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More officials prove need for an ethics commission

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Add two Republicans to the bipartisan list of public officials in New Mexico who, by their own actions, prove the need for an independent ethics commission to help foster a culture of integrity in government and punish those who abuse their positions. The Albuquerque Journal has run articles in the last few days detailing ethically challenged situations involving state Land Commissioner Pat Lyons and state Sen. Joe Carraro, a 1st Congressional District candidate from Albuquerque. Lyons, according to the Journal article, was charged with speeding and weaving across lanes in a state vehicle on Interstate 25 near Truth or Consequences more than a year ago. Instead of paying the fines, Lyons decided to fight, and he had Land Office general counsel Robert Stranahan represent him in the case. “We made the decision that I could go down (as Lyons’ legal representative) based on the fact he had been traveling to a spaceport meeting at the time and was driving a state vehicle,” Stranahan told the Journal. Continue Reading

Wilson releases fundraising details; Pearce does not

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson raised just under $300,000 from April 1 to May 14 and had $712,476.63 on hand to spend in the final three weeks of the primary race. Wilson released the summary pages from her May 14 Federal Election Commission report, which you can view by clicking here. Her primary opponent, Steve Pearce, meanwhile, did not respond to a request to release his FEC report. While Wilson raised $291,106.48 during the reporting period – with all but $46,000 coming from individuals, and the rest coming from political committees – the Pearce campaign said it raised $357,000 but provided no additional information, including whether any of that was a loan. The Pearce campaign also did not release the all-important figure: how much cash it had on hand on May 14. Continue Reading

Guv comes to Obama’s defense; McCain hits back

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Gov. Bill Richardson and GOP presidential nominee John McCain are in a battle over who is better in the international arena. The fight apparently began on Tuesday when Richardson was quoted on the Miami Herald’s blog defending Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama from an attack McCain launched after Obama suggested that he would be open to talking to Cuban leader Raul Castro. “John McCain – like George Bush – is afraid to talk to bad guys,” Richardson was quoted on the blog as saying. “He feels safer pretending to talk tough by hiding from them. … Continue Reading

McCain, Michelle Obama will visit ABQ next week

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Republican presidential nominee John McCain will be in Albuquerque on Monday, while Michelle Obama, wife of Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama, will be in the Duke City on Tuesday. I’ve already reported that President Bush will be in Albuquerque on Tuesday for a fundraiser for the state Republican Party and 1st Congressional District candidate Darren White. Now the Associated Press is reporting that McCain will participate in Memorial Day events at the New Mexico Veterans Museum in Albuquerque on Monday, but no other details have been released. This will be McCain’s first visit to New Mexico as a 2008 presidential candidate. Meanwhile, Michelle Obama will headline a Tuesday fundraiser for her husband’s campaign that will be co-hosted by Gov. Bill Richardson in Albuquerque. Continue Reading

Mattiace endorses Tinsley in CD2 race

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Former Las Cruces Mayor William “Bill” Mattiace endorsed Republican 2nd Congressional District candidate Ed Tinsley today. Mattiace, in a news release from the Tinsley campaign, cited Tinsley’s “extensive knowledge of the issues affecting the citizens of Las Cruces and Doña Ana County” as the reason for his endorsement. “Ed is a small-business owner like myself, and with that experience he understands that bringing economic growth to Doña Ana County begins with decreasing the federal tax burden on the backs of individuals and businesses,” Mattiace said. “Ed will fight for increased funding in Washington, which will go towards the recruitment, training and retention of members of the U.S. Border Patrol to help control our borders, and he’ll work to maintain the beauty of the Organ Mountains, which are a national treasure.” “I am happy to stand in support of a man who will work hard for the citizens of Dona Ana County and will represent New Mexico with integrity in Congress,” said Mattiace, who was Las Cruces mayor from 2003 until his defeat last year. Continue Reading

Wilson touts new endorsements in Senate race

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Republican U.S. Senate candidate Heather Wilson has announced new endorsements in recent days that include the Albuquerque city council president, the Tijeras mayor and a New York newspaper. Albuquerque’s Brad Winter, in his endorsement of Wilson, said she has done “an excellent job” as the representative of the 1st Congressional District. “There’s a reason she gets re-elected every cycle in a Democratic district. Heather Wilson cares about the people and the families she represents,” Winter said in a release from the Wilson campaign. “She doesn’t vote the way special interests tell her to; she votes the way she knows is right.” Wilson said she was “very pleased” to have Winter’s endorsement, saying he has fought to keep city taxes low and government open and honest. Continue Reading

