2008 Elections

A political battle over control of New Mexico’s dominant party played out on the Senate floor Tuesday over an unexpected issue: an Albuquerque woman’s nomination to a state board. Confirmations in the Senate are usually uneventful and state lawmakers usually speak glowingly of the nominee. But that wasn’t the case Tuesday, when the state Senate rejected the [...]

Secretary of State Mary Herrera is sounding the alarm as loud as she can at the Roundhouse: there isn’t enough money for 2010 primary or general election.

According to a study by the Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, New Mexicans are slightly less religious than folks in other states around the nation. Out of those polled, 53 percent of New Mexicans say religion is very important in their lives, ranking New Mexico 28th.
The poll also found that 71 percent of New [...]

A large developer hoping to finance a huge mixed-used development on the Albuquerque’s West Side—with bonds based on future tax proceeds—is targeting its most vocal opponent on the City Council. A mailer sent to District 5 voters this week criticizes City Councilor Michael Cadigan, who is seeking re-election. Cadigan is a longtime, vocal opponent of the tax-proceeds scheme — called TIDDs for short — by which SunCal, the developer, hopes to pay for roads, water lines and other infrastructure for the development.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez has secured a high-profile endorsement from University of New Mexico Regent Jack Fortner, a sign that not all Republicans are waiting for former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson to decide whether she’s running before they pledge support to other candidates.

Scott Jennings, a special assistant to then-President George W. Bush — and Karl Rove’s-right hand man — wanted to replace fired U.S. Attorney David Iglesias with prominent New Mexico GOP attorney Pat Rogers, who he described as “the dream” candidate. Rogers had aggressively lobbied Iglesias to pursue cases of voter intimidation, which he said was “the single best wedge issue ever in New Mexico.”

Ray Rivera is an Albuquerque native who recently turned 30. Following two years on Barack Obama’s grueling but ultimately triumphant presidential campaign, Rivera promptly moved to Washington, D.C., and is now arguably New Mexico’s highest ranking presidential appointee.

Jim Spiri is a conservative who traveled extensively last year to try to help GOP nominee John McCain win the presidency. Now, because of his son’s 2001 death, he’s openly supporting President Barack Obama’s attempt to reform the nation’s health care system.

Earlier this month, a send-off party held for Manny Aragon, the prison-bound former president of the New Mexico Senate, created controversy. Now, a golf tournament is being held to raise money for the legal defense of former Public Regulation Commissioner Jerome Bock Sr., who is facing felony charges related to the 2008 election.

As the AP reports today, a voter intimidation lawsuit brought by the Mexican American Legal Defense Fund (MALDEF) was recently dismissed by U.S. District Judge William Johnson because it failed to establish that there was an “imminent harm” to the two women named as plaintiffs.
“The voters who stood up and challenged this intimidation sent a strong message [...]

The Federal Election Commission has dismissed a complaint alleging illegal coordination of advertising efforts between former 1st Congressional District Republican candidate Darren White and the New Mexico GOP in last year’s election.

Steve Terrell had the great catch from a very interesting New York Times Magazine article on former President Bill Clinton.

The penny-ante larceny of which Jerome Block, Jr., is accused is small potatoes when compared with the great, hulking pork roast that is the public financing of campaigns. New Mexico currently extracts millions of dollars — with perfect legality — from taxpayers to fund candidates like Block in elections all over the state. That is the theft we should be angry about.

The Bernalillo county clerk will hold a public forum this Saturday to discuss the 2008 general election.

A new documentary on Gov. Sarah Palin looks to rally a GOP ready for a conservative’s-conservative to stick it to the mainstream media in 2012.