One Las Crucen seeks GOP leadership position

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When members of the state GOP’s central committee meet on Saturday to choose their leaders for the next two years, at least one Las Crucen will be a candidate. Isaac E. Chavez, a former state House and Las Cruces City Council candidate, announced his candidacy for 1st vice chair of the state party in a Monday letter to members of the central committee.He’ll face the party’s current secretary, Nina Martinez, who is the only other declared candidate. “In order for our Party to recover from the devastating losses of the past few years, we will all need to roll up our sleeves and work harder than we have ever done before! This means that the next Chairman of the Party is going to need a 1st Vice Chair who has a plan based on fresh, new ideas and the work ethic to implement them,” Chavez wrote in the letter. “We need a 1st Vice Chair who is not tied to any factions or beholden to any single particular geographical area of the state.” Other Republicans from the state’s second largest city could still become candidates for one of the leadership positions, but at this point, Chavez is the only declared candidate from the southern part of the state. Continue Reading

Teague’s business partner congratulates him

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This article has been updated. New members of the state’s congressional delegation are being officially sworn in today, but the most interesting statement I have found about the situation didn’t come from any of them. It came from Johnny Cope, chairman of the state Transportation Commission, who wanted to congratulate the new 2nd Congressional District representative, Harry Teague, for being named to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure. Here’s Cope’s statement, sent by a spokesperson for the state Department of Transportation: “I would like to congratulate Congressman-elect Teague on this important appointment. He will be a strong voice not only for New Mexico but for our nation as we undertake a major transportation and highway infrastructure improvement plan proposed under President-elect Obama’s economic stimulus package. Continue Reading

Some quotes about Richardson’s withdrawal

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It’s been somewhat difficult to get many New Mexico politicians to comment on the news that Gov. Bill Richardson is withdrawing his nomination to be commerce secretary because of an ongoing probe into allegations of pay-to-play in his administration. The Albuquerque Journal published the reactions of some politicos, which you can read by clicking here. In addition, here are a few more quotes I’ve gathered:From U.S. Sen.-elect Tom Udall, who will be officially sworn in Tuesday: “I am disappointed that Gov. Richardson will not become our next U.S. secretary of commerce, because he would have served our country well. His decision to put the progress of the Obama administration and the difficult challenges facing our nation first demonstrates his commitment to our nation.” From Whitney Cheshire, communications director for the Republican Party of New Mexico: “This is a very serious and unfortunate situation for New Mexicans. Our state has been under one party’s rule for decades and is now riddled with scandal. Continue Reading

CDR’s head responds to pay-to-play probe

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The head of the company at the center of an investigation into allegations of pay-to-play in Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration proclaimed that he and his company have done nothing wrong in a letter posted today on his company’s Web site. David Rubin, head of CDR Financial Products, wrote in the letter that he gives to political action committees like those formed by Bill Richardson not in exchange for state business, but because he has “been an unabashed supporter of Democratic causes and public figures, especially those like Gov. Richardson, who support a liberal, inclusive agenda.” “It is true that I have made contributions to political causes and candidates in New Mexico — including contributions directly to Bill Richardson’s gubernatorial campaign and to organizations supporting voter registration drives and other aspects of the electoral process,” Rubin wrote. “That support was given with full compliance of state and federal laws.” He wrote that he and his company were surprised that Richardson withdrew on Sunday his acceptance of President-elect Barack Obama’s nomination of him to be commerce secretary. He called the timing of the investigation and media coverage surrounding it unfortunate for Richardson, who he wrote is “an exceptionally able and dedicated public official, who was highly deserving of the opportunity to hold a cabinet-level position in the new Obama Administration.” Rubin wrote that CDR “has never practiced pay-for-play, on any playing field where we do business,” and underwent “a rigorous vetting process” before being selected for the state contract. “CDR will continue to work closely with our many government clients in developing the strongest risk controls and financing strategies they can sustain,” Rubin wrote. Continue Reading

Guv has hired prominent criminal defense lawyer

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Gov. Bill Richardson has hired a prominent criminal defense attorney to represent him in the investigation of allegations of pay-to-play in his administration, The Associated Press is reporting.Peter Schoenburg is a partner in the firm Rothstein, Donatelli, Hughes, Dahlstrom, Schoenburg & Bienvenu, LLP, a firm the news service reports “specializes in criminal defense, complex civil and commercial litigation, Indian law and other issues.” I attempted a couple of weeks ago to contact Schoenburg to confirm that Richardson had hired him, but was not able to reach him. The Associated Press was not able to reach him either, but confirmed through “a federal law enforcement official who asked to remain unidentified because he was not authorized to discuss the investigation” that Richardson had hired Schoenburg. According to his firm’s Web site, Schoenburg has been in private practice since 1993 and has successfully represented many defendants in white-collar cases. He is a former state public defender. Schoenburg has a bachelor’s degree from Yale and earned his law degree from Rutgers University in 1978. Continue Reading

