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Tuesday, August 16, 2005
Mayor Marty Goes Missing Again
Greg Burton's Albuquerque Blog has the scoop on SEEDpac's city candidate forum this past Sunday. As he mentions, Mayor Martin Chavez was missing in action again. Excellent event by SEEDpac though!
As many of our DFA-DFNM Meetup members recall, Marty's campaign had confirmed his attendance at the Democracy for New Mexico mayoral candidate forum back in June, only to call and cancel as we were walking out the door to go down to the hall. The excuse: very important city business. Strangely, this important business seemed to entail Marty donning a pair of shorts and leisurely walking his dog, as reported by one member who witnessed it on the way to the event.
Marty also failed to show at the mayoral candidate forum put on by the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County, but then I guess that's to be expected given how rarely he even pretends to represent Dem concerns these days. Why bother to try and get the votes of Dems when most of your big buck campaign contributions come from Republicans? Or when you have a mutual admiration society going with Republican members of the City Council, especially Tina Cummins and the loathsome Sallly Mayer, who both like to sit in the Mayor's back pocket.
I know the mayor's race is supposed to be nonpartisan, but isn't it time for our local Dem Party to disown Marty Chavez? As far as I can tell, he's against almost every single progressive and/or Democratic core issue we hold dear. How can any real Democrat support a politico who is vehemently AGAINST the Living Wage proposal, AGAINST cleaning up City elections by reforming campaign funding and AGAINST efforts to use our heads in planning, shaping and regulating the future of our city to benefit the common good?
Add in Marty's scandals to the equation, like the evidence room crimes and the ABQPAC bribery scheme, and what you've got is a severely ethically challenged and arrogant politician who works for the monied, right-wing establishment to the detriment of ordinary folks, day in and day out. Pandas anyone? I suggest Marty save some of his anticipated $1 million plus war chest to buy them himself. So he can enjoy them OUT of office. When he's defeated by Eric Griego on October 4th.
PS. You must be registered to vote by 5:00 PM on September 6th to vote in the October 4th municipal election. Click for municipal election info from the . For information on how to register, call the Albuquerque City Clerk's office at 505-768-4090, the Democratic Party of New Mexico at 830-3650 or the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County at 256-1855. Click for the in Bernalillo County.
August 16, 2005 at 10:46 AM in Candidates & Races, Local Politics | Permalink
Comments
"Greg Burton's Albuquerque Blog has the scoop on SEEDpac's city candidate forum this past Sunday. As he mentions, Mayor Martin Chavez was missing in action again."
Why should Mayor Chavez attend an event that was run of, by and for Eric Griego supporters? Prior to the event, SEED PAC's founder, Miles Nelson, contributed money to Griego's campaign and was named as a sponsor of Griego's campaign kickoff event. Former SEED PAC Executive Director and former Nelson for Congress staffer Molly Wales is a paid staffer on the Griego campaign. Moreover, many other prominent SEED PAC supporters have donated to, and publicly announced their support of Griego. I don't think it's fair to be angry at Mayor Chavez for not attending an event sponsored by supporters of his political opponent.
"I guess that's to be expected given how rarely he even pretends to represent Dem concerns these days."
Marty Chavez is a lifelong Democrat and a consistent champion of Albuquerque's working families. As Mayor, he's been a champion of progressive ideas like water conservation, public transportation, environmental protection and building an economy that works for all people. He is a champion of civil rights, a friend of the LGBT community and the first prominent New Mexico politician to endorse Gov. Howard Dean's presidential bid. I don't understand how this qualifies him as "opposed to every progressive issue we hold dear."
Posted by: progressive dem | Aug 16, 2005 2:41:50 PM
Good point! Remember, there's more to Marty than the Mayor's office. He was on the ticket for governor against Gary Johnson (no one seemed to have a problem with his stance on democratic issues then), was a state senator and head of worker's comp. Let's not judge this guy on what's happeded the last couple of years.
He also endorsed Dean --very early on--and it's not like howard rejected him for that.
Posted by: Larry | Aug 16, 2005 2:47:53 PM
I find the whining about Seedpac's event very dismal. Are there supporters of Griego within that group? Sure. Also supporters of other candidates. The point is that the event was run very fairly, and given Chavez's TERRIBLE relations with core Democrats and progressives, you'd think he would want to reach out and tell his story.
What was the excuse about the DFNM mayoral forum? This event was moderated and run by the League of Women Voters, hardly a biased outfit. And how about the event at the Bern Dem Party? Were those people biased against Marty too?
Yes, Chavez used to have some real Dem qualities. Unfortunately, he seems to have thrown them into the sewer when he decided he had to start taking the big bucks to regain his political footing after he lost the gov race. Ever since, he has quite glaringly been in the pockets of the Republican "growth" industry to the detriment of almost everything else in this city.
If he's such a strong Dem and so into progressive causes, how is it that he supports the truly horrible and dishonest Sally Mayer instead of honest progressive Marianne Dickinson for city council? How is it that he supports Tina (DWI liar) Cummins over the progressive in that race? And how come he has way more Republicans donating money and pledging their votes than Dems?
It really is sad what has happened to Chavez. I think he has lost his soul along with his marriage.
Posted by: SWB | Aug 16, 2005 3:04:51 PM
"Let's not judge this guy on what's happeded the last couple of years."
You have got to be kidding me. So what exactly should we judge him on? Using that lodgic we shouldn't judge Bush on his Iraq policy during the last couple years. Just forget the last couple years, like they didn't happen.