Teague, Tinsley announce new endorsements

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In the 2nd Congressional District race, Democrat Harry Teague and Republican Ed Tinsley have announced new endorsements. The United Transportation Union has endorsed Teague, while former state Sen. Don Kidd has endorsed Tinsley. In a letter to Teague, the union cited his understanding and experience fighting on behalf of hard-working New Mexico families, according to a news release from the Teague campaign. “Your dedication and understanding of the issues that affect our members and their families has earned the respect and support of all our members,” the letter stated. Teague said he is “honored” to have the support of the union, which represents about 125,000 active and retired transit workers in the United States. Continue Reading

Two area legislators face credible primary challenges

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The question in both Democratic state legislative primaries in Doña Ana County appears to be whether voters think the incumbents are successfully working for them or have become Santa Fe insiders who have lost touch with their needs. Doña Ana County Commissioner Oscar Vásquez Butler is challenging Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia, D-Doña Ana, on June 3. Mesilla Mayor Pro Tem Jesus Caro is challenging Rep. Joni Gutierrez, D-Mesilla. Butler, using the campaign slogan “Time for a change,” argues that Garcia has served too long, has lost touch with her constituents and isn’t as effective as she once was. Caro, whose slogan is “Sharing our values,” says Gutierrez is out of touch with the rural communities in the district she represents. Continue Reading

Who are these people, anyway?

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“Now and then an innocent man is sent to the Legislature.” – Kin Hubbard “This Legislature is composed of largely intelligent people. Some are large. Some are intelligent. Some are neither.” – Jim Lillpop, former Colorado legislator By Dr. James “Jim” Kadlecek This column is written in Colorado, where, among other things, I am speaking at a memorial service for a former legislative colleague. Not surprisingly, this has caused me to give thought to legislators and the public service our elected officials perform. Continue Reading

Wiviott’s attack ad triggers brawl in CD3 race

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott picked a fight this weekend when he unveiled an ad attacking primary opponent Ben R. Luján. Now the two are accusing each other of misleading the public in an increasingly contentious battle. The AFL-CIO and other union groups plan to jump into the fight by holding a news conference on Tuesday to, according to a release, “set the record straight on Don Wiviott’s misleading attacks on Ben Ray Luján.” In the ad, which you can view by clicking here, Wiviott claims that Luján hasn’t worked hard to become successful. “Luján was a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas before his famous father got him a state job. Now Luján makes $90,000, but he didn’t show up to 13 of the 14 meetings of the health commission,” the ad states. Continue Reading

County Dems to host forums for primary candidates

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Two upcoming forums will allow Doña Ana County Democrats to compare candidates who will appear on the ballot on June 3. On May 30 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., the Democratic Party of Doña Ana County will host a forum for state Senate and House and magistrate judge candidates. On May 31 from 10 a.m. to noon, the party will host a forum for candidates for county clerk, treasurer and commissioner. Both forums will be held at the party’s headquarters, 139 North Downtown Mall in Las Cruces. It’s the old Popular Dry Goods building, and the entrance is on the north end at the corner of Water Street and Organ Avenue. Continue Reading

Security and spending: The federal budget in 2008

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By Mimi Stewart and Dede Feldman Now that the president has proposed his budget for Fiscal Year 2009, we’d like to send him a message from our state. We’re ready to pay for security for our country, but we want you to spend those dollars wisely. It’s time to take a good, hard look at what we’re buying with our “security dollars,” and make sure we’re in fact making our country safer – not more at risk. Let’s look at how we’re spending those dollars now. A White House online statement boasts that the new budget features “a nearly 74-percent increase since the president took office” in the Department of Defense’s base budget. Continue Reading

Wiviott goes negative in TV ad attacking Luján

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott went negative over the weekend with a TV ad hitting primary opponent Ben R. Luján as a do-nothing politician who earns a hefty paycheck simply because his father is the speaker of the state House. Here’s the ad, which began airing on Saturday: “Most New Mexicans work hard to make it on their own. Not Ben Ray Lujan Jr.,” the ad states. “Lujan was a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas before his famous father got him a state job. Now Lujan makes $90,000, but he didn’t show up to 13 of the 14 meetings of the health commission.” “Lujan Jr. doesn’t even show up,” the ad states. Continue Reading

Wiviott goes negative in TV ad attacking Luján

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Democratic 3rd Congressional District candidate Don Wiviott went negative over the weekend with a TV ad hitting primary opponent Ben R. Luján as a do-nothing politician who earns a hefty paycheck simply because his father is the speaker of the state House. Here’s the ad, which began airing on Saturday: “Most New Mexicans work hard to make it on their own. Not Ben Ray Lujan Jr.,” the ad states. “Lujan was a blackjack dealer in Las Vegas before his famous father got him a state job. Now Lujan makes $90,000, but he didn’t show up to 13 of the 14 meetings of the health commission.” “Lujan Jr. doesn’t even show up,” the ad states. Continue Reading