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Richardson to sue over judicial nominating fight

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Gov. Bill Richardson will sue a judicial nominating commission from Carlsbad that has refused to recommend more than one applicant for an open district judgeship there, and he’ll be defended by Attorney General Gary King. It’s an escalation of a fight that has been brewing since January, when the commission recommended only one candidate to Richardson for appointment to an open district judge seat. The law requires that commissions interview applicants and recommend candidates to the governor. If the governor doesn’t like the options, he is allowed to ask, once, for the commission to meet again and send him additional recommendations from the original list of applicants. He is then required to choose a judge from among those who are recommended. Continue Reading

LCPS interim superintendent finalists announced

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Bruce Hegwer of Elephant Butte, Stan Rounds of Hobbs, and Herb Torres of Las Cruces are finalists for interim superintendent of the Las Cruces Public Schools, the district has announced. The three were selected from among five individuals who were interviewed Thursday by a School Board-appointed advisory interview committee, said Jo Galvan, district communications director. “Each of these educators is well-known and well-respected throughout the state,” Galvan said. “They will be interviewed by the School Board next Tuesday, which is the same day a decision is expected on which one will lead the school district for the next year.” Hegwer retired from public education in 2004 after serving five years as superintendent of the Truth or Consequences Municipal Schools. He is currently an independent educational contractor and adjunct professor for Western New Mexico University. Continue Reading

State Senate panel endorses Bush impeachment

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A resolution calling for the impeachment of President Bush and Vice President Dick Cheney was approved by a New Mexico Senate committee this morning after some 200 people showed up to support the proposal. Senate Joint Resolution 5, sponsored by Sens. Gerald Ortiz y Pino, D-Albuquerque, and John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, would force the U.S. House of Representatives to debate the issue of whether to impeach Bush and Cheney. That’s because House rules allow state legislatures to initiate impeachment hearings. The committee’s five Democrats voted in favor of the resolution. Continue Reading

Richardson holds major fundraising event

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Gov. Bill Richardson held his first major campaign fundraiser Thursday night and was expected to raise at least $2 million. The fundraiser, at Sandia Resort in Albuquerque, was closed to the press, but Richardson Deputy Campaign Manager Amanda Cooper told the Albuquerque Journal that the 700 or more donors who would attend from around the state would give at least that amount. The event was co-hosted by U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman, U.S. Rep. Tom Udall and Lt. Gov Diane Denish. Denish told the newspaper she raised more than $100,000 for the governor. “The goal is to show that Bill has a lot of support in New Mexico (and) energize that core of supporters, many of whom have volunteered to fan out across the country and help him in other places,” the newspaper quoted Denish as saying. Continue Reading

Senators won’t allow open conference committees

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The Senate killed a bill today that would have opened the doors of legislative conference committees, the meetings at which the House and Senate reconcile, in secret, differences between bills passed in both chambers. With 20 voting against it and 19 voting for it, the Senate voted down the proposal following a lengthy, testy debate. It’s the third time the Senate has shot down the bill in recent years. The bill was Senate Bill 288, sponsored by Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque. With two proposals to open conference committees alive in the House and a one-vote difference among Senators this evening, the proposal isn’t dead in the 2007 Legislature, but it’s on life support. Continue Reading

Senate approves affordable housing overhaul

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The Senate voted today to scrap the troubled regional housing authority system and replace it with a new method for providing affordable housing. On a vote of 36-1, with only Sen. Rod Adair, R-Roswell, dissenting, the Senate approved Senate Bill 519, sponsored by Sen. Mary Kay Papen, D-Las Cruces. A companion bill hasn’t yet begun moving through the House. The bill has the endorsement of the governor. The proposal would, over a period of several months, shut down the state’s scandal-plagued regional housing authorities and replace them with a system overseen by the New Mexico Mortgage Finance Authority. Continue Reading

Richardson pushed to back parental notification bill

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In the Year of the Presidential Campaign, pro-life groups may be trying a new tactic in an attempt to get a parental notification law in New Mexico. A hearing on Senate Bill 442, sponsored by Sen. Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque, had been scheduled in front of the Senate Public Affairs Committee this afternoon, but was delayed until Sunday. Allen Sanchez, executive director of the New Mexico Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the hearing was delayed “to get an opinion from the governor on what he thinks.” The bill has passed the House and died in the Senate in the past, and Gov. Bill Richardson has declined to take a stance on the proposal. The bill would require notification of parents or legal guardians at least 48 hours before an abortion can be performed on a teen under the age of 16, unless her life is at stake. Could this be a new tactic? Continue Reading

