http://newmexicoindependent.com/30410/a-primer-on-new-mexicos-housing-authority-scandal New Mexico news and politics Fri, 02 Sep 2011 18:15:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://newmexicoindependent.com/30410/a-primer-on-new-mexicos-housing-authority-scandal#comment-21103 FoxVixDad Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:24:17 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=30410#comment-21103 Vincent Gallegos got his start with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments back in the 1980s, when he was doing weatherization work on low income homes with federal dollars. Complaints were made to local newspapers at the time that Gallegos and his construction firm were chosen, despite the fact that he was the high bidder. Gallegos also created another company which sold new windows to the weatherization program.<br>And, much of the work was done so poorly, it was having to be redone by housing authorities in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.<br>A newspaper investigation revealed that Gallegos was selected through an RFP and was, in fact the high bidder. Leland Tillman, a former longtime director of the EPCOG, said his board awarded the contract to Gallegos due to his "experience" in construction, despite the fact that he was the contractor with the LEAST experience. Legal, but not ethical.<br>But Tillman, a true student of politics in New Mexico, could see the future. He knew it was a matter of time before redistricting left a New Mexico House seat within the grasp of a Clovis hispanic and with Tillman's help (behind the scenes) Smiley was elected to the New Mexico House and became a loyal soldier of Raymond Sanchez. The EPCOG and its housing authority reaped the benefits during Gallegoses time in the Legislature. And Gallegos learned how to make a housing authority work for him. And Smiley has maintained a power base in Curry County, although Tillman has retired and moved on.<br>It had been so long since the news broke of the Region III Housing Authority's collapse that many (mostly Republicans in Eastern NM) had doubted that any charges would be filed against Smiley. We skeptics will stay tuned! Vincent Gallegos got his start with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments back in the 1980s, when he was doing weatherization work on low income homes with federal dollars. Complaints were made to local newspapers at the time that Gallegos and his construction firm were chosen, despite the fact that he was the high bidder. Gallegos also created another company which sold new windows to the weatherization program.
And, much of the work was done so poorly, it was having to be redone by housing authorities in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.
A newspaper investigation revealed that Gallegos was selected through an RFP and was, in fact the high bidder. Leland Tillman, a former longtime director of the EPCOG, said his board awarded the contract to Gallegos due to his “experience” in construction, despite the fact that he was the contractor with the LEAST experience. Legal, but not ethical.
But Tillman, a true student of politics in New Mexico, could see the future. He knew it was a matter of time before redistricting left a New Mexico House seat within the grasp of a Clovis hispanic and with Tillman's help (behind the scenes) Smiley was elected to the New Mexico House and became a loyal soldier of Raymond Sanchez. The EPCOG and its housing authority reaped the benefits during Gallegoses time in the Legislature. And Gallegos learned how to make a housing authority work for him. And Smiley has maintained a power base in Curry County, although Tillman has retired and moved on.
It had been so long since the news broke of the Region III Housing Authority's collapse that many (mostly Republicans in Eastern NM) had doubted that any charges would be filed against Smiley. We skeptics will stay tuned!

