Latest Stories

Udall, who may consider Senate run, praises Domenici

By |

U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., who will likely consider running for the Senate seat being vacated by GOP giant Pete Domenici next year, called the outgoing senator a “statesman and skilled negotiator.” “Throughout his distinguished career in public service, Senator Pete V. Domenici has worked hard for all New Mexicans. He will leave the United States Senate as New Mexico’s longest serving member, earning a reputation as a statesman and skilled negotiator,” Udall said in a statement released through a spokeswoman. “Although we have not always seen eye-to-eye on every issue, we have worked together in the best interest of the state, and I look forward to working with him for the remainder of this Congress.” “I think I speak for all New Mexicans in thanking him for his leadership and service,” Udall said. “Jill and I join all of New Mexico in wishing him, his wife Nancy and their entire family all the best in the future. We’re all grateful for his half-century of public service to New Mexico.” A spokeswoman for U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman said a statement is in the works. Continue Reading

Wiviott remains committed to Senate race

By |

Don Wiviott, one of three Democrats who had jumped into the race against U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici before news of his retirement broke today, said he remains committed to the race. Though he wouldn’t release his third-quarter fundraising numbers, Wiviott said his campaign has a budget of $2.1 million for a primary race – and he’ll make up the difference if he doesn’t raise the entire amount. His third-quarter report must be filed publicly by Oct. 15. Wiviott, a Santa Fe developer, already committed $400,000 of his own money to the race and, during the last three months, raised about $60,000 through the Democratic fundraising Web site ActBlue, which discloses such totals publicly. Continue Reading

Domenici to announce retirement in ABQ on Thursday

By |

U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., will announce his retirement on Thursday at the grammar school he attended decades ago in Albuquerque. A reliable source confirmed for me moments ago that the senator will make the announcement at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Albuquerque at 4 p.m. The source said Domenici’s decision has nothing to do with the ethics investigation related to the U.S. attorney scandal or his falling poll numbers, and said the senator will specifically address the reason for his decision at Thursday’s news conference. Continue Reading

Domenici is retiring in 2008, Washington Post reports

By |

U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, New Mexico’s senior senator, is expected to announce on Thursday that he is retiring next year, the Washington Post is reporting. Domenici’s office would not confirm the report. “At this point, we have no comment,” spokeswoman Courtney Sanders said. More later, but this obviously would set off a huge domino effect in New Mexico politics if it’s true. Now you have the immediate news. Continue Reading

Watch and then critique mayoral candidates

By |

I could have written something critiquing the performances of both candidates for Las Cruces mayor at Tuesday night’s candidate forum, but I figured it might be better if you did it. The following videos, each less than seven minutes long, include most of what both said. Give your feedback by submitting comments at the end of this article, but remember to adhere to this site’s comments policy. The forum was sponsored by the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. Bill Mattiace, incumbentKen Miyagishima, challenger Continue Reading

Candidates for council, mayor square off at forum

By |

Tuesday’s forum involving candidates for Las Cruces mayor and three seats on the city council was a mostly civil, efficient event that gave quick snapshots of those seeking the offices. Mayor Bill Mattiace did take an apparent shot at his opponent, District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima. Candidates seeking to replace the outgoing Steve Trowbridge as District 4 councilor also sought to set themselves apart with statements that, in a couple of instances, elicited chuckles from some in attendance at the forum, which was sponsored by the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce. Mattiace, speaking about whether he would continue to support development policies that have led to economic growth and a drop in the unemployment rate, opened by saying, “Don’t pander to special interests.” “We need a mayor that doesn’t pander to groups,” Mattiace said. He then pointed out that, on the May vote on a massive annexation on the East Mesa, five councilors voted for approval and one – Miyagishima – voted against the project. Continue Reading

ActBlue gives hints about third-quarter fundraising

By |

Candidates running for federal offices in New Mexico haven’t yet filed third-quarter fundraising reports but, as was the case at the end of the second quarter of the year, some information about the Democrats can be gleaned from the fundraising site ActBlue. Reports for the quarter that ended Sunday must be filed and will be available to the public by Oct. 15. Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, one of two Democrats officially attempting to unseat U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., next year, tops New Mexico Dems in fundraising through the site with $71,954 from 385 individual donors. He raised about $30,000 of that during the second quarter of the year, so he took in about $40,000 during the third quarter through the site. Continue Reading

Mercurio disqualified from mayor’s race

By |

Jon. J Mercurio didn’t file enough signatures to qualify to run for mayor of Las Cruces, so his name won’t appear on the ballot for the Nov. 6 election. That leaves District 6 City Councilor Ken Miyagishima as the only challenger to Mayor Bill Mattiace. Mercurio needed 150 signatures of registered voters who live in Las Cruces to qualify to appear on the ballot, city spokesman Udell Vigil said. Continue Reading

