Friday, July 09, 2004Dems Promise Opponent for Greg Payne, Death Calls For "Cowboy Coalition" Leader John Mershon, Plus: NPR Flunks NM Geography, But Passes Politics They just won't let Greg be Greg. The controversial former ABQ City Councilor looked all set for a free ride to the Roundhouse when he handily defeated an opponent in the June 1st GOP primary for the State House seat being vacated by Joe Thompson. And he was ready to hit the hammock for the summer when he heard the Dem running for the far ABQ NE Heights seat, Carter Bundy, decided to withdraw after winning his primary.
But Payne can get off easy street and get ready to burn some more shoe leather, if Bernalillo County Democratic Party Chair and Sate Senator Linda Lopez has her way. In an e-mail to "NM Politics With Joe Monahan, Linda says Greg's vacation may soon be over: "We are currently working on Carter's replacement. I am meeting with a few folks this week and next. We will have a Democrat to run in HD 31." It's up to members of the Democratic Party Central Committee who reside in the House district to name a replacement by early August. Judging from the Lopez e-mail, Payne, who is still favored to win easily in the heavy R district, may need to hire a baby sitter for his newborn daughter because the D's plan on keeping him busy. Maybe Payne can write his campaign lit when he's doing those 2 a.m. feedings. THE COWBOY RIDES AWAY  Old-timers remember the influence John Mershon wielded in the NM Legislature in the 70's and 80's and are taking notice of his passing this week at the age of 95. A lot of praise for the Democrat is coming from Republicans who recall how he joined with the R's to form the famous "Cowboy Coalition" to oust the liberal "Mama Lucy" gang from the House leadership for a while in the early 80's.
Here's an e-mail being shared around the state by these R's: "He served as Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee during the early days of the coalition’s rule of the House. He put a meat cleaver out on a piece of wood as a symbol to state bureaucrats and liberals that he was gonna take a meat axe to the state budget. During the early days of his career, the Mama Lucy gang got so incensed at him that they refused to give him an office in the capitol. John didn’t take crap from anybody and lived the western American dream." The AP reported: "John Mershon, once one of New Mexico's most powerful legislators as head of finance committees, has died. Mershon, who served in the New Mexico House of Representatives for 24 years, died Tuesday. The Democrat from Otero County was a member of the House from 1959 through 1982, and was on the House Appropriations Committee and the powerful Legislative Finance Committee for most of that time, including stints as chairman of both. His presence in southern New Mexico harkens back to 1938, when the then 29-year-old arrived in Mayhill to work in a lumber mill with this father." Coalition politics came back in the Legislature in 2000 when Manny Aragon was ousted as Senate Pro Tem and replaced by Richard Romero who got the post with the support of the Republicans. Whether the Senate coalition will survive the departure of Aragon and Romero next year remains to be seen. NPR: THEY CAN MOVE MOUNTAINS National Public Radio (NPR) set up its microphones at the famed Frontier restaurant in ABQ in late June, within viewing distance of our famous Sandia Mountains. But that didn't stop the hip East Coast network from calling them the "Sangre De Cristo Mountains" in a report on the Presidential battle being waged here. But besides the geography mistake NPR did just fine, giving valuable insight on this swing state. They interviewed UNM professor Chris Garcia and Dem attorney and party activist Moe Maestas, among others. Here's the full seven minute NPR report Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Thursday, July 08, 2004Romero Goes National As Kerry Gets Local, Plus: New Anchor Weighs In, And: "Stereo" Fireworks Congressional contender Richard Romero will get a sliver of the national spotlight Saturday when he delivers, in Spanish, the response to the Prez's weekly five minute radio address. The Romero retort will air on Spanish-language radio outlets around the nation. Romero's camp has not yet released where the speech can be heard on the ABQ radio dial. He will get the Prez's speech in advance, but his response may not deal all that much with what the Prez actually says because Romero will want to talk about the newly formed Dem Prez team of Kerry and Edwards. The national Dems, still hoping to oust Republican Heather Wilson, gave Romero the radio job in hopes of boosting his profile here and also to woo Hispanics around the nation to Kerry-Edwards.
