Democracy for New Mexico

Colón Names Geise Interim Executive Director for DPNM

The Dem prez caucus aftermath continues. I just received this release from the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colón announced today that Laura E. Sanchez has resigned as Executive Director. Chairman Colón named Josh Geise as the Interim Executive Director.

“Laura did a tremendous job during my first year as Chairman as we embarked on an unprecedented listening tour around our State to reach out to Democrats in all corners of New Mexico,” Colón said.  “Laura’s work ethic and dedication to the Democratic Party have never wavered and I wish her the best of luck in the future.”

“As we move forward to November our singular focus is carrying New Mexico for our Democratic Presidential Nominee, electing Tom Udall to the US Senate and winning all three open congressional seats,” Colón said. “This is a historic year in New Mexico and I’m excited to have Josh leading our staff at the Party as we move forward to November.”

“I am excited to be returning to the Party in what is shaping up to be the most intense campaign cycle in New Mexico history,” Geise said. “We have a lot of long days and nights ahead of us and with the leadership of Chairman Colón, I am confident November 4th is going to be a very good night for New Mexico Democrats.

Geise most recently worked on Governor Richardson’s Presidential campaign as his Early States Political Director. Prior to that he served as the Coordinated Campaign Director for the Democratic Party of New Mexico in 2006.

NM-02: McCamley vs. Teague

Democrat Bill McCamley, running for Congress in New Mexico's Second District, today announced more endorsements from key elected officials in NM-02. Here's a PDF of the McCamley campaign's statement on the new endorsements from former State Rep. J. Paul Taylor (Doña Ana County), former Capitan Mayor Benny Coker, Socorro County Commission Chairman Jay Santillanes and Sierra County Commissioner Walter Armijo.

Personally, I'm a big fan of McCamley, who's been running a textbook grassroots campaign down South against Dem rivals Harry Teague, Al Kissling and Frank McKinnon. A candidate willing to work hard for every volunteer, every small campaign donation and every primary vote, McCamley has raised more than $280,000 the hard way, opened a live and kickin' campaign office in Las Cruces and continues to talk passionately about new ways to approach and solve the serious problems we face.

His campaign isn't funded by large donations from oil business tycoons, good ol' boys and personal wealth like McTeague's. It isn't based on more of the same old same old, but focuses on taking a fresh and creative look at how we can make the changes we need to get back on the right track, moving towards a positive future. It's evident that the voters in this election cycle want change, fresh ideas and challenges to business as usual. I think McCamley is a good example of the kind of candidate who can flourish is this atmosphere and tap into the voters' hunger for a new way of doing things that's responsive to the people, not the lobbyists and vested special interests.

Harry Teague and Oil Interests
McCamley's main rival, Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague, made millions in businesses related to oil and didn't enter the race until November. He stepped up to the plate with $200,000 of his own money and the backing of wealthy friends in Lea County, many of them former supporters of Steve Pearce and the Republican Party. Teague is running as a Democrat, but shares many of the conservative views of politicos on the other side of the aisle. It shows in who's donating funds to his campaign.

Recently, Harry Teague announced his year-end fundraising numbers. Between November 8th, when Harry announced his candidacy, and December 31st of last year Harry's campaign raised a total of $408,610.00 and reported $362,735.51 cash-on hand. Harry has loaned $200,000 of his own money to the campaign, so that means he raised about 208,000 from outside sources during the quarter.

Let's take a closer look at Teague's donations. A colleague who's much better with numbers than I am examined Teague's year-end FEC report and shed some light on the kinds of donations he's getting:

• the average donation was $1,300 per individual
• Teague is backed by the same people who have donated to Pearce
  • 28 (or 18%) of Teague donors have given a total of $94,635 to Pearce
  • $45,250 (or 22%) of Teague's contributions came from Pearce donors
• Teague gets his money from those who give to Republicans:
  • 34 of his donors (or 22%) have given a total of $143,385 to Republicans
  • $51,800 of Teague’s contributions (or 26%) came from Republican donors
• Teague gets his money from the oil industry:
  • 61 of his donors (or 39%) are linked to the oil industry
  • $103,470 (or 51%) of his contributions are from people linked to the oil industry
• Teague’s money comes almost entirely from Lea County:
  • 135 (or 87%) of his donors were from Lea County
  • $172,110 (or 85%) of his contributions were from Lea County
  • Just 5 (or 3%) of Teague’s contributors were from the district outside of Lea County

Teague is trying to convince folks that his oil-related businesses and close ties to oil-related wealth won't stop him from strongly supporting the development of new energy sources and technologies. But you have to wonder how independent a politico can be if so much of his campaign cash comes from interests that would benefit from keeping the creators of the energy status quo in the driver's seat.

