It's been a rough year for ABQ NE Heights State Rep. Bob White. First, he loses his House seat in a brutal primary campaign against fellow Republican Justine Fox-Young. Now, he’s been busted for smoking cigarettes. That's right. An ABQ fire marshall recently visited White’s business, The Print Stop, and told the lawmaker he was violating the tough, new ABQ anti-smoking ordinance! Turns out White regularly puffs away in his office, but because that office is under the same roof as his employees, he is in violation of the ordinance that prohibits smoking in public buildings,

Neither can White get any relief by going outside and lighting up in the parking lot. "They told me the smoke could seep in the building." White was lucky in one regard: he was issued a warning instead of suffering a $100 fine. Apparently one of White's employees or a customer blew the whistle on him. But White says he will continue to blow smoke, if not at the Roundhouse, in the privacy of his home.

As for Ms. Young, White is hoping the 25 year old will soon go to law school and only serve a single term in the House, giving him a chance to re-take the seat. In politics, hope still springs eternal.

FROM CIGS TO BOOZE

Down Carlsbad way it’s drinking that has put the spotlight on a race for state senate. The law partner of Dem contender Jeff Diamond, Bill Dials, 36, was busted for boozing it up and ramming his car into a parked Saturn in the SE NM city. But the story doesn't end there. The accident victim says 'the good ol' boy network' tried to cover up the incident.

Carlsbad visitor and crash victim David Weber of Wichita, Kansas says Dials should have been charged right away with DWI after the Memorial Day weekend crash, but he wasn’t. And, when the police report was issued to the local newspaper, Dials name was blotted out. Cops say Dials had to get medical treatment so a breath test could not be done at the time. A blood test later showed Dials well over the legal limit.

Diamond, facing Republican Vernon Asbill for the seat being vacated by Sen. Don Kidd, says Dials was placed on administrative leave right after the mishap. After Weber raised a stink, the Carlsbad cops faxed a revised report on the matter to the Carlsbad Current-Argus--this time with Dials' name included.

FOLLOW THE MONEY

Republicans have been scoring the ABQ Journal for ignoring the millions of dollars Big Bill has taken in via campaign contributions and for his Moving America Forward PAC. But they were gleeful over the weekend when Journal investigative reporter Thom Cole hit hard and explored the links between Big Bill’s contributors and the awarding of a state legal contract. Subscribers can read the story here.

AND FOLLOW IT SOME MORE

And if Big Bill has so much dough on hand, (and he does) how come he didn’t let Dem State House candidate Janet Blair know that before she quit her race against GOP Rep. Eric Youngberg citing a lack of money as the reason? That's the question posed by one deep insider who offers this interesting speculation.

“I thought the Gov was prepared to back any viable Dem candidate? If they had done their homework I assume they would have realized that Youngberg was vulnerable. Did they abandon her in hopes of getting someone else in the race? If so, then who? And will that person get the dough they need to run against Youngberg? I can't imagine the Gov backing off from a chance to take out a Dendahlite (ex-chair of the state GOP). A favor to (State GOP Rep.) Joe Thompson maybe? "

Big Bill's PAC was indeed set up with the express aim of helping Hispanic politicos, but he recently announced money would be given to Anglo State Rep. Tom Swisstack, so the speculation by my deep insider from the Westside is intriguing.

The Guv did go light on Thompson when he was busted for DWI this year and Thompson and Youngberg are buddies. As for Youngberg being vulnerable, it’s true that most first-termers are, but from this corner Youngberg, along with State Rep. Tom Anderson and State Sen. Joe Carraro, have scored major points by coming on strong for Westside road relief and perhaps even a separate city for the long-suffering drivers out there.

The Democratic Party State Central Committee members from the Westside and Corrales district will get to name a replacement to take on Youngberg, if they choose to do so. Word is Bernalillo County Dem Party Chair Linda Lopez is looking. We'll keep you posted.

CAMPAIGN LAUGHS

Finally today, here's some brilliant bipartisan relief on the Prez race in movie form. Sit back and have a Monday laugh

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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