NM's gay residents are front and center this month with Sandoval County Clerk Victoria Dunlap stunning the nation when she issued marriage licenses for same sex couples. The resulting controversy played a part in President Bush's call for a constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage in the U.S. and has prompted reflection on the role of gays in the Land of Enchantment's political system.

It turns out that role is sparse, at least on the public record. As far as we can determine only one openly gay individual has been elected to prominent state office here; Liz Stefanics who served one four year term in the state senate in the 1990's and was defeated for re-election by Phil Griego. Her sexuality was never a blatant issue on the campaign trail, but it played a role among some socially conservative voters in the Northern NM district. While openly gay elected officials are a rarity, many gays toil at lower levels of NM government as was seen when some applied for the aforementioned marriage licenses.

The Santa Fe New Mexican's Steve Terrell points out that the northern congressional district has one of the highest percentage of same sex couples (mostly in Santa Fe) in the nation. But Bush's anti-marriage amendment is aimed squarely at voters on the state's east side, what old time politicos refer to as "Little Texas." There, socially conservative voters overwhelmingly reject gay marriage and civil unions. Congressman Steve Pearce, who represents the area, offered the strongest support for the amendment among the state's congressional delegation. But most high elected NM officials (Big Bill, Mayor Marty) are on the record as strong supporters of gay rights, but not gay marriage. Big Bill has appointed the first openly gay cabinet secretary in history and former Senator Stefanics is now a deputy secretary in the state Human Services Department.

SEX IN OUR CITIES

Sen. Cutting
Students of NM history will recall with me the gay rumors that followed NM U.S. Senator Bronson Cutting through his political career and which are still debated by today's historians. Republican Cutting served the state in the 1930's. But sex "scandals" in NM history have been exclusively of the heterosexual variety. Perhaps the most famous was the late 1940's murder of Dona Ana County waitress Cricket Coogler. The investigation involved several prominent elected officials suspected of having relationships with the young lady, but the murder went unsolved.

In an interesting twist on all this, many Hispanics are among the socially conservative electorate who oppose gay marriage and civil unions, But the top elected Hispanic officials in the state have taken the opposite tack, perhaps influenced by the civil rights struggles of Hispanics. The Blog bottom line: Covering NM politics is like covering three different states. The issue of gay rights adheres to that age-old formula.

THE RUN-OFF RUN AROUND IS FINALLY SETTLED (I HOPE)

First, I reported that there would be no mayoral run-off elections in NM in 2005. I took that post down pretty quick when top NM lobbyist Scott Scanland chimed in that a constitutional amendment will be on the ballot this year that would restore run-off's in ABQ and permit them in other NM cities. Now, Charlie Young, attorney, lobbyist and veteran politico gets the final word.

Scott was right that there will be a vote in November. Charlie adds that because ABQ would be returning to the run-off system it would be REQUIRED to conduct such elections between the two top finishers for mayor or council seats. However, municipalities that have not previously had run-off provisions would have the OPTION of holding run-off's. That means if voters approve the amendment ABQ would have run-off elections next year. Under the old ABQ system a candidate had to get 40 percent of the vote to avoid a run-off. I am assuming that will be the case if run-off's are reinstated. Of course, with the trouble this story has given me, I probably should assume nothing. Thanks Charlie for being our on-the-ball, pro bono Blog lawyer.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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