Most voters in poll say cuts and/or tax hike needed

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said the Legislature is going to have to take some drastic measures to deal with the state’s revenue shortfall and balance the budget. Of 132 voters, 48, or 36 percent, said the Legislature is going to have to cut services, jobs and other areas in the budget and raise takes. Meanwhile, 39, or 30 percent, said the Legislature will have to implement across-the-board cuts but not raise taxes; 17, or 13 percent, said the Legislature will have to raise taxes but not make budgetary cuts; nine, or 7 percent, said it will have to find ways to trim the budget that don’t include cutting services and jobs; eight, or 6 percent, said it will have to cut services only; six, or 5 percent, said it will have to cut jobs only, and five, or 4 percent, said the Legislature won’t have to do anything mentioned above. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

A rapid rise to prominence

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In 2006, Hector Balderas became the nation’s youngest statewide Hispanic elected official. Now many consider him a top contender to become lieutenant governor when Bill Richardson leaves the state. Hector Balderas says he’s trying to keep in the proper perspective the fact that he’s being named as a strong contender to become the state’s next lieutenant governor. “I’m really at this point, I think, going through what every voter and citizen in New Mexico is going through,” the state auditor said in a Monday interview. “I’m really excited about the opportunity for change, and I’m really excited that new leaders are getting opportunities. Continue Reading

Richardson names new transportation secretary

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Gov. Bill Richardson on Friday announced the appointment of Gary Girón to serve as secretary of the Department of Transportation. Currently a deputy secretary in the department, Girón will replace Rhonda Faught when she retires at the end of the year, according to a news release from Richardson. The governor’s apparent appointment to be Barack Obama’s secretary of commerce means Lt. Gov. Diane Denish will become governor sometime in the coming weeks or months and will have the ability to choose her own cabinet secretaries. Regardless, Richardson said in a news release that Girón has extensive experience and a thorough understanding of transportation issues. “Gary understands the need to be bold and pursue every opportunity to build a safe and modern transportation system,” Richardson said. Continue Reading

Former Obama staffer to run Teague’s office

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Harry Teague, the 2nd Congressional District representative-elect, has hired the man who ran Barack Obama’s campaign in New Mexico, Adrian Saenz, to be chief of staff for his congressional office. “I am excited to have Adrian on board,” Teague said in a news release. “His experience working on Capitol Hill makes him a valuable asset in advocating for the issues important to New Mexican families: jobs, health care, energy independence and education. His strong ties to the Southwest, and New Mexico in particular, mean that he has a good sense of the needs of people here in New Mexico struggling to make ends meet in these tough economic times.” Saenz has worked on several campaigns in New Mexico, most recently for Obama. He has more than seven years of Capitol Hill experience, most recently serving as chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Ciro Rodriguez, D-Texas. Continue Reading

Cheshire named acting director of state GOP

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Whitney Cheshire, a conservative pundit who has worked on several GOP political campaigns, has been hired to be acting executive director and communications director for the Republican Party of New Mexico. She’ll serve at least until a new party chairman is elected in on Jan. 10. “New Mexico Republicans are already looking forward to the 2009 local races, as well as the statewide and district races of 2010,” Cheshire said. “I’m happy to help with the transition as Republicans get ready to elect a new chairman in January.” Cheshire is a former unpaid columnist for this site and, before that, published the Wednesday Morning Quarterback blog. Continue Reading

Richardson replaces three regents at NMSU

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This article has been updated. Gov. Bill Richardson replaced three of five members of the New Mexico State University Board of Regents today, opting for new blood at a time when the university is going to be making a second attempt at finding a new president.With little explanation, Richardson replaced Steve Anaya, Bob Gallagher and Student Regent Ed Kellum with Thomas “Dick” Salopek of Las Cruces, Javier Gonzales of Santa Fe and Student Regent Christopher Anaya. The new regents’ terms will begin on Jan. 1, a news release from Richardson’s office stated, but the appointees must be confirmed by the Senate before they can begin their work, and the Legislature doesn’t convene until Jan. 20.In the meantime, the terms of Steve Anaya, Gallagher and Kellum end on Dec. Continue Reading

NM begins moving into the post-Richardson era

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Even before Gov. Bill Richardson is officially appointed to be secretary of commerce, New Mexico appears to be heading into the post-Richardson era.Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, became today the first high-ranking politician to publicly congratulate Richardson for his appointment. And he’s thinking forward to the fact that, assuming Richardson leaves, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish is about to become the first female governor in the state’s history. “It is a great honor for New Mexico and a testament to Gov. Richardson’s leadership that he will soon be joining President-elect Barack Obama’s administration as cabinet secretary for the Department of Commerce,” Sanchez said in a prepared statement. “During this time of economic crisis, it is reassuring to have a steady and proven leader guiding and assisting businesses throughout our country.” “At the same time, it is also a historic moment as Lt. Gov. Diane Denish will assume the formal role of governor. The Senate looks forward to working together to solve the very serious financial issues facing our state,” Sanchez said. Continue Reading

‘A huge loss of transparency’

