electorate so accommodating. A WELL-KNOWN FAMILY  The operation includes cows, goat and sheep whose meat and dairy products they market to the public, along with selling feed to area farmers. Cliff Pirtle was born into the family and has been an owner/manager of the farm since 1999: Pirtle Farms has been in Roswell New Mexico since 1926. George Elbert Pirtle along with his father Thomas Jefferson Pirtle started Pirtle Farms along with his wife Sarah Helen Whitehead Pirtle and their children Darrell, George Thomas, Charlotte, and Joann Pirtle. The Pirtle family does not shy away from their faith, saying on their website: We believe in honoring God by tending his garden and livestock that he has entrusted to us; through producing quality crops and nutritious milk that feed the world. In his 2012 ABQ Journal questionnaire candidate Pirtle said his "major personal accomplishment" was: Staying true to myself, being the best husband and father I can be, and finding the right balance between work and family. That statement is yet another reason the scandal is a back-breaker for the senator who is known legislatively for advocating legalized marijuana while his GOP colleagues were opposed and for annually introducing a bill that would end daylight saving time. One of Pirtle's major contributors last year was marijuana company Ultra Health which donated $5,000. In October Pirtle reported $24,000 in campaign cash on hand with $9,100 in debt. With the reputations of a well-respected family and business on the line and already subjected to humiliation, the prospect of an early senate retirement for Pirtle would seem likely. If that's not enough there is the real possibility of an ethics complaint being filed with the State Ethics Commission against him over his conduct and demanding an investigation o determine if he was improperly consorting with a legislative employee. If Pirtle were to resign the three county commissions from Chaves, Eddy and Otero would each choose a replacement candidate to send to the Governor who would make the final selection. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 Tuesday, February 06, 2024Finger-pointing Continues Over APD DWI Bribery Scandal: DA Slaps Down Police Chief; Says He's Not Responsible For Tracking Cops At Hearings As Medina Appears Before Skeptical City Council, Plus: More From Pirtle Place
In a letter to APD Chief Harold Medina, Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman blasted the chief for asserting that it is the DA's office that is required to notify APD when cops don't show up for DWI hearings. No show cops are at the crux of the alleged bribery scandal with at least five officers suspected of conspiring with a local attorney and taking bribes in exchange for not showing up at DWI court hearings and getting his clients off the hook. Now the once congenial relationship between the DA and Medina is in tatters as the political pressure cooker grips both--as seen in this scorching of Medina from the DA's office: In a letter dated February 1, 2024, to the City Council, the Chief of Police stated “the District Attorney’s Office currently has the responsibility to notify APD of missed appearances.” This is simply not true and has never been true.
The Federal DWI investigation is about alleged misconduct by DWI police officers. Instead of focusing on that issue, the Chief is blaming the District Attorney’s Office, the Law Office of the Public Defender, and the Metropolitan Court for the dysfunction and mismanagement of his DWI unit. He should refocus on putting things in place to prevent this type of disaster from happening again. Although the District Attorney’s office has never been under any obligation to ensure officers show up for scheduled court appearances, we have put in place an additional robust notification system so APD will be aware when their officers miss court. The bottom line is holding accountable those people who are drinking and driving and the safety of our community. Bregman must shed any links to the scandal by his office to avoid political damage in the June primary where he is seeking the Democratic nomination for DA against two serious opponents. He already took a hit when it was disclosed that the lawyer at the center of the alleged scheme gave him a $1,000 campaign donation that he has since returned. His direct attack on Medina raised questions in the political community as to whether it would hurt or help him with voters who are now developing a distrust for all of those involved in the investigation. Medina showed up at last night's City Council meeting and took questions from councilors. It was a public session after the administration dropped their request that the meeting be held behind closed doors. Councilor Louie Sanchez, a former APD officer and FBI staffer, told the chief that it is his "responsibility to deal with missed court (dates)--not anyone else's." Sanchez's motion for a vote of no confidence in Medina failed to get a second and was not addressed. Medina said if APD is expected to track missing dates it will take 20 additional staff in his budget. His spokesman told the newspaper: Medina, as a deputy chief, spoke with then-Chief Deputy DA Chuck Barth about high case dismissal rates, and Barth wanted the DA's office to take responsibility for tracking no-shows in court. So the DA's office took the responsibility for notification. But after Barth died in 2021, the system appeared to break down and APD wasn't notified consistently. That has recently changed. Medina told Council that while the DA's office says it is not responsible for police missing DWI hearings, that hasn't stopped the DA from notifying APD of 33 such cases since the scandal broke It's all about openness and transparency now for this police chief, the DA and the Mayor and his staff. As the saying goes, "the cover-up is often worse than the crime." Finger-pointing and the blame game are one thing. Covering up is where the trouble begins and where careers end. STATUS QUO CONTINUES? Should we be hopeful that his APD scandal is the one that ultimately ends the decades long list of scandals at the agency. Reader Don Miller is not optimistic: I personally believe that APD is an autonomous para-military organization which is run by the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association. They appear to defy the authority of the 11th floor, the Civilian Police Oversight Agency, the U.S. Department of Justice, the recent “Defund the Police” movement, and anyone else who challenges their authority and autonomy, which is not necessarily a bad thing, as long as internal checks and balances are maintained. My assessment is that APD will fire a number of police officers, depleting an already understaffed police force, and possibly fire Police Chief Medina and replace him with another “insider” as they have continually done in the past, maintaining the status quo. MORE PIRTLE PLACE
