Richardson tries to shift the debate back to Iraq

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With his support in polls flatlining, at best, and 15 days remaining until the Jan. 3 Iowa Caucus, Gov. Bill Richardson is unveiling a new television ad today that attempts to bring the debate back to the Iraq war and set him apart from the three frontrunners on the issue. The new ad, which is running in Iowa and New Hampshire, does effectively get Richardson’s point across that he’s the only candidate with a plan to withdraw all troops during his first year in office. The ad lists some military experts who have endorsed his plan. But the debate has shifted for a reason. Continue Reading

Sierra County to vote April 8 on spaceport tax

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Voters in Sierra County will decide on April 8 whether to approve a 1/4 percent increase in the gross receipts tax to help fund Spaceport America, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. The election will be held just over a year after voters in Doña Ana County narrowly approved a tax increase to help fund the spaceport. Sierra County’s commissioners voted 3-0 on Thursday to schedule the election. The tax, if approved, would only generate an estimated $2.3 million for the spaceport, but another county must join Doña Ana in creating a spaceport tax district before the money from either county can be spent. The tax money generated in Doña Ana County is expected to provide about $49 million for the spaceport, or a quarter of its total cost. Continue Reading

Ethics board drops complaint against Frietze

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I don’t see the need to beat a dead horse, so I’m going to provide you with links to the Las Cruces Sun-News and Albuquerque Journal articles detailing what is likely the final chapter in the public life of former Las Cruces City Councilor Jose Frietze. In short, an independent attorney found merit to proceed with the ethics complaint against him, but he’s no longer a councilor, so the ethics board dropped the issue. You can read the attorney’s report by clicking here. Continue Reading

Most of N.M. delegation hails approval of energy bill

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All members of the New Mexico delegation except U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce supported a bill the president signed this morning mandating the first increase in vehicle fuel economy in 32 years. The House approved the final version of the bill on Tuesday by a vote of 314-100, and President Bush was accompanied by Sens. Jeff Bingaman, chairman of the Energy and Natural Resources Committee, and Pete Domenici, the committee’s ranking member, when he signed it today. Bingaman had a major hand in drafting the legislation, which the Senate approved last week on a vote of 86-8. “After many years of struggle, we are enacting needed and long-overdue requirements for more fuel-efficient vehicles and more energy-efficient appliances, especially for lighting,” Bingaman said following House approval on Tuesday. Continue Reading

Firefighters’ union endorses Trujillo in council race

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The union representing Las Cruces firefighters has endorsed Karen Trujillo’s bid for the open District 6 seat on the Las Cruces City Council. The Las Cruces Professional Firefighters’ Executive Board voted to endorse Trujillo in the Jan. 15 election in part because of her past relationship with the group. Her husband is a firefighter and past secretary and vice president of the organization, and Trujillo has helped with fundraisers in the past. “With the recent growth and population increase in District Six, our citizens need a strong voice on city council that will advocate for public safety,” union President Jason Smith said in a statement released by Trujillo’s campaign. Continue Reading

District 6 candidates to participate in forum on Jan. 7

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Candidates vying to be the next District 6 representative on the Las Cruces City Council will square off at a forum on Jan. 7. The forum will be held in the sanctuary at Morning Star United Methodist Church, 2941 Morning Star Drive, beginning at 7 p.m. It’s sponsored by the High Range Neighborhood Association. Lisa Parrott, treasurer for the association, said all five candidates have confirmed their attendance. The candidates are former Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Patrick J. Curran; Lawrence Joy, the owner of a direct mail advertising firm and the voice of NMSU’s marching band; Berchard Ray Shipley, who has a background in the military, commercial property management and community planning; Sharon Thomas, former head of the Quality Growth Alliance; and Karen Trujillo, a real-estate broker and president of the Hispano Chamber of Commerce de Las Cruces. Continue Reading

Richardson appoints acting Indian affairs secretary

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Gov. Bill Richardson announced today the appointment of Teresa C. Gomez to serve as acting secretary of Indian affairs. Gomez will serve while a search is conducted for a permanent secretary, according to a news release from Richardson’s office. She replaces Benny Shendo, who left the job on Friday to run for Congress. Gomez has been deputy secretary for the department since June 2006. She is a lifelong resident of the state and an enrolled member of the Pueblo of Isleta. Continue Reading

