RULER OF THE VALLEY
ABQ South Valley Alligators are in an uproar over our report Monday (see April 19) naming three possible replacements for Dem ABQ State Senate Majority Leader Manny Aragon, if Manny gets the nod for the presidency of NM Highlands University. A blizzard of phone calls and e-mail came in, most of them saying "No, No, No." One said: "The Governor will not appoint a replacement if Manny leaves. He will let the Democratic Party Central Committee name a candidate and keep the seat vacant until the November election. That way he will not appear to be taking sides." Sure. And who controls the Central Committee? If you guessed Big Bill, you win the grand prize. And gee, do you really think the Big Guy is afraid of the factions in the South Valley? Hey Gators, in case you haven't heard, Big Bill owns lock, stock and barrel any Democrat who walks in this state. And that includes Majority Leader Aragon, House Speaker Lujan and House Majority Whip Taylor. Think I'm wrong, fellas? Then stand up in public and disagree with him sometime! They haven't and they won't.

A 21st century alligator using e-mail told me one of the candidates on my list does not live in the district and cannot get the appointment, that anyone who gets it would have to be registered in the district at the time the Guv issued his call for the last legislative session in January. Of course, when Bill demanded and received the resignations of all University regents, members of the Judicial Standards Commission and other boards and commissions, they said he could not do that either! Believe me, in La Politica where a candidate lives and is registered is a never ending subject of intrigue. Don't rule anyone out on that basis because when there is big power at stake anything, and I mean anything, is possible in New Mexico.

Another alligator was so upset with my report he said he would place the name of the guy who will get the seat in a sealed envelope only to be opened at the time of the appointment! Thanks a lot Gator. But I never predicted who would get the nod, just some of the names floating around. And they are all possible, even if the various factions at work in the Valley are working overtime to nix any candidate they don't like.

If a senator, such as Manny, represents more than one county, the Guv gets a list of recommendations from the county commissioners and makes the appointment. Right? Well, remember when Bill was given a list of candidates from the judicial nominating commission for an ABQ judgeship and rejected all of them and made them send him the candidate he wanted all along? I do. But hey, he can't do that either!

POWER POLITICS: VALLEY AMNESIA?

So Valley Alligators, lizards, wall-leaners and assorted politicos, I thank you for your sage advise and questioning comments. But in case you haven't noticed there's a new sheriff in town by the name of Big Bill. Those who have been in Santa Fe for a while, legislators, lobbyists, bureaucrats (especially from the ABQ Valley), remain in denial. They can't believe the way Big Bill is consolidating power right under their noses. They only hope he will go away and run for President or something. But he hasn't gone away and those grumbling the loudest in secret refuse to take him on in public. If Aragon leaves the senate, Bill may get more power because the plain fact is there is no one in that body capable of taking him on. Aragon was it and decided not to so he could get the Highlands job. To all of the denialists, a final splash of cold water in your mugs: Throw out your old rule book because Big Bill is writing a new one and it's a work in progress. You are now free to howl in anguish.

WARD CAMP---PAID POLITICAL

We welcome advertising from NM's political candidates, and when they come aboard, we give them space to tell us about themselves. Ward Camp is a GOP candidate for the Public Regulation Commission. Here is his pitch to his fellow R's as he seeks the nomination to fill the ABQ seat being vacated by Herb Hughes.

“Working to bring greater energy efficiency and more information to customers about their utility bills has convinced me that we can improve our utility system here in New Mexico. Having worked with more than 15 state regulatory agencies throughout the United States, I have seen what works and what doesn’t. New Mexico can do much better.

Dramatic increases in insurance costs to small businesses, the need to crack down on uninsured motorists, and the lack of customer services are also areas where the PRC has fallen short. The PRC can be improved in so many ways. Isn’t it about time, we had a PRC that was responsive to the people of New Mexico?"

For more on the Camp candidacy click on his ad. And for details on how you or your candidate can get before New Mexico's most likely voters, give me a call at 505-243-4059 or email me at jmonahan@ix.netcom.com. There's a link at the top right of this page.

Make our site one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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