New Mexico women join others across the nation to host discussions and encourage voting

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Thousands of women in New Mexico and around the nation plan to gather around kitchen tables, at coffee shops, and in break rooms and bars on Tuesday to talk about important issues and encourage voting on Nov. 7. Called Stirring the Pot, the event is designed to mobilize women to vote though gatherings with friends, neighbors or coworkers in casual settings to talk about issues. Results of an online survey completed this summer showed that women believe politicians are out of tough with the concerns of women and families throughout the nation, according to a news release about the events. In New Mexico, events are planned in Las Cruces, Albuquerque and Farmington. Continue Reading

Union voting on once seemingly dead agreement

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Weeks after the prospect of an agreement appeared to be dead, Doña Ana County’s jail and blue-collar workers are voting today on whether to accept a tentative bargaining agreement. The union and county representatives came close to an agreement in August, but a deal seemed to fall apart when the sides failed to reach an agreement on whether to include a “fair-share” clause that would require the county to fire workers who didn’t agree to join the union. At that point, the county announced that arbitration would begin. The union then dropped the demand for fair share because arbitration would have delayed pay raises for several more months, Ed Misquez, the union negotiator, told the Las Cruces Sun-News. There are about 220 employees in the union. Continue Reading

Audio reports on debates are worth your time

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KUNM-Radio in Albuquerque recently put together audio reports of debates between candidates in the races for secretary of state and lieutenant governor. You can listen to the report on the debate between Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, a Democrat, and Republican challenger Sue Wilson Beffort by clicking here. You can listen to the debate between secretary of state candidates Vickie Perea, a Republican, and Mary Herrera, a Democrat, by clicking here. The reports are each about five minutes long and include lengthy quotes from the candidates. Both are worth your time if you’re an undecided voter. Continue Reading

UP Aerospace still seeking cause of anomaly

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UP Aerospace has completed a preliminary analysis of its Sept. 25 launch from Spaceport America. It didn’t identify what went wrong, but eliminated many major problems as possible causes. “The entire vehicle – from nosecone to airframe to motor to fins – remained structurally sound throughout the entire flight,” company President Jerry Larson said in a news release. “Everything was fine from launch, through apogee, back through the atmosphere, to landing. Continue Reading

Upcoming election dates

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Here are the important upcoming election dates in Doña Ana County. Oct. 10 (Tuesday): Voter registration ends. Early voting begins at the Doña Ana County Government Center, 845 N. Motel Boulevard in Las Cruces, Mondays through Fridays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 21: Early voting starts at Hatch High School, Anthony Community Center, Sunland Park Library and Highland Elementary School in Las Cruces. Continue Reading

Vigil’s attorneys challenge conviction

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Former state Treasurer Robert Vigil’s attorneys are challenging the guilty verdict that was handed down Saturday on a sole count in the federal racketeering and extortion case. They claim the guilty verdict isn’t based on sufficient evidence, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The request was expected. Vigil was convicted on one of 24 counts – attempted extortion – but acquitted on the other 23. Sentencing has been set for Jan. Continue Reading

McKenzie’s condition upgraded to serious

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Paige McKenzie’s condition was upgraded from critical to serious condition Thursday night, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Police say they have no leads in the case of the brutal beating of the spokeswoman for Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendah’s campaign. But they’ve not yet been able to talk to McKenzie, who still has a breathing tube in her throat. McKenzie’s family has arrived in Albuquerque and released a written statement thanking the Sandoval County emergency medical technicians who helped her, the Journal reported. “We hope that those responsible for this despicable act will be brought to justice soon,” the statement said. Continue Reading

Dendahl on our bilingual (or not) state

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Gov. Bill Richardson has still not agreed to a debate with Republican challenger John Dendahl, so here is Dendahl’s stance on whether the state is officially bilingual, taken from his Web site. It was originally published in the Albuquerque Journal on May 6, 2006. N. M. Constitution Backs Bilingual — To a PointBy John Dendahl “Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez needs remedial training in New Mexico history and constitutional law. “Along with the many audacious claims of ‘rights’ for the flood of migrants illegally in the United States, the reconquerors have written something they purport to be our national anthem in Spanish. Chávez reportedly thinks this is terrific. Continue Reading

Former judge a finalist for CYFD job

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Former District Judge Larry Ramirez is one of the finalists for administrator of the J. Paul Taylor Juvenile Justice Center west of Las Cruces. The 36-bed, medium-security facility, run by the Children, Youth and Families Department, has been without an administrator since Angelo Vega resigned in June. Ramirez was one of several applicants and has interviewed, sources tell me. An announcement on the new administrator is expected soon. Ramirez resigned from the bench in June during a Judicial Standards Commission investigation into allegations that he engaged in an ongoing pattern of sexual harassment and making inappropriate comments in the courtroom. Continue Reading