Balderas named one of 100 most influential Hispanics

By |

State Auditor Hector Balderas has been named one of the nation’s 100 most influential Hispanics by Hispanic Business Magazine. Balderas was prominently featured among those who made this year’s list. “Mr. Balderas was elected to his current post in November, becoming the youngest Hispanic statewide elected official in the nation at age 33,” his profile in the publication states. “A former criminal prosecutor in Albuquerque, at age 30 he ran for and won a seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives. He recently traveled to Pakistan as a delegate for the American Council of Young Political Leaders.” Now 34, Balderas said he is “proud to be included in Hispanic Business Magazine’s prestigious list of esteemed professionals.” “As an elected official, I’m always searching for innovative methods to improve government practices and increase productivity,” he said. Continue Reading

Whistleblower urges prosecution in housing scandal

By |

The Las Cruces woman who blew the whistle last year on the malfunctioning state housing authority system urged prosecution of those responsible for the loss of millions of dollars during a legislative meeting in Las Cruces on Monday. Meanwhile, a state official told lawmakers they may be asked to appropriate additional money for a full-scale audit of the system. Frances Williams, a board member of the defunct Las Cruces-based Region VII Housing Authority, made the comments during the meeting of the Legislative Mortgage Finance Authority Act Oversight Committee, according to a copy of the statement she provided. “Millions of dollars have been stolen from funding intended for affordable housing because there has been no oversight, no structure and no ethics laws which could have avoided what we experienced with housing funding,” Williams said. “…These bonds proved to be a piggy bank for unscrupulous individuals who plundered it at will, with no one looking over their shoulder.” Most of the state’s affordable housing system collapsed last year when the Albuquerque-based Region III authority defaulted on $5 million in bonds it owed the state. Continue Reading

City election candidate forum to be held Tuesday

By |

The Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce will hold a forum on Tuesday for candidates running in the Las Cruces municipal election. The forum will be held at the offices of the Las Cruces Homebuilders Association, 2825 N. Main St., beginning at 6:30 p.m. If you can’t attend this forum, the League of Women Voters of Greater Las Cruces will hold a televised forum on Oct. 9 from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall. It will be broadcast live on Comcast cable channel 20, the city’s government access channel, and on the Internet. Video and audio will be broadcast at www.clctv.com, while an audio-only feed will be available at www.las-cruces.org. Continue Reading

Transportation commissioners tied to tainted projects

By |

The number of suspicious circumstances surrounding two Department of Transportation building projects keeps growing. The Albuquerque Journal reported this weekend on another tie between one of the defendants in the Bernalillo County Metro Court scandal and the DOT projects – this one involving two governor appointees to the state Transportation Commission. Apparently, two commissioners – Johnny Cope of Hobbs and Jim Franken of Las Vegas – had the department call in a consultant to work on the redevelopment of its statewide headquarters in Santa Fe and another project, the redevelopment of a district office also located in Santa Fe. That consultant was Michael Murphy, one of five defendants in the Metro Court case. Murphy acted as a right-hand man for former Court Administrator Toby Martinez, prosecutors allege. Continue Reading

Guv raises $5.2 million in third quarter

By |

Gov. Bill Richardson raised $5.2 million for his presidential campaign during the fundraising quarter that ended Sunday – a drop from the $7 million he raised from April to June, but an amount that keeps him on the heels of John Edwards. The Washington Post reported that Edwards was expected to raise about $7 million, but the campaign did not release a fundraising total on Sunday. Richardson’s was the only campaign in either party to release a fundraising total. Richardson and Edwards were locked in a battle last week over who would raise $1 million in the final days of the fundraising quarter. Both campaigns said this morning they had reached the goal – but it took Edwards 10 days to do it while Richardson did it in seven. Continue Reading

Voters in poll say treasurer would not win re-election

By |

The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site think Doña Ana County Treasurer Jim Schoonover has a tough re-election battle ahead, should he choose to run again. Schoonover, a Republican, has not announced whether he will seek re-election next year, but former county Auditor Jill Johnson, a Democrat, is running for his seat. Of 101 voters in last week’s poll, 66, or 65 percent, said Johnson would win a race between the two, while 35, or 35 percent, said Schoonover would win. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Rail Runner tax snafu could hamper spaceport funding

By |

The newest snafu over whether to raise local taxes to pay for operation of the Rail Runner could harm the state’s ability to secure approval in Sierra and Otero counties for a similar tax to help fund Spaceport America. In addition, the question of how to come up with millions each year to operate the commuter train when federal money runs out in 2009 threatens to further strain the state’s finances as it tries to complete the two massive projects and come up with some $500 million for needed road construction and maintenance. State Transportation Secretary Rhonda Faught publicly proposed earlier this week implementation of a local gross receipts tax in Bernalillo, Santa Fe, Sandoval and Valencia counties to come up with $25 million a year to pay for the train’s operating costs. The state has provided some $400 million for acquisition and construction of tracks and trains, but the federal government agreed to pay for the first three years of operations. In this election season, the presidential candidate and Gov. Bill Richardson quickly put out a news release saying there will be no tax increase. Continue Reading