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Commission accuses Garza of illegal drug use

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Suspended Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza faces several judicial charges, including illegal possession and use of drugs. The petition filed with the high court today charges that Garza: • illegally used and possessed drugs. • failed to comply with a Judicial Standards Commission order that he submit to testing for illegal drugs. • evaded service of the commission’s order. • inappropriately used his judicial position in February 2006. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: Court asked to remove Garza

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The Judicial Standards Commission filed today a petition with the New Mexico Supreme Court seeking the permanent removal from office of Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza. The petition, filed Friday morning, comes after a secret trial before the commission held earlier this week. Garza was accused of illegal drug use and a host of other improprieties. I’m still trying to get a copy of the petition and will have more on this later today. The high court has already placed Garza on suspension without pay though Oct. Continue Reading

‘It has everything to do with blind partisanship’

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By Bill McCamley This is a guest column Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley submitted in response to a column by county Republican Party chair Sid Goddard published Sunday in the Las Cruces Sun-News. You can read more about the situation by clicking here. Everyone should read Republican Chair Sid Goddard’s piece in last Sunday’s Las Cruces Sun-News because it clearly highlights the difference between partisan campaigning and actual governing. If you don’t have time to go back, it basically said this: “The Democratic chair, Melinda Whitley, wrote some biased comments in an e-mail to supporters. New Mexico’s economic indicators aren’t good. Continue Reading

Racism allegations fly in treasurer’s race

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We had to know that, in such a dirty election season in New Mexico, skin color would become an issue at some point. Republican state treasurer candidate Demesia Padilla sent out a mailer this week that includes a caricature of her opponent, Democrat James B. Lewis, who is Black, smiling and dangling from puppet strings being pulled by Gov. Bill Richardson. The ad includes a quote from Lewis, published in the Albuquerque Tribune in 2005, stating that he thinks the treasurer should probably be appointed by the governor. The governor’s ethics task force has proposed making the position appointed, rather than elected. Lewis told the Albuquerque Journal this about the flier: “It’s borderline … (it) almost seemed racist. Continue Reading

Dendahl on abortion and federalism

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Gov. Bill Richardson has still not agreed to a debate with Republican challenger John Dendahl, so here’s a column Dendahl wrote on abortion as part of a larger debate on federalism, taken from his Web site. It was published in the Albuquerque Journal on Nov. 14, 2003. Abortion Debate Embodies Larger Federal DebateBy John Dendahl “A loud din has arisen from opponents of the national ban on partial-birth abortion signed into law by President Bush on November 5. I might actually agree with them but, if I did, our policy reasons would be light years apart. Continue Reading

Differences are obvious in District 37 House race

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Like the District 53 House race, the contest to replace District 37 Rep. Ed Boykin, R-Las Cruces, is a hot one. A poll by the Democrats has their candidate, Jeff Steinborn, ahead by several points, party sources told me, but I have been unable to get the actual numbers. Republican Scott Witt isn’t doing polling, and is instead spending his money getting out his message. In 2004, Steinborn received 48.7 percent of the vote against Boykin, despite jumping into the race late when another Democrat dropped out. Democrats are optimistic that they can take this seat from the Republicans. Continue Reading

King responds to negative Bibb ad

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Republican attorney general candidate Jim Bibb, facing huge deficits in the polls, has unleashed the first negative ad of the campaign. The television spot criticizes Democratic candidate Gary King’s voting record, saying he missed important votes on child pornography and child sex predators. The ad accuses King of missing almost 1,300 votes as a legislator. Bibb’s campaign claims the tally doesn’t include votes from the 1990 and 1994 legislative sessions. In all, King spent 12 years in the legislature. Continue Reading

Jones, Greer raising lots of campaign cash

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Campaign finance reports in the races for the two Public Regulation Commission Districts whose boundaries include parts of Doña Ana County reveal a lot of activity in one race and less in the other. In the District 5 race, Democrat Sandy Jones and Republican Earl Greer are raising a lot of money. Jones, who knocked off incumbent E. Shirley Baca in the primary, started the last reporting period with $10,527, according to his report filed Monday. He raised $25,691 and spent $30,866, leaving him with $5,352 in the bank. Jones also had $5,900 in loans and in-kind contributions totaling $1,857. Continue Reading

Democrats set sights on Marquardt’s House seat

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Democrats believe they have a chance oust one of the Republican House leaders on Nov. 7. Some Republicans I spoke with also believe it’s possible. That’s why the House District 53 race between Republican incumbent Terry Marquardt and Democratic challenger Nate Cote has become one of the hottest in the state. Sources tell me a recent poll done by the Democrats has Marquardt, the House minority whip, ahead 46-42 percent, with 12 percent undecided. Continue Reading

Land commissioner debate Friday in Las Cruces

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The state commissioner of public lands and his opponent will debate Friday evening in Las Cruces. The debate between Republican incumbent Pat Lyons and Democratic challenger Jim Baca is hosted by Southwest Consolidated Sportsmen and is part of the group’s 19th annual banquet. The banquet begins with a social at 6 p.m., and continues with dinner at 7 p.m. The debate is scheduled to start at 8 p.m. and last a little less than an hour. The event is being held at the Best Western Mesilla Valley Inn, 901 Avenida de Mesilla. Tickets are $20 per person. Continue Reading

Richardson, Lujan help Cote raise cash, but Marquardt has hefty bank account, spends more

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Campaign finance reports submitted Monday in most of the local races are not yet on the secretary of state’s Web site, but I can get started by reporting on those that are already posted. In the House District 53 race: Republican incumbent Terry Marquardt began the reporting period with $28,542 in the bank. He raised $12,890 and spent $25,248, leaving him with $16,184 in the bank. The majority of contributions to Marquardt came from various political action committees and corporations, including $750 each from a PNM PAC and a smokeless tobacco company. His campaign donated more than $8,000 to other Republican candidates, including several state representative candidates. Continue Reading

Check out the League of Women Voters guide

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The League of Women Voters has come out with its statewide guide to the Nov. 7 general election. You can view it online by clicking here. The guide includes a list of important election dates and a guide to frequently asked questions. It also includes responses to questions from candidates for statewide offices and federal congressional offices, and information on proposed constitutional amendments and bond issues. Continue Reading