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Madrid went after those who hid from the light

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The head of the N.M. Foundation for Open Government claims AG King has been more aggressive than his predecessor in enforcing sunshine laws. Here’s why he’s wrong. I was surprised this week to see Leonard DeLayo, executive director of the N.M. Foundation for Open Government, quoted in an article as saying that current state Attorney General Gary King is a stronger believer in the state’s sunshine laws than his predecessor, Patricia Madrid. But that’s exactly what he said: “I think the King administration is a lot more aggressive than the Madrid administration was in dealing with matters,” DeLayo was quoted by the Santa Fe Reporter as saying. “Gary does seem to believe in (the Inspection of Public Records and Open Meetings acts) far more than Patsy did…” While I think it’s difficult to say either believes in the sunshine laws more than the other, I certainly disagree with the assertion that King has been “more aggressive” than Madrid “in dealing with matters.” It’s simply not true. Continue Reading

Claim by Herrera’s spokesman may be false

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As far as elections and elected officials go, Herrera hasn’t come close to issuing more administrative rules than past secretaries of state In an article I published earlier today, I quoted Secretary of State spokesman James Flores as saying his boss, Mary Herrera, has “issued more administrative rules and procedures than any past administration.” That may not be true, at least as far as the administrative rules go. Check out the New Mexico Administrative Code’s section on elections and elected officials on the code’s official Web site. In there you’ll find a list of rules. Near the top, each one indicates the year it was put in place, and that can be used to determine which secretary of state enacted it. Herrera has, thus far in her tenure, brought forth two new rules related to elections and elected officials. Continue Reading

Guv signs land office competitive bidding bill

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Gov. Bill Richardson has signed legislation that will require competitive bidding on all State Land Office development leases. Senate Bill 540, sponsored by Steve Fischmann, D-Las Cruces, came in response to a development controversy in Las Cruces, and was the only bill in a package proposed by three Las Cruces lawmakers that was endorsed by Land Commissioner Pat Lyons — and the only one that passed the Legislature this year. The proposals followed Attorney General Gary King’s finding fault last year with Lyons’ leasing of land on Las Cruces’ East Mesa to Philip Philippou so it could be developed. The AG’s formal opinion on The Vistas at Presidio land deal states that the lease agreement’s method of compensating Philippou’s company for developing the land is “not comprehended by and in conflict with” a statute that allows developers who improve land for the state to be compensated only for the appraised value of the improvements. In the lease, the land office also agreed to compensate Philippou for other project costs and 40 percent of the change in value of the land as a result of the improvements. Continue Reading

An interesting disclosure in the double-dipping debate

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The New Mexico Independent discloses an interesting fact today in the debate over whether Gov. Bill Richardson should sign a bill designed to rein in what is called “double dipping” by public employees. Some 13 employees at the AG’s office, including several high-ranking officials, are what are called “returning retirees” — those who earn an annual salary and draw a retirement pension at the same time. The AG’s office says a bill that seeks to place severe restrictions on that — such as capping the salary returning retirees can make at $30,000 — may be unconstitutional. But, according to NMI, the AG’s office won’t tell the public why it thinks that about House Bill 616, sponsored by Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela, D-Santa Fe, citing attorney-client privilege between the AG and governor. Interesting… According to The Associated Press, 2,200 retirees have gone back to work in public jobs in New Mexico. Continue Reading

Clerk may challenge Herrera in 2010 primary

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‘Mismanagement’ has Santa Fe County Clerk Valerie Espinosa and others frustrated, so Espinosa may try to unseat the first-term secretary of state Frustration with Mary Herrera’s management of the secretary of state’s office has Santa Fe County Clerk Valerie Espinosa saying she is seriously considering challenging Herrera in the Democratic primary next year. Espinosa’s is a frustration shared by a number of county clerks throughout the state. “The mismanagement in that office has reached historic proportions,” Espinosa said in an interview. “There are no contracts for voting machine maintenance. Online campaign reporting is an abysmal failure. Continue Reading

House members put earmark requests online

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U.S. House members were required to post information about their earmark requests for the 2010 fiscal year online by April 3, and all three from New Mexico did that, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. The earmark requirement is a new rule designed to bring greater transparency to the appropriations process. Want to see the lists? Click here for Rep. Harry Teague’s requests, here for Rep. Martin Heinrich’s and here for Rep. Ben Ray Luján’s. Senators don’t face the same requirement to disclose earmark requests online. Continue Reading

Yates: Want less scandal? Vote GOP

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The chairman of the Republican Party of New Mexico says the indictment of Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr., a Democrat, is another reminder of the importance of a strong two-party system. “Jerome Block’s indictment serves as yet another example of how the Democrat grip on the state of New Mexico has eroded trust in public officials,” said GOP Chairman Harvey E. Yates Jr. “Citizens of this state deserve elected officials who are honest and promote transparency, not officials who abuse their position for personal gain.” “Superficial changes to the political establishment in this state will not resolve the underlying issue,” he said. “What we need is a true two-party system which will bring checks and balances to our government.” Republican officials have complained for years that Democrats have controlled state government for several decades, and said that unchecked power is the primary reason for corruption scandals that have recently plagued the state and Democratic Party. Continue Reading

