‘Facebook comments are the new talk radio’

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Last week, an interesting discussion developed on my Facebook page about Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court, and the media’s coverage of her nomination. The debate started when I posted a link to an article on this site about last week’s meeting between U.S. Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. and Sotomayor. Deming resident John Lanning posted a comment stating that he could not believe New Mexico’s U.S. senators were supporting Sotomayor. And it went from there, with the New Mexico Independent’s Gwyneth Doland, former congressional candidate C. Earl Greer, NMPolitics.net columnist Michael Swickard and Democracy for New Mexico’s Barbara Wold debating what’s been reported about Sotomayor and whether Rush Limbaugh, Newsweek and FactCheck.org are reliable sources of information. That’s a panel of participants that rivals those assembled by any television or radio program in the state, and the benefit of Facebook is that Lanning and anyone else who has a Facebook account can also join in. Continue Reading

Indicted attorney accused of tampering with records

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In the housing authority case, the allegations against the former head of the state bar are much different than the charges against the other defendants Three men indicted Friday in the housing authority case face felony charges including fraud and money laundering that could land them in prison for decades if they’re convicted. But the fourth defendant in the case, an Albuquerque attorney and former head of the State Bar of New Mexico, faces a much different allegation — that he destroyed, changed, fabricated or hid two invoices and a promissory note with the intention of preventing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of himself or someone else. David N. Hernandez, who was a contract attorney for the Region III Housing Authority, is charged with one count of tampering with evidence, according to the indictment. It’s a fourth-degree felony that carries a maximum prison sentence of 18 months. While tampering with records may not carry as long a prison sentence as the charges against the other defendants, it’s an important part of the housing authority case. Continue Reading

Retirement board to consider release of subpoenas

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The New Mexico Educational Retirement Board (ERB) is scheduled to decide on Friday whether the agency should reverse courses and release federal grand jury subpoenas it has received. “Release of Subpoenas” is an item on the agenda for Friday’s meeting. The chairman of the board, Bruce Malott, said in an e-mail that he “thought it important that the issue be decided by the board as a whole because of the significance of the matter and the public’s right to know.” Friday’s meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be held at the agency’s Albuquerque office, 6201 Uptown Boulevard NE Suite 203. Earlier this month, Malott wrote a letter to ERB General Counsel Christopher Schatzman stating that he wants the agency to reconsider its decision to withhold release of two federal grand jury subpoenas it has received. That letter stated that Malott wanted to discuss the issue during an upcoming board meeting if Schatzman was unwilling to reconsider. Continue Reading

Foy files expanded pay-to-play complaint

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This article has been updated for clarity.Frank Foy, who alleges pay to play in the Richardson administration, unsealed an amended and greatly expanded version of his complaint today. The 73-page document essentially incorporates investigative reporting done by media outlets related to scandals plaguing state government. It replaces Foy’s original complaint, which was 26 pages. Foy’s lawsuit originally alleged that the state lost $90 million in investment deals with Vanderbilt Financial made in exchange for a little more than $15,000 in contributions to Gov. Bill Richardson’s 2008 presidential campaign. It has been expanded to include a wide range of other pay-to-play allegations. Continue Reading

Previewing an improved campaign reporting Web site

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On Friday, I was directed by a source to an unpublicized but publicly accessible page on the Secretary of State’s Web site. What I found was an under-construction version of the long-delayed project to improve the Web site’s campaign reporting and disclosure databases. Eager for the site to be unveiled to the public (I listed it last week among five ethics reforms New Mexico needs), I greedily perused the site.I was impressed. Campaign finance reports, lobbyist reports and public officials’ disclosure reports were easily accessible through a searchable database that brought up basic information on the Web page and links to PDF files for those who wanted more detail. I found the new site to be simple and user-friendly — a huge improvement over the cumbersome site the secretary of state currently offers the public. Continue Reading

The wrong target for new taxes

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By Gov. Jerry Apodaca Thirty years ago, when I was governor of New Mexico, the world of commerce was markedly different. China’s economic rise was still on the horizon, international trade was hindered by a variety of barriers, and exports accounted for only a small percentage of the U.S. economy. All of this has changed dramatically in the last two decades as the result of innovation, diplomacy and new public policies in the United States and abroad. The United State cannot turn back the clock — nor should it try. Unfortunately, a key component of a new proposed federal tax plan would do just that by imposing an estimated $200 billion levy on the overseas operations of U.S. businesses. Continue Reading

Denish to donate money from housing defendants

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Lt. Gov. Diane Denish says she’ll donate to charity any campaign contributions she’s received from the men indicted Friday in the housing authority case. At least two of the four have contributed to her campaigns over the years. “As has been my practice, I will donate to charity any contributions received from any individual who is indicted for a crime, including those individuals indicted today,” Denish said Friday in a statement released by her office. Denish, according to the money-in-state-politics Web site FollowTheMoney.org, has taken $4,000 over the last several years from Robert Strumor, the former bond attorney for the Albuquerque-based Region III Housing Authority. That agency is at the center of the case surrounding the misuse of bond money. Continue Reading