That's Pirtle, whose wife is seeking a divorce, introducing to the chamber to his father, his mistress and newborn child who are all seated at his side. (We did not include two of Pirtle's three children by his current wife who were also in the pic.) Pirtle, 38, shocked the state when he was publicly outed last year for cheating on his wife with now 20 year old McKenzie Luna, a staffer in a fellow senator's office. The second shocker came when it was disclosed that Luna gave birth to Pirtle's child. After the mess Pirtle announced he would not seek re-election to his seat and GOP state Rep. Candy Ezzell announced she would run. That was a good call but now Pirtle has backed off and is contemplating running again and that's why the Alligators are hot on his trail. Pirtle's behavior not only raised questions about his personal ethics but the ethical issue of his relationship with the senate staffer and whether it constituted an abuse of power by Pirtle since the young woman was technically in his employ. Of course, the Senate brushed it off, probably because Pirtle is a Republican who is part of the cannabis worshipping club so central to the identity politics in certain Democratic quarters. But not so for Sen. Ivey-Soto who is being excoriated by fellow Dems over an allegation of sexual harassment by a lobbyist seven years ago. That's probably because Ivey-Soto is not part of the club. He derailed a voting rights bill that the lobbyist accusing him of harassment was leading the charge for. Pirtle's problem is also hypocrisy. As we reported in March of 2023: Pirtle's scandal is not only an embarrassment for him and his immediate family but also for one of the top family-owned businesses in Roswell--Pirtle Farms located since 1926 in the SE NM city. The operation includes cows, goat and sheep whose meat and dairy products they market to the public. Cliff Pirtle was born into the family and has been an owner/manager of the farm since 1999. . .The Pirtle family does not shy away from their faith, saying on their website: We believe in honoring God by tending his garden and livestock that he has entrusted to us; through producing quality crops and nutritious milk that feed the world. In his 2012 ABQ Journal questionnaire candidate Pirtle said his "major personal accomplishment" was: Staying true to myself, being the best husband and father I can be, and finding the right balance between work and family. Doesn't hypocrisy really stink up the room or in this case the state Senate? This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024 Wednesday, February 21, 2024Fighting Irishman O’Neill Faces Stiff Senate Primary Challenge From Former Councilor And Commissioner; District Changes Could Decide Contest, Plus: Pirtle Place: The End
State Senator Bill O'Neill has been a Roundhouse fixture since his first election to the House and then to the Senate in 2012. So entrenched is O'Neill that in 2020 he drew no GOP opponent. Now that's all changed. Speculation that former two term ABQ city councilor and former two term Bernalillo County Commissioner Debbie O'Malley would run against O'Neill has been confirmed, making official her run for the Dem nomination in the June primary. Her chances of pulling off the relatively rare feat of ousting an incumbent senator in a primary are not too shabby. Not at all. First, O'Neill, who has been a diligent walker during his campaigns, is not as spry as his old self--as seen in today's photo taken at his re-election announcement this week where he is pictured with BernCo District Attorney Sam Bregman. Still, he has announced he and his team will be out walking door to door this weekend. Second, O'Neill's admirable efforts to make the Legislature more bipartisan is out of sync with the polarized times leaving him especially vulnerable to a progressive challenger like O'Malley. Third, District 13 remains heavily Democratic but the boundaries have changed significantly and now include more areas that O'Malley represented in her elective career but are brand new for O'Neill. Fourth, O'Neill does not seem very well positioned financially for a competitive primary, reporting just $32,000 on hand at the last reporting period in October. O'Malley's campaign points out: As a result of redistricting in 2020. . . over half the district is “new.” It still includes parts of the North Valley, but now incorporates Wells Park, Downtown, Barelas, as well as the South Broadway and San Jose neighborhoods. These are communities I know well. What we need most in Santa Fe are progressive fighters — leaders who are unafraid to stand up for the needs of our families and our environment, and leaders who are unafraid to stand up to the corporate lobbyists and their outsized influence on policy. O'Neill took note of the district's changes as he informed his constituents he wants a fourth term: Having colleagues and supporters join me at my home for a post session get together was wonderful. We were able to discuss our triumphs and future plans. Now, with a moment of relaxation behind us, I'm excited to venture into the district, connect with new voters, and share my vision and track record. Lately O'Malley has been serving as a policy aide to ABQ Mayor Keller. The progressive machine that has twice elected him is embracing her and ready to do battle with the more moderate wing of the party represented by O'Neill and DA Bregman. Professionally, O'Neill served as Executive Director of the New Mexico Juvenile Parole Board, and as Development Director for the PEP Program, "a mentoring program for high-risk juvenile offenders through the New Mexico Conference Of Churches." O'Neill is also an author and playwrite. This year he is in need of a new script if he is to hold on to his seat. (No R's need apply. District 13 is all D all the time--57% to 18%). PIRTLE PLACE--THE END
