Poll shows skepticism about push for ethics reform

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Most who voted in last week’s poll are skeptical of the push by Gov. Bill Richardson and others to enact meaningful ethics reform next year. Out of 93 voters, 62, or 67 percent, said our state’s leaders will pass new laws that accomplish nothing. 21, or 23 percent, said they won’t do anything, and 10, or 11 percent, said they’ll enact new laws that help successfully change the state’s political culture. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll. It’s located at the top of this page in the right column. Continue Reading

Dendahl’s stepson arrested on drug charges

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Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl’s stepson was arrested earlier this month on drug charges. Timothy McKinley, 37, is facing cocaine possession and other charges after an officer found him parked next to a frontage road near Santa Fe earlier this month, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Dendahl told The New Mexican that those who break the law must face the consequences. “His mother and I will continue to support him any way we can, as we would any of our six children,” he said. Dendahl’s press staffer sent an e-mail Friday afternoon notifying media of the article. Continue Reading

Richardson has good shot at Democratic presidential nomination, sports gamblers say

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New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson has a pretty good shot at being the Democrat’s nominee for president in 2008, if you believe sports gamblers. According to the site SportsInteraction.com, Hillary Clinton is most likely to be the Democrat’s nominee, but Richardson isn’t far behind. The odds Clinton will get the nomination are 1.72 to 1, according to the site. Richardson and former Virginia Gov. Mark Warner are tied for second place, each with 5-to-1 odds of getting the nod. Former vice presidential nominee John Edwards is in fourth, with 6-to-1 odds. Continue Reading

Madrid, Richardson need to show they’re not part of ‘pay-to-play’ system

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Repeatedly in the past few months I’ve read articles about various New Mexico leaders receiving large political donations from companies about the same time they made decisions that favored those companies. Repeatedly, the politicos have said the donations didn’t affect policy decisions. They say they aren’t part of any alleged “pay-to-play” culture that exists in New Mexico. Obviously, the donors think such a system exists here, or they wouldn’t be giving such donations. It isn’t as though corporate giants are giving out of the goodness of their hearts, at least in most instances. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: It appears county investment advisor, not treasurer, is to blame for lost money

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It appears that Doña Ana County’s investment adviser, not the treasurer, is going to have to answer some tough questions about lost public money. In question are two $10 million wire transfers of county money made on April 21 and May 12, both Fridays. Neither was invested until the following Monday, and the county lost some $10,000 in interest because of that. Robert Burpo, a former state representative from Albuquerque, told the county commission during a tough grilling on Tuesday that, had his company, LPL investments, received the money before 1 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on both Fridays, he would have been able to invest it in time for it to earn interest during the weekend. He said repeatedly he did not know where the money was for those weekends, but said he had not received it in time to invest it. Continue Reading

Development proposals highlight need for detailed city growth plan

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A couple of development proposals currently being considered in Las Cruces are creating some interesting politics. Developer Ken Thurston wants to build more than 1,200 homes north of the city and have it annexed into the city. Naturally, many rural residents in the area don’t like the idea. They want their area to remain rural. Developer Philip Philippou wants to develop the land where the Las Cruces Country Club is currently located as the country club moves to a Philippou development on the East Mesa. Continue Reading

Aragon and at least one current legislator at center of FBI public corruption investigation

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If you were astonished by the state treasurer’s scandal, prepare for an even bigger shock in the near future. At least, that’s the rumor surrounding an FBI probe into the construction of three relatively new government buildings in Albuquerque that are among the largest construction projects in the state’s history: the $41 million Bernalillo County Courthouse, the $34 million Metropolitan Courthouse and the $90 million Metropolitan Detention Center. Now, thanks to some quality reporting by the Albuquerque Tribune, we know the investigation centers in part around former Senate leader Manny Aragon, the currently embattled president of New Mexico Highlands University. Sources tell me the investigation also centers a current and powerful legislator. Those projects involved some of the most prestigious construction and architectural companies in the state, including some that have worked on major projects in the Las Cruces area. Continue Reading

Dendahl hits back at Richardson, Democrats

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Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl hit back Wednesday at Gov. Bill Richardson, who fired the first negative campaign shots within days of Dendahl becoming a candidate last month. During a speech to the Optimists Club, Dendahl tried to emphasize his native New Mexican roots and paint Richardson as someone who’s only here to further his political career. He called the ethical standards in the Richardson administration “disgraceful.” “This year, the U.S. attorney has pulled the scab off the corruption in New Mexico,” Dendahl said, referring to the state treasurer scandal. “But there are no ethics laws in the world that can make unethical people behave in an ethical manner.” “Unlike the current governor, who’s always had his head in the public trough, I bring a business perspective and much successful business experience,” Dendahl said. “And I intend to do two things: one, stay at home, and two, restore a sense of respect for our state employees so they can once again hold their heads up proudly.” I will say this: It’s easy to know how to hit Richardson. Continue Reading

