John Sanchez

Add another name to the list of possibles for the '26 GOP gubernatorial nomination. 

Long gone but perhaps not forgotten, former Lt. Governor John Sanchez has surfaced as a potential contender following our January 6 blog that sized up the potential field.

Sanchez served as lieutenant governor under Gov. Susana Martinez (2011-2019) for what turned out to be a very long eight years. While earning kudos for his adept service presiding over the state senate, part of his constitutional chores, Sanchez was ghosted by Martinez and her crew. Left with little to do while she went about shattering her popularity with personal and political scandals, there would be no attempt by Sanchez at picking up the pieces. 

Still, he never let go completely. In 2020, when he announced he would not seek the US Senate seat being vacated by Tom Udall, he declared: 

I am not running for the Senate in 2020 but I am going to remain active in politics and policy.

Sanchez made a play for the 2012 GOP US Senate nominee when Dem Jeff Bingaman stepped down. US Rep. Heather Wilson took the prize only to lose the general election to Martin Heinrich. That was the last time Sanchez offered himself up as a political force. He was criticized in that campaign for being deficient in fund-raising but Martinez also hurt him badly by making disparaging comments about his candidacy. Our 2011 reporting on that upheaval is here.

It was back in 2000 when Sanchez made his bones by stunning the state and defeating state House Speaker Raymond Sanchez for his ABQ North Valley seat. 

After a mere one House term Sanchez secured the 2002 GOP gubernatorial nod and found himself facing Democrat Bill Richardson who was already a political legend and who made quick work of Sanchez. Richardson went on to serve two terms.

Now 62 and wealthy from his success as a leading ABQ roofing contractor, Sanchez is mum about his intentions for 2026 but his close friend and political ally, state Rep. Rod Montoya, who cut his political teeth as a top aide to Lt. Gov. Sanchez, is not holding back and paving the way for what could be a Sanchez run. From the Four Corners Montoya opines:

Joe: on your January 6 list of potential GOP contenders, you left out one of the Republican Party’s best bets to retake the governor’s office in 2026--John Sanchez. Coming out of the presidential election, we saw Trump make major inroads with Hispanic and working class voters. John can appeal to those voters and many others and he would likely have Trump’s support given his previous appointment as Trump’s Hispanic Prosperity Initiative Chairman. 

(Our July 2020 reporting on that Trump appointment of Sanchez is here.)

John has won multiple statewide races and was part of the ticket that handed Deb Haaland her only loss. He also delivered one of the biggest wins for Republicans in history when he ousted the Speaker of the House, Raymond Sanchez. Given his experience and reputation, I’m one of many Republicans hoping and praying he jumps in. John is a strong candidate! He’s a great fundraiser (who’s not afraid to spend his own money), he appeals to the Republican base and also has crossover appeal. He’d be very hard to beat. 

SANCHEZ ANALYSIS

The Sanchez association with Trump combined with perhaps being the only big name Hispanic Republican seeking the nomination would immediately put Sanchez in the hunt. 

The other possible candidates are capable but compared to Sanchez they are relatively unknown. They include Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull, former Supreme Court Justice Judith Nakamura and legislators Rebecca Dow and Crystal Brantley. None of them can demonstrate any meaningful ties to President-elect Trump who could have considerable sway in the race.

Also, Montoya's declaration that Sanchez is "not afraid to spend his own money" is a direct threat to his potential opponents, none of whom boast the personal resources Sanchez could bring to the table 

As for Sanchez defeating now Secretary of Interior Deb Haaland, that is a somewhat obscure factoid. Sanchez was the Lt. Governor nominee paired with Martinez who beat the 2014 Dem Guv ticket of Gary King and Haaland for Lt. Governor. It was not a direct face-off between Sanchez and Haaland.

In another cycle a Sanchez candidacy might be derided as a blast from the past but today the GOP is desperate to reverse their fortunes. Sanchez may not be a knight riding to the rescue but he is a capable rider. Will he saddle up for a run at the Roundhouse? Stay tuned.

ELISEO ALCON 

It's simple when it comes to former state Rep. Eliseo Alcon of Milan: he was a great guy and will be missed in Santa Fe for his level-headed approach to policy and his deep love for New Mexico and its people. 

Alcon, who retired in late November after announcing he had liver cancer, died Monday at 74. House Democrats came with this:

Rep. Alcon, a military veteran who received a Bronze Star for his service as a combat medic in the Army during the Vietnam War, was elected to the House in 2009. . .He advocated for policies to support veterans and their families, safeguard tribal sovereignty, strengthen the state’s infrastructure and economy, and protect the environment. Rep. Alcon also served as Chair of the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and the Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs committee. 

We are tremendously saddened by the loss of our. . . dear friend Eliseo. (He) was a tireless champion for his western New Mexico community and our service men and women. We deeply appreciated the warmth, kindness, good humor, and dedication he brought to the Roundhouse. Rep. Alcon’s legacy will live on through the historic victories he achieved for veterans and their families, New Mexico workers, and our environment. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family, especially his beloved wife Darlene and their children, grandchildren, and great grandson.

Governor Lujan Grisham said:

Rep. Alcon served our state with honor, distinction, and longstanding dedication to his constituents. From his heroic service as a combat medic in Vietnam. . .to his 16 years of dedicated public service in the legislature, Rep. Alcon exemplified public service. As chairman of the Consumer and Public Affairs Committee and the Labor, Veterans and Military Affairs Committee, he helped improve the lives of veterans, workers, and families across New Mexico. My heart goes out to Rep. Alcon’s family, friends, colleagues, and the communities he served so faithfully. 