Now that he's out it is very likely that state Rep. Candy Ezzell, who has announced she is running for the June GOP nomination for District 32, will win that election and the general election in November in the GOP dominated district. As for Pirtle, 38, the politicos and the media soft-shoed his extra martial affair with a Senate staffer that apparently began when she was a teenager and who he ultimately impregnated while married with three other children. The proud papa then took the newborn to the Senate floor as seen in today's photo. Really. Pirtle is now going through a nasty divorce with his wife which was precipitated by his cheating. Senate leadership, to their lasting shame, looked the other way when asked to employ the Ethics Commission to investigate the propriety of Pirtle's relationship with senate staffer McKenzie Luna. That was all put aside in the final hours of the '24 session as many of Pirtle's fellow senators rose to commend him for a job well done. It was quite the spectacle and a reminder that while reams of news copy are devoted to the goings-on in Santa Fe, the goings-on that make lawmakers and the establishment media uncomfortable are often swept under the rug. One of our Senior Alligators comes with a fitting satire of the bizarre display in the Senate as Pirtle was regaled: Pirtle slowly walks off the Senate floor, holding his love child and with his paramour by his side. Fellow senators reach out desperately to shake his hand and hold him, all while wiping away a deluge of tears. As Pirtle leaves the chamber, a pack of white doves suddenly fill the chamber, their wings pushing the marijuana smoke like the wisps of clouds. Pirtle exits and the chamber doors shut. The Senate is empty now, with the exception of Lt. Gov. Howie Morales who stands behind the dais. He sadly looks around, wipes away a lonely tear as he stares at the door that closed behind Pirtle and whispers to himself, “Now he belongs to the ages.” End Scene. Yes, Cliff, you and your enablers are the target of an Alligator Strike. Congrats. . . or something--and so long. THE BOTTOM LINES In a first draft Tuesday we had $16 billion going to improvements at ABQs Balloon Fiesta Park from the legislature's capital outlay ball. They wish it were so. The correct total, of course, is $16 million. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024 Wednesday, October 17, 2012Obama Spicy As Green Chile In Round Two; No Back Down From Mitt, Plus: The Showdown In Roswell; How GOP Support Is Helping Jennings, And: Recreational Sex On The Campaign Trail Both Obama and Romney came out swinging--no soft jabs here--and when it was over voters in flash polls and media pundits declared Obama the winner, but on points. Romney was not knocked down. Far from it, but Obama may have done just enough for him to rally the Democratic base and recharge his campaign for another term. The line of the night may have come when a frustrated Obama being pressed by Romney said he didn't know the details of his personal pension plan but it wasn't as big as Romney's. With that, the economic divide that so threatens the middle class of the American nation was summed up. It could be what your grandchildren read about this election (And a rowdy presidential debate that may have forever changed the rules of engagement). How can it be, given the lousy economy and Romney's always persuasive dissection of exactly what is wrong, that Obama isn't already on his way to the showers? Our feeling is that voters are not assigning enough blame to Obama. They instinctively see the recession/Depression as a global phenomenon and are unwilling to place the blame on one man's shoulders--even a president's. NM Republican analyst Bruce Donisthorpe called the presidential clash "a spirited tie." But in the important matter of rallying the Democratic base--depressed beyond the reach of Prozac after Obama's performance in debate number one--this time it was different. ABQ Dem State Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas expressed it on his Twitter account with a New Mexican flair: Two men entered. One man leaves. Obamanos!! Obama supporter and veteran NM field organizer Steve Cabiedes declared: Obama shows up for the gunfight with.... a gun! Is that the kind of energy Obama's performance generated in swing states like Ohio and Colorado? The dramatic answer to that question will come in the days to follow. MORE DEBATE ACTION  We asked former ABQ City Councilor Greg Payne, a longtime Republican political consultant who recently registered as an independent, to assess last night's debate action:...The real turning point was the exchange over Libya...Romney questioned the president's concern over the assassination of Ambassador Christopher Stephens and three other Americans, accusing the president of jetting off to fundraisers in Las Vegas and Colorado instead of caring about the situation there. Obama delivered a velvet hammer, reminding Romney--as he looked straight at him--that those were "his people" that "he'd sent there" that he was "the Commander-in-Chief" and "the suggestion that anybody in my team ...would play politics or mislead when we've lost four of our own, governor, is offensive," Obama told Romney. "That's not what we do." The final Obama hit was at the end over Romney's "47%" remark. "But I also believe that when he [Romney] said behind closed doors that 47% of the country considered themselves victims?.. Think about who he was talking about. Folks on Social Security who've worked all their lives. Veterans who sacrificed for this country..." Obama did what his supporters wanted him to do in Denver and knocked that one out of the park. The first debate in Denver flipped the momentum 180 degrees for Romney. This one brought it back 90 for Obama. If we've learned anything it's how incredibly fluid this election actually is. Nothing can be taken for granted by either side. Every electoral vote in every battleground state is going to count. And so will the last debate. TINNIN FOR JENNINGS  The crack in the state GOP is canyon-sized down in Roswell. Governor Susana and her political adviser Jay McCleskey are having trouble taking Tim Jennings out because so many Republicans like the veteran senator who also happens to be the Senate President Pro Tem.Guys like Harvey Yates Jr., the former chairman of the NM GOP, are openly supporting the 62 year old lawmaker. And that GOP support can also be found up here in ABQ. Longtime GOP businessman Tom Tinnin, who turned in his resignation from the Board of Finance to Governor Martinez in protest of the down and dirty racino lease deal at the Downs of ABQ, has donated $1,000 to Jennings and he sweetens the pot for the Senator with this letter of praise: Senator Jennings is one of those who stands out from the crowd. Fair, candid, to the point, all the cards on the table, upfront, no hidden agendas, describes Senator Jennings. Did we always see eye to eye on the issues we discussed? Of course not. Did we have a healthy and open dialogue? Absolutely! Did I leave our meetings knowing that I just met with someone that was listening, not arbitrary, and was making every effort to find common ground and not play political games? A resounding yes! This man should to be sent back to Santa Fe once again to represent District 32. How we select out representatives should not be based solely