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Martin has spent $225K from university expense account, some of it on out-of-state trips to see donors

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Since becoming president of New Mexico State University in July 2004, Michael Martin has spent more than $225,000, some of it on out-of-state trips to visit donors, from a fund designated for entertainment, travel and other expenses. That included two trips to Orange County, Calif. and one to Jackson Hole, Wyo. to meet with donors; meals with university regents and other community leaders; travel to Santa Fe for legislative events and around the nation for conferences; and official events held at NMSU, according to university records provided in response to a formal request. The money comes from a public fund the Board of Regents approved in Martin’s contract to be used for “reasonable entertainment, travel, and other expenses incurred by the president in the performance of his duties as president.” Such funds have been provided to university presidents for years. Continue Reading

U.S. Senate OKs millions for county levee system

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The U.S. Senate approved on Thursday $11.7 million requested by Sen. Pete Domenici for improvements to the aging levee system in Doña Ana County. The funding, part of a larger appropriations bill, is awaiting final approval of a House/Senate conference committee and a signature by the president. The funding is not currently included in the House version of the bill. But the Senate bill includes $21.7 million for levee repairs in Doña Ana County and the El Paso area. Domenici said he’ll work to make sure it’s in the final bill sent to the president. Continue Reading

Kissling to formally launch campaign on Sunday

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Though he has been campaigning and raising money for eight months, Democrat Al Kissling plans to officially kick off his bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., at an event Sunday in Mesilla. The event will be held from 2-6 p.m. at Joe Soebbing’s Wild West Museum, 3307 McDowell Road, according to a news release from the campaign. The news release states that Kissling will be available to discuss issues, and those who attend will also be able to fill out surveys that will help Kissling “better know their concerns.” Kissling received 40 percent of the vote last year in his unsuccessful bid to unseat Pearce. This year, he faces two primary challengers – Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, who raised 10 times what Kissling raised during the second quarter of the year, and Rick Bolaños, who ran unsuccessfully for a congressional seat in Texas last year and has since moved to Doña Ana County. Though Bolaños says he’s running, he hasn’t appeared at recent Democratic events and many are beginning to wonder whether he is a serious candidate. Continue Reading

NMSU student government tries to encourage voting

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The student government at New Mexico State University is trying to encourage voter registration in advance of the Las Cruces municipal election on Nov. 6. The Associated Students of New Mexico State University has added banners to its Web site and MySpace page that link to MTV’s Rock the Vote campaign to encourage students to register to vote. As the city election approaches, ASNMSU members plan to set up voter registration booths around campus. “Students go to the booth, learn their voter rights, fill out an application, print it and hand it in. Continue Reading

The ‘wait-until-next-year’ Aggie football team

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Editor’s note: I realize Michael is a little off-topic this week, but if you live in the Las Cruces area or are an Aggie, you will probably find this one interesting. © 2007 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “The perfect football record is seven wins and four losses. The fans are happy, the alumni are sullen but not mutinous and the NCAA does not feel a need to investigate.” – Former coach Warren Woodson I was thinking of that quote as another four-flush, steer-jobbed, never-have-a-great-season New Mexico State Aggie football year begins. In fact, this is my 40th Aggie football season. My first year featured Woodson, the last successful NMSU football coach in his last year at NMSU. Continue Reading

New ad claims guv brings change and experience

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Gov. Bill Richardson is trying to jumpstart a presidential campaign that has stagnated in recent weeks with a new television advertisement highlighting his assertion that he is the candidate of both change and experience. Richardson scored points at a recent debate when, while others debated Hillary Clinton’s experience and Barack Obama’s statements about bringing change to Washington, he said he represented the best of both worlds. Despite that, Richardson’s poll numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire have stagnated in recent weeks. The ad began running today in Iowa. The news release announcing the ad takes a shot at Clinton, without naming her, for “borrowing” Richardson’s claim that he’s the candidate of change and experience. Continue Reading

New anti-war ad targets Domenici

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A new television ad from a group that wants to end the Iraq war is challenging U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici of New Mexico and three other GOP incumbents up for re-election next year. Sponsored by Americans Against Escalation in Iraq, a coalition of national anti-war groups, the ad will cost about $500,000 to run in the districts of the four senators and on national cable for 10 days, the Associated Press is reporting. The ad is the newest assault against a senator whose popularity has dropped in recent months because of his involvement in the U.S. attorney scandal and his position on the Iraq war, but Domenici has yet to draw a top-tier challenger in 2008, when he is up for re-election. Three lesser-known Democrats are vying for the right to challenge him. Domenici has broken with Bush on Iraq policy – saying he wants a withdrawal of American troops to begin in the spring – but he doesn’t support Democratic proposals to bring troops home now or cut funding for the war. Continue Reading

