NMPolitics.net (https://nmpolitics.net/index/category/uncategorized/page/140/)
A planned rally for Republican presidential candidate John McCain that was to be held in Las Cruces this afternoon with Mexican actor Educardo Verástegui has been canceled. An e-mail from the McCain campaign said only that “unforeseen travel problems” mean the event won’t happen. It was to take place at 2 p.m. at The Dream Center, 1400 N. 6th Street in Las Cruces. Continue Reading
Former state Senate President Manny Aragon, one of New Mexico’s most storied politicians, pleaded guilty today to three felony counts of conspiracy and mail fraud in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse scandal. The deal he struck with prosecutors means he could face up to 67 months in federal prison, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Aragon could have faced 20 years in prison and a fine of $250,000 if he had gone to trial and been convicted. Aragon refused to comment to reporters after leaving the courtroom in Albuquerque where he entered his plea earlier this morning, The Associated Press is reporting. Aragon was accused of pocketing more than $600,000 in the scheme in which prosecutors say he and several others stole $4.2 million in taxpayer money by inflating and falsifying invoices during construction of the courthouse. Continue Reading
With the final presidential debate of the 2008 election being held tonight, there’s only one thing on my mind: As long as John McCain and Barack Obama refuse to treat Americans like adults, nobody has my vote. I’m referring to their statements about our troubled economy. I was so disappointed that I didn’t even finish watching the last debate after both candidates refused to level with the American people about the situation. Specifically, they were asked by a 78-year-old woman from Chicago — a child of the depression — what sacrifices they would ask individuals to make “to help restore the American dream and to get out of the economic morass that we’re now in.” McCain talked about cutting government programs, so he didn’t even answer the question. Obama said the government needs to work toward energy independence but said “effort” will be required from each of us. Continue Reading
Only former state Senate president Manny Aragon and one other man are left to face a jury later this month in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court scandal after two additional defendants pleaded guilty on Tuesday. Sandra Mata Martinez and Raul Parra both admitted to the charges against them on Tuesday, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Martinez admitted to a felony charge of helping her husband cover up his illegal activity, while Parra admitted taking $3.3 million in taxpayer money by inflating and falsifying invoices during construction of the building, and to keeping $700,000 of that for himself. Parra faces a maximum of 71 months in prison, the Journal reported. Martinez could face as much as 18 months in prison. Continue Reading
Third Congressional District Democratic candidate Ben Ray Luján raised more than $380,000 during the third quarter of 2008, his campaign announced Tuesday. Luján has now raised more than $530,000 for the general election, according to a news release from his campaign. “The people of New Mexico are excited about getting our country back on track,” Luján said in the release. “I am thankful for all of their support, whether it is in contributions, making phone calls, knocking on doors or attending events.” The other 3rd District candidates haven’t released third-quarter fundraising information. Reports must be filed with the Federal Election Commission by midnight and will be made public on the FEC Web site after that. Continue Reading
The Mesilla Plaza will be the location of Democratic vice presidential candidate Joe Biden’s Friday rally in southern New Mexico, Barack Obama’s campaign announced tonight. The “Change We Need” rally is open to the public and is scheduled to begin at 1:30 p.m., according to a news release from the Obama campaign. The area will be open to the public beginning at 11:30 a.m. Tickets aren’t required, but the campaign encourages people to RSVP, which you can do by clicking here. In addition, according to the release, a number of “preferred viewing tickets” are available on a first-come, first-served basis at four Obama campaign offices: • 255 East Lohman Ave. in Las Cruces; (575) 915-0614 • 800 Anthony Drive, Suite 13, in Anthony; (575) 805-1276 • 501 East Spruce Street, Suite B, in Deming; (575) 915-2449 • 1517A 10th Street in Alamogordo; (575) 434-8388 Parking near the plaza is limited, so the campaign is encouraging carpooling. Continue Reading
Republican presidential candidate John McCain may be trailing Democratic opponent Barack Obama in the polls right now, but don’t be surprised if McCain surges in the last three weeks of the race. At least that’s the message of Utah Gov. Jon Huntsman, who was in Farmington today to campaign on behalf of McCain. “One thing I’ve learned about John McCain, and having been with him from the very beginning… is that you never bet against John McCain. He’s been counted out time and time again,” Huntsman said in a telephone interview. “He’s a fighter, and when he says this is where he likes to be… that’s because this is exactly where he’s most comfortable.” Huntsman held a get-out-the-vote rally at the Farmington Civic Center and met with McCain volunteers today. Continue Reading
If Darren White is going to win the 1st Congressional District race, it appears that he’s going to have to do it without much help from national Republicans. In an article headlined “GOP ditches recruits to save incumbents,” The Politico takes a look today at how national Republican woes are affecting White’s battle against Democrat Martin Heinrich. The early excitement about the prospect of White replacing Heather Wilson in Congress has been sacrificed, The Politico article states. “Darren White and Erik Paulsen were prized Republican recruits, House candidates poised to be the new face of the GOP on Capitol Hill,” the article states. “But as the two head into the homestretch of their campaigns, GOP operatives say they’ll probably have to win — or lose — on their own. Continue Reading
