Roundhouse Roundup: Madrid’s headaches hot Beltway topic
The article was written by Josh Kurtz, a former writer for The Santa Fe Reporter, now Roll Call’s political editor. (WOW I never knew that! That's like having the head of the FBI come from New Mexico. ) Kurtz’s story talks about the ongoing trial of former state Treasurer Vigil. “When the Vigil scandal first broke last fall, Madrid and Gov. Bill Richardson (D) — who could also face some collateral damage — were criticized when they signed off on a deal that enabled Vigil to temporarily step down with full pay and benefits,” Kurtz writes. He also mentions Taxation and Revenue Secretary Jan Goodwin’s testimony last week that as director of the Board of Finance in 2002 she’d written Madrid calling for an investigation of possible hanky-panky with treasurer’s investments. (Madrid’s office said it never received the letter.) Richardson “could also face some collateral damage,” Kurtz writes The Roll Call story talks about Madrid’s ties with state Insurance Commissioner Serna, who currently is on paid leave while being investigated for his dealings with Century Bank, which received a state contract after contributions to Con Alma — a health-care nonprofit that Serna and Madrid co-founded . Serna stepped down as president of Con Alma after the story about Century Bank broke. The story quotes “one plugged-in Democratic lobbyist in Santa Fe” saying that Serna and Madrid are “two peas in a pod ... They created Con Alma together.” It’s clear, Kurtz writes, “that the political implications for Madrid’s high-stakes battle with Wilson — a perennial target in an Albuquerque-based district that leans modestly Democratic — are staggering.”
Oh, snap! But wait a second, didn't the DCCC and everybody recruiting Madrid to run for the seat already know about this stuff? It's not like this is a big surprise. Dems knew they'd purchased damaged goods going into the race. Ahh, the strategic brilliance of the Democratic leadership. Thank god G.W. can't run for a third term.
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