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Democrats cast out E. Shirley Baca

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A mailer E. Shirley Baca sent to some 10,000 Democrats last week urging them to vote against the Public Regulation Commission candidate who beat her in the primary appears to have cost her a future relationship with the Democratic Party. The mailer urged a vote against Sandy Jones, the Democrat’s District 5 candidate, because he used negative campaigning to beat her in the primary. Click here to see the front of Baca’s mailer, and here to see the back. Those I spoke with said it was almost unheard of for a primary loser to toss such a retaliatory, negative attack at the winner. Apparently, the Democratic Party of New Mexico agrees. Continue Reading

An analysis of county government races

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Here’s my analysis of the races for the four Doña Ana County offices that are up for grabs on Tuesday: County Commission District 1 Democratic incumbent Oscar Vasquez Butler is facing Republican challenger John Zimmerman in this race. Voters have a choice between two obviously different candidates. Butler is an outspoken critic of what he calls “uncontrolled growth.” He opposes more development on the mesas and mountains, saying there is enough land in the valley, but at the same time cautions that those who choose to live in the Mesilla Valley must be aware that water is limited and farms must be preserved. Zimmerman talks about the need for more growth and development to better the lives of residents of the county, though he says that development needs to be better regulated. He favors development on the mesas. Continue Reading

Early voting wraps up

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Hundreds of people showed up at five early voting sites throughout Doña Ana County today. Early voting ends at 6 p.m. today, and the total number of votes cast early is expected to top 9,000 – about 10 percent of the county’s registered voters. At the Doña Ana County Government Center in Las Cruces – the primary early voting site – there were more than 50 people in line at 10:30 a.m., a half hour after the polling place opened. More than 800 people voted at that site on Friday. I then went to Anthony, the site where poll workers accused activists of coaching voters and activists accused poll workers of intimidating voters last weekend, leading to the police being called out. Continue Reading

An analysis of area PRC races

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Here’s my analysis of the two Public Regulation Commission races whose districts include parts of Doña Ana County. PRC District 5 In this race, Democrat Sandy Jones faces Republican Earl Greer. Jones knocked off incumbent E. Shirley Baca in the primary. Both candidates are from Sierra County, bucking the conventional wisdom that the commissioner from this 11-county district would most likely be from Las Cruces, the population center. Both have run active campaigns and raised a lot of money. Continue Reading

We have November surprises aplenty

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Many have been waiting to see whether a November surprise would turn the nation’s mood back to Republicans to the point that they would keep control of the House and Senate in Tuesday’s elections. It looks like we have two November surprises. A verdict in the Saddam Hussein trial is expected on Sunday. The former Iraqi dictator will likely find out on that day whether he’ll hang, according to Reuters. Saddam’s chief lawyer said the timing of the verdict was designed to boost President Bush’s popularity in advance of Tuesday’s election, and urged a delay. Continue Reading

Huge GOP donor plays in N.M. races

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Many are wondering about Republican donor Bob Perry of Texas, who has inserted himself into New Mexico politics in a big way this year by giving tens of thousands of dollars to Republican statewide candidates in the Land of Enchantment. He also gave $20,000 to Isaac Chavez, the Republican seeking to knock off State Rep. Andy Nuñez, D-Hatch. As I’ve reported, Perry was the head financial backer of the 2004 Swift Boat Veterans for Truth. According to Bloomberg.com, he’s the biggest donor in U.S. politics this election cycle. Click here to read more about him. Continue Reading

Readers’ election predictions

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I asked earlier this week for your election predictions. Here are most of the responses I received. Thanks to those who took the time to do this. *** Wilson, Madrid race will drive everything (This prediction was added about 10:30 a.m., after I published the original set of predictions.) The turnout in the counties that encompass the First Congressional District – Bernalillo, Torrance, and parts of Valencia and Sandoval – will drive all the races in the state. These voters will be turning out in higher percentages than the north or the south to cast a ballot for Heather Wilson or Patsy Madrid. Continue Reading

Voters can’t lose in county sheriff race

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I’ve been asked repeatedly who I’ll endorse in the Doña Ana County sheriff’s race. I don’t do endorsements, but I’m happy to offer my thoughts on this contest. It’s simple: The public can’t lose. Either candidate would serve residents well. Both men have come a long way from their interviews with the county commission in early 2005, following the resignation of then-Sheriff Juan Hernandez. Continue Reading

A third group would have bid on state election canvassing job, but didn’t get response from SOS

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Sen. Pete Domenici has joined the chorus of Republicans upset that the state won’t hire an independent auditor to canvass the Nov. 7 general election. The Secretary of State’s Office says there isn’t enough time. It claims it only received two bids, and neither met the requirements. But Domenici says otherwise, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Continue Reading

A woman scorned: E. Shirley Baca strikes back

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We all knew E. Shirley Baca isn’t one to go quietly into the night. The outgoing Public Regulation Commission member for District 5 sent a letter to Democrats this week urging them to vote against Sandy Jones, the candidate who beat her in the Democratic primary. “My opponent, Mr. Sandy Jones, chose to engage in lies and negative campaigning. The PRC is not about partisan politics, but about honesty, integrity, and hard work,” Baca wrote in the letter. “If you feel as strongly as I do… please send a message to Mr. Jones, by NOT voting for him on November 7th.” The mailer states that it was “Paid for by E. Shirley Baca.” Jones and his Republican opponent, Earl Greer, told me they heard about the mailer but had not seen it, and Greer said he had nothing to do with it. Continue Reading

Richardson campaign breaks sign etiquette

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It’s no secret that Republicans think they can beat Rep. Andy Nuñez, D-Hatch, and have put a lot of money into the campaign of Republican challenger Isaac Chavez. Gov. Bill Richardson is under a lot of pressure to help candidates like Nuñez keep their positions. Chavez e-mailed me this photo this morning. It was taken at the intersection of Lohman Avenue and Roadrunner Parkway in Las Cruces, where someone put a bag-type Richardson sign around a Chavez sign, blocking the view from any angle of Chavez’s sign. You can see the Web address at the bottom of Chavez’s sign sticking out below the Richardson sign. Continue Reading

Madrid holds lead after debate, and Democrats’ chances of taking the House look good

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A new poll confirms that U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., is still trailing Democratic challenger Patricia Madrid. The newest Reuters/Zogby poll, released today, has Madrid ahead 53 to 44 percent. The poll, a live survey of at least 500 likely voters, was conducted Oct. 24-29, and has a margin of error of plus or minus 4.5 percentage points. The last Albuquerque Journal poll, conducted by pollster Brian Sanderoff’s group between Oct. Continue Reading

Michael Swickard: Don’t vote unless you care

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This is a guest column submitted by radio talk show host Michael Swickard that takes an unusual stance. Tell us what you think by submitting a comment after you read it. © 2006 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. The election this year has felt like going to the dentist and having the same tooth filled every day for a whole year. As a talk radio host I am attuned to the political winds, but I have not enjoyed this year. In fact, I have been more offended and troubled with this election than any other. Continue Reading