Legendary legislative powerhouse Sen. Manny Aragon has been busy lately trying to get the Guv to consider a redistricting bill to put GOP Congresswoman Heather Wilson out of business, but the South Valley lawmaker has some districting problems of his own. His neck of the woods is less Democratic friendly than it used to be, and now word comes to "New Mexico Politics With Joe Monahan" that Manny has drawn a Republican opponent, and he's no lightweight.
Republican Fernando C de Baca, a cabinet secretary for health and social services in the Guv Apodaca days in the 70's, tells me he is off and running against Manny and says the redesigned district gives him a glimmer of hope. "Joe, the district now extends up to the East Mountains in Bernalillo County and includes Bosque Farms to the south. Both of these areas are filled with Republicans, so I am hoping for a competitive race," the South Valley native told me.
Considering that Manny only got 55% percent in his reelect four years ago, C de Baca's analysis can't be dismissed.(The district is now 59% Dem) He also says Manny "has been there too long" and that the district, despite the senator's stroke, is still behind in "getting improvements." But C de Baca also skews to the right when he talks about bringing "God back into the classroom," and he talked to me about it a lot. But the 66 year old, who has been involved in environmental consulting in Chicago and Washington D.C., is bright and able and definitely not a token opponent. His chances of beating Manny are not good, but not outside the realm of possibility.
A 21ST CENTURY MANNY
The wall-leaners at the Capitol are also chewing on Manny's future outside the senate. He is known to be interested in the presidency of NM Highlands University, and if he got it he would have to resign his senate seat. If he tried to keep both, he would be run out of town on a rail. So if he does get that job, who would take his senate position? Speculation centers on outgoing Bernalillo County Commissioner Steve Gallegos, an old ally of Manny's who was his special guest on the opening day of this year's legislature. Steve also has served as senate sergeant-at-arms, a job he got courtesy of Aragon. I ran into Steve a couple of weeks ago (he works at the Dep't of Labor in ABQ) and he told me he was recovering from his heart problems, but just wants to go fishing and leave politics behind. Right, Steve. And a bee turns down honey! Any Aragon vacancy would be filled by the Guv because it is a multi-county district.
BIG BILL'S BIG BLOW-UP; HOW'S IT PLAYING?
The Big Bill blow-up with lobbyists from the Big Pharma industry draws some incisive comments from top insiders on both sides of the aisle. Sen. Tim Jennings went ballistic on the Guv for strong-arming a group of health care lobbyists at a meeting last week. Here is a round-up of the insider comments I have received on the Big Bill-Jennings spat.
Sen. Jennings
"Well, the sheen is off the governor, but it remains to be seen just what impact, if any, all of this has on his agenda. Despite Jennings, the Senate remains solid for him, and that may be his trump card as this session goes down to the wire."
"What a stroke of luck. He loses his cool and it goes public, but he loses it with some of the most unpopular industry's around--nursing homes and drug companies." He gets to paint himself as a populist, and Jennings looks like he's in the pocket of special interests."
"There's a crack in the armor, for sure. The 110 mph freeway trips, the secrecy over who has paid for some of his travel and now this. Eventually, all governors have their warts exposed. Bill is no different. He needs some trouble-free months to recoup. That will be easier to do once the Legislature adjourns. But his enemies are gaining strength from the missteps."
"He has a long history of blow-ups in private meetings, but this one breaks his way because he can say he is standing up for the little guy against the big, bad lobbyists. So he takes a brief hit with the Legislature, but what about the public? He probably wins with them. If he had done this with a group of legislators and it went public, all bets would be off, but who you are fighting is just as important as the fight."
"This health care group puts up TV ads knocking Richardson's health-care bill, and then they go into his office and try to cut a deal. Give me a break. Any governor would be mad. They were trying to strong-arm him and no executive would put up with it. He may have lost this one on style, but he wins the PR battle.
MY TAKE
Big Bill has given his opponents a big target through his over-the-top-personal style, but they still can't seem to hit the target. Jenning's wife attended the meeting and the senator from Roswell compared the treatment she received to "domestic abuse." Give us a break, Tim. This Guv has come to play. An emotional outburst is not exactly a cool cucumber strategy to take him out. Noteworthy: No other Democratic senators joined in the Guv-bashing.
The Legislature's day may come in leveling the playing field with the Big Guy. But it won't be at a meeting of drug company lobbyists. Big Bill, of course, needs to tone it down and be aware that conversation terms used at a boxing match do not fit into a legislative discussion. That's basic diplomacy, isn't it?
MORE ON MANNY, THE JENNINGS JIHAD AND QUIRKY BURQUE
AP veteran LarryCalloway has some good history on Manny in his latest web column. The New Mexican's Steve Terrell is a reliable legislative witness. More on the Jennings blowup from him. And then there's Quirky Burque which has a decidely new generation bent on local happenings. Enjoy.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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