Tribute to Domenici doubles as GOP fundraiser

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The Republican Party of New Mexico plans a tribute to retiring Sen. Pete Domenici next month in Albuquerque. The event is pricey because it is also serving as a fundraiser for the party’s Victory 2008 effort, according to the flier announcing the event. The May 9 event will be held at the Albuquerque Marriott, 2101 Louisiana Blvd. NE. It begins at 5:30 p.m. Ticket prices begin at $75 for those who want to attend the dinner and general reception and are as high as $1,000 for those who want to attend the dinner with priority seating, the VIP reception, the photo reception and the general reception. Continue Reading

White hauls in $233K during first quarter of 2008

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Republican Darren White raised $233,509 for his First Congressional District bid during the first quarter of 2008, and he begins the second quarter of the year with about $300,000 on hand, according to a news release from his campaign. White is the first federal candidate from New Mexico to publicly release information about his first-quarter fundraising. Candidates must file reports with the Federal Election Commission by Tuesday. White, during the fourth quarter of 2007 – his first in the race – raised just under $213,000, so he surpassed that during the first three months of 2008. In the newest quarter, according to the news release, 96 percent of White’s contributions came from New Mexicans, with 78 percent of his contributors giving less than $100. Continue Reading

Barnaby challenges Sanchez for DNC position

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Democrat Bruce Barnaby is challenging former Speaker of the House Raymond Sanchez later this month for the position of Democratic national committeeman for New Mexico. Barnaby, a longtime volunteer with the state Democratic Party, said in a letter sent Friday to the party’s state central committee members that he will represent New Mexico Democrats on a number of issues that come before the Democratic National Committee, including its 50-state strategy, which he supports, and discussion of a national presidential primary. “I will keep Democrats in New Mexico informed as these issues move forward, and I will seek advice and suggestions in open forums and meetings,” Barnaby wrote. Barnaby currently chairs the party’s state rules committee and has been a member of that committee since 2005. He is a precinct and ward chair in Bernalillo County and a volunteer at the state and county headquarters. Continue Reading

Rep. Hamilton endorses Greer in CD2 race

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State Rep. Dianne Hamilton, R-Silver City, has endorsed C. Earl Greer in the Second Congressional District race. “I’ve met a lot of Republicans in my 10 years in the New Mexico House of Representatives,” Hamilton said in a news release from the Greer campaign. “I know Earl is integral, bright and hard-working. It is without hesitation I support Earl’s candidacy; he truly represents our conservative values.” Greer said he is “honored and humbled” to have the endorsement of Hamilton. “Because she is an extraordinary New Mexican leader and great Republican, her endorsement means a lot to me and my campaign,” he said. Continue Reading

Vigil-Giron vows to fight petition challenge

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First Congressional District Democratic candidate Rebecca Vigil-Giron is vowing to fight on despite a legal challenge that alleges she didn’t gather enough valid signatures to qualify for the ballot. The lawsuit was filed in district court in Santa Fe on Friday by three supporters of another Democratic First Congressional District candidate, Michelle Lujan-Grisham. It alleges that Vigil-Giron submitted more than 600 signatures that weren’t valid, which would leave her 100 short of the 1,214 required to qualify for the ballot. A hearing has not yet been scheduled in the case. “I think it’s unfortunate that Grisham does not want the voters of Congressional District One to make the decision of who their choice will be to represent them in this open seat by eliminating me from the equation,” Vigil-Giron said. Continue Reading

Three congressional candidates run new TV ads

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Three Democratic congressional candidates in New Mexico hit the airwaves this week to try to increase name recognition and get their messages to voters. In the Second Congressional District, Harry Teague is up on cable with two ads, while in the Third Congressional District, Ben R. Luján is running his first ad this week and Don Wiviott is beginning his third. Here’s a rundown on the ads: Harry Teague Teague’s first 30-second ad, titled “Leadership,” focuses on his plan to end the war in Iraq and use that money to instead expand employment and health-care opportunities and improve education. The second ad, titled “Results,” introduces Teague as a Hobbs oilman who helped create more than 2,000 jobs in Lea County and provided health insurance and educational scholarships for his employees. A news release from the Teague campaign stated that the ads show Teague’s commitment to getting results on issues that matter most to New Mexico families. Continue Reading

Most voters in poll pick Gonzales in GOP CD3 primary

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said Marco Gonzales will win the Republican Third Congressional District primary on June 3. Of 106 voters, 74, or 70 percent, said Gonzales will win, while 32, or 30 percent, picked Daniel East to win. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

A shrewd Richardson helps himself by helping Obama

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Bill Richardson is nothing if not shrewd. The governor has built one of the most impressive résumés of any politician in the nation because of his ability to sense an opportunity and capitalize on it. He rescued hostages because he was willing to take risk. He catapulted himself back onto the national stage after scandal at the Department of Energy during his tenure as cabinet secretary by returning to a state where he knew how to work the system and become one of the most powerful governors in New Mexico history. Last month, he perceived the perfect time to endorse one of his former opponents in the presidential race. Continue Reading

