SOS Toulouse Oliver

R's question whether she has the authority to do it and will mount a legal challenge, but Dem Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver is pushing ahead and reinstating straight ticket voting for the November election, a decision that may most benefit the majority D's. From her office:

. . . .The straight-party option had long been a fixture on general election ballots until 2012 when then-Secretary of State Dianna Duran chose to no longer provide the option. “Like absentee voting and early voting, straight-party voting gives New Mexicans another option for casting their ballot. Voters can choose to use straight-party voting, if they decide it will work best for them. They can also choose to fill out the ballot for each individual race. The more options people have, the easier it is for more eligible voters to participate--and participation is the key to our democratic process.”

Straight ticket voting in the state is thought to most benefit the Dems because there are more of them and their voting base is not as motivated as the R's. Political analyst Steve Cabiedes says the Dem candidates who would most benefit are in the down ballot races where voting drops off significantly from the top races such as Governor and Senate.

The state GOP pounced on the decision, saying:

Straight ticket voting is an attempt to rig the system in favor of Democrats and turn New Mexico into a one-party state. The Secretary of State’s announcement is a blatantly partisan effort to that will unfairly benefit her own re-election bid. The legislature outlawed straight ticket voting in 2001 through a change in election law. The hasty attempt to bring it back is likely illegal and we will take appropriate legal action. By waiting this late in the election cycle to make this blatantly self-serving decision, Toulouse Oliver has shown that she is incapable of serving as both the referee of this election and a participant in it.

Toulouse Oliver says the law gives her "explicit authority" to decide the straight ticket issue and adds:

I am committed to making it easier—not harder—for New Mexicans to vote. From moms juggling work and kids to elderly veterans.

Only a handful of states--nine--continue to permit voting a straight ticket. Not all Dems are with Toulouse Oliver. ABQ Dem State Sen. Jacob Candelaria critiqued the move on Twitter:

I'm not a fan of straight party voting. It’s not a mater of voter convenience; it’s a matter of partisan advantage in low information elections. Our country needs less vicious partisanship, not more.

SOS CAMPAIGN

As for the charge that the voting change would benefit her own election, Toulouse Oliver is a runaway favorite for re-election. And the state GOP shoulders some of the blame. ABQ Attorney JoHanna Cox was their nominee in the June primary but was forced to withdraw when it was reported that there were three malpractice lawsuits pending against her. Then the R's named Gavin Clarkson, a onetime Trump appointee as her replacement.

A male Trump appointee going for a position that has been held exclusively by women for decades? And the Libertarians had political gadfly and former Dem State Rep. Sandra Jeff as their SOS candidate for a while before she called it quits.

Come on, guys. Let's get serious.

Meanwhile, In Dona Ana County the top voting official there--County Clerk Scott Krahling--abruptly resigned as word spread of an ongoing investigation into an unspecified complaint against the Clerk. The County Commission will name a replacement as Krahling heads for the exits and the Dems hope he takes any embarrassment with him as the campaigns head into Labor Day.

A reliable source in Cruces gives us the scoop that the probe involves Krahling's relationship with former Chief Deputy County Clerk Rose Ann Vasquez and their expenditure of office funds.

SIGNS OF LIFE

Signs of life in the battle for the southern congressional district are being seen as Dem hopeful Xochitl Torres Small comes with the first TV ad in the race in which she is up against GOP State Rep. Yvette Herrell.

Torres Small is out of Cruces and a darling of the progressives, having worked with liberal Senator Tom Udall. But the water rights attorney veers to the center in her first media outing in the district that has been a stronghold for conservative Republican Steve Pearce who is leaving the seat to run for Governor. The ad says:

 I’ve spent my career working with New Mexico farmers and ranchers, protecting water and the water rights they depend on. Like federal drought legislation and funding for new conservation methods. . .I believe good ideas don’t come with a party label. I’ll work with anyone who wants deliver for New Mexico. 

Interesting. Does working with "anyone" include President Trump who remains popular in the district, especially on the eastside and in rural areas? Torres Small, a water rights attorney making her first bid for public office, has a fine needle to thread in trying to appeal to a broad spectrum but she is off to a quick start in her fund-raising and has beat Herrell onto the airwaves. Also, she is a fresh face who comes across well.

The DC pundits have moved the race from "Likely GOP" to "Lean GOP." They and everyone else are waiting to see some fund-raising muscle from Herrell who depleted her treasury in a heated June primary battle with Monty Newman. Torres Small, 33, had a cake walk in the primary.

If she raises ample funds Yvette's job will be easier than Xochitl's. She will not have to look for many votes outside of her natural base. There are plenty of R's, conservative D's and independents for her to appeal to.

One other note: Any TV debates between this pair should be worth watching. Both are smart and politically agile.

ROUND TABLE NOT LULAC

We erred when we blogged that it was the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) who objected to remarks made about minorities by GOP Guv nominee Steve Pearce at an ABQ business meeting. It was Ralph Arellanes, chairman of the Hispano Round Table, who made the objection and demanded an apology from Pearce. LULAC State Director Dennis Montoya:

The (comments)y were made by Mr. Arellanes in his capacity as Chair of the Hispano Round Table. He has every right to make these comments, and I do suspect that the majority of LULAC's membership would agree with him, as would I, personally. However, it is important to LULAC that attributions not be made to us that are not properly attributed to our organization. 

Thanks, Dennis. As we reported, Pearce was scored for, among other things, using the term "the minorities." Pearce's campaign has now responded:

The chairpersons of Hispanics for Pearce said they were proud to stand with him against “false attacks.” “This ridiculous attempt to smear Congressman Pearce is extremely disappointing and demonstrates the high level of panic among the far left as Congressman Pearce continues to gain support from Democrats and independents." Jose Orozco and Marisol Cardenas said. 

ABOUT THOSE CUTS


Reader Allan Oliver writes of the UNM Regents decision to cut several team sports, including soccer, to resolve the Athletic Department deficit and in doing so gave some rude treatment to prominent state legislators: 

After the UNM Regents cut off the House Budget and Appropriations Chair and current LFC chair Patty Lundstrom's testimony and were less than hospitable to the 5 D and R legislators during the proceedings, I would suggest that UNM is in for a rough ride in the next legislative session. They didn't help themselves either by rejecting the request from both gubernatorial candidates and the mayor of Albuquerque either.

The legislators message was clear. The state has a budget surplus, give them some time to help find a funding solution. The legislature has an extra billion in their checkbook. State government pays almost every salary at UNM. Why wouldn't you agree to work with them on finding a solution? And why in the world would you be insulting and rude to them? What's that strategy? And why are soccer, skiing and beach volleyball paying the consequences for the total mismanagement and corruption at the UNM Athletic department? 

Best be careful, UNM. That billion dollar surplus has a big line forming.

Happy Labor Day, New Mexico!

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