MANNY
There I was...again. So deep in the ABQ South Valley that I could smell the politics, not to mention the alligators in search of another unsuspecting wannabe power-broker to topple. My journey into the most guarded recesses of La Politica had a mission: Who would replace powerful Dem State Sen. Manny Aragon if, as is quite possible, he is named to the presidency of NM Highlands University in Vegas? No doubt, I would have to bring to bear all of my humble skills on this highly classified mission. After all, I am a gringo from Pennsylvania attempting to penetrate the very shrine of 400 years of unparalleled power-seeking, power-grabs and the legendary "movida."

I walked past homes where feuding neighbors have not spoken a word to each other for over forty years, where I heard muffled cries of "you will pay" as disputants settled their differences in the ancient ways and where Alligators reported my every move. Finally, I arrived. My meeting with "El Lagarto" (The Lizard) was on.

"Manny is positioned to get it. That's why he has been quiet. He does not want to rock the boat and give the Governor or the Highlands regents any reasons for doubt," he blurted out. "But there's another wrinkle; if Manny does not get the job, look out, Bill. That would be one unhappy Manny in the senate." Truly, I was now in the shrine of La Politica digesting this sublime and treacherous logic. Let's see, Manny does not have the job, he needs the Guv's nod to get the job, but in order to get it he can use the threat of his senate post as retribution. Clearly, I had reached an inner most sanctum of the legendary South Valley.


But El Lagarato, cut to the chase. Who are the leading candidates to replace Majority Leader Manny, if he vacates the seat he has had for over thirty years? Big Bill would make the appointment because it is a multi-county district (Bernalillo and Valencia). He would make his choice based on recommendations from the county commissioners. (Of course, the Guv has no influence with the commissioners!) "I am hearing three names," The Lizard murmured softly. "Vince Villanueva, Diego Gallegos and Al Valdez." Mission accomplished. I threw a buck on the table for the three day old cold coffee and emerged into the light of day,

Villanueva is a longtime politico who ran for the legislature years ago and made big money in the pharmaceutical industry. Diego Gallegos is none other than the brother of Bernalillo County Commissioner Steve Gallegos, who I and other crystal ball gazers have said could be a possible Manny replacement. Diego is an assistant superintendent with Albuquerque Public Schools who was defeated for the county commission seat once held by our next contender: Al Valdez, the former eight year controversial South Valley commissioner and head of the New Mexico Department of Veterans' Services who has ties to Big Bill.

Which of the three will it be, or will a dark horse emerge? We'll just have to wait. You hang around Alligators too long and you become prey.

WEH DEMANDS SALUTES

Retired marine colonel and CSI Aviation owner Allen Weh, newly installed over the weekend as the new state GOP chair, sent chills up the spines of the half-dozen full-time staffers of the GOP when he demanded the resignations of the party's executive committee and offered no words of encouragement to the staff. An insider at the state convention told me: "No one would be surprised if he cleaned house. He also seems to be warming up to the (former state chair) Dendahl faction of the party. Bush operative Rich Beeson, (who tangled with ex-chair Gorham) was glad-handing Weh and (consultant and new Bush worker) Jay McCleskey (who Gorham fought tooth and nail to keep out of the state GOP headquarters) was also chatting him up. These guys are all with the Dendahl bunch, and some people are upset because Weh was supposed to be a neutral candidate."

Other insiders speculated that Weh is indeed a Dendahlite who will start the contracts flowing again to the likes of State Sen. "Lightning Rod" Adair and others who Ramsay cut off the gravy train. Even if the contracts don't flow, they say the heads may and Dendahlite sympathizers will be installed, including one to replace GOP Executive Director Tom Carroll, a former Democrat hired by Ramsay who has drawn special fire from the Dendahl brigade. But a Weh sympathizer told me: "He is not a Dendahlite. Alan may bring in new people, but he is just trying to end the party strife and get the state ready for the President. He needs new faces to do that so the party, at least for now, can put the infighting behind it."

Whatever the case, soldier Weh has a new command, but if he thought dealing with the Sunnis in Iraq was complicated, he ain't seen nothing yet.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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