on party affiliation, but the standard should begin with character. Senator Tim Jennings has character, the best interest of his constituents, and much more. Those are pretty kind words from an R for the Democratic President Pro Tem of the Senate. But remember Jennings has that leadership position by virtue of a coalition with the GOP state Senators. All of them voted for Jennings and with the support of half a dozen so of the Dems, Jennings became president to the 42 member Senate. There is plenty of grumbling among state Republicans about all the money the Guv and Jay are sending to fight Jennings. They think it could be better spent in the R effort to take over the state House. But there is also a lot of fear in the GOP and few are willing to speak out. But if Jennings and Sanchez are victorious, Susana and company may have some brave Republicans on their hands. Don't say we didn't tell you. THE CURRENT LINE The Guv's spinners better start practicing for Election Night now because the Senior Alligators we are consulting see Jennings and Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez--who is also getting a several hundred thousand dollar pounding--to retain their seats. The two leaders, however, don't seem poised for landslide wins--not surprising considering the negative campaigns waged against them--but our analysts say the foes of the Senators will have trouble growing once they hit the 45% mark. The GOP vote, combined with independents is expected to take Pirtle and Sanchez opponent David Chavez to that mark, then it will be like pulling teeth. For Sanchez, his identity in the community, combined with a strong showing for Obama in Valencia County form a firewall for him. For Jennings it is Republican support that should make Pirtle's climb much above the 45% mark a challenge. THE PIRTLE FILE  Cliff Pirtle works for his father Paul Pirtle as a partner. The list of federal subsidies to the Pirtle Farms can be found here. It shows Pirtle & Sons received nearly $600,000 in federal farm subsidies from 1995 through 2011. Lennes says that's hypocrisy: Mr. Pirtle wants "working Americans to rely less on government services." However, Mr. Pirtle is dependent on his father and federal subsidies--a bit hypocritical! And, of course, this info is already being used against Pirtle in that no-holds-barred, win-or-die-trying showdown in Roswell. RECREATIONAL SEX Have any of the major NM candidates said anything yet that has really engaged voters? You know, had folks talking about it at the office? Not really. The campaigns have been saccharine like. But there was one statement that came close and has brought in the email. It came from ABQ GOP congressional candidate Janice Arnold-Jones and it went like this: “Is it my obligation to pay for your recreational sex? No, it’s not,” Arnold-Jones said, referring to a moderator’s question about whether limits should be placed on insurance coverage of women’s reproductive services, such as birth control and abortion. And that caught the attention of the bleacher seats. Here's Dem Michelle Meaders with a sharp retort: Isn’t it interesting that Janice is a long-time Navy wife, which means she has gotten lots of federally-paid services, including health care, for years. And she only has two kids, which means that like 98% of sexually active American women, she used contraceptives. In the CD1 health care debate at the Unitarian Church on Sept. 19, she said she didn’t want to pay for other people’s “Recreational Sex.” In other words, for thirty years of marriage. Who gets to say how much of a couple’s sex is recreational, instead of procreative? I thought not having unwanted children was “personal responsibility.” New Mexicans may not realize how good our health care coverage is here, compared to the rest of the country. Yes, we have the biggest percentage of people with no health coverage. But for those who do, state law already covers parts of the Affordable Care Act (ACA): not charging women more than men for health insurance (only 8 states have this), drug coverage must include contraceptives, and others. These would be lost in most other states if the ACA was repealed. As for Janice's contest with Dem Michelle Lujan Grisham, the Oct. 1 cash on hand totals for the campaigns tell the story: Campaign finance reports showed Lujan Grisham with cash-on-hand of almost $379,000 at the end of last month and Arnold-Jones had $53,500. FOUR-LEGGED SUPPORT  Animal Protection Voters of New Mexico come with their traditional campaign endorsements on behalf of our four-legged friends. The group offers a joint endorsement in one of the state's hottest contests for the NM House. They give the nod to both Dem Marci Blaze and Republican Paul Pacheco who are battling for the seat in the northwest corner of the ABQ metro.It's hard to believe that Marci and Paul--who are so far apart philosophically--can agree so much on a topic that they are both endorsed. Srill, it's certain the voters will place one of them in the dog house come Election Night. (No groaning, please.....) This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. Email us for details.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2012 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Thursday, March 16, 2023No Salaries And No Full-Time For Legislators This Time And That's Fine With Voters, Plus: The Pirtle Affair; More Details And What Needs To Happen Next, Also: Booze Tax Update And A Pandemic Book Catches Flak
Senate Finance Committee Chairman Munoz read the room correctly and has basically pronounced the constitutional amendment to do just that dead for this session. The drive for a full-time legislature also fell flat. Why, voters ask, in a state that has experienced essentially no population growth in a decade do we need to increase legislators hours? The Legislature did do their most important duty of the session--sending a state budget to the Governor as they headed for a Saturday adjournment. That could only be interrupted if MLG gets ornery and calls a special session. (Please don't. The state has had enough for a while.) That budget is the largest ever with a nearly 14 percent increase, coming in at $9.6 billion but still tucking away a reserve of 30 percent in case of an oil crash. In the latest bull move oil peaked at $121 a barrel in June and this week fell below $70 a barrel. There is cause for concern but the price is still healthy for the drillers in the SE NM Permian Basin and with other reserve funds packed to the gills, the budget should be able to pass any oil price tests that arise. There was much ado about much of everything in Santa Fe the past two months, but in the end it is that budget that will have the most impact of any legislation approved and for which the session will likely be most remembered. Well, and Cliff Pirtle. . . THE PIRTLE AFFAIR