Pearce gets VFW nod, doesn’t address DAV rating

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A day after being attacked by Democratic challenger Al Kissling and veterans who are upset with him, U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., announced that he has been endorsed by the Veterans of Foreign Wars Political Action Committee. “During my years representing the 2nd Congressional District in Congress, we have achieved historic progress in areas such as concurrent receipt,” Pearce said in a news release. “Yet, I am determined to fight on – holding the VA accountable for the bureaucratic inefficiency that keeps veterans from receiving the benefits they earned, while pushing for significant reform.” “I am deeply grateful to the men and women of the VFW who have shown a strong commitment to our nation’s veterans. Organizations like the VFW continue to renew the spirit of our great nation, and I am honored and humbled to have their support,” he said. Many veterans are upset because they believe Pearce has voted against issues important to them. Continue Reading

Cano-Garcia remembered as judges sworn in

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This is video of a speech Gov. Bill Richardson gave today during the swearing-in ceremony. It’s about six minutes long, so give it a couple of minutes to load.Newly appointed district judges Fernando Macias and Lisa Schultz, both fighting election battles to keep their jobs past December, were sworn in Thursday. Hundreds were in attendance at the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces for the grand event that included a mariachi band and literally dozens of elected officials, including Gov. Bill Richardson, Speaker of the House Ben Lujan and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez. In some ways, the event had the feel of a Richardson-for-president or Chavez-for-governor rally, as many spoke fondly of the two, who received several rounds of applause from the group. In speeches, others predicted bright futures for both men. Continue Reading

Two weeks later, no court date set despite GOP request for emergency hearing on its lawsuit

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It’s been two weeks since the Republican Party sued the secretary of state and attorney general, alleging that two Republican candidates were unfairly denied spots on the Nov. 7 general election ballot and that the Democrats illegally placed a candidate on the ballot. The party asked a district judge in Santa Fe for an emergency hearing because ballots are being printed. As of Wednesday, Judge Daniel Sanchez had not set a hearing. “Judge Sanchez should have set a hearing date by now,” said Republican Party spokesman Jonah Cohen. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: Dendahl spokeswoman attacked, in critical condition

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Paige McKenzie, the spokeswoman for Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl, is in critical condition at UNM Hospital after being beaten in a bank parking lot Wednesday evening. Dendahl told KOB-TV this morning that McKenzie was attacked around 6:30 p.m. in the parking lot of First Commercial Bank in Bernalillo, where she stopped because she had at least one flat tire, according to the Albuquerque Journal. McKenzie is on a respirator to help her breathing, has a broken jaw and shattered teeth, Dendahl told KOAT-TV in Albuquerque. Dendahl told KKOB Radio that she was hit across the face with a tire iron, and that her attacker may have slashed her tires to get her to pull over, according to the Journal. Dendahl told me the injuries are life threatening. Continue Reading

Some Democrats think Richardson should debate

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I had several conversations Wednesday with Democrats who are disappointed that Gov. Bill Richardson won’t debate Republican challenger John Dendahl. I was surprised to hear it, but their thoughts were interesting. Many told me they think Richardson’s decision is based on his dislike of Dendahl, and that Richardson is letting that personal feeling get in the way of what’s best for his campaign. Many Democrats told me they believe a debate could only help Richardson, because it would give more people a chance to learn about Dendahl – and, several told me, the more people learn about Dendahl, the less they like him. A couple of Las Cruces Democrats also told me they are disappointed that Richardson is putting his personal feelings above his party. Continue Reading

PRC candidate not happy with selection of new insurance superintendent

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After I wrote Tuesday that the two candidates for the Public Regulation Commission District 5 seat weren’t happy with the secrecy surrounding the PRC’s hiring of a new insurance superintendent, another candidate wrote to put in her two cents. Stephanie DuBois of Tularosa, the Democrat challenging District 2 Commissioner David King, wrote in an e-mail that “government works better when you let the sun shine in.” DuBois, Democrat Sandy Jones and Republican Earl Greer were all upset that the PRC kept secret the names of finalists and the salary being offered until the day before it announced that Chavez had been hired. After the PRC announced Tuesday that it had selected Morris Chavez for the job, DuBois sent a second e-mail today decrying his selection. “I am more than disappointed in their choice,” she wrote. “… We can’t seem to find anyone for these high-paying positions that doesn’t have a DWI or some conflict of interest. Continue Reading