Many have expressed concern in recent months about Garza’s behavior and alleged drug use

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Carlos Garza’s future as a Doña Ana County magistrate judge may be in doubt after allegations that he intentionally violated an order from the Judicial Standards Commission requiring him to submit to a drug test. Wednesday’s filing seeks Garza’s immediate suspension with pay, an order from the high court that he undergo urine and hair tests for illegal drugs, and an order that he explain why he should not be held in contempt for refusing the commission’s demand for the tests. The commission sought the tests because of allegations that Garza has been using illegal drugs for several months. Garza’s problems are beginning to stack up. He is already on suspension with pay until Nov. Continue Reading

Richardson in Texas, heading to Colorado

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Gov. Bill Richardson is out of the state again. He’s in Austin, Texas today to participate in a meeting of border governors from the United States and Mexico, according to a news release from the governor’s office. He’s then headed to Aspen, Colo., to take part in a weekend conference for the Democratic Governor’s Association, which he chairs. While in Austin, Richardson and Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger will introduce a resolution they are sponsoring on border security and immigration that declares a commitment of governors on both sides of the border to work together to solve problems. Richardson will return Sunday afternoon to New Mexico. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: Macias named district judge

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Former State Sen. Fernando Macias has been named to fill a new district judgeship in Las Cruces, several sources confirmed today. An announcement is expected later today. Gov. Bill Richardson spent about two weeks considering Democrats Macias and Bernadette Sedillo before making the decision early this morning. Macias will be one of two judges on the children’s court. Macias was the more controversial of the two candidates, and the governor will take some heat for appointing him. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: High court asked to force Garza to undergo drug test he allegedly refused

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The New Mexico Supreme Court has been asked to force Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza to submit to a drug test while the commission investigates allegations that he may be using drugs. Garza is already on suspension with pay until November while the Judicial Standards Commission investigates serious allegations against him. The details of those allegations aren’t known because that file has been sealed. The commission filed a new petition Wednesday asking the court to strip the pay from Garza’s suspension, order him to submit to a drug test, and demand that he explain why he has refused a drug test. The commission does have powers related to obtaining judges’ medical records, but whether they apply to forcing drug tests may be an untested area of law. Continue Reading

Planetary politics: Local favorite Pluto demoted

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Here’s a word for all elected officials around New Mexico: Politics aren’t always about you. Astronomers from across the world declared today at a conference in the Czech Republic that Pluto, discovered in 1930 by former New Mexico State University professor Clyde Tombaugh, is no longer classified as the ninth planet in the solar system. You can read about it from the Associated Press. This has been a long, hard battle, but the International Astronomical Union’s declaration is official. Textbooks will have to be rewritten, and locals who hold a special place in their heart for Pluto will be disappointed. Continue Reading

Dendahl challenges Richardson to admit 2008 presidential run

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Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl is challenging Gov. Bill Richardson to “stop lying about” his intent to run for president “and respect New Mexico voters by being up front with them.” Richardson has said repeatedly he hasn’t decided whether he’ll run in 2008 and must first focus on being re-elected governor; meanwhile, he has continued to make appearances at all the places 2008 contenders show up. “The voters aren’t stupid,” Dendahl said in a news release. “Their towns are struggling with flooding. Their schools are failing, and violent criminals are let out to run loose in our communities. Yet our governor is usually nowhere to be found unless you look out of state. Continue Reading

Bank accounts set up for Hatch flood victims

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Hatch Mayor Judd Nordyke has announced that bank accounts have been established in Hatch and Las Cruces so people can make cash donations to assist flood victims in his community. Donations can be made in Hatch at Bank of the Southwest, located at 138 East Hall Street, and in Las Cruces at First Community Bank, which has locations at 277 East Amador Ave. and 3090 Roadrunner Parkway. The accounts are set up in the name of “Hatch Flood Victims.” If you can’t give time, maybe you can give a bit of money. Maybe some of our candidates for office this year can give some cash. Continue Reading

