Sen. Stewart

Mimi's mess is getting messier.

It's revealed in newly released police video from the Santa Fe PD that at her 2024 auto accident, Senate President Pro Tem Mimi Stewart phoned the Governor's office and asked them to send the state police to the scene to handle the investigation. The request was granted. The Governor's office has not released a statement.

The apparent abuse of power raises questions about Stewart's status as the top leader in the Senate.

Just this past Sunday, the Senate Democratic Caucus nominated Stewart to again be President Pro Tem—the powerful post that is responsible for naming senators to individual committees. The caucus did so way ahead of its usual timeline of November—right after the general election. They were criticized for doing so because it appeared leadership was looking to help its favored candidates by shutting down opposition early—Stewart among them.

But the full Senate is required to vote on the pro tem position, usually a routine affair these days, but in the past Republicans have formed a coalition with conservative Democrats to get their own pro tem. However, there are far fewer Republicans and conservative D's today.

Retired APD Sergeant Dan Klein says Stewart calling the Governor's office from the scene is an obvious violation of protocol. He blasted Stewart for releasing a statement saying the practice was "routinely" followed.

You're supposed to call 911 at an accident scene—not pull rank and tell the officer you have contacted the Governor and are President of the Senate. It was a clear abuse of power. Imagine the reaction if a Republican senator did the same. Stewart needs at the least to admit she was wrong and apologize. There is no policy that "routinely" involves state police with lawmakers in accidents. Period.

And the Senate Republicans under the leadership of Minority Leader William Sharer moved to take full advantage:

If you hit a pedestrian with your car and broke his foot, could you tell the officers how powerful you are, say you've called the Governor's Office, and be sent home with no citation?" asked Leader Sharer. "Do everyday New Mexicans have that option? Of course not. But she made the call anyway, because in New Mexico’s Democrat Corruption Culture, knowing the right person is how problems seemingly disappear. Why was the Governor's Office involved in a routine traffic incident? Who called state police, and what was said? Why did it take this long for New Mexicans to find out? These are questions Senator Stewart and the Governor owe the public. I am again calling on Deb Haaland to remove (Stewart's) endorsement from her website and return any (campaign contributions).

An apology by Stewart, 79, could go a long way in defending her turf. The controversy over the accident is on top of others involving her treatment of a Roundhouse staffer and one of her Senate colleagues. If she chooses to insist she did nothing improper, her power could be put to the test. There are over three months before the Senate votes on the pro tem position. That's plenty of time for political machinations. Stay tuned.

SALARIES FOR SOLONS

After the Stewart mishap and others involving Dem state representatives Andrea Romero and Joseph Hernandez, you wonder if there won't be a more intense backlash against the always controversial proposal to pay lawmakers a full-time salary. Against that backdrop comes this... 

Big money is coming in to pave the way for a payday for the 112 state legislators who haven't had a salary since statehood in 1912, but would for the first time get that benefit if voters approve Constitutional Amendment 4 on the November 3 ballot.

Vote for Change is on the air with its first spot in favor of the controversial measure. And they have plenty of cash for more. The progressive-backed group has raised $1.8 million and comes on the air after the Our Values—backed by conservatives—started a much smaller TV ad buy against the amendment.

The pro-amendment spot highlights folks in a variety of everyday occupations and has them carry the water for the proposal that would pay lawmakers close to $70,000 a year. The transcript:

Politicians say they know what we're going through, but try paying for groceries or gas, running your own business. Most politicians don't understand how hard it is to make ends meet. Amendment 4 is simple. It ties legislators' pay to what the rest of us make. No more, no less. Maybe then they'd actually get it when they vote on healthcare, education, and housing. If they want to represent us, they should live like us. Vote yes for Constitutional Amendment 4."

Eli Cuna of Vote for Change adds:

If approved, legislator pay would rise and fall with New Mexico’s average household income. With every vote they take, legislators will understand how that vote will impact their constituents’ ability to afford healthcare, groceries, gas, utilities—all of the necessities that weigh on our families every day. Legislators should live like us. Someone shouldn’t have to be independently wealthy or retired to serve. The current system is keeping good people out of the legislature, and voting yes on Amendment 4 is a vote for change.

Anissa Tinnin of Our Values PAC rebuts:

This ad from the far-left group behind it makes a blatantly false claim when it says the proposal ‘ties legislators’ pay to what the rest of us make.’ The truth is that New Mexico’s median per-capita income is about $36,000, while this proposal could push lawmakers’ compensation to nearly $70,000, on top of a $247 daily per diem . . . and a pension that can pay roughly $31,000 to more than $90,000 a year for life . . . And when the Legislature has failed to make meaningful progress moving New Mexico out of the bottom of national rankings, voters should ask whether these politicians deserve a pay package that would make them among the highest-paid legislators in the country.

The proposal to pay legislators salaries has been repeatedly rejected by state voters, but this is the first time an organized and well-financed campaign has been conducted in its favor.

OBAMA FOR HAALAND

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Deb Haaland has stalled out in the polls, commanding a six-point lead in the late August Journal survey and the same six-point edge over Republican Greg Hull in the late September poll. So, while it's not exactly Obama to the rescue, the video endorsement of Haaland by the former president is timely as Haaland needs to consolidate the remaining undecided Democrats. Obama said:

New Mexico, you have an opportunity to elect a real fighter as your next governor: Deb Haaland. Deb and I started out as organizers, and we learned that leadership is about listening, getting to know people, and hearing their stories. That's what Deb did on my campaign, knocking on thousands of doors in Indian Country. And all these years later, she's still listening to folks in every corner of New Mexico.

Haaland, who served as New Mexico's Native American vote director during Obama’s 2012 reelection campaign, said she was "honored to earn" Obama's support:

Just like President Obama, I got my start as an organizer where I knocked on thousands of doors, listened to New Mexicans, and heard their stories," she said. "Now, I’m running for Governor to take those concerns to the Roundhouse and create a New Mexico where everyone can thrive.

According to polling, Obama is the most popular politician in the nation with 99 percent name ID and 61 percent popularity. He carried New Mexico in 2008 and 2012.

The Atlantic wrote recently of how the former president has wrestled with the turn the Dems have taken to the left. Haaland was one of the most liberal members of the U.S. House when elected in 2018, but since has moderated.

This is the Home of New Mexico politics.