Sound Off! US Chamber of Commerce vs. NM Democratic Judges

Folks:

The national chamber of commerce has landed in New Mexico. In case you're feeling apathetic or indifferent about that fact, know this: the chamber has been successful in 21 out of 24 races they have entered. They have spent an average of something like $300,000 per race -- they recently spent $1.5 million in a PRIMARY in Washington state.

The purpose of the campaign is to elect right-wing ideological flunkies who are not qualified to serve the public in a judicial capacity. They bash injured plaintiffs, trial lawyers, and sitting judges. They enter late because (i) that is when negative ads (read, "lies") are most effective and (ii) their presence does not have to be disclosed -- usually for two weeks after dropping funds -- by the candidates they back until it is too late to do anything about it. The ads are based almost entirely on deception and falsehoods aimed at blaming the country's economic woes on our court system.

We know you won't be fooled. Keeping open access to our courts is the only way to preserve basic liberties and to hold the powerful and the corporations in some way accountable for their misdeeds. It is also the only way to make sure that people who are injured through no fault of their own are fairly compensated. Ultimately, access to the courts keeps New Mexico safe.

The judges listed below were selected based on their qualifications for office and they were vetted and nominated through the judicial selection process, a process that was implemented in order to try to take special interest money and partisan politics out of judicial races. The Chamber of Commerce is trying to undo that system by pouring in large sums of money and overwhelming the system.

Please tell your friends and acquaintances about the judicial candidates you think are most qualified, but please also let them know about the presence of outside forces trying to manipulate New Mexico elections. Please also put up yard signs and talk to your neighbors.

Following is information I have collected about various judges who are fine judges who should receive your support:

1. NM Supreme Court Justice Edward L. Chavez -- signs were available beginning September 10. Get in line to get yours from John Blair, e-mail: john@edchavez2004.com; phone: 243-9112; and fax 248-0261. Justice Chavez is facing a contested election with a right-wing ideologue as his opponent. Justice Chavez is the main target of the Chamber of Commerce.

2. NM Supreme Court Justice Richard Bosson. Justice Bosson is up for a retention election.

3. Ct. App. Judge Michael Vigil -- signs can be obtained through his campaign coordinator, Maria Berry, at 341-0324.

4. Judge Rod Kennedy, Ct. App. (retention election).

5. 2nd Judicial District Judge Linda Vanzi -- signs can be obtained from Maureen Sanders for pick up at 102 Granite NW in Albuquerque; phone is 243-2243. Judge Vanzi is being attacked for having done work for the ACLU and for working on civil rights cases for plaintiffs.

6. 2nd Judicial District Judge Valerie Mackie Huling -- she is running low on signs, but they can be obtained from Joann Erickson at 823-4745.

7. 2nd Judicial District Judge Nan Nash -- signs can be obtained from Edward Messett at 764-6086.

8. 2nd Judicial District Judge Michael Kavanaugh -- signs can be obtained from his bailiff at 841-7499 or 841-7500 (Robert).

9. Metro Court candidate Clyde Demersseman.
   

Thank you very much. Have a nice day.

Scott E. Borg
Rosenfelt, Buffington & Borg, P.A.
1805 Carlisle, NE
Albuquerque, NM 87110
266-3441, 266-8972 (fax)

(Note from editor: There's a link under our Candidates sidebar on the left-hand side of this page to many of the judicial candidates' web pages. There's also a link to the Judicial Performance Evaluation Commission, which evaluates judges and is another source of information on candidates.)