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Richardson going back to New Hampshire

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Gov. Bill Richardson is heading back to New Hampshire this week. According to the Manchester Union Leader, the governor is one of four 2008 presidential hopefuls who will visit the state to promote the campaigns of local candidates. Richardson will campaign Monday with Rep. Jackie Cilley, a candidate for the state Senate, then attend an event for House Democratic candidates. It’s Richardson’s third visit to New Hampshire this year. He also visited in 2005 and 2004. Continue Reading

BREAKING NEWS: Richardson to attend Whole Enchilada Fiesta despite shooting threat

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Despite threats of random shootings in Las Cruces, Gov. Bill Richardson plans to attend the Whole Enchilada Fiesta Saturday morning. “After consulting with DPS Secretary John Denko and other law enforcement agencies, I am confident this will be a safe, secure, and very successful event,” Richardson said in a news release. “I urge everyone to show their support for the city and the Whole Enchilada Festival and join us for a great weekend of fun, food, and entertainment.” In two letters, an anonymous writer has threatened random shootings if the city didn’t pay an unspecified amount of money by today. The threat has many residents of the city on edge. Police are hunting for the writer, and the National Guard stands ready to respond if necessary. Continue Reading

Commission District 3 hopefuls say they’re both good choices

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The candidates in the Doña Ana County Commission District 3 race agreed during a candidate forum Thursday that either would serve residents well. Because Republican Paul Curry opted against seeking re-election to the position, Republican Mack Haley is facing Democrat Karen Perez on Nov. 7. District 3 encompasses much of Las Cruces’ East Mesa, the New Mexico State University area and south from there through Mesilla Park and Mesquite. Community empowerment Both candidates were asked during the forum in Mesquite how they would help empower communities. Continue Reading

Commission District 1 candidates show differences

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The candidates in the Doña Ana County Commission District 1 race revealed similar goals but different opinions about how to reach them at Thursday’s candidate forum in Mesquite. The seat is currently held by Democrat Oscar Vasquez Butler, who is also president of the New Mexico Association of Counties. Republican John Zimmerman is seeking to unseat Butler. District 1 includes 25 of the county’s 37 colonias and the Picacho Hills area on the east side of Las Cruces. Community empowerment Both candidates were asked how they would help empower communities. Continue Reading

Lots of activity Thursday in Garza case, but it’s all secret

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There was a lot of activity Thursday in the case of suspended Doña Ana County Magistrate Judge Carlos Garza, but it’s all under seal, so the details are secret. Early Thursday, the Judicial Standards Commission sought an “emergency request for two immediate orders” from the state Supreme Court, according to the court clerk’s office. The request stemmed from the commission’s inquiry into allegations that Garza is using illegal drugs, and came a day after the court placed Garza on a 30-day suspension without pay and ordered him to immediately submit to a hair test for illegal drugs. Garza claimed late Wednesday that he took the test. In response to the commission’s motion on Thursday, the court issued a request for an immediate response from Garza, which it received. Continue Reading

Sheriff candidates remain cordial during forum

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The candidates for Doña Ana County sheriff were cordial and agreed often during a candidate forum Thursday night in Mesquite. Sheriff Todd Garrison, a Republican, is facing Democratic challenger Ralph Misquez, a former undersheriff, on Nov. 7. This is the most hotly contested local race in Doña Ana County this year. The forum, attended by about 40 people, was sponsored by the New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment and moderated by activists from the Mesquite and Vado area. Continue Reading

Journalist’s release boosts Richardson’s popularity

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In August, Gov. Bill Richardson was ranked one of the 10 most popular governors in the nation by Survey USA. He tied for ninth with Nebraska Gov. Dave Heineman. Since then, Richardson went to Africa and rescued Paul Salopek, a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist from New Mexico who had been imprisoned by the Sudanese government and charged with espionage. It isn’t often that a governor gets a change to personally rescue one of his constituents, or that a state has a governor capable of pulling off such a feat, and the citizens of New Mexico know it. The newest Survey USA poll, released today, ranks Richardson as the seventh most popular governor in the nation, with a 69-percent approval rating among his constituents. Continue Reading