Former NM House Speaker Raymond Sanchez, now a prominent Santa Fe lobbyist, said:

New Mexico has lost one of the most talented, considerate, caring, compassionate and competent individuals to ever serve in the New Mexico House of Representatives. Representative Alcon will be missed by many and especially by me, as over the years we developed a strong bond.

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Only a handful of swing seats are up for election to the US House and one of them is right here and starting to draw national attention.

We talked with NPR's "Here and Now" about the spirited southern congressional race between Dem Rep. Xochitl Torres Small and GOP challenger Yvette Herrell. The full interview is here and here's an excerpt:

JM: It's all about turnout (for Herrell), especially in the southeastern part of the district which is conservative and which has the big oil and gas industry. That's what the race comes down to--who can get the vote out. Now Torres Small got her progressive base out in Las Cruces in a big way two years ago, and narrowly won the race by  less than three thousand votes, and it looks like we're headed for another barnburner. . 

A lot of  is going to depend on how the President performs. He won the district by ten points in 2016. If he falls below that level you would have to say that the prospects of Torres Small are improved. . . 

Here are the campaign websites for Herrell and Torres Small.

JOHN SANCHEZ REEMERGES

Sanchez with Trump at White House

Former NM Lt. Governor John Sanchez reemerged in a big way last week, regaled by President Trump at the White House Rose Garden as Trump named the New Mexico native to his new Advisory Commission On Hispanic Prosperity. Sanchez cheerfully posed with Trump as he signed the executive order establishing the White House Hispanic Prosperity Initiative.

It was a resurrection of Sanchez in Trumpland as insiders recalled that early in the administration he made a play to become ambassador to Panama but was passed over. The appearance sparked speculation about what political plans--if any--the prominent ABQ Republican has for the future.

Sanchez, owner of a successful ABQ roofing company, withdrew from the political scene when at the end of 2018 he finished his 8 year stint as the state's number two. We blogged then that his political career could be over, but he contacted us to say don't count him out and reminding us in the aftermath of the 2018 Dem sweep that the political pendulum swings both way

Sanchez, 57, was the GOP gubernatorial nominee in 2002, losing to Big Bill. In 2012, he ran a campaign for US Senate but aborted it less than a year into the effort.

His 8 years under Gov. Susana Martinez, starting with her 2010 election, were not the happiest. She gave him the cold shoulder and shut him out of major policy decisions. When he announced for Senate she actually put out a statement saying his responsibilities would be limited because of his candidacy. Brrrr... But Sanchez plodded ahead, competently fulfilling his duty of presiding over the state Senate and making friends across the state.

The GOP bench is starving for talent as the party has been wiped out from major offices. That is not an alluring scenario for any prospective hopeful, even the well-known Sanchez. But he can watch and wait as Gov. Lujan Grisham plays her hand and if she falters it might be the signal to get off the bench. Meanwhile, getting invited to the Rose Garden is a reminder for the Sanchez fans that while Gov. Martinez--who opposed Trump and minimized Sanchez--has ignominously faded into history, Sanchez has managed to stay around. And in politics that's half the battle.

Video of Trump introducing Sanchez and Sanchez's Rose Garden remarks here. White House transcript here and below:

PRESIDENT: I will be naming a leader of incredible vision, former Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico John Sanchez. And I know he’s here. John, I’d love to have you come up and say a few words, please.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SANCHEZ: Well, thank you, Mr. President. What an honor it is to be here with you and everybody else here in our nation’s capital.

Let me say, from a young boy who grew up in absolute poverty, the youngest of eight kids with a single mother, I understand what it is for the challenges facing all families, but especially Hispanic families in this country. But because of her leadership through personal responsibility — stay in school, get a good education — we have lived the American Dream.

As a young boy, I used to go and search for cardboard boxes out of the trash cans of grocery stores because we didn’t have the soles, Mr. President, on our shoes. We would hope and pray that it wouldn’t rain so the cardboard wouldn’t melt on our way to school. Here now, almost 50 years later, I stand next to the most powerful man in the world, in the most powerful city in the world, at the White House, with all of you fine folks.

Today, I have lived the American Dream. I look at my brand-new black shoes. That’s the American Dream. (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT: Nice shoes.

LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR SANCHEZ: Mr. President, your leadership, when it comes to job creation; education reform; choice, when it comes to education, will allow this country to fulfill its American Dream. I’m honored to be here with you, Mr. President. Your great leadership, making America great — we stand with you. We’ll keep America great under your leadership. God bless you. Thank you very much. (Applause.)

THE PRESIDENT: Thank you, John. Great job, John. Thank you very much. Great honor.

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Susana & Heather
The furious efforts to put John Sanchez in his place can be looked at two ways. The Lt. Governor will be diminished by the onslaught from GOP establishment figures and his candidacy will fizzle long before it takes hold, or Sanchez is a major threat whose chances of beating Heather Wilson for the GOP Senate nomination are pretty darned good.

We're going with the second theory, in part because Governor Martinez wasted no time in giving Wilson a quasi-endorsement by showing up at an Economic Forum breakfast Wednesday and making a point of being seen with her. Heather then posted it on her Facebook page.

That's on top of Susana dissing John right after he got in the race by saying she would "limit his responsibilities" as Lt. Governor.

You don't fire your big gun this early without reason. Wilson and Martinez want to nip the Sanchez candidacy in the bud, but it is not going to happen--no matter how many members of the Legislature, the mainstream media and various others try.

And that's not an opinion.

Go outside of the New Mexico for a moment and take a look at what the editor of Redstate.org, one of the most widely followed conservative web sites in the USA has to say:

The number one goal of conservatives in 2012, other than defeating Barack Obama, has got to be defeating Heather Wilson in New Mexico. She’d be Mike Castle terrible in the United States Senate. Luckily, we have a strong, viable challenger to her in the primary named John Sanchez. We should rally early for Sanchez to stop Wilson.

The number one goal? That kind of national play will help Sanchez financially and it will also give conservatives here plenty of cover to stay off Wilson.

Having Martinez boost Heather early might help her stop momentum towards Sanchez, but on the other hand, Martinez might have been more valuable down the road. Now that it is known that Heather is the Guv's favorite, she will not factor as much into the year long campaign that lies ahead.

Wilson also relied on another GOP heavyweight when she last ran for the Senate nod in 2008. Then-Senator Pete Domenici, who had more stroke in the party than Martinez or any other R in recent history, gave a late endorsement of Heather, but it still wasn't enough to stop the conservative grassroots from giving the victory to Steve Pearce.

We do like the fact that for Wilson this is do or die. It is her last bite out of the political apple and we should see the best of her. You can't really say she's ever run a bad campaign--even when she lost. And no one is going to argue that she wouldn't make a solid US Senator. But this near frantic early push by the front-runner against Sanchez shows she knows what we know--this may be her most dangerous opponent yet. She just can't write it on a blog.

WHERE'S THE BASE?

We agree with pollster Brian Sanderoff and UNM poly sci professor Lonna Atkeson that Lt. Gov. and GOP US Senate candidate John Sanchez lacks the strong regional base that Steve Pearce had when he beat Heather for the Senate nomination in 2008. However, it needs to be noted that in winning the 2010 GOP nomination for lieutenant governor Sanchez, an ABQ native, trailed ABQ State Senator Kent Cravens in a three way race by less than three percentage points in Bernalillo Countyy.

Sanchez has the possibility to do something Pearce did not and that's run competitively with Heather in the ABQ metro--her critical home base. That in turn means he will not have to carve out as much strength in the south as Pearce. Remember, Heather landslided Pearce in the metro and nearly overcame his 3 to 1 win down south. Will it be as easy for her to landslide Sanchez when both are from here? If Sanchez could run well here, he would not need as strong a southern showing as Pearce.

Of course, all of that is contingent on Sanchez being viewed as a competent and qualified Senate contender, something that has yet to be established statewide and which Wilson will work mightily to prevent.

REBUTTING SUSANA

Okay, since they've been unloading on Sanchez with both barrels, here's another view from reader Kathryn Carroll:

Governor Martinez said:

"To prevent this race from becoming a distraction, Lieutenant Governor Sanchez will not be given responsibilities in my administration beyond the select few provided for in the state constitution...."

....And her eighteen-month campaign seeking the Republican nomination and general election for governor were NOT a distraction to the important work of the Dona Ana County district attorney's office? She announced her candidacy in August, 2009, campaigned until the November, 2010 election, and still did not vacate the office of district attorney until hours before she was inaugurated as governor, insuring that Richardson would not be able to name her replacement. Isn't this the pot calling the kettle black? Or perhaps, "what's good for me isn't necessarily good for you, Mr. Sanchez" or a little of both, sprinkled with a heavy dose of hypocrisy?

Point well made, Kathryn.

And ABQ Republican US House hopeful and GOP Cit Councilor Dan Lewis draws some reader fire for wanting to put before voters whether the controversial red light cameras in the city should stay or go:

He now says he wants the public to vote on the controversial cameras at the Oct. 4 city election. Someone should point out to Mr. Lewis that we operate in a representational democracy. We elected him to do the dirt work of running our city. His idea barely works at the this level, imagine if he floats this plan at the federal level. If he can't or won't make the decisions we elected him to, then why run for office?

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Where do Martin Heinrich, Hector Balderas, Heather Wilson, John Sanchez, Steve Pearce, Ben Ray Lujan, Dan Lewis, Janice Arnold-Jones, Jon Barela and Eric Griego stand on Medicare reform? Those are all candidates or possible candidates for the US congress in NM. And if the current trend holds, none of them are going to get much of a look from voters before they answer the question. The latest:

They're not buying it. Most Americans say they don't believe Medicare has to be cut to balance the federal budget, and ditto for Social Security, a new poll shows.The Associated Press-GfK poll suggests that arguments for overhauling the massive benefit programs to pare government debt have failed to sway the public. The debate is unlikely to be resolved before next year's elections for president and Congress.

Both sides are vulnerable but the R's more so. They lost a special US House election Tuesday night in New York. Analysts credited the defeat to the R Medicare reforms. Dems have been assailed for supporting Obama's Medicare cuts to finance his national health plan and R's are getting catcalls for the radical Ryan Medicare reform plan being advanced in Washington.

New Mexicans have been hurt by high unemployment, slow business and falling home prices. Their economic insecurity has made them nervous about what they will have at the end of the trail. That is not an atmosphere in which advocating for cuts to Social Security and Medicare to resolve the national debt will be greeted as political valor.

