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Congress must act on immigration reform

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The American Civil Liberties Union wants us to believe that it is entirely inappropriate and irresponsible for sheriff’s deputies in Doña Ana and Otero counties to assist the federal government in policing immigrant neighborhoods. And the Otero County sheriff wants us to believe his office is being unfairly criticized and there’s nothing wrong with state deputies detaining violators of federal immigration law when they come across them. Both oversimplify a complicated problem created by a Congress that is in dereliction of its duty by failing to invest the time and effort necessary to reach a compromise and approve comprehensive immigration reform. What has happened is this: A federal grant is being provided to some local law enforcement agencies along the border to help them deal with the increase in crime that comes from having high numbers of undocumented immigrants living in hiding. It’s true that such immigrants are often victims of robbery, false imprisonment, domestic violence and, in some cases, even more serious crimes such as rape. Continue Reading

Cop involved in Victoria’s citation arrested for DWI

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One of two police officers involved in issuing a citation in May to a bar owned by Senate Majority Whip Mary Jane Garcia was arrested on Saturday for drunken driving – the second time he’s faced DWI charges. Sgt. Conrad Chavira, a supervisor in the Special Investigations Division, has been placed on administrative duty after being arrested in Ruidoso on Saturday. He was not on duty when, according to police, he was on his motorcycle and tried to avoid a DWI checkpoint. Chavira, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, had a blood-alcohol level of 0.13. Continue Reading

Ethics reform: The time is now

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By Matt Brix Given the intense public interest in ethics during 2006, and the role the issue played in the federal mid-term elections last fall, more than a few voters hoped the matter could be resolved quickly this year. The answer most people were looking for was comprehensive reform. Alas, here we are in September 2007. The ethics drumbeat only grows louder, and major reform is still needed. Some notable progress has been made. Continue Reading

Pearce fundraiser co-host raises some GOP eyebrows

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A fundraiser being held for U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. on Friday in Roswell is drawing raised eyebrows from some Republicans who live in the eastern part of the state. Among those hosting the event are GOP activists Diane and Dick Taylor, according to the event invitation. Dick Taylor is a Chaves County Commissioner. His wife is currently in a pre-prosecutorial diversion program after admitting to voter fraud earlier this year. You might recall Pearce helping arrange last fall for a House committee to hold a meeting on voter identification and fraud in Las Cruces. Continue Reading

Judge Robles applies for Supreme Court vacancy

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Robert E. Robles, who has been chief judge of the Third Judicial District Court in Doña Ana County for eight years, wants to be the first person from the southern part of the state to be appointed to the New Mexico Supreme Court since 1975. Robles, 57, has applied for the vacancy created last month by the death of Justice Pamela B. Minzner. “Representing the State of New Mexico as a justice on the Supreme Court would be the culmination of a lifelong dream,” Robles wrote in his application. The deadline to apply for the appointment is 5 p.m. today. A judicial selection committee will meet in Santa Fe on Sept. Continue Reading

Approving ethics reform is the right thing to do

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I didn’t realize that 88 percent of New Mexico’s Democrats are members of the media and special interest groups. But that’s apparently what state Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, believes. According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Sanchez said during Friday’s meeting of the legislative Ethics Subcommittee that only special interest groups and the media are pushing certain ethics reform proposals. A recent Albuquerque Journal poll, however, found that 88 percent of members of Sanchez’s political party in New Mexico want ethics reform. And they didn’t just vaguely agree to the general concept: Those 88 percent answered “yes” when asked specifically if they want reforms including campaign contribution limits, new restrictions on lobbyists and creation of a state ethics commission. Continue Reading

DA wants outside prosecutor to take Foley case

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It appears that the criminal case against House Minority Whip Dan Foley may go forward after all. I reported at the end of August that the district attorney’s office in Roswell was reviewing the case and conducting further investigation to determine whether there was enough evidence to support criminal charges. That office has apparently decided there is evidence to charge the GOP representative, the Roswell Daily Record is reporting. Ken Roberts, an investigator for the district attorney’s office, told the newspaper “There will be charges filed.” But Fifth Judicial District Attorney Floyd “Terry” Haake told the newspaper he wants the case moved out of Chaves County to ensure politics does not affect the legal process, and said he’s looking for another prosecutor to take the case. Haake admitted that he and Foley have “had contact,” so it’s best if he doesn’t prosecute. Continue Reading

Grant County Dem chair enters gubernatorial race

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The chairman of Grant County’s Democratic Party has decided to join two New Mexico titans in the race to be the party’s 2010 gubernatorial candidate. Carlos Provencio announced his candidacy over the weekend. “My motive is to give the people of New Mexico a real choice,” he wrote in an e-mail to supporters. “I hope to organize statewide around the issues of campaign reform, universal health care and the board of regents (of universities) being elected by the people rather than appointed by the governor.” Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has already raised more than $1.5 million for her 2010 gubernatorial run. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez is also raising money and traveling the state, though he has not formally announced his candidacy and says he’s still considering whether to run. Continue Reading

Poll reveals tight race between Mattiace, Miyagishima

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Last week’s non-scientific poll on this site points to what may be a very tight race between Bill Mattiace and Ken Miyagishima for Las Cruces mayor. However, the poll did not account for the candidacy of the lesser-known Jon Mercurio, who announced his candidacy mid-week. There’s also the possibility that other candidates will emerge on or before the Sept. 25 filing date. Regardless, of 177 voters in last week’s poll, 91, or 51 percent, said Miyagishima would win the Nov. Continue Reading

ACLU accuses sheriffs of conducting immigration raids

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The American Civil Liberties Union is condemning recent actions by sheriff’s deputies in Doña Ana and Otero counties, saying they are irresponsibly and inappropriately acting as Border Patrol agents. In a news release sent today, the ACLU said deputies recently conducted “immigration raids” in Chaparral and Vado, which the organization claimed included “sweeps of immigrant neighborhoods, knocking on doors and checking identification… stopping motorists and entering private businesses” and possibly taking children from schools and entering homes without consent or warrants. “This is irresponsible policing,” said Maria Nape, Director of the ACLU’s Border Rights office. “Immigrants in these communities may never again trust that they can report crimes to sheriff’s deputies, even if they are the victims. When local police become border patrol agents, it rips a hole in the fabric of public safety that takes years to mend.” Sgt. Joe Reynaud of the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department said two department deputies conducted an operation on Monday as part of a federal program called Operation Stonegarden. Continue Reading

Former PRC candidate to run for county commission

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Republican Doyle Pruitt has announced his candidacy for the District 4 seat on the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners. The seat is currently held by Republican Kent Evans, who will leave the commission next year because of term limits. Evans’ wife Anna Mae, also a Republican, has already announced that she’s running for the seat next year. Pruitt said he’s running “to level the playing field and give better representation to the constituents of District 4 than has been given in the past.” “Someone is needed to look out for the safety issues of the county, which have been sorely overlooked in the past,” he said. “We are a flood-prone area, which is due to the lack of infrastructure mandated to the builders. Continue Reading

Audit helps prove case for recall of ABQ councilor

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By B. James Lowe, RADM, USNR (Ret.) In the solace and comfort of my family room I watched the recording of Eye on New Mexico on Sunday morning. Alas, if I had been evaluating it as a college debate, Albuquerque City Councilor Don Harris won going away. While I still had the comfort of home, solace was not afforded by the spectacle of my debating performance. I concede that Carter Bundy’s column that ran Wednesday on this site was not only well written but generally on-point. But personal ego demands that I invite to you that his assessment was made on viewing a 25-minute window in which Mr. Harris, and the moderator, pushed the drama of a hateful cabal from Four Hills who were conspiratorially plotting to remove him. Continue Reading

Mesilla trustee to take on Gutierrez in 2008 primary

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Mesilla Mayor Pro Tem Jesus M. Caro has decided to challenge state Rep. Joni Gutierrez in the 2008 Democratic primary. Caro began informing supporters of his decision on Thursday. “I really could do what I’m doing now at the town of Mesilla on a bigger scale, and invest in the long-term for us,” he said in an interview. “I want to keep trying to see what I can do to keep our values, our culture the way things are, and keep control of the growth.” Gutierrez could not be reached for comment. Caro’s candidacy could present a serious challenge to the three-year representative of District 33. Continue Reading

Local activist to challenge Frietze in city council race

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Ron Gurley, a local activist with 50 years of public service experience, has announced his candidacy for the Las Cruces City Council District 1 seat. A 14-year resident of the district, Gurley said he is running to assure meaningful involvement of residents in city policy-making. “One of the things I am most proud of is that people came to me to get the public involved in the decisions related to the transition of Memorial Medical Center to private ownership,” Gurley said, adding that he arranged public input, including electronically beaming a hearing to outlying communities. He said “public involvement resulted in certain guarantees to the public in the lease contract.” Gurley joins former Doña Ana County Commissioner Miguel G. Silva in challenging 12-year incumbent José Frietze for the District 1 seat on Nov. 6. Continue Reading

Those give-up artists

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© 2007 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things… The person who has nothing for which he is willing to fight, nothing which is more important than his own personal safety, is a miserable creature, and has no chance of being free unless made or kept so by the exertions of better men than himself. – John Stuart Mill Our nation is engaged in two great struggles in the War on Terror. One struggle is our military fighting for America’s long-term security; the other is politicians using this War on Terror to further their political fortunes. This is on both sides of the aisle, but I am especially disgusted with Democrats who pray for America’s defeat to further their political aspirations. Continue Reading