NMSU prez to live in home paid for by secret donor

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New Mexico State University President Michael Martin and his wife will take advantage of a $6,000-per-month gift from a secret donor to move out of the university-owned president’s residence and into a private home. The home is being built near Mesilla on Union Avenue, according to the Las Cruces Bulletin. I’ve written a lot lately about the university stepping into controversy by using money from anonymous contributors to beef up the compensation of its president and (now former) basketball coach, so I’ll only rehash the issues here briefly: The Board of Regents raised Martin’s annual salary in May from $294,000 to $335,000. His deferred compensation – which he only receives if he stays through 2012 – was increased from $50,000 to $100,000, and 70 percent will be paid by secret contributors. In addition, the $6,000-per-month housing allowance is being contributed by the private sector and funneled through the NMSU Foundation. Continue Reading

Richardson ad focuses on Guard families, veterans

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Gov. Bill Richardson’s new television advertisement, now airing in Iowa and New Hampshire, is certain to get the attention of soldiers and their families. The 30-second ad, released Monday, is airing in Iowa and New Hampshire. “When a National Guard soldier would fall in combat, the family was only getting $12,000 – a national disgrace,” the ad’s narrator says. “Bill Richardson passed the first law in the nation giving National Guard soldiers $400,000 in life insurance. Eighteen states followed his lead.” The ad also promotes Richardson’s proposal to create a “hero’s health card” for veterans, which will allow them to receive health care at any facility instead of only at veteran’s facilities. Continue Reading

Richardson gives stronger debate performance

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Gov. Bill Richardson gave his best debate performance of the 2008 Democratic presidential race on Monday, but he was still bested by a number of his opponents. Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards and Joe Biden all performed better. But Richardson’s statements were strong and definite. His voice was firm and he appeared confident and more passionate than he has during past debates. His strongest answer of the night – and perhaps his best in any debate thus far – came in answer to a question about what to do in Darfur. Continue Reading

Pearce’s Iraq stance hurts re-election bid, many say

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A large percentage of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce’s disagreement with Sen. Pete Domenici on how to handle the war in Iraq will hurt the congressman’s 2008 re-election bid. Of 138 voters, 60, or 43 percent, said his position will hurt his re-election bid, while 41 voters, or 30 percent, said it will help him, and 37, or 27 percent, said it will have no effect. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Democratic 2008 hopefuls square off Monday in S.C.

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CNN and YouTube will co-host a debate of the Democratic presidential candidates on Monday evening. The debate, which will be held in South Carolina, is the first of the 2008 election season that is officially sanctioned by the Democratic National Committee. Gov. Bill Richardson and the other Democratic presidential contenders will all be in attendance. CNN and YouTube will host a debate of the Republican candidates on Sept. 17. Continue Reading

Denish, lawmakers urge citizens to get involved

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Lieutenant Gov. Diane Denish and a number of lawmakers spoke to a group of about 30 Doña Ana County residents today about the importance of being involved in government and politics. The lunch-time meeting at a restaurant in Mesilla was one of nine monthly events for people from the business community who are part of Leadership Las Cruces, a program designed to help them become future leaders. Denish, on a quick trip down south, spoke about how her father’s involvement in politics instilled in her a need to serve her community. “That was his legacy to me, and I hope I leave it to my children and, now, to my two grandchildren,” she said. During her speech, Denish, who is spending most of her time as acting governor while Bill Richardson is on the campaign trail, laid out what could become her 2010 gubernatorial platform. Continue Reading

Roberta Vigil pleads not guilty in corruption case

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Roberta Vigil pleaded not guilty today to fraud and other felony charges related to the misuse of public money at the West Las Vegas School District. She entered the plea in district court in Santa Fe, the Associated Press is reporting. After the hearing, her lawyer, Sam Bregman, characterized the charges as “absolutely ridiculous.” “I can understand no other reason why they would indict Roberta Vigil on anything based on the fact that the West Las Vegas school district had a party, except for the fact that right now her last name is Vigil,” the news service quoted Bregman as saying. Vigil is the wife of state Rep. Richard Vigil, whose brother, former state Treasurer Robert Vigil, is currently in prison for his role in the scandal that rocked that office. Roberta Vigil’s trial date has been set for Jan. Continue Reading