To paraphrase a 2010 senior citizen campaign commercial: "Mr. Candidate, Don't mess with my Social Security!"

SUSANA DISSES JOHN

Susana had the Alligators rubbing their bellies in delight when she sternly warned that Lt. Governor John Sanchez will be given no more responsibilities in her administration now that he has announced his candidacy for the GOP US Senate nomination. It's a rib-tickler because Susan has given John squat to do since the two took office in January. And during the transition Martinez and company sent Sanchez on a road trip to meet with everyday citizens but it was seen by analysts (and Sanchez friends) as an effort to keep him away from the decision-making in Santa Fe.

Susana said she does not plan to endorse a candidate in the GOP Senate race "at this time." That leaves her room to come down on the side of Sanchez foe Heather Wilson. She sure isn't going to endorse John.

Sanchez's embryonic candidacy is taking on the mood of an insurgency with ABQ State Sen. Kent Cravens, who Sanchez beat for the GOP Lt. Gov. nomination last year, stomping on the sour grapes and complaining that Sanchez won't be able to do his job as Light Guv now that he's running for Senate. But a Light Guv has very few specified duties except presiding over the part-time state Senate when it's in session. His other job is to check every morning for the heartbeat of the Governor and if there is none remove the body and take over.

If the GOP establishment epitomized by Cravens and Senator Harden, who called on Sanchez to resign, continues to dump on him it could very well backfire and give his candidacy additional cachet. Looking like you are not part of the club isn't a bad way to go in this climate.

If Martinez does try a strategic endorsement of Heather later in the campaign, it would help her most in the South where Heather is weakest. Sanchez would not get as much from an endorsement--even if there was a chance he would get it. Like Martinez, he's an independent R going his own way and building his own base. That's enough to have any Governor tear their hair out and say stuff like this:

"To prevent this race from becoming a distraction, Lieutenant Governor Sanchez will not be given responsibilities in my administration beyond the select few provided for in the state constitution...."

Sanchez running for US Senate so soon after being elected Light Guv is a nonevent to the non political classes. How he campaigns and what he says to a conservative dominated party that wants change is what will decide his fate.

HEATHER ATTACKS

One thing about Wilson, she does not deal in denial. The candidacy of Sanchez is a major threat and her campaign wasted little time landing this haymaker:

“We welcome Lt. Governor Sanchez into the race and look forward to contrasting Heather Wilson’s conservative record with his invented one. On issue after issue John Sanchez is not who he says he is, and Republican voters will be quick to figure that out.”

There's that "C" word again that has given Wilson, so often described as a moderate, so many sleepless nights. Can she at this late date capture the hearts of conservatives? Probably not. But proving that Sanchez is a fraudulent conservative gives them nowhere to jump. That effort has begun.

CAMERAS GET STOP SIGN

Those love 'em or hate 'em red light cameras were a clever idea for former Mayor Marty Chavez. In their first couple of years they raised millions in revenue, avoiding the need to raise taxes. But the novelty soon wore off. Drivers figured out quickly not to run the red and many of those that did simply failed to pay their fines. It wasn't a criminal violation so they were not rounded up.

Mayor Berry has been hesitant to throw the program out, but the city council may have done it for him. They failed to approve a contract extension for the company that runs the cameras and they are now dark. Will the mayor and council try to resurrect the cameras?

There's a lesson here for the struggling city of Rio Rancho which is launching its own red light camera program. The money is good for a year or two, but then what? The cameras are now losing money in ABQ.

GOP City Councilor Dan Lewis, also a candidate for the ABQ US House seat, has been leading the charge to rid the city of the cameras. His populist radar could be on the money on this one, but Lewis has put a wrinkle in his opposition that is drawing notice.

He now says he wants the public to vote on the controversial cameras at the Oct. 4 city election. But analysts say that could inadvertently help former GOP City Councilor Greg Payne who is trying to oust fellow Republican Trudy Jones from her ABQ NE Heights seat. If Payne were successful, the automatic five vote Republican majority Mayor Berry has enjoyed on the council could be jeopardized by swing vote Payne. The theory is that a more anti-incumbent electorate could be enticed to the polls if the red-light camera issue is on the ballot thus endangering Jones.

If Dan Lewis ever doubted that for every action there is a reaction, he's learning fast.

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Randy Baker

Lt. Gov. Sanchez

Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez is no stranger to the treacherous waters of La Politica and he may soon be wading in them again.

Even though we are only days from the conclusion of Campaign '12, the positioning and power playing for '14 is well underway.

For Sanchez, our Alligators report that could mean facing a serious challenge for the 2014 GOP lieutenant governor nomination--if he indeed decides to go for a second term and forgo a run at the '14 Republican US Senate nomination.

The name already surfacing as a possible challenger to Sanchez is Randy Baker, vice-president and chief operating officer at DRB Electric, the ABQ based company owned by his wife Denise Baker.

It's no secret that Sanchez has been frozen out of the Martinez administration. Even though they were paired as the 2012 GOP ticket, the relationship was frosty from the beginning. The Guv's political team made it clear that that they did not want him. But he won the primary handily and ascended to the state's #2 spot.

The Martinez-Sanchez victory was the first by an all Hispanic gubernatorial ticket.

Now Sanchez could face a well-funded challenge from Baker who has said nothing officially but has been talking up a possible candidacy, say our GOP Gators.