You can get learn more and get involved in Bill McCamley's campaign at www.billmccamley.com/.

Also see New Mexico FBIHOP's on the Second District race and the recent profile of the contest by CQ Politics.

To see our previous coverage of the NM-02 Congressional race, check our archive.

ACTION ALERT: Urge Gov. Richardson to Veto Damaging Uranium Cleanup Bill

Eastern Navajo Dine Against Uranium Mining (ENDAUM), alongside the Southwest Research Information Center (SRIC) and many other environmental justice organizations, fought hard against uranium mining industry-friendly legislation throughout the 2008 New Mexico State Legislative Session, only to see SB487 (Ulibarri) become the final bill to be voted upon during the closing minutes of the session.

If signed in to law, SB487 would create an industry-biased source for cleanup of abandoned uranium mines because it ties cleanup of mining sites to production from new uranium mining and mills -- which many residents of impacted communities oppose. The bill would also absolve companies that created abandoned uranium mines from responsibility, and pre-empt efforts to inventory abandoned uranium mines and their past operators, and develop recommendations for a state Superfund for abandoned uranium mines.

The organizations are now encouraging New Mexicans to contact Governor Bill Richardson (505-476-2200) to veto the legislation in lieu of a critical analysis to understand clean-up needs and the industry's impact on New Mexican communities' health. For more information, please contact Leona Morgan, of ENDAUM at leona.morgan@yahoo.com.

According to a call to action issued by SAGE Council:

SB 487/a is disguised as a uranium cleanup bill, but only invites uranium companies to reopen their mines and add to the already devastating affects to both the environment and the health of the people. The bill, sponsored by Senator Ulibarri, passed the Senate floor just minutes before the session ended. Please call the Governor and ask him to VETO THIS BAD URANIUM BILL!

Anne Kass Guest Blog: The NM Caucus & Privatized Elections

This is a guest blog by political activist and retired Second Judicial District Judge Anne Kass of Albuquerque:

Enough with the headlines and lead sentences about how embarrassing the Democratic "Caucus" was on February 5th. That so many voters were made to wait in long lines was shameful, but that was the result of not enough money and volunteers to provide an adequate number of voting sites. Not having enough money is a problem, but it's not an embarrassment. In truth, we did the best we could with the limited resources we had.

As for the headlines that continued during the week proclaiming that the outcome of the "Caucus" remained unknown, get a grip -- and lose the word "winner"! The election was not about winners or losers. The election was about how to apportion New Mexico's delegates to the Democratic National Convention. New Mexico is not a winner-take-all state.

We knew the outcome of the election before we went to bed Tuesday night. The outcome was, and is, that New Mexico Democrats are roughly evenly divided between Hillary Clinton and Barak Obama, and each one of them will receive delegates from New Mexico. 

What's With the Lists?
The really important story from this event has to do with the 17,000 provisional ballots. As someone who worked with provisional ballots at one of the polling places, it appeared to me that easily half of those made to vote provisionally were regular voters, at their correct polling place. Still their names did not appear on our list. Albuquerque Journal columnist Jim Belshaw reported that Judge William F. Lang was made to vote provisionally because his name did not appear on the list at his regular polling plase. A friend who worked at another site said their list had no names beginning with the letter "A." The big, and important, question -- and news story -- is: What's with the lists?

I only recently learned that Secretary of State, Mary Herrera has privatized or outsourced voter list maintenance to ES&S. As reported on Alternet:

"James Flores, spokesman for Secretary of State Mary Herrera, a Democrat. 'There is a (voter) list and it is compiled by ES&S (Election Systems and Software).'"

