Guv challenges Big Three as poll numbers stagnate

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As new polls show his campaign not gaining traction in Iowa and New Hampshire, Gov. Bill Richardson is straddling a fine line between challenging and attacking the frontrunners for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. Richardson has thus far refrained from going negative. However, in an e-mail sent today to campaign supporters, he suggested that Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and John Edwards have not been providing “straight answers” on how many troops they would leave in Iraq and for how long, and said that, while he has been “completely open,” they’ve responded to his asking for such details with “silence.” And in stating that there’s no “confusion of ambiguity or waffling” in his stance, the governor seems to be implying that there is in the stances of the other three. Richardson is asking people to sign a petition pushing for the question to be asked at the next debate, the Univision forum on Sept. 9, on how many troops each would leave in Iraq and for how long. Continue Reading

Domenici isn’t seeking embattled senator’s resignation

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., isn’t jumping on the bandwagon of GOP officials calling for the resignation of a Republican senator who pleaded guilty earlier this month to a misdemeanor charge stemming from allegations that he solicited sex from an undercover police officer in an airport restroom. Sen. Larry Craig, R-Idaho, was arrested June 11 in Minneapolis after an undercover male officer said he engaged in conduct “often used by persons communicating a desire to engage in sexual conduct.” Craig claims he entered the guilty plea to the misdemeanor charge to try to deal with the incident quickly and quietly. Now that it has become public, Craig says he regrets his plea and did nothing wrong. Regardless, the incident has led to an ethics investigation and GOP leadership in the Senate has stripped Craig of senior committee positions. The White House has expressed disappointment, and a number of GOP senators and representatives have called for Craig’s resignation. Continue Reading

Listen to The Morning Show podcasts

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I was on The Morning Show with Alan Riehl today. Topics we discussed included the upcoming City of Las Cruces election, the controversies at New Mexico State University and the controversy involving the Department of Transportation headquarters redevelopment project in Santa Fe. You can listen to or download the podcast, which is about 42 minutes long, by clicking here. Secretary of State Mary Herrera was also on the show this morning. You can listen to her podcast by clicking here. Continue Reading

Charges against Foley may not be re-filed

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I’ve reported since his arrest in June that the criminal case against House Minority Whip Dan Foley might be weak. Now the Roswell Daily Record is reporting that the case against the GOP representative from Roswell is in limbo, having been dismissed in municipal court and not re-filed in magistrate court a month later because it’s under review. The district attorney apparently doesn’t think there’s enough evidence at this time to proceed, having deemed the case an “investigatory file.” “At this point, there is no case filed,” Deputy District Attorney Michael Sanchez told the newspaper. “We need to find out all of the facts first.” Asked if the case will be refilled at some point, he told the newspaper, “I’m not going to say it will or it won’t.” Legal experts tell me it’s likely the district attorney’s office got the case and found there wasn’t enough evidence to proceed. They’re now conducting further investigation to determine whether a case against Foley exists. Continue Reading

NMSU handles one controversy with integrity, creates appearance that it has something to hide on the other

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New Mexico State University has been under scrutiny lately for two controversies. One involves the mismanagement and abuse of time and materials in the Office of Facilities and Services, and the other involves the university’s attempt to keep information about donors secret. The university has handled the first appropriately, taking steps to ensure the integrity of a police investigation and communicating openly with the public and media about the situation. That has made the university’s attempt to stonewall the media on the second situation even more jarring. News first became public in May that university police were investigating the possibility that employees were using school funds and materials for construction projects on private homes. Continue Reading

DOT project negotiations on hold pending reviews

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The state has halted negotiations on a contract for redevelopment of the Department of Transportation’s headquarters in Santa Fe until reviews of the project’s integrity are complete. The decision came after Gerald Peters, whose company SCS Development is negotiating a contract with the state for the project, made the request, according to a news release from Peters’ company. Peters also requested that the state lift confidentiality restrictions it has cited in refusing to comment on or release documents about the project. “A transparent and open process and the conclusion of the governor’s investigation are needed steps to reconcile reality and perception regarding this project,” Peters said in the release. Gov. Bill Richardson has asked DOT to review the headquarters project and another DOT project that was recently cancelled, and is also in the process of hiring independent council to review both projects. Continue Reading

Showdown over medical marijuana may be coming

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State and federal officials may be headed to a showdown over New Mexico’s new law that legalizes marijuana for medical use, which is contrary to federal laws on possession and distribution of the drug. On Tuesday, members of a regional drug task force that works with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration put out a news release after seizing marijuana plants from the southeastern New Mexico home of a wheelchair-bound man who was licensed by the state to possess and smoke marijuana. The news release states that “federal charges are expected.” “Citizens of New Mexico need to be aware that they can still be prosecuted on the federal level even though New Mexico has a law permitting marijuana for medical use,” the release states. Agents didn’t have a search warrant, and were actually allowed by Leonard French to enter his home in Eddy County, the Albuquerque Journal reported, because he thought he was doing nothing wrong. French, one of 38 New Mexicans approved so far for the new state program, lost use of his legs 20 years ago in a motorcycle accident and suffers from chronic pain and muscle spasms, the Journal reported. Continue Reading

