Ethics reform getting a late start in 2008 session

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Proponents of ethics reform have reason to hope the Legislature might approve a couple of proposals during the current session, but those who are hoping for significant, widespread change are likely to be disappointed when the House and Senate adjourn on Feb. 14. Four days into the 2008 session, most of the governor’s announced priorities already have sponsors who have introduced legislation. Not ethics reform. Even though legislative leaders have said they will allow deliberation on four ethics-reform issues – campaign contribution limits, an ethics commission, additional funding for the Secretary of State’s online reporting system and funding for a study on creation of an election commission – the proposals are getting a late start in a 30-day session that will be largely consumed by funding bills and health-care reform. Continue Reading

Pre-K program is working and should be expanded

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By Diane Denish The start of a legislative session always sparkles with energy. The capitol bustles with people and action. Legislators who’ve developed close bonds over the years get reacquainted. There are hugs and flowers and proud family members who’ve come to the Roundhouse to see their loved ones take to the House and Senate floors. This year’s opening day carried a poignancy as we in the Senate bade farewell to our late Senate president pro-tem, Ben Altamirano. Continue Reading

Alamogordo GOP to host Senate, CD2 forums

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The Republican Party of Otero County is the first to schedule a forum for U.S. Reps. Steve Pearce and Heather Wilson, both candidates for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. Both have confirmed their attendance at the forum, which is scheduled for Feb. 19 in Alamogordo, Otero County GOP Chairwoman Sassy Tinling confirmed. The forum will be held at 7 p.m. at the Willie Estrada Memorial Civic Center, 800 E. 1st Street. Continue Reading

Protecting our mountains will require compromise

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Just about everyone in Doña Ana County agrees that it’s time to protect the Organs and other mountains surrounding Las Cruces from development. But there isn’t consensus on how to do it. And, especially after two city council elections in November and earlier this week polarized the community, backers of two competing proposals aren’t in the mood to compromise. But unless both sides agree to negotiate and give a little ground, protecting the mountains is an idea that doesn’t appear to be on its way to gaining traction in Washington. The first proposal, from the Doña Ana County Wilderness Coalition, quickly earned a great deal of support when it was unveiled in late 2006. Continue Reading

Marquardt will run for Pearce’s House seat

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Former state Rep. Terry Marquardt will announce today that he’s running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce. Marquardt, 58 and a Republican, is the former state House minority leader and an optometrist in Alamogordo. He was defeated in 2006 – after serving 12 years in the state House – by Nate Cote, D-Las Cruces. I was unable to immediately reach Marquardt for comment, but Otero County GOP Chairwoman Sassy Tinling confirmed that Marquardt plans to officially enter the race today. In addition, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting that Marquardt confirmed his candidacy. Continue Reading

FEC lawyer: Campaign can pay Domenici’s legal bills

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The head attorney for the Federal Election Commission says U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici can use campaign funds to pay legal bills stemming from an inquiry into his October 2006 phone call to former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias. The attorney issued a draft opinion on Wednesday stating that Domenici can use campaign funds to pay both his legal bills and those of staffers who needed an attorney as a result of the inquiry. You can read the draft opinion, which was made available online by the Washington Times, by clicking here. It essentially states that precedent allows the use of campaign funds to pay legal fees because the expenses aren’t considered personal. The opinion remains in draft form because four seats on the six-member FEC board are vacant, so there’s no quorum to approve it. Continue Reading

Chávez joins Denish in endorsing Clinton

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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has joined Lt. Gov. Diane Denish in endorsing Hillary Clinton’s presidential bid. Meanwhile, Barack Obama has become the first presidential candidate to open a campaign office in Las Cruces. It’s located at 212 West Hadley Ave. The Obama campaign also has an office in Albuquerque and is expected to open one in Santa Fe in the coming days. Clinton’s campaign says it will soon open an office in Albuquerque – its first in the state. Continue Reading

