Money man: Richardson’s effect shows in Tuesday candidate filings, plus Judge Chaparro quits

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“We’re not playing the same game at all.”That’s how Republican Lawrence Joy summed it up when I asked him to help explain why there were no Republicans running for nine of 19 local seats up for grabs this year. Joy, who ran unsuccessfully two years ago against State Rep. Antonio Lujan, D-Las Cruces, is seeking the seat again.Joy was explaining to me that Gov. Bill Richardson gives Democrats an advantage Republicans can’t currently match. He’s a national political figure with grand ambitions, and he brought with him when he returned to New Mexico a national fundraising machine.Republicans essentially gave up an attempt to take the governor’s mansion months ago, but Richardson’s influence in state politics became even more clear Tuesday when candidates filed to run in the June 6 Primary. In Doña Ana County, Republicans failed to find candidates to run against three Democratic state representatives, four magistrate judges, one district judge and for a spot on the Public Education Commission.The trend continued statewide. Republicans are running for only two of 14 district judgeships up for grabs around the state. Continue Reading

Boykin drops out but Republicans have bigger problems, and Apodaca’s out, too

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State Rep. William “Ed” Boykin, R-Las Cruces, announced Monday that he’s not seeking reelection this year. He stated in a Republican Party news release that he made the decision in December because he has “several projects that I want to get to that I have been putting off and I need to get back to them.”Las Crucen Scott Witt will file today to run for the District 37 seat Boykin is leaving, the release states. The retired Navy captain will face Democrat Jeff Steinborn, who almost beat Boykin in 2004.What the news release didn’t say was that the party asked Boykin last week to collect signatures and get on the June primary ballot, and he was out doing just that, a party insider assured me again Monday. The plan was that Boykin would get on the primary ballot, giving the party more time to find a suitable replacement. That apparently changed after it was reported in Monday’s blog.Boykin will be remembered as a fine legislator who earned the respect of Republicans and Democrats alike.But enough of that. Continue Reading

Boykin’s out, then back in the race, but for how long? Plus, fallout from the Welcome Inn case

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When the list of candidates running in the June primary is released tomorrow night, you’ll likely see the name of State Rep. William “Ed” Boykin, R-Las Cruces, but that doesn’t begin to tell the story of what’s happening on the Republican side in District 37. Boykin, who turns 74 later this year, had decided he wouldn’t seek reelection, sources tell me.Boykin didn’t show up a few weeks ago when the governor was in town to sign a bill he sponsored that will help make the Southwest Regional Spaceport at Upham a reality.But the Republican Party has searched in vain for someone to replace Boykin on the ballot, and Republicans are worried about losing his seat. Democrat Jeff Steinborn jumped into the 2004 race against Boykin at the last minute after Ray Storment withdrew his name, and he nearly beat the incumbent. Steinborn is running for the seat again.Republicans have asked Boykin to stay in the game, at least for now, a source tells me. Boykin, a retired educator who was first elected in November 2000, was out last week gathering the required signatures to get on the ballot. Continue Reading