Small joins race for open city council seat

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Nathan Small has announced his candidacy to replace District 4 representative Steve Trowbridge on the Las Cruces City Council. Trowbridge isn’t seeking re-election, and Small joins Steven Montaño and Isaac Chavez in the contest to replace him. “Las Cruces is at a crossroads,” Small said in a news release. “We can continue business as usual where we react to events as they happen to us. Or, we can rise to the occasion and embrace the opportunities of our growing city: investing in existing neighborhoods, carefully planning new ones and building a healthy community that all of us can share.” Small, 25, is a member of the Doña Ana County Planning and Zoning Commission and is active in several community groups. Continue Reading

Montoya pleads guilty to state racketeering charge

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Former state Treasurer Michael Montoya pleaded guilty today to one state charge of racketeering for his role in the scandal that rocked the treasurer’s office several years ago. In exchange, 15 other counts were dropped. The state charges were brought by former Attorney General Patricia Madrid after Montoya testified in the federal case against former Treasurer Robert Vigil last year as part of his plea bargain on the federal charges. Madrid was criticized at the time for indicting Montoya and three others based on their federal testimony. Federal prosecutors said that affected their ability to retry Vigil after his first trial ended with a hung jury. Continue Reading

Metro Court defendants enter not-guilty pleas

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Two men facing recently added charges in the Bernalillo County Metro Courthouse scandal pleaded not guilty today. Michael Murphy, who became the fifth person indicted in the scandal last month, and former Senate President Manny Aragon, who had another charge of mail fraud added against him, both entered the pleas today in federal court, the Associated Press is reporting. Aragon had previously entered a not-guilty plea to the other charges he faces. You can read the indictment against them and three others by clicking here. Prosecutors say the group bilked taxpayers out of a combined $4.2 million by inflating and falsifying invoices on the project. Continue Reading

King fundraiser is another sign of the need for reform

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In an attempt to pay off campaign debt, Attorney General Gary King is holding a fundraiser next week that will be co-hosted by two members of a law firm that was recently awarded a state contract by King’s office, the Santa Fe New Mexican is reporting. Turner and Margaret Branch are members of the Branch Law Firm of Albuquerque, which is representing the state on a case involving unpaid royalties on state land, the newspaper reported. The firm gets a percentage of the money the state is awarded as a result of the case – somewhere between 12 and 16 percent, King said. King told the newspaper he didn’t see impropriety or the appearance of it, saying Turner Branch “has been a friend of my family’s for years. I don’t see why he should be precluded as a supporter because he has contracts.” The Branches gave $7,838 to King’s campaign last year and $5,500 to a primary opponent, Geno Zamora. Continue Reading

Former county commissioner to challenge Frietze

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Former Doña Ana County Commissioner Miguel G. Silva has announced his candidacy to represent District 1 on the Las Cruces City Council. The seat is currently held by José Frietze, who is seeking re-election on Nov. 6. Silva said in a news release that he views this election as pivotal to the city’s current and future growth. “Las Cruces is experiencing growth and change at a rate the city has never before seen, and new things are happening faster every day,” Silva said. Continue Reading

Former cop, magistrate to run for municipal judge

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Conrad F. Perea has announced his candidacy for Las Cruces Municipal Court judge. The position is currently held by Melissa Miller-Byrnes, the court’s presiding judge, but is up for grabs on Nov. 6. Perea is a private-practice attorney. He was an officer with the Las Cruces Police Department for 20 years before being appointed as a magistrate judge in 1999. Continue Reading

Pandering admission, new polls spell trouble for guv

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Some more bad press and new, disappointing polls in Michigan may be further signs of trouble for the presidential campaign of Gov. Bill Richardson, who is increasingly becoming known on the national stage as a panderer. The governor has had a rough few weeks. His poll numbers in Iowa and New Hampshire have stagnated despite his best efforts. Meanwhile, an out-of-control game of leapfrog has emerged among states who want to move up primary and caucus dates in opposition to the wishes of the national parties, which makes it harder for candidates with less money to compete. In addition, Richardson has been on the defensive since mistakenly telling a gay-rights group that homosexuality is a choice. Continue Reading

Regents’ chair explains Martin’s compensation

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By Laura M. Conniff During the past several weeks the contract between the Board of Regents as the governing body of New Mexico State University and President Michael Martin has generated questions I want to address. Specifically, I want to fully explain the process we underwent to develop the contract with President Martin after we came to the unanimous agreement we should do everything in our power to keep him at NMSU for an extended period. January was the half-way point in his five-year contract. At that time, Regent Bob Gallagher was asked to negotiate a renewed contract with the president. It was apparent that the board needed to think outside of the box in this effort. Continue Reading