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Domenici has two lesser-known challengers

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In the absence of a prominent Democrat stepping forward to take on U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., next year, two lesser-known candidates have announced that they’re running. I reported Tuesday about Jim Hannan’s candidacy. I neglected to tell you about that of Leland Lehrman. Thanks to the Albuquerque Tribune for reporting on him today. Lehrman, a Web designer who raises goats and chickens in Lamy, edits the New Mexico Sun-News, an alternative paper in Northern New Mexico. Continue Reading

Las Cruces murder could test ammunition sale policy

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A 2005 Las Cruces murder is the latest battleground over the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution. The family of Eusebio Escobedo is suing Wal-Mart, alleging that the man who killed him was sold shotgun shells hours before the April 25, 2005 shooting even though he was under the influence of alcohol, mentally disturbed and a felon who couldn’t legally possess a firearm. The suit says the ammunition was bought at the store on Walton Boulevard. The Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting that the children, fiancée and estranged wife of Escobedo, who was 27 at the time of his death, are seeking unspecified damages. Wal-Mart requires background checks, a valid ID and a determination that a customer is not under the influence for firearm sales, the Sun-News reported, but has no such policy for ammunition. Continue Reading

Richardson is spending a lot of time out of the state

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Gov. Bill Richardson is traveling around the nation at an exhaustive pace. After spending Sunday and Monday campaigning for president in California, Richardson made a brief stop in New Mexico on Tuesday to sign the gaming compacts and approve a design for the state’s quarter. Today, he’s in Washington, D.C. to speak to Jewish and Arab groups. He’ll be in South Carolina campaigning and taking part in the first major presidential debate Thursday through Saturday, then has another coast-to-coast flight to spend more time in California on Saturday and Sunday. I’ve already written about this week’s schedule, but you can check out the details by clicking here. Continue Reading

Here’s New Mexico’s commemorative quarter

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Gov. Bill Richardson approved on Tuesday on a final design for the state’s commemorative quarter, the Associated Press is reporting. The coin commission, which included District Judge Fernando Macias from Las Cruces and a number of people from Santa Fe, made the recommendation Monday to Richardson. The quarter will be issued next year. Here’s the final design: Continue Reading

Richardson, pueblo governors OK gaming compacts

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Gov. Bill Richardson and eight pueblo governors signed new gaming compacts today that were negotiated during this year’s legislative session. The compacts give a bigger share of casino profits to the state and last until 2037, but must still be approved by the federal Interior Department, the Associated Press is reporting. The agreement allows for only one more racetrack with a casino in the state. The agreement was signed by the governors of the pueblos of Sandia, Ohkay Owingeh, Tesuque, Santa Clara, San Felipe, Isleta, Picuris and Taos. The governors of Santa Ana and Laguna pueblos plan to sign the agreement but couldn’t attend today’s ceremony in Santa Fe, the news service reported. Continue Reading

Local government officials should form a task force to examine area development issues and procedures

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When voters narrowly approved earlier this month a gross receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America, they were voting to accelerate Las Cruces’ growth. The city has already grown by 20,000 residents – from 62,000 to more than 82,000 – from 1990 to 2005, and should have 90,000 residents by the end of the decade. It’s repeatedly been at or near the top of the lists of the best cities in the nation. It’s going to continue to grow. In fact, now that residents of this county have opted to ensure the spaceport is built, they’ve committed to attempting to make Las Cruces the center of the commercial space industry. Continue Reading

Santa Fean steps up to run against Domenici

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Though many Democrats are still talking about who should take on U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., in 2008, Jim Hannan wants you to know he’s a serious candidate. The Santa Fe Democrat and former staffer to the late U.S. Rep. Mo Udall, D-Ariz., has a Web site up and is already sending out news releases about his campaign. According to his Web site, voters will “see two very different campaigns.” Domenici is already raising funds, plans to spent $3 million to $5 million, and will run television advertisements. “I’ll be spending the next year differently,” Hannan’s Web site states. “I’ll be using this Web site a lot, to bring you up to date on the campaign and the issues. Continue Reading

