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Madrid gets warm welcome in Las Cruces

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Attorney General Patricia Madrid received a warm welcome in her hometown of Las Cruces Friday afternoon as she announced the opening of a new consumer division branch office here. In attendance were many members of her family, including her mother, and also a myriad of public officials, both Democrat and Republican. Former State Rep. J. Paul Taylor said it was unfortunate that Madrid lost her bid to unseat U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, but said Madrid is young and has a bright political future ahead of her. Rep. Joseph Cervantes also urged Madrid to not drop out of public service. Madrid has said she may run for U.S. Senate in 2008 or governor in 2010, which makes her a potential primary opponent of Cervantes. Continue Reading

Judge won’t likely toss Vigil conviction

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A federal judge said today he won’t likely dismiss the conviction of former state Treasurer Robert Vigil, but will take time to review information before ruling, according to the Associated Press. Vigil was convicted in September of one felony count of attempted extortion and acquitted of 23 other counts. Vigil’s attorneys say they will appeal if the judge doesn’t toss out the conviction. Continue Reading

Cervantes criticizes governor’s water proposals

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State Rep. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces is one of a bipartisan group of legislators complaining that the governor’s water agenda for the legislative session doesn’t do enough for water conservation. This might show that Cervantes isn’t backing down on issues in order to gain support for his bid to become House majority leader, and that he would be part of a leadership team that would exercise independence from the governor – something the House has done little of in recent years. Cervantes, according to the Associated Press, said at Thursday’s meeting of the Water and Natural Resources Committee that Richardson’s proposed package for the 2007 session doesn’t deal with agricultural conservation, though that accounts for 75 percent of water use in the state. “We’re throwing money at the problem, which government always does,” Cervantes said, according to the news service. “That’s one solution, but it’s not a very comprehensive solution and it doesn’t show the leadership we need to show on this issue. Continue Reading

Let’s hear from House Democrats about speaker

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I want to extend a personal invitation to House Democrats to share your thoughts on this site on who should be the next speaker and majority leader. I have been criticized by a few politicos since yesterday for some of the comments I made about Democratic members not being willing to go on the record. Some have suggested to me that Ben Lujan has many supporters from the north and that they will go on the record, and that many of Ken Martinez’s supporters will also go on the record. I’ve spoken with some who won’t, but perhaps some will. So let’s hear from you: Should Lujan or Martinez be speaker? Continue Reading

Lewis may take office before other Nov. 7 winners

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Officials in the state treasurer’s office were apparently caught off guard when asked by the Associated Press this week when newly elected Treasurer James Lewis would take office. The answer now seems to be that it will happen soon. The New Mexico Constitution calls for appointees, such as current treasurer Doug Brown, to serve “until the next general election, when his successor shall be chosen for the unexpired term.” That apparently should mean the new treasurer takes office as soon as a certificate of election is issued by the canvassing board on or shortly after Dec. 8 and he is sworn in, instead of on Jan. 1 like the other winners of the Nov. Continue Reading

Phillips to challenge Wooden for school board

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Connie Phillips has announced that she will challenge incumbent Sharon Wooden for the District 5 seat on the Las Cruces Public Schools Board of Education. Phillips has two children in the school district. She is currently a member of the School Advisory Council and District Advisory Council. She was employed in the aerospace engineering industry for 15 years and holds a master’s in mathematics and doctorate in engineering from New Mexico State University. “I am a person that listens conscientiously to others and asks pertinent questions until I am satisfied that I have enough information to make informed decisions,” Phillips said in a news release. Continue Reading

AG Madrid opening office in Las Cruces

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Attorney General Patricia Madrid will be in Las Cruces Friday to officially open a permanent branch here. The office will focus on consumer complaints. Opening it is something Madrid has sought since she took office in 1999, but only in her last year in office was she successful in obtaining funding. Because there hasn’t been an office in Las Cruces, the number of complaints coming from this county has been much lower than expected in a county this size, said Sam Thompson, attorney general spokeswoman. The term “consumer complaints” covers a broad range of issues individuals have with businesses. Continue Reading

Political shifts by NMSU regent hopefuls are likely

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Let the party switching begin. The governor will soon appoint two people to the New Mexico State University Board of Regents, including the student regent. The past two governors have made the constitutional requirement of a balance of political power on the board meaningless by requiring members of their own party to switch political affiliation so they could be appointed. The new applicants for student regent, according to the Las Cruces Sun-News, are undergraduates Amanda Lowry, 20; Mark Morris, 21; and Phillip Trujillo, 19. Graduate student applicants are Carolyn Dietrich, 45; Ed Kellum, 23; and Eric Montgomery, age unknown. Continue Reading

