Acting Gov. Denish declares Hatch and Socorro disasters, and politicos push judge candidates

While Gov. Bill Richardson is out of state doing the anti-Wal-Mart thing, there’s a lot happening locally.

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, serving as acting governor, declared a disaster today in Hatch and Socorro, which have been pummeled (and in the case of Hatch, devastated) by recent rains.

According to the Albuquerque Journal, the declaration frees up $750,000 in flood-relief funds for the communities. The funds can only be used to repair public infrastructure.

Denish will fly over both towns today.

“The increased rain this monsoon season has been both a blessing and curse for New Mexico, helping dent our drought, but also endangering the lives and property of thousands of New Mexicans,” Denish said in a new release, according to the Journal.

Also, Democrats in Las Cruces are making last-minute pushes to convince the governor to pick their choice for the new district judgeship.

Richardson gets to choose between Democrats Fernando Macias and Bernadette Sedillo.

Apparently, some Sedillo supporters have a problem with Macias’ wife Claudia more than with Fernando himself. Claudia Macias once ran the governor’s office in Las Cruces, but left after clashing with some local powers-that-be that have the ear of the governor.

Supporters of both candidates have been making phone calls, talking to the other district judges and doing what politicians do to try to get their way.

Who will Richardson pick? The jury’s still out. And the governor is in Iowa. Sources tell me that doesn’t mean his office won’t make an announcement while he’s gone. It could come later today or tomorrow.

Then again, it might not.