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Papen wants consistent use of seniority in Senate

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Sen. Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces spoke with me today about the news that Senate leaders are proposing putting Tim Jennings of Roswell in charge of the Finance Committee instead of John Arthur Smith of Deming, its current vice chair. The position is open because of the retirement of Joe Fidel of Grants. Jennings has more seniority than Smith, and Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altimirano is citing seniority as the criteria for committee assignments this year. Papen has been a close ally of Smith, but has also worked well with Jennings. It’s been suggested that Smith might chair the Education Committee. Continue Reading

It’s time to think about real family values

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By Bill McCamley The holiday season is a period to reflect and to enjoy some time with our families and friends. So it’s good time to talk a little bit about family values. What do you think of when you hear that term? All too often, it has been defined by a very narrow set of issues and by one political party. Whatever your political leanings, when you’re sitting down with your family members for a holiday meal after church, or synagogue, or mosque, take a look at them and ask yourself whether you’ve ever worried about what would happen if someone you love got really sick. Continue Reading

Richardson off to D.C., New Hampshire

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As other 2008 presidential hopefuls are already starting up campaigns, the yet-to-announce Gov. Bill Richardson is on his way this week to Washington, D.C. and then New Hampshire. His schedule sure looks like that of one who is running for president. In D.C., Richardson will attend a New Mexico-Chihuahua border governors meeting today and will formally announce that the Kansas governor will take over as chair of the Democratic Governors Association. On Thursday, he’s set to lay out his national immigration policy reform plan at Georgetown University. On Friday, he’ll attend a meeting to talk about energy independence. Continue Reading

Richardson interviews magistrate judge applicants

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Gov. Bill Richardson is interviewing applicants today for a vacancy on the Doña Ana County Magistrate Court. The list of applicants includes many well-known politicos. Among them are former Sheriff Ray Storment, former Magistrate Judge Maria E. Rodriguez, former Las Cruces City Councilor Woodie Jenkins, Mesilla Town Judge Lionel Frietze, former magistrate candidate Steven Foldy, former undersheriff candidate Joel Cano and Sal Ceballos, a former staffer for Sen. Jeff Bingaman and wife of former county Clerk Ruben Ceballos. The other applicants are Dolores Cadena, Linda Flores, Jesus Frietze, Edward Lerma, Carlos Preciado, Gerald Smith, Marlene Tate, Judy Vaughan and Kent Wingenroth. Inside sources say the favorites are Cano and Wingenroth, who is a former state cop. Continue Reading

Diaz formally appeals firing

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Sonia Diaz, who was fired last month from her job as Las Cruces Public Schools superintendent, formally notified the district Monday that she is appealing.“Her attorney notified us that she is appealing her discharge,” said district spokeswoman Jo Galvan.The school district will now set a hearing in front of the school board that will be held 20-40 days from Monday. Continue Reading

Richardson may stake ’08 bid on South Carolina

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If the king of lefty bloggers is to be believed, N.M. Gov. Bill Richardson will stake his 2008 presidential hopes on winning the primary in South Carolina. According to Markos Moulitsas Zúniga, who runs the most popular liberal blog around, Daily Kos, Richardson will be joined by John Edwards and Wesley Clark in placing all bets on South Carolina. That may be why former N.M. Economic Development Department public information officer Katie Roberts abruptly left that job in September to move to South Carolina. As I reported back then, Richardson’s people said that wasn’t why Roberts moved, but the South Carolina Democratic Party spokesman said otherwise. Officially, Roberts was there to work for the Democrats’ gubernatorial candidate. Continue Reading

Voters can meet school board candidates tonight

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Voters have a chance tonight to meet two women who plan to run for seats on the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. Bonnie Votaw, who is running for the open District 4 seat, and Connie Phillips, who is challenging Board President Sharon Wooden for the District 5 seat, are hosting a meet-and-greet forum today from 4:30-6 p.m. at La Posta restaurant in Mesilla. They plan to share their goals and vision for the board. The district 4 and 5 seats are up for grabs on Feb. 6. Continue Reading

