Thursday, March 24, 2022Can A Former Cop Turned City Councilor Rein In APD Extreme Overtime Abuse? Plus: Montoya Vs. Sanchez Is a Key Northern House race To Watch Westside Councilor Louie Sanchez is apparently ready to give it a shot. At this week's council meeting Sanchez took note of the recent TV news report describing how APD Lt. Jim Edison--now fired--received over $242,000 in pay in one year--$131,000 of it in overtime--in the latest example of extreme OT abuse. Sanchez started by critiquing APD Chief Harold Medina's response to the Edison shocker. Medina said: We're so busy (that) to go through the final details of looking through somebody's time sheet, it is not something that we are going to be carving out time for. To which Sanchez responded: When I was a young police officer I was told your time sheet was the single most important item that you deal with as a police officer every single day of the week. . . That it needs to be accurate--one hundred percent. It's a legal document so it has to be 100 percent accurate. . . The comment that we don't have time for that (means) you don't have time to do your job. So I need to get an explanation why we don't have time to check timesheets. . . But Chief Medina was not at the meeting and a spokesman told Sanchez the department needs more time to answer the question. Let's hope they don't use overtime to come up with the answer. A long line of mayors and councilors has failed to seriously question the overtime abuse--to the point that it has become institutionalized as an unspoken perk, costing taxpayers millions. As a former cop, Councilor Sanchez has the credibility to spearhead reform--if he can get an assist from his colleagues and the Mayor--and the attorney general who has taken a pass on charging any of the overtime culprits. MOST VULNERABLE  That's because Montoya's foe is Joseph Sanchez who held the seat for two years but left it in 2020 to make an unsuccessful run for the northern US House seat. Sanchez is a moderate and Montoya is a progressive. That helps Sanchez in this district but it also helps that many residents probably think Sanchez is still their representative.
In a blow to Montoya, who is campaigning hard, is this endorsement of Sanchez by the Ohkay Owingeh Tribal Council: With your prior experience and expertise in working with the State of New Mexico and Ohkay Owingeh we are confident that you will continue our camaraderie and working relationship with our community. Ohkay Owingeh is proud to endorse you as our State Representative. Sanchez vs. Montoya is a key primary race to watch as moderate Dems try to reduce the progressive majority in the state House with the help of business allies. BLACKOUT CONFUSION We erred when we blogged about the blackout period for fundraising as a result of the special session. We were correct that the fundraising blackout for state representatives and candidates for the House begins when the Governor issues the special session proclamation and ends upon adjournment of the session. However, the same time period does not apply to the Governor. Her fundraising blackout extends until 20 days after the session. For other statewide candidates the blackout ends when the session ends. Yes, it is a tricky section of state law. THE BOTTOM LINES  Chaves County has joined Lea County and the state GOP in a lawsuit challenging the new congressional district map, voicing concern that Chaves has been split among all three US House districts. Heard on the street: Joe, when the end comes there will be only three things left--Cher, cockroaches and Brian Colón. This is the home of New Mexico politics. E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com) Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.   (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2022 |
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