Chávez raises $133K for potential gubernatorial run

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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez has already raised $133,000 for a potential 2010 gubernatorial run. The mayor has raised the money in the past three months for what he’s calling a gubernatorial exploratory committee. He disclosed the contributions Monday on a financial report required by the city, the Albuquerque Journal reported. Before you get too impressed, remember that Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has already raised more than $1 million for her 2010 gubernatorial run. But Chávez’s is a solid three-month total that reveals there will be support for a strong challenger to Denish, and he could be that candidate. Continue Reading

Council tables East Mesa development proposal

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The Las Cruces City Council voted this evening to put off consideration of a 6,000-acre development on the East Mesa until May 21. The council will now consider The Vistas at Presidio at 5 p.m. on that day. The move comes after the attorney general said Friday that voting today, as scheduled, on the annexation of the 4,200 acres that aren’t in the city would be illegal. State statutes require a vote on that annexation between May 16 and June 15, the attorney general said. The council still could have voted on the portion of the project that’s in the city limits at today’s meeting, but opted to consider the entire project at once. Continue Reading

Growth could be key issue in city’s November election

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It’s likely that the current controversy over growth and development in Las Cruces will be the main issue in November’s city election. The recent and narrow approval of the spaceport tax and the current dispute over a 6,000-acre development on the city’s East Mesa are the latest indicators of the controversy surrounding the city’s rapid growth. Mayor Bill Mattiace has announced that he will seek re-election. Three council seats – those held by Jose Frietze, Dolores Connor and Steve Trowbridge – are also up for grabs. Trowbridge has announced that he won’t seek re-election. Continue Reading

Hispanics in Congress aren’t lining up behind guv

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You might assume that, since he’s such a prominent Hispanic and a former colleague, Gov. Bill Richardson’s presidential run would have the support of the majority of Hispanic members of the House of Representatives. That isn’t the case, at least yet. The Washington publication Roll Call, in an article published today, explains why a number of Hispanic members of Congress aren’t necessarily supporters of the governor’s presidential run, even though he spent 15 years in the House. In a story you can only view if you have a subscription (click here if you do), the publication reports that Richardson “has made no major outreach efforts in recent months” to the Congressional Hispanic Caucus. Richardson’s deputy campaign manager, Amanda Cooper, told Roll Call that’s because the governor isn’t focused on endorsements right now, and is instead focused on grassroots campaigning Another factor, Roll Call reports, is that a number of members pledged support to other candidates before Richardson announced on Jan. Continue Reading