State to hold pro-spaceport meeting in T or C

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State officials hoping to convince Sierra County voters to approve a tax increase to help fund Spaceport America will hold a town hall meeting there on Tuesday. New Mexico State University Business Dean Garrey Carruthers, state Sen. John Arthur Smith and spaceport Executive Director Steve Landeene, all supporters of the project, will promote the spaceport to voters in Sierra County at the meeting. According to a news release, they will discuss “how Spaceport America will improve the quality of life in Sierra County.” Voters will decide on April 22 whether to raise the gross receipts tax by 1/4 of a percent. That would provide a little more than $2 million for the spaceport project and also allow the state to collect a tax in Doña Ana County that was approved by voters last year that would provide about $49 million. The town-hall meeting will be held at Hot Springs High School’s gymnasium at 6 p.m. Tuesday. Continue Reading

Denish leads Democratic attack against McCain

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Lt. Gov. Diane Denish led a Democratic charge against Republican GOP Presidential candidate John McCain today that was timed to coincide with Republican activity in New Mexico. She and others met at the Barelas Community Center in Albuquerque today and accused McCain of having a voting record “that shows the GOP’s presidential nominee has repeatedly voted to harm New Mexico and New Mexicans,” according to a news release from Denish about the event. Meanwhile, the Republican National Committee is holding its annual state chairmen’s meeting at the nearby Santa Ana Pueblo. McCain’s campaign manager is scheduled to speak to the group tomorrow. McCain is traveling the country this week to give positive speeches about his past to introduce himself to voters. Continue Reading

Guv responds to new allegations about endorsement

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Gov. Bill Richardson’s endorsement of Barack Obama is earning him national headlines again today because of allegations that he told the Clintons that Obama couldn’t win the presidential race. A Richardson spokesman says the governor never said that. It’s the latest in a string of back-and-forth exchanges between the governor and the Clinton campaign that has kept Richardson in the national news since he endorsed Obama on March 21. The newest exchange began late Wednesday when ABC News’ George Stephanopoulos, the former communications director in Bill Clinton’s administration, reported on the conversation Richardson had with Hillary Clinton when he told her he was endorsing Obama. Richardson has said the conversation was heated, but neither has publicly revealed details. Continue Reading

Former judge arrested for failing to appear in court

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Former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza was arrested on Wednesday for failing to appear in the court in which he once served. He was scheduled to appear in Magistrate Court for a non-jury trial on March 24 after being cited during a Dec. 13 traffic stop in Doña Ana County for driving with a suspended or revoked license, failing to display registered plates and driving 11 to 15 miles per hour over the posted speed limit. Garza didn’t show for the March court date, and a bench warrant was issued. He was arrested on Wednesday, according to online court records. Continue Reading

Gwaltney wants to continue serving in DNC role

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Mary Gail Gwaltney says she has spent decades working hard for the Democratic Party, and she wants to continue doing that in her role as the national committeewoman from New Mexico. “I want to continue in my role so that we can elect a president, so that we can elect a senator and three congressmen, so that we can elect our local and state Democratic candidates,” Gwaltney said. “That’s all I do.” Gwaltney, who has been the state’s national committeewoman to the Democratic National Committee for 13 years, is being challenged this month for that position by state Rep. Mary Helen Garcia, D-Las Cruces. Garcia says Gwaltney hasn’t done a good job of communicating with local and state Democrats about what’s happening on the national level or of taking the state’s issues to the DNC. The vote will be held at the Democrats’ statewide presidential delegate convention on April 26. Continue Reading

Communication workers’ union backs Teague

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The New Mexico Communication Workers of America has announced its endorsement of Harry Teague in the Second Congressional District race. Though the union’s leadership voted unanimously on Feb. 1 to endorse Teague, the decision wasn’t announced until Wednesday. “Our New Mexico CWA Locals want to thank you for your energy and commitment to working families in New Mexico,” the union stated in a letter to the Teague campaign. “We wholeheartedly look forward to your firm support of the Employee Free Choice Act and ongoing efforts to improve access to health care. Continue Reading

Former congressman endorses Greer in CD2 race

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Former U.S. Rep. Ed Foreman, a Republican who represented congressional districts in Texas and New Mexico in the 1960s, has endorsed C. Earl Greer in the Second Congressional District race. “Earl Greer has the grit, guts and gumption to do the kind of results-oriented job that New Mexicans have grown to expect from their Washington representatives in the likes of Joe Skeen, Steve Pearce, and Senator Pete Domenici,” Foreman said in a news release from the Greer campaign. He called Greer an “experienced, honest, hard-working, dependable leader” who will do New Mexico and America “a great service.” Greer, also a Republican, said he was “flattered” by the endorsement. “His previous experience in the U.S. House of Representatives has given him a unique viewpoint in this election, and he feels that I am the best qualified of all the candidates in this election,” Greer said. Foreman, a prominent motivational speaker who now lives in Texas, was born in Portales and attended Eastern New Mexico University and New Mexico State University. Continue Reading