The Bakers are major friends of Martinez. Susana named Randy Baker to the Constructions Industries Commission where he became chairman. Denise Baker was appointed chair of the New Mexico Finance Authority by Martinez but had to resign in July when she was  busted for DWI. Subsequently, the agency imploded in a major scandal.

Yes, it is somewhat astonishing that we are hearing chatter of a coup attempt against Sanchez so soon after the Governor's major political setbacks in November. She was unsuccessful in changing the composition of the Legislature, even though the PAC operated by her team spent millions. And GOP unrest is growing in the wake of those results, with calls for Martinez to stop challenging fellow Republicans and to rein in her aggressive political consultant Jay McCleskey.

Still, Martinez is nothing if not relentless and her prosecutorial political personality is a hallmark of her first two years. Sanchez will have to watch his back.

SURVIVING SUSANA

It's not as if Sanchez isn't aware of the back room treachery that is apparently under way. He just announced more mobile office hours for the office of Lt. Governor, keeping his profile up and asserting his independence from the administration that has kept its doors closed to him.

The news:

Lieutenant Governor John Sanchez is pleased to announce a series of “Mobile Office Day” hours beginning next week, with stops in Santa Rosa, Tucumcari, Clovis, Portales, Hobbs, Carlsbad, Artesia, and Roswell. At each stop, Lieutenant Governor Sanchez will be available to meet with constituents and provide assistance with issues related to state government.

Sanchez made a brief run for the 2012 GOP US Senate nomination, but quickly folded his tent in the face of a strong challenge by Heather Wilson.

That campaign hurt Sanchez with the political community because he seemed unfocused and disorganized, but the disarray did not seem to penetrate public consciousness, leaving Sanchez
a possible contender for another try. Could he decide he's had enough of being Light Guv and make another Senate dash by seeking the '14 GOP nomination for the right to take on Dem US Senator Tom Udall?

Sanchez, who owns a large ABQ roofing business, was the 2002 GOP nominee for Governor and friends of his say he has not given up that dream. That makes the run for Senate possible but questionable.

As for any Light Guv challenge from Baker, a Republican friendly to Sanchez says,

John is not intimidated. He has more than a decade in this game and knows how it is played. He is out in the state doing what you must do to keep your head above water."

That water Sanchez is keeping his head above is filled with sharks...and Alligators.

YATES VS. McCLESKEY

Harvey Yates

One of the more worrisome political splits facing Governor Martinez is the one between former New Mexico GOP Chairman Harvey Yates, Jr. and her chief political adviser Jay McCleskey. It is being played out in the pages of the state's newspapers and it seems likely that it's only the beginning of the public battles McCleskey faces.

Usually political consultants keep a low profile, but McCleskey is not your usual political adviser. His nickname "Shadow Governor" is well-deserved. But he is playing with political fire by deciding not to ignore Yates' recent criticism and bashing him back. In response to that critical op-ed from Yates, McCleskey retorts:

The ads were entirely factual, issue-based, and an accurate representation of the record, which is why the voters agreed and rejected (Roswell Dem State Senator) Tim Jennings. Unfortunately, Harvey Yates is using this campaign as an opportunity to lash out, because he is bitter about his lack of influence with the Martinez administration.”

"A lack of influence" with Susana? Is that Jay rubbing Yates' face in the dirt and letting it be known that he is the one with the influence? Sure sounds that way. And this after Yates in 2010 was widely accused of playing up Susana at the expense of her GOP primary challenger and former NM GOP Chairman Allen Weh. Those days seem so far away now, don't they?

McCleskey made a small fortune this cycle--as much as $500,000--according to our political experts--and maybe he's feeling his oats, but half a million is tip money for Yates. His family's SE NM oil company is on the sale block for billions. Still, Martinez is giving her political consultant free reign to take on whoever he wants. But it will be she who ultimately must deal with the strained relationships and the open warfare in the state GOP that is sure to follow.

In fact, it's already begun. We broke the news last week that Lincoln County GOP Chairman John Billingsley is openly running for state chairman as the anti-McCleskey candidate.

SHUFFLING THE DECK

A reader writes of the personnel shuffling underway in Governor Martinez's office:

Joe: Regarding your Wednesday November 21st blog titled "Fourth Floor Shuffle" watch for Dona Ana County District Attorney Amy Orlando to get a state appointment. Amy is Susana's friend who lost her re-election bid to Democrat Mark D'Antonio this month....

Orlando was chief deputy district attorney for Martinez who was Dona Ana district attorney before becoming Governor. Now that Orlando has lost and is in need of a job, Susana giving her one would be about as surprising as red chile on your tamale. (You do use red, don't you?).

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Lt. Gov. Sanchez

Hey, John Sanchez. Don't mess with the Machine! That seems to be the none too subtle message the lieutenant governor  is getting as he grapples with headlines accusing him of possibly unethical behavior. Here's the gist:

. . . Sanchez is under fire for using more than $40,000 in campaign funds during the 2014 election to pay himself rent for an office in an Albuquerque warehouse that he owns. The building. . . is also used by Sanchez’s Right Way Roofing company. Beginning in January 2013, Sanchez used the office as headquarters for his campaign as he ran unopposed for re-election in the 2014 Republican primary and in the general election on a ticket with Gov. Martinez, who won. . . over Democrat Gary King. “If I was trying to hide something, I wouldn’t have reported it,” Sanchez said. . . Democrats as well as a group that has pushed campaign reforms in the state blasted Sanchez.

