There might be fireworks at today’s meeting of the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners.
Republican Treasurer Jim Schoonover will ask the commission to approve several fee increases – some quite substantial – and at least one new fee, all tacked on to various transactions the office has with the public. The increased revenue will go to a discretionary fund “for employee training and equipment purchases,” according to a copy of the proposed resolution the commission will vote on today. Schoonover also wants the revenue from a couple of existing fees that currently goes to the county’s general fund moved under his control.
The embattled Schoonover was accused last week of committing the felony crime of misusing public money by County Attorney John Caldwell. Last year, Schoonover purchased 1,700 pencils with almost $500 in taxpayer money. They look similar to Schoonover’s campaign materials and contain no information beyond his name and title.
Caldwell says that means they serve no public purpose, but do serve the purpose of making Schoonover’s name known. Had the pencils included an office phone number or other useful information, they probably would have been appropriate, he said.
Schoonover said he hands out the pencils to kids at the end of educational events and did nothing wrong. He repaid the money last week but said he is hiring an attorney and hopes to get it back.
He also said this is a political attack.
Commissioners are certain to ask tough questions today about Schoonover’s actions, since he’s before them to ask not only that they increase fees for the public, but that they give him more control over the money.
Schoonover has also requested more than $1 million in additional money for his office next fiscal year, most of it to purchase a new software system.
The meeting has the potential to degrade into a childish, political cat fight that used to be the norm. As recently as 16 months ago, commissioners often publicly accused each other of illegal activity, yelled and pulled various inappropriate stunts.
And let’s not forget the punch. During a closed session several years ago, then-Commissioner Art Terrazas was accused of punching then-Commissioner Gilbert Apodaca in front of their colleagues. Terrazas was charged with and later acquitted of battery.
Those days are fresh in the minds of many. When county Republican Party chair Sid Goddard showed up at the last commission meeting to berate Chairwoman Dolores Saldaña-Caviness for saying a special audit of the county was in the past, emotions commissioners have worked hard to keep out of public business resurfaced.
Many of the audit findings, some of which have been referred to prosecutors, were related to activity that took place during those often embarrassing commission days. Schoonover has joined Goddard in pushing for more action to be taken in relation to the audit.
Goddard has called for prosecutions, firings or discipline for those responsible.
Realistically, commissioners will want to question Schoonover about the pencil purchase before they vote to raise fees and give him more control. And he’s been accused of a felony crime, so it’s also realistic to assume that he is upset.
All involved need to be careful to not further inflame this situation. Members of the commission, which has a 3-2 Democrat majority, have spent more than a year working well together. Even on the issue of prayer at meetings, over which there was significant disagreement, they worked hard to discuss their differences publicly and reach a compromise.
They worked with Republican Sheriff Todd Garrison to raise taxes for law enforcement pay increases. They told Schoonover they would work with him to purchase the new software system he needs.
A baseless or purely emotional attack by anyone could undo that. Schoonover might say Caldwell has already crossed that line. Some might say Schoonover and Goddard have crossed it.
Regardless of whether some have crossed the line, others don’t need to rush to join them. Let’s be adults.
The meeting is in the commission chambers at the Doña Ana County Courthouse at 9 a.m.
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In case you missed it, Jay Leno took a shot last night at Gov. Bill Richardson’s recent comments on cockfighting. The governor said during a visit to Las Cruces last week that he has not made up his mind on whether cockfighting should be legal, saying there are strong arguments on both sides.
New Mexico is one of two states where the bloody pastime is still legal.
“This is unbelievable to me,” Leno said. “What is the good argument for cockfighting? … Does it keep roosters off the street? Is that it? Give roosters a chance to make it in the world?”
A man who wants to be president might want to take his cue from the overwhelming majority of states that want nothing to do with cockfighting.
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Thanks for reading. Tomorrow I’ll tell you how the county meeting went, and have more on politics in the Land of Enchantment.