PRC chairman isn’t seeking Block’s resignation

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Public Regulation Commission Chairman Sandy Jones says indicted Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. has done a good job in his first few months in office, and Jones isn’t calling on Block to resign. “I can tell you, since he’s been here he’s been pretty solid,” Jones said in an interview. “… He comes to work early every morning, he’s done a good job at the Legislature, he’s working hard.” Jones, who like Block is a Democrat, said he’s “not particularly surprised” that Block was indicted today because he knew there was a grand jury. “Seldom do grand juries convene without issuing indictments,” Jones said, “but by the same token not everyone that gets indicted is convicted.” “I wouldn’t call on him to resign right now,” Jones said. Block has said he won’t resign. Continue Reading

Grand Jury indicts PRC’s Block and his father

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Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Block Jr. and his father were indicted today on election-related charges. Both were charged with violating the elections code, conspiring to violate the elections code, tampering with evidence and conspiring to tamper with evidence. The charges against the younger Jerome Block also include embezzlement of between $500 and $2,500. Block Jr. was indicted on eight felony counts. Block Sr., a former member of the PRC, was indicted on four felonies. Continue Reading

Bingaman uses the Internet to reach out

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New Mexico’s senior U.S. senator is now actively using Facebook, YouTube and iTunes to reach out to constituents and others. Democrat Jeff Bingaman has unveiled a newly updated Facebook page and a YouTube channel. On YouTube you’ll find his podcasts and “policycasts,” which are also available on iTunes. According to Bingaman’s Facebook page, you can e-mail a policy question to webcomments@bingaman.senate.gov, “and I might answer it in a future segment.” “Digital media is constantly changing, and I look forward to experimenting with it more in the future,” Bingaman wrote in a note on his government Web site. “I’ll keep you posted here and on my other homes on the web.” This is a great way to reach out, especially to younger generations. Continue Reading

‘Ringleader’ in metro court case is sentenced

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Former Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court Administrator Toby Martinez was sentenced today to 67 months in prison. Martinez was also ordered to pay more than $2.5 million in restitution for being what KOB-TV described as the “ringleader” of a group that stole $4.2 million in taxpayer money by inflating and falsifying invoices during construction of the courthouse. Martinez had previously pleaded guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy. According to the Albuquerque Journal, Martinez told the court today that, in his former job, he often heard defendants blame others rather than take responsibility for their actions. He said “personal responsibility” was “always lacking.” “I am here to take responsibility for my actions,” the Journal quoted Martinez as saying. Continue Reading

Guv signs investment-firm disclosure bill

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Gov. Bill Richardson signed today a bill that will require additional disclosure from investment firms seeking to do business with the state. House Bill 876, sponsored by Miguel P. Garcia, D-Albuquerque, will require companies seeking contracts with the state that deal with alternative investments — those other than stocks and bonds — to disclose the employment of any third-party marketers they employ to help secure such contracts, including public relations firms and lobbyists. The relevant agencies — the State Investment Council, Educational Retirement Board and Public Employees Retirement Association — will be required to pass on those disclosures in reports they make publicly several times a year, and also annually to the appropriate legislative oversight committee. In light of the pay-to-play allegations dogging the Richardson administration — which, in the federal grand jury investigation and the separate lawsuit brought by Frank Foy, have to do with state investments — the bill seems especially relevant. The disclosure of any additional information about who is helping those firms would seem to make it easier for the public to understand the money involved. Continue Reading

Spaceport could launch ‘spate’ of commercial growth

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The construction of Spaceport America could lead to a “spate” of new commercial real estate development in the area, a trade publication for that industry says. Citing the inking earlier this year of a long-term lease with anchor tenant Virgin Galactic and the hiring of a contractor to oversee construction of the world’s first purpose-built commercial spaceport, the article in Commercial Property News puts a positive spin on the potential for southern New Mexico. The possibilities for growth include “an assortment of research parks and mixed-use industrial projects,” Las Cruces realtor (and state transportation commissioner) John Hummer told the publication. That includes New Mexico State University’s Arrowhead Research Park and facilities near the airports in Las Cruces and Truth or Consequences. From the article: “(Hummer) added that the cluster won’t mushroom overnight, but like most new industries will evolve over a few years — and the new space industry is often compared with the early years of aeronautics as a commercial endeavor. Continue Reading

Another metro court defendant sentenced

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Sandra Martinez was sentenced today to five years on probation for her role in the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse Scandal, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. And her husband Toby Martinez, the former court administrator, is set to be sentenced this afternoon. Sandra Martinez was also ordered to pay $106,000 in restitution, the Journal reported. She pleaded guilty to knowing but failing to report what her husband was doing. Toby Martinez was part of a group that stole $4.2 million in taxpayer money by inflating and falsifying invoices during construction of the courthouse, and he has pleaded guilty to mail fraud and conspiracy. Continue Reading

Richardson names new chief counsel

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Gov. Bill Richardson today announced the appointment of Justin Miller as his chief counsel. “Justin Miller has been a tremendous asset to our office over the past four years, and I am confident he will be an excellent chief counsel,” Richardson said in a news release. Miller has been the deputy legal counsel in the governor’s office since 2007, and replaces Vince Ward, who left to work in private practice. Miller, who has been with the governor’s legal staff since 2005, has a law degree from the University of New Mexico. In the release, Richardson’s office said Miller has led the way among his staff on “ethics reform measures, culminating in the enactment of historic campaign contribution limits in New Mexico.” Continue Reading