VALLEY GUYS  When they arrive at the Hispanic Cultural Center in ABQ Friday night, the two senators will be basking in the glow of a very favorable press that always comes right after a national ticket is formed. It will be Kerry's second visit to the state this year. It's his first trip to the ABQ Valley and a direct play for the Hispanic voters he will need in November. For Edwards, it's stop number two in the Valley, having campaigned there during the NM Dem Prez Caucuses in February.
Kerry of New England will need help in nailing down the Hispanic vote. Expect to see old warhorse and Hispanic favorite Senator Ted Kennedy come back and rally for Kerry as he did during the caucuses. But it is the true swing vote around ABQ, the Anglo independents and moderate D's and Republicans, that remain the challenge and perhaps the key to victory. THE EARLY ANCHOR There's a new face in the anchor chair at KASA Channel 2 in ABQ. Jeremy Jojola, a NM native, takes over co-anchoring duties this week replacing John Mason, who has moved on to Minnesota.  KASA is a Fox affiliate with a news sharing arrangement with NBC affiliate KOB-TV where Jojola will remain on staff. The Fox 9 p.m. news has become popular with early risers in the state and has also given KOB another outlet for its news material adding to its presence in the ABQ market as everyone looks for a n edge in the ratings game. I interviewed with Jojola over the holiday weekend when KOB-TV did a story about blogs in ABQ. The NMSU grad told me he has been with KOB for two years. Jojola will co-anchor the nightly news with Jessica Kartalia.
FIREWORKS IN STEREO  The big fireworks bash at Balloon Fiesta park in ABQ over the weekend was touted as the state's biggest, but the city did not have the bragging rights to itself. Sandia Casino also put on a fireworks show. In fact, as Kathy and I were watching the explosions above the park we looked north and saw the exact same dazzling fireworks being displayed. The city needed to get Sandia Pueblo's permission for its fireworks show because it was set up on pueblo land. Little did it know that it would be competing with the Pueblo for biggest and best display. But the celebrants certainly did not mind the competition as it brightened the skies in a spectacular fashion.
Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Wednesday, July 07, 2004Justice Chavez: Supremely Funded; Fuller Near Empty, Plus: Kerry, Edwards & NM: Do They Need An Early Kill?
Chavez
 There’s still a chance that the battle for a NM Supreme Court seat could turn out to be hotly contested, but don’t count on it. That's because Republican Ned Fuller doesn’t have much money to count while his opponent, Justice Ed Chavez, appointed to fill a vacancy on the court by Big Bill, has a stack of the green stuff totaling $165,000. That’s about a 25 to one advantage over Fuller who has just $6,000 on hand and an equal amount of debt.
Back in February we wrote of the possibility that Fuller, 38, could get big bucks from U.S. Chamber of Commerce backed groups to take out Democrat and trial lawyer Chavez, (See my Feb. 6 report in my archives) but so far it appears the sources floating that story were blowing smoke. It’s true that such groups got involved in a big way in an Ohio Supreme Court battle, but Fuller tells me he “has had no contact” with any such organizations or individuals, never mind getting any of their cash. The Chavez campaign used that Feb. report to raise money and, who knows, it may have been planted with us for that very reason. Nothing like a good right-wing scare to free-up that loose trial lawyer change. Not that Chavez, 47, is not favored to win anyway. There are no Republicans on the five member court and none has been up there since the 1980's. But Fuller did have one arrow in his quiver that he fired effectively at Chavez: drug testing for judges in the wake of the cocaine arrest of Bernalillo County Chief District Judge John Brennan. But Chavez did not take the bait and agreed to take a drug test as did Fuller. Looking at history, political pros say an Anglo Republican like Fuller, running against a Hispanic Democrat, should break the 40% mark with or without significant money. But the magic number is 50% and it appears Fuller and the GOP are going to have to pull a rabbit out of their hat to get there, or else make some urgent phone calls to the Chamber of Commerce. KERRY/EDWARDS: AN EARLY NM KILL?  Big Bill is managing expectations when it comes to how Senators Kerry and Edwards will do in our Land of Enchantment come Election Night. Last night on CNN, Richardson predicted a Kerry win here but only "narrowly." Bill says most polls have the race here essentially tied, but that he would work to "get out the base" and help put Kerry over the top. The Big Guy had to be disappointed as he was passed over early by Kerry for the number two spot, but he is a pro and will be expected to bring this state home. If he shows any hesitation, it would damage his reputation among Democrats nationally so even a disappointed Big Bill will be a powerful weapon for Kerry here.