House approves statewide indoor smoking ban

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With no debate, members of the House of Representatives unanimously approved today a statewide ban on smoking in most public buildings. House Bill 283, sponsored by Rep. Al Park, D-Albuquerque, now heads to the Senate. It would ban smoking in and around restaurants, bars, workplaces and most other public facilities in the state and in busses, taxicabs and other public transit vehicles. A similar bill passed the house two years ago but wasn’t acted on by the Senate before the end of the session. This year, Park’s bill also proposes to name the smoking ban the Dee Johnson Clean Indoor Air Act in honor of the former first lady, who died in December. Continue Reading

AG King discusses a wide range of hot topics

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Still settling into his new job as the state’s top law enforcement officer, Gary King says he isn’t thinking much about the 2010 gubernatorial race. King, a former member of the New Mexico House of Representatives and a former candidate for U.S. Congress, has twice run unsuccessfully for governor, but many suspect he still has gubernatorial ambitions and might be a strong candidate after four years of experience as the attorney general. The son of former Gov. Bruce King, Gary King notes that there are several other high-profile Democrats considering a run for governor in four years. Lt. Gov. Diane Denish and Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez are already raising money for the race. “I think there are a bunch of people lined up to run for governor now, some very strong players,” King said. Continue Reading

Legislators won’t ease minor-party ballot access

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A bill whose aim was leveling the playing field for minor parties in the area of ballot access was tabled and effectively killed by Democratic members of a House committee this morning. The discussion provided insight into the perspective of Democrats, who have controlled state government for more than seven decades. House Bill 331, sponsored by Rep. Brian Moore, R-Clayton, would eliminate the state’s requirement of two petitions before minor parties can place candidates on the ballot. The issue stems from an unsuccessful lawsuit filed last year by the American Civil Liberties Union and Libertarian Party of New Mexico challenging the law on the grounds that it was unconstitutional. Democrats and Republicans who want to run for office have to gather a number of signatures to run, but their parties don’t have to file separate petitions containing a certain number of signatures. Continue Reading

Campaign finance overhaul heads to House floor

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A bill that would limit campaign contributions and overhaul other financing laws was approved by the House Judiciary Committee on a party line vote Wednesday evening, and now heads to the full House. House Bill 821, sponsored by Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, would create a number of new campaign finance reporting requirements for candidates and political action committees designed to increase the ability of the public to know about the money involved in elections. It would also limit campaign contributions to $2,300 for state races during each election cycle. Primary and general elections are considered separate cycles under the proposal. The vote was 7-3, with all Democrats voting for the proposal and all Republicans voting against it. Continue Reading

LCPS to announce interim chief finalists on Friday

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Five applicants for the job of interim superintendent of the Las Cruces Public Schools will be interviewed Thursday by a group of 16 community members. The group will choose finalists for the position. The names of those finalists will be announced publicly on Friday. Jo Galvan, district communications director, said the committee is expected to send three to five names to the school board. They will interview those finalists on Feb. Continue Reading

Steinborn has first piece of legislation approved

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Freshman Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, saw his first piece of legislation pass the House on Tuesday. House Memorial 22 passed unanimously and declared Tuesday as Big Brothers and Sisters Day at the New Mexico State Legislature. Steinborn is also a cosponsor of a House Bill 339, which would expand Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Mexico to make the program available in every county. Currently, the program is not available in 13 counties. “I can think of no better investment in New Mexico’s future than investing in our children, especially our at-risk children,” Steinborn said in a news release. Continue Reading

Another ethics reform bill moves forward

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The last of the House Democrats’ group of ethics reform bills to get a hearing was given unanimous approval by a committee today. House Bill 823, sponsored by Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, would make several amendments to the Governmental Conduct Act, which attempts to set ethical standards for public officials. The most significant change in the original version of the bill would make public officials disclose, in cases of contracts and other business with the state, not only their own business but that of spouses, children, parents and siblings. The bill was also amended by the House Health and Governmental Affairs Committee today to make the act apply to judges, who are currently exempt. The bill now moves to the Judiciary Committee. Continue Reading

Spaceport pioneer dead at 58

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Lonnie Sumpter, executive director of the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, died Tuesday afternoon following a brief illness. Sumpter, who worked for more than 20 years to make Spaceport America a reality, was 58. His death came quickly and was a shock to a tight-knit community that has shared the vision of a spaceport in Southern New Mexico. “It’s a big loss to all of us,” said Doña Ana County Commissioner Kent Evans, who has also worked on the spaceport for more than two decades. “He was a mainstay behind the spaceport, and I have a lot of respect for Lonnie.” Gov. Bill Richardson called Sumpter “a true public servant.” “As executive director of the N.M. Spaceport Authority, he was a pioneer in his profession and a valued member of my administration,” Richardson said. Continue Reading