CDR saved the state millions of dollars

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But the company has been involved in several controversial situations in other states The company at the center of the investigation into allegations of pay-to-play that derailed Bill Richardson’s commerce secretary nomination, CDR Financial, was hired to save the state money, and it did save the state millions of dollars by restructuring escrow funds. The New Mexico Finance Authority hired the company to advise the state on interest-rate swaps and restructuring escrow funds related to a $1.6 billion transportation project Richardson dubbed GRIP, or Governor Richardson’s Investment Partnership. According to documents from NMFA, CDR saved the state more than $8.8 million through its work to restructure escrow funds, and received as payment about $443,000 — 5 percent of the money it saved the state. In all, the state paid CDR almost $1.5 million for its work, with most of the rest of the money the company was paid coming as a result of its work on the interest-rate swaps that were intended to lower costs and make the GRIP bonds less vulnerable to shifting interest rates. The NMFA hasn’t released documents that claim the company’s work on interest-rate swaps saved the state a significant amount of money. Continue Reading

‘Hurting’ guv says he’ll focus on agenda for NM

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Gov. Bill Richardson continued to insist during a news conference today in Santa Fe that a probe into allegations of pay-to-play in his administration will clear him, and he hinted that he might still leave the state’s top job at a future date to take a position in the Obama administration.In the meantime, he said, it’s time to move forward with an agenda that will better the lives of New Mexicans. At the quickly called news conference, Richardson was quick to point out that Obama said on Sunday that he looks forward to Richardson joining his administration at a later date, after the conclusion of the investigation. “I still believe I have a lot to give in public service,” Richardson said, according to video of the news conference that was broadcast on the Web site of KOAT-TV in Albuquerque. Richardson said he had to make a difficult choice in deciding to reject Barack Obama’s nomination of him to be commerce secretary, but he said it’s time to move forward. “I lost a cabinet appointment, but I think we have to focus on what people are losing in this country,” Richardson said, adding that the economic times should be the focus because people are losing jobs, savings and homes. Continue Reading

Wilson may run for governor in 2010

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This news is especially interesting given Gov. Bill Richardson’s withdrawal of his nomination to be commerce secretary: Heather Wilson, who is leaving public office after serving 10 years in Congress, may run for governor in 2010.The Republican told The Associated Press last week that she is considering running, but said she doesn’t know how soon she will reach a decision. “When I run, I run hard and I run to win,” the news service quoted Wilson as saying. “It’s a major commitment.”Wilson’s chances will be greatly impacted by the results of a federal grand jury investigation into allegations of pay-to-play in Richardson’s administration, an investigation that resulted today in Richardson announcing that he will remain governor, at least for now, instead of accepting Barack Obama’s nomination to be commerce secretary. Lt. Gov Diane Denish, who would have become governor if Richardson had left the state, has said Richardson might still leave, pointing out that Obama said he looks forward to Richardson joining his administration in some capacity at a later date. Despite Richardson’s withdrawal, Denish isn’t ending all transition plans at this point. Continue Reading

Pearce won’t seek GOP chairmanship; Yates will

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Steve Pearce, who is pondering his political future as he leaves the office of southern New Mexico congressional representative, has decided not to seek the state GOP party chairmanship.Pearce had floated the idea of running and was widely expected by many to seek the chairmanship as he explored future political options, but he has decided to instead support oilman Harvey Yates for the position, several sources confirmed. Yates will face at least three other candidates for the chairmanship at Saturday’s meeting of the state GOP central committee. The most formidable, according to the sources, is expected to be Farmington doctor Allen McCulloch, who ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman in 2006. Republican sources said they have no doubt that Yates can raise money, but the media-shy oil giant, who rarely speaks to any journalist about any subject, would have to hire staffers who can build good relationships with the media and communicate with the public, the sources said. The Yates family controls a quarter of all federal land leased for oil and gas drilling — more than any other family or group in the nation. Continue Reading