Ironically, most informed Republicans I have spoken with predict a Kerry win here, while the Dems are pessimistic about Kerry's chances. The R's see the Democratic base charged up with many R's only lukewarm for the Prez. If that's the case, the trends will become clear soon enough and NM would fall off the list of "battleground states." That would mean a lot less Presidential presence here during the final months. It's not written in stone that we will stay a 'swing' state the entire campaign. Remember, NM has voted for the Dem nominee three times in a row and has a Dem governor and legislature. If Team Kerry cannot bring this Dem state into line early it could point to another cliffhanger nationally or a Bush victory. Stay tuned. Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004 Not for reproduction without permission of the author Tuesday, July 06, 2004That's The Ticket: It's Edwards For Veep; Visits NM Friday: The NM Connection, Plus: Court Coke Scandal, More Names To Be Named? The stock of one major NM political figure is on the rise as John Kerry picked North Carolina Senator John Edwards as his running mate today. Attorney General Patricia Madrid is in for a more noticeable role in the coming campaign and the chance to continue to boost her profile here as she casts about for her next political opportunity. She was an early and ardent supporter of trial lawyer Edwards who campaigned here for the February NM Dem Prez caucuses, including a stop in Barelas in the ABQ Valley. Edwards had an active NM organization led by Madrid who campaigned around the state for him and cut radio spots touting his credentials. But Edwards did not exactly electrify state Dems who gave him just 10% of their votes in those caucuses placing him fourth in the field.
Madrid was also not shy in helping Edwards raise money in NM, particularly among the legal community. Edwards' campaigned on a theme of "two America's," in which the lower and middle classes struggled while the wealthy were on easy street. Coming from a rural state like North Carolina, Edwards may be able to help Kerry in southern NM, the most conservative area of the state and the one in which Bush is going to go for blow-out numbers in order to win here. While the Edwards selection puts Madrid back in play in Prez politics, she does not one-up her longtime political rival, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish. Diane was one of the first to hop on the Kerry bandwagon here. CNN is reporting today that the new Dem ticket will visit New Mexico Friday. Read more of my analysis of the Edwards pick and its impact on NM in today's ABQ Tribune Big Bill's withdrawal from the Veep race was seen as grandstanding in many media quarters where it was said he never really had a chance. But the Big Guy did do the state a favor by having the Dems conduct a caucus here early, especially that now one of the candidates who campaigned here and knows our state better has been chosen as the number two man today. NAMING NAMES....OR NOT Brennan  TV insiders report that KRQE-TV investigative reporter Larry Barker is mulling over naming more names contained in that 1998 law enforcement report alleging cocaine sniffing in judicial circles when the station debuts its new investigative show, "48 Hours New Mexico," Wednesday, July 7 at 8 p.m.
Bernalillo County Chief District Judge John Brennan was already named by the station as one of those in the report. They did that on the basis that he had already been arrested for the crime and therefore, the "unverified information" in the report had ben verified. But it is a much tricker issue with three other district court judges, several defense attorneys and some state legislators who are also reportedly named in that report which was based on information provided by an informant to law enforcement investigating drug dealing in NM. Barker, if he doesn't name names, may "make it clear who he is talking about," according to one insider. No government agency has announced it will take a look at that 98' report leaving it to Barker and other intrepid types types to dig deeper and report whether the names contained in it are still on the job and whether the report has credible information. But that really isn't Barker's job or that of the press. Taxpayers already pony up plenty for law enforcement and the courts. Why can't they do their job, or at least hire Barker to do it for them? DRINK OF CHOICE: JACK & COKE  And in a another note on the court coke scandal, KRQE-TV is reporting that Brennan was indeed driving drunk when he was picked up for coke possession in late May. They say his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit, but Santa Fe District Attorney Henry Valdez, the special prosecutor in the case, refuses to confirm that. Perhaps Valdez has good reasons,(we'd like to hear them) but this is public information. Some reporters are wondering whether Valdez is aware that his political future may also be on the line as he handles this highest profile case of his career.
According to KRQE, the first episode of "48 Hours New Mexico," modeled after the CBS program "48 Hours," will focus on "cocaine use among New Mexico's high society." Well, cocaine use, yes. But 'high society?' Or is that a take on the word "high." Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004 Not for reproduction without permission of the author |
 
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