McCain, Michelle Obama will visit ABQ next week

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Republican presidential nominee John McCain will be in Albuquerque on Monday, while Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, will be in the Duke City on Tuesday. I’ve already reported that President Bush will be in Albuquerque on Tuesday for a fundraiser for the state Republican Party and 1st Congressional District candidate Darren White. Now the Associated Press is reporting that McCain will participate in Memorial Day events at the New Mexico Veterans Museum in Albuquerque on Monday, but no other details have been released. This will be McCain’s first visit to New Mexico as a 2008 presidential candidate. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama will headline a Tuesday fundraiser for her husband’s campaign that will be co-hosted by Gov. Bill Richardson in Albuquerque. Continue Reading

Mattiace endorses Tinsley in CD2 race

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Former Las Cruces Mayor William “Bill” Mattiace endorsed Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate Ed Tinsley today. Mattiace, in a news release from the Tinsley campaign, cited Tinsley’s “extensive knowledge of the issues affecting the citizens of Las Cruces and Doña Ana County” as the reason for his endorsement. “Ed is a small-business owner like myself, and with that experience he understands that bringing economic growth to Doña Ana County begins with decreasing the federal tax burden on the backs of individuals and businesses,” Mattiace said. “Ed will fight for increased funding in Washington, which will go towards the recruitment, training and retention of members of the U.S. Border Patrol to help control our borders, and he’ll work to maintain the beauty of the Organ Mountains, which are a national treasure.” “I am happy to stand in support of a man who will work hard for the citizens of Dona Ana County and will represent New Mexico with integrity in Congress,” said Mattiace, who was Las Cruces mayor from 2003 until his defeat last year. Continue Reading

Wilson touts new endorsements in Senate race

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson has announced new endorsements in recent days that include the Albuquerque city council president, the Tijeras mayor and a New York newspaper. Albuquerque’s Brad Winter, in his endorsement of Wilson, said she has done “an excellent job” as the representative of the 1st Congressional District. “There’s a reason she gets re-elected every cycle in a Democratic district. Heather Wilson cares about the people and the families she represents,” Winter said in a release from the Wilson campaign. “She doesn’t vote the way special interests tell her to; she votes the way she knows is right.” Wilson said she was “very pleased” to have Winter’s endorsement, saying he has fought to keep city taxes low and government open and honest. Continue Reading

Teague, Tinsley announce new endorsements

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In the 2nd Congressional District race, Democrat Harry Teague and Republican Ed Tinsley have announced new endorsements. The United Transportation Union has endorsed Teague, while former state Sen. Don Kidd has endorsed Tinsley. In a letter to Teague, the union cited his understanding and experience fighting on behalf of hard-working New Mexico families, according to a news release from the Teague campaign. “Your dedication and understanding of the issues that affect our members and their families has earned the respect and support of all our members,” the letter stated. Teague said he is “honored” to have the support of the union, which represents about 125,000 active and retired transit workers in the United States. Continue Reading

Two area legislators face credible primary challenges

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The question in both Democratic state legislative primaries in Doña Ana County appears to be whether voters think the incumbents are successfully working for them or have become Santa Fe insiders who have lost touch with their needs. Doña Ana County Commissioner Oscar Vásquez Butler is challenging Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, on June 3. Mesilla Mayor Pro Tem Jesus Caro is challenging Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Mesilla. Butler, using the campaign slogan “Time for a change,” argues that Garcia has served too long, has lost touch with her constituents and isn’t as effective as she once was. Caro, whose slogan is “Sharing our values,” says Gutierrez is out of touch with the rural communities in the district she represents. Continue Reading

Who are these people, anyway?

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“Now and then an innocent man is sent to the Legislature.” – Kin Hubbard “This Legislature is composed of largely intelligent people. Some are large. Some are intelligent. Some are neither.” – Jim Lillpop, former Colorado legislator By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek This column is written in Colorado, where, among other things, I am speaking at a memorial service for a former legislative colleague. Not surprisingly, this has caused me to give thought to legislators and the public service our elected officials perform. Continue Reading

Wiviott’s attack ad triggers brawl in CD3 race

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott picked a fight this weekend when he unveiled an ad attacking primary opponent Ben R. Luján. Now the two are accusing each other of misleading the public in an increasingly contentious battle. The AFL-CIO and other union groups plan to jump into the fight by holding a news conference on Tuesday to, according to a release, “set the record straight on Don Wiviott’s misleading attacks on Ben Ray Luján.” In the ad, which you can view by clicking here, Wiviott claims that Luján hasn’t worked hard to become successful. “Luján was a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas before his famous father got him a state job. Now Luján makes $90,000, but he didn’t show up to 13 of the 14 meetings of the health commission,” the ad states. Continue Reading