In speaker battle, House Democrats need to put fear aside and vote their consciences

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I recently had a politico tell me that politics is about fear, that most of our leaders make decisions based primarily on the consequences they’ll face. For that reason, many of our elected officials like to pass the buck. I’ve been a journalist for eight years, and there have been many times politicians have tried to pass it off on me. In the current battle over speaker of the House, for example, several Democratic members have tried to do that in recent days. “You know Ben Lujan is corrupt,” one told me. Continue Reading

Stewart says she’s the woman for the job

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Mimi Stewart says her experience as head of the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee makes her the right person to be House majority leader.“I have proven myself to understand the importance of maintaining our seats and running good campaigns based on progressive politics,” Stewart told me. “I think I would be a really good majority leader.”The Albuquerque representative said she decided earlier this week to seek the position after learning that Ken Martinez of Grants would challenge Ben Lujan of Santa Fe for the position of speaker of the House.Stewart, who has been a member of the House for 12 years, said she understands the system and can bring veteran leadership to the position.She would not comment on who she is supporting for speaker, and had this to say about whether she would back off if Martinez opted against challenging Lujan and instead sought to keep his position as majority leader:“I’m going to be flexible and kind of keep my options open,” Stewart said.She had kind words for Rep. Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces, who has pledged to seek the majority leader position if Martinez does not.“He’s been a really great state representative, and if he wins I can work with him, and if I win, I hope he can work with me,” Stewart said.She said she saw Cervantes in Santa Fe Wednesday.“I joked with him, and said, ‘May the best woman win,’” Stewart said. Continue Reading

Former legislator Tomlin dies at 80

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John R. Tomlin, who served five terms in the New Mexico House of Representatives in the 1960s and 70s, died Tuesday.Tomlin, a Democrat, passed away at MountainView Regional Medical Center. The lifelong farmer from Las Cruces’ north valley was 80.The former legislator held for 10 years the House District 36 seat currently occupied by Andy Nuñez. He was appointed in October 1965 to fill out the term of Mike Frietze, who resigned, and was later elected in 1969. He served through 1976.“He was a hell of a Democrat and a fine legislator who served Doña Ana County well,” said Ray Sadler, a longtime Democrat and former county party chair. “He was a major figure in New Mexico politics.”Tomlin was part of a legislative delegation Sadler said was the strongest Doña Ana County has ever had. Continue Reading

Cervantes confirms interest in majority leader

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In a statement e-mailed to me this afternoon, State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, confirmed that he will seek the position of House majority leader if Rep. Ken Martinez of Grants does not.Cervantes, who is in Santa Fe, said he met with Speaker of the House Ben Lujan today to tell him that.“I will begin calling House members, but as a matter of protocol I did not want to do so until after I discussed this with the speaker,” Cervantes wrote. Continue Reading

Cervantes, Stewart battle for majority leader

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Now that Ken Martinez of Grants is vying for speaker of the House, Joseph Cervantes of Las Cruces and Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque are battling to be the next House majority leader.Cervantes announced his intention to Doña Ana County’s other six House Democrats during a meeting over the weekend called by Rep. Mary Helen Garcia of Las Cruces.Reps. Garcia and Andy Nuñez and Representative-elect Nate Cote all confirmed that Cervantes said he will seek the majority leader position if Martinez does not. I’ve been unable to reach Cervantes for comment.Garcia and two other sources confirmed that Stewart will also seek the No. 2 position in the House. I’ve been unable to reach Stewart for comment.Garcia said the chances of Martinez ousting Ben Lujan as speaker and of Cervantes becoming majority leader are good. Continue Reading

Martinez, Lujan campaign for speaker position

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The two representatives vying for speaker of the House are fighting hard behind the scenes.Ben Lujan has called at least one Republican to ask for support to continue as speaker.House Minority Whip Dan Foley said Lujan has contacted one Republican to ask for support, and said that Republican, who he did not name, said he would talk with GOP leadership.Foley said that’s a sign that House Republicans are united, and he said they plan to nominate a candidate for speaker when the legislature convenes in January. He said he’s betting it will be Minority Leader Tom Taylor.“Our caucus is stronger than it’s ever been,” Foley said today. He and Taylor are driving around the state to meet with Republican House members.I was unable to reach Lujan for comment Tuesday. I have been unable to reach Majority Leader Ken Martinez, who is challenging Lujan for speaker, since this ordeal began.After speaking with several House members Tuesday, I found a lot of uncertainty among Democrats. None seem to have a good grasp on how the vote will turn out, and many are still shocked that Martinez had the courage – or audacity, if you want to call it that – to challenge Lujan.Doña Ana County’s seven Democratic House members met over the weekend to discuss the situation. Continue Reading