Thanks for joining us to help deliver some Christmas presents to the politicos. We couldn't do it without you so let's get to work and get those presents under the blogging tree.

Governor Martinez--She apparently has been having a hard time finding a job with only days left in her current one so Santa has signed up Susana for free résumé writing classes. Among her instructors will be former Secretary of State Dianna Duran and former Taxation and Revenue Secretary Demesia Padilla.

Lt Governor John Sanchez--John is universally liked in La Politica but he lost his way serving under Gov. Martinez and it appears his political career may be at an end. Santa has sympathy, however, and John will find under his tree the newest GPS equipment. Santa tells us: "That's so he can find his way back home."

Governor-elect Lujan Grisham--Santa was quick to agree to the new Governor's request that he write a letter telling State Senate Finance Committee Chairman John Arthur Smith that she is now the Governor and he has to give up the position. Santa crafted a great letter but mail out of the North Pole is sluggish and he cautioned that it's uncertain whether Senator Smith will get the letter in the next four years.

Lt. Governor to be Howie Morales--This was an easy gift for Santa to pick. Like all incoming lieutenant governors Howie will get from Santa a drawer full of name tags so he can keep reminding everyone who he is. Not that they ever really remember.

Attorney General Hector Balderas. Hector wrote a touching letter to Santa asking him to give him an elective office to run for now that he has been elected to his final AG term. But Santa was sad to tell him he couldn't do that. Instead he is sending Hector a box of cigars to share with his BFF and newly elected State Auditor Brian Colón. But he warns the pair: "Fellas, don't throw them over the balconies at those Santa Fe holiday parties."

Rep. Steve Pearce--Santa is being extra generous to the outgoing southern NM congressman who was recently elected chairman of the NM Republican Party. Santa is giving him a bulldozer, a pile of plywood, a hammer and lots of nails to try to rebuild the GOP which following the midterm election finds itself in one of its weakest states ever. However, Santa did not include instructions on just what kind of party Pearce needs to build.

EVEN MORE PRESENTS

Rep. Ben Ray Lujan--"A Christmas present for this guy?" Santa guffawed. Ben Ray this year was head of the DCCC that won back the US House for the Democrats; he was then elected to the #4 Democratic leadership position in the House and he scored another landslide re-election win to his northern NM district. Says Santa: "This fella has had Christmas all year long. Who's next on the list, Joe?"

Congresswoman-elect Torres Small--Santa says he has the perfect gift for the new Democratic representative. "I'm giving Xochitl a camouflage kit so she can try to disguise her liberal instincts over the next two years and get re-elected to that conservative seat in 2020. But I can't tell her where or when to use it. That's up to her," declared Santa.

ABQ Mayor Tim Keller--Santa is taking good care of the Mayor. "I'm giving Tim something special--a bus pass good for unlimited rides on any BYD bus in the world." Too bad he won't get to use it in his own city. But for his travels around ABQ, especially the crime battered SE area, Santa is putting a bullet proof vest under Tim's tree.

"If the Mayor is lucky by next Christmas he won't need that particular gift. If he does, he might be looking for my help in finding a new job," jabbed jolly old St. Nick.

CHRISTMAS MIRACLES

Santa has thoughtfully produced Christmas miracles for some of our politicos who did not do so well in 2018. . .

Thanks to Santa and Gov.-elect Lujan Grisham outgoing Las Cruces Dem State Rep. Bill McCamley, after years of struggling, has finally got a real job (as our Alligators predicted). He will make $128,000 a year as the Secretary of the Workforce Solutions Department. That's a huge increase in his yearly income. He reported no income of over $5,000 on his financial disclosure statement during his campaign for state auditor, a report that generated considerable controversy. Truly a Christmas miracle.

Mick Rich, the unsuccessful GOP US Senate nominee who lost in a landslide to Dem Martin Heinrich this year, has landed a talk radio gig. Mick will host a weekly half-hour talk radio show on ABQ's KIVA radio. Only Santa could get a radio gig for a candidate who scored only 31 percent. Yet another miracle of the season.

And there you have the Christmas gifts and miracles of La Politica.

That's a wrap for us as we join you for a holiday break. Frank, take us out of here.

Merry Christmas, New Mexico!

Reporting from Albuquerque, I'm Joe Monahan.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

E-mail your news and comments. (jmonahan@ix.netcom.com)

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2018