Voters can meet school board candidates tonight

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Voters have a chance tonight to meet two women who plan to run for seats on the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. Bonnie Votaw, who is running for the open District 4 seat, and Connie Phillips, who is challenging Board President Sharon Wooden for the District 5 seat, are hosting a meet-and-greet forum today from 4:30-6 p.m. at La Posta restaurant in Mesilla. They plan to share their goals and vision for the board. The district 4 and 5 seats are up for grabs on Feb. 6. Continue Reading

County agrees to pay former worker $115,000

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Doña Ana County has agreed to pay $115,000 to a former worker who claimed he was fired because he was at odds with former Commissioner Gilbert Apodaca. As part of the settlement, which was finalized last month, former Transportation and Public Works Director George Avalos will also have “all negative information” relating to his firing expunged from his personnel file and is eligible for rehire, should he choose to apply. The county agreed to settle with Avalos after U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson found that Apodaca made clear to former County Manager David King several times that he wanted his third cousin Dickie Apodaca, not Avalos, to be the county’s roads superintendent, and threatened King with his own job if he didn’t get rid of Avalos. After firing Avalos, King hired Dickie Apodaca as roads superintendent – a job he still holds. King made the decision to end Avalos’ employment in August 2002 after a road crew that worked under Avalos improperly chip-sealed a hangar road at the county airport in Santa Teresa. Continue Reading

Domenici denies reports he wore pajamas to work

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Was Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., recently wandering around Senate office buildings in his pajamas? He says not, but some staffers told Roll Call that is exactly what happened, according to The Raw Story. Apparently, there were “a number of reports” that Domenici was wandering around Senate office buildings in Washington on Friday in pajamas – “tartan” or “buffalo plaid” bottoms and a “loose-fitting shirt,” according to the article. There was even a report that he was walking around in boxers, though it seems likely that was a bad rumor that resulted from people talking about the attire he was wearing. As for Domenici, he said they were hunting pants, not pajama bottoms, according to the article. Continue Reading

Altamirano wants Jennings, Cisneros to lead Finance Committee, Smith to move to education

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Senate Democrats this weekend voted by acclimation to keep the 2006 leaders in place next year, but committee assignments are still up for grabs – and the results could have major consequences for senators from Southern New Mexico. Ben Altamirano of Silver City will continue as president pro tem. Michael Sanchez of Belen will continue as majority leader. Mary Jane Garcia of Doña Ana will continue as majority whip. Where things go from there is much more complicated. Continue Reading

A tribute to Legislature’s outgoing water expert

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Walt Rubel of the Las Cruces Sun-News had a touching tribute to outgoing Rep. Joe Stell of Carlsbad in Sunday’s edition. Stell, a Democrat, is the legislature’s expert on water law and policy. He’s chair of the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee and the legislative Water and Natural Resources Committee. He decided against seeking re-election in November after 20 years in the Legislature, and leaves office at the end of the year. It’s worth a read. Continue Reading

Retired educator to run for school board

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Retired educator Bonnie Votaw has announced that she will run for the open District 4 seat on the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. The seat is open because John Schwebke opted against running again. Votaw has 35 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in New Mexico, California and Idaho. She started in Las Cruces in 1969 as a teacher, and ended her career in Idaho as director of instruction for the Lewiston Public Schools. “With my experience, I can offer leadership that will include using common sense, communication clarity and problem solving with all stakeholders,” Votaw said in a news release. Continue Reading

Poll: Most say Martinez should be speaker

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said Ken Martinez should be the next speaker of the House.Of 144 votes, 103, or 72 percent, went to Martinez of Grants, while 41, or 28 percent, went to Ben Lujan of Santa Fe.Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Madrid gets warm welcome in Las Cruces

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Attorney General Patricia Madrid received a warm welcome in her hometown of Las Cruces Friday afternoon as she announced the opening of a new consumer division branch office here. In attendance were many members of her family, including her mother, and also a myriad of public officials, both Democrat and Republican. Former State Rep. J. Paul Taylor said it was unfortunate that Madrid lost her bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, but said Madrid is young and has a bright political future ahead of her. Rep. Joseph Cervantes also urged Madrid to not drop out of public service. Madrid has said she may run for U.S. Senate in 2008 or governor in 2010, which makes her a potential primary opponent of Cervantes. Continue Reading

Judge won’t likely toss Vigil conviction

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A federal judge said today he won’t likely dismiss the conviction of former state Treasurer Robert Vigil, but will take time to review information before ruling, according to the Associated Press. Vigil was convicted in September of one felony count of attempted extortion and acquitted of 23 other counts. Vigil’s attorneys say they will appeal if the judge doesn’t toss out the conviction. Continue Reading

Cervantes criticizes governor’s water proposals

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State Rep. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces is one of a bipartisan group of legislators complaining that the governor’s water agenda for the legislative session doesn’t do enough for water conservation. This might show that Cervantes isn’t backing down on issues in order to gain support for his bid to become House majority leader, and that he would be part of a leadership team that would exercise independence from the governor – something the House has done little of in recent years. Cervantes, according to the Associated Press, said at Thursday’s meeting of the Water and Natural Resources Committee that Richardson’s proposed package for the 2007 session doesn’t deal with agricultural conservation, though that accounts for 75 percent of water use in the state. “We’re throwing money at the problem, which government always does,” Cervantes said, according to the news service. “That’s one solution, but it’s not a very comprehensive solution and it doesn’t show the leadership we need to show on this issue. Continue Reading

Let’s hear from House Democrats about speaker

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I want to extend a personal invitation to House Democrats to share your thoughts on this site on who should be the next speaker and majority leader. I have been criticized by a few politicos since yesterday for some of the comments I made about Democratic members not being willing to go on the record. Some have suggested to me that Ben Lujan has many supporters from the north and that they will go on the record, and that many of Ken Martinez’s supporters will also go on the record. I’ve spoken with some who won’t, but perhaps some will. So let’s hear from you: Should Lujan or Martinez be speaker? Continue Reading

Lewis may take office before other Nov. 7 winners

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Officials in the state treasurer’s office were apparently caught off guard when asked by the Associated Press this week when newly elected Treasurer James Lewis would take office. The answer now seems to be that it will happen soon. The New Mexico Constitution calls for appointees, such as current treasurer Doug Brown, to serve “until the next general election, when his successor shall be chosen for the unexpired term.” That apparently should mean the new treasurer takes office as soon as a certificate of election is issued by the canvassing board on or shortly after Dec. 8 and he is sworn in, instead of on Jan. 1 like the other winners of the Nov. Continue Reading

Phillips to challenge Wooden for school board

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Connie Phillips has announced that she will challenge incumbent Sharon Wooden for the District 5 seat on the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. Phillips has two children in the school district. She is currently a member of the School Advisory Council and District Advisory Council. She was employed in the aerospace engineering industry for 15 years and holds a master’s in mathematics and doctorate in engineering from New Mexico State University. “I am a person that listens conscientiously to others and asks pertinent questions until I am satisfied that I have enough information to make informed decisions,” Phillips said in a news release. Continue Reading

AG Madrid opening office in Las Cruces

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Attorney General Patricia Madrid will be in Las Cruces Friday to officially open a permanent branch here. The office will focus on consumer complaints. Opening it is something Madrid has sought since she took office in 1999, but only in her last year in office was she successful in obtaining funding. Because there hasn’t been an office in Las Cruces, the number of complaints coming from this county has been much lower than expected in a county this size, said Sam Thompson, attorney general spokeswoman. The term “consumer complaints” covers a broad range of issues individuals have with businesses. Continue Reading