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GOP Files Lawsuit Against AG Madrid and SOS Vigil-Giron

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT JONAH COHEN SEPTEMBER 27, 2006
505-298-3662

GOP Files Lawsuit Against AG Madrid and SOS Vigil-Giron

(Albuquerque, NM) - The Republican Party of New Mexico, along with candidates Barbara V. Johnson (nominated for Second Judicial District, Division 2) and Roger Gonzales (nominated for House District 68), are filing a lawsuit today against the Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and Attorney General Patricia Madrid. An emergency hearing was requested of the District Court in Santa Fe asking that the names of Barbara V. Johnson and Roger Gonzales be placed on the ballot for the 2006 General Election, and that the name of Hector Balderas be removed as the Democratic candidate for State Auditor.

The Republican Party has a vested interest in ensuring that the election laws of the State of New Mexico are applied fairly to all political parties and not in an arbitrary or capricious manner. Duly selected nominees of the Republican Party of New Mexico have been unfairly and illegally removed from the ballot by Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron and Attorney General Patricia Madrid.

"Republican nominees have been disfavored and stricken from the General Election ballot while a Democratic candidate has been illegally included," said Marta Kramer, executive director of the state Republican Party. "They have been irreparably harmed because Patricia Madrid and Rebecca Vigil-Giron are re-writing election law to favor their political party."

"More importantly, the voters of HD 68, which includes all or part of San Miguel, Mora, Guadalupe, Colfax and Taos counties, have been disenfranchised because they will not be allowed to vote for any candidate," added Lyn Ott, the election integrity director of the state Republican Party. "The Governor is simply going to appoint a replacement for HD68 and rob the people of their right to vote for a representative." Also at issue is that the Democratic nominee for State Auditor--chosen by the Democratic Party at their Pre-Primary Nominating Convention in March--did not withdraw by the statutory deadline: Tuesday, September 5, 2006. The vote by the Democratic State Central Committee to replace the official Democratic nominee with another candidate was illegal and therefore a nullity, since the elected nominee had been claiming to be running for State Auditor up until September 13, a day after the deadline for filling vacancies.

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Campaign Manager Says Televising Debate Would Be a Disservice to Viewers

Richardson refuses televised debate; says Dendahl too negative : Election : Albuquerque Tribune:

SANTA FE — He's normally not shy around TV cameras, but Gov. Bill Richardson says he doesn't want a debate between him and his GOP opponent broadcast on TV. Richardson's insistence on no cameras proved to be a deal breaker Monday, causing the only scheduled gubernatorial debate this year to be nixed. The debate was scheduled Oct. 15 at Congregation Albert in Albuquerque. Richardson's campaign says it was concerned Republican candidate John Dendahl would spend his time blasting New Mexico and attacking the governor on TV. Dendahl's camp says the governor's reluctance to be televised doesn't make sense, given all the press time he already receives. "He's been touting his list of accomplishments around the country and around the globe," Dendahl spokeswoman Paige McKenzie said. On Friday, both sides seemed ready to debate, but subsequently disagreed on conditions for the event. A campaign manager for Richardson, a first-term Democratic governor and former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, said Dendahl wouldn't focus on the issues, and televising his attacks would be a disservice to viewers "The governor debating at the U.N. or with a world leader for the release of a hostage is different from somebody who had made it clear that his intent is negative attacks that bring down the state," said Amanda Cooper.

That's sort of an ironic statement don't you think?

The Governor's, who's debated at the U.N. (I suppose) and negotiated important issues such as the release of hostages abroad, would be doing a disservice to the people of this state if he were to debate his opponent for office (in New Mexico) on television. The statement seems to imply that New Mexico is somehow greater served by Richardson being at the U.N. or negotