Tuesday, November 22, 2022The Dynasty That Wasn't: Tag Team of AG Balderas And Auditor Colón Nears End
After a good run blessed by serendipity Attorney General Hector Balderas and State Auditor Brian Colón will exit stage right come New Year's Day. Hector is off to become the new president of Northern New Mexico Community College in Rio Arriba County and Brian will look at his options when his four year term as Auditor ends.
Balderas fell into the hands of fate when he was serving in the state House in 2006. The then state auditor Democratic candidate was consumed by scandal and forced to end his candidacy. Gov. Big Bill pushed Balderas and he was selected by the Dem Party as their replacement nominee. For a time a star was born. Balderas was elected Auditor and then went on to secure two four year terms as attorney general, along the way becoming one of the most popular vote-getters in Democratic Party history. Colón, who started his climb as chairman of the Democratic Party and with the backing of Big Bill, was the epitome of the backslapping, baby kissing politico, and took longer than Hector to find electoral success. He was pushed backed in bids for lieutenant governor and mayor of ABQ. But in 2018 his ship came in and he managed to take the Auditor's post, only to see that ship now docked. The political tides brought in a more progressive wave of Democrats in recent years and the moderate ways of Balderas and Colón were pushed aside. NOT STREET FIGHTERS  Similarly, Colón retreated from the vociferous attacks necessary to take out BernCo District Attorney Raul Torrez when the two competed for the Dem nomination for attorney general this year and the right to succeed Balderas. Torrez did not hesitate in aggressively taking Colón down. Balderas and Colón were never street fighters. They were two pals who wanted to make more pals--and be the backroom negotiators. But advancement requires intense engagement in the often brutal political ring and that was not their thing. Balderas will continue his public service in his new high-paying job which will eventually pad his state retirement check. The last NNMC president was making $190,000 per year when he left for another job in January. Colón could opt to return to the Robles, Rael & Anaya law firm that has shadowed the pair throughout their political careers. Given his gregarious nature, he might make another try for elective office someday. As for middle of the road Democrats, they are still out there. State Rep. Patty Lundstorm chairs the important House Appropriations Committee and fellow moderate Dem George Munoz chairs the Senate Finance Committee. With the Republicans back benched for the foreseeable future, progressive Dems will face an opposition force from with their own party as a counter balance. But it won't come from Balderas and Colón. They rode the rails well together but found the climb too steep to grasp the highest rungs of political power. 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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