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.
A disgraced former judge and State Police sergeant will be Rio Arriba County‘s next Sheriff.
Tommy Rodella defeated six rivals for the nomination, winning with 26 percent of the Democratic primary vote, the Rio Grande SUN reported Thursday. There is no Republican challenger.
“God help the people of Rio Arriba County,” commented defeated rival Lt. Manuel Valdez, who intends to resign from the Sheriff’s Department before Rodella takes office Jan. 1, 2011.
Rodella is married to state legislator and Ben Lujan ally Debbie Rodella.
He twice lost his position as magistrate judge, the second time over charges of witness intimidation and other misconduct.
Rodella’s family, including brother and Española Police Officer Eugene Rodella, has made headlines for violent feuds in the Española area.
Gov. Bill Richardson appointed the former State Police sergeant as Rio Arriba County magistrate judge in 2005 but asked him to resign after the Rio Grande SUN reported Rodella had driven an hour-and-a-half to Tierra Amarilla to order the release of an acquaintance arrested for DWI.
Voters returned Rodella to the bench in 2006.
But in a unanimous decision, the state Supreme Court again removed him from the bench, for willful judicial misconduct in the DWI incident and Rodella’s subsequent intimidation of a witness in that case.
The Albuquerque Journal reported in 2005 that as a State Police officer, Rodella had been disciplined for marijuana use, improper use of a weapon and physical abuse, and “sustained allegations” that he had used his position for personal gain and falsifying sick leave reports and other official records.
Rodella had also been suspended from the State Police for a month after firing a rifle at a deer decoy set up by state game officers to catch roadside poachers, the Journal reported.