The rent story was dug up from Sanchez's recent campaign finance report. You can't prove that it was the Governor's political Machine that was behind this one, but it was eerily similar to an attack leveled by Martinez against Dem foe King in the '14 Guv race. Here's the TV ad from then:

Politician Gary King. Insider deals. While in the statehouse, Gary King wrote legislation for the state to lease an office building in Moriarty. But King never mentioned who owned that building he was asking the state to lease — Gary King. He used his elected position to push a state contract to himself. Gary King pocketed $192,000 from taxpayers. Politician Gary King: insider deals for him, a bad deal for us.

The context of all this is simple: Sanchez is seeking the '18 GOP gubernatorial nomination. ABQ Mayor Richard Berry is expected to seek the same nomination. Berry is backed by Martinez political consultant and Machine leader Jay McCleskey. Sanchez is their enemy.

But why now? Wouldn't the Sanchez rent story be more effective closer to that still far off Guv campaign? Probably. But as readers of this space know, Sanchez has been conducting an "Operation Separation" when it comes to fellow Republican and Governor Martinez.

He has twice taken to Facebook in recent weeks. First, on March 21 he questioned the Governor-appointed UNM Regents on how they revamped the governing structure of the UNM Health Sciences Center.  Second, on April 1 he veered further to the right on abortion than Martinez, questioning UNM's role in a fetal tissue controversy. This, in part, because he does not want to be strangled by Martinez's possible unpopularity as happened to Diane Denish, Light Guv under Dem Guv Richardson, who was defeated by Martinez in 2010. And Sanchez also wants to keep social conservatives disgruntled with Martinez and Berry under his roof. They are important in a GOP nominating contest.

NAUGHTY JOHN

Naughty John appears to have gotten the Guv's goat so it was payback time now. Not later. And never mind that the story might be better used down the road. That's how the Machine rolls.

As for the political impact of the report, Sanchez handled it well in his on camera interview and it will strike some as a campaign process story. But it did have some sting and reminded you of how the Machine has poisoned so many Hispanic Dems over the years over ethical issues. Berry could move to lump Sanchez in with that crowd as he faces an uphill battle to take the Guv nomination away from Sanchez. Sanchez is not naive and blamed the rent report, if vaguely, on his "political opponents."

Sanchez has tried to soften his separation operation by dumping his breaks with the Fourth and Fifth Floors on Friday afternoons on Facebook. Now he's finding out that you can't negotiate with machines. You either fight or die.

INTEL'S REPRIEVE

It's not certain how much of a reprieve it will be, but for now Intel says--contrary to speculation--it will not close its giant computer chip plant in Rio Rancho. But that doesn't mean it will ever return to being the once robust operation it was. The new speculation has Intel laying off employees there again this week--along with thousands of others worldwide--but keeping the plant open on a caretaker basis. If that's the case the current 1,900 workforce could shrink into the hundreds over the next few years.

The slow and agonizing downsizing of one of the state's major employers has given rise to discussion about the hundreds of millions in ongoing tax breaks and incentives Intel received for locating here over 30 years ago.

Tom Cafcas of Good Jobs First (an outfit that tracks the impact of tax subsides) says companies are increasingly focusing on education and infrastructure, and if New Mexico wants a takeaway from Intel, it is to spend money not on tax incentives, but on investments in public amenities.

“Focus on basic investments in workforce training or transportation assets or education … in this case. . .Those are the things driving where companies locate,” he said. “This is an important moment to step back and notice.”

Once again it appears an expert is anyone from out of town. Santa Fe, operating under an umbrella of austerity for the entirety of this decade, isn't listening.

It makes you wonder what Gov. Martinez and the traveling Amigos--a high-roller group that each year travels to different cities to promote business in the state--is telling New Yorkers and South Carolinians--this year's destinations. Maybe they're trying to sell them a plant in Rio Rancho.

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It’s all in the family as former NM House Speaker Raymond Sanchez is called on by Governor Richardson to serve as his lobbyist on the sex offender bill making it thru the Legislature’s Special Session. That’s according to longtime supporters of Raymond’s in contact with “New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan.”

Sanchez, the longest serving House Speaker in NM history, will be spending most of his time in the State Senate. Who will he be lobbying? None other than his own brother State Senator Michael Sanchez of Valencia County, Chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee and a criminal defense attorney. In past years that committee has been the political graveyard for sex offender legislation similar to that being pursued by Big Bill. While it easily passed the House this week, the trial lawyers and civil liberties groups have a stronger lobby in the Senate, thus Bill’s employment of Raymond as his lobbyist. No word on whether or how much the former speaker is being paid for his lobbying.

Sanchez was elected to a 13 year stretch as Speaker in 1987. It ended when John Sanchez ousted Raymond from his ABQ north valley seat in 2000 in the the most expensive House race in state history. John Sanchez became the GOP gubernatorial nominee against Richardson in 2002. Interestingly, Raymond Sanchez lost his seat to John Sanchez in part because John accused Raymond of being soft on child porn laws. Raymond was outraged and even recevied a letter of support on the issue from Republican Senator R.L. Stockard of Farmington. Stockard was punished with the loss of his seat when then GOP Chairman John Dendahl let loose on him for supporting Raymond. Earlier this year Big Bill hired Stockard for a short-lived stint as Homeland Security Director.