Virgin Galactic signs spaceport lease

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As expected, Virgin Galactic signed a 20-year lease agreement with the state last week that locks the company into paying rent at Spaceport America and frees up tens of millions of dollars in funding to ensure the facility will actually be built. The company says it plans to locate its world headquarters in New Mexico and fly paying customers into suborbital space from the spaceport, which is located about 40 miles north of Las Cruces. “The signing of this agreement is a momentous day for our state and has cemented New Mexico as the home of commercial space travel,” Gov. Bill Richardson said in a news release announcing the lease last week. “I want to thank Virgin Galactic for partnering with us to create a whole new industry that is going to transform the economy of southern New Mexico — creating thousands of jobs, generating money for education, boosting tourism and attracting other companies and economic opportunities to the area.” The signing of the lease came days after the Federal Aviation Administration issued a long-anticipated license to the state to operate the commercial spaceport, leaving the lease as the last condition placed on much of the funding for the facility by the state Legislature and the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners. Design of the spaceport is nearly complete, and officials say construction will begin early next year. The signing of the lease coincides with the beginning of the test flying program for Virgin Galactic’s WhiteKnightTwo launch vehicle, which got underway this month in Mojave, Calif. Continue Reading

Voters in poll say Domenici is 2008’s top story

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici’s retirement finished first on the list of the top stories of 2008 in the last non-scientific poll on this site. Of 280 voters, 63, or 23 percent, said the Republican’s retirement was the top story of 2008. Meanwhile, 48, or 17 percent, picked the overall shellacking of the GOP; Barack Obama’s win and a true blue and very green congressional delegation each received 47 votes, or 17 percent; 33, or 12 percent, picked former state Sen. Manny Aragon’s conviction; 15, or 5 percent, picked the economy; Bill Richardson’s departure (which is no longer happening) and progressive gains in the Legislature each received 11 votes, or 4 percent; and 5 voters, or 2 percent, selected “other.” Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Denish calls guv’s decision a postponement of his exit

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Lt. Gov. Diane Denish doesn’t appear to have given up on the idea of becoming governor of New Mexico before the 2010 election.Pointing out that President-elect Barack Obama says he looks forward to Bill Richardson’s “future service to our country and in my administration,” Denish is characterizing Richardson’s withdrawal of his commerce secretary nomination as a postponement of his leaving New Mexico to take a job in Washington. “Gov. Richardson postponed taking a position in the administration to ensure that President Obama and the American people face no delays in getting to work to fix our ailing economy, and the president-elect said he looks forward to Gov. Richardson joining his administration in the days ahead,” Denish said in a statement released by her office. “In the meantime, Gov. Richardson and I will work together, as we have over the last six years, to tackle challenges at home, to craft a workable budget with the Legislature and to strengthen our economy to make sure that every New Mexico family has the opportunity to succeed.” Denish, who is already a declared candidate for governor in 2010, spoke with Richardson this morning about his decision, according to the statement. In statements they released today, Richardson and Obama both characterized Richardson’s withdrawal from consideration for the position as being Richardson’s decision. In addition to saying he looks forward to Richardson joining his administration at a later time, Obama said the move is “a measure of (Richardson’s) willingness to put the nation first” because it will prevent “any delay in filling this important economic post at this critical time.” In his statement, Richardson said he’s confident the grand jury currently investigating allegations of pay-to-play in his administration — which led to his decision to withdraw his nomination — will clear him and his administration. Continue Reading

Citing probe, guv withdraws from commerce job

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Richardson plans to keep his job as governor of New Mexico and says grand jury investigation will reveal no wrongdoingThis article has been updated. Bill Richardson, who was President-elect Barack Obama’s choice for commerce secretary, withdrew his name from consideration for the position today because of an ongoing federal investigation into allegations of pay-to-play in his administration, NBC News is reporting. “Let me say unequivocally that I and my administration have acted properly in all matters and that this investigation will bear out that fact,” NBC News’ Andrea Mitchell quoted Richardson as saying in an exclusive report. “But I have concluded that the ongoing investigation also would have forced an untenable delay in the confirmation process.” No date had been set for Richardson’s confirmation hearing, and pressure on the governor has been escalating as national media outlets have been shining increasing light on the grand jury investigation in recent weeks. Richardson, according to the statement provided to NBC News, plans to continue in his role as governor. Continue Reading

Conservative to the end

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Steve Pearce stayed true to his right-leaning views even as his Senate campaign went down in flames. What will he do now? In the end, few would say Steve Pearce didn’t stand by his principles. As the Republican congressman from southern New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District prepares to leave office and face an uncertain future, one thing that can be said about him is that he has consistently held to his right-wing values during his six years in office and his failed campaign this year to replace Pete Domenici in the Senate. Many would say Pearce’s Senate campaign went down in flames at least in part because of his refusal to budge. Continue Reading

2008 brought change, change and more change

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It was a year of almost unfathomable change in New Mexico’s political landscape. Giants retired, lost elections or left the state. A new crop of elected officials will be in charge come January. The economy tanked, and its effects colored the election. In all, the theme that ties it all together is change.Voters are demanding change. Continue Reading