Officials optimistic about first rocket launch
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A group of about 200 people gathered Sunday evening at the Hilton Las Cruces for a briefing that revealed the historic nature of today’s planned first launch from Spaceport America northeast of Las Cruces. One of the experiments going into space, which will measure the effect of time on watches, was designed by a group of middle- and high-school students, including sixth graders from St. Paul, Minn. who were in attendance at the briefing. Payloads on the rocket will travel into space in containers designed and manufactured by high-school students. Continue Reading
Scandal leads to independent movements, reform
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On the National level, the Unity08 movement threatens to shake up the two-party system and the extreme partisan split plaguing our nation. In New Mexico, a group has formed that might similarly shake up state politics. Independent Voters of New Mexico’s aim is to elect a split ticket of candidates in the November general election to prevent one-party domination of government at the state and national levels, according to the Associated Press. “This is a chance for people who don’t want to associate their names with any party to be active and make sure their votes will make a difference,” Abraham Gutmann, founder of the political action committee, told the news service. “It’s not in the interests of independents to have any one party dominate any single level of government.” Independents are the fastest growing segment of voters in New Mexico, and with good reason. Continue Reading
Richardson going back to New Hampshire
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Gov. Bill Richardson is heading back to New Hampshire this week. According to the Manchester Union Leader, the governor is one of four 2008 presidential hopefuls who will visit the state to promote the campaigns of local candidates. Richardson will campaign Monday with Rep. Jackie Cilley, a candidate for the state Senate, then attend an event for House Democratic candidates. It’s Richardson’s third visit to New Hampshire this year. He also visited in 2005 and 2004. Continue Reading
Check out land commissioner race profile
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In case you missed it, the Albuquerque Journal profiled today the state land commissioner race between incumbent Republican Pat Lyons and Democratic challenger Jim Baca. You can read the article by clicking here. Continue Reading
Poll: Most think Balderas will be state auditor
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A majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site believe Democrat Hector Balderas will be the next state auditor. Of 140 votes, Balderas received 83, or 59 percent. Republican Lorenzo Garcia received 57, or 41 percent. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading
BREAKING NEWS: Richardson to attend Whole Enchilada Fiesta despite shooting threat
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Despite threats of random shootings in Las Cruces, Gov. Bill Richardson plans to attend the Whole Enchilada Fiesta Saturday morning. “After consulting with DPS Secretary John Denko and other law enforcement agencies, I am confident this will be a safe, secure, and very successful event,” Richardson said in a news release. “I urge everyone to show their support for the city and the Whole Enchilada Festival and join us for a great weekend of fun, food, and entertainment.” In two letters, an anonymous writer has threatened random shootings if the city didn’t pay an unspecified amount of money by today. The threat has many residents of the city on edge. Police are hunting for the writer, and the National Guard stands ready to respond if necessary. Continue Reading
Commission District 3 hopefuls say they’re both good choices
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The candidates in the Doña Ana County Commission District 3 race agreed during a candidate forum Thursday that either would serve residents well. Because Republican Paul Curry opted against seeking re-election to the position, Republican Mack Haley is facing Democrat Karen Perez on Nov. 7. District 3 encompasses much of Las Cruces’ East Mesa, the New Mexico State University area and south from there through Mesilla Park and Mesquite. Community empowerment Both candidates were asked during the forum in Mesquite how they would help empower communities. Continue Reading
Commission District 1 candidates show differences
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The candidates in the Doña Ana County Commission District 1 race revealed similar goals but different opinions about how to reach them at Thursday’s candidate forum in Mesquite. The seat is currently held by Democrat Oscar Vasquez Butler, who is also president of the New Mexico Association of Counties. Republican John Zimmerman is seeking to unseat Butler. District 1 includes 25 of the county’s 37 colonias and the Picacho Hills area on the east side of Las Cruces. Community empowerment Both candidates were asked how they would help empower communities. Continue Reading
Lots of activity Thursday in Garza case, but it’s all secret
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There was a lot of activity Thursday in the case of suspended Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza, but it’s all under seal, so the details are secret. Early Thursday, the Judicial Standards Commission sought an “emergency request for two immediate orders” from the state Supreme Court, according to the court clerk’s office. The request stemmed from the commission’s inquiry into allegations that Garza is using illegal drugs, and came a day after the court placed Garza on a 30-day suspension without pay and ordered him to immediately submit to a hair test for illegal drugs. Garza claimed late Wednesday that he took the test. In response to the commission’s motion on Thursday, the court issued a request for an immediate response from Garza, which it received. Continue Reading
Sheriff candidates remain cordial during forum
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The candidates for Doña Ana County sheriff were cordial and agreed often during a candidate forum Thursday night in Mesquite. Sheriff Todd Garrison, a Republican, is facing Democratic challenger Ralph Misquez, a former undersheriff, on Nov. 7. This is the most hotly contested local race in Doña Ana County this year. The forum, attended by about 40 people, was sponsored by the New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment and moderated by activists from the Mesquite and Vado area. Continue Reading
Journalist’s release boosts Richardson’s popularity
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In August, Gov. Bill Richardson was ranked one of the 10 most popular governors in the nation by Survey USA. He tied for ninth with Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman. Since then, Richardson went to Africa and rescued Paul Salopek, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist from New Mexico who had been imprisoned by the Sudanese government and charged with espionage. It isn’t often that a governor gets a change to personally rescue one of his constituents, or that a state has a governor capable of pulling off such a feat, and the citizens of New Mexico know it. The newest Survey USA poll, released today, ranks Richardson as the seventh most popular governor in the nation, with a 69-percent approval rating among his constituents. Continue Reading
Land commissioner hopefuls trade barbs at debate
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State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons began airing radio commercials this week that are, to say the least, nasty, and his challenger, Democrat Jim Baca, has been attacking him for weeks for taking huge campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry. So it’s no surprise that the two took some jabs at each other during a debate Wednesday in Albuquerque. But, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, the two remain subdued even as they took shots at each other. Baca pointed repeatedly to Lyons’ contributions from oil and gas, which are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. “I was the first New Mexico land commissioner elected without the blessing of the oil and gas industry, and if I’m elected again, it’ll be the same,” the New Mexican quoted Baca as saying. Continue Reading
District judge race should be close
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The district judge race between Democrat Lisa Schultz and Republican Janetta Hicks should be close. The two are vying to replace Silvia Cano-Garcia, who died recently following a long battle with cancer. In addition to asking voters to choose her on Nov. 7, Schultz has submitted her name to a judicial nominating committee that meets on Oct. 2, and is asking that Gov. Bill Richardson appoint her to the position for the remainder of the year, until the candidate who wins the election takes office in January. Continue Reading
Sheriff, commission candidates take part in forum
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Candidates for Doña Ana County sheriff and commission will be quizzed at a candidate forum tonight in Mesquite. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. at the Mesquite volunteer fire station, 1 Firehouse Road. Candidates in attendance will include Republican Sheriff Todd Garrison and his challenger, Democrat Ralph Misquez; District 1 Commissioner Oscar Vasquez Butler, a Democrat, and his challenger, Republican John Zimmerman; and District 3 commission candidates Mack Haley, a Republican, and Karen Perez, a Democrat. Arturo Uribe, a Mesquite resident with the New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment, helped organize the event. He said the candidates will be quizzed by a panel of south-valley community leaders and later by people in attendance at the forum. Continue Reading