I, and every Democrat I know, made it clear to Ms. Herrera, when she was asking for our votes, that privatization of our election process had to stop, which she promised she would do. Needless to say, I'm very disappointed to learn that she broke her promise and has contracted with a corporation the name of which my mind instantly associates with the words "election fraud."

See this document prepared by VotersUnite.org if you're comfortable with ES&S having its mitts in our election process.

The Democratic Party should be spending its resources tracking down each one of those 17,000 provisional voters, first, to make sure their names DO appear on the lists for November, and then to find out why their names were not on the lists, or more to the point, who exactly is responsible for their names not being on the lists. If it's ES&S, they should be investigated. Whether ES&S is or is not responsible for the faulty lists, we need to stop privatizing our election process, period.

And to those quoted in the Albuquerque Journal who had harsh words for Democratic Party officials and the volunteers who worked the "Caucus," -- such as Mr. Andrew Mook who was reported to have said, "Why must we continue to suffer these vestiges of total incompetence?" or Former Attorney General Patricia Madrid who was reported to have said the caucus was a "major embarrassment" and that the Party didn't spend enough money to fund it; or Former County Commissioner Daymon Ely who was reported to have said, "What they did is political malpractice..." I say, next election, don't just go to vote -- volunteer to work for and contribute money to the Democratic Party (as opposed to a candidate) so the Party will have the resources to prevent the shameful consequence of voters being disillusioned by long lines and defective voter lists.

Oh yes, and just in case either Senator Clinton or Senator Obama dares to complain about the "Caucus" process, it would have been much wiser if, instead of sending their many volunteers to the polling sites to watch, they had sent them to the Party to work.

This is a guest blog by Anne Kass, who posts periodically on DFNM. Guest blogs provide our readers with an opportunity to express their opinions, and may or may not represent 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 side of the page.

Santa Fe City Council Passes Peace and Plutonium Resolutions

As reported in the Santa Fe New Mexican, the Santa Fe City Council last week passed resolutions regarding plutonium pit production by Los Alamos National Lab and the celebration of Mother's Day by the city.

One resolution directs the city clerk to inform federal authorities of the city's opposition to the production of plutonium pits by LANL in line with the National Nuclear Security Administration's recently released draft environmental impact statement. According to the resolution, the transformation would result in releases of hazardous and radioactive waste in the area.

The second resolution will return Mother's Day to its original mission, with a peace rally on the Plaza this May 11th and every Mother's Day going forward. The national holiday was established in 1870 at the urging of Julia Ward Howe, a feminist abolitionist, who wrote it should be an occasion to encourage women to "solemnly take counsel with each other as to the means whereby the great human family can live in peace," according to the resolution.

DEA Ordered Seizure of Medical Marijuana from Paraplegic Patient

Priorities, priorities. Goon squads on parade in New Mexico.

From the ACLU New Mexico: CARLSBAD, NM - According to a sworn affidavit filed this past week by an Eddy County law enforcement official, the seizure of medical marijuana from a local paraplegic man, "was done at the direction of and under the guidance and control of the [Drug Enforcement Administration] DEA."  The affidavit, submitted by David Edmondson, Commander of the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, which conducted the seizure on September 4, 2007, makes clear that the federal government directed local law enforcement to seize the medical marijuana of a patient fully authorized to use the medicine under state law.

"This is yet another glaring example of the federal government's improper obstruction of states' ability to implement compassionate and sensible medical marijuana policies," said Adam Wolf, an attorney with the American Civil Liberties Union's Drug Law Reform Project.  "For the DEA to co-opt local law enforcement in its misguided assault on medical marijuana patients is both callous and unconstitutional."

On September 4, 2007, at least four Eddy County deputies, acting as members of the Pecos Valley Drug Task Force, arrived at the home of Leonard French in Malaga, New Mexico. French, a paraplegic who experiences intense pain and severe muscle spasms stemming from 1987 motorcycle accident, holds a license issued by the state of New Mexico identifying him as a medical marijuana patient under the Lynn and Erin Compassionate Use Act.

Assuming that the deputies had arrived to check his compliance with the state compassionate use law, French presented the deputies with his identification card and showed them his hydroponic equipment, including two small marijuana plants and three dead sprouts.  Acting under the guidance of the DEA, according to yesterday's affidavit, the deputies seized the equipment and plants and later turned them over to the federal agency.

The ACLU, which represents French in a pending legal challenge, says the seizure violated not only New Mexico's Compassionate Use Act, but also state forfeiture laws and a constitutional prohibition on unreasonable searches and seizures. French has not been charged with any violations of federal or state drug laws.

The affidavit is available online here. The ACLU's legal filing is available online here.

The New Mexico Legislature passed the medical marijuana bill during its 60-day Session in 2007.

See our previous post on the ACLU lawsuit on behalf of French.

Auditor Balderas Meets with Czech Republic Delegation to Discuss Transparency and Ethics in Democracy

Hector Balderas (far right) and Czech delegation. (Click on photo for larger image.)

Yesterday, State Auditor Hector Balderas met in Santa Fe with a distinguished delegation from the Czech Republic to discuss transparency and ethics in democracy. The delegation was invited to tour the United States under the auspices of the Department of State’s International Visitor Leadership Program.

“It is an honor to meet representatives from the Czech Republic to exchange knowledge and ideas about ethics in government,” Balderas stated. “As a burgeoning democracy, the Czech Republic is undergoing numerous challenges in developing systems for accountability and transparency. I hope our dialogue continues for months and years to come, and that I can be a resource in assisting them with government reform.”

The Department of State has outlined the following specific objectives for the project:

• To explore how U.S. federal, state, and district agencies combat corruption;

• To examine the crucial role of NGOs, such as watchdog agencies, in ensuring transparency in politics and public institutions;

• To address issues of judicial ethics and reform; and

• To explore whistleblower protections in the United States.

“As New Mexico’s Auditor, I continue to face challenges in combating government fraud, waste and abuse,” Balderas added. “Resources, innovation, and collaboration are the key to ensuring success in governmental accountability. The public deserves no less.”

The Czech Republic delegation visited New Mexico for two days and consists of high-level prosecutors, law enforcement, and directors of non-governmental organizations.

Saturday: Insight New Mexico Radio's Legislative Wrap-Up

From Insight New Mexico:
The lastest installment of airs on Albuquerque's Progressive Talk Radio 1350 AM from Noon to 1:00 PM on Saturday, February 9. Cohosted by Heather Brewer and Javier Benavidez and produced by Suzanne Prescott. You can call in live during the show with your questions and comments at 338-4090. This week's show:

Joe Monahan will be with us to wrap up our series of shows on the legislature, 2008 version. What have the alligators told Joe about our show continuing after the legislature?

Senator Ortiz y Pino talks with
DFNM's Mary Ellen Broderick  before a show last year

Senator Jerry Ortiz Y Pino is back with us again for the 2008 legislative wrap-up edition.  He'll tell us why he voted for the TIDDS legislation and what success and disappointments were made this legislative session.

State Rep. Moe Maestas joins us to give his take on actions taken in the House during the 2008 legislative session.

Tonight on New Mexico In Focus: Legislative Session Wrap-Up

From New Mexico IN FOCUS: FRIDAY, FEB. 15 at 7:00 PM and repeated SUNDAY, FEB. 17 at 6:30 AM  on  Channel 5, KNME-TV. Hosted by Gene Grant and David Alire Garcia.

This Week’s TOPICS: The 2008 Legislative Session Wraps Up With Issues, from Universal Health Care To Domestic Partnership And Ethics Reform; The Growing Tension Between Lawmakers and Gov. Richardson; The Congressional Candidates Make Their Campaigns Official; The Ballot Counting Continues In The Democratic Presidential Caucus; The Battle Over Oil And Gas Drilling In The Galisteo Basin Rages On.

This Week’s GUESTS: Walter Bradley, Former Lt. Governor; Senator Carlos Cisneros, (D) Questa;  Senator Linda Lopez, (D) Albuquerque; Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino, (D) Albuquerque; Representative Danice Picraux, (D) Albuquerque; Representative Lucky Varela, (D) Santa Fe

GUEST PANELISTS: Jennifer Duke, Communications Manager, CNM; Joe Powdrell, Former President, NAACP New Mexico

This Weekend: Controversial Play 'My Name Is Rachel Corrie' at Out chYonda

Denver-based political theatre collective, Countdown to Zero, in partnership with Justice First!, announces the premier New Mexico production of 'My Name Is Rachel Corrie,' the highly controversial play, in a limited run at the Out ch'YondA Art Space (929 Fourth St. SW, Albuquerque). The play was created from the personal journal entries, emails, and writings of the young activist Rachel Corrie (above right) after her death in 2003 while trying to stop an Israeli bulldozer in a Palestinian residential area in Gaza. An idealistic, curious, and passionate young woman is presented as she explores her personal world as well as that of the complex world of Middle Eastern politics.

After a critically-acclaimed run in Denver, Countdown to Zero's production will run for two performances only, Saturday, February 16, 2:00 PM, and Sunday, February 17, at 2:00 PM. This play was chosen as an artistic vehicle for community conversation. After both performances, post-show discussions will be offered in order to address the issues raised in the play and to encourage fair and honest conversation and reflection. Ticket prices are $20. For reservations and information visit www.RachelABQ.com or call 505-350-1276.

Click for info on a companion event set for Saturday at 6:30 PM at the Albuquerque Mennonite Church where artists and activists will discuss political theater and music.

Read what the press has written about Countdown to Zero's production in Denver:

• The Rocky Mountain News: Worlds collide in 'Corrie'; actress brings grace and force to Mideast drama, reviewed 11/2/07
• The Denver Post: Rachel Corrie: Staging a protest (with images), reviewed 9/28/07
• Westword: A dead reckoning in Gaza, reviewed 11/4/07

A recent article in the Albuquerque Journal's Venue discusses Rachel Corrie's life and activism, and how and why the play was created. Excerpt:

Rachel Corrie, 23, grew up in Olympia, Wash., as a fairly typical young woman with fairly typical interests and wants. The daughter of an insurance executive and amateur flutist, Corrie had been a college student and a mental health worker. She wrote in her journal about her job, boys, her parents and that she liked the music of Pat Benatar.

Corrie went to Gaza in the troubled Middle East in 2003 as a member of the International Solidarity Movement, which was protesting the demolition of hundreds of Palestinian homes by the Israeli Defense Forces. She was called a traitor by some Americans, but her efforts in the Gaza Strip came from a desire to help people, as shown through her writings. Even as young as 12, she wrote about wanting to end child hunger worldwide.

Corrie was curious, creative, funny, idealistic, sometimes contrary and she so wanted to make the world a better place, Vicki Johnson of Justice First! said in a phone interview.

"She was an intensely passionate young girl on the verge of a wonderful, great life," Johnson said.

... Corrie died in Rafah on the Gaza Strip in March 2003 as she tried to protect the home of a Palestinian family that was being bulldozed by Israeli Defense Forces along the Gaza border with Egypt. She had on earlier occasions stayed overnight in the homes of other Palestinians to try to stop their demolition. Israeli officials called her death an accident, saying that the bulldozer driver didn't see Corrie as she was pulled under the blade of the heavy machinery.

After her death, her family and friends began talking about a play based on Corrie's life. As they pored over her personal journals, e-mails and other writings, they realized there was more than enough there so she could tell her own story. Some poignant e-mails from her worried parents were included, but mostly, the play is from Corrie's perspective.

Visit the Rachel Corrie Foundation for Peace and Justice.

Organizations involved in Albuquerque's production of the play:

Out ch’YondA Live Arts Studio
Out ch’YondA Live Arts exists in the margins for folks who need and want to do art “by any means necessary.” It is a nurturing and creative environment for those who dwell on the edges of our society.

Countdown to Zero
Countdown to Zero is a political theatre collective dedicated to theatrical based political dialogue. It aims to expand community exchange locally and nationally in a time of charged political extremes.

Justice First!
Justice First! advocates diplomacy based on international and humanitarian law as the best hope for peace.