County treasurer and manager need to put aside differences and work together

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Tuesday’s presentation by Doña Ana County Treasurer Jim Schoonover to the commission about the county’s investments felt more like a Congressional impeachment hearing. Schoonover and the county’s contract investment advisor, former State Rep. Robert Burpo, answered tough questions from the commission for almost two hours about how the county’s money is invested and how Schoonover hired Burpo. Commissioners expressed three concerns: ● Though income from interest on investments has increased since Schoonover took office in 2005, a few mistakes have been made that resulted in less being made than was possible. ● Commissioners expressed varying degrees of concern about how Burpo was hired, with one saying there was at least the appearance that he was improperly pre-selected for the job. ● Many locally owned banks have been cut out of the county’s investments because Schoonover has begun requiring them to secure the money at a rate of 102 percent, making it impractical and in some cases impossible for banks with smaller amounts of capital. Continue Reading

Job performance wasn’t the only reason for Langford’s firing, county says

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Doña Ana County released a statement today indicating that job performance wasn’t the only reason for the firing of former Elections Supervisor Mari Langford. “Mari Langford was terminated for issues related to job performance and allegations of personal misconduct,” said county spokesman Jess Williams. He released no further information. It’s highly unusual for any government to comment about a termination beyond acknowledging the date that it happened. Reasons for termination are generally not made public, and considered by most to be protected personnel information. Langford could not be reached for comment. Continue Reading

N.M. is part of nation’s ‘next great swing region’

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We all know that New Mexico has become a battleground state in national politics, but one researcher says it is part of a group of states that’s becoming “the next great swing region in American politics.” Eight states – Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming – are becoming the next great battlefront, writes Ryan Sager of RealClearPolitics.com in a new article. He notes that while a shift of about 60,000 votes in Ohio would have given the 2004 election to John Kerry, a shift of 70,000 votes in Colorado, Nevada and New Mexico would have done the same. George Bush won those states by 5 percentage points, 3 points and 1 point, respectively. What’s unique here, Sager writes, is that the West is as fiscally conservative as the South, but is much more socially libertarian. The West is less religious, more Hispanic, and has a huge influx of ex-Californians. Continue Reading

County acknowledges firing elections supervisor

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Doña Ana County confirmed today that it fired former Elections Supervisor Mari Langford. “She was terminated on Monday, July 3,” County spokesman Jess Williams said today in an e-mail. Langford was placed on leave two weeks ago “pending the outcome of a personnel matter” the county said would be resolved within two weeks. At the time, her county issued cellular telephone and e-mail address were cancelled, indicating that she was probably being fired. But the county gives up to two weeks for appeal following a notice of termination. Continue Reading

Richardson goes on the attack when he should be taking the high road

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Most expected John Dendahl, when he jumped into the gubernatorial race last month as the Republican nominee, to ruthlessly attack Gov. Bill Richardson. It’s what he’s always done in the past, and he is an extreme underdog, so it made sense that he would do it again. Instead, it was Richardson who, days later, unveiled a radio ad accusing Dendahl of political tactics that are more common in third-world nations than the United States, and essentially called the Republican nominee a liar and cheater. The Republican Party responded with a news release questioning why Richardson prefers “mudslinging to debating the issues.” Dendahl had invited Richardson to debate eminent domain just before the governor’s radio ad began. On Thursday, Dendahl failed to turn in a campaign finance report, though the reports were due. Continue Reading

Tireless spaceport supporter dies at 86

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I first met Len Sugerman eight months ago. He was being recognized at one of many events in the past year related to the development of the Southwest Regional Spaceport for his work to keep the spaceport dream alive. At every event I’ve attended since, he was also recognized. Sugerman died Thursday at his home in Las Cruces at the age of 86. The cause of his death was not released. Continue Reading

Most say Torres should not be county clerk

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Today marks the start of me putting on the record the results of the weekly polls on this site. Last week, I asked whether you think Rita Torres should continue serving as Doña Ana County clerk. Most of you said no: 23, or 26 percent, said she should continue to serve, but 66, or 74 percent, said she should not. Of course, the poll results aren’t scientific, though the poll only allows one vote from each computer’s internet address. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located on the right side of the page. Continue Reading