Raymond is a trial lawyer. The brothers Sanchez came from humble beginnings in Belen to walk the corridors of power in Santa Fe.

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Some interesting tidbits about where support came from for the  Dem Guv finishers at last Saturday's preprimary convention.

Howie Morales finished first and had nearly 90 percent wins in the counties of Eddy, Otero and Socorro. A 51% win by second place preprimary finisher Alan Webber in San Miguel County was a surprise. Morales carried Dona Ana County with 41 percent. Webber narrowly won Bernalillo County over Sen. Linda Lopez who finished fourth at the convention. Webber also took his home county of Santa Fe. Gary King--who finished last at the preprimary--did win one county--Mora. Lawrence Rael's wins included Sandoval, Sierra, and Cibola counties. Rael finished third at the convention. Lopez, who finished fourth, won Quay, Luna, Chavez and Rio Arriba counties.

(An earlier version we posted of the county preprimary results had some incorrect info).

The two Guv hopefuls who did not get at least 20% of the preprimary vote will now submit petition signatures to get onto the June 3 primary ballot. It's a subject we explored on the blog this week and reader Catherine Sherwood writes:

Concerning the additional signatures that Gary King and Linda Lopez need to get on the ballot. The secretary of state's manual says that the petition signatures submitted the first time around count towards the final tally needed 10 days after the pre-primary convention. (Page 15, paragraph 4) If Gary had 4,372 good signatures on the first filing date, he is good to go. If Linda had 3,000 good signatures on the first filing date, she just needs 1,372 more...

King submitted some 10,000 signatures when first filing and now those will be applied to the new total required. Lopez did not submit enough signatures prior to the convention to meet the new requirement. She says she is now collecting them. . .

TOO MANY

Reader Preciliano Martin writes from Raton that he is not looking forward to choosing among five Dem candidates:

I am not in favor of 5 Democrats running in the primary. It's entirely too much intraparty conflict  generated with this many candidates. Historically, Democrats have been unable to come together in time for the general election after having primaries with large number of candidates. That is one reason I try to get elected as a preprimary delegate--to trim the number of candidates to where Democrats have a chance of coming back together before the November election.

Democratic Party efforts ought to be on defeating Susana Martinez. I do not see value in a primary with so many candidates, especially when a candidate was unable to garner sufficient delegate votes at the Democratic preprimary to make the June ballot.. I would hope that King and Lopez would reconsider this effort at getting on the primary ballot.

ABOUT JOHN SANCHEZ

On the Republican side, a reader writes of our statement that Lt. Governor John Sanchez has in the past have trouble running campaigns:

I read with interest your Wednesday blog, regarding Governor Martinez moving up to either the VP or a cabinet position if the GOP re-gains the White House in 2016. Your comments about Lt. Governor John Sanchez were also interesting, mostly accurate as usual, with one exception. Your assessment that he has “had trouble running campaigns” is not the case.

In 1998, he defeated a former mayor to take a seat on the Los Ranchos Village Council. In 2000, he beat the biggest Democrat in New Mexico, House Speaker Raymond Sanchez in House District 15. In 2002, he won the GOP nomination for Governor. Bill Richardson gave Sanchez his only loss, by outspending him 3 to 1. In 2010, he had a 10 point victory over 2 popular Republican legislators to win the nomination for Lt. Governor.

Remember, that in 2012 John Sanchez never filed for the U.S. Senate race, but instead, saved the GOP a huge mess by endorsing Heather Wilson for the nomination. He has raised over $4 million as a candidate, and he may be the most popular Republican across the state. As a long time supporter and observer of John Sanchez, I believe that he is our best hope of holding the Governor’s office in the future.

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Some may view it as a step down and perhaps a lost opportunity but John Sanchez, the 2002 GOP nominee for governor, thinks a run for the 2010 GOP nod for lieutenant governor is just the right fit. He tossed his hat into the ring for the #2 spot on the GOP ticket Thursday, making it a four way race with ABQ State Senator Kent Cravens, former Clayton area state Rep. Brian Moore and Santa Fe radiologist J.R. Damron. (ABQ nurse Bea Sheridan earlier announced a run, but has since dropped it, say party insiders.)

But it was another guv run, the prospect of which was first raised here, that the state's political community was most anxious about when it came to Sanchez, a successful roofing contractor who created a splash in 2000 when he upset NM House Speaker Raymond Sanchez for his ABQ North Valley legislative seat. John Sanchez served just one term before securing the 2002 GOP guv nomination. He faced off with an unbeatable Bill Richardson and third party candidate David Bacon. Sanchez scored 39 percent to Bill's 55 percent. Bacon came in with 5 percent.

Sanchez was a political greenhorn then, but he gained valuable campaign experience and name ID from the 2002 fray. He says his decision to seek the second banana spot is motivated largely by a desire to avoid more divisiveness in the GOP than already exists. There are currently four candidates seeking the GOP Guv nod. From our phone conversation with Sanchez:

Joe, this is all about winning. We have a culture of corruption and state spending out of control. We thought it would be in the best interest of the party and the state that I seek the lieutenant governor nomination...My getting in the governor's race would make it even more divisive.