Bottom line for me - he's supporting two republicans over two good democrats in city council races. How would we feel if Richardson openly backed a couple Republicans in state house races. People would want him kicked out of the Democratic Party.
Chavez isn't a Democrat or a Republican - he's for whomever can give him the most money and lately that's been the developers.
Posted by: LocalDem | Aug 16, 2005 3:14:02 PM
"I find the whining about Seedpac's event very dismal. Are there supporters of Griego within that group? Sure. Also supporters of other candidates. The point is that the event was run very fairly, and given Chavez's TERRIBLE relations with core Democrats and progressives, you'd think he would want to reach out and tell his story."
Look, the Heritage Foundation can "fairly" run an event. They can give everyone equal time and be cordial. But, that doesn't mean Howard Dean should go speak to them. Why would we send our beloved Howard into a room full of dyed red, kool-aid drunk radical right wingers who he will *never* convince to support him?
The fact is that SEED PAC's leadership have publicly stated their support for and contributed money to Griego. In addition to Nelson and Wales, Patti Gladstone, Theresa Dunn and Stephen Pilon - all prominent SEED PAC supporters, board members and donors - have contributed money, time and art to the Griego campaign.
"What was the excuse about the DFNM mayoral forum? And how about the event at the Bern Dem Party? Were those people biased against Marty too?"
I don't know. And, neither do you. Perhaps he did have a scheduling conflict. I don't think it's logical to automatically assume that he's lying without proof. You know who else likes to conjecture (read: lie) without proof? George W. Bush. You don't want to be like George W. Bush.
"Yes, Chavez used to have some real Dem qualities."
And, he still governs like a real Dem. Let's look at the facts: crime is down, the budget is balanced, public transportation network is expanded, the urban center (downtown) is revitalized, endangered species have been protected, water consumption has dropped 30%, and LGBT couples receive city benefits. Mayor Chavez is a strong leader whose produced results for the city through progressive initiatives.
"Unfortunately, he seems to have thrown them into the sewer when he decided he had to start taking the big bucks to regain his political footing after he lost the gov race." Ever since, he has quite glaringly been in the pockets of the Republican "growth" industry to the detriment of almost everything else in this city."
Wait, let me get this straight: you're arguing that he needed to raise money AFTER he ran for Governor? Doesn't it make more sense that he would've sold out to big $$ while he was raising for his run for governor? I don't understand.
"If he's such a strong Dem and so into progressive causes, how is it that he supports the truly horrible and dishonest Sally Mayer instead of honest progressive Marianne Dickinson for city council?" How is it that he supports Tina (DWI liar) Cummins over the progressive in that race?"
I don't believe the Mayor has endorsed in either of these races. Moreover, it doesn't make sense for him to endorse. Remember, he has to work with the elected city council. It doesn't make sense for him to make enemies amongst people he may have to work with. Hence, it makes perfect sense for him to stay neutral.
"And how come he has way more Republicans donating money and pledging their votes than Dems?"
That's just not true. Plenty of prominent local and national Dems are actively supporting and contributing to the Mayor.
Posted by: progressive dem | Aug 16, 2005 3:34:41 PM
First off, stop calling yourself a progressive dem. If you support Marty, you're not a progressive.
As to the proof about his bagging the DFNM mayoral forum just for the hell of it, he was seen by a member on their way to the event. Walking his dog and wearing shorts.
And yes, he started selling out AFTER he ran for gov because he had no real future in the Party after that. But what he could do was sell out to the highest bidders and be their puppet at the top of city government.
I would love to see a list of the forums Marty HAS shown up for. I'll bet the list is loaded with Republican-heavy groups.
If Marty was such a core Dem, why would he be afraid to appear before a Seedpac audience? What is it these people are for that Marty is against? The three questions at the forum were divided into topics about the uses municipal power, nuclear and environmental concerns and one other generic area I can't recall at the moment. This would be scary to Marty?
You can state all the "facts" you want, but the truth remains that the Chavez administration has been wracked by ethics problems and scandal from the start, and has used bullying tactics on behalf of our weathiest citizens and developers with both the city council and city staff. If you don't know that Marty is in bed with Sally Mayer and Tina Cummins, you're the only one who pays attention to politics in this city that doesn't.
Same thing applies with all the big bucks he's getting from Republicans and mega-developers. Of course there are some Dems in the contributor column. Word on the street is that businesses that don't contribute will get punished by Marty if he wins.
Posted by: SWB | Aug 16, 2005 3:56:44 PM
Get real Chavez apologists. The man is a crook.
Posted by: For Real | Aug 16, 2005 4:00:49 PM
This is politics, we're talkin' about, right? Why should Chavez go to a debate with a bunch of people that obviously don't support him? That makes no sense. He doesn't need your vote so why bother?
It's campaign 101, folks.
Posted by: samantha | Aug 16, 2005 4:32:04 PM
Yeah, he no doubt figures he doesn't need our votes because he is aiming primarily for Republican votes. In other words, he's a Dem running primarily as a Republican. I wonder why.
Usually, mayoral candidates, including mayors, go to a variety of debate events, especially in an allegedly nonpartisan race. However, this mayor goes only to those where he knows he already has support. He may well be surprised come election day that he was too afraid or arrogant to reach out to all sectors of the community.
Posted by: El Norte | Aug 16, 2005 4:54:24 PM
Even if he decided he didn't wanna go to these events, you would think he would at least tell the truth and decline the invitations. Instead, he claims he is attending, then doesn't show. Rude.
Posted by: NMDem | Aug 16, 2005 4:57:18 PM