Lehrman seeks to distinguish himself from Udall

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In an attempt to drum up support for his longshot bid for U.S. Senate, Democrat Leland Lehrman plans to hold a news conference on Wednesday to contrast his views with those of Rep. Tom Udall, the frontrunner in the race. Lehrman’s news conference will begin at noon and will be held in the rotunda at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. “At the conference, the candidate will discuss the concerns that the Democratic Party grassroots has about Tom Udall on impeachment, his relationship with Senator Charles Schumer and his leadership qualities in general,” a release from Lehrman’s campaign states. Udall doesn’t currently support impeaching the president and vice president. Impeachment is one of the cornerstones of Lehrman’s campaign. Continue Reading

Moore decides against running for Udall’s seat

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State Rep. Brian Moore, R-Clayton, has decided against running for the Third Congressional District seat being vacated by Tom Udall. “After getting over the initial pleasure (and shock) of even being thought of for such an honor, Linda and I came to our senses. Having to raise a couple of million dollars and campaign over half the state when the voting-strength numbers are so challenging looked like something we should pass on,” Moore said Monday. “I’ve got a wife I want to spend more time with, some grandkids that need to go fishing with their grandpa and a business that I really enjoy.” Moore announced in November that he wouldn’t seek re-election next year, ending an eight-year career as a state representative. He also said at the time that he had been encouraged to and would consider running for Congress, though he said winning in the liberal district as a Republican would be tough. Continue Reading

AG: Guv’s secretaries can’t govern and work at schools

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The Attorney General’s Office issued a long-awaited legal opinion today that finds major flaws in the Richardson Administration’s employing of a cabinet secretary and deputy secretary who are paid in part by universities they help govern. The opinion, which you can read by clicking here, says it’s illegal for Health Secretary Alfredo Vigil and Deputy Higher Education Secretary Bill Flores to work both in those jobs and as employees of the institutions they help govern. Earlier this year, the Richardson administration gave three new employees huge pay increases over what their predecessors were receiving. Higher Education Secretary Reed Dasenbrock was given $257,250 – the same amount he was paid as provost at the University of New Mexico. The university agreed to pay almost $100,000 of the cost for the Higher Education Department. Continue Reading

Adams moves so he can switch congressional races

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Attorney Jon Adams is pulling out of the race to replace Heather Wilson in Congress, moving to Santa Fe and jumping into the race to replace Tom Udall in Congress. The Democrat confirmed today that he is renting an apartment in Santa Fe and is now running for the Third Congressional District seat. The reason Adams switched races is former Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, the frontrunner for the Democratic Party’s nomination in the First Congressional District. “I made the decision because Heinrich has significant support on (the party’s state central committee) for the Albuquerque seat, while I have significant support in CD3 – my home, where I grew up, and where I fully understand all the issues,” Adams said. “As someone who first got into politics 10 years ago to help Tom Udall and as a dedicated Udall Democrat, that district is a better fit.” Adams, a former assistant attorney general, worked for Udall campaigns in 1998 and 2000 and also worked for Al Gore’s presidential campaign in 2000. Continue Reading

Mesquite leads the way in empowering south valley

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The powers-that-be in New Mexico should take note: The people of Mesquite are becoming a force that can’t be ignored. Were there any doubt, their growing level of activity and organization was apparent on Thursday evening, when more than 65 people showed up to a community meeting to discuss the possibility of suing Helena Chemical Company in an apparent attempt to chase it out of town. That’s 65 people in a community that, as of the 2000 census, had a population of 948 – 95 percent of them Hispanic and speaking primarily Spanish in their homes, and 43 percent of them living below the poverty level. Mesquite is a community that has historically allowed itself to be ignored by government. That began to change a few years ago when a handful of educated individuals in the area decided to stand up to perceived problems with Helena. Continue Reading

Denish helps unite wounded Iraq veteran with family

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Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has stepped up in a big way to help unite a wounded Iraq veteran with his family this Christmas. Army Private James Browning was wounded during a firefight in Iraq earlier this year. Twelve of his fellow soldiers died; only two survived. Since then, Browning has battled post-traumatic stress disorder and a traumatic brain injury. He’s currently at Fort Hood in Texas and was recently granted holiday leave. Continue Reading