Susana Martinez
Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez released her third television ad today, a 30-second spot that explains her assertion that ending corruption helps create jobs.
Here’s the ad:
The ad is running statewide on broadcast and cable stations, according to a news release from the Martinez campaign.
Most of the ads coming from gubernatorial candidates so far haven’t included fact sheets. This one does, and the information was included in the news release. Since it’s not yet on Martinez’s Web site, I’m going to publish it here:
BACKGROUND:
STATEMENT: “But here, corrupt officials blew book money at a bar.”
“Roberta Vigil was convicted of two felonies today for misusing public money in her former role as head of the West Las Vegas Public Schools’ bilingual education program. Vigil was convicted of fraud over $2,500, a third-degree felony, and conspiracy to commit fraud over $2,500, a fourth-degree felony, according to a news release from the attorney general. She faces a maximum of 4.5 years in prison.” (NMPolitics.Net, 5/14/2009)
“‘For service, entertainment and catering, she (Vigil) said this was a training workshop. The West Las Vegas Public School system and the Public Education Department said it wasn’t a training or workshop, and the witnesses will tell you this is not a training, this is not a workshop. There was no agenda, there was no training. They will tell you it was a party. It was a party with food, it was a party with alcohol, it wasn’t a party held in the school cafeteria; it was held, off campus, at a bar,’ Saavedra said.’” (Las Vegas Optic, 5/7/2009)
STATEMENT: “Here, they stole three million dollars.”
“A special audit by the State Auditor’s Office has found that $3.3 million, not the $300,000 as originally thought, was embezzled from the Jemez Mountain School District.” (New Mexico Independent, 8/14/2009)
“Confessed Jemez Mountain School District embezzler Kathy Borrego was given a temporary get-out-of-jail card Monday. State District Judge Stephen Pfeffer in Santa Fe ruled that Borrego, who is awaiting sentencing, can be released on house arrest under electronic monitoring pending sentencing. That sentencing is tentatively set for May 10. She faces up to 41 years in prison and a fine of up to $54,000 for the embezzlement, which the state auditor has pegged at about $3.4 million.” (The Albuquerque Journal, 4/13/10)
STATEMENT: “A crippling energy regulation made insiders rich, but drove our jobs to Texas.”
“New Mexico is the only major gas-producing state to see production decline in the 2009 state fiscal year, according to the LFC, the state agency that advises legislators about public finance … The industry claims pit rules cost so much that oil and gas people decide not to drill in New Mexico.” (The Albuquerque Journal, 11/29/2009)
Those who benefitted from the Pit Rule had ties to Governor Richardson, such as Controlled Recovery Incorporated (CRI). CRI was purchased from Richardson supporter Johnny Cope by venture capitalists with the help of a loan from the State Investment Council, which Richardson chairs.
“Controlled Recovery handles disposal, remediation and reclamation of waste from production of crude oil, natural gas and geothermal energy. It operates a 284-acre waste disposal and treatment facility in Lea County, and also offers ‘closed loop’ systems, which capture waste in containers at drill sites to reduce the possibility of local contamination.” (The Albuquerque Journal, 12/11/2006)
“The administration of Bill Richardson, through the State Investment Council, has a $10 million stake in a Blue Sage $170 million private equity fund. Money from the fund was used to help purchase Controlled Recovery.” (The Albuquerque Journal, 7/8/2007)
“Richardson received the lion’s share of Cope’s contributions – $107,000 – and his running mate, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, took in at least $37,500.” (The Albuquerque Journal, 7/8/2007)