Bush to attend Domenici fundraiser in ABQ

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President Bush will visit Albuquerque in late August to attend a fundraiser for U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Though the White House and Domenici’s campaign would not confirm the visit, the Journal reported that the campaign has been making calls to potential contributors about the visit and plans to mail out invitations soon. The planned visit comes as Domenici has decided to oppose Bush’s current strategy in Iraq. Domenici is now pushing for a goal of withdrawing all combat troops by March 2008 and implementation of other recommendations of the Iraq Study Group. Bush wants to wait until a planned review of a controversial troop surge in the fall before deciding whether to shift gears in Iraq. Continue Reading

Guv climbs in Colorado, New Jersey, not in Florida

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Polls continue to show Gov. Bill Richardson’s support edging closer to 10 percent in a number of states. The newest American Research Group poll of Colorado has Richardson’s support at 8 percent in that state, up from 2 percent in March. Hillary Clinton leads in that poll with 39 percent, Barack Obama has 22 percent and John Edwards has 10 percent. Fourteen percent are undecided. The poll of 600 likely Democratic primary voters, conducted from Sunday-Wednesday, has a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percent. Continue Reading

Four finalists named for Democratic Party director

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Former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron won’t be the next executive director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. A list of four finalists was released today. They are: • Michael Minh Nguyen of Washington, D.C. • Laura Sanchez of New Mexico • Art Terrazas of Anthony, N.M. • Nate Williams of Wisconsin Vigil-Giron and seven others failed to make it past a committee and to the last round. Party Chair Brian Colón will now interview the finalists and will make a decision soon. Continue Reading

Would Rounds consider leaving for APS job?

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Those who were just getting used to Stan Rounds being the superintendent of the Las Cruces Public Schools might be a little worried by comments he made in an article published today in the Albuquerque Journal. The current superintendent of the Albuquerque Public Schools is retiring next year. In an article examining the situation, the Journal noted that one of the names being circulated as a possible replacement is that of Rounds. The Journal even asked Rounds about the idea. “I’m tickled to death with my job here in Las Cruces,” he told the newspaper. Continue Reading

Ethics task force to meet Monday in Socorro

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Gov. Bill Richardson’s ethics task force is scheduled to meet Monday in Socorro. The meeting is being held halfway between Santa Fe and Las Cruces to give people from the southern part of the state a chance to have input. I’ll be attending Monday’s meeting and will report on it on Tuesday. Since I’ll be gone most of Monday, I won’t be updating this site much on that day. The meeting begins at 9:30 a.m. and will be held in the library at New Mexico Tech. Continue Reading

Judge in Foley case is pushing ethical limits

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The attorney for Dan Foley, the GOP state representative from Roswell who is facing charges of disorderly conduct, obstructing an officer and resisting arrest, has requested a postponement of his Aug. 2 trial date, the Roswell Daily Record is reporting. Municipal Judge Clyde McKee told the newspaper on Tuesday he hadn’t seen the request for a continuance but would most likely approve it. “I have no reason not to,” the newspaper quoted him as saying, adding that such requests are “normal procedure” and “usually not refused” when they’re reasonable. Foley’s attorney said he has about 50 witnesses to interview and needs more time. Continue Reading

King to consider legality of cabinet secretary pay

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It looks like Attorney General Gary King will be weighing in on the legality of the plan to have two state universities help pay members of Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration. Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming and chair of the Legislative Finance Committee, asked King in a Friday letter to investigate, saying he “and other LFC members have serious concerns about the legality and propriety of these compensation agreements,” the Albuquerque Journal reported. The Richardson administration recently gave two new secretaries and one deputy secretary huge pay increases over what their predecessors were receiving. Higher Education Secretary Reed Dasenbrock will be paid $257,250 – the same amount he was paid as provost at the University of New Mexico. The university will pay almost $100,000 of the cost for the Higher Education Department. Continue Reading

State’s revenue will likely exceed projections

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It looks like the state’s coffers are going to be overflowing once again when the Legislature meets in January. The state should collect about $130 million more than anticipated in the current fiscal year because of economic growth and energy prices, the Associated Press is reporting. In addition, the Legislature and governor should have almost $450 million in new money they can add to the budget, use to cut taxes or put away for a rainy day. The forecast, which the news service reported will be presented to the Legislative Finance Committee at a meeting today in Ruidoso, was prepared by the Richardson administration and the Legislature. So state leaders will be in what has become a familiar position when the Legislature meets in January: Does the state continue to increase spending significantly, give large tax cuts or save for the day that oil and gas prices drop and the state’s revenue takes a hit? Continue Reading