Matthew Chandler
Republican AG candidate says Democrat Gary King hasn’t kept his promise to stop corruption
Matthew Chandler has been highly critical of New Mexico Attorney General Gary King on the campaign trail.
The Republican Chandler, who’s taking on the Democratic incumbent King in the November election, says there’s a simple reason voters shouldn’t re-elect King: The AG hasn’t done what he said he would do to root out public corruption.
Chandler, 35, said during a recent interview in Las Cruces that he believes King’s heart isn’t in being attorney general, and because of that, King has broken his promise to do what’s necessary to clean up government. He pointed out that King ran for governor and Congress, unsuccessfully, before running for AG.
Gary King
“I think he wants to help New Mexico, but I don’t think that the New Mexico Attorney General’s Office is where he’s best served,” Chandler said of King. “The Attorney General’s Office is not an afterthought for me. It’s an area where I think we can make great strides.”
Chandler, currently a district attorney in Eastern New Mexico, said the state needs a prosecutor who puts the law above politics in the AG’s office.
“I don’t bring baggage to the table. I don’t owe anybody favors and nobody owes me any favors,” he said. “So for once we can have an attorney general who is beholden only to the voters.”
The money
That’s a message Chandler has yet to take to a wide audience through TV ads, but with November approaching he’s likely to go on the air soon. This is the last election cycle in New Mexico without campaign contribution limits, so the money has been flowing. Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez has accepted some massive campaign contributions.
Republican AG candidates tend to attract national money, so there’s a good chance Chandler will also be offered some large contributions. Accepting massive donations has been a controversial topic in New Mexico that has often been at the center of scandal and corruption allegations.
Asked about that, Chandler said he believes people with wealth should have the right to give, just like anyone else, “with the understanding that everything is going to be above the table.”
“Nothing is going to pierce my integrity with regard to my position with the Attorney General’s Office,” Chandler said.
He said he tells big donors that he “can’t be bought” and said he’s never had anyone “ask for a favor for a contribution to my campaign.”
Chandler will have to spend a lot of money to catch King, who had big leads in two polls of the race released in August. But Chandler’s name ID is low, since he hasn’t yet been on the air with TV ads. The race is likely to tighten – at least to some extent – once Chandler introduces himself to the general population.
‘You have to do the right thing’
Chandler will try to convince voters that he has a history of doing the right thing while King has been a “gatekeeper for his friends.” Chandler is quick to point out that he prosecuted the treasurer in Curry County – a Republican – in a case related to $19,000 in money that went missing from the county fair.
The investigation into who took the money was never solved, but during the probe, then-Treasurer Rhonda Bookout was indicted on a felony count of tampering with public records for intentionally altering and falsifying records related to the investigation.
Bookout pleaded no contest, had to resign from office and forfeit more than $26,000 in back pay as restitution.
“I received pressure from locals and those that I respect, suggesting to let it go,” Chandler said of the case. “That’s not something that I was going to do, because I have a duty to the public. … Nobody said it would be easy, but you have to do the right thing.”
Imagine if the AG sought restitution from those involved in the massive state investment scandal currently being investigated by federal authorities. That’s the sort of attitude New Mexico needs from its AG, Chandler said.
Restoring confidence in government
King’s office rarely talks about an ongoing investigation – which often leaves citizens in the dark about what’s happening. King says that’s necessary to protect the investigation and prosecution. Chandler, however, said he has a different philosophy.
“As long as you’re not doing anything that would compromise the investigation,” Chandler said he would confirm when the office is conducting an investigation and would update the public on its status as it progresses. That would be a 180-degree policy shift in the AG’s office.
Chandler said it’s important to communicate with the public.
“That’s what restores confidence in government – when citizens see that there’s someone willing to investigate public officials,” Chandler said.
He said people will know that an AG’s office run by him will investigate complaints regardless of party affiliation or anything else. That will help lead to a time when the consequences of public corruption outweigh the benefits – which is what will stop corruption.
Once that happens, Chandler said, the many good officials in government can work to move the state forward.