Land commissioner hopefuls trade barbs at debate

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State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons began airing radio commercials this week that are, to say the least, nasty, and his challenger, Democrat Jim Baca, has been attacking him for weeks for taking huge campaign contributions from the oil and gas industry. So it’s no surprise that the two took some jabs at each other during a debate Wednesday in Albuquerque. But, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican, the two remain subdued even as they took shots at each other. Baca pointed repeatedly to Lyons’ contributions from oil and gas, which are in the hundreds of thousands of dollars. “I was the first New Mexico land commissioner elected without the blessing of the oil and gas industry, and if I’m elected again, it’ll be the same,” the New Mexican quoted Baca as saying. Continue Reading

District judge race should be close

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The district judge race between Democrat Lisa Schultz and Republican Janetta Hicks should be close. The two are vying to replace Silvia Cano-Garcia, who died recently following a long battle with cancer. In addition to asking voters to choose her on Nov. 7, Schultz has submitted her name to a judicial nominating committee that meets on Oct. 2, and is asking that Gov. Bill Richardson appoint her to the position for the remainder of the year, until the candidate who wins the election takes office in January. Continue Reading

Sheriff, commission candidates take part in forum

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Candidates for Doña Ana County sheriff and commission will be quizzed at a candidate forum tonight in Mesquite. The forum will be held at 6 p.m. at the Mesquite volunteer fire station, 1 Firehouse Road. Candidates in attendance will include Republican Sheriff Todd Garrison and his challenger, Democrat Ralph Misquez; District 1 Commissioner Oscar Vasquez Butler, a Democrat, and his challenger, Republican John Zimmerman; and District 3 commission candidates Mack Haley, a Republican, and Karen Perez, a Democrat. Arturo Uribe, a Mesquite resident with the New Mexico Progressive Alliance for Community Empowerment, helped organize the event. He said the candidates will be quizzed by a panel of south-valley community leaders and later by people in attendance at the forum. Continue Reading

Richardson agrees to one debate with Dendahl

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Gov. Bill Richardson has agreed to one debate with Republican challenger John Dendahl. The announcement ends weeks of wondering whether Richardson would take part in any debates. Dendahl has repeatedly issued challenges, and two Albuquerque television stations had offered televised debates. Richardson isn’t yet saying when or where the debate will take place, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican. Asked why he’s only taking part in one debate, Richardson told the New Mexican, “I agreed to one. Continue Reading

First spaceport launch set for Monday

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If all goes as planned, the first launch from Spaceport America will take place Monday morning. Though officials say it could be delayed by as much as 10 hours or postponed to a later date, the first launch of an UP Aerospace rocket carrying 50 scientific and other payloads is set for 7:30 a.m. Members of the public can only view the event by traveling to the spaceport area from Truth or Consequences, not from the Upham exit on Interstate 25 near Las Cruces. Take 3rd Street in T or C, which becomes Highway Route 51, east for approximately 10 miles. You’ll reach roadblocks and will be directed to the viewing area. There will be no food or water provided and, because of possible delays, officials urge those who attend to bring food, water, sunscreen, hats, chairs and blankets. Continue Reading

Richardson wants National Guard status elevated

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Gov. Bill Richardson says the National Guard’s status should be elevated by giving its chief a seat on the Defense Department’s Joint Chiefs of Staff. Richardson made his comments Tuesday while speaking at the National Guard’s annual conference in Albuquerque, according to the Air Force Times. “It is a full partner in our national military strategy and it must be given the respect it deserves,” the Times quoted Richardson as saying. “To put it bluntly, our citizen-soldiers deserve a square deal from Washington.” The National Guard Association backs such an elevation in the status of the Guard. Richardson said he “strongly supports” legislation that would do that, according to the Times. Continue Reading