Guv wants another $10 million for spaceport road

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You might remember that, during the bitter 2007 special session of the Legislature, the governor managed to squeeze another $10 million out of lawmakers to help fund Spaceport America. The money was for a paved highway to the spaceport, which is currently accessible only by poorly maintained dirt roads. The governor originally requested $25 million for the road, but lawmakers scaled back the request before approving it. Now the governor is asking for more. In this year’s capital outlay proposal he is requesting another $10 million for the road from Interstate 25 to the spaceport. Continue Reading

Legislative meetings should be broadcast online

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C-SPAN allows you to watch Congress live on television and the Internet any time the House and Senate are in session. Locally, you can watch meetings of the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners, Las Cruces City Council and Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education on the city’s public access channel. You can watch the council’s meetings online by clicking here, and the commission’s by clicking here. The county just recently implemented its system, and it didn’t cost very much. Broadcasting over the Internet is especially cheap. Continue Reading

New city leaders must deliver on promise of change

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A well-organized group of local activists, aided at least in part by outside help, caused the shift in power on the Las Cruces City Council that was capped off on Tuesday when District 6 voters picked Sharon Thomas to represent them. But the work of the activists was only successful because they spoke to the concerns of voters in the city. Many who helped Thomas, Miguel Silva and Nathan Small win council seats and Ken Miyagishima win the mayoral race are involved in the Quality Growth Alliance and Progressive Voter Alliance. Thomas and Small won open seats, and Silva easily defeated 12-year incumbent Jose Frietze. Miyagishima won a narrow victory against incumbent Bill Mattiace, a likeable man wit a lot of friends. Continue Reading

Pearce is the first candidate to put ads on TV

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce became this week the first candidate in the 2008 election cycle to air television advertisements promoting his campaign. The Republican U.S. Senate candidate is currently airing a 30-second advertisement statewide promoting his conservative values. It tells New Mexicans that he grew up in Hobbs, “excelled at 4-H,” served in the Air Force and is a family man and businessman. “Steve Pearce shares our conservative values,” the ad’s narrator states. “Lower taxes, stronger borders and a solid record of fighting al Qaeda and Islamic terrorism.” The ad is a wise move for the Pearce campaign. Continue Reading

Sowards formally announces congressional run

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Greg Sowards of Las Cruces has formally announced his campaign to replace Steve Pearce in Congress. “As your representative, I will not cave under pressure. I love people but will not sell my soul for popularity in Washington,” Sowards said. “The decisions that I make will be based on my conservative, God-fearing principles and on the Constitution.” Though I’ve written about Sowards’ candidacy several times already, he had not previously made a formal announcement of his candidacy. Sowards, a Republican, lives in Las Cruces and owns Kid’s Kountry Child Care Centers and a small manufacturing business. Continue Reading

District 6 voters overwhelmingly pick Thomas

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Sharon Thomas secured more than 54 percent of the vote today in becoming the new District 6 representative on the Las Cruces City Council. Of 2,448 votes cast, Thomas had 1,322, or 54 percent, to Karen Trujillo’s 578 votes, or 24 percent. “I think that people really want change and they went out and voted,” Thomas said. “People want the city to have some new leadership.” Lawrence Joy finished with 240 votes, or 10 percent, while Berchard Ray Shipley finished with 207 votes, or 8 percent, and Patrick J. Curran finished with 101 votes, or 4 percent. Thomas spoke by phone from a volunteer appreciation party attended by 50-60 people. Continue Reading

Thomas’ lead grows with four polling places left

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With the votes from the polling place at the American Legion facility on Madrid Avenue counted, Sharon Thomas’ lead is growing. Thomas now has 425 votes, or 54 percent, to Karen Trujillo’s 174 votes, or 22 percent. Lawrence Joy is in third with 85 votes, or 11 percent, while Berchard Ray Shipley has 57 votes, or 7 percent, and Patrick J. Curran has 47 votes, or 6 percent. There are four polling places left to be counted. Continue Reading