Marty Chávez
Democratic 1st Congressional District candidate Marty Chávez is getting prominent mentions in news coverage about the Thursday indictment of a woman with whom he has been in a relationship – but the status of that relationship isn’t clear.
Loretta Mares was one of two women indicted on multiple felony counts of fraud and conspiracy for, in the words of The Santa Fe New Mexican, “allegedly collaborating to embezzle millions of dollars” from Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center in Santa Fe.
She also is or has been Chávez’s girlfriend. The campaign has pointed out that he is no longer living with Mares but has not clarified further the status of their relationship.
Here’s the mention Chávez got from The New Mexican:
“The former chief financial officer of what is now Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center and an Albuquerque woman who is in a relationship with former Albuquerque mayor and congressional candidate Martin Chávez have been indicted on felony fraud and conspiracy charges.
“…In December, a campaign manager for Martin Chávez – a three-term mayor of Albuquerque who is running for the U.S. House of Representative seat being vacated by Martin Heinrich – confirmed that Chávez and Mares lived together.
“The campaign manager said in a statement Thursday that the pair are no longer living together but declined to comment further on the relationship.”
Read that article here.
And from the Albuquerque Journal:
“Mares, also known as Bernadette Gallegos, has been in a relationship with former Albuquerque mayor and current congressional candidate Martin Chávez.
“The campaign Thursday issued a statement reiterating that the allegations have ‘nothing to do with Marty or his campaign,’ and that the alleged crimes occurred before their relationship began.
“‘They are no longer living together,’ the statement added.”
Read the Journal article here.