Compromise proposal has Smith, Jennings as Senate finance co-chairs, Cisneros as vice chair

A group of state senators meet Wednesday to resolve a debate over who should be the next chair of the Finance Committee.

The proposal to have Democrats Tim Jennings of Roswell become chair and Carlos Cisneros of Questa vice chair is still being discussed, but so is a compromise that would have John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, become co-chair alongside Jennings.

That would be similar to the situation on the House Appropriations and Finance Committee, which is co-chaired by Henry Kiki Saavedra, D-Albuquerque, and Luciano “Lucky Varela, D-Santa Fe.

The Committee’s Committee meets Wednesday to vote on committee assignments.

Smith has been vice chair and basically run the Finance Committee for the last two years. The chairmanship is open because of the retirement of Joe Fidel, D-Grants.

Smith and Jennings are independent Democrats who have, at times, been at odds with Gov. Bill Richardson. Cisneros has been a close ally of the governor.

Smith said he doesn’t know what’s going to happen.

“I really don’t know how they’re planning on working that one out,” he said. “It’s just premature.”

Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano, D-Silver City, originally proposed moving Smith elsewhere and having Jennings and Cisneros, who both have more seniority, in charge of finance. But there was outcry from some who said Smith had paid his dues and had experience that should not leave the committee.

In addition, bumping Smith might mean he takes the chair of the Education Committee from Cynthia Nava, D-Las Cruces, who is probably the most knowledgeable about education in the Senate.

Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana and a member of the Committee’s Committee, said the compromise proposal is acceptable.

“If that’s what makes John Arthur and Tim happy, I say, go for it,” she said. “John Smith has done a good job, I think.”

Garcia can’t attend Wednesday’s meeting and has asked Sen. Phil Griego, D-San Jose, to fill in for her. She said she told him to vote for Jennings to be chair and Cisneros to be vice chair, but a compromise that has Smith and Jennings as co-chairs would change her mind.

Sen. Leonard “Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces and a member of the committee, declined comment.