Richardson out of state campaigning most of week

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Gov. Bill Richardson will be out of the state campaigning almost the entire week, with the biggest event being a Democratic candidate debate in South Carolina on Thursday. For those of you who like to keep track of him, here’s his entire schedule. His current trip to California began yesterday. Sunday, April 22 and Monday, April 23 – Pacific Time WHEN: Afternoon and eveningWHAT: FundraisingWHERE: Santa Monica and Los Angeles, CA Monday, April 23 – Pacific Time WHEN: Morning and eveningWHAT: FundraisingWHERE: Santa Monica and Los Angeles, CA WHEN: 3:30 p.m.WHAT: New America Media 2008 Presidential Candidate Ethnic Media BriefingWHERE: Japanese American Cultural Center, Garden Room A, 244 S. San Pedro Street, Los Angeles, CA Tuesday, April 24 No public campaign events are scheduled. Wednesday, April 25 – Eastern Time WHEN: 9:45 a.m.WHAT: Keynote speech to the National Jewish Democratic CouncilWHERE: Almas Temple, 1315 K Street NW, Washington, D.C. WHEN: 6:30 p.m.WHAT: Speech to the Arab American InstituteWHERE: JW Marriott, 1313 Pennsylvania Avenue, Washington, D.C. Thursday, April 26 – Eastern Time WHEN: 7 p.m.WHAT: Participating in the South Carolina Presidential DebateWHERE: South Carolina State, MLK Auditorium, 300 College Street NE, Orangeburg, S.C. Friday, April 27 – Eastern Time WHEN: 12:30 p.m.WHAT: Lunch with Hispanic LeadersWHERE: Summit Club, Wilbur Smith Building, Corner of Gervais and Sumter, S.C. WHEN: 2:30 p.m.WHAT: Meeting with AARP Chapter PresidentsWHERE: 1201 Main Street, 12th Floor, Columbia, S.C. WHEN: 6 p.m.WHAT: Attending South Carolina Jefferson Jackson DinnerWHERE: Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, S.C. WHEN: 9 p.m.WHAT: Speaking at Congressman Jim Clyburn’s Fish FryWHERE: 1411 Gervais Street, Columbia, S.C. Saturday, April 28 – Eastern Time WHEN: 8 a.m.WHAT: Breakfast Meeting with Democratic WomenWHERE: Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, S.C. WHEN: 8:50 a.m.WHAT: Breakfast Meeting with the Progressive CaucusWHERE: Damon’s Restaurant, 900 Senate Street, Columbia, S.C. WHEN: 9:30 a.m.WHAT: Speech at the South Carolina Democratic ConventionWHERE: Metropolitan Convention Center, 1101 Lincoln Street, Columbia, S.C. Saturday, April 28 – Pacific Time WHEN: 8 p.m.WHAT: Keynote speech to the California Democratic Progressive CaucusWHERE: Buca Di Pepp, 705 6th Avenue, San Diego, CA WHEN: 10 p.m.WHAT: Keynote speech to the California Young DemocratsWHERE: San Diego Museum of Fine Arts, 215 India Street, San Diego, CA Sunday, April 29 – Pacific Time WHEN: 9 a.m.WHAT: Speech at the California Democratic Party ConventionWHERE: San Diego Convention Center, 11 W. Harbor Drive, San Diego, CA WHEN: 4 p.m.WHAT: Participation in the Save Darfur RallyWHERE: Plaza at San Francisco Civic Center, Grove and Polk Street, San Francisco, CA WHEN: 6:30 p.m.WHAT: Keynote speech to the Carson City Democrats Jefferson-Jackson DinnerWHERE: Plaza Hotel and Conference Center, 211 E. Ninth St., Carson City, NV Continue Reading

Heinrich forms congressional exploratory committee

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Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich has set up a formal exploratory committee as he prepares to run for Congress. And though he says he’s not yet an official candidate, Heinrich has taken an immediate, unpaid leave of absence from his job as the state’s natural resources trustee as is required of candidates.He’s preparing to take on U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., in the November 2008 general election. “We’re not ready to make an announcement, but you can see which direction we’re headed,” Heinrich said this morning. Heinrich, reached on his cell phone, was on his way to his new campaign headquarters, and said he expects to make “an official announcement… in a matter of weeks.” Gov. Bill Richardson announced the leave of absence today in a news release. Heinrich will be replaced on an interim basis in his state job by Jim Baca. Continue Reading

Developers won’t sue if city delays annexation vote

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The developers of a proposed 6,000-acre project on Las Cruces’ East Mesa that includes a 4,200-acre annexation proposal won’t sue if the city council doesn’t vote on the annexation at today’s meeting. The developers released a statement late Friday indicating they will not fight the council if it opts to delay the vote scheduled for today. The statement came a day after the developers hinted that they would take the issue to District Court if the council didn’t vote today. In between those statements, the state attorney general issued an opinion interpreting the state statute on annexations to mean the council can’t legally vote on the annexation until at least May 16. “Logos Development does not agree with today’s AG decision, but the applicant stands ready to go forward on Monday, April 23, 2007,” Friday’s statement reads. Continue Reading