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Hobbs mayor joins crowded CD2 GOP race

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Hobbs Mayor Monty Newman has confirmed that he’s running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce. “I think it is important that we engage in our democracy,” the Associated Press quoted Newman as saying. “I don’t want to look back on life and say I didn’t do the best I could in participating in this society in which I live.” The Republican joins five others as announced GOP candidates. There are four announced Democratic candidates. Newman, a Hobbs realtor, is a past vice president of the National Association of Realtors, which will help him raise money. Continue Reading

Most voters in poll want alternate path to the ballot

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The vast majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said there should be an alternate path to the ballot for major-party candidates who fail to get 20 percent at their party’s preprimary nominating convention. Of 136 voters, 109, or 80 percent, said there should be an alternate path, while 27, or 20 percent, said there should not. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located near the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Jennings replaces Altamirano as president pro tem

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Tim Jennings of Roswell was chosen by his Democratic colleagues today to replace Ben Altamirano as president pro tem of the state Senate. Technically, the president pro tem isn’t selected until the first day of the session, when Democrats and Republicans come together, but Democrats, who have the majority, emerged from caucus today united behind Jennings. Republicans should be fine with the choice of Jennings. He’s a conservative Democrat who expresses open dislike for Gov. Bill Richardson, and his replacing Altamirano gives the Senate an even greater ability to challenge the governor. Michael Sanchez of Belen, the majority leader, retains most control under the Senate system, unlike in the House, where the speaker, not the majority leader, calls the shots. Continue Reading

District 6 election disclosures and shenanigans

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As I did in November with the regular Las Cruces municipal election, I’ve been looking into rumors and allegations related to the upcoming District 6 special election. I’ve found a few things worth reporting. Here they are: Shipley fined Candidate Berchard Ray Shipley, while he was a planning commissioner in Brentwood, Calif., was fined $100 by the state’s Fair Political Practices Commission for failing to file in a timely manner a 2002 statement of economic interests. Such disclosures are required in that state. “I made the mistake of mailing in my annual statement and did not get a return receipt from the post office,” Shipley said in explaining the situation. Continue Reading

The constitutional right of non-association

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© 2008 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. My friend Bob was at a buffet. After his sixth trip, the owner came over and said, “This is an all-you-can-eat buffet and Bob, that is all you can eat.” Bob laughed, but there is a constitutional issue at stake that came out last week when a buffet owner back east banned three regulars because they ate too much. Lots of people immediately asked, can they do that? Indeed, do business owner have the right to refuse service to anyone? Some say when a door is open to the public for commercial exchange it is open to everyone. Continue Reading

Ethics Subcommittee to hold final meeting

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The final meeting of the Legislature’s interim Ethics Subcommittee will be held Monday, with the prospects for the approval of serious ethics reform during the session remaining unclear. The committee will meet at 1:30 p.m. in room 315 at the Roundhouse to finalize its recommendations for ethics reform. The committee has considered the recommendations of the governor’s task force and its own ideas. But the Senate will be hesitant to approve any ethics reform, and the governor didn’t mention ethics reform in his speech on Thursday. He’ll spend the next few days preparing for the 30-day session that begins Tuesday, but he hasn’t yet announced what, other than health-care reform, will be debated. Continue Reading

Spokesman: Guv isn’t interested in being VP

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Though a supporter is attempting to start a grassroots movement to make Bill Richardson the next vice president, a campaign spokesman says the governor doesn’t want the job. “The continued support is flattering, but the governor is not interested,” Richardson for President spokesman Pahl Shipley said. “He has the best job in the world in a great state, and he’s looking forward to fully engaging in the upcoming legislative session.” I reported earlier today that Ken Camp, a Democratic activist in Washington State, has started a blog and an online petition to push the eventual Democratic presidential nominee to make Richardson his or her running mate. Camp says the movement isn’t affiliated with or approved by the governor or his campaign. Richardson and his staffers said often during the campaign that he wasn’t interested in being vice president and would finish out his term as governor if he lost the presidential race, but this is the first time such a statement has been made since Richardson quit the presidential race earlier today. Continue Reading

