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.
Susana Martinez has raised more money than Diane Denish has in the last few weeks—but she’s spent more, too.
Martinez raised $1.07 million and spent $2.1 million in the period that ran from October 5 to October 26. Denish raised $871,000 and spent $1.6 million in the same period. Both spent over $1 million on campaign advertising.
Both spent a lot of money on advertising—Martinez spent over $1.5 million and Denish spent nearly $1 million—and on polling, with $122,000 for Martinez and $71,400 for Denish.
Martinez spent $126,000 on voter contact expenses while Denish spent $225,000.
Denish received sizable backing from labor. The Service Employees International Union donated $215,000 in the period to Denish and AFSCME donated another $100,000 to her campaign.
The Communications Works of America and the American Federation of Teachers also each donated $50,000 to Denish’s campaign. The International Brotherhood of Teamsters and the United Food and Commercial Workers each donated $15,000 to Denish.
The Democratic Governors Association donated $75,000 to Denish, bringing their total donations to $200,000 in the campaign cycle. The PAC of Sen. Jeff Bingaman also donated $20,000 to Denish.
Koch Industries, the company whose owners are among the richest men in the world, donated $10,000 to Martinez. The Koch brothers have been major backers of the tea party movement as well as other libertarian and conservative causes.
The private prison company The GEO Group donated $25,000 to Martinez’s campaign. The Independent has reported on the GEO Group’s problems in the state with low staffing levels that could have earned the company millions of dollars in fines.
Martinez’s notable contributions included $25,000 from SunRay Gaming of New Mexico, LLC, a horse racing track in Farmington New Mexico and another $50,000 donation from the Republican Governors Assocation (RGA). The RGA has donated $1.3 million to Martinez so far this cycle.
Home health care company owner Mary Merrell of Belen donated $25,000 to Martinez’s campaign.
Larry Mizel, a long-time Republican big money donor and Colorado developer, donated $50,000 to Martinez. The Colorado Independent wrote about Mizel in 2008.