Elections task force to hold public hearings

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The first of four public hearings held by the elections task force appointed by the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners will be July 22 at 10 a.m. The meeting will be in the commission chambers at the county’s government center, located at 845 North Motel Boulevard. The task force plans three additional public hearings – one in Hatch, one in Sunland Park, and the fourth in Las Cruces – to solicit public input about the elections process. The task force is also meeting weekly to discuss what its members are learning and review policies and procedures in the county’s elections bureau. Members elected Republican Maria Silva Sutton and Democrat Lynn Ellins as co-chairs at their first meeting, held last week. Commissioners hope to receive recommendations from the task force by Sept. Continue Reading

Aragon mess proves that university president positions should not be political appointments

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Manny Aragon is proving why university president positions should not be political appointments. As one of the most powerful legislative leaders in state history, the political mastermind left the Senate a couple of years ago to take the job as president of New Mexico Highlands University. It’s been a disaster. The professors don’t like him. He’s been at odds with the regents, who are attempting to fire him. Continue Reading

White Sands missile defense test a success

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The Air Force successfully completed its third test of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense missile system this morning at White Sands Missile Range. Area media reported that the test, which took place at about 5:30 a.m., was seen in El Paso and as far away as Phoenix. The missile defense system test comes days after North Korea’s testing of several missiles. The United States was prepared to shoot down one missile that had been aimed at the waters near Hawaii, but the missile failed. Two more launches will be held at White Sands before testing moves to Hawaii. Continue Reading

Fired county elections supervisor speaks out

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Fired Doña Ana County Elections Supervisor Mari Langford responded today for the first time to her termination. Her comments come the day after the county issued a statement saying she was fired both for poor job performance and allegations of personal misconduct. It’s unusual for governments to release such information about personnel matters. “According to popular perception, the quality of an election administrator’s job performance ultimately translates into whether Election Day runs smoothly, with few complaints,” Langford said in a written statement. “I found it was much more than that. Continue Reading

ACLU comes to defense of minor parties

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The American Civil Liberties Union is coming to the defense of minor political parties in New Mexico, and it’s about time. In a lawsuit filed Monday in Albuquerque, the ACLU is attacking a state law that requires minor parties to twice gather signatures to get candidates on the ballot – once to petition for formal party status, then again to get their names on the ballot, according to an Associated Press article that you can read via the Albuquerque Journal. The lawsuit was filed on behalf of the Libertarian Party of New Mexico and its four candidates who are trying to get on the November ballot. The ACLU says the law violates the right of political association by forcing the minor parties to obtain signatures from people who aren’t party members. The Libertarian Party has already gathered the signatures to become recognized with formal party status. Continue Reading

Commissioners oppose annexation and development proposal that sidesteps their voices

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Doña Ana County commissioners voted Tuesday to oppose a proposed city annexation and development that would skirt the normal approval procedures. Developer Ken Thurston wants to build 1,707 homes on 210 acres in the Taylor Road area north of Las Cruces. The city council is set to vote later this month on a proposal to annex the land into the city and approve the development. There are two problems with this proposal: Residents of the area in question live in the county and have no voice in city government. In addition, the proposal bypasses the normal approval procedures. Continue Reading

White House strikes back at Richardson over North Korea diplomacy

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The White House finally struck back Tuesday at New Mexico’s governor and his repeated (and successful) attempts to step on the Bush Administration’s toes over the North Korea situation. New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson, who served as United Nations ambassador and energy secretary under President Clinton, “went with flowers and chocolates, and he went with light-water nuclear reactors… and a basketball signed by Michael Jordan and many other inducements for the ‘dear leader’ to try to agree not to develop nuclear weapons, and it failed,” White House spokesman Tony Snow said today, according to the Washington Post. “We’ve learned from that mistake.” Bush has increasingly expressed frustration in recent days with diplomacy after North Korea test fired several missiles last week. For a time, it was Bush who was calling for cooperation with other nations, a rare event indeed. But Richardson knows how to get on national television and has appeared in the past several days saying that the North simply needs more attention, including promises of aid similar to those being offered to Iran. Continue Reading