BREAKING NEWS: Armijo may stay in auditor race

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Democrat Jeff Armijo, who announced last week that he was dropping out of the race for state auditor, has called a news conference for 4:45 p.m. today in Albuquerque. He has until 5 p.m. today to formally withdraw from the race. According to the secretary of state’s office, he has not yet done that, but he must file papers in their office in Santa Fe for his withdrawal to become official. It’s not clear what Armijo is planning, but the state’s Democratic Party put out a news release a few moments ago stating that Armijo plans to stay in the race. “No matter what Jeff Armijo says or does today, he already officially withdrew his name from the General Election ballot for State Auditor a week ago, on August 29, 2006. Continue Reading

Cano-Garcia’s death places another judgeship on the November ballot

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The death Monday of District Judge Silvia Cano-Garcia means there will be another judgeship on the November ballot, according to the secretary of state’s office. Cano-Garcia, a Republican, died Monday following a five-year battle with cancer. Whoever fills her position will be the third new judge at the district court in Las Cruces in a year. Mike Murphy was appointed to the children’s court division earlier this year following the resignation of Larry Ramirez. Fernando Macias has been appointed to a new children’s court position, and starts work on Sept. Continue Reading

Polls, polls, polls: Journal surveys show Pearce, Richardson ahead, Wilson/Madrid race tight

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The Albuquerque Journal published this weekend the results of several political polls, including one that had U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., with a huge lead over Democratic challenger Al Kissling. In that poll, which, like the others, was conducted by Research and Polling Inc., Pearce had the support of 54 percent of voters surveyed in the 2nd Congressional District. Kissling had 29 percent of the vote, according to the Journal article, which you can read by clicking here. Most I spoke with weren’t surprised. Pearce’s fundraising dwarfs that of Kissling, and Pearce is the incumbent. Continue Reading

Richardson campaign defends N.H. committee

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Last week I reported that Gov. Bill Richardson’s re-election campaign has started a “Richardson for Governor” political committee in New Hampshire. It allegedly exists to be a mechanism for the governor to give money to candidates there and has, thus far, given $2,500 to the New Hampshire Senate Democratic Caucus. I called this a “flagrant” precursor to a presidential campaign. The governor’s campaign wanted to respond. Here it is, unedited: “Governor Richardson’s primary goal is electing Democrats here in New Mexico. Continue Reading

Richardson calls on old friend, seeks American journalist’s release from Sudanese prison

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Gov. Bill Richardson has jumped on board with a host of other political leaders and journalists calling for the release of Chicago Tribune correspondent Paul Salopek. Richardson met with Sudan’s ambassador to the United States last week, and says he believes that country will seriously consider releasing Salopek on humanitarian grounds, according to an article from the KRT Wire. Salopek, who is from New Mexico, was arrested last month in the Darfur region of Sudan and charged with espionage and other violations. The Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist was on a freelance assignment for National Geographic. A spokesman for the Sudanese Embassy said Richardson’s meeting with the ambassador was positive, adding that he believes “Sudan will reconsider the status of Mr. Salopek on a humanitarian basis,” according to the wire service. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: District Judge Cano-Garcia dies

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District Judge Silvia E. Cano-Garcia died Monday following a long battle with cancer. Cano-Garcia, who fought for years to stay on the bench while she battled the disease, died about 4 a.m. She was 44. She is survived by her husband Reynaldo Garcia and their daughter Marisol. “We were friends since junior high,” said former Magistrate Judge Susana Chaparro. “She’s probably one of the most courageous people I’ve met in my whole life. Continue Reading

Poll: Most think Garza should resign

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Most who voted in last week’s poll on this site believe suspended Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza should resign. Of 177 voters, 145, or 82 percent, said Garza should resign. 17, or 10 percent, said he should not and 15, or 8 percent, said they don’t know. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Please keep in mind that these polls are not scientific. Continue Reading

County Republicans finally build a real Web site

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The Doña Ana County Republican Party has finally replaced its horrendous excuse for a Web site with a well-designed, user-friendly site. You can check out the new site by clicking here. You’ll find information about local Republican candidates, a calendar of upcoming events and links to contribute to or volunteer with the party. In addition, there’s a link to the special audit of Doña Ana County government that was released earlier this year, which has been a hot topic for the Republican Party. The previous site was so cumbersome it wasn’t worth visiting. Continue Reading

Get involved in work of ethics task force

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The Governor’s Task Force on Ethics Reform has a Web site that contains minutes of most meetings that have been held. They are thorough and adequately summarize the work that has been done by the task force. You can review the minutes by clicking here. I strongly recommend you take the time to review them, then share your thoughts with the task force co-chairs, University of New Mexico Law School Dean Suellyn Scarnecchia and New Mexico State University College of Business Administration and Economics Dean Garrey Carruthers. You can e-mail Scarnecchia at scarnecc@unm.edu, and Carruthers at garreyc@nmsu.edu. Continue Reading

Tombaugh’s widow, others protest Pluto demotion

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Supporters of Pluto’s now defunct planetary status are banding together to protest its recent demotion. They’re fighting with a passion that rivals that of the group of Democrats who believe Bush stole the presidency and lied about the Iraq war. A group of worldwide astronomers last week demoted Pluto to the rank of “dwarf planet.” Patricia Tombaugh, widow of Clyde Tombaugh, who discovered Pluto, was quoted in newspapers across the world as saying she was “shook up” but also said her husband saw this coming before his death several years ago. Now a group of New Mexico State University Aggies plan to protest the demotion this morning on campus. Tombaugh’s widow, who lives in Las Cruces, will join them. Continue Reading

Garza claims he passed urine test, but has not released results to commission or taken hair test

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Carlos Garza claims he has passed the drug test he took 10 days ago. The suspended Doña Ana County magistrate judge said he received the results today of a urine test he took Aug. 21. “The results were negative,” Garza said. “I do not have drugs in my system.” The commission filed last week a petition asking the New Mexico Supreme Court to immediately suspend Garza without pay, force him to undergo urine and hair tests for illegal drugs, and explain why he should not be held in contempt for refusing the commission’s previous demand for the tests, which were sought because of allegations that Garza is using drugs. Continue Reading

Richardson re-election mailers sound like he’s running for national office

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Bill Richardson is talking about national politics to people all across America under the guise of being re-elected New Mexico governor. His re-election campaign has mailed thousands of fundraising letters that, according to the Albuquerque Journal, “at times read like they came from a national office seeker.” He blasts the Bush administration and promotes his own work on national and international issues. Three times in the letter, according to the Journal, he tells potential donors, “I promise you I can show America a better way.” “My name is Bill Richardson and I’m a Democrat who’s not afraid to talk about what we Democrats stand for and what we have to do to turn our country around,” the letter states. Richardson’s re-election campaign chair, Dave Contarino, told the Journal that, “If you’re running in New Mexico, but you’re talking to a national audience, you have to address national issues.” How convenient. “I’m writing to you because George Bush and the GOP smear machine have targeted me for defeat and I urgently need your help to fight off their attacks,” Richardson states in the letter, according to the Journal. Continue Reading

Auditor’s independence is critical to government

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Of all government officials, it’s most important that the state’s auditor be independent. He or she is charged with holding the rest of government in the state accountable. Wrongdoing by government officials is often first revealed by the auditor’s office. Domingo Martinez has demonstrated the highest ethical standards in his eight years as state auditor. Though he’s a registered Democrat, it hasn’t shown. Continue Reading