Joe,
What I find most amusing about this Pirtle "scandal" is that he is always spouting off in committee about family values and how, being married to an Hispanic woman, he understands Hispanics. As we blogged Tuesday, the public's point of interest is if the "other woman" is affiliated with the state legislature--meaning an employee--which would make an affair more than a simple moral infraction. (Lapel camera video of Pirtle and sheriff's deputy here.) WHO IS SHE? The rumor mill now is centered on the narrative that Pirtle, 37, was bedding a young staffer from rural New Mexico who works in another Senator's office. That would be a serious ethics violation and demands an investigation by the Ethics Commission, the commission that progressives for years clamored to establish. Reader Arcy Baca aptly asks:  Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart and her colleagues need to get a Pirtle probe up and running. Pirtle could do his constituents and the state a favor by coming clean on the details of the scandal and then resigning his seat. Where is the Senate GOP leadership on that proposition? Watching Jimmy Swaggart reruns? Maybe if they hadn't needlessly kicked Sen. Stuart Ingle out as their Minority Leader there would be someone with enough huevos (and stature) to tell Pirtle that it's time to go. REPLACING PIRTLE
If Pirtle does call it quits, the name of GOP Roswell Rep. Candy Ezzell pops to the surface as a possible replacement. Said one of the Roundhouse Gators: She's been in the Legislature since 2005, is s a rock-ribbed conservative and smart. She would be a natural replacement. The county commissions from Chaves, Eddy and Otero--the three counties that contain Pirtle's district--would each recommend a replacement if Pirtle resigns, with the Governor making the final choice. Finally, how about this. The Roswell Daily Record, the hometown paper of Pirtle, doesn't even carry the story. Not a peep about Pirtle's behavior from them or his interaction with law enforcement. Yeah, tell the blogger all about journalism, boys. What a joke. LIQUOR TAX UPDATE ABQ Dem state Senator Antoinette Sedillo Lopez is kicking herself over the legislature's failure to enact a quarter a drink tax on alcoholic beverages in the state with the worst rate of booze abuse in the nation. But she shouldn't be. The Senate tax committee Wednesday approved a bill that would raise the tax by five cent a drinks which still had the lobbyists choking back tears. Whether that survives to final passage in the hectic last days of the session is another question. The increase would cut the rate of drinking, according to experts, by 1.8 percent and would be the first hike in the alcohol tax in decades. Would it be best for Sedillo Lopez and Rep. Joanne Ferrary to throw in the towel on any increase now and come back next year with guns blazing? Maybe. If the liquor lobby swallows that tiny increase they will argue next year that they are being targeted. Or would the small-sized increase pave the way for more? A tough call. JOURNAL WATCH  Hi Mr. Monahan,
Just read your piece on the blog discussing the future of the Journal and whether or not it remains in private ownership.
I've been a digital Journal subscriber since moving back to the state in late 2017. I recall the days when the Journal had many more sections, pages and ads as well. It is not surprising to see the paper shrink, and the economics of the newspaper industry are reflected in that. I honestly don't care much who owns the Journal as long as they continue to cover local and state news because there is no other paper (other than the New Mexican) which is doing that here. However, if the Journal starts replacing local/state coverage with wire stories, or if they sell to a terrible chain like Gannett, I'll drop it like a bad habit!
Until then, I'll remain a Journal subscriber because I believe it is important to support local journalism where it still exists. And one other note from the ink-stained world, the 538 site has updated their national pollster rankings to include the 2022 election. Research and Polling, the Journal's longtime pollster, went from a grade of A to A+, just one of four pollsters in the nation to achieve that grade out of several hundred. PANDEMIC HISTORY  The Albuquerque Museum Third Thursday on March 16 includes a conversation with Joline Gutierrez Krueger, author of City at the Crossroads: The Pandemic, Protests, and Public Service in Albuquerque. The conversation, hosted by Dr. Shelle Sanchez, director of the Department of Arts & Culture, will begin at 6 p.m. in the museum's auditorium. The talk coincides with the third anniversary of New Mexico's shutdown related to the global pandemic. Krueger's nonfiction account covers the city’s response to emergency management in an unprecedented time. In addition to COVID-19, social unrest is front-and-center in the book. There's been some controversy about the book, with ABQ City Councilor Louis Sanchez asking the attorney general to investigate: (The book) includes nearly 50 pictures of Mayor Keller and his
family. . .I do not think spending nearly a hundred thousand dollars of
taxpayer money to pay a journalist and publish a book, which appears to be a marketing device
regarding the Mayor’s response to COVID, is appropriate or legal. If one searches
for the “book” online, it is being sold at multiple retailers for profit. It is my understanding sales
of the book are being handled by The One Albuquerque Fund which some accuse of functioning as
a Political Action Committee (PAC) for Mayor Keller. . . The book does show much love for Keller and company but we found it informative and insightful and think future city residents will also. THE BOTTOM LINES
Regarding the $5.1 million capital outlay for the Regional Sports Complex at Mesa Del Sol. David Campbell works for Steve Chavez and the Mesa del Sol company. They have nothing to do with the Regional Sports Complex on Bernalillo County Land stretching from the Isleta Pavillon to Bobby Foster road. The Bernalillo County Youth Sports Commission in conjunction with (other county offices) has orchestrated a 31 multi-use field project to serve our community's local youth sports teams. . .When completed the project will improve outdoor sports. . .for individuals to use in our community. Geez, kids. We went into overtime today. Hope you enjoyed it. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 Wednesday, May 10, 2023Former GOP State Senator Looks For Comeback And Could Have A Good Shot, Plus: Pirtle And Texas And A Ridiculous Tax Increase?
