Dendahl challenges Richardson to admit 2008 presidential run

Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl is challenging Gov. Bill Richardson to “stop lying about” his intent to run for president “and respect New Mexico voters by being up front with them.”

Richardson has said repeatedly he hasn’t decided whether he’ll run in 2008 and must first focus on being re-elected governor; meanwhile, he has continued to make appearances at all the places 2008 contenders show up.

“The voters aren’t stupid,” Dendahl said in a news release. “Their towns are struggling with flooding. Their schools are failing, and violent criminals are let out to run loose in our communities. Yet our governor is usually nowhere to be found unless you look out of state. What in the world is he up to out there?”

Dendahl claims Richardson has told “many people” he is running for president, but provided no proof. He claims Richardson makes excuses for being out of state, such as campaigning for other Democrats, and said “Richardson doesn’t seem to understand or care that his first responsibility is to the people of New Mexico.”

“It’s time the man came clean with New Mexico voters,” Dendahl said. “All they’re getting are the winks and nods one expects from a government rotted to its core.”

“Richardson has every right to have national aspirations,” Dendahl added. “But the neglect and the corruption are getting worse as his travel schedule increases. We would likely never see him if he were re-elected, except on television somewhere else.”

Dendahl gives Richardson a lot of credit for being responsible for the state’s woes (and, conversely it would seem, its successes, and there have been many of both during his tenure). Some of that is fair, and some is not. It’s true that Richardson was in Iowa instead of immediately visiting Hatch after the devastating flooding there. But it’s also true that the state proceeded with its disaster declaration despite his absence. Richardson asked President Bush to declare a federal disaster about as quickly as did leaders in Texas after flooding in El Paso.

That was the important stuff. He didn’t make a ceremonial visit to Hatch until a week after the flooding, but that was less significant than the money.

Let’s not forget that an Albuquerque Journal analysis several weeks ago found that former Republican Gov. Gary Johnson was out of the state more often than Richardson.

Dendahl is right that, if Richardson is re-elected, he may be in the state much less as he campaigns for president. I know of a few legislators who are excited about this prospect, thinking they’ll be able to accomplish more without him here.

I don’t like that attitude. The struggle of the executive and legislative branches is part of what ensures good government.

The executive is one of three branches of government. Though he tries, the reality is that Richardson can’t do a whole lot without legislators and, even when Richardson is in the state, it’s the cabinet secretaries and their employees who are doing most of the work of the executive branch. Governors make final decisions, but technology is such that Richardson’s treks out of state haven’t seemed to slow the business of state government much.

The voters know it. They don’t seem to be concerned that he is spending some of his time on a potential presidential run, judging by the governor’s newly announced 65 percent approval rating.

At the same time, Richardson does have a duty to travel the state, meet with constituents and learn about issues, because he does make final decisions on legislation and executive-branch issues. I’ve watched this governor wear out his staffers for years with his tireless work pace. He has a lot of energy. But much more will be required if he runs for president. Can he stay involved in the state’s affairs once the 2008 campaign season heats up?

I suspect we’ll find out.