County agrees to pay former worker $115,000

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Doña Ana County has agreed to pay $115,000 to a former worker who claimed he was fired because he was at odds with former Commissioner Gilbert Apodaca. As part of the settlement, which was finalized last month, former Transportation and Public Works Director George Avalos will also have “all negative information” relating to his firing expunged from his personnel file and is eligible for rehire, should he choose to apply. The county agreed to settle with Avalos after U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson found that Apodaca made clear to former County Manager David King several times that he wanted his third cousin Dickie Apodaca, not Avalos, to be the county’s roads superintendent, and threatened King with his own job if he didn’t get rid of Avalos. After firing Avalos, King hired Dickie Apodaca as roads superintendent – a job he still holds. King made the decision to end Avalos’ employment in August 2002 after a road crew that worked under Avalos improperly chip-sealed a hangar road at the county airport in Santa Teresa. Continue Reading

Domenici denies reports he wore pajamas to work

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Was Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., recently wandering around Senate office buildings in his pajamas? He says not, but some staffers told Roll Call that is exactly what happened, according to The Raw Story. Apparently, there were “a number of reports” that Domenici was wandering around Senate office buildings in Washington on Friday in pajamas – “tartan” or “buffalo plaid” bottoms and a “loose-fitting shirt,” according to the article. There was even a report that he was walking around in boxers, though it seems likely that was a bad rumor that resulted from people talking about the attire he was wearing. As for Domenici, he said they were hunting pants, not pajama bottoms, according to the article. Continue Reading

Altamirano wants Jennings, Cisneros to lead Finance Committee, Smith to move to education

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Senate Democrats this weekend voted by acclimation to keep the 2006 leaders in place next year, but committee assignments are still up for grabs – and the results could have major consequences for senators from Southern New Mexico. Ben Altamirano of Silver City will continue as president pro tem. Michael Sanchez of Belen will continue as majority leader. Mary Jane Garcia of Doña Ana will continue as majority whip. Where things go from there is much more complicated. Continue Reading

A tribute to Legislature’s outgoing water expert

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Walt Rubel of the Las Cruces Sun-News had a touching tribute to outgoing Rep. Joe Stell of Carlsbad in Sunday’s edition. Stell, a Democrat, is the legislature’s expert on water law and policy. He’s chair of the House Agriculture and Water Resources Committee and the legislative Water and Natural Resources Committee. He decided against seeking re-election in November after 20 years in the Legislature, and leaves office at the end of the year. It’s worth a read. Continue Reading

Frances Williams: Vote against Lujan and show us that you aren’t afraid to do the right thing

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The author is a former board member of the Region VII Housing Authority in Las Cruces and is the whistleblower responsible for revealing the corruption that led to the downfall of the state’s housing authority system. By Frances F. Williams I am a proud Democrat who has carried lots of water for the party since 1988. I cannot understand how any legislator we voted for would keep Ben Lujan, the current speaker of the House, in that leadership position, which controls much of New Mexico’s destiny. Vincent “Smiley” Gallegos is a close friend and confidant of the speaker. Lujan appointed Gallegos to the Housing Trust Council, which has oversight of affordable housing funding. Continue Reading

Retired educator to run for school board

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Retired educator Bonnie Votaw has announced that she will run for the open District 4 seat on the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. The seat is open because John Schwebke opted against running again. Votaw has 35 years of experience as a teacher and administrator in New Mexico, California and Idaho. She started in Las Cruces in 1969 as a teacher, and ended her career in Idaho as director of instruction for the Lewiston Public Schools. “With my experience, I can offer leadership that will include using common sense, communication clarity and problem solving with all stakeholders,” Votaw said in a news release. Continue Reading

Poll: Most say Martinez should be speaker

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said Ken Martinez should be the next speaker of the House.Of 144 votes, 103, or 72 percent, went to Martinez of Grants, while 41, or 28 percent, went to Ben Lujan of Santa Fe.Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading