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In the context of his consideration of the 2010 gubernatorial race, what does it mean that actor Val Kilmer is selling the Pecos ranch he calls home? Maybe not much. But it’s difficult to say. Kilmer has been trying, unsuccessfully, to sell pieces of the ranch — but not his home on the ranch — for some time. Now the Wall Street Journal reports that he has put the entire, 6,000-acre ranch up for sale for $33 million. Continue Reading
Alright, I can finally answer this question with certainty: Secretary of State Mary Herrera has not issued more administrative rules than previous administrations. That despite the recent claim by James Flores, Herrera’s spokesman, that Herrera has “issued more administrative rules and procedures than any past administration.” Flores initially made the claim in an April 9 article about a possible election challenge to his boss in next year’s primary. But I was told the claim was false, so I checked it out, and reported later on April 9 that, at least as it related to elections and elected officials, Herrera trailed the previous two secretaries of state in the number of administrative rules issued. Herrera has brought forth two new rules. By comparison, during her three terms in office former State Rebecca Vigil-Giron enacted nine, and former Secretary of State Stephanie Gonzales issued six during her tenure. Continue Reading
The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr., who is under indictment, should resign. Of 227 voters, 192, or 85 percent, said he should resign, while 25, or 11 percent, said he should not, and 10, or 4 percent, said they don’t know. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading
Attorney General Gary King says any implication made by the Wall Street Journal of pay to play by him or his administration is false. “That there was a contract that was given for a contribution is totally false,” King said. “That implication is really what concerned me more than anything. … There’s no quid pro quo there.” The newspaper at least implied pay to play on Thursday in an editorial I’ve already written about that accused King, other state’s attorneys general and a Houston law firm of being involved in a national “pay-to-sue” scheme. The newspaper alleges that Houston lawyer F. Kenneth Bailey has taken a “pre-packaged lawsuit” against a pharmaceutical company to a number of states and convinced their AGs to get involved by giving them big campaign contributions. Continue Reading
Because of corruption case, State Investment Council suspends contract with Aldus Equity pending a review of investments The State Investment Council (SIC) has suspended a contract with a financial adviser because of questions about a third-party marketer the company employed who has been indicted in a corruption scandal in New York. The SIC announced at a meeting held today that it had suspended business with Aldus Equity, which has served as an adviser on national private equity funds, because of the New York case, SIC spokesman Charles Wollmann said. The suspension is “pending further review of investments made under their guidance,” he said. In March, Hank Morris, a former aide to the New York comptroller, was among those indicted in the scandal in that state. According to The Associated Press, investigators are “examining millions of dollars in payments that several hedge funds and private equity firms paid to placement agents” — often called third-party marketers — during the tenure of former Comptroller Alan Hevesi. Continue Reading
Reading the Washington Post today, you’d think Gov. Bill Richardson was content just chillin’ with his homies in New Mexico. Of course, those who have watched his career know that isn’t really the case, even if Richardson wants people to believe it.The governor’s most extensive interview since withdrawing his nomination to be commerce secretary resulted in today’s Post article, which is headlined, “Bill Richardson, at Peace In the Political Desert.” The governor says he’s had enough of Washington, at least for now. “The end-all, be-all for many in politics is Washington,” the article quoted Richardson as saying. “I’ve been there, I’ve done service in the Congress, Cabinet, the U.N. I don’t miss it one bit. I really don’t.” Richardson was quoted in the article as saying he wishes those who work in Washington well and is “satisfied with what they’re doing.” “I don’t have to be part of it to feel satisfied. Continue Reading
The Wall Street Journal is taking a hard swipe at N.M. Attorney General Gary King and others it says are involved in a national “pay-to-sue” scheme that reeks of pay-to-play politics. In an editorial published on Thursday, the newspaper writes about a Houston lawyer, F. Kenneth Bailey, who “has been running a nationwide ‘pay-to-sue’ operation with Democratic state Attorneys General.” The paper says Bailey and his law firm, Bailey Perrin Bailey, “have taken their pre-packaged lawsuit to many states,” including New Mexico. Basically, Bailey and his law firm give big campaign contributions to attorneys general — or, in the case of Pennsylvania, the governor — and then win lucrative contracts to sue big corporations on behalf of the states. The more states they get to join a lawsuit, the Journal reports, the more likely the defendant company will settle rather than fight a protracted battle, regardless of whether the allegations are solid. King has received $50,000 in campaign contributions from Bailey and/or his law firm, according to the Journal. Continue Reading
