Martinez's new billboard
Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez has made a big deal about her plan to sell the state’s jet. But as The New Mexico Independent points out today, that doesn’t mean she’s going to sell the other state airplanes – or that she won’t use them – if she’s elected.
The Independent reported that Martinez’s campaign told it she would not sell the state’s two other airplanes, which The Independent said are almost as expensive to operate.
“Susana Martinez will sell the five million dollar jet… the remainder of the state fleet will only be used in emergency situations or official state business that is a priority,” Martinez Campaign Manager Ryan Cangiolosi was quoted by the Independent as saying.
Susana Martinez
But, the Independent reported, Cangiolosi didn’t say what state business would take “priority.”
Martinez has hammered Democratic gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish for using the state jet – many times allegedly in violation of cost-saving rules that require at least three passengers on flights.
At a debate earlier this month, Martinez attacked Denish’s frequent use of the jet to travel to the state’s rural communities.
“You don’t have to fly an expensive jet to get there,” Martinez said. “Those are wasted dollars that our kids could be benefiting from.”
Update, 4 p.m.
The Martinez campaign sent this quote from an Albuquerque Journal editorial that ran earlier this month:
“Officials don’t mention that before taxpayers shelled out more than $5 million for a swanky Cessna Citation Bravo, run-of-the mill turbo props ferried those sick kids as well as those officials around the state. Or that those pedestrian planes are more economical for quick trips at lower altitudes… That cost to New Mexico taxpayers is $1,627 per flight-hour, nearly double the hourly operating cost of the plane it replaced in 2005.”
But, according to the Independent’s article:
“The Cessna (which is the jet) costs $2,852 per hour, (General Services Department spokesperson Alex) Cuellar said. But the King Air’s operating costs are similar: $2,346 per hour. The Turbo Commander runs $2347 per hour.
“‘User agencies pay approximately 40 percent of those costs to charter the aircraft and the rest is subsidized by the Legislature. So user agencies pay $1,141 per hour for the Cessna Citation Bravo, $938 per hour for the King Air and $939 for the Turbo Commander,’ Cuellar said.”
Updated, 4:15 p.m.
The Martinez campaign also provided a 2005 memo from the Legislative Finance Committee disputing some of GSD’s estimated costs. It came up with its own estimates, saying the jet would cost $2,017 per hour to operate compared to $869.27 per hour for the plane it replaced and $1,101.57 for one of the other two planes the state now owns.