]]> http://newmexicoindependent.com/30410/a-primer-on-new-mexicos-housing-authority-scandal#comment-17838 FoxVixDad Mon, 29 Jun 2009 22:24:17 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=30410#comment-17838 Vincent Gallegos got his start with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments back in the 1980s, when he was doing weatherization work on low income homes with federal dollars. Complaints were made to local newspapers at the time that Gallegos and his construction firm were chosen, despite the fact that he was the high bidder. Gallegos also created another company which sold new windows to the weatherization program.<br>And, much of the work was done so poorly, it was having to be redone by housing authorities in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.<br>A newspaper investigation revealed that Gallegos was selected through an RFP and was, in fact the high bidder. Leland Tillman, a former longtime director of the EPCOG, said his board awarded the contract to Gallegos due to his "experience" in construction, despite the fact that he was the contractor with the LEAST experience. Legal, but not ethical.<br>But Tillman, a true student of politics in New Mexico, could see the future. He knew it was a matter of time before redistricting left a New Mexico House seat within the grasp of a Clovis hispanic and with Tillman's help (behind the scenes) Smiley was elected to the New Mexico House and became a loyal soldier of Raymond Sanchez. The EPCOG and its housing authority reaped the benefits during Gallegoses time in the Legislature. And Gallegos learned how to make a housing authority work for him. And Smiley has maintained a power base in Curry County, although Tillman has retired and moved on.<br>It had been so long since the news broke of the Region III Housing Authority's collapse that many (mostly Republicans in Eastern NM) had doubted that any charges would be filed against Smiley. We skeptics will stay tuned! Vincent Gallegos got his start with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments back in the 1980s, when he was doing weatherization work on low income homes with federal dollars. Complaints were made to local newspapers at the time that Gallegos and his construction firm were chosen, despite the fact that he was the high bidder. Gallegos also created another company which sold new windows to the weatherization program.
And, much of the work was done so poorly, it was having to be redone by housing authorities in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.
A newspaper investigation revealed that Gallegos was selected through an RFP and was, in fact the high bidder. Leland Tillman, a former longtime director of the EPCOG, said his board awarded the contract to Gallegos due to his “experience” in construction, despite the fact that he was the contractor with the LEAST experience. Legal, but not ethical.
But Tillman, a true student of politics in New Mexico, could see the future. He knew it was a matter of time before redistricting left a New Mexico House seat within the grasp of a Clovis hispanic and with Tillman's help (behind the scenes) Smiley was elected to the New Mexico House and became a loyal soldier of Raymond Sanchez. The EPCOG and its housing authority reaped the benefits during Gallegoses time in the Legislature. And Gallegos learned how to make a housing authority work for him. And Smiley has maintained a power base in Curry County, although Tillman has retired and moved on.
It had been so long since the news broke of the Region III Housing Authority's collapse that many (mostly Republicans in Eastern NM) had doubted that any charges would be filed against Smiley. We skeptics will stay tuned!

]]> http://newmexicoindependent.com/30410/a-primer-on-new-mexicos-housing-authority-scandal#comment-10869 FoxVixDad Mon, 29 Jun 2009 21:24:17 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=30410#comment-10869 Vincent Gallegos got his start with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments back in the 1980s, when he was doing weatherization work on low income homes with federal dollars. Complaints were made to local newspapers at the time that Gallegos and his construction firm were chosen, despite the fact that he was the high bidder. Gallegos also created another company which sold new windows to the weatherization program.<br>And, much of the work was done so poorly, it was having to be redone by housing authorities in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.<br>A newspaper investigation revealed that Gallegos was selected through an RFP and was, in fact the high bidder. Leland Tillman, a former longtime director of the EPCOG, said his board awarded the contract to Gallegos due to his "experience" in construction, despite the fact that he was the contractor with the LEAST experience. Legal, but not ethical.<br>But Tillman, a true student of politics in New Mexico, could see the future. He knew it was a matter of time before redistricting left a New Mexico House seat within the grasp of a Clovis hispanic and with Tillman's help (behind the scenes) Smiley was elected to the New Mexico House and became a loyal soldier of Raymond Sanchez. The EPCOG and its housing authority reaped the benefits during Gallegoses time in the Legislature. And Gallegos learned how to make a housing authority work for him. And Smiley has maintained a power base in Curry County, although Tillman has retired and moved on.<br>It had been so long since the news broke of the Region III Housing Authority's collapse that many (mostly Republicans in Eastern NM) had doubted that any charges would be filed against Smiley. We skeptics will stay tuned! Vincent Gallegos got his start with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments back in the 1980s, when he was doing weatherization work on low income homes with federal dollars. Complaints were made to local newspapers at the time that Gallegos and his construction firm were chosen, despite the fact that he was the high bidder. Gallegos also created another company which sold new windows to the weatherization program.
And, much of the work was done so poorly, it was having to be redone by housing authorities in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.
A newspaper investigation revealed that Gallegos was selected through an RFP and was, in fact the high bidder. Leland Tillman, a former longtime director of the EPCOG, said his board awarded the contract to Gallegos due to his “experience” in construction, despite the fact that he was the contractor with the LEAST experience. Legal, but not ethical.
But Tillman, a true student of politics in New Mexico, could see the future. He knew it was a matter of time before redistricting left a New Mexico House seat within the grasp of a Clovis hispanic and with Tillman's help (behind the scenes) Smiley was elected to the New Mexico House and became a loyal soldier of Raymond Sanchez. The EPCOG and its housing authority reaped the benefits during Gallegoses time in the Legislature. And Gallegos learned how to make a housing authority work for him. And Smiley has maintained a power base in Curry County, although Tillman has retired and moved on.
It had been so long since the news broke of the Region III Housing Authority's collapse that many (mostly Republicans in Eastern NM) had doubted that any charges would be filed against Smiley. We skeptics will stay tuned!

