Richardson must shine during tonight’s debate

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It’s common for candidates to downplay their own abilities and raise expectations for opponents in advance of political debates. That allows them to declare victory when they show well. For tonight’s 2008 presidential Democratic primary debate at South Carolina State University, a number of candidates are doing just that. “I’ve just got to make sure I don’t trip walking on the stage,” Delaware Sen. Joe Biden told the Associated Press. “It takes me 60 seconds to clear my throat,” Illinois Sen. Barack Obama said, referring to the amount of time each candidate has to respond to questions. Continue Reading

Pro-spaceport tax group raised more than $141K

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People for Aerospace, the group formed earlier this year to promote approval of a 1/4 percent gross receipts tax in Doña Ana County to help fund Spaceport America, raised more than $141,000 and spent about $140,000 on its successful campaign. The group provided its final financial figures to me Wednesday afternoon. They will be formally filed with the secretary of state’s office in mid-May, as required by law. The group had contributions of $10,000 each from Citizen’s Bank, El Paso Electric, First Community Bank, Memorial Medical Center, MountainView Regional Medical Center and Verde Realty, the company that plans to create a new city in Santa Teresa, west of Sunland Park. There were 10 contributions of $5,000 each and a number of smaller contributions from, primarily, businesses and business owners. Continue Reading

Greer to challenge Weh for GOP state party chair

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C. Earl Greer of T or C said today he will challenge Allen Weh of Albuquerque to become chair of the Republican Party of New Mexico. Delegates will pick a new chair when they meet at 10 a.m. Saturday in Albuquerque. Rumors have circulated for weeks that Greer and Bernalillo County Republican Party Chairman Fernando C de Baca might challenge Weh. I was unable to reach C de Baca for comment. Continue Reading

Probe looks at Rove’s involvement in Iglesias firing

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Karl Rove, political adviser to President Bush, is coming under increasing scrutiny for actions that include his role in the firing of David Iglesias, New Mexico’s former U.S. attorney. The Office of Special Counsel, a federal investigative unit, has begun a far-ranging probe into the firing of Iglesias, White House e-mails and efforts to keep Bush appointees on message, according to the Los Angeles Times. None of that is, necessarily, improper. It’s how it was done that matters. Iglesias has alleged that he was fired for refusing pressure from two members of Congress to speed indictments in a public corruption probe to sway voters in the November 2006 election. Continue Reading

Domenici has two lesser-known challengers

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In the absence of a prominent Democrat stepping forward to take on U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., next year, two lesser-known candidates have announced that they’re running. I reported Tuesday about Jim Hannan’s candidacy. I neglected to tell you about that of Leland Lehrman. Thanks to the Albuquerque Tribune for reporting on him today. Lehrman, a Web designer who raises goats and chickens in Lamy, edits the New Mexico Sun-News, an alternative paper in Northern New Mexico. Continue Reading

Las Cruces murder could test ammunition sale policy

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A 2005 Las Cruces murder is the latest battleground over the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The family of Eusebio Escobedo is suing Wal-Mart, alleging that the man who killed him was sold shotgun shells hours before the April 25, 2005 shooting even though he was under the influence of alcohol, mentally disturbed and a felon who couldn’t legally possess a firearm. The suit says the ammunition was bought at the store on Walton Boulevard. The Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting that the children, fiancée and estranged wife of Escobedo, who was 27 at the time of his death, are seeking unspecified damages. Wal-Mart requires background checks, a valid ID and a determination that a customer is not under the influence for firearm sales, the Sun-News reported, but has no such policy for ammunition. Continue Reading

Richardson is spending a lot of time out of the state

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Gov. Bill Richardson is traveling around the nation at an exhaustive pace. After spending Sunday and Monday campaigning for president in California, Richardson made a brief stop in New Mexico on Tuesday to sign the gaming compacts and approve a design for the state’s quarter. Today, he’s in Washington, D.C. to speak to Jewish and Arab groups. He’ll be in South Carolina campaigning and taking part in the first major presidential debate Thursday through Saturday, then has another coast-to-coast flight to spend more time in California on Saturday and Sunday. I’ve already written about this week’s schedule, but you can check out the details by clicking here. Continue Reading

