That high-paying UNM lobbying job we broke the news of August 26 is turning out to be too hot to handle. Insiders say the powers-that-be at our Harvard on the Rio Grande have postponed filling the job until after the 30 day legislative session kicks off January 21.

It's now confirmed that the names first dropped here are in play for the gig which has a starting salary set at anywhere from $117,922 and all the way up to the outrageous $235,844. In our initial blog our sources told us the low end of the starting salary was $175,000 and the high end $250,000.

The names applying include Dem BernCo Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, Dem state Senator John Sapien and a real wild card--former Gov. Martinez Chief of Staff Keith Gardner. He's been doing a bit of lobbying but has yet to see any big paying doors open for him since he ended his tenure with Martinez. We would not look to UNM to change that, unless they think the R's are back in control of the Roundhouse and 4th Floor.

Also, applying for the plum post is ABQ Mayor Keller's chief of staff Santiago Chavez. But didn't he join Keller on the 1lth floor only at the start of the year? Indeed he did, but the Alligators report Santiago has already been moved out to another department. Guess he wasn't quite the fit Keller was looking for. That's like what happened when His Honor hired an "Assistant Mayor." He also quickly disappeared. If this keeps up it will be be like a missing persons bureau up there.

So why delay filling the newly created UNM "government relations officer" post? Well, perhaps UNM has enough boats rocking without causing upset among those who are ignored for the job and could use their current positions to rock UNM's boat during the legislative session. Really? Really.

ONE AND DONE

It's one and done for Dem State Rep. Bill Pratt. The retired physician pulled off what might have been the upset of the year when he snagged a far NE Heights GOP seat in 2018 that for years had been held by Rep. Larry Larranaga who did not seek re-election and soon after passed away.

Pratt is well into his 80's and has his own ailments to attend to, say his friends, so he will not run again.

The one termer did bring a sense of humor to the job that will be missed. From an interview:

Do you support or oppose legalizing recreational marijuana use in New Mexico and taxing its sales ?

Support: Even so, my message to “recreational’ marijuana users is “Get A Life. Marijuana Shrinks Testicles.” Emphasis should be preventing childhood use.

Hmm. Will that warning give ABQ City Councilor Pat Davis, chair of the Guv's task force studying the legalizing of pot, second thoughts about toking up?

Pratt narrowly beat Republican Bob Godshall in '18. Our R's say he may give it another try in 2020. Meantime, the Dems are looking for another upset champion to replace Pratt.

NO GREEN DEAL

Marco Serna

Here's something different in that multi-candidate crowd seeking the Dem nomination for the northern congressional seat. Three of the contenders in the liberal district are pledging support for the Green New Deal but not Santa Fe County District Attorney Marco Serna:

While highlighting that climate change was very real and a threat to our survival, he rejects the “Green New Deal” proposed by Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. . . 

"I join with the national AFL-CIO in opposing the Green New Deal. . . It would have a devastating effect on New Mexico’s economy and the state budget. It has the potential of ruining our cattle and dairy industry and bankrupting many small businesses. Even more compelling is the fact that it would eliminate the $934 million of gas and oil revenue that pays for our education system. . . As written, the Green New Deal is a disaster for New Mexico.”

That's a run to the middle by Serna who may see gold there. The other top contenders for the nomination--Valerie Plame and Teresa Leger Fernandez--firmly hug the left.

Meantime, freshman State Rep. Joseph Sanchez of Alcalde is trying to break into that top tier. He gets some attention from the Alibi, offering his thoughts on going Green:

The reality is that we really need the fossil fuel) industry right now in New Mexico. The focus needs to be on doing it [using fossil fuels] as cleanly as possible, making especially certain that such operations don’t harm our water sources or our cultural sites.

Lots of twists and turns in an intriguing northern race.

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