Mexican Actor Educardo Verástegui will be in Las Cruces on Wednesday to campaign for Republican presidential candidate John McCain. Verástegui, whose Mexican soap operas have been seen in more than 50 countries and by 10 million people in the United States, opposes the candidacy of Democrat Barack Obama because of his stance on abortion. Verástegui recently released a graphic video showing abortions as part of his call for voters to reject Obama. He’ll appear on Wednesday at 2 p.m. at The Dream Center, 1400 N. 6th Street in Las Cruces, for a rally for McCain, according to an e-mail from the McCain campaign. Verástegui has made the People en Español list of the 50 most beautiful people in the world. Continue Reading
You have the opportunity to submit questions that could be posed to New Mexico’s candidates for federal offices during several upcoming debates. On Wednesday, U.S. Senate candidates Tom Udall, the Democrat, and Steve Pearce, the Republican, will debate on KOB-TV at 9 p.m., following the presidential debate. You can submit questions for that debate by clicking here. On Saturday, Pearce and Udall will debate on KRQE-TV at 6:30 p.m. You can submit questions by clicking here. And KOAT-TV is asking people to submit questions that could be asked during Sunday debates for the 2nd and 3rd congressional district candidates and on Oct. Continue Reading
Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate Ed Tinsley and Democratic 1st District candidate Martin Heinrich are the targets of new television ads from outside groups. Here’s the new ad from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee slamming Tinsley: “Ed Tinsley likes to talk about federal waste, but millionaire restaurant owner Ed Tinsley helped himself to $50,000 in federal subsidies for his multimillion dollar family ranch,” the ad’s narrator states. “Obviously, having taxpayers feather his bed is more important than raising the minimum wage or paying his own employees a living wage, because what’s good for Ed Tinsley is bad for New Mexico.” And here’s the ad from the Republican Party of New Mexico attacking Heinrich: “It’s a disgrace. Martin Heinrich smears a decorated soldier and lawman,” the narrator says, referring to Heinrich’s recent ad attacking Republican opponent Darren White. “But it’s not the first time. Continue Reading
Democratic 1st Congressional District candidate Martin Heinrich says he raised $750,000 in the third quarter of the year. Heinrich announced his fundraising total today in a news release. Heinrich’s Republican opponent, Darren White, hasn’t released information about his third-quarter fundraising, but reports from all U.S. House candidates must be filed by Wednesday. They’ll be available on the Federal Election Commission’s Web site after that. Heinrich said in the release that his fundraising indicates “that voters are rejecting Darren White’s support of eight years of failed Republicans policies, and saying ‘yes’ to a new direction for our country. Continue Reading
Sen. Joe Biden will make his first trip to New Mexico as a vice presidential candidate on Friday. Biden will visit southern New Mexico on that day, the campaign of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama announced today. The campaign released no further details, but said more will be announced as soon as they are available. Biden hasn’t been to New Mexico since Obama selected him to join the ticket. Continue Reading
One of the defendants in the Bernalillo County Metro Court scandal changed his plea on Friday and admitted to taking more than $2 million form taxpayers. In admitting that he successfully conspired to steal what prosecutors say added up to $4.2 million during construction of the $83 million facility, Toby Martinez, former administrator of the court, could face up to 45 years in prison. Prosecutors agreed to seek less in exchange for his testimony against the other defendants, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Martinez is the fourth to plead guilty in the case, while four others, including former Senate President Manny Aragon, are still facing felony charges including conspiracy, mail fraud and money laundering. Read the indictment by clicking here. Continue Reading
Former U.S. Attorney David Iglesias of New Mexico is out with two new commentaries on the recently released report on the firings of nine U.S. attorneys, including him, which found that the reasons Bush administration staffers gave Congress last year for firing Iglesias were hogwash. In the first, an Oct. 1 commentary published in the Los Angeles Times, Iglesias wrote that he was pleased that the report “fully vindicated” what he and his fired colleagues have been saying: “Improper politicization has crippled the (Justice) department, and the Bush administration’s culture of partisanship-loyalty above all has done a terrible disservice to this country.” “Justice was compromised. Not only were my colleagues and I not insulated from politics — as we should have been in our jobs as prosecutors — but we were fired for the most partisan of reasons,” Iglesias wrote. “In my case, it was because powerful Republicans in Congress and the White House believed that I had not done my duty as a Republican to bring criminal charges against Democrats in the run-up to the 2006 elections.” Iglesias wrote that the “lack of adult supervision at Justice was breathtaking; no one reined in the young bulls in the constitutional china shop.” He also wrote the report indicates that the reasons for the firings were based on “rumor and innuendo rather than evidence.” In a Friday column published on The Huffington Post, Iglesias wrote about the appointment of a federal prosecutor to decide whether criminal charges are warranted. Continue Reading