Posts Tagged ‘New Mexico’
GOP Has Rare Shot at Secretary of State Office
Last Updated on Friday, 15 October 2010 03:50 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 13 October 2010 12:29
From SantaFeNewMexican:
For the past eight decades or so, the battle over who is elected New Mexico’s secretary of state has been decided in the Democratic primary. This election might be different.
Since early this year, incumbent Mary Herrera has faced a growing number of complaints — from her own staff as well as some county clerks across New Mexico — and has had to endure a barrage of bad publicity, including reports of possible criminal investigations.
Some believe the Republican candidate — longtime state Sen. Dianna Duran of Tularosa, a former Otero County clerk — has a fighting chance.
Could a Republican actually win this job?
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Secretaries of State | No Comments
Republicans Win AG and Secretary of State Endorsements in New Mexico
Last Updated on Friday, 15 October 2010 03:52 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 12 October 2010 02:01
From ABQJournal:
The Journal makes recommendations in these three statewide races in the Nov. 2 general election:
Secretary of State — Dianna Duran
There’s no question the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office has been plagued by scandal. From Rebecca Vigil-Giron’s indictment involving millions in federal voter funds to the parade of incumbent Mary Herrera’s now ex-employees talking to the FBI, one of the state’s most important offices has been in the public eye for all the wrong reasons.
Republican Dianna Duran, who has represented Otero and Doña Ana counties in the state Senate since 1993, has the qualifications and plans to put the office in the spotlight for the right ones.
Duran vows to put sound management principles in place and “look carefully at every dollar spent.” She plans to work with county clerks and the Legislature to implement photo voter ID, and recounts specific examples of voter fraud she’s heard on the campaign trail to show why. And she will collaborate with the state’s 33 county clerks so rules that work are promulgated in a timely fashion.
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Attorney General News, Secretaries of State | No Comments
NM: AG Lets Governor Write-in Candidate Run without Lt. Governor
Last Updated on Monday, 4 October 2010 07:38 Written by rslcpol Friday, 1 October 2010 01:52
From KRWG:
Herrera has come under criticism from her Republican opponent, Dianna Duran, and several county clerks.
Assistant Attorney General Tania Maestas said the state Constitution does not specifically prohibit a write-in candidate for governor and the state’s ballots are “neither blatantly illegal nor unconstitutional.” Herrera’s office released the letter on Thursday.
Critics of Herrera’s decision point to a constitutional provision that says the governor and lieutenant governor shall be elected jointly.
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Attorney General News | No Comments
New Mexico Attorney General Debate – Matt Chandler (R) vs. Gary King (D)
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 10:39 Written by rslcpol Monday, 20 September 2010 09:36
Click on the play button above to hear the full debate.
Be sure to check out Republican Matt Chandler’s website and find out what you can do to help him win the Attorney General race in New Mexico:
http://mattchandler2010.com/
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Blog | No Comments
NM: Secretary of State Candidates Neck and Neck in Fundraising
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 10:45 Written by rslcpol Tuesday, 14 September 2010 01:26
From The New Mexico Independent:
Embattled Secretary of State Mary Herrera and her Republican challenger Dianna Duran raised almost exactly the same amount in the last quarter, with Duran bringing in $29,070 to Herrera’s $28,681. But while Herrera’s still got $74,465.04 cash on hand, Duran only has $35,891.48 left.
Herrera benefited from donations unions; she received $5,000 each from AFSCME and the Plumbers & Steamfitters Local #412, and $2,500 from the National Education Association – New Mexico Education PAC.
Herrera also has two $100 donation listed simply as “anonymous,” one dated June 29 and another on July 9.
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Secretaries of State | No Comments
New Mexico: Scandals a Factor in AG race
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 10:48 Written by rslcpol Monday, 13 September 2010 01:25
From SantaFeNewMexican.com:
When Jim Bibb and Gary King ran for attorney general four years ago, one of the campaign’s main themes was corruption.
This year, in the race between King, the Democratic incumbent, and Clovis Republican Matt Chandler, the main theme is … corruption.
Chandler says King has done little to stem a tide of wrongdoing in the state during his term. King says he’s done more than perhaps any other attorney general.
In 2006, the race to become New Mexico’s top law enforcer took place against the backdrop of the misdeeds of former state treasurer Michael Montoya. This year’s race, which will be decided in the Nov. 2 general election, comes amid other scandals, including controversies involving state investments, in which questions were raised about fees paid and loans provided by figures with political connections, and at the Secretary of State’s Office, where former employees have alleged wrongdoing.
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Attorney General News | No Comments
Did Meeting with FBI get Staffers of Democrat Secretary of State Fired?
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 10:52 Written by rslcpol Wednesday, 8 September 2010 12:05
From NewsWest9.com:
Two employees in the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office who were put on administrative leave last month reportedly have been fired.
Former office spokesman James Flores and ex-office manager Manuel Vildasol claim they were terminated in retaliation for meeting with the FBI over allegations of criminal wrongdoing in the Secretary of State’s Office.
But Deputy Secretary of State Francisco Trujillo tells KOB-TV that Flores and Vildasol were fired for allegedly secretly recording employees and creating a “hostile work environment.”
Current and former employees of Secretary of State Mary Herrera have leveled allegations ranging from possible kickbacks on contracts to office employees campaigning for Herrera on state time.
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Dems Behaving Badly, Secretaries of State | No Comments
NM: AG’s Office Investigating Democrat Secretary of State’s Office
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 11:24 Written by rslcpol Monday, 30 August 2010 12:46
From KRWG:
The New Mexico Attorney General’s Office confirmed it’s investigating allegations of wrongdoing in the Secretary of State’s Office.
Current and former employees of Secretary of State Mary Herrera have leveled allegations ranging from possible kickbacks on contracts to office employees campaigning for Herrera on state time.
Herrera has said the allegations were false and politically motivated.
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Dems Behaving Badly, Secretaries of State | No Comments
New Mexico Attorney General Faces Cover up Allegations
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 11:24 Written by rslcpol Friday, 27 August 2010 01:03
From the New Mexico Independent:
Attorney General Gary King attempted to cover up allegations of wrongdoing by Secretary of State Mary Herrera, an Española attorney charged Thursday.
Attorney Rudy Martin said his client, A.J. Salazar, spoke to the FBI last week after turning over telephone numbers and potential witnesses to state Attorney General (AG) investigators five months ago, about the time he quit as Herrera’s state elections director and alleged wrongdoing in a resignation letter.
“The two (AG) investigators did their job,” Martin told The Independent. “Gary tried to play politics and swept everything under the rug” to help Herrera and other Democrats in an election year, Martin said. That lack of action ultimately led two of his other clients — Herrera’s office manager, Manny Vildasol, and her public information officer, James Flores – to also go to the FBI with allegations of wrongdoing, Martin added.
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Attorney General News | No Comments
NM: Democrat Secretary of State Denies doing wrong
Last Updated on Wednesday, 29 September 2010 11:25 Written by rslcpol Thursday, 26 August 2010 02:09
From news9west.com:
A lawyer for current and former employees of Secretary of State Mary Herrera says his clients have talked to the FBI about allegations of wrongdoing in the office.
Rudy Martin of Espanola is an attorney for former elections bureau director A.J. Salazar and for two employees who have been placed on administrative leave by Herrera. Those are James Flores, who has served as press spokesman for Herrera, and office administrator Manny Vildasol.
Martin said Thursday his clients told the FBI about wrongdoing involving contracts as well as office employees campaigning for Herrera on state time.
Tags: New Mexico | Posted under Secretaries of State | No Comments