Richardson makes mistake, then overreacts when unethical network capitalizes on his slip-up

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Is Bill Richardson running for president? The answer seems to be that he is, or at least that he will form an exploratory committee in January that is a formal preface to a run. He just isn’t quite doing it yet, at least officially. Thursday’s snafu involving a FOX News interview seems to have resulted from a slip of the tongue by the New Mexico governor made to a less-than-ethical network. Here’s the slip: “But I’m not running as a Hispanic,” Richardson told the network. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: Richardson denies FOX News report that he announced 2008 presidential bid

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FOX News reported today that N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson told the network he is running for president in 2008, but the governor says his comments were twisted and stuck by previous statements that he’ll make a final decision in January. Using Richardson’s speech earlier today at Georgetown University as a springboard, the network interviewed him about 2008. On the video report, which you can view here, Richardson can be seen touting his credentials – one of them being that he’s Hispanic. “But I’m not running as a Hispanic,” Richardson says. “I’m running as an American who’s proud to be a Hispanic.” If you can’t watch the video, you can read a shorter print version of the report by clicking here. Continue Reading

LULAC defends fired LCPS Superintendent Diaz

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The League of United Latin American Citizens has filed a complaint with the Las Cruces school board over its recent firing of Sonia Diaz from her job as superintendent. The group, in a three-page letter delivered Wednesday, says there is “remarkable support for Dr. Diaz in the Latino community.” “In the past, some administrators and staff have made this community feel inferior and insignificant. Their concerns and issues have either been swept under the rug or have fallen by the wayside,” the letter states. “Dr. Diaz has been inspirational in reaching out to this community and is supportive of programs targeted to improve public instruction not only for migrant children, but for all students within the school district.” The letter, which is signed by New Mexico LULAC Director Paul Martinez and Phillip Archuleta, chair of the Civil Rights Commission, asks the board to reinstate Diaz and place her on a growth plan, and also to address the group’s concerns at its next meeting. “The perception of many Latinos is that several members of the Las Cruces school board treat Latino issues indifferently and are insensitive to our community,” the letter states. Continue Reading

Richardson outlines plan for immigration reform

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In a major policy speech that was perhaps a prelude to a presidential run, N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson outlined today his plan for immigration reform in the United States and said the Democratic-controlled Congress has a duty to act on it in 2007. During the speech at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., Richardson called on Congress to repeal a law passed earlier this year to create a $6 billion fence along the border. He then outlined a four-point plan to deal with immigration reform: • Secure the border: Double the number of Border Patrol agents from approximately 12,000 to 24,000; place enough National Guard troops at the border to keep it covered in the short-term; give the Border Patrol better surveillance equipment; implement a system of “informant visas” and cash rewards for undocumented immigrants who provide law enforcement with information on human traffickers and document forgers; establish a task force to track the latest fraudulent documents being used; and work more closely with the Mexican government, using face-to-face diplomacy, to create jobs in the border region. • Increase legal immigration: Create clearer procedures and more rapid and efficient processing of immigration petitions; create a guest worker program that requires, among other things, a background check and stringent accountability requirements based on the needs of the U.S. economy. • Prevent employers from hiring illegal workers: Develop a system to reliably and instantaneously verify the legal status of every job applicant and worker using a national, non-duplicable electronic worker identification document. Continue Reading

Richardson throwing massive inaugural party

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Gov. Bill Richardson’s 2006 re-election campaign has invited 7,000 people to his inaugural party next month. The invitation-only party will be held on the evening of Jan. 1 at the Hilton and El Dorado hotels in Santa Fe. Invitations just went out, so if you were expecting one and haven’t received it, don’t worry. Earlier in the day, Richardson’s public swearing in will be held at noon in the House chambers at the Roundhouse. Continue Reading

Western Democrats form group to help win president in 2008 and bring attention to region

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A group of influential Democrats from the West are joining forces to try to elect the Democratic presidential candidate in 2008. And though N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson is the only presidential hopeful among the group, it apparently won’t endorse any candidate, according to the Denver Post. The New West Project will be headquartered in Denver and will be tasked with researching and developing strategies for continuing recent Democratic gains in Western states, the Post reported. It will also aim to focus attention on the West. Richardson will be one of four Western governors leading the group’s advisory council, along with Janet Napolitano of Arizona, Brian Schweitzer of Montana and Colorado Governor-elect Bill Ritter. Continue Reading

Should seniority trump experience in the Senate?

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Some Democrats have expressed concern to me that the proposal to make Tim Jennings chair of the Finance Committee and Carlos Cisneros vice chair will take knowledge and experience away from two important committees. The Committee’s Committee meets next week to discuss assignments. But Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altimirano, citing seniority, wants to replace the retiring Finance Chair Joe Fidel of Grants with Roswell’s Jennings, and John Arthur Smith of Deming with Cisneros of Questa. That leaves Smith with the possibility of chairing the Education Committee, replacing Cynthia Nava of Las Cruces. None who shared concerns with me would go on the record. Continue Reading

S.C. may host presidential debate in five months

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Want to place bets on where Gov. Bill Richardson will be the weekend of April 27? South Carolina Democratic Party Chairman Joe Erwin announced today that his state may host the first presidential debate of the 2008 cycle that weekend, the Associated Press is reporting. The debate would be tied to an annual dinner on April 27 and the state party convention on April 28 of (yeah, I know it’s early) 2007. South Carolina’s presidential primary will be held on Jan. 29, 2008. Continue Reading

A Republican perspective on speaker battle

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After talking with many Republicans about who they think should be the next speaker of the House, I’ve found that Mario Burgos’ words this morning capture fairly well the sentiment among many GOP members. In a posting headlined “The Best Thing They Could Do,” the conservative Burgos warns Democratic House members that a vote to keep Ben Lujan as speaker “will be sending a clear message that the political corruption turned into an art form by Michael Montoya, Robert Vigil and Smiley Gallegos is alive and well in New Mexico.” That, Burgos writes, would lead to a backlash in two years, when “New Mexicans will send a clear message that they are tired of local politicians that look the other way while corruption flourishes at the expense of hard-working New Mexicans.” Three Republicans have suggested to me that, if U.S. Rep. Dennis Hastert had to give up his leadership position as speaker for not doing enough about concerns over former Rep. Mark Foley’s interaction with Congressional pages, Lujan should not be allowed to keep his job as speaker because of his ties to Gallegos. The situations aren’t quite the same, but some Democrats have conceded to me that it’s a valid point. Despite his political leanings, Burgos doesn’t really want Lujan to stay on so there will be a backlash against Democratic legislators in two years. He calls for Lujan to consider resigning from the House. Continue Reading

Minimum wage hike might gain approval in 2007

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A state minimum wage increase might have a better chance at legislative approval in 2007 than it did in this year’s session. Gov. Bill Richardson attended this weekend’s meeting of the Senate Democratic caucus in Socorro, and attempted to make nice by asking for members’ input on his proposals. When he got to Sen. Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces, she brought up the minimum wage increase proposal. It’s one of many that has led to wrangling between the governor and Senate. Most of Doña Ana County’s legislators, particularly those who represent the south county, are concerned about raising the minimum wage without some protections for border businesses. Continue Reading

Papen wants consistent use of seniority in Senate

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Sen. Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces spoke with me today about the news that Senate leaders are proposing putting Tim Jennings of Roswell in charge of the Finance Committee instead of John Arthur Smith of Deming, its current vice chair. The position is open because of the retirement of Joe Fidel of Grants. Jennings has more seniority than Smith, and Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altimirano is citing seniority as the criteria for committee assignments this year. Papen has been a close ally of Smith, but has also worked well with Jennings. It’s been suggested that Smith might chair the Education Committee. Continue Reading

Richardson off to D.C., New Hampshire

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As other 2008 presidential hopefuls are already starting up campaigns, the yet-to-announce Gov. Bill Richardson is on his way this week to Washington, D.C. and then New Hampshire. His schedule sure looks like that of one who is running for president. In D.C., Richardson will attend a New Mexico-Chihuahua border governors meeting today and will formally announce that the Kansas governor will take over as chair of the Democratic Governors Association. On Thursday, he’s set to lay out his national immigration policy reform plan at Georgetown University. On Friday, he’ll attend a meeting to talk about energy independence. Continue Reading

Richardson interviews magistrate judge applicants

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Gov. Bill Richardson is interviewing applicants today for a vacancy on the Doña Ana County Magistrate Court. The list of applicants includes many well-known politicos. Among them are former Sheriff Ray Storment, former Magistrate Judge Maria E. Rodriguez, former Las Cruces City Councilor Woodie Jenkins, Mesilla Town Judge Lionel Frietze, former magistrate candidate Steven Foldy, former undersheriff candidate Joel Cano and Sal Ceballos, a former staffer for Sen. Jeff Bingaman and wife of former county Clerk Ruben Ceballos. The other applicants are Dolores Cadena, Linda Flores, Jesus Frietze, Edward Lerma, Carlos Preciado, Gerald Smith, Marlene Tate, Judy Vaughan and Kent Wingenroth. Inside sources say the favorites are Cano and Wingenroth, who is a former state cop. Continue Reading

Diaz formally appeals firing

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Sonia Diaz, who was fired last month from her job as Las Cruces Public Schools superintendent, formally notified the district Monday that she is appealing.“Her attorney notified us that she is appealing her discharge,” said district spokeswoman Jo Galvan.The school district will now set a hearing in front of the school board that will be held 20-40 days from Monday. Continue Reading

Richardson may stake ’08 bid on South Carolina

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If the king of lefty bloggers is to be believed, N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson will stake his 2008 presidential hopes on winning the primary in South Carolina. According to Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, who runs the most popular liberal blog around, Daily Kos, Richardson will be joined by John Edwards and Wesley Clark in placing all bets on South Carolina. That may be why former N.M. Economic Development Department public information officer Katie Roberts abruptly left that job in September to move to South Carolina. As I reported back then, Richardson’s people said that wasn’t why Roberts moved, but the South Carolina Democratic Party spokesman said otherwise. Officially, Roberts was there to work for the Democrats’ gubernatorial candidate. Continue Reading