Judge Shepherd
Regular readers of "New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan" were not surprised to hear that Republican ABQ Metro Court Judge Denise Barela-Shepherd has been promoted to district court judge courtesy of Gov. Bill and the Judicial Nomination Commission. In a November 20th story (scroll to the bottom of this page) we reported that Democratic attorneys were upset about the prospect of Shepherd getting the judgeship to replace retiring Susan Conway. Speculation abounded and continues to this day. That's not to say that Shepherd is under the gun for her qualifications. Even those who resent the appointment acknowledge that she has done a bang-up job.

But if our sources deep on the inside have it right, Big Bill has pulled off quite a coup. He has named a Republican judge winning praise from even State GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham and, at the same time, laid the ground work for the Democratic judges at the court to get back power they lost when the GOP became the majority there. With the departure of Shepherd and the presumed naming of a Democrat to fill her seat, the Democrats will again have a majority of the Metro judges. That means they get to name the presiding judge. At the top of the list to win the title is Judge Michael Cavanaugh, who was none to happy that he wasn't the pick for the district court job. Is the state GOP aware of that? Probably. But they are happy to get anything at all.

Why is this important? Simple. There are contracts to be awarded and other goodies from Metro Court that are up for grabs. The presiding judge is on those decisions at the state's busiest court. Governor Bill is nothing if not a micromanager who wants his imprint on everything in his perceived realm.

The bottom line: Big Bill continues to consolidate power in the major institutions across New Mexico. It's the most underreported story in the state, but it's for real and coming from one of the most potent political forces our governorship has ever seen. Stay tuned, you know there's more to come.

THE AP, STARBUCKS AND BILLY AND BILL

Well, it was refreshing to see the Guv reimburse the state the money he spent to put up his security force while he vacationed and also the funds he used to buy Starbucks coffee and cigars. We reported extensively on this web site when the Guv's press Secretary Billy Sparks yelled "Yellow Journalism" when the AP's Santa Fe Bureau Chief Barry Massey reported on the questionable expenditures. Massey had asked is this what Bill's $90,000 discretionary fund is for? The fourth-floor backlash against the nation's largest news agency perplexed political pros in New Mexico and around the nation. It seems Big Bill saw the light and did not need this pesky matter hanging around while he dances on the national stage. The Guv is a busy guy and no one faults his need for spending money, but the personal stuff should come out of campaign funds or his account. And some advice to the press guys from someone who has made all the mistakes: Just keep the books open and don't get your back up when inquiring minds want to know fellas. Remember who is giving you that money.

BIG BILL'S BIG NEWS BUREAU

Loie Fecteau, the chief political reporter for the state's largest newspaper, the Albuquerque Journal, has left the paper to take a job as executive director of the NM Arts Commission in Santa Fe. The Journal has not announced who will replace Loie. Health writer Winthrop Quigley was penning a political article for Wednesday editions. Fecteau's boss, state editor John Robertson, had the job in the 80's and 90's for both the Journal and the Santa Fe New Mexican. Shea Anderson, the young and aggressive chief political reporter for the ABQ Tribune, told me he is happy working at the Trib and will not follow his old colleague, Kate Nash, over to the Journal. Fecteau was based in Santa Fe which some politicos said made her job tougher. Through the years the politics writers have been stationed in source-wealthy ABQ. Fecteau is just the latest in a series of reporters scooped up by the Richardson administration. If anything, the pundits say, Bill is implementing a full employment act for ex-newspaper scribes.

Lorin Saint, current executive director of the Arts Commission, is moving over to the state Natural History Museum in ABQ where she has been named Deputy Director. Among the Arts Commission board members is Herb Denish, husband of Lt. Governor Diane Denish. The Arts Commission is under the state Department of Cultural affairs.

The two most famous political correspondents for the Journal have been Clinton Anderson, who worked there in the 1910's and went on to become a U.S. Senator and Bob Beier, who spent decades at the Journal and built up considerable power in the 60's and 70's. Political coverage in all media has since declined as consultants to media organizations say the public is not as interested in such stories. And that's one of the reasons for this web site and the internet--to deliver to you the specialized, behind-the-scenes info that the political system thrives on.

The Journal remains the big enchilada in the NM newspaper world. Its daily circulation is at about 108,000, according to industry figures. The Tribune, an afternoon paper, attracts about 17,000 subscribers. Sunday Journal circulation is about 155,000. The papers have been fighting declining or flat circulation the past five years in an increasingly competitive media universe.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2003
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