]]> http://newmexicoindependent.com/30410/a-primer-on-new-mexicos-housing-authority-scandal#comment-6753 FoxVixDad Mon, 29 Jun 2009 20:24:17 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=30410#comment-6753 Vincent Gallegos got his start with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments back in the 1980s, when he was doing weatherization work on low income homes with federal dollars. Complaints were made to local newspapers at the time that Gallegos and his construction firm were chosen, despite the fact that he was the high bidder. Gallegos also created another company which sold new windows to the weatherization program.<br>And, much of the work was done so poorly, it was having to be redone by housing authorities in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.<br>A newspaper investigation revealed that Gallegos was selected through an RFP and was, in fact the high bidder. Leland Tillman, a former longtime director of the EPCOG, said his board awarded the contract to Gallegos due to his "experience" in construction, despite the fact that he was the contractor with the LEAST experience. Legal, but not ethical.<br>But Tillman, a true student of politics in New Mexico, could see the future. He knew it was a matter of time before redistricting left a New Mexico House seat within the grasp of a Clovis hispanic and with Tillman's help (behind the scenes) Smiley was elected to the New Mexico House and became a loyal soldier of Raymond Sanchez. The EPCOG and its housing authority reaped the benefits during Gallegoses time in the Legislature. And Gallegos learned how to make a housing authority work for him. And Smiley has maintained a power base in Curry County, although Tillman has retired and moved on.<br>It had been so long since the news broke of the Region III Housing Authority's collapse that many (mostly Republicans in Eastern NM) had doubted that any charges would be filed against Smiley. We skeptics will stay tuned! Vincent Gallegos got his start with the Eastern Plains Council of Governments back in the 1980s, when he was doing weatherization work on low income homes with federal dollars. Complaints were made to local newspapers at the time that Gallegos and his construction firm were chosen, despite the fact that he was the high bidder. Gallegos also created another company which sold new windows to the weatherization program.
And, much of the work was done so poorly, it was having to be redone by housing authorities in Curry, Roosevelt and Quay counties.
A newspaper investigation revealed that Gallegos was selected through an RFP and was, in fact the high bidder. Leland Tillman, a former longtime director of the EPCOG, said his board awarded the contract to Gallegos due to his “experience” in construction, despite the fact that he was the contractor with the LEAST experience. Legal, but not ethical.
But Tillman, a true student of politics in New Mexico, could see the future. He knew it was a matter of time before redistricting left a New Mexico House seat within the grasp of a Clovis hispanic and with Tillman's help (behind the scenes) Smiley was elected to the New Mexico House and became a loyal soldier of Raymond Sanchez. The EPCOG and its housing authority reaped the benefits during Gallegoses time in the Legislature. And Gallegos learned how to make a housing authority work for him. And Smiley has maintained a power base in Curry County, although Tillman has retired and moved on.
It had been so long since the news broke of the Region III Housing Authority's collapse that many (mostly Republicans in Eastern NM) had doubted that any charges would be filed against Smiley. We skeptics will stay tuned!

]]> http://newmexicoindependent.com/30410/a-primer-on-new-mexicos-housing-authority-scandal#comment-6648 chikntheif Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:41:21 +0000 http://newmexicoindependent.com/?p=30410#comment-6648 And to think that our givernment wants to take over our healthcare and tell you what drugs to take. I swear they'll kill us all. We gotta do something !!! And to think that our givernment wants to take over our healthcare and tell you what drugs to take. I swear they'll kill us all. We gotta do something !!!

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