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 made corruption a major theme of her campaign for governor, linking high-profile scandals to the “Richardson-Denish administration.” Is linking Denish to the scandals that have rocked New Mexico Democrats, and Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration, a fair reflection of the facts? Two political science professors say no. But planting seeds of doubt about an opponent is a longstanding tradition of political gamesmanship during elections, when campaigns fight over who controls the election-year narrative.
A bill that would prohibit candidates from appearing in public service ads passed through the House Consumer and Public Affairs Committee Thursday afternoon.
The most conspicuous example of an elected official appearing on public service ads is former Secretary of…
Gov. Bill Richardson
As 2009 staggers into the history books, exhausted and a bit lighter in the pockets than when it first appeared on the scene, let’s acknowledge this: the year gave us plenty to write about.
Accusations of pay-to-play, former elected officials getting indicted, electoral surprises and an occasional David toppling a Goliath — 2009 produced it all, giving the year a healthy luster of newsworthiness despite its threadbare look.
The year showed incredible stamina, in fact, with a steady drumbeat of scoops, gotchas and revelations, exhausting many a political junkie and news professional. And 2009 didn’t take long to demonstrate its capacity to shock.
On the fourth day of 2009, an announcement in Washington landed in New Mexico with all the percussive power of a bombshell: Gov. Bill Richardson was withdrawing as President Obama’s commerce secretary, citing a federal corruption investigation into how his administration conducted business.
And the news kept coming.
Some 360 later, the year is ending the way it began — scrutiny, including from federal prosecutors, on how the state invested its money over the past half decade.
In between those two bookends, the state of New Mexico also came to the disturbing realization that it was broke, Albuquerque’s longtime mayor fell short of winning a third four-year term — knocked off by a long-shot two-term GOP state lawmaker — and two former elected officials found themselves on the business end of a criminal indictment.
It’s unclear whether what transpired this year will change the political dynamic here in New Mexico, or lead to more government transparency. But before The New Mexico Independent gets back into the daily grind, let’s take a deep breath and reflect on the busy year that was.
The trial of former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and three others accused of bilking taxpayers out of millions of dollars has been set for July.
The trial is scheduled to begin July 19 at 9 a.m., according to…
Over the years Armando Gutierrez did marketing and consulting work for sundry state agencies and public entities across New Mexico.
And in 2004 the media consultant made sure to list as many as possible when bidding for a media consulting…
Ads about the Rail Runner with a candidate Lieutenant Governor are raising some eyebrows, according to an article in today’s Santa Fe New Mexican. Lawrence Rael, the Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments, appears in the…
Former New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron’s attorney asked a judge Friday to dismiss charges against his client, saying the state Attorney General’s Office isn’t an impartial prosecutor. He added that he would call AG Gary King as…
Joseph Kupfer, one of four people indicted in the case involving former New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron, was working during the time of the alleged crimes as a consultant in Vigil-Giron’s office, documents show.
Two bidders competed for a 2004 contract that is central to the criminal case against former New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil Giron and three others. But the RFPs are no where to be found.
State prosecutors allege that the payments to Joe Kupfer were part of an elaborate embezzlement and fraud scheme in which Gutierrez, the Kupfers and former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron stole millions of dollars in federal taxpayer money awarded to Vigil-Giron’s office for voter education.
Elizabeth Kupfer, one of four people indicted in the secretary of state case, worked as a consultant for New Mexico Attorney General Gary King shortly after King took office in 2007. The fact that Kupfer had a contract with the AG’s office after King took over was revealed today in documents released by the AG’s office in response to a records request.
The Wall Street Journal has given the indictment of former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and three others a national profile, the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Steve Terrell blogged this afternoon.
New Mexico Attorney General Gary King is saying his office is free of conflict of interests that would weaken its prosecution of former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and three other defendants.
The issue of potential conflicts came out…
One of two assistant attorney generals prosecuting the case against former New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and three others was once fired by one of the defendants in the case, former AG employee Elizabeth Kupfer.
With the 2010 election cycle already in full swing, some Republicans are hitting Democrats hard over this weeks’ news that a former Democratic secretary of state and others were indicted in another massive corruption scandal.
Former New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron isn’t currently being placed on administrative leave from her position with the state Department of Workforce Solutions despite the fact that she was indicted on 50 felony counts related…
Two of the individuals indicted along with former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron yesterday by the state were widely reported to be lobbyists for the City of Albuquerque.
While Joe and Elizabeth Kupfer are listed on the Secretary…
The indictments of former New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and others are a reminder of the need for reforms that might help prevent or deter public corruption in the future. Officials point to reforms such as the creation of an independent ethics commission, more funding for the state auditor and attorney general and regulatory changes.
According to an indictment handed down Wednesday, former New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron fabricated a letter — postdating it Aug 26, 2004 — to help cover up a vast money laundering and embezzlement scheme. The alleged scheme involved Vigil-Giron, a nationally respected Hispanic media consultant and a husband-and-wife team who now lobby for the city of Albuquerque.
Here is the indictment against former New Mexico Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron released earlier today.
