Three in running to replace Wertheim as Dem chair

John Wertheim, chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico, is about to give up that position.

He’ll be replaced when the party picks a new chair Saturday at its annual convention in Las Cruces. The meeting begins at 10 a.m. at Las Cruces High School. Registration begins at 8 a.m.

“I trust that whoever is elected as chairperson will continue to build our party from the ground up, highlight Democratic values, fight for the priorities of America’s working families and hold the Republicans accountable for their reckless policies,” Wertheim said in a news release.

In the running to replace him are Michael Olguin of Socorro, a former House majority leader, Brian Colon of Albuquerque, a lawyer, and Gideon Elliot of Santa Fe, who runs the liberal blog New Mexico Matters.

As Steve Terrell reported today, there’s been a lot of controversy about Olguin’s role as a lobbyist and a dispute over what Colon does.

Olguin represents a large payday-loan company as a lobbyist. Olguin, Terrell reports, claims Colon might also be a lobbyist, though Colon says it isn’t true.

Therein lies the nastiness.

Olguin also used to represent the company that runs many of the state’s prisons. Colon attacked a couple of weeks ago in the Santa Fe Reporter, saying Olguin’s clients “are fundamentally in opposition to the tenets of the Democratic Party of New Mexico and its platform.”

Olguin responded by sending a letter to delegates alleging that Colon has been “involved in lobbying activities” even though he’s not a registered lobbyist. He claims the law firm Colon works for represented Silver City on water issues during this year’s legislative session.

“I bring this to your attention not because I object to Mr. Colon pursuing a career as a lobbyist but he has raised the issue of my lobbying activities, which I have fully disclosed,” Olguin wrote. “This raises a serious ethical question and if indeed his law firm represented Silver City before the Legislature and did not file with the Secretary of State.”

Colon told Terrell that his firm was hired by the town to assist in a federal legal case, but said he didn’t lobby the Legislature.

Elliot told Terrell he thought it was “a sad day in New Mexico when we have candidates bickering over who has the most conflict of interest.”

Colon has the backing of three union groups that don’t normally take stands in inner-party battles. Saturday should be interesting.

Expect a lot of politicking

Expect a number of high-profile Democrats to spend the weekend politicking in Las Cruces, including Bill McCamley and Al Kissling, who are vying to take on U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce next year, Martin Heinrich, who plans to take on U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson next year, and potential 2010 gubernatorial candidates Diane Denish and Martin Chavez.

Expect a number of politicos who are candidates for something, but haven’t decided what yet, to be working the group just as hard, including State Rep. Joseph Cervantes and Geno Zamora.

Zamora is one to watch because he has been mentioned lately as a possible candidate to take on U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici next year.

But Zamora, who lost the primary for attorney general last year, said he isn’t currently a candidate for any office.

“I’ve been asked to consider both federal and statewide offices the next time around,” he said. “It’s really too early to include or exclude any of those offices.”

Zamora said he’s enjoying time with his family.

“At the right time in the right office, you’ll see me again,” he said.

Click here for more information on the activities in Las Cruces.

Since it’s in Las Cruces, I’ll be covering Saturday’s Democratic convention. Check back here over the weekend for the news from the Las Cruces convention and the GOP convention in Albuquerque.