I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
The news that Albuquerque City Councilors Debbie O’Malley and Michael Cadigan both were dropping out of the city’s mayoral race caused many to wonder if state Rep. Richard Berry, R-Albuquerque, was having similar difficulty.
Unlike other candidates, Berry had not turned in any contributions to the city clerk’s office, and his campaign wasn’t offering any number as late as yesterday, when the Independent called to inquire.
But today, the Berry campaign turned in about 1,800 individual contributions, the city clerk’s office said, putting Berry within range of meeting the required numbers by the deadline — which is March 31.
Berry’s campaign manager, Dana Feldman, told the Independent that Berry has “dozens and dozens” of volunteers and that the campaign has also hired canvassers. Some are students on spring break, she said, and others are people who’ve come from outside the state to help Berry’s campaign, she acknowledged.
A measure finance committee has been set up in recent weeks explicitly for the purpose of electing Berry. The original listed purpose of the committee, called the Committee to Promote Integrity in City Politics, was to elect Richard Berry. That purpose has now been changed to “assist in electing city officials.” It was formed March 9 by Ryan Cangliosi, who heads up the New Mexico GOP.
This sort of committee is essentially the city’s version of political action committees. If such a committee spends money to help a specific candidate get elected, the public financing rules allow other candidates in the race to get matching funds up to that amount from the city. The first reports from measure finance committees are due July 17.
It’s unclear if Berry’s campaign has paid the canvassers, which would have to come from seed money collected by the campaign since January 1, or if the committee is hiring the canvassers. Feldman refused to give details about how many paid canvassers are collecting for Berry, or who was paying them. The campaign does have one full-time staff member, she said.
Another measure finance committee was also set up in March. Citizens for Albuquerque was formed March 18 by Don Kaufman, with the purpose of “informing people about Albuquerque government.”
