Dismissal of legislator’s traffic tickets causes stir

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A controversy is brewing over whether a state representative facing re-election this year has benefited from an improper interpretation of a clause in the New Mexico Constitution. Some legislators believe Article 4, Section 13 of the constitution grants them immunity from receiving traffic citations when they’re driving to or from legislative sessions. But that’s not what the most recent attorney general opinion stated, or what the nation’s high court has determined about a similar clause in the United States Constitution. This weekend, voters in House District 53 received a mailer from the New Mexico Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee charging the district’s Republican representative, Terry Marquardt, with being “arrogant and irresponsible” because he “abuses his position… and our trust.” At issue is that fact that Marquardt has had two speeding citations dismissed on grounds that the constitutional clause requires it. In the first case, he was cited on May 8, 1999 for driving 85 mph in a 55-mph zone. Continue Reading

While Richardson hides, Clinton debates

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Score one for Hillary Clinton. While N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson was who-knows-where (cutting a ribbon? speaking in New Hampshire?) on Friday, Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton, D-N.Y., was debating the opponent in her Senate race. Republican John Spencer is way behind Clinton in the polls. His campaign has been abandoned by his party. Continue Reading

Allegations against Herrera starting to stick

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I had been ignoring the mud Vickie Perea was slinging at Mary Herrera in the secretary of state’s race, but it’s starting to stick. Perea, the Republican candidate, started attacking Democrat Herrera several weeks ago after Herrera, the Bernalillo County clerk, allegedly sent a campaign e-mail from her government e-mail address.If it’s true, that is an ethical lapse and a technical violation of state policy, but it was just one e-mail, so I let it go. Then Perea sent a records request for a wide range of documents that would show whether Herrera has used the office’s resources for any other campaigning. The request is vast and the office is trying to run an election, so it’s not entirely unreasonable that, 39 days later, Herrera hasn’t yet been able to comply. Still, the journalist in me says she should have provided the records by now. Continue Reading

Kissling gets a new campaign manager, again, and help from a newly formed anti-Pearce group

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Al Kissling, the Democrat trying to unseat U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has changed campaign managers again. His new manager is Bill Grigaliunas, the 2006 chair of the board of directors for the United Way of Southwest New Mexico. Grigaliunas, a longtime friend of Kissling who is working for free, also served recently as the interim general manager for KRWG-TV. He replaces Loveless Johnson III of Santa Fe, who left the campaign in September. “Loveless didn’t quite, I think, come up to everybody’s expectations and decided to leave,” Grigaliunas said. Continue Reading

More profiles of statewide, congressional races

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Check out the Las Cruces Sun-News’ profile of the gubernatorial race between Democratic incumbent Bill Richardson and Republican challenger John Dendahl by clicking here. Check out the Sun-News’ profile of the lieutenant governor race between Democratic incumbent Diane Denish and Republican challenger Sue Wilson Beffort by clicking here. Check out the Sun-News’ profile of the attorney general race between Democrat Gary King and Republican Jim Bibb by clicking here. Check out the Albuquerque Tribune’s profile of the land commissioner race between incumbent Republican Pat Lyons and Democratic challenger Jim Baca by clicking here. Check out the Sun-News’ profile of the 2nd Congressional District race between Republican incumbent Steve Pearce and Democratic challenger Al Kissling by clicking here. Continue Reading

Journal polls reveal tightest races in the state

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A new Albuquerque Journal poll confirms that Pat Lyons is gaining slightly on Jim Baca in the land commissioner race. The gain wasn’t unexpected. Fundraising by Republican incumbent Lyons dwarfs that of Baca, the Democratic challenger. In the newest poll, 42 percent supported Baca and 40 percent supported Lyons, with 18 percent undecided. In early October, a Journal poll had Baca up four points. Continue Reading

