Thursday, April 22, 2021Congress Watch: Moores Having Trouble Hitting The Mark, Plus: A Fourth Floor Exit And Rizzo Backlash First he unveils a TV ad that says as a state senator he has been a "leader" in the effort to repeal the state tax on Social Security, but there is no such record of his alleged leadership. He hasn't sponsored any repeal bills.
Now there's his decision to not attend this week's candidate forum sponsored by the New Mexico Black Voters Collaborative. Instead Moores appeared at a Sandoval County Republican event.
The invite was accepted by Moores' fellow conservative and independent candidate Aubrey Dunn, Dem Melanie Stansbury and Libertarian Chris Manning. Coming as it did on the day of the Derek Chauvin verdict, the forum took on added meaning for not only the Black community but for our entire multi-cultural state. If the NMGOP is going to rebuild itself back into a state of relevancy, it's going to have to confront the elephant in the room--the inability of the party to attract voters of color. Moores, who is emphasizing his Hispanic heritage on his mother's side, lost a golden opportunity to give that elephant a swift kick and get on with the task of broadening the appeal of his candidacy and that of the beleaguered Republican Party. Not that Dem Stansbury isn't straying some. Her latest attack ad on Moores is labeled "misleading" in this media fact check. The special election to fill the vacant ABQ congressional seat is June 1. In-person early voting begins May 15. Absentee ballots can be requested here. FOURTH FLOOR EXIT Dominic Gabello, a longtime aide-de-camp to MLG, is headed to the exits amid Fourth Floor turmoil set off by the Crotchgate incident and as the Guv prepares for her re-elect.
He had a pretty good run (9 years) given the Guv's well-known penchant for employee turnover, working for her as both Governor and as a congresswoman. One insider opined that Gabello is leaving because he is simply burned out. MLG has been hesitant to staff up with personalities that challenge her, preferring the lock-step approach of a staff that serves and does not question. But with the administration showing some wobbly legs, it could be time to consider a change. The Guv had a good day Wednesday, as she met up with first lady Jill Biden at an ABQ South Valley health clinic where folks were getting their vaccinations. New Mexico is first in the nation in the rate of full vaccinations and the national recognition brought by Biden was a boost. RIZZO BACKLASH  Rizzo's hometown has disavowed him because of his racism and backing of violent policing. As this NPR report from last year notes:
"In the 1970s, Rizzo famously told Philadelphia voters to "vote white." But on Wednesday, the City of Brotherly Love took down a memorial to a man who exploited its divisions.
For many Philadelphians, the larger-than-life statue of Rizzo, who also was police commissioner, was an overt symbol of white police officers' brutal treatment of black people and other minorities.
"The Frank Rizzo statue represented bigotry, hatred, and oppression for too many people, for too long. It is finally gone," Mayor Jim Kenney said. THE BOTTOM LINES We mentioned Sandoval County Commissioner Jay Block becoming the first Republican candidate for the 2022 gubernatorial nomination. Here is a transcript of his announcement speech. . . Kim Skaggs is the new executive director of the NMGOP. She's a native of Alamogordo who last year was the GOP candidate against popular Las Cruces area Dem state Senator Jeff Steinborn. Skaggs should have no trouble getting around the state as the next election nears. She's a private pilot. Thanks for stopping by this week. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2021 |
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