Former Republican state Senator Candace Gould may have found a way back to the Roundhouse. After being defeated by Katy Duhigg in 2021 in her reelection bid for Senate District 10 she now tells us she will be running in the new Republican leaning Senate District 12.
The current District 12 in ABQ is represented by retiring Democratic liberal Sen. Jerry Ortiz Pino. It was chopped up in redistricting to benefit other Democratic senators, putting the new District 12 in the growing northwest metro area including parts of Rio Rancho. Gould or whoever secures the Republican nomination will have an excellent chance of going into the Senate. The new district is 37% Democrat and 37% Republican. It doesn’t get much better for the GOP than that. Other Republicans may be eyeing the opportunity but Gould may have the inside track given her name ID and solid fundraising record. As we finished writing this, we learned that GOP Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block has also joined the senate district 12 race. Should be a good one. WHY NOT HERE? First, this news out of Austin, Texas then some local reaction: A Texas legislative committee recommended Saturday that GOP Rep. Bryan Slaton be expelled for inappropriate sexual conduct with a 19-year-old intern. Slaton, from Royse City, could face an expulsion vote by the full House. Slaton, 45, has declined to comment but his attorney last month called the claims “outrageous” and “false.” The House General Investigative Committee said Slaton gave the 19-year-old intern and another young staffer alcohol at his home, that he had sex with the intern after she was intoxicated, and that he later showed the intern a threatening email but said everything would be fine if the incident was kept quiet. Slaton also asked a fellow lawmaker to keep his behavior secret, the committee said. In New Mexico it is not known if the woman that NM GOP state Senator Cliff Pirtle of Roswell was having an extramarital affair with is a Senate staffer but the rumor mill points in that direction. Pirtle’s wife .confronted the couple at a Santa Fe apartment and has since filed for divorce. In the wake of the scandal Pirtle has said he will not seek reelection next year but plans on staying in the Senate until then. Here’s reader Dan Klein with his take:
I hate to give Texas credit for anything, but they are about to expel a lawmaker who had sex with a 19 year old intern (she wasn’t his wife). So what is wrong with New Mexico? Why aren’t they doing the same to Cliff Pirtle? By not acting it just reinforces the view of many citizens that our citizen legislature is just a bunch of good old boys and girls getting drunk and having sex with interns and staff and there are no consequences. It doesn’t matter if they are Democrat or Republican, they are all just there for the party. There’s been talk of a possible state Ethics Commission investigation of the Pirtle situation but nothing has surfaced yet. THE RIDICULOUS FACTOR Is it ridiculous to raise taxes to safeguard irrigation in the middle Rio Grande Valley when the state literally has billions upon billions in surplus revenue? Well, taxpayers are going to have to prepare for the ridiculous: The Middle Rio Grande Conservancy District Board of Directors voted 5-0 Monday in favor of a 1 mill tax increase that will generate $4.3 million a year to be used solely for capital investment in equipment and infrastructure in the district’s nearly 100-year-old irrigation system. “The goal of this mill increase is to move us away from being reactive to the next infrastructure break,” said Jason Casuga, MRGCD chief engineer…The increase will affect all property owners within the Conservancy District’s boundaries, whether they are irrigators or not. It will cost the owner of a property assessed at $200,000 an additional $67 a year. Money resulting from the increase would be used to pay for some of the $175 million in priority projects. Those voting for the mill increase were Vice Chair Karen Dunning and board members Barbara Baca, John Kelly, Glen Duggins and Michael Sandoval. MRGCD could not line up area legislators to get more capital outlay in a year when the capital outlay budget almost busted through $1 billion? Did the Board even try? Chief Engineer Casuga, consider yourself the victim of an Alligator strike. We only wish the Gators had gotten wind of this ill-advised tax hike earlier so they could have participated in a preemptive strike. Ditto for the asleep at the switch conservancy district board. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 Monday, April 24, 2023Heinrich Sets Re-election Announcement As GOP Lacks Name Candidate; May Stay That Way, Plus: Cliff And Candy: State Rep. Ezzell Confirms Run She For Senate Seat of Scandal-Challenged Pirtle He banked nearly $2 million during the first three months of this year so it's about time Sen. Martin Heinrich made his bid for a third six year term official. And he will do just that Friday, May 5th at a private home on Rio Grande Blvd. in ABQ, and in the process raise even more money for his campaign, with donations for the event topping out at $1000. Heinrich had been holding back longer than usual on an official announcement and that led to speculation about his future plans which include pondering a run for Guv in 2026. His official entry will silence any thoughts that he might not make another Senate run and should also quiet stirrings in GOP circles about mounting a significant challenge for the seat. That challenge will apparently be meek. A former top GOP official tells us that there are no prominent GOP names circulating to run against Heinrich and they expect the party to field only a weak candidate. But surprises can happen. If he gets an easy re-elect, will Heinrich then be off and running for Governor? All signs point to it but our Republican heavy says there is something that could stop him: If he were to land the chairmanship of a major committee, I think that could keep him in DC. Heinrich sits on the Senate committee on