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.
Credit (or blame) Barack Obama’s coattails, but New Mexico Democrats have plenty to celebrate on the state level, too. In the Albuquerque-area, four Democrats picked off Republican incumbents in the state House and Senate, doing their part to improve their party’s long domination of both chambers.
At least two of those vote counts could face challenges as candidates clear the sleep from their eyes and sort through the stats.
Earlier this week, the Independent asked a panel of legislative experts for their upset predictions and, for the most part, they were on the mark — with a few upset upstarts.
But it’s always wise to temper good news. So freshman Dems: Besides hunting for their offices and hoping for plum committee assignments, you’ll also be saddled with solving a state budget problem that seems to worsen by the day.
Republican incumbents who have likely seen their final session: Sens. H. Diane Snyder and Steve Komadina; and Reps. Teresa Zanetti, and Justine Fox-Young.
Incoming freshmen: Tim Eichenberg (Snyder); John Sapien (Komadina); Bill O’Neill (Zanetti); and Karen Giannini (Fox-Young).
The warning light is on for the Komadina/Sapien and Fox-Young/Giannini races, where the totals are close enough to warrant a second stroll through the ballots. In Komadina’s case, the recount could come courtesy of New Mexico taxpayers, thanks to the automatic recount provision for outcomes closer than half a percentage point.
Democrats also held onto the District 60 state House seat of Tom Swisstack, who declined to seek re-election after becoming mayor of Rio Rancho. In a classic nail-biter, Sandoval County Commissioner Jack Thomas holds a slight edge over former public school superintendent Paula Papponi in the Republican-leaning district.
Democrats already hold a 24-18 edge in the Senate, and 42-28 in the House.
None of our experts put the Giannini vs. Fox-Young race on their radar, and they expressed mere mild interest in the Sapien vs. Komadina race.
And just because some of the Repubs are down, don’t count them out. Zanetti, for one, could one day wear the title of “first lady” if husband Greg follows the rumor trail that has him running for governor in 2010.
Results were painfully slow in coming election night, as candidates tried to piece together early votes, absentee votes, precinct votes and provisional ballots. In the end, the unofficial tally shows:
Senate District 9
John Sapien – 11,800 – 50.11%
Steve Komadina – 11,747 – 49.89%
Senate District 15
Tim Eichenberg – 12,333 – 56.28%
H. Diane Snyder – 9,579 – 43.72%
House District 15
Bill O’Neill – 7,381 – 52%
Teresa Zanetti – 6,814 – 48%
House District 30
Karen Giannini – 6,492 – 50.38%
Justine Fox-Young – 6,393 – 49.62%
House District 60
Jack Thomas – 8,229 – 50.7%
Paula Papponi – 8,002 – 49.3%