Weh: Guv must be ‘the role model for integrity’

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Potential Republican gubernatorial candidate talks about improving the economy, ending culture of corruption

Potential 2010 Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen Weh says his campaign centers on a “commonsense” approach to growing the economy and rooting out public corruption. “It ain’t a Republican thing. It ain’t a Democrat thing. It’s common sense,” Weh, who is traveling the state this month to talk with business leaders about the economy, said Thursday during an interview in Las Cruces. Weh, a businessman and former chairman of the state GOP, said he views the job of governor as being primarily about administration of the executive branch. Continue Reading

Republicans comment on housing indictments

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Friday’s indictments in the housing authority scandal revealed “another dark day for New Mexicans,” potential Republican gubernatorial candidate Allen Weh said in a statement released by his campaign. Weh was one of two Republicans who were quick to put out statements in response to the indictments. “Entrenched politicians who abuse their positions and our tax dollars have once again given all of us a black eye. Corruption at the highest levels of government will be the biggest issue in the 2010 campaign,” Weh said. “It’s time to elect leaders who will work with the attorney general, the U.S. attorney and all law enforcement agencies to root out corruption at every level. Continue Reading

A state agency promoting a private group? Hmm…

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Like many in the media, I received an e-mail on Thursday from James Flores, spokesman for the secretary of state’s office, that had nothing to do with the work of the government office that employs Flores. The e-mail, sent from Flores’ government address, contained a news release announcing that the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) was urging “swift confirmation” of Judge Sonia Sotomayor, President Barack Obama’s nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court. What does that have to do with the work of the Office of the New Mexico Secretary of State, you ask? Nothing. Nada. Continue Reading

Almost half in poll say pay to play is everywhere

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Almost half of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said pay to play is “everywhere” in government in New Mexico. Of 257 voters, 117, or 46 percent, picked “It’s everywhere” when asked how prevalent pay to play is in New Mexico government. Meanwhile, 70, or 27 percent, said pay to play drives “most, but not all” decisions; 54, or 21 percent, said there is some pay to play, but it’s not a part of most decisions; four, or 2 percent, said pay to play is “not a factor; and 12, or 5 percent, said they don’t know. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Housing authority indictments are a ‘glimmer of hope’

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Officials who have pushed for reform of the affordable housing system praise AG for bringing public corruption case forward “It’s about time,” were the words uttered by state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones earlier today when told that four men had been indicted in the drawn-out investigation into the misuse of bond money in the state’s affordable housing system. Arnold-Jones, an Albuquerque Republican, and Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces, are among those who have previously expressed fear that political considerations could lead to the case being buried. Arnold-Jones said today’s indictments are a “glimmer of hope” that the law can win out over politics. “In order to make your laws mean something and in order for government or individuals to be accountable, they have to be held accountable by the authorities whose job it is to hold them accountable. This is the first step in that direction,” Arnold-Jones said. Continue Reading

Charges include fraud and money laundering

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At least some counts against Gallegos and others in the housing authority case relate to a loan made under the guise of purchasing land in Las Cruces Former Region III Housing Authority Director Vincent “Smiley” Gallegos is facing a number of felony charges including fraud, embezzlement and money laundering, with at least some of the charges related to a $300,000 loan Region III made to Gallegos in 2005. That’s according to the indictments against the four defendants in the case that were publicly released today. Gallegos, a former state legislator from Clovis, is charged in two separate indictments with a total of 12 felony counts including fraud, embezzlement, the fraudulent sale of securities and money laundering. He faces a maximum of 72.5 years in prison if convicted on all counts. Three other defendants are facing felony charges in the case. Continue Reading

Gallegos, others indicted in housing authority case

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This article has been updated.Former Region III Housing Authority Director Vincent “Smiley” Gallegos and others have been indicted by grand juries in the long-standing investigation into the misuse of bond money in the state’s affordable housing system. Phil Sisneros, spokesman for Attorney General Gary King, confirmed that indictments had been filed against Gallegos, Albuquerque bond attorney Robert Strumor and former Region III employees David Hernandez and Dennis Kennedy. He provided no other details, including the charges that have been filed, and said the AG’s office would release no further information. The investigation into the housing authority scandal has spanned three years. Two separate grand juries have met in the case in recent weeks. Continue Reading

Southern New Mexicans optimistic about spaceport

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By Vicki Nisbett It won’t be cheap to take a ride into space from Spaceport America — Virgin Galactic is selling tickets for $200,000 apiece — but many of the estimated 1,500 people who attended a celebration of the facility’s groundbreaking on Thursday in Las Cruces are still excited about the project. “If the optimistic views come true, it’s going to be pretty amazing,” Las Cruces resident Pam Carpenter said. “I’m a teacher in Hatch, and I’m anxious to see if there’s any repercussions up there and how it’ll help the community, the people in Hatch.” So would Carpenter go up into space? “Yeah, you bet I’d go, if it wasn’t my money,” she said. Officials have touted the economic and educational benefits they say Las Cruces and the surrounding counties will experience with the development of the spaceport. Continue Reading