Rep. Thompson
They got the niceties out of the way quick. Sure, the politicos said, it was a personal tragedy and no one wants to pile on, but an hour after word came down that State House Minority Whip Joe Thompson of ABQ's NE Heights had been busted for DWI and was withdrawing from the race for the Public Regulation Commission (PRC), the long knives came out and the dirt was dished. Thompson is a hardball political player who is going to get what he gave now that he is down and out.

The first order of business is that ABQ PRC seat being vacated by Herb Hughes in which Thompson and former ABQ City Councilor Hess Yntema are the main players. Yntema condemned Thompson's arrest and told me "Republicans need to do better." He also slyly took note of that mass email sent out on behalf of Thompson (see my March 2 report) by ex-Guv Gary Johnson, House GOP leader Ted Hobbs, State Reps. Larranaga and Youngberg and others touting the virtues of Thompson. "I wonder what impact all this is having on them?" Hess mused. For Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White the impact was a double whammy. He was treasurer for Thompson's PRC campaign, only to have it dissolve as the result of a DWI, the hottest of political potatoes for elected lawmen.

D-W-I= Y-N-T-E-M-A

Yntema, an ABQ lawyer, who made his name in government as an ethics watchdog, is now the clear frontrunner to take the seat. If Thompson's crowd is going to get a replacement candidate on the primary ballot they have until March 16 to get the needed petition signatures. But clearly Yntema, with a Mr. Clean image, contrasts severely and favorably with the fallen Thompson who was arrested on a near-downtown street at 2 a.m. Democrat Jason Marks, a healthcare consultant, is running for the D's, but the seat is solid R. GOP lobbyist Les Houston is also said to be considering the race. Political newcomer Ward Camp is the other R running.

DENDAHLITES SHOCKED

Thompson, 37, was an important player in the ongoing GOP war over party power between the forces of ex-state GOP Chair Dendahl and those now in power under current Chair Gorham. Thompson, said one GOP insider, was 'the golden boy" of the Dendahlites and its chief ringleader, GOP National Committeeman and attorney-lobbyist Mickey Barnett. Attorney Thompson and Barnett practice law together. When Johnson was Guv the trio made for a powerful troika. Thompson on the PRC would have enhanced Barnett's power, but it is not to be. And Mickey's re-election as national committeeman at the GOP state convention in June will also not be, if the Gorham camp gets its way. Former Light Guv Walter Bradley will challenge Mickey and the turn of events with Thompson plays into his hands nicely. (Thompson served as Bradley's Chief of Staff in the Lt. Guv's office).

So far, the Denahdlites and Barnett have come up with just one solid opponent to an incumbent GOP legislator, hardly a threat. But the threat hanging over the heads of other GOP lawmakers that they could draw primary opposition if they don't toe the line has helped the Barnett forces cling to some power. With Thompson on the ropes and Bradley waiting in the wings, their final days may be near.

Meanwhile, back at the Thompson ranch, ex ABQ City Councilor Greg Payne is preparing to take over the Thompson House seat with no announced opposition. Some politicos wondered late last night if Thompson would seek to get his House seat back now that he's dropped the PRC bid. But insiders close to Thompson tell "NM Politics With Joe Monahan" "no way." And no wonder. Thompson not only has the DWI, but he was a chief sponsor of the DWI reform laws in the recent session of the Legislature. The media last night hit hard, with KRQE-TV making the connection right off the bat, and KOB-TV's Neil Simon reporting that anti-drunk driving activists are condemning the Legislature and Thompson for "hypocrisy" as one of their own is caught in the legal snare.

GOODBYE JOE

Thompson was prepared to run an aggressive campaign for the PRC and he would have had some family help. His father-in-law is one time congressional candidate and wealthy Santa Fe entrepreneur Greg Bemis.

And so it ends. A mistake that would be a personal setback for someone not in the public eye is a career-ender for those who crave the power and glory only to be had by entering the well-lighted stage of La Politica.

BUSH CAMPAIGN NAMES NM DIRECTOR

All the intraparty fighting over who will run the Bush campaign here (see my November archives) may not be over, but now everyone has an outsider they can fight with. Phil Coppage, a Washington operative from the Republican National Committee in Washington D.C., has been named executive director of the Bush "Victory Committee" in NM. This was the position that GOP Chair Gorham was trying to keep out of the hands of Dendahlite political consultant Jay McCleskey. She did that, but Jay will still get a cut of the Bush pie. He has been named a regional director of the Prez's campaign.

The RNC has been playing tough with Gorham who has dueled with the Dendahlites and the RNC over state party influence in the Prez effort. Meanwhile, political veteran Scott Jennings leads the other Bush committee here, and is preparing to set up offices on Osuna NE in ABQ. The hardball continues, insiders say, but grudging progress is being made toward ending the ongoing strife. The Trib's Shea Andersen is working on a story on all this and I will post it here when complete.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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