County Dems to host forums for primary candidates

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Two upcoming forums will allow Doña Ana County Democrats to compare candidates who will appear on the ballot on June 3. On May 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Democratic Party of Doña Ana County will host a forum for state Senate and House and magistrate judge candidates. On May 31 from 10 a.m. to noon, the party will host a forum for candidates for county clerk, treasurer and commissioner. Both forums will be held at the party’s headquarters, 139 North Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. It’s the old Popular Dry Goods building, and the entrance is on the north end at the corner of Water Street and Organ Avenue. Continue Reading

Security and spending: The federal budget in 2008

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By Mimi Stewart and Dede Feldman Now that the president has proposed his budget for Fiscal Year 2009, we’d like to send him a message from our state. We’re ready to pay for security for our country, but we want you to spend those dollars wisely. It’s time to take a good, hard look at what we’re buying with our “security dollars,” and make sure we’re in fact making our country safer – not more at risk. Let’s look at how we’re spending those dollars now. A White House online statement boasts that the new budget features “a nearly 74-percent increase since the president took office” in the Department of Defense’s base budget. Continue Reading

Wiviott goes negative in TV ad attacking Luján

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott went negative over the weekend with a TV ad hitting primary opponent Ben R. Luján as a do-nothing politician who earns a hefty paycheck simply because his father is the speaker of the state House. Here’s the ad, which began airing on Saturday: “Most New Mexicans work hard to make it on their own. Not Ben Ray Lujan Jr.,” the ad states. “Lujan was a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas before his famous father got him a state job. Now Lujan makes $90,000, but he didn’t show up to 13 of the 14 meetings of the health commission.” “Lujan Jr. doesn’t even show up,” the ad states. Continue Reading

Wiviott goes negative in TV ad attacking Luján

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott went negative over the weekend with a TV ad hitting primary opponent Ben R. Luján as a do-nothing politician who earns a hefty paycheck simply because his father is the speaker of the state House. Here’s the ad, which began airing on Saturday: “Most New Mexicans work hard to make it on their own. Not Ben Ray Lujan Jr.,” the ad states. “Lujan was a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas before his famous father got him a state job. Now Lujan makes $90,000, but he didn’t show up to 13 of the 14 meetings of the health commission.” “Lujan Jr. doesn’t even show up,” the ad states. Continue Reading

Wiviott goes negative in TV ad attacking Luján

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott went negative over the weekend with a TV ad hitting primary opponent Ben R. Luján as a do-nothing politician who earns a hefty paycheck simply because his father is the speaker of the state House. Here’s the ad, which began airing on Saturday: “Most New Mexicans work hard to make it on their own. Not Ben Ray Lujan Jr.,” the ad states. “Lujan was a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas before his famous father got him a state job. Now Lujan makes $90,000, but he didn’t show up to 13 of the 14 meetings of the health commission.” “Lujan Jr. doesn’t even show up,” the ad states. Continue Reading

Watch Roswell debate between Pearce and Wilson

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Republican U.S. Senate candidates Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson took part in their third debate Saturday in Roswell. In case you missed it, here’s the full debate, courtesy of KNME-TV: Part 1 Part 2 Pearce declared victory afterward, with a news release from his campaign stating that he “won handily” and “showed why he is the candidate who best represents New Mexico’s conservative values and will fight for the interests of New Mexicans.” Wilson, meanwhile, claimed in a news release that Pearce “failed to explain the vote he cast this week to severely weaken the state’s dairy industry.” She was referring to a controversy over a farm-bill vote. “I believe on June 3rd New Mexicans need to nominate a commonsense conservative who can win in November,” Wilson said in the release. “We need a senator who will stand up and fight for our contribution to national security. Steve Pearce was the only member of our delegation to mothball Cannon Air Force Base. Continue Reading

Sun-News, Journal back different candidates in CD2

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The Las Cruces Sun-News endorsed Republican C. Earl Greer and Democrat Bill McCamley in the 2nd Congressional District race on Sunday, while the Albuquerque Journal endorsed Republican Ed Tinsley and Democrat Harry Teague. The Sun-News, in its endorsement of Greer, said his “background and commonsense approach puts him a shade ahead” of the other candidates. “Greer’s sense of the district is solid. He’s a fifth-generation New Mexican who knows agriculture as well as business,” the endorsement states. “And in a district that’s almost half Hispanic, it’s worth noting Greer is a Spanish speaker, and half Hispanic himself.” In its endorsement of McCamley, the newspaper said that, though it hasn’t agreed with all McCamley has done, the members of its editorial board have been impressed with his work as a Doña Ana County commissioner and his ability to bring disparate groups together. Continue Reading