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Polls now closed in Las Cruces municipal election

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Polls are now closed in the Las Cruces municipal election. I’ll have complete coverage this evening, so check back frequently. In addition, the election results will be televised live tonight on the city’s public access channel, Comcast channel 20, and on the city’s Web site (click here). The city expects to have final results by 8:30 or 9 p.m. Candidates and members of the public can gather inside the council chambers at City Hall, 200 N. Church Street, to view election results on projection screens. Continue Reading

Late voter surge reported at some polling places

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There are reports this evening of late voter surges at some polling places, at least on the East Mesa, in the Las Cruces municipal election. I just checked it out for myself at Highland Elementary School in District 5, where the line to vote was out the door. I’ve also heard reports of people having to wait almost an hour to vote at some polling places this evening. Polls close in about 40 minutes. If you haven’t voted, now is the time. Continue Reading

New Richardson book released today

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Gov. Bill Richardson’s new book, Leading by Example: How We Can Inspire an Energy and Security Revolution, was released today. The book, timed to coincide with the home stretch of his campaign to become the Democratic Party’s presidential nominee, is published by Wiley and has a suggested retail price of $25.95. It outlines Richardson’s plan to lead America to energy independence and details how that will make Americans safer. “We need to make a major commitment to energy reform – a man-on-the-moon effort,” Richardson said in a release. “Baby steps are not going to cut it. Continue Reading

Denish leads by example on campaign disclosure

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When the opportunity presents itself, I like to praise public officials for leading by example, especially when it relates to ethics reform. I recently praised House Minority Leader Tom Taylor for going out of his way to avoid the appearance of impropriety with a land donation. Lt. Gov. Diane Denish set another great example today. She has decided to publicly release quarterly finance reports for her 2010 gubernatorial campaign even though state law only requires that such reports be filed once a year in off years. You can view the report her campaign released today, for the July-September reporting period, by clicking here. Continue Reading

At this point, it’s difficult to determine voter turnout

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It’s difficult to determine at this point how voter turnout in today’s Las Cruces municipal election compares to the 2003 election, the last time the same offices were up for grabs. If my small sample of polling places is any indication, the city isn’t on track to match the turnout from 2003, the last time the mayor’s office, presiding municipal judgeship and city council districts 1, 2 and 4 were up for grabs. Voter turnout that year was 29 percent – 10,753 out of 36,648 registered voters. But I’m not going to predict that voter turnout will be lower. About 2,400 people voted early this year, compared to 1,581 in 2003. Continue Reading

Election Day has arrived in Las Cruces

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Election Day has arrived in Las Cruces. From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Las Crucens will go to the polls today to cast votes in races for mayor, presiding municipal judge and city council districts 1, 2 and 4. To find your polling place, click here. To view a map of council districts, click here. To get information from the city clerk’s office, click here or call 541-2115. Continue Reading

Election is about the candidates, not Philippou

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Philip Philippou has been vilified in some circles since his 6,000-acre development, The Vistas at Presidio, was approved by the Las Cruces City Council in May. In fact, approval of that development was the catalyst for the movement to oust the mayor and those councilors many view as having led the city to out-of-control growth. Even for those who believe the city’s growth is way out of bounds, it’s important to remember, as voters go to the polls on Tuesday in the Las Cruces municipal election, that Philippou is not the enemy. This is not a defense of Philippou. There are a lot of outstanding questions about his land donations to a non-profit run by District 1 City Councilor José Frietze. Continue Reading

Pearce formally announces Senate run

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., traveled around the state this weekend to formally announce that he’s running for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. The above video is from his announcement in Mesilla. You can also read from local media about Pearce’s stops in Alamogordo, Albuquerque, Clovis, Roswell and Santa Fe. A couple of points I found interesting from visiting with Doña Ana County Republicans in Mesilla on Sunday. Though he’s represented them in Congress for years, many aren’t sold on Pearce. Continue Reading

Chávez beating Pearce and Wilson in new poll

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A new poll of potential general-election match-ups in the U.S. Senate race finds that Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has gained a lot of ground in the last month. SurveyUSA’s October poll, conducted for KOB-TV in Albuquerque, had Chávez losing to U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce by 21 points and to U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson by four points. But the newest SurveyUSA poll, conducted for the Washington publication Roll Call and released today, has Chávez beating Pearce by five points and beating Wilson by four points. The poll is good news for a campaign that has had some recent setbacks: Confusion has surrounded Chávez’s finance committee since his campaign listed at least two people as members who, at the time, had not agreed to join. In addition, U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is trying to put the pieces together for a serious challenge to Chávez in a Senate primary. Continue Reading

Field of second district hopefuls and potentials grows

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The race to replace Steve Pearce in the Second Congressional District got much more complicated over the weekend with a number of people entering the race or announcing that they’re seriously considering it. In addition, at least one candidate plans to enter the race later today. Here’s the quick rundown: • Republican Bob Cornelius announced Saturday that has formed an exploratory committee “with the intent” to run. The native of Tatum recently moved back there from Albuquerque, where he was a former executive director of the Bernalillo County GOP. • State Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, surprised many by announcing at Saturday’s meeting of the party’s state central committee that he’s seriously considering running. Continue Reading

Non-scientific poll voters say Miyagishima will win

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima will win the Las Cruces mayoral race on Tuesday. Of 360 voters, 208, or 58 percent, said Miyagishima will defeat incumbent Bill Mattiace, while 152, or 42 percent, said Mattiace will win. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Tying up loose ends for the municipal election

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With less than four days until polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday in the Las Cruces Municipal Election, there are a few odds and ends that need to be wrapped up, all relating to disclosure. Any of these topics could have warranted its own article but, this close to the election, I hesitate to go there. It’s time to try to wrap up investigate reporting on election-related issues. So here’s what I know that’s outstanding: People for Prosperity Last weekend, a group calling itself People for Prosperity made public its attempt to affect the outcome of the election with a quarter-page advertisement in the Las Cruces Sun-News. It has since unveiled a Web site and a series of pricey newspaper ads. Continue Reading

Even if Udall vacates it, Wirth won’t seek House seat

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Even if U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., runs for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, state Rep. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, won’t run for his U.S. House seat, he said today. Wirth reaffirmed his plan to run for the state Senate District 25 seat being vacated by John Grubesic, and said an open U.S. House seat won’t change that. “When Congressman Udall told me several weeks ago that he was staying in the U.S. House of Representatives, we made a family decision to seek the open District 25 state Senate seat,” he said. “While it is certainly humbling to have such interest in the possibility of me serving in Washington, Carol and I are very happy with our choice and feel strongly that it makes the most sense at this time for our family, which is deeply rooted here in Santa Fe, and for the community.” “I am honored to serve in the state legislature and look forward to meeting the voters in state Senate District 25,” Wirth said. Udall hasn’t made a formal announcement, but he’s trying to put the pieces in place for a U.S. Senate run. Continue Reading

Mayoral candidates’ differences were clear at debate

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The differences between the two candidates for Las Cruces mayor were clear during this morning’s debate on The Morning Show with Alan Riehl. Mayor Bill Mattiace believes Las Cruces is in great shape. He believes growth policies are moving the city in the right direction and that the city is doing a good job of involving residents in the process. District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima, on the other hand, believes the city is growing too quickly. He wants the city to do a better job of planning and wants more requirements for developers to ensure better infrastructure in new neighborhoods. Continue Reading

Cervantes plans to run for Congress

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If there was any doubt left, State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, has essentially confirmed that he’s running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. He made comments that essentially indicate he’s running Wednesday on The Morning Show with Alan Riehl. You can listen to the podcast of the interview by clicking here. “We’re taking all the steps we need to do,” Cervantes said. “We are moving in the direction of putting… a team in place that can win that race.” The fact that Cervantes is running is something that we pretty much knew, and I reported earlier this week. Though he didn’t flat-out say he’s running on the radio show, Cervantes said he is “moving in the right direction” but still had some phone calls to make and wants to be joined by friends when he makes the final decision. Continue Reading