Here is video of entire Pearce/Kissling debate

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Update, 9:30 p.m.For some reason, having the actual video of the forum on this site was conflicting with other elements on this page for Internet Explorer users, so I had to remove it. You can still view the debate video by clicking here.***After much delay, here is the entire 56-minute video of the Aug. 22, 2006 candidate forum between U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., and his challenger, Democrat Al Kissling. The video was produced by KRWG-TV in Las Cruces. It was never broadcast because Pearce, a debate ducker, wouldn’t allow it, and FCC rules require the approval of both candidates, according to the station. Continue Reading

Poll: Steinborn leading Witt in House race

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In the District 37 House race, 60 percent who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said the Democrat will win. Democrat Jeff Steinborn received 218 votes, or 60 percent. Republican Scott Witt received 148 votes, or 40 percent. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located near the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Check out profiles of House, auditor races

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The Las Cruces Sun-News profiled today the House District 53 race between incumbent Republican Terry Marquardt and Democratic challenger Nate Cote. You can read it by clicking here. Also, check out the Albuquerque Tribune’s profile of the state auditor race between Democrat Hector Balderas and Republican Lorenzo Garcia by clicking here. Continue Reading

Former staffer accuses Democratic treasurer candidate of falsely reporting contributions

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The former chief fundraiser for the Democrats’ candidate for state treasurer has accused the candidate of filing false campaign contribution reports, according to the Albuquerque Tribune. James B. Lewis and the Democratic Party say it isn’t true. The secretary of state is investigating. Rosetta Stewart has accused Lewis in a notarized affidavit of inaccurately reporting campaign contributions on several occasions, according to the newspaper. The claims are that Lewis: • told Stewart a $500 contribution given by an unnamed man would be made to “look like his son La Ron Lewis contributed it,” according to the Tribune. Continue Reading

Were it possible for Richardson to have a bad week, this would be it

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Were it possible for a man likely to get close to 60 percent of the vote in November to have a bad week, this would be it. First Gov. Bill Richardson’s opponent, John Dendahl, was given free airtime on an Albuquerque television station because Richardson refused to debate. Then, the national Republican Governors’ Association announced it will run ads in New Mexico in the next couple of weeks calling on voters to ask Richardson to “tell us the truth… The White House, or us?” That’s according to the Albuquerque Journal. And last, this from the Santa Fe New Mexican: Richardson has lost his much touted grade of a “B” from the conservative Cato Institute. It appears the group finally figured out Richardson isn’t quite the tax-cutting governor he claims to be. Continue Reading

Padilla: ‘I am sick and tired of hearing about the corruption in the state treasurer’s office’

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A guest column was solicited from both candidates for state treasurer. To read Democrat James B. Lewis’ column, click here. By Demesia PadillaRepublican candidate for state treasurer In a free market, big isn’t the same as corrupt or inefficient. Bigness is the reward of market success. If you give the consumers a good product or service at a price better than the competition, your business tends to grow. Continue Reading

Locatelli admits to acting out of anger, letting personal feelings affect judicial demeanor

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Las Cruces Municipal Judge James T. Locatelli admits that he let anger and personal feelings affect actions related to his decision to issue contempt of court charges against two attorneys in 2004. Locatelli apparently lost his temper with both attorneys during a court hearing he called on Oct. 25, 2004. “I admit to being angry, and will accept appropriate sanctions for that. I do regret letting my personal feelings affect my judicial demeanor,” Locatelli said in a response to the Judicial Standards Commission’s investigation, according to court records. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: High court asked to discipline Locatelli after commission finds misconduct

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The New Mexico Supreme Court has been asked to discipline Las Cruces Municipal Judge James T. Locatelli for improperly holding two attorneys in contempt and for failing to recuse himself from cases in which he should not have been involved. The Judicial Standards Commission filed its petition for discipline Tuesday. It seeks a purging of the contempt charges, a formal reprimand, formal mentorship, an ethics course, and reimbursement of the commission’s costs and expenses. At issue is a shoplifting case from 2004 that was later appealed by the defendant’s attorney to district court. After the appeal, Locatelli issued contempt citations for then-Assistant City Attorney Richard Jacquez, who argued for the city on the appeal, and the attorney who argued the appeal for the defendant, Marcia Milner, according to the commission’s petition. Continue Reading