Reader Stephanie DuBois adds:

Hi Joe, An FYI. I filled for County Commission Dist 2. in Alamogordo. There are 2 Republicans and 2 Democrats. This was Cuoy Griffin's seat.

A reader writes of the possibility of former ABQ Chief Administrative Officer and current Chief Operating Officer Lawrence Rael becoming CAO again now that CAO Sarita Nair has announced she is leaving the post:

Hi Joe, Lawrence Rael as CAO? Well, let’s hope they give him a chauffer to drive to and from work since he doesn’t seem to know the city rules and regulations anymore. Had Rael not been involved in an accident that has raised eyebrows for his intentional nonreporting (as required by city rules, rules he enforces upon others) I would say Rael would be a shoo-in. But because of this accident and the cover up and ridiculous response from the city, I don’t think Rael will be the CAO. 

 But then again it would be nice to see Councilors Dan Lewis and Louie Sanchez getting to question him about the accident and his lack of knowledge of city rules and regulations. Bring on Rael and some buttered popcorn. It’s going to be a brawl at the city council.          

SECOND TERMITIS?

A Senior Alligator writes of the city council's recent repeal of the ban on single use plastic bags and Mayor Keller:

Joe,  2nd term-itis is clearly kicking in. No one in the Administration read the votes right on the plastic bag repeal because the Mayor and his team have become insulated. That's why they didn't reach out to Councilor Brook Bassan to see if there was a compromise to be struck. She seems reasonable and she backed Mayor Keller on his choices for City Clerk and City Attorney. Why pick a fight and flex the Mayor's (alleged) political muscle on a female councilor who's more friend than foe? The answer is: hubris. 

 In terms of the Council's 6-3 vote in favor of the plastic bags, Keller could focus on "flexing" again and trying to flip a vote in his favor. But the smart move is to reach out to Councilor Bassan and see if she's willing to negotiate. If she is, it would avoid another lengthy Council debate, and both sides could declare victory and move on. What path Keller chooses will speak volumes about the degree his administration is inflicted with 2nd term-itis.  

Our City Hall sources say Keller is poised to veto the repeal. The council is then expected to override that veto.

Reader Pancho A. Quiñones adds:

With so much going on in our city, this is what ABQ City Councilor Brook Bassan has decided Albuquerque needs? This is the fight? This is what you get when you elect people with no ideas. No vision. Let’s fake outrage ourselves out of this mess. These people have absolutely no policy substance. 

Reader and Dem state auditor candidate Joe Maestas writes to say thanks but no thanks to that PAC just formed to support moderate Dems like himself in the June primary:

Hi Joe. I read your blog today as I so often do. Here is my statement regarding the Working Together New Mexico PAC: “I have not sought nor do I accept any endorsement or funding from corporate PACs such as Working Together. I am a proud Democrat with a long record of standing up for people over powerful corporate interests. That’s what I will continue to do as State Auditor.” 

NEW JULIE JOB?

A reader writes of the wife of US Sen. Martin Heinrich:

Judging from Facebook it looks like Julie Heinrich has left her DC job and has a big new job here. Not announced yet.

Sen. Heinrich is said to be eyeing a run for the governorship--someday.  Julie Heinrich specializes in communications and marketing,             

IN OUR TIME 

The state marked two years of the pandemic last week and it drew this reminisce from Santa Fe attorney and legislative expert Cliff Rees:

Joe: I can't let today (March 11) go by without recalling that it was two years ago today you called me at home to let me know Governor Lujan Grisham had just held a press conference announcing the Declaration of Public Health Emergency in New Mexico. She used for the first time the Governor's powers in the NM Public Health Emergency Response Act (PHERA), enacted by the NM Legislature and signed by Governor Bill Richardson during the 2003 Legislative Session. 

As a then-attorney for the NM Department of Health, I co-authored and testified for enactment of the PHERA. I'm proud of how well the PHERA has worked to decrease illness and death from COVID-19. For my efforts, I've been thanked profusely and also called "a tyrant who shredded the Constitution" on social media. We've all no doubt changed for the better or worse during the past two years. I'd love to hear from your readers what we've learned about ourselves and our society here in New Mexico during the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

And there you have another edition of Reader Vox Populi. Thanks for tuning in. 

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022