Democracy for New Mexico

Common Cause NM Proposes Changes to ABQ Public Campaign Financing System

Improving on Success
Candidates used Albuquerque’s new public campaign financing system for the first time during the city's municipal election on October 2, 2007. Designed to cut special interest money out of the electoral equation as well as increase the number of qualified citizens able to run for public office, the new financing mechanism proved to be an enormous success.

“Common Cause New Mexico advocated for this system from the beginning,” says the group’s executive director Steven Robert Allen, “so we’re especially pleased to see it function so well on its trial run.”

Recently, the nonpartisan government-accountability organization released a report analyzing Albuquerque's initial experience with public campaign financing. Compiled following a detailed study of campaign disclosures as well as interviews with candidates, city councilors and other interested parties, the report acknowledges that, while the system largely functioned as intended, minor alterations could make it even better. With this in mind, the report lists several proposed changes. The full text of “Returning Elections to Voters: Albuquerque’s Success with Voluntary Public Financing of Campaigns” can be found at www.commoncause.org/nm.

Please direct questions regarding this report to Executive Director Steven Robert Allen:

Steven Robert Allen
Executive Director
Common Cause New Mexico
sallen@commoncause.org
(505) 323-6399 (office)
(505) 610-4790 (cell)

Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel

Happy Chanukah, Western Style ....

REMINDER: Fundraiser Tonight for John Blair for State Senate

At Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro in Nob Hill, 5:30-7:30 PM. Click for invitation (pdf).

Saturday: Santa Fe River Town Hall Meeting

From the City of Santa Fe:
A flowing, living Santa Fe River is possible –- come to a town hall meeting on Saturday, December 8, 2007 and tell us what you think! Share your vision and experience. Your input will help shape a plan for the Santa Fe River. The interactive forum will be held from 9 AM to 3 PM at the Genoveva Chavez Community Center, 3221 Rodeo Road. Lunch will be provided courtesy of the Santa Fe Hilton.

This meeting is sponsored by the Santa Fe River Commission, the Santa Fe Watershed Association and the City of Santa Fe. The forum will be professionally facilitated by Toby Herzlich and David Gallegos. To register or for more information, contact the Santa Fe Watershed Association: (505) 820-1696, www.santafewatershed.org, or info@santafewatershed.org.

Denish, Herrera, Balderas To Kick Off NM Presidential Caucus Today in Albuquerque

From the Democratic Party of NM:
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, along with Secretary of State Mary Herrera and State Auditor Hector Balderas, will kick off New Mexico's Democratic Presidential Preference Caucus season with a press conference today, December 5th, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center's Special Events Building in Albuquerque, at 2:00 PM. This press conference will provide an opportunity for journalists to understand the unique details of the Caucus and to educate voters throughout New Mexico on how to vote for the next Democratic nominee for President of the United States.

New Mexico's Presidential Preference Caucus will be conducted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008, enabling New Mexico to participate in a "national primary day" along with 22 other states nationwide.  The Caucus will be in many ways similar to most statewide New Mexico elections, in that voters will be given a paper ballot and then the voter will cast the secret ballot for their preferred candidate.  However, the election will be conducted and financed entirely by the Democratic Party of New Mexico, without any taxpayer expense. Additionally, the number of polling locations will be consolidated to 184 Caucus Sites throughout New Mexico. A list of statewide Caucus Sites will also be distributed at the press conference, and will be available on the Party's website at www.nmdemocrats.org.

New Mexico's Democratic Presidential Preference is important because it gives the voters of New Mexico an opportunity to have a voice in the current high-profile campaign for the Democratic nominee for President. Before 2004, New Mexicans cast their votes for presidential nominees in June, which is typically long after the nominees are determined. The Caucus is also important because it compels presidential candidates to pay particular attention to the unique issues and concerns of the people of New Mexico.