Unofficial Richardson-for-VP movement begins

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One of the most active volunteers on Gov. Bill Richardson’s now-defunct presidential campaign is already trying to start a movement to make him the next vice president of the United States. Ken Camp, a Democratic activist in Washington State, has started a blog and an online petition to push the eventual Democratic presidential nominee to make Richardson his or her running mate. Camp said the effort is not affiliated with Richardson’s presidential campaign and the statements on the sites have not been authorized by the governor. He said he will take down the sites if asked by Richardson or senior staff members to do so. “I have not been asked or paid by anyone to do this. Continue Reading

Guv bows out, backs Udall but no presidential hopeful

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In ending his presidential campaign today, Gov. Bill Richardson pledged to push for health-care reform in the upcoming legislative session, continue his international missions and elect Tom Udall to the U.S. Senate, but he was mum on whether he would seek the vice presidential nomination or another D.C. job. “It is with great pride, understanding and acceptance that I am ending my campaign for president of the United States,” Richardson said during the speech in Santa Fe. “… Boy, did we work harder than anyone. We did our best and that is all we can do and that is all we can expect from each other.” Richardson, 60, was wearing blue jeans with his suit jacket and tie, and was accompanied by his wife Barbara. His speech was interrupted by several standing ovations. Continue Reading

Guv will make campaign announcement at 1 p.m.

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Gov. Bill Richardson will make an announcement related to his presidential campaign – expected to be that he’s dropping his bid for the presidency – at 1 p.m. today in the rotunda at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe. The head of Richardson’s government press office, Gilbert Gallegos, confirmed the planned announcement. He said an advisory from the campaign was coming shortly. He provided no further details. Stay tuned and check back for updates. Continue Reading

N.M. turns to other candidates as guv bows out

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Ed Romero, the national finance chairman for Bill Richardson’s presidential campaign, didn’t even wait for the governor to formally announce his withdrawal from the race before he began making phone calls on Wednesday for Hillary Clinton. The reaction was similar around the state after news broke on Wednesday evening that the governor had decided, following dismal showings in Iowa and New Hampshire, to end his campaign. A number of people helping Richardson’s campaign jumped ship earlier in the day. Many prominent New Mexico Democrats are beginning to organize or make phone calls for another candidate. Now that Richardson is dropping out, an election year that has already been tumultuous because of the coming retirement of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici becomes even more unpredictable with a wide-open Democratic presidential caucus on Feb. Continue Reading

Adair declares victory after ACLU settles lawsuit

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State Sen. Rod Adair is declaring victory after the American Civil Liberties Union settled on Wednesday a lawsuit alleging he violated a citizen’s right to attend a legislative hearing and agreed to a statement that the senator “is a strong supporter of the U.S. and N.M. Constitutions.” “The lawsuit says that I violated the constitutional rights of an individual. Their settlement says that I am a strong supporter of the constitution. The settlement completely negates a frivolous lawsuit,” the Roswell Republican said. “… In my view, this is a victory that is national in its implications.” The citizen who made the allegations against Adair said he is also pleased with the outcome of the case. “I got my point across, that the ACLU thought my case was good enough to take it and file it in federal court,” Virgil Beagles said. Continue Reading

Richardson drops presidential bid, AP reports

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Gov. Bill Richardson has decided to drop his presidential bid, the Associated Press is reporting. Richardson plans to make a formal announcement on Thursday, the news service reported, but reached the decision today to immediately end his campaign after securing only 5 percent of the vote in Tuesday’s New Hampshire Primary and 2 percent in last week’s Iowa Caucus. Richardson’s campaign was running out of money and losing supporters. Campaign volunteer Ken Camp told me earlier today he was staying on, flying to Nevada this weekend at his own expense to campaign for the governor, but that others “have jumped ship in the past 12-14 hours.” Update, 5:55 p.m. Richardson Deputy Campaign Manager Amanda Cooper told The Santa Fe New Mexican that the governor hasn’t dropped out. “No he hasn’t,” she said and, when asked whether he planned to drop out, she said, “I haven’t had a discussion about it.” I’ve been unable to reach Cooper and other Richardson campaign officials for comment. Continue Reading

Outgoing Sunland Park mayor is silent on his future

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Sunland Park Mayor Jesus “Ruben” Segura shocked many on Tuesday when he didn’t file to seek a fourth term in office. He will create quite a void when he leaves the job in March. In an interview, Segura gave little reason for his departure and no clues on his future plans. It was a typical response from a politician who has held his own over the years by keeping his cards close to his chest. “I need to move forward to other challenges and other opportunities, and I think in due time they will be revealed,” Segura said in refusing to share his plans. Continue Reading