New Mexico State University Regent Javier Gonzales says he’s seriously considering running for lieutenant governor next year. The Democrat, who is a former Santa Fe County commissioner and chairman of the board of regents at New Mexico Highlands University, confirmed that he is “actively considering a run” for lieutenant governor. “The election of our next governor is critical to the future success of our state. I believe that I have a unique background in both the public and private sector to assist that governor in successfully leading our state,” Gonzales said. The new member of the NMSU regents said he will make a final decision this summer on whether to run and, in the meantime, remains focused “on my service to my alma mater, New Mexico State University, and reacquainting myself with friends in the Mesilla Valley.” Gonzales pointed out that he has served as an elected or appointed official for 14 years, and said “the desire to continue to serve remains.” “I believe in a bright future for our state. Continue Reading
Bloviating begone! The City of Las Cruces announced a new format for council meetings today aimed at making it easier for the public to participate. The changes, implemented by Mayor Ken Miyagishima, are the result of discussions at recent city council work sessions devoted to “developing a more open and efficient city government,” according to a news release from the city. Among the changes: • Opening ceremonies and proclamations are now limited to 15 minutes to help the council get to business more quickly. • The public-comment section has been moved from the end to the beginning of meetings, and the sections for comments by the mayor, councilors and city manager have been moved to the end of meetings, after all other business has been completed. Continue Reading
Though fiscally conservative, many protesters don’t appear to be wedded to the GOP. What will they do now? “It’s so hard to right all of the wrongs that have happened. I personally can’t even think of a solution at this point. It’s just too messed up. Continue Reading
One more note from the interview I had with Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., earlier this week. He’s not up for re-election until 2012, but Senate seats are quite coveted, and many are wondering if he’s going to run again. So I asked him what he’s thinking about whether he will seek a sixth term in three years. Bingaman said this: “I’m not thinking (about that) at this point. I’m working away, taking every day as it comes,” he said. Continue Reading
Southern New Mexico Democrat Harry Teague was the U.S. House member from New Mexico who raised the most money during the first quarter of the year. Teague, according to the report he filed on Wednesday with the Federal Election Commission, raised $281,259.58 from January to March. He spent $32,569.57 and had $279,287.67 on hand at the close of the reporting period. Some $132,000 of the money he raised came from political action committees. He has an outstanding loan from himself of $450,000. Continue Reading
My best guess is that about 400 people attended Wednesday’s tea party in Las Cruces. I’m writing a more in-depth, analytical piece based on my experience at the event, but in the meantime, I wanted to share photos with you. Here are a few I took. (Remember they’re copyrighted. Click here to learn about purchasing them.) Continue Reading
U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., says he wants to provide permanent wilderness protection for land in Doña Ana County — at least the Organ Mountains — and he hopes to get such a bill approved this year or next. “I do think it’s important to protect the Organ Mountains, and perhaps some other areas too,” Bingaman said during an interview in Las Cruces earlier this week. Many who want wilderness in the county believe the new, all-Democratic congressional delegation increases the chances that new wilderness areas will be approved. Congress recently OK’d, and the president just signed, a Bingaman-sponsored land-protection bill that included the creation of a national monument in the Robledo Mountains, located in Doña Ana County, to protect fossilized, prehistoric trackways that are 290 million years old. That monument has been a big part of the fight that has raged for years over protection of land in the county as a coalition led by the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance has sparred with a group led by some ranchers and four-wheeling enthusiasts. Continue Reading
On trip to Las Cruces, senator also talks about economy, the border Renewable energy and health-care reform are the primary issues, other than the struggling economy, that New Mexico’s senior U.S. senator says he expects Congress to tackle this year. “Those are going to be the big debates in the Congress for the rest of this year, I think — at least of those we can anticipate,” Sen. Jeff Bingaman said in an interview conducted this week in Las Cruces. Bingaman, a Democrat, was in the southern part of the state to tour a computer-manufacturing facility on the Mexican side of the border and meet with local law-enforcement officials in Las Cruces to discuss immigration and border issues. But he said the economic situation has forced immigration and border security to take a backseat to some other issues in Washington. While he expects Congress to once again take up comprehensive immigration reform during the current, two-year session, he said it’s more likely to happen next year. Continue Reading