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N.M. delegation divided over Bush’s Iraq plan

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President Bush announced Wednesday night his plan to send 21,500 additional troops to Iraq despite widespread, bipartisan opposition from Congress and the American public. Bush called the current situation “unacceptable,” and said that, “Where mistakes have been made, the responsibility rests with me.” Bush did call for the Iraqi government to take more responsibility, but didn’t set in place anything that will force that, and the Iraqis have repeatedly ignored such requests. You can read Bush’s entire speech by clicking here. Most of New Mexico’s lawmakers in Washington, D.C. – Democratic Sen. Jeff Bingaman and reps. Heather Wilson, a Republican, and Tom Udall, a Democrat, oppose the plan. Continue Reading

N.M. delegation shares views on Bush’s Iraq plan

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In case you missed the news, President Bush will address the nation at 7 p.m. mountain standard time today to announce a new strategy in Iraq that includes an increase of 20,000 troops. The move has become a focus of the new, Democratic-controlled Congress, and most Democrats, including Sen. Jeff Bingaman and Rep. Tom Udall of New Mexico, are expected to oppose it. Bingaman says Bush has not made the case for more troops. What do New Mexico’s Republican representatives and senator think of this? Sen. Pete Domenici, who has been briefed on the new strategy, said it’s much broader than a simple troop increase, and will more quickly push responsibility on Iraqis, but also said he hasn’t yet decided whether to support it. Continue Reading

Democrats’ PAC impacted key House races in 2006

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This is the first in an occasional series examining political action committees and their effect on New Mexico politics. A political action committee controlled primarily by Speaker of the House Ben Lujan had a major impact on several high-profile House races across the state last year. In three hotly contested races in Doña Ana County, the New Mexico Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee made the difference, at least financially. Andy Nuñez, Jeff Steinborn and Nate Cote, with sizable gifts from the DLCC, outspent their opponents. All three won – two of them by narrow margins. Continue Reading

Scandal, Richardson’s influence shaped 2006

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In New Mexico, 2006 will be remembered for two things politically – widespread scandal in both parties and at all levels of government, and the impressive influence of Gov. Bill Richardson, who raised a record amount of money, won re-election by a record margin, and somehow managed to control state policy, avoid direct implication in scandal and campaign for other candidates across the nation at the same time. In compiling this list of the top 10 political stories of the year, I had to consider statewide issues and topics local to Doña Ana County. With that in mind, here’s my list of the state’s top 10 political stories of 2006 from a Doña Ana County perspective. Feel free to agree, disagree or add your thoughts by submitting comments at the end of this posting. 10. 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

Final Journal polls have Madrid, Lyons ahead

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The Albuquerque Journal ran its final poll results today. You can read about the congressional races by clicking here and the statewide races by clicking here. Here’s the quick summary: In the 1st Congressional District, Democratic challenger Patricia Madrid is leading Republican incumbent Heather Wilson 49-45 percent. In the 2nd Congressional District, Republican incumbent Steve Pearce is leading Democratic challenger Al Kissling 59-33 percent. In the 3rd Congressional District, Democratic incumbent Tom Udall is leading Republican challenger Ron Dolin 71-20 percent. Continue Reading

Democratic group comes to aid of Foley opponent

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The New Mexico Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee has jumped into a House race between two republicans in Roswell. District 57 Rep. Dan Foley, R-Roswell, is challenged on Nov. 7 by Republican Steven Gavi, who is running as a write-in opponent. Gavi apparently has the support of the Democratic leadership. Gavi collected signatures earlier this year to run against U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., then changed his mind and filed a petition to run against Foley in the primary election. Continue Reading

Check out race profiles, other articles

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You can learn more about the proposed constitutional amendments and bond issues on the Nov. 7 ballot from the Las Cruces Sun-News by clicking here and the Albuquerque Journal by clicking here. Check out the Sun-News’ profile of the race between U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., and Democratic challenger Al Kissling by clicking here. Check out the Sun-News’ profile of the race between U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., and Republican challenger Allen McCulloch by clicking here. Read about their debate from the Journal by clicking here. Continue Reading

