{"id":39992,"date":"2012-05-21T07:15:27","date_gmt":"2012-05-21T13:15:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/?p=39992"},"modified":"2012-05-22T08:14:32","modified_gmt":"2012-05-22T14:14:32","slug":"complaint-against-griego-looms-large-in-state-senate-race","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2012\/05\/complaint-against-griego-looms-large-in-state-senate-race\/","title":{"rendered":"Complaint against Griego looms large in state Senate race"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"attachment_35606\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignnone\" style=\"max-width: 600px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-35606\" title=\"Roundhouse\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Roundhouse.jpg\" alt=\"The Roundhouse in Santa Fe\" width=\"600\" height=\"322\" srcset=\"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Roundhouse.jpg 600w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Roundhouse-336x180.jpg 336w, https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/01\/Roundhouse-300x161.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">The Roundhouse in Santa Fe (Photo by Heath Haussamen)<\/p><\/div>\n<h4>State Sen. Phil Griego\u2019s opponents agree that he hasn\u2019t served his constituents well, but a complaint alleging that Griego violated state law by paying for personal expenses with his campaign account is overshadowing other issues in the Democratic primary race.<\/h4>\n<div style=\"margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 2px; float: right; width: 270px; border: 1px solid; padding: 10px; background-color: #ebebea\" align=\"right\">\n<div style=\"font-weight: bold; font-size: 16px;\" align=\"center\">About the candidates<\/div>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Jack Sullivan<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Top issues: creating quality jobs, improving education, ensuring affordable health care, and government ethics<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Government experience: eight years as Santa Fe County commissioner<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Nicole Castellano<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Top issues: education, veterans, seniors and people with disabilities<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Government experience: none<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p style=\"text-align: left;\"><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>Phil Griego<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Top issues: job creation, economic development, health care, and water and agricultural issues<\/li>\n<li style=\"text-align: left;\">Government experience: District 39 senator since 1997<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div style=\"text-align: left;\"><strong>Learn more by clicking <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2012\/05\/more-about-sullivan-castellano-and-griego\/\" target=\"_blank\">here<\/a>.<\/strong><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Voters in <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nmlegis.gov\/Sessions\/11Redistricting\/188347\/SD_188347_1_Court_Map_letter_District_39.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">District 39<\/a> are still waiting to hear whether Sen. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.friendsofsenatorphilgriego.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Phil Griego<\/a> \u2013 one of three candidates in the Democratic primary \u2013 violated state law by paying for alleged personal expenses with his campaign account.<\/p>\n<p>The allegations and issue of corporate interests have overshadowed any other issue in the race. <a href=\"http:\/\/www.jacksullivanforsenate.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Jack Sullivan<\/a> and <a href=\"http:\/\/www.votecastellano.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Nicole Castellano<\/a> are vying for the Senate seat against incumbent Griego in the June 5 primary. It is the first time Griego has faced a primary opponent since 2000.<\/p>\n<p>Griego had 15 days to respond to <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2012\/05\/senators-spending-fails-the-smell-test\/\" target=\"_blank\">Sullivan\u2019s complaint<\/a> filed with the N.M. Secretary of State\u2019s Office on April 30. On the final day, Griego sent a letter saying he would work with the secretary of state to explain his expenses.<\/p>\n<p>Griego, who has been senator since 1997, did not return messages from NMPolitics.net requesting an interview for this article.<\/p>\n<p>In Sullivan\u2019s complaint, he listed more than $33,500 that Griego spent on such expenses as credit card bills, reimbursement for 2011 session expenses, golf fees, football tickets and vehicle maintenance.<\/p>\n<p>Griego\u2019s letter on May 14 stated that \u201cour campaign contributions and expenditures are aboveboard and comply with the New Mexico financial disclosure requirements as well as full campaign finance reporting.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Yet he offered no proof.<\/p>\n<p>Kenneth Ortiz, spokesperson for the Secretary of State\u2019s Office, said the secretary will review Sullivan\u2019s allegations and forward the complaint to the Attorney General\u2019s Office if she believes a violation has occurred. The secretary has no timeframe established by law for completing her review, Ortiz said.<\/p>\n<h3>Campaign fundraising<\/h3>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<p>Beyond Sullivan\u2019s allegations of campaign violations, he criticizes Griego\u2019s lengthy list of corporations contributing to his campaign, including $1,000 each from Pepsico, Anheuiser Busch and Presbyterian.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI really feel we\u2019re getting away from the government belonging to the people,\u201d Sullivan said. He later added in an e-mail: \u201cThe incumbent has lived off lobbyist contributions and those contributions come with the expectation of greater access and influence than the average citizen can ever dream of.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While businesses dominate Griego\u2019s campaign finance report, Sullivan has two from organizations: $5,000 from Conservation Voters New Mexico and $3,500 in in-kind donations from Justice League.<\/p>\n<p>Sullivan donated about half of his campaign\u2019s $40,470 in contributions. He said he gave $20,000 to his campaign as a sign of his commitment to the race.<\/p>\n<p>Castellano, who has stayed out of the dispute between Sullivan and Griego, has reported $9,435 in contributions as of May 14. She has pledged not to accept any money from corporations.