Former ambassador, NPR head joins NMSU

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A former U.S. ambassador to South Africa and National Public Radio president has been named a senior fellow at New Mexico State University. Delano Lewis starts Sept. 1 and will be paid $90,000 for the year. His appointment is renewable. “Del’s experience, insights, reputation and knowledge will be invaluable to the university,” NMSU President Michael Martin said in a news release. Continue Reading

Democrats’ auditor candidate says report that some in party have asked him to quit is false

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The Democrat’s candidate for state auditor finds himself on the defensive after an Albuquerque political blogger reported Tuesday that some in his party want him to abandon his candidacy. Joe Monahan wrote on his blog that Democrat Jeff Armijo is facing a situation “that could drive him from the ticket, or could create a major campaign issue that could cause his defeat as well as fan more ethics flames in the direction of other Dem hopefuls.” Monahan reported few specifics, but wrote that Armijo “has been advised by Dem loyalists that an abandonment of his candidacy should be considered,” and that the “problem … centers on a ‘personal relationship’ of Armijo’s.” The last day he could step down and be replaced on the ballot by the party is Sept. 12. In an e-mail sent this early morning, Armijo told me that he did not want to comment on “the rumors perpetuated by Mr. Monahan” about an alleged problem, and asked for “some degree of journalistic integrity.” Armijo wrote that he will not abandon his candidacy. He said Monahan’s report that some Democrats have asked him to do so is false. Continue Reading

No surprise: Richardson one of 10 most popular governors in the nation, survey finds

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New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson was ranked as one of the 10 most popular governors in the nation, according to the latest Survey USA job-approval poll released Tuesday. The poll, conducted Aug. 11-13, finds a 65 percent approval rating in New Mexico for Democrat Richardson. That ties him for ninth place on the list with Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman, a Republican. “I am pleased that a strong majority of New Mexicans approve of the direction we are taking the state,” Richardson said in a news release. Continue Reading

Pearce and Kissling on the issues

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., and Democratic challenger Al Kissling discussed a wide range of issues at a forum Tuesday. Here’s what they said. Read the next blog posting for an analysis of the candidate forum. On leaving Iraq Kissling“I do not believe that we should leave precipitously from Iraq,” Kissling said. “We cannot leave without trying to fix some of the problems that we have created.” Kissling said one of his first priorities would be the development of an “exit strategy,” and said the United States is currently “creating terrorists there daily rather than removing them.” PearceThe congressman said the war in Iraq is part of a larger war on terrorism, and pointed out that the United States still has troops stationed in nations where wars were fought in the 1940s and 1950s. Continue Reading

Pearce and Kissling both do well at forum

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Republican Steve Pearce and Democrat Al Kissling both performed well in a candidate forum Tuesday afternoon in Las Cruces. The forum is the only one in which Pearce, the incumbent U.S. representative from the 2nd Congressional District in Southern New Mexico, has agreed to participate. Knowing this was likely his only shot to take on Pearce face-to-face, Kissling came out attacking. “One of the problems we have is a lack of strategy and a lack of planning, shortsightedness and indifference (in Congress),” Kissling said in his opening remarks. “My opponent and the Republican Party have turned the American Dream into a nightmare.” It was apparent that Kissling is a political novice. Continue Reading

County discusses response to widespread flooding

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People came from Hatch in the north and Chaparral in the south Tuesday to discuss recent flooding with the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners, and the extent of the ongoing tragedy became apparent. Public Works Director Jorge Granados told commissioners that the “whole county is pretty saturated.” He detailed rains that started the last week in July and, since then, have drenched every community in the county at least once and caused damage in many. The most serious damage, obviously, was in Hatch, which found itself underwater a week ago when water spilled out of an overwhelmed arroyo and into downtown. Gov. Bill Richardson toured the damage today. He sent a request to President Bush Monday asking him to declare the county a federal disaster area. Continue Reading