Intelligence, on the Joint Economic Committee, on Energy and on the powerful Appropriations Committee. We'll have to check with our DC Gators to see if he would have a shot at the top spot on any of those panels following the '24 election, if the Dems keep control of the Senate. BLOG HEAT Heinrich has taken reader blog heat over his possible run for Governor because a potential opponent for the Dem nomination is Sec. of Interior Deb Haaland. Here's some rebuttal from a longtime Heinrich ally: Joe, Thankfully Martin has taken the lead of the Democratic Party, as no one else was doing it. Since Martin has taken that lead Democrats have raised more money, won every statewide race and we hold all three seats in Congress. Democrats are lucky to have Martin step up. Many states wish they had an elected official who is as engaged as Martin. As for not being a risk taker, Martin gave up a relatively safe seat on the ABQ City Council in 2007 to run against for Congress in what up until that time had been a Republican seat---and he won. CLIFF AND CANDY
The question now is whether Pirtle will do the right thing by the party and his constituents and resign the seat so Ezzell can be appointed to fill out his term and put to rest talk of the Dems having a shot at the SE NM district. Pirtle, who has said he will not seek re-election in '24 but is insisting on staying until then, is busy dealing with a divorce his wife filed after she caught him in bed with another woman. Ezzell, a rancher, is a fire and brimstone Republican and is being called a perfect match for the area. Here she is: Folks, your voice needs to be heard. I've been up there 19 years and I will finish my 20th next year and I am going to make a change. I will be running for Senate District 32. I know a lot about agriculture, I know about (the) oil and gas industry, I know about education, I know about volunteerism. And whenever our needs are not being met up in rural areas, I think I can better serve all of the people of the state of New Mexico on the Senate side A GOP consultant says Ezzell currently lives outside the district but has property within it that she will use to establish residency. We won't say "no Dems need apply" but it's close. 46% of registered voters in the Pirtle district are Republicans, 29% Democrats and 24% Indys. Conservative Democrat and Roswell Mayor Tim Jennings, who Pirtle ousted from the Senate seat in 2012, is now trying to start a boomlet for him to run in '24 and at the same time stay on as Roswell mayor. Not going to happen, Tim, and if you jump in the GOP will muddy you up good. Besides, word is you're doing a bang-up job as Mayor so why not keep it that way? The county commissions from the three counties in the district--Chavez, Eddy and Otero--would send a name or names to MLG to replace Pirtle should he resign. Ezzell would be a popular choice and MLG would have no trouble signing off on her. So Cliff, don't go over the cliff. Do something sweet for Candy--and the people of New Mexico. ABOUT THAT SALARY  With the legislature approving pay raises for other statewide elected officials to take effect this year, the Governor's salary is now the lowest among the group and among the lowest in the nation. We also reported Thursday on the outsized raises MLG gave key staffers on the Fourth Floor late last year. That brought reader email along these lines: What a slap in the face to all the hardworking people people in state government who just get cost of living adjustments--and an especially stinging slap to those people who lost their businesses and jobs because of the pandemic. Several legislators--including ABQ Dem Sen. Daniel Ivey-Soto--saw our error on the timing of the Guv's pay raise as a major infraction and demanded the traditional ten lashes with a wet noodle be administered. We asked a panel of Senior Alligators for a ruling and they said that the punishment shall be reduced to five lashes. "Lent is over," said the head Gator. "We'll give him a break." Thanks, but we're bracing for impact. . . This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023 Tuesday, January 23, 2024DWI APD Scandal Goes Political; DA Bregman Primary Foe Upset Over Dismissal Of 150 Cases; Says Action Jeopardizes Other Potential Cases; Bregman Calls "Blatant Grandstanding"; City Councilors Also Weigh In, Plus: Reader Reaction To Pirtle's Bizarre Senate Floor Show
The DA’s handling of this corruption case is just another example of why Bernalillo County can’t afford to have someone with less than five years of experience as a prosecutor. . .Bregman is jeopardizing potential cases against other perpetrators by announcing the case to the world. . .and to continue what appears to be his main priority, campaigning. Then he refers all questions to the US Attorney’s office, deflecting his responsibility to the voters he was appointed to serve. As a career prosecutor and the former US Attorney for NM. . .I would have led a thorough investigation in order to ensure that none of the now-dismissed cases couldn’t be prosecuted without these officers. For the cases that couldn’t move forward, I would have filed motions to dismiss, but without all of the pomp and circumstance. In doing so, I would have avoided notifying every attorney and police officer in the city that they may be under investigation, and, subsequently, removed the chance to destroy evidence that they now have, thanks to Bregman’s affinity for attention. As US attorney Martinez was deeply involved in APD and his most recent job was actually at the ABQ police department. That could be a contentious entanglement for him as the campaign develops. Here's a report from when he was hired in 2018: Martinez, who helped lead the DOJ efforts to get APD to agree to a reform effort and settlement agreement, has been hired as a full-time employee by APD. Martinez will be responsible for helping APD write policies that are not related to the DOJ settlement agreement that he helped negotiate with APD in 2014, said APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos. He [Martinez] will have several duties related to policy development that is not tied to the settlement agreement.". . . Shawn Willoughby, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, said that, if what Gallegos said about Martinez's duties is true, the former U.S. attorney will be writing policies about how cops wear their uniforms and take-home cars. "Its concerning for the APOA that the administration would find it beneficial to hire an attorney who doesn't have any extensive police policy writing in his background to deal with policies that aren't related to the consent decree," Willoughby said. "We are talking about policies that are very benign and that should be written and overseen by chief of police and his command staff. BREGMAN HITS BACK
