Zangara
On Christmas Eve 2000 President-elect Bush made a call to Ken Zangara and asked him to serve on an advisory committee for his presidential transition. Now, politicos wonder, is Ken's phone ringing again?

Zangara, Bush NM campaign finance director, Bernalillo County GOP Chair and known best to New Mexicans as the ebullient TV pitchman for his ABQ Dodge dealership, emerged Thursday as the front-runner to become the next chairman of the New Mexico Republican Party.

A tip-off to Zangara's new status came in an e-mail from former state chair John Lattauzio who told me: "I think Ken Zangara should take the Chair. He has respect and resources." Lattauzio of Alamogordo has close ties to GOP brothers Manuel and Edward Lujan, who in turn have close ties to the Bushes.

"I think it's is if he wants it and has the time for it." said one insider. "His ties to the President are key. The Bush campaign can't afford the infighting to continue. Zangara would have the President's confidence. There are no other candidates with those credentials."

However, sources in Washington were also floating the name of retired marine colonel Alan Weh as a possible Gorham replacement. Weh, a longtime behind-the scenes player, "has the support of the Congressional delegation and I think you may see him surface as a contender next week," said one D.C. insider. Weh is president and chief executive officer of CSI Aviation Services Inc. in Albuquerque, an aircraft charter and leasing service. Weh is currently in Iraq. In 2002 He was appointed national chairman of the Committee for Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve by Defense Secretary Rumsfeld. After receiving his bachelor's degree in 1966 at the University of New Mexico, Weh received his Marine Corps commission. He received the Silver Star, a Bronze Star with "V" for heroism, and three Purple Hearts during his service in Vietnam.

Zangara, 51, was a major ally of Gorham, but could not save her from the long knives used on her by supporters of ex-chair John Dendahl. But if the word goes out from the White House that Zangara is the man it's hard to see how the infighting, at least publicly, could continue. Whether Zangara has the political acumen and force of personality to fend off Dendahl, GOP National Committeeman Barnett and State. Sen. Adair is an unknown, but Zangara supporters are hoping he won't have to, that the White House will issue the order and that the fight, for now, is finished.

Zangara has raised more money for the two Bush Prez campaigns than any other New Mexican. He and his wife, Kathy, have spent social time with the First Couple at their ranch in Crawford, Texas. And Zangara has never paused in his loyalty to Bush. His latest quote: "There's no doubt he is facing a long, hard battle in the upcoming election, but he's the man to lead this country."

Zangara's friends say he can call a halt, or at least negotiate a truce, to the intra-party war. They say he has demonstrated ability to work with a diversity of groups. He's on the board of the Robert O. Anderson School of Management at UNM, the board of the "Faith Comes By Hearing Foundation," a Christian group devoted to spreading the bible in poor countries, and served on the Bernallio County unification commission last year.

"He is not a policy guy," remarked a politico who has worked with him. "He has good people instincts, but if he becomes chair I see him doing the PR and money, not the day-to-day grunt work." Another veteran Republican chimed in: "Ken has the profile for the job. He has the personal wealth, a wife who travels easily in the political world and, most important, the ear of the President."

Zangara, like anyone else, has a bit of baggage. He pleaded no contest in 1992 to misdemeanor charges of fraud, embezzlement and concealing a crime in connection with a retirement fund for auto dealership workers. He agreed to pay $73,000 in restitution to 80 employees and was sentenced to 400 hours' community service and three years' probation.

But for Republicans looking for a way out of their mess that seems to be of little concern. "This guy has paid his dues in the party. If there's anything we need right now it's a good salesman and negotiator. You don't sell cars without those skills," said one GOP graybeard. And, we might add, you don't get votes without them either.

LOVE LETTER FOR RAMSAY
John Ryan
Two Republican state senators will circulate a letter today urging Republicans to persuade former chair Ramsay to get back in the race for her ABQ North valley state senate seat. State Senate Minority Leader Stuart Ingle and Sandoval County Senator Steve Komadina are spearheading the drive to revive Gorham's political career. She said she was quitting the senate as well as the chairmanship when she resigned this week, but she has to file a letter of withdrawal with the Secretary of State by Tuesday to make it official.

If Ramsay is talked into staying, the question arises whether former Dendahl GOP executive director John Ryan will get out of the race. Ryan and the Dendahlites called for Gorham to quit because they said it was against the rules for a state chair to be in a contested primary. Ryan had said before getting in the primary that he would withdraw if Gorham quit the chairmanship. Well, she has. Will Ryan make good on his word if Gorham rejoins the senate battle? Stay tuned.

LET'S WRAP IT UP TONIGHT ON TV

What a wild week in the GOP, and deserving of some final analysis. We will do that tonight on KNME-TV with Kate Nelson, managing editor of the ABQ Tribune and hostess of "In Focus" which airs at 8:30 p.m. I want to thank all of you who helped this week, all my incredibly informed sources, media that credited our web site for the stories we broke and my new advertisers who I will have more to say about next week. It's been an exhilarating experience covering it all, and I want you to know your support of our work is deeply appreciated. Have a great weekend and we'll see you back here Monday.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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