McCulloch cited in Oct. 15 crash

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Allen McCulloch, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, was cited Wednesday for careless driving in the Oct. 15 crash that left a woman badly burned, according to KOB-TV in Albuquerque. The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department issued the citation after determining that McCulloch was talking on a cell phone and speeding during a rainstorm when his vehicle hydroplaned and slammed into the back of a parked sport utility vehicle on Highway 550 near Cuba, the station reported. The SUV, which was carrying six women, had stopped to wait out the storm. It rolled off the road’s shoulder and caught fire. Continue Reading

Senate candidate survives fiery car accident

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Allen McCulloch, the Republican candidate for U.S. Senate, survived a head-on crash Sunday night, then helped pull four passengers from the car he hit, which was on fire, according to the Albuquerque Tribune. McCulloch was unharmed and back on the campaign trail today. McCulloch campaign spokesman Mario Sanchez told the newspaper the candidate was driving home to Farmington about 6:30 p.m. when he hit a patch of water and collided with a vehicle carrying six people. After the accident, the vehicle McCulloch hit caught fire, and one of the women McCulloch pulled from it was also on fire, the Tribune reported. McCulloch is a doctor. Continue Reading

The international scene: Support peace in Uganda

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If I may discuss international politics for a moment… Today there are hundreds of activists in Washington, D.C. learning about the tentative peace talks now taking place in Uganda. Rebels with the Lord’s Resistance Army, who have fought and oppressive, brutal, 20-year war in the northern part of that country, have agreed to talks with the Ugandan government that might end the war. Tens of thousands of civilians have been maimed or killed by the rebels, and more than 25,000 children have been abducted from towns and camps and forced to be soldiers or sex slaves. The government has massed people into what it calls “protected villages” that has almost 2 million people displaced and an estimated 1,000 dying each week. I wrote in April about an event in Las Cruces that was part of a larger effort to bring attention to the situation. Continue Reading

Check out profiles of three races on ballot

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Profiles of three races that will be on the ballot in Doña Ana County ran in area newspapers this weekend. Click here to read the Las Cruces Sun-News’ profile of the Doña Ana County Commission District 1 race between Democrat incumbent Oscar Vasquez Butler and Republican challenger John Zimmerman. Click here to read the Associated Press’ profile of the secretary of state race between Democrat Mary Herrera and Republican Vickie Perea, which was published in the Santa Fe New Mexican. Click here to read the Associated Press’ profile of the U.S. Senate race between Democrat incumbent Jeff Bingaman and Republican challenger Allen McCulloch, which was published in the Albuquerque Journal. Continue Reading

Rep. Pearce increases lead over Kissling

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The newest Albuquerque Journal poll shows that U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has increased his lead over Democratic challenger Al Kissling. The poll, conducted Sept. 25-28, shows Pearce with 58 percent of the vote, compared to 27 percent for Kissling. A Journal poll conducted a month ago had Pearce leading 54-29 percent. In the interim, Pearce unveiled a series of radio ads attacking Kissling, including the “bizarre” commercial that uses the Democrat’s own words against him. Continue Reading

Urge debate duckers to participate in democracy

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It isn’t just Gov. Bill Richardson who is ducking debates. As reported in the Albuquerque Journal today, U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., has accused Democratic challenger Patricia Madrid of avoiding televised debates – which Madrid has done – but Wilson has also declined two non-televised debates with Madrid. Though U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., participated in one, mid-day debate with Democratic challenger Al Kissling, he has declined any other debates, including an upcoming offer from an Albuquerque television station. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., has agreed to one upcoming televised debate and not yet responded to a challenge from Republican Allen McCulloch for several more. Bingaman has never been one to shy away from debates. Continue Reading