Guv’s bad day includes another primary calendar shift, a boost for Dodd and ethical questions about donors

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There’s a triple play of bad news for Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign today. Wyoming Republicans have decided to hold their presidential nominating contest on Jan. 5, the Associated Press is reporting. While recent shifts in the calendar have left open the possibility that no contests would be held in December, the decision by the state’s GOP, unless it’s reversed, all but ensures a December contest in Iowa. In addition, the nation’s firefighters union has given its endorsement to Chris Dodd, whose previously non-presidential campaign now has the potential to compete with or move ahead of that of Richardson. Continue Reading

Denish to hold open forum Thursday in Las Cruces

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While in Las Cruces on Thursday for the New Mexico Municipal League’s annual conference, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish will give members of the public a chance to ask questions and share concerns. Denish will hold an “open forum” from 2-4 p.m. on Thursday in the Luna Room at New Mexico State University’s Corbett Center. Denish spokeswoman Kate Nelson said there will be an opportunity for members of the public and those attending the municipal league conference to ask questions and share concerns with the lieutenant governor. “I know that she’s very interested in hearing what the public’s concerns are as well as those of members of the municipal league,” Nelson said. Gov. Bill Richardson will be in New Mexico on Thursday, so Denish won’t be the acting governor during her trip to Las Cruces. Continue Reading

Ethics task force wraps up work on Thursday

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The state’s ethics task force will wrap up its work on Thursday by finalizing its report to the governor. The task force has already agreed on recommendations that include: • Expansion of the voluntary public campaign financing system to the offices of attorney general, secretary of state, land commissioner, treasurer and auditor in 2010, and to the offices of governor and lieutenant governor in 2014. • Campaign contribution limits equal to the federal limit of $2,300, with an exception for local governments that already have lower levels in place. • Additional employees in the secretary of state’s office to help with faster notification and publishing online of campaign finance reports. • Requiring employers to disclose lobbying contracts. Continue Reading

The likely loss of the Tribune marks a sad day

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By Whitney Cheshire The Albuquerque Tribune looks like it’s gone with the wind: Do we pop open the bubbly or draw the shades and stop the clocks? Yesterday, the Tribune announced that it will be shutting its doors unless an unexpected buyer shows up to purchase the Scripps-owned, afternoon news publication. The Tribune’s circulation has dropped to a tiny 11,000 and rumors of its slipping solvency have been bolstered by visible cutbacks on Web site coverage and the recent exit of longtime managing editor Kate Nelson. Some conservatives would like to throw a party. Seriously. Continue Reading

Convictions reinstated in Baby Brianna’s death

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The New Mexico Supreme Court today reinstated the convictions, on all but one count, of the father and uncle of Baby Brianna, the 5-month-old girl whose 2002 death shocked the Las Cruces community and led to tougher state penalties for child killers. The court today reinstated all but one conspiracy charge against each for the rape and killing of the girl, District Attorney Susana Martinez confirmed. She said her office and the attorney general had not yet read the opinion, so she didn’t have details. “All I can say is, thank God that we don’t have to do this again,” Martinez said, referring to her intent to retry the case if the convictions were not reinstated. The decision comes two months after the court reinstated the conviction of Brianna’s mother Stephanie Lopez. Continue Reading

Former state insurance official pleads not guilty

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A former state deputy insurance superintendent indicted last week on charges of extortion, mail and wire fraud and corrupt solicitation pleaded not guilty on Monday, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Joe Ruiz is accused of offering to reduce administrative fines for insurance companies if they donated to specific charities, including one that sold children’s books Ruiz authored. He’s also accused of pressuring one company to settle a claim for a state senator who isn’t identified. Ruiz, who is facing 31 felony counts, was released on his own recognizance, the Journal reported. Five companies paid a combined $102,000 in donations and weren’t fined, the Journal reported, while five others refused and had to pay reduced fines. Continue Reading

New Mexico Municipal League to meet in Cruces

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The New Mexico Municipal League will hold its annual conference in Las Cruces beginning Wednesday, and it’s expected to attract 1,000 officials from around the state, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting. Las Cruces Mayor Pro-Tem Dolores Connor is set to become the organization’s president-elect if her re-election bid is successful in November. She’s currently the league’s vice president. Those who will be in town to give presentations include Lt. Guv. Diane Denish, state Treasurer James B. Lewis and Environment Secretary Ron Curry. Continue Reading