Judy Woodward
She may be well into her 70's and owner of a controversial public record, but that apparently isn’t stopping former Bernalillo County Clerk Judy Woodward from running yet another campaign. She's telling friends that she's looking at the Bernalillo County Commission seat being vacated by Tom Rutherford. Judy's name became known far and wide in the 90's when election mishap after election mishap piled up during her eight year tenure. Despite problems counting the votes in her first term, she was handily re-elected in 96’, only to preside over another set of vote tallying problems in 2000 when computer snafus and missing ballots delayed the final vote count for days. Because the Prez race was so close Woodward and then county elections bureau chief Robert Lucero found themselves featured in the national media. (Robert is now an elected member of the ABQ School Board).

If Judy does seek the June 1 Democratic nomination for the commission seat she will join flood board member Danny Hernandez and Deanna Archuleta-Loesser, a UNM sociology instructor, who has signed up Eli Lee's liberal consulting group Soltari. Bianca Ortiz-Wertheim was also being mentioned as another possible for the Rutherford seat, but she took a job with Big Bill and will not make the race. Woodward has over three decades of service to the Dem Party but this campaign would surely be a tough test. Hernandez is concerned that he and Loesser could divide up the liberal vote in the SE Heights district, and he is redoubling his efforts.

FIRST PUNCH THROWN TO REPLACE ROMERO

Meanwhile, another Dem Party old timer who is also trying to get back in the game, Adele Baca-Hundley, is already drawing fire from opponent Jerry Ortiz y Pino. Hundley and Pino are squaring off for the Dem nomination for the Downtown/Barelas state senate seat being vacated by Richard Romero. In an indirect slap at Hundley, Pino says in his campaign lit that "he isn't just another recycled politician." Baca-Hundley is a former state legislator and ABQ city councilor who, like Woodward, counts over three decades of political involvement. Ortiz y Pino, A Santa Fe native and former department director for ex-ABQ Mayor Baca, also had a short-lived stint in state government under Big Bill. He is unabashedly liberal. Attorney Reggie Garcia, a friend of former House Speaker Sanchez, has also been gathering petition signatures for the seat. And there are rumblings of another well-know Dem contender getting in the fight, but nothing firm yet.

Meanwhile, Romero, coming off a solid performance in his final legislative session, is also using Eli Lee's liberal Soltari group to help him sew up the Dem nomination for the right to take on Congresswoman Heather in the General Election. He will debate his two opponents, Dr. Miles Nelson and former DEA agent Eli Chavez, at the TV-I Montoya campus tonight.

THEY WRITE: "BILL IS NO GARY."

Last week I wrote (see Feb. 20) that there were similarities in the governing styles of Big Bill and former Guv Gary. I received several comments, including one from my occasional and anonymous insider commentator, "N.E. Mann." Here’s his entertaining summary.

"Eight years of Gary fighting wars created an interesting situation. The legislative work ethic went to hell. Legislators went thru the motions, but likely as not, hard work got vetoed. So, like kids, they found themselves with down time while mom and dad fought.

Now, with a new sheriff in town, it's time to go back to work and - whoa! - we're out of shape! And there will be a certain amount of mumbling and chaos while everyone starts getting after the gridlock flab. Meantime, Bill is running around like Richard Simmons on speed making them nuts by demanding that things get done. This will pass and all will be well.

Meanwhile, we have grownups who chose the political life acting shocked - yes, shocked - that the governor hollers at them instead of holding hands. It's enough that there is no law against legislators' relatives being paid lobbyists, but to cry, "he was mean to us" when a full-grown governor takes strong exception is a bit much. That's part of the deal. Near as I can tell, grown ups argue. They're supposed to draw the line at hitting each other.

Being shocked at being hollered at and that a session finds people in adversarial positions is akin to being shocked that rock stars like attention, that fraternity guys know what beer is and that movie writers prefer violence to philosophical exploration."

Thanks for the witty insight, Mr. Mann. Maybe we can set up a wrestling match between Bengie Regensberg and Big Bill to settle this thing once and for all.

Meanwhile, I welcome reader comments and story tips, anonymous and otherwise, so keep em' coming.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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