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.
Attorney General Gary King, a Democrat, and his Republican challenger Matt Chandler both raised big money in the final weeks leading up to the election.
King raised over $400,000 in the three-week period and Chandler raised nearly $200,000. King was aided by $202,000 in loans to his own campaign and a large donation from national Democrats while Chandler was aided by the Republican Party and oil and gas interests.
King received a $100,000 donation from the Democratic Attorneys General Association, nearly half of the money he received in contributions in the period.
Akal Security kicked in another $15,000 to King white Labaton Sucharow LLP, a New York City law firm, donated $12,5000 to the Attorney General.
Of the $199,000 that Chandler raised in the fundraising period, nearly a quarter came from the Republican Party of New Mexico. The party donated $25,000 to Chandler on October 12 and an additional $20,000 on October 21.
Casino owner George Maloof donated $5,000 to King’s campaign. The Maloof family owned a lucrative Coors beer distributorship up until last year. The Law Office of Stephen Durkovich donated $6,000, Animal Protection Voters PAC donated $5,500, Grant & Eisenhofer P.A., a New York City law firm, donated $5,000.
Martinez’s campaign provided an $85,000 in-kind contribution to Chandler’s campaign on October 25. The disclosure report does not say what the in-kind donations was used for.
The political action committee New Mexico Turn Around donated an additional $25,000 to Chandler. New Mexico Turn Around has close ties to the state Republican Party as The Independent reported earlier this year.
Chandler also benefited from the oil and gas industry. The large donations industry included $18,000 from oil company owner Mack Chase, $10,000 from Johnny and Terry Gray, $10,000 from Doug and Terry Chandler, $7,000 from Strata Production Co., an oil and gas company and $5,000 from Roswell oilman Mark Murphy.
Chandler finished the period with $25,380 cash on hand and spent $283,097.71.
Chandler’s campaign spent over $270,000 on media purchases during the campaign finance period.
King finishe the period with $64,388 cash on hand after spending over $484,000.
King purchased over $425,000 in the same period.