Still, it is Sanchez's private enterprise success--apparently done with not much in the way of government contracts--that give him Guv appeal as the state faces the prospect of rebuilding its jobs base after a brutal recession. But running for Guv would subject Sanchez and his business interests to an intense negative campaign by the Dems. The heat is not as hot when seeking the light guv nod.

Sanchez, who will turn 47 next month, will be formidable. He told us he is prepared to self-finance his light guv effort, but quickly added that he also has a list of 3,000 past supporters to call on. Sen. Cravens and Moore are also high quality contenders so this is going to be a fun race to monitor.

For the Dems, they can be seen as dodging a bullet because Sanchez decided to shoot low.

Are there any more potential surprises before they wave the flag to formally start this 2010 Guv race? It doesn't seem likely on the Dem side as Diane Denish is putting all the pieces together, but there is still some rumbling going on in the R camp about yet another possible late entry. We'll keep you posted.

STILL AROUND

Gary Johnson, the governor John Sanchez was hoping to succeed in 2002, is back in the 2009 headlines. The Politico wonders if Johnson will emerge as a 2012 libertarian type presidential candidate.

NEW US ATTORNEY
Greg Fouratt
It was a real eyebrow raiser of a speech from US Attorney Greg Fouratt Thursday at the ABQ Economic Forum. Fouratt indicated that he knew who President Obama was going to name to replace him, that he and New Mexicans in general would be pleased with the choice and that the new US Attorney would be on the job in February or March, assuming US Senate confirmation by then.

All this raised the question of how Fouratt, 44, apparently knows who will be his replacement. That announcement is traditionally reserved for the senior senator of the president's party. In this case, that would be Sen. Jeff Bingaman Did Jeff let the cat out of the bag, or is Fouratt speaking out of school?

Fouratt has been at the center of a political storm. The Dems have feared replacing him because of the ongoing federal investigations he has launched into pay to play corruption. Appointing a US Attorney in the middle of these probes is seen as politically sensitive, but now that the White House is ready to move--insiders tell me they have five names on a short list to pick from---are they seeking approval from Fouratt to avoid criticism from him? As weird as that may seem, if Fouratt does indeed already know who will be the next US Attorney, it is not an illogical assumption.

Fouratt is a Republican and one assumes that his replacement will be a Democrat. Whatever the case, Senator Bingaman may want to check his business cards to see that they still say that he's the Senior Senator. After Mr. Fouratt's speech, filled with exclusive info, one wonders who is in charge of announcing what when it comes to the federal establishment around here.

ALLIGATOR INSIGHT

From a Senior Alligator at the Fouratt speech at the Economic Forum:

(ABQ Mayor) RJ Berry was there and so was (Chief Administrative Officer) David Campbell. Berry sauntered in alone, comfortable and sat in the back of the room. No entourage, no body guard. It is a big change.

That unpretentiousness may turn out to be one of the mayor's best assets, especially in sour economic times. But that doesn't mean Berry is without security all together. From yet another Alligator:

Hey Joe, Don't be mislead by your senior alligator re: no security detail for the mayor. Just because they don't walk in with him doesn't mean they aren't lurking in the bushes outside...

John Sanchez

Senator Tom Udall told the NM Legislature Tuesday that "in all my years of public service, I have never been so worried about our democracy." He was referencing the mess in DC, but he will soon get a personal sampling of direct democracy when, as expected, he launches his bid for a third Senate term in 2020.

In the turbulent Trump era there is little certainty about politics but one thing is sure--former Lt. Governor John Sanchez will not seek the GOP nomination to take on Democrat Udall next year.

But Sanchez told me over a coffee break recently at the Starbucks near the ABQ Indian Pueblo Cultural Center that doesn't mean his political career is over. Sanchez chastised those (including this blogger) for promoting his early obituary from state politics, declaring:

I am not running for the Senate in 2020 but I am going to remain active in politics and policy.

Sanchez, 56, would not be well-positioned for a statewide race so soon after the completion of the Martinez years which ended with her approval ratings in the cellar. Despite having a mind of his own and a strained relationship with Martinez, he would surely be saddled with her sour legacy, if he were to get back into the political fray so soon.

However, Sanchez, who built and now presides over a highly successful ABQ roofing business and who previously made a brief run for a GOP Senate nomination, says in politics time acts likes a salve over old wounds. In the future, he argues, Governor Martinez will probably be credited with running a sound fiscal policy from which the state ultimately benefited. Of course, if that panned out it would benefit Sanchez, if he were to seek higher office--say the governorship in four or eight years.

That would seem about the only office that would really appeal to the state's former #2. During his eight years he won kudos for his proficiency in presiding over the state senate and for his ability to build bipartisan bridges and avoid the worst instincts of Martinez.

There will be no pause button for Campaign 2010. Freshly minted Democratic Guv nominee Diane Denish has come with paid TV sharply questioning the record and performance of GOP Guv nominee and Dona Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez. A spot that hit Thursday morning "challenges Martinez to explain her broken pledge on felony DWI plea bargains and her horrible murder conviction rate," according to the Denish campaign. You can see the ad here. The campaign came with this back-up info for the ad.

The 30 second spot concludes: "Susana Martinez--broken promises---criminals back on the street. And she wants to be Governor?"

Martinez came with this detailed response to the Denish charges.


But the big issue is paid TV ads which, if done right, can be effective in defining your opponent, especially if she is as unknown as Martinez. And Democrats want to define Martinez early. Her favorable rating right now is presumed to be sky high after her 51% landslide primary victory.