Lots of activity Thursday in Garza case, but it’s all secret

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There was a lot of activity Thursday in the case of suspended Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza, but it’s all under seal, so the details are secret. Early Thursday, the Judicial Standards Commission sought an “emergency request for two immediate orders” from the state Supreme Court, according to the court clerk’s office. The request stemmed from the commission’s inquiry into allegations that Garza is using illegal drugs, and came a day after the court placed Garza on a 30-day suspension without pay and ordered him to immediately submit to a hair test for illegal drugs. Garza claimed late Wednesday that he took the test. In response to the commission’s motion on Thursday, the court issued a request for an immediate response from Garza, which it received. Continue Reading

Sheriff candidates remain cordial during forum

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The candidates for Doña Ana County sheriff were cordial and agreed often during a candidate forum Thursday night in Mesquite. Sheriff Todd Garrison, a Republican, is facing Democratic challenger Ralph Misquez, a former undersheriff, on Nov. 7. This is the most hotly contested local race in Doña Ana County this year. The forum, attended by about 40 people, was sponsored by the New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment and moderated by activists from the Mesquite and Vado area. Continue Reading

Journalist’s release boosts Richardson’s popularity

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In August, Gov. Bill Richardson was ranked one of the 10 most popular governors in the nation by Survey USA. He tied for ninth with Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman. Since then, Richardson went to Africa and rescued Paul Salopek, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist from New Mexico who had been imprisoned by the Sudanese government and charged with espionage. It isn’t often that a governor gets a change to personally rescue one of his constituents, or that a state has a governor capable of pulling off such a feat, and the citizens of New Mexico know it. The newest Survey USA poll, released today, ranks Richardson as the seventh most popular governor in the nation, with a 69-percent approval rating among his constituents. Continue Reading

Land commissioner hopefuls trade barbs at debate

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State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons began airing radio commercials this week that are, to say the least, nasty, and his challenger, Democrat Jim Baca, has been attacking him for weeks for taking huge campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry. So it’s no surprise that the two took some jabs at each other during a debate Wednesday in Albuquerque. But, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, the two remain subdued even as they took shots at each other. Baca pointed repeatedly to Lyons’ contributions from oil and gas, which are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. “I was the first New Mexico land commissioner elected without the blessing of the oil and gas industry, and if I’m elected again, it’ll be the same,” the New Mexican quoted Baca as saying. Continue Reading

District judge race should be close

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The district judge race between Democrat Lisa Schultz and Republican Janetta Hicks should be close. The two are vying to replace Silvia Cano-Garcia, who died recently following a long battle with cancer. In addition to asking voters to choose her on Nov. 7, Schultz has submitted her name to a judicial nominating committee that meets on Oct. 2, and is asking that Gov. Bill Richardson appoint her to the position for the remainder of the year, until the candidate who wins the election takes office in January. Continue Reading

Sheriff, commission candidates take part in forum

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Candidates for Doña Ana County sheriff and commission will be quizzed at a candidate forum tonight in Mesquite. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. at the Mesquite volunteer fire station, 1 Firehouse Road. Candidates in attendance will include Republican Sheriff Todd Garrison and his challenger, Democrat Ralph Misquez; District 1 Commissioner Oscar Vasquez Butler, a Democrat, and his challenger, Republican John Zimmerman; and District 3 commission candidates Mack Haley, a Republican, and Karen Perez, a Democrat. Arturo Uribe, a Mesquite resident with the New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment, helped organize the event. He said the candidates will be quizzed by a panel of south-valley community leaders and later by people in attendance at the forum. Continue Reading

Richardson agrees to one debate with Dendahl

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Gov. Bill Richardson has agreed to one debate with Republican challenger John Dendahl. The announcement ends weeks of wondering whether Richardson would take part in any debates. Dendahl has repeatedly issued challenges, and two Albuquerque television stations had offered televised debates. Richardson isn’t yet saying when or where the debate will take place, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Asked why he’s only taking part in one debate, Richardson told the New Mexican, “I agreed to one. Continue Reading

First spaceport launch set for Monday

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If all goes as planned, the first launch from Spaceport America will take place Monday morning. Though officials say it could be delayed by as much as 10 hours or postponed to a later date, the first launch of an UP Aerospace rocket carrying 50 scientific and other payloads is set for 7:30 a.m. Members of the public can only view the event by traveling to the spaceport area from Truth or Consequences, not from the Upham exit on Interstate 25 near Las Cruces. Take 3rd Street in T or C, which becomes Highway Route 51, east for approximately 10 miles. You’ll reach roadblocks and will be directed to the viewing area. There will be no food or water provided and, because of possible delays, officials urge those who attend to bring food, water, sunscreen, hats, chairs and blankets. Continue Reading

Richardson wants National Guard status elevated

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Gov. Bill Richardson says the National Guard’s status should be elevated by giving its chief a seat on the Defense Department’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. Richardson made his comments Tuesday while speaking at the National Guard’s annual conference in Albuquerque, according to the Air Force Times. “It is a full partner in our national military strategy and it must be given the respect it deserves,” the Times quoted Richardson as saying. “To put it bluntly, our citizen-soldiers deserve a square deal from Washington.” The National Guard Association backs such an elevation in the status of the Guard. Richardson said he “strongly supports” legislation that would do that, according to the Times. Continue Reading

Garza says he won’t resign, took drug test

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Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza says he has decided not to quit and he took a drug test Wednesday in Albuquerque.“I’ve decided I’m going to fight on as usual,” Garza told me. “I’m not going to let them beat me. … I taught my children not to be quitters, and I’m not going to quit myself.”Garza said he expects the results of the hair test for illegal drugs in the next few days. He said he is concerned about paying his bills, now that he has been suspended without pay for at least the next 30 days.“I’m kind of scared right now about my future,” Garza said. “I don’t know how I’m going to pay my house payment at this point.”Garza said he’ll have to make limited use of his attorney.“I’m going to be defending myself. Continue Reading

Two apply for district judgeship

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Two attorneys have applied for the district court vacancy created by the recent death of Silvia Cano-Garcia.The office is up for election on Nov. 7. Democrat Lisa Schultz will face Republican Janetta Hicks.But unless the governor appoints a judge, the position will remain vacant until January. Richardson’s office said two weeks ago it did not know whether he would make an appointment. I have a call in to find out whether that has changed.The list of applicants, released Tuesday, includes Schultz and Republican Rita Nuñez Neumann, who is on the ballot to run for a different district judgeship in November.A judicial nominating commission will interview the applicants beginning at 9 a.m. on Oct. Continue Reading

Garza says he may not comply with high court order to submit to drug test today, may resign

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Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza is considering whether to comply with an order from the New Mexico Supreme Court that he submit to a drug test by the end of the day.Following a hearing Wednesday morning in Santa Fe, the high court suspended Garza for 30 days without pay and ordered him to undergo a hair test for illegal drugs before the end of the business day. Garza said after the hearing that he does not know whether he will do that.“I might,” he said. “… I don’t know whether I want to satisfy their curiosity at this point.”Garza said there is also a possibility he will resign.“I don’t know whether I want to remain a part of this organization any longer. I’m disgusted. It’s unfair,” Garza said.Garza had already been placed on suspension with pay by the high court through Nov. Continue Reading

Denver Post praises Richardson’s diplomacy

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The praise for Gov. Bill Richardson’s diplomatic skills continues. In a weekend editorial, the Denver Post praised Richardson for securing the recent release of journalist Paul Salopek, who was held by the Sudanese government. “No matter what his position, he has shown an undeniable knack for unconventional diplomacy,” the Post editorial states. “It served him well in Washington as a troubleshooter for President Clinton and perhaps could again if he were to return to Washington.” “Whether or not he enters the presidential race, Richardson has demonstrated his ability to tackle tough diplomatic tasks,” the editorial concludes. “It’s a singular record which has won him friends across the world.” Thanks to Live From Silver City for alerting me to the editorial. Continue Reading

Albuquerque City Council approves ‘Kendra’s Law;’ Las Cruces might want to do the same

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The Albuquerque City Council has done what the New Mexico Legislature failed to do last year – create a law allowing judges to order treatment and medication for mentally ill people. The council approved what’s called “Kendra’s Law” Monday night, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Before ordering care, a judge would have to determine whether a mentally ill person is potentially dangerous and meets other criteria, in addition to being in need of treatment, according to the newspaper. “I doubt that this is a 100 percent cure for what happened, but this is a step in the right direction,” Dave Fisher, whose son was shot to death last year, told the Journal. A mentally ill man has been charged in his son’s death. Continue Reading

Politicos trying Web sites that attack opponents

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The newest trend in New Mexico politics seems to be creating Web sites that attack the other side. A couple of weeks ago, the Republican Party of New Mexico revealed New Mexico For Sale, a blog devoted, according to the site, “to exposing and critiquing corruption in our state government. We archive and keep track of articles, police reports and judicial decisions relating to government intimidation, cronyism, extortion, voter fraud, negligence, and media bias. National security is also a great concern to us.” It’s an obviously conservative blog that attacks almost exclusively Democrats, though it did report the news last week that U.S. Rep. Bob Ney, R-Ohio, pleaded guilty to corruption charges stemming from the Jack Abramoff scandal. The site draws on other news sources and provides biting commentary about politicos and journalists the Republican Party perceives as acting in a less-than-ethical manner. Continue Reading