Statement from DA Bregman on Martinez criticism: It is very easy for Mr. Martinez to pontificate on everything he claims our office is doing wrong from the sidelines. My job as District Attorney is to ensure equal and fair justice for all cases that come into our office. Apparently, Mr. Martinez’s new job is to criticize the work of our office in an attempt to score political points. I would have hoped that a former federal prosecutor would have understood why we cannot go into further detail about an ongoing federal investigation. Unlike Mr. Martinez, it is my ethical duty as the District Attorney to uphold the highest standards of fairness and justice. While he was a senior advisor for the Albuquerque Police Department, exactly what measures did Mr. Martinez put in place to address this situation? Over the past year, I have had to make some difficult decisions. I can promise the people of Bernalillo County that every decision I have made, has been with their best interest and well-being at heart. Mr. Martinez’s blatant grandstanding shows one indisputable fact: His decisions are made with his political interests at heart. COUNCIL REACT At their meeting last night the scandal was not lost on the nine member city council, two of whom are former APD officers, including freshly elected Dan Champine of far NE Heights District 8. He was especially put out by the Keller administration for not notifying the councilors of the federal investigation of APD launched by the FBI and under the supervision of US Attorney Alexander Uballez.
Councilor Louie Sanchez, a former cop and a Democrat often highly critical of the administration, blamed the scandal on a "lack of leadership" in the city but fell short of calling for the resignation of APD Chief Harold Medina. Meanwhile, a higher up in the administration tells us the Feds take down of the alleged DWI scheme is a political hit but believe as more information is disclosed this week it will be clear that the scandal is not going to blow up further. A city spokeswoman last night told the council the cases "go back a decade" and involve "a handful of officers" and communications in such a sensitive investigation is "challenging." The council questioning of the administration is here and begins at 28:00. KELLER SPEAKS Mayor Keller broke his silence on the scandal on Twitter during the council session, saying: While we can’t discuss the details of the investigation into a group of officers, we take these allegations very seriously. Our administration will hold all bad actors accountable, and @ABQPOLICE will continue to work closely with the FBI on the investigation. BIG BUCKS Freelance journalist Charles Arasim is on the APD beat and comes with this: Newly obtained information puts APD Lieutenant Justin Hunt as one of the officers that had their home raided by the FBI last week. Hunt hit #1 on the list of the 250 top earners for the city of ABQ in 2023. He bagged $256,908.66 on a base pay of $99,070.40. Is there yet another overtime scandal brewing here as well? A scandal "brewing?" Doesn't that outrageous paycheck qualify as one? PIRTLE ROASTED
Pirtle, 38, in divorce proceedings with his wife with whom he has three children, was caught cheating in April of 2023. His affair was with young Senate staffer, McKenzie Luna, now 20, the mother of their child. Last year Luna denied to the media any affair with Pirtle but the affair was confirmed by her presence last week on the Senate floor. Roundhouse insiders report Luna was on staff to Sen. Crystal Diamond Brantley of Elephant Butte when she took up with the senator who hails from a prominent Roswell farming family. No Senators have spoken out over Pirtle's affair with a Senate employee even though he was in a powerful position above her. Senate Minority Leader Greg Baca is among those in a cone of silence, even though critics point out he could easily endorse Rep. Candy Ezzell who is running for the Pirtle seat in the GOP primary and send a clear message that Pirtle's behavior is not tolerated by the Senate GOP caucus. Reader Carol had a not untypical reaction: Joe, Thank you! I can't tell you how much I appreciate your coverage of the philandering Cliff Pirtle. I'm glad I wasn't the only one who was absolutely reviled at his audacity to introduce his former employee and partner, McKenzie Luna, along with their newborn child on the Senate Floor! Talk about a ballsy move. He has shamed himself, his family (his dad didn't look happy or proud), his constituents, and the important position he was elected to uphold. He was elected to represent his district, not to f. . . around with a 20-year old staff member. How dare him think this all "blew over." Thanks for letting him know that it didn't. Reader John Rey writes: Hello Joe, Ms. Luna's situation can be called the Immaculate Deception, but like another Republican, Senator Pete Domenici, Pirtle was only doing what good old Saint Pete did, all with no repercussions. Heck, Pete even scored a courthouse named after him! The "Immaculate Deception." They're on fire out there. And that is all for now from "As The Roundhouse Turns. . . " This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2024 |
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