Garrison raising and spending more than Misquez

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Republican Sheriff Todd Garrison has outraised and outspent his challenger in this year’s election, Democrat Ralph Misquez. However, Misquez has run before and already had many campaign signs. Thus far, Garrison has raised about $13,039 and spent $11,421. Misquez has raised about $10,417 and spent $8,564. Neither reported much activity in June, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday. Continue Reading

Baca’s poll has him ahead of Lyons

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A recent poll paid for by Jim Baca has the Democrat ahead of incumbent Republican Pat Lyons in the land commissioner race by five percentage points. Despite that, Baca writes on his blog that “the thought of (Lyons’) bank roll is scary.” Lyons has $488,892 in the bank, according to campaign finance reports filed Thursday. Baca, who faced a primary while Lyons did not, has $6,977 in the bank, and an unpaid debt of $12,100 to himself. The poll has Baca up with 38 percent of the vote to Lyons’ 33 percent, and 29 percent undecided. Among those registered independent of a political party, Baca has 34 percent of the vote to Lyons’ 22 percent, with 43 percent undecided, according to the poll. Continue Reading

Richardson should get involved in Korea situation

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For anyone who wasn’t paying attention, North Korea tested seven missiles earlier this week, one a long-range ballistic missile that could reach the Western United States. That missile failed, but it was apparently aimed at the waters near Hawaii. Had it not failed, the United States would have tried to shoot it down. The North apparently has at least one more missile it could soon test. This is a nation with nukes. Continue Reading

Starchaser finally announces plans for space facility

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After a major shakeup a few months ago, Starchaser Industries, Inc. has finally acquired land in Southern New Mexico, becoming the third space-industry company to announce plans to locate major facilities here. Talks with the City of Las Cruces to secure land at its West Mesa Industrial Park fell apart about the same time the company replaced its North America staff members, all based in Las Cruces. A deal to purchase land near Hatch for an astronaut training facility also never came to fruition. Now the company is announcing that it will build rocket manufacturing and astronaut training facilities and retail, lodging and entertainment areas on a 120-acre site located 16 miles west of the Las Cruces International Airport on Interstate 10, according to articles in the Las Cruces Sun-News and Albuquerque Journal. The Southwest Regional Spaceport at Upham is going to be built. The more companies that commit money and time to help the project succeed, the better. Continue Reading

Kissling fundraising exceeds expectations but still dwarfed by Pearce’s money

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Al Kissling, the Democratic challenger to Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., exceeded his own fundraising hopes last month, but he still has a long way to go. In an e-mail sent to supporters this week, Kissling said he had a goal of raising $20,000 in June, but in fact raised almost $30,000. “This bodes well for the future of this grassroots campaign,” Kissing wrote. “… All things are possible if we continue to work together.” Kissling still has a long way to go. As of the reports filed on May 17, Kissling had raised a total of $49,244 and spent $44,904, according to OpenSecrets.org. Continue Reading

GQ touts Richardson as running mate for Hillary

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Gov. Bill Richardson received an interesting plug from GQ magazine this month. The July issue’s print edition (it’s not available online) features several probable 2008 presidential contenders. Though polls show Richardson as a nearly non-contender in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, the magazine says Richardson is “the most likely to end up somewhere on the ticket,” calling him “a natural running mate for a senator who wants to embrace the reform message – especially his old friend Hillary.” Many speculate that Richardson wants to be president but is willing to settle for and would make a great running mate for someone like Hillary Clinton – who polls suggest would secure 40 percent of the vote without much effort but would have a hard time getting the remaining votes needed to win. Someone like Richardson might deliver the yet-to-be-defined Hispanic vote to someone like Clinton and put a Democrat back in the White House, many believe. But don’t underestimate Richardson’s chances of being the first name on the Democratic ticket. Continue Reading