Here’s New Mexico’s commemorative quarter

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Gov. Bill Richardson approved on Tuesday on a final design for the state’s commemorative quarter, the Associated Press is reporting. The coin commission, which included District Judge Fernando Macias from Las Cruces and a number of people from Santa Fe, made the recommendation Monday to Richardson. The quarter will be issued next year. Here’s the final design: Continue Reading

Richardson, pueblo governors OK gaming compacts

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Gov. Bill Richardson and eight pueblo governors signed new gaming compacts today that were negotiated during this year’s legislative session. The compacts give a bigger share of casino profits to the state and last until 2037, but must still be approved by the federal Interior Department, the Associated Press is reporting. The agreement allows for only one more racetrack with a casino in the state. The agreement was signed by the governors of the pueblos of Sandia, Ohkay Owingeh, Tesuque, Santa Clara, San Felipe, Isleta, Picuris and Taos. The governors of Santa Ana and Laguna pueblos plan to sign the agreement but couldn’t attend today’s ceremony in Santa Fe, the news service reported. Continue Reading

Local government officials should form a task force to examine area development issues and procedures

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When voters narrowly approved earlier this month a gross receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America, they were voting to accelerate Las Cruces’ growth. The city has already grown by 20,000 residents – from 62,000 to more than 82,000 – from 1990 to 2005, and should have 90,000 residents by the end of the decade. It’s repeatedly been at or near the top of the lists of the best cities in the nation. It’s going to continue to grow. In fact, now that residents of this county have opted to ensure the spaceport is built, they’ve committed to attempting to make Las Cruces the center of the commercial space industry. Continue Reading

Santa Fean steps up to run against Domenici

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Though many Democrats are still talking about who should take on U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., in 2008, Jim Hannan wants you to know he’s a serious candidate. The Santa Fe Democrat and former staffer to the late U.S. Rep. Mo Udall, D-Ariz., has a Web site up and is already sending out news releases about his campaign. According to his Web site, voters will “see two very different campaigns.” Domenici is already raising funds, plans to spent $3 million to $5 million, and will run television advertisements. “I’ll be spending the next year differently,” Hannan’s Web site states. “I’ll be using this Web site a lot, to bring you up to date on the campaign and the issues. Continue Reading

Chávez raises $133K for potential gubernatorial run

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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has already raised $133,000 for a potential 2010 gubernatorial run. The mayor has raised the money in the past three months for what he’s calling a gubernatorial exploratory committee. He disclosed the contributions Monday on a financial report required by the city, the Albuquerque Journal reported. Before you get too impressed, remember that Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has already raised more than $1 million for her 2010 gubernatorial run. But Chávez’s is a solid three-month total that reveals there will be support for a strong challenger to Denish, and he could be that candidate. Continue Reading

Council tables East Mesa development proposal

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The Las Cruces City Council voted this evening to put off consideration of a 6,000-acre development on the East Mesa until May 21. The council will now consider The Vistas at Presidio at 5 p.m. on that day. The move comes after the attorney general said Friday that voting today, as scheduled, on the annexation of the 4,200 acres that aren’t in the city would be illegal. State statutes require a vote on that annexation between May 16 and June 15, the attorney general said. The council still could have voted on the portion of the project that’s in the city limits at today’s meeting, but opted to consider the entire project at once. Continue Reading

Growth could be key issue in city’s November election

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It’s likely that the current controversy over growth and development in Las Cruces will be the main issue in November’s city election. The recent and narrow approval of the spaceport tax and the current dispute over a 6,000-acre development on the city’s East Mesa are the latest indicators of the controversy surrounding the city’s rapid growth. Mayor Bill Mattiace has announced that he will seek re-election. Three council seats – those held by Jose Frietze, Dolores Connor and Steve Trowbridge – are also up for grabs. Trowbridge has announced that he won’t seek re-election. Continue Reading