Richardson says he isn’t involved in speaker race

A spokesman for Gov. Bill Richardson called today to say my assertion that the governor is involved in the speaker of the House race is false.

Jon Goldstein said the governor is moving quickly to fill vacancies created by the resignations of Rep. Hector Balderas of Wagon Mound and Sen. Joe Fidel of Grants because constituents have asked him to do so. He said Richardson has been very careful to stay out of the speaker race.

“He’s getting requests from constituents to hurry up and make an appointment so they can go to them with the capital outlay requests,” Goldstein said. “It’s kind of ridiculous to conclude he’s jumping into the leadership race just because he’s moving quickly.”

As I pointed out earlier today, it’s not just that Richardson is moving quickly – it’s that the governor has pushed five county commissions to act in a four-day period that just happens to give him barely enough time to make an appointment before Monday’s caucus meeting. As far as government is concerned, that’s light speed.

But that’s not the only reason I made this conclusion. Just about every House Democrat I’ve spoken with about this – regardless of whether they support Ben Lujan or Ken Martinez in the speaker race – believes Richardson is involved. In addition, on this topic my sources outside the Legislature are very good.

And that’s all I’m going to say about those sources.

I find it quite believable that there are dual reasons to move quickly. It’s reasonable to believe that constituents are anxious to make capital outlay requests.

How about this? I’m standing by my sources who tell me the plan is to appoint Thomas Garcia, a Lujan supporter, to Balderas’ seat before Monday’s caucus meeting. If that doesn’t happen, I’ll eat my words.