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Analysis: New Mexico’s shifting media landscape means, at least in this transitional period, less coverage of politics and government For people who believe in the media’s mission to bring transparency and accountability to government, the recent news that the online publication the New Mexico Independent was laying off four part-time reporters — the apparent victims of the nation’s economic crisis — was the latest in a string of bad news. Until recently, The Santa Fe New Mexican was joined by the Albuquerque Journal and Tribune and MediaNews Group — which owns the Las Cruces Sun-News, Farmington Daily Times and several smaller New Mexico newspapers — in assigning reporters full-time to cover the happenings at the state capitol building in Santa Fe. But the times haven’t been kind to newspapers as readers have shifted to the Internet, cable television and other media for their news. The Tribune has shut down. MediaNews eliminated its capitol bureau. Continue Reading

No leadership changes for House Democrats

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House Democrats decided on Sunday to keep Sheryl Williams Stapleton of Albuquerque as their whip.She staved off a challenge from Thomas Garcia of Ocate, according to sources with knowledge of the situation. The vote tally wasn’t made public or released to caucus members. Stapleton was the only leader challenged, which means Speaker Ben Lujan of Nambe, Majority Leader Ken Martinez of Grants and caucus Chair John Heaton of Carlsbad were elected on Sunday to continue in their leadership positions for another two years. Continue Reading

Guv tops Clinton in poll on who should get State job

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Bill Richardson topped Hillary Clinton in last week’s non-scientific poll asking who should be Barack Obama’s secretary of state. Of 188 voters, 80, or 43 percent, said Richardson should get the job, while 53, or 28 percent, picked Clinton, and 55, or 29 percent, said someone else should get the job. Unfortunately for those who picked Richardson, it appears that Clinton will be named secretary of state after Thanksgiving. Richardson, according to news reports, will be named commerce secretary. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s non-scientific poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

New reports say guv will head Commerce Dept.

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Gov. Bill Richardson has now been fully vetted and will be Barack Obama’s commerce secretary, The Politico and The Associated Press are reporting today.Citing “a top Democratic official,” The Politico said Richardson passed final vetting, but his appointment won’t be announced Monday, when Obama is scheduled to introduce other members of his economic team. The Associated Press, citing “a Democratic official,” said Obama will announce Richardson’s appointment after Thanksgiving. “Richardson wanted to be secretary of State, but Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is scheduled to be tapped for that job after Thanksgiving,” The Politico’s article states. “So the Commerce job is something of a consolation prize for Richardson, who ran for president during the Democratic primaries and comes equipped with one of the best résumés in Democratic politics, albeit one weighted down by a reputation for being a headline-seeker and independent operator.” The new reports come after conflicting reports on Friday about whether Richardson would be commerce secretary. After NBC News and FOX News reported Friday that Obama would publicly introduce Richardson as his choice to head the Commerce Department on Monday, CNN reported that Richardson was a “serious contender” for the job, but his selection was not a done deal. Continue Reading

Report: Madrid on short list for interior secretary

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Another New Mexican has joined Gov. Bill Richardson on the list of people being mentioned for possible cabinet-level appointments in Barack Obama’s administration. Former state Attorney General Patricia Madrid is on the short list for interior secretary, The Politico is quoting “sources” as saying. Richardson was also said earlier in the week to be a top contender for that position, but there are conflicting reports about whether he will instead be named commerce secretary on Monday. The article is about Hispanics seeking clout and high-ranking appointments in the Obama administration. Another Hispanic being considered to head the Interior Department, according to the article, is Sen. Ken Salazar of Colorado. Continue Reading

CNN: Richardson appointment not a done deal

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Despite other reports to the contrary, CNN is reporting that Gov. Bill Richardson is a “serious contender” for commerce secretary but his appointment is not a done deal.“Two sources close to the transition team also said Friday that Gov. Bill Richardson of New Mexico is a serious contender for commerce secretary, but he could be tapped for another senior post,” the CNN report states. “The sources said they do not consider Richardson’s appointment to the Commerce Department to be a done deal.” There has been a lot of rumor-mongering in this entire process, so it’s difficult to tell what’s going on. It should be noted, in light of the CNN statement that Richardson could get another job, that the governor has also been named as being considered for secretary of state and interior secretary. Richardson has reportedly also told the Obama transition team he’s interested in ambassador to China, special envoy to Latin America or heading the World Bank. Continue Reading

Denish is ready to step up if Richardson leaves

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Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, who would become governor if Bill Richardson becomes commerce secretary, hasn’t received official confirmation that Barack Obama has selected Richardson to run his economic-development department.But Denish likes the idea. “He’d be a great choice for America and for President-elect Obama,” Denish said in a statement released by her office. She added that she is “ready to stand in and step up to meet the challenge” if she does become governor. Beyond that, Denish said, she doesn’t have a comment until she hears “something official from the Obama Administration or from Gov. Richardson.” Continue Reading

Reports: Guv to be named commerce secretary

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This article has been updated. Barack Obama will announce on Monday that Gov. Bill Richardson will be his commerce secretary, two cable news organizations are reporting. The news was first reported by NBC News’ Chuck Todd and Andrea Mitchell, who say Obama is set to “roll out his economic team on Monday — and will personally announce the team and answer questions — part of an effort to reassure markets.” An instrumental part of that team, according to the report, will be Richardson. FOX News is also reporting that Richardson will be commerce secretary. Both cable news organizations are reporting that New York Fed President Tim Geithner will be Obama’s nominee for treasury secretary. Continue Reading