“We’re not playing the same game at all.”
That’s how Republican Lawrence Joy summed it up when I asked him to help explain why there were no Republicans running for nine of 19 local seats up for grabs this year. Joy, who ran unsuccessfully two years ago against State Rep. Antonio Lujan, D-Las Cruces, is seeking the seat again.
Joy was explaining to me that Gov. Bill Richardson gives Democrats an advantage Republicans can’t currently match. He’s a national political figure with grand ambitions, and he brought with him when he returned to New Mexico a national fundraising machine.
Republicans essentially gave up an attempt to take the governor’s mansion months ago, but Richardson’s influence in state politics became even more clear Tuesday when candidates filed to run in the June 6 Primary. In Doña Ana County, Republicans failed to find candidates to run against three Democratic state representatives, four magistrate judges, one district judge and for a spot on the Public Education Commission.
The trend continued statewide. Republicans are running for only two of 14 district judgeships up for grabs around the state. In Bernalillo County, 11 Democrats won’t face Republican challengers in November.
Several Republican state representatives including Las Cruces’ William “Ed” Boykin and House Minority Leader Ted Hobbs of Albuquerque are stepping down. Many sources told me some are quitting because they are tired of being in the minority and watching helplessly as the governor chops more from their capital outlay requests than he does those of the Democrats.
The news wasn’t all bad for the Republicans, as Joy pointed out: The party found a candidate to run in every statewide race, something that hasn’t happened in awhile.
But Democratic candidates like Rep. Joni Gutierrez of Las Cruces, who are running unopposed, plan to spend their time and resources getting other Democrats elected, making things even harder on Republicans.
Let’s face it: Many voters like Richardson. Why? What many sources told me makes sense. He takes tough stances, gets things done, and has little patience for bureaucracy. In the eyes of many, he’s taking on the political machine and pushing it aside to better the state.
One problem, many Republicans and some Democrats say, is that he’s ignoring laws designed to protect taxpayer money. He sometimes spends without legislative approval, and who’s going to challenge him? There are usually a few politicians who squeak when the media runs a story about the newest scandal, but allegations have never been seriously investigated and the buzz quickly dies down.
Some also say Richardson is also moving too fast to ensure that projects he pushes are well planned. Take the commuter rail in Northern New Mexico, for example. It’s costing more than three times what the governor’s people promised legislators – almost $400 million – and most believe it was forced through the legislature without adequate study to ensure it’s a good idea.
Why not widen Interstate 25, or build a new highway connecting the east sides of Santa Fe and Albuquerque to ease traffic congestion? The trains are much neater and grab headlines – at least that’s what many Richardson detractors bitterly say.
But they’re in the minority. Most voters like what Richardson is doing, for better or for worse. The Democrats are reaping the rewards of his choice to come back to New Mexico and try to build a possible presidential run here.
You can view a list of all the candidates Doña Ana County voters will have to choose from this year on the Las Cruces Sun-News Web site.
***
But on to other things. On Tuesday Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Susana Chaparro abruptly announced her resignation, effective April 16. Most were shocked. Chaparro is a tough, determined woman who stuck it out for seven years in a court that has been plagued by scandal.
The judges have clashed with each other for years. Some called it differences in personality, and others said the overcrowded, tiny building that houses the five magistrates contributed to frustrations.
The New Mexico Supreme Court made an unprecedented move a few years ago by hiring former Magistrate Caleb Chandler to come to Las Cruces and supervise the five elected judges here. Any time the state’s high court has to step between elected officials and the voters to whom they are accountable, you know you have a problem.
But Chandler couldn’t clean up the court. Though he helped improve some records-keeping and other systems, Chandler could do nothing about the judges’ personality clashes.
All that said, Chaparro gave no reason for her departure and didn’t make herself available for comment.
I wish her the best.
***
And I met Las Crucen Scott Witt today, the Republican running for the seat Boykin is leaving. Though a political newcomer, he appeared confident and competent. He was well spoken and organized. His race with Democrat Jeff Steinborn should be interesting.
***
It’s been an eventful first week for my blog. I’ll have one more posting tomorrow before the weekend (I post Monday through Thursday). By the way, the Web site that was providing my e-mail subscription service quit working this week for everyone who used it, so I’ll be looking this weekend for another. In the meantime, just bookmark the page and come back!
Thanks for reading.