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NMSU probe started broad, has become more focused

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Though investigators have scrutinized hundreds of thousands of dollars in expenditures as part of the probe of employees of New Mexico State University’s facilities department, they are now focused on a number of smaller construction projects at staffers’ homes. I reported earlier today that investigators suspected the potential loss could be hundreds of thousands of dollars but might be much smaller. I’m now told by two sources with knowledge of the investigation that it is likely smaller, and that investigators began by looking at a wide range of expenditures in an attempt to be thorough. There have certainly been rumors about misuse of time and equipment at the facilities department for years that would justify a broad probe. Though knowledge of the probe became public on Thursday, it’s been ongoing for several weeks, and has included the university police, Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Department, FBI and financial auditors. Continue Reading

3 police agencies, auditors working on NMSU probe

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New Mexico State University confirmed late Thursday that it placed five employees of the facilities department on leave during an ongoing investigation into alleged misuse of funds and resources. The university released a statement confirming that one of the employees was Richard MacRorie, associate vice president of facilities for planning, physical resources and university relations. The news release stated that he was placed on leave not because he was accused of misusing funds, but “to ensure the investigation would be as effective as possible.” MacRorie has returned to work. Meanwhile, two sources with knowledge of the situation say investigators are looking into a number of issues related to the potential abuse of university funds and resources. Some allegations involve the use of facilities department resources on personal construction projects at employees’ homes. Continue Reading

FBI confirms involvement in NMSU facilities probe

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The FBI has confirmed that it’s assisting New Mexico State University police in the probe of allegations that facilities employees were using public funds and resources for personal construction projects on their homes. “We are providing investigative assistance to the NMSU police and NMSU with regards to that investigation,” said FBI spokesman Bill Elwell. He referred all other questions to university police, who are leading the investigation. Continue Reading

Police reporting directly to Martin on facilities probe

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Police investigators looking into the alleged misuse of funds and resources by employees of New Mexico State University’s facilities department will report to President Michael Martin to ensure the integrity of the investigation. The university police department is under Ben Woods, senior vice president for planning, physical resources and university relations. Woods also oversees the Office of Facilities and Services, which police are investigating. Martin said “the people who came forward” with allegations reported them directly to him. Because of that, and to ensure the integrity of the investigation, the president said he decided to have police report to him instead of Woods. Continue Reading

Hearing sheds no new light on U.S. attorney firings

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U.S. Attorney General Alberto Gonzales was grilled by a House panel today on last year’s firings of eight U.S. attorneys, including David Iglesias of New Mexico. According to the Associated Press, Gonzales didn’t say much more to the House Judiciary Committee than he did when he testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee last month. “My feelings and recollections about this matter have not changed,” Gonzales said today. This investigation is continuing, and the focus has really shifted to the White House’s involvement in the firings. It’s difficult to predict what will happen next. Continue Reading

NMSU employees accused of using school funds, resources for construction on personal homes

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A number of employees of New Mexico State University’s facilities department are under investigation on allegations that they used school funds for personal construction projects, the campus newspaper is reporting. The employees were placed on administrative leave last month, the Round Up reported. The investigation has been turned over to the NMSU police and the FBI, the paper reported. Employees have been told to keep quiet about the situation. The Round Up reported that at least three employees are accused, including Richard MacRorie, associate vice president of facilities for Planning, Physical Resources and University Relations; Paul Herrera, director of facilities maintenance for the department’s operations division; and John Salopek, construction supervisor for the department’s roofing and construction division. Continue Reading

Richardson climbs in polls, but not as fast as Clinton

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After showing gains in polls in Iowa and Nevada in recent weeks, Gov. Bill Richardson is slowly climbing in polls conducted this week in three additional states. But he’s still below the margin of error in California, Florida and Michigan. The newest polls, conducted by American Research Group, have Richardson at 3 percent in California and Florida and 2 percent in Michigan. That’s up from 1 percent in each of those states the last time surveys were done – January in California and Florida and February in Michigan. By contrast, Hillary Clinton gained 1 percent in California, 9 percent in Florida and 3 percent in Michigan. Continue Reading

In light of Metro Court scandal, feds should look into architect’s contract to design Doña Ana County facility

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Marc Schiff’s attorney says the only time his client used his architect firm to steal money from the state was when he inflated and falsified invoices for construction of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court. But suspicious circumstances surrounding the firm’s selection to design Doña Ana County’s new building make me skeptical. In the Bernalillo County case, Schiff and two others have pleaded guilty to conspiracy and mail fraud in what prosecutors call a complex scheme to bilk taxpayers out of $4.2 million. Four others, including former Senate President Manny Aragon, are charged in the case. Schiff isn’t accused of keeping any money for himself, but admits to taking hundreds of thousands of dollars and passing it on to others. Continue Reading

State police increase patrols after Palomas shootings

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Gov. Bill Richardson has ordered the New Mexico State Police to increase its presence along the Mexican border in response to violence that has left at least six people dead in Palomas, located across the border from Columbus in Luna County. Officials say the violence is part of an escalating drug war on the Mexican side of the border. Though there has been no related violence in Columbus, victims have fled to the port of entry. “I want to ensure that we are doing everything possible to keep New Mexicans in this community safe,” Richardson said in a news release. As a result of Richardson’s order, State Police have indefinitely increased patrols in and around the town of Columbus, located south of Deming. Continue Reading

Chavez leaning toward running for city council

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Isaac Chavez, who failed in a bid to unseat state Rep. Andy Nuñez last year, is leaning toward running for a seat on the Las Cruces City Council in November. He would run for the District 4 seat currently held by Steve Trowbridge, who is not seeking re-election. No one has officially declared their candidacy for the seat. “I’m leaning towards it,” Chavez said. “A non-partisan race is pretty attractive to me. Continue Reading

New Richardson TV ads use humor to woo voters

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Gov. Bill Richardson has unveiled some humorous and clever television commercials he plans to begin running in Iowa on Thursday. The commercials are designed to “make light of the political establishment’s view of the governor’s campaign for president,” a news release from the campaign states. The first two ads in a planned series portraying a mock job interview were released today and will begin running Thursday. You can watch them at the end of this article. The first begins with the camera on Richardson, who is waiting while an interviewer looks over his résumé. Continue Reading

Senators seek compromise on immigration reform

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., is part of a bipartisan group of a dozen senators working behind closed doors on a potential new immigration reform plan, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. Instead of a path to citizenship, an expanded guest worker program could be at the center of the new proposal. The bill could come to the Senate floor within days. Then again, it might not. It’s going to be difficult to work out a compromise. Continue Reading

E-mail subscriber service is having problems

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The company that runs the e-mail listserve for Heath Haussamen on New Mexico Politics has been having some technical problems for a couple of days. I apologize to the many of you who subscribe and haven’t been receiving e-mails updating you on the latest headlines on this site. The company plans to have a fix to the problems today, so the e-mail service should be up and running again this afternoon. For those of you who don’t subscribe, you might want to consider it. You get an e-mail in your inbox every morning that shows the headlines from the previous day. Continue Reading

Embattled architect could lose license

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An architect who has pleaded guilty to federal charges for his role in the Bernalillo County Metro Court scandal might lose his license. The Albuquerque Tribune is reporting that the New Mexico Board of Examiners for Architects has issued a notice of possible action against Marc Schiff for violating the code of conduct and other issues. The board says it could suspend or revoke Schiff’s license, fine him and notify a national licensing organization, the Tribune reported. You can read Schiff’s plea agreement in the case by clicking here. Continue Reading