Rep. Ogle
The month long melodrama over ABQ GOP State Rep. Rory Ogle will conclude today with his withdrawal as a candidate for re-election, according to Republican insiders. They say Ogle will announce his withdrawal citing his family woes, paving the way for the Bernalillo County GOP Central Committee to name a replacement candidate. It appears the possibility of Ogle's wife, Anita, challenging him for the position was the proverbial straw that broke the camel's back.

Ogle was charged with hitting his wife with a bed headboard and mop at the couple's home in mid-July, setting off a statewide controversy over his political future. Ogle hung tough for a time, but with mounting pressure from top Republicans, and perhaps even from a worried Bush campaign, Ogle has decided to throw in the towel. Ogle may opt to finish his term in the State House which runs until the end of the year.

WHO TAKES THE SEAT?

Several R's say they feel his withdrawal will prompt some higher-profile candidates to emerge for his seat because they will not have to run as write-in candidates and would be unopposed for election. The D's failed to file against Ogle when they had the chance earlier this year.

So the political clock has run out on the saga of Rory and Anita Ogle. And not soon enough for the Bush campaign and the New Mexican electorate who faced with dread a possible husband-wife race over domestic violence.

A LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN?

I received a number of emails after chastising the League of Women Voters (LWV)(See Aug 19) for advocating that the Paseo Del Norte road bond issue be presented to ABQ voters in November as a stand-alone ballot issue, instead of being presented along with the entire road bond package for an up or down vote as has always been done.

Gabriel Mims of LWV emails the following: "Their (LWV) arguments come from the standpoint of preserving our democratic processes and they view the current bond proposal as not giving the voters a fair and democratic opportunity to vote on a highly controversial issue--a defining moment in the progress of our city."

Fair enough. But the League is out on a limb on this one. Voters were presented with Paseo last fall, along with the rest of the bond issues, and they defeated all of them. Is the LWV going to call for a separate vote on any bond issue that is perceived as "highly controversial"? There certainly are plenty of them.

LWV has done an outstanding job since the 1920's advocating for voter education and participation. Let the responsible elected officials, who are directly answerable to the public, decide how to present the ballot, and let the LWV return to its roots and do what it has always done best; apply its expertise to educating voters and increasing turnout.

Thanks for the thoughtful comments. You can email me from the top right of this page. I read them all.

WELL-FED POLITICOS

Here's a funny. The Bernalillo County Democratic Women are having their annual fashion show Aug. 28 featuring elected officials and some candidates as "surprise" models featuring southwestern fashions.

But get this: The lunch menu for the fashion show is as follows: "All you can eat BBQ Beef, Chicken & Smoked Sausage, Green Chili Stew, Potato Salad, Ranch Beans, Biscuits, Fudge Brownies, Lemonade & Punch."

After that lunch, will any of the clothes fit our politico "models?" You can see for yourself. Tickets at $25 a pop by calling 873-0615

OUR SPONSOR: REAL ESTATE STRATEGIST TONY OLMI

Tony Olmi is a real estate strategist who approaches a client's immediate needs with an eye toward long term objectives. Real estate typically represents a large part of a person's estate, whether a residence or property held fr ivestment. The bottom line is what matters! Accounting, legal and other professional input makes for a strong team.

Land, rentals, light commercial and residential real estate has comprised Tony's brokerage activity for 26 years. He's a member of the ABQ Metropolitan Board of Realtors. For more, click on his ad or give him a call at 765-1440

Make our site, WWW.JOEMONAHAN.COM, one of your favorites and e-mail a link to interested friends. Interested in advertising to NM's large political community? E-mail me from the top right of this page, or call 505-243-4059 for details.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
Not for reproduction without permission of the author