GOP takes shot at senators who took Aragon’s money

The Republican Party of New Mexico decided to go for the low-hanging fruit today and take a shot at those Democrats who took campaign contributions from former Senate President Manny Aragon, who now stands indicted on felony charges in Albuquerque.

The party put out a news release today detailing almost $100,000 Aragon handed out to senators and other Democratic organizations during his tenure, which the GOP says shows “a pattern of serial generosity with fellow lawmakers that apparently helped ensure his hold on power in the New Mexico Senate.”

Three prominent names from Doña Ana County made the list: Sen. Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, received $4,750; Sen. Cynthia Nava, D-Las Cruces, received $3,750; and former Sen. Fernando Macias, D-Mesilla and now a district judge, received $4,750 when he was a senator.

Aragon and three others are charged in a massive public corruption scandal involving the construction of the $83-million Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse. They’re facing felony charges of conspiracy, money laundering and mail fraud, and are accused of misusing the state’s approval process of funds for the project to pocket $4.2 million.

Read the indictment by clicking here.

Some of the contributions were made even as Aragon was allegedly involved in the scheme, the GOP news release points out.

Other current senators who benefited from Aragon’s generosity were Sen. Shannon Robinson, D-Albuquerque, who received $5,750; Sen. John Pinto, D-Tohatchi, who received $5,000; Sen. Carlos Cisneros, D-Questa, who received $4,500; Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, who received $1,500; Sen. Bernadette Sanchez, D-Albuquerque, who received $1,000; and Sen. Lidio Rainaldi, D-Gallup, who received $1,000.

Aragon also gave $19,000 to the Democratic Party of New Mexico and gifts to other Senate Democrats and Democratic groups, the news release states. In all, his gifts totaled just over $99,000.

Gov. Bill Richardson, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and Attorney General Gary King have all donated to charity contributions they received from the defendants in the courthouse scandal. We’ll have to see whether the senators do the same but, like I said, this is low-hanging fruit for the GOP. As Senate president, it’s no surprise Aragon used money to help keep power.

Speaker of the House Ben Lujan does the same through the powerful Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee. So do Democratic and Republican politicos all over the nation. But it’s still fair to point out the contributions and raise questions. Aragon is accused of abusing the capital outlay process to steal money, and that required the votes of his former colleagues.

It’s a shame, because most of his former colleagues have integrity, but what Aragon is accused of doing drags down the entire group.