• WHO: Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Secretary of State Mary Herrera, State Auditor Hector Balderas, and Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian S. Colón
• WHAT: Press Conference Kicking Off New Mexico's Democratic Presidential Preference Caucus
• WHERE: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, Special Events Building, 2401 12th St NW, Albuquerque, NM
• WHEN: Wed., Dec. 5th, 2:00 PM

Guest Blog: Marshall Martinez on NM-01 Candidate Michelle Lujan Grisham

This is a guest blog by Marshall Martinez of Albuquerque, who is the prime mover and shaker in the NM-01 Congressional campaign of Democrat Michelle Lujan Grisham. Only 23 years old, Marshall already has years of experience in community and political organizing, and is in his fifth year on the Equality New Mexico board of directors. He's been very active in a number of organizations including the Democratic Party of New Mexico, Young Democrats, NARAL, The League of Conservation Voters, AFSCME Council 18, Las Adelitas Women in Politics, Students for Reproductive Justice and the campaigns of a number of progressive candidates.

Working in politics is tough business.  Doing it day in and day out takes it a great amount of energy, and can definitely drain one of their spirits from time to time.

Occasionally, though, I get to work with someone who breathes life back into the soul of a political junkie like me.  Sure, I’ve always believed in the candidates I’ve worked for before, but this one really sticks out. She mobilizes my passion first thing in the morning.

I am fortunate enough to be working for Michelle Lujan Grisham in her bid for the NM CD 1.

If you don’t know her, here is the backstory. She is an attorney who ran the Elderly Law Referral Service for the New Mexico Bar Association. Michelle was appointed as Director of the state Agency on Aging by Governor Bruce King. She ran the department with such vigor and poise that she was then re-appointed by Republican Governor Gary Johnson. When Governor Richardson took office, he kept her on as well.  In fact, he liked the work she had done so much he turned the Agency on Aging director position into a cabinet secretary job.

After a couple of years at this post, Governor Richardson moved Michelle to the post of Secretary of the Department of Health.

I met her two years ago while working with the New Mexicans for Responsible Sexuality Education.  I was approaching her to ask for her support to refuse the federal abstinence only funding.  We worked closely over the following months to reach a compromise on sexuality education  - a program that has been modeled nationwide.  I was proud to have worked so closely with Michelle during this time period.

After Patricia Madrid lost the election, I was racking my brain to try to think of a candidate who could win this seat in the next election.  And in the middle of the night it occurred to me, Michelle was the one to do it.

Michelle is incredibly quick on her feet. She never backs down in a debate, and can voice her view articulately without hesitation.  I watched her perform with poise and power in the halls of the Legislature two years in a row.  I thought these qualities would be great in a candidate.

After begging Michelle to run for months, I was very excited when she brought me on board to help make the final decision.

Advocates enjoyed working with her as health secretary. Constituents adore her, and Governor Richardson appreciated that she got things done.  There are far more employees at the DOH who support her than there are who dislike her.  She cleaned up a department that was in shambles when she inherited it.

Michelle is a candidate who has a wealth of domestic policy experience.  In a political world that is driven constantly by a misguided war, Michelle not only knows we need to end that war, but also knows how we need to re-direct the path of the nation so that we’re on the right track again. Her in-depth level of policy experience on healthcare, Medicare and Medicaid alone outshines that of any candidate we have ever seen here.  She has an understanding how all of our issues, and the entirety of a Domestic Policy Agenda, are related and interconnected.

I wanted to work for a candidate who, when they get elected, will not need much lobbying.  I want the 1st Congressional District of New Mexico to belong to a champion on the issues important to me, and to other New Mexicans.  Michelle’s office in DC will be a place to meet, and strategize for successes in congress, not a place we have to go to educate her on the issues, and convince her to do the right thing. 

I am proud to be working hard on this race. I am proud to be supporting Michelle Lujan Grisham.  Her progressive credentials are without debate. Her passion and drive are unending. But most of all, her integrity and honesty are beyond question.

I hope you too will take a good look at Michelle. Give her your serious consideration, as a friend and peer of mine.  I am happy to make myself available to anyone who wants to talk more to me about why I am supporting Michelle. I also would set up a time for you to meet with her directly. 

And don’t forget to come out to the Democracy for New Mexico Meetup Thursday night to hear her speak!

www.MichelleLujanGrishamforCongress.com

This is a guest blog by Marshall Martinez of Albuquerque. You can contact him at azulymarron@gmail.com. Guest blogs provide readers with an opportunity to express their views on relevant issues and may or many not reflect our views. If you'd like to submit a piece for consideration as a guest blog, contact me by clicking on the Email Me link on the upper left-hand corner of the page.