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI will win,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat I understand more is the pulse of the people in this district, and they are so ready for a different type of representative.\u201d<\/p>\n<h3>Serving the people<\/h3>\n<div id=\"attachment_39998\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignright\" style=\"max-width: 120px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-39998\" title=\"Castellano, Nicole\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Castellano-Nicole.jpg\" alt=\"Nicole Castellano\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Nicole Castellano<\/p><\/div>\n<p>Castellano is confident her family\u2019s roots here \u2013 she proudly points out that they are documented in the New Mexico Blue Book as original settlers of the state \u2013 and her connection to rural communities in the district will put her ahead of the other candidates.<\/p>\n<p>Castellano, 42, moved to Santa Fe when she was an infant and left after graduating from Santa Fe High School. She pursued her business career in Dallas for about 20 years. She returned with her husband and two young sons to live with her mother in La Cienega after her husband was laid off from his job a few years ago.<\/p>\n<p>Sullivan, 69, was born and raised in Philadelphia and has lived in Santa Fe since 1972. He owns an engineering firm and spent two terms as a county commissioner in Santa Fe from 2000 to 2008. He\u2019s married with three sons and three grandsons. As an army veteran, he said he\u2019s always been interested in public service.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cYou want to do something where you feel you make a difference,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_39663\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignright\" style=\"max-width: 120px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-39663\" title=\"Sullivan, Jack\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Sullivan-Jack.jpg\" alt=\"Jack Sullivan\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Jack Sullivan<\/p><\/div>\n<p>That is one thing he shares in common with Castellano, who has spent the last few years volunteering for the Boys and Girls Club, a prevention program for youths at risk and the Citizen Advisory Board for Los Alamos National Lab. She said getting involved in politics for the first time is the next natural step for her.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it will be exciting,\u201d she said. \u201cI can give back to my community.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Griego\u2019s two challengers share some common beliefs: Education should be a top priority, government transparency is important, and Griego hasn\u2019t served his constituents well.<\/p>\n<p>They say they would have supported <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nmlegis.gov\/lcs\/_session.aspx?Chamber=S&amp;LegType=B&amp;LegNo=9&amp;year=12\" target=\"_blank\">Sen. Peter Wirth\u2019s bill<\/a> to require out-of-state corporations to pay their share of taxes. They join others in <a href=\"http:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/Documents\/CCPSWOPMailerGriego.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">criticizing Griego<\/a> for amending the bill to apply only to big-box corporations, setting the stage for Gov. Susana Martinez to veto the bill.<\/p>\n<div id=\"attachment_40007\"  class=\"wp-caption module image alignright\" style=\"max-width: 120px;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-40007\" title=\"Griego, Phil\" src=\"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/05\/Griego-Phil.jpg\" alt=\"Phil Griego\" width=\"120\" height=\"160\" \/><\/a><p class=\"wp-caption-text\">Phil Griego<\/p><\/div>\n<h3>Different political views<\/h3>\n<p>Sullivan calls himself the most progressive candidate. He points to the endorsements he\u2019s received from Planned Parenthood New Mexico, American Federation of Teachers and Sierra Club as well as his record on the county commission promoting water conservation and government transparency.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s good for the public to see what you\u2019re doing,\u201d he said. \u201cIt gives them better confidence in what\u2019s going on.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Castellano calls herself a fiscal conservative and socially liberal. She said she supports civil unions and equal rights, but believes marriage should be between a man and a woman. She names a few issues on which she agrees with Gov. Martinez, including that government should cut waste and be more efficient.<\/p>\n<p>She said she would propose legislation to require that at least 50 cents of every dollar given to school districts go toward children\u2019s classrooms. She wants to invest more in early childhood education and said she would need more information to decide whether she would support Martinez\u2019s push to end what she calls third-grade social promotion.<\/p>\n<p>Sullivan doesn\u2019t support the governor\u2019s initiative and said students need more help before third grade. After mentoring students one-on-one at C\u00e9sar Chavez Elementary School, Sullivan said he has seen the value of parental and citizen involvement in education. \u201cI would focus on every program I could find that did that and support it,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<p>The winner of the Democratic primary will face Republican Aubrey Dunn in November.<\/p>\n<p><em>Deborah Busemeyer is a freelance writer living in Santa Fe. Previously she was the communications director at the New Mexico Department of Health. She can be reached at\u00a0<a href=\"mailto:dbusemeyer@gmail.com\">dbusemeyer@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>State Sen. Phil Griego\u2019s opponents agree that he hasn\u2019t served his constituents well, but a complaint alleging that Griego violated state law by paying for personal expenses with his campaign account is overshadowing other issues in the Democratic primary race.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2777,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[156,223,107],"class_list":["post-39992","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-and-analysis","tag-2012-election","tag-campaign-finance","tag-roundhouse"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39992","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2777"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=39992"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/39992\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=39992"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=39992"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=39992"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}