To read our previous coverage of the 2008 NM-01 Congressional race, visit our archives. Other Democrats running in the NM-01 primary include Martin Heinrich, Jason Call and Jon Adams.

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish Hosts ABQ Holiday Matanza

Come and Celebrate the Holidays with a Matanza! Lieutenant Governor Diane D. Denish invites you, your family, friends and neighbors to join her for a community holiday celebration and benefit. Please bring a new personal item gift or a new unwrapped toy for Peanut Butter and Jelly or a gift card from any store as admission price for lunch and a visit with Santa Claus!.

Saturday, Dec. 8, 2007, 10:00 AM
The Gutierrez-Hubbell House
6029 Isleta Boulevard SW, Albuquerque, NM (Map)
Please RSVP to Michelle Mares
(505) 270-2330
mmares@dianedenish.com

Chavez Allies on ABQ City Council Desert Their Posts

Councilor Sally Mayer cheering on Mayor Marty's victory in '05

Apparently the City Council allies of Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez would rather pout and throw tantrums than represent their districts and take up matters important to the community. Last night, Repub Councilors Sally Mayer, Don Harris and Trudy Jones, along with Dem Ken Sanchez, refused to attend the scheduled Council meeting. They said they were angry because Brad Winter allegedly changed his decision on who he supported for Council president. Ultimately, Winter ended up as the winner by a unanimous vote of the Councilors left at the meeting -- Debbie O'Malley, Ike Benton, Rey Garduno, Michael Cadigan and Winter himself.

The Mayor's clan headed off in a huff to Capo's restaurant in lieu of attending the meeting, and whined to the media that Winter is dishonest and lacking integrity because he didn't follow through on his alleged promises to vote for Mayer, and later Sanchez, for the Council presidency. Wah. I guess the political wheeling and dealing common to such battles for leadership was somehow shocking to their refined sensibilities. Or maybe they're sore losers just like their mentor Marty, who's running for the U.S. Senate and conducting a campaign so negative in tone it rivals those of the Bush people.

One factor figuring into the brouhaha is that the Council President would become the next Mayor of Albuquerque if hell freezes over and Marty Chavez wins his Senate bid. Marty and his minions, of course, would want one of their own to move up into the city's top spot. Clearly, Dem Councilors Debbie O'Malley, Ike Benton, Rey Garduno and Michael Cadigan find that outcome less than appealing as it would give the pro-sprawl forces the upper hand. As for Repub Brad Winter, he's been locked into a heated, often personal, battle with Chavez for years.

Red-Light Camera Fines Suspended
Despite the runaways, City Council business did proceed with only five councilors present. Winter's red light camera bill was passed by a margin of 3-2. The measure suspends the collection of fines generated by the unpopular intersection cameras until a study is completed in mid-January by a task force abruptly appointed by Chavez when he entered the Senate race. Cadigan, Winter and Garduno voted to suspend the fines, while O'Malley and Benton voted no.

TIF Banned for New Sprawl
A controversial Cadigan-sponsored measure, to preclude the use of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) to fund so-called "green field" development at the city's fringes, passed by a margin of 4-1. Voting for the measure were Cadigan, Benton, O'Malley and Garduno, with Winter voting nay. About 30 people showed up to testify about the proposed TIF changes, almost all of them supportive of the limitations.

TIF was originally proposed as a way to help encourage infill development, but is increasingly being sought to fund massive new developments on the city's fringes like those proposed by Sun Cal on the West Side -- exactly what the original legislation was designed to discourage. Cadigan's measure will limit the use of TIF for developed areas or areas where the financing tool has already been approved.

Many community activists, including members of 1000 Friends of New Mexico, New Mexico Voices for Children, the SouthWest Organizing Project and AFSCME, mounted a strong campaign in support of Cadigan's amendments to the current TIF requirements. And posts on many local blogs, including this one, encouraged readers to contact their Councilors to urge passage of the Cadigan amendements. See our previous post. Although we were successful, the fight is hardly over.

What Happens Next
Messages were quickly dispatched from the deserters' camp that they may well call up one or both measures for appeal at some future date, if and when they decide to return to their posts. Mayor Marty might veto both bills anyway, depending on how the political winds are blowing at the time. Stay tuned.

Denish, Duran Named Top Woman Politicians by Emerge New Mexico

Lt. Governor Diane D. Denish and Española City Councilor Danielle Duran will be honored at an awards ceremony tonight for their contributions to New Mexico politics. The Democratic Woman Politician of the Year and Emerging Democratic Woman Leader awards are conferred by EmergeNewMexico, the state affiliate of the national organization that inspires, recruits and trains Democratic women to run for public office. New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Pamela Minzer will be honored posthumously.

Denish is the first woman in New Mexico to be elected lieutenant governor and is the former chair of the Democratic Party. Duran is the first woman elected to the Española City Council and is the International Trade Coordinator for the Economic Development Department of the State of New Mexico. Both women are native New Mexicans.

• WHAT: EmergeNewMexico Dinner & Awards
• WHO: Lt. Governor Diane D. Denish, Española City Councilor Danielle Duran, and the late Honorable Pamela Minzer, honorees
• WHEN: Tuesday, December 4, 6-9 PM
• WHERE: Anderson-Abruzzo International Balloon Museum, ABQ

Sponsors are Hon. Patricia Madrid, former attorney general; Marchiondo Law Offices, P.C.; and McGinn, Carpenter, Montoya & Love, P.C.; AFSCME Council 18; Christina P. Argyres; Anne Bingaman; Brownstein Hyatt Farber & Schreck, Karen & Stephen Durkovich; Harvey Law Firm; Julianna Koob & Stormy Ralstin; Ruth Kovnat; Patrick Sullivan & Pia Salazar; Sutin, Thayer & Browne; United Association of Plumbers & Pipefitters Local 412; and Vigil Law Firm.

EmergeNewMexico inspires, recruits and trains Democratic women to run for public office. The organization is dedicated to making a long-term investment in future women leaders by developing their political and media skills; expanding their knowledge of issues; and building their networks. For more information, the public can call 505-920-6002, email contact@emergenm.org, or visit www.emergenm.org.

Editor's Note: For more information on tonight's event, see our previous post.

Packed House for John Blair Campaign's Kickoff for District 15 Senate Run

Deanna Archuleta (R) introduces John Blair at fundraiser

We went to Saturday's campaign fundraiser in Albuquerque for Democrat John Blair, who's running for State Senate in District 15. The district is currently represented by two-term incumbent Repub Diane Snyder. The kickoff was hosted by Bernalillo County Commissioner Deanna Archuleta, Patrick Hart, Leslie Kelly, Judy Pratt and Nasha and Raul Torrez. The event was packed and attendees were excited about Blair's chances in the race.

It's a difficult challenge to take on any incumbent candidate, and Snyder is no exception. But it's also clear that momentum has been building for months to try and replace Snyder with someone who would represent the district more energetically and wisely. There seems to be strong widespread support for John Blair being that candidate. Blair is hosting three separate fundraisers this week and has already amassed a list of some 200 volunteers ready to pound the pavement. 

Blair is a graduate of UNM Law School who has served as Legislative Aide to Senator Jeff Bingaman and Chief of Staff to State Auditor Hector Balderas. He's also been active in organizations like the Susan G. Komen Foundation and the Democratic Party, and he has served in several campaigns.

Blair decided to run for office himself because he believes strongly that change is needed at every level of American government if we want to regain our footing and use the power of ethical government to help us solve the serious problems we face. He says it's time to confront the myth that government is the problem, as put forth by Republicans for the last several decades, and show that government can be an effective catalyst for positive accomplishments in areas like health care, renewable energy and environmental sustainability. He'll also work for meaningful ethics and campaign finance reform to help turn government around.

You can sign up for campaign updates at his website at https://johnblair.org/, where you can also make a contribution to his campaign via ActBlue. Blair is also hosting another fundraiser (click for FLYER) on Wednesday, December 5 at Zinc Wine Bar & Bistro, 3009 Central Ave. NE (in Nob Hill) if you would like to make a contribution in person.

If we want to be successful in getting a progressive agenda passed in the legislature, we need to elect more voices for change like Blair. And to elect candidates like Blair we need to donate to counteract the impact of the corporate donors who give to entrenched Republicans like Diane Snyder. Anyone can make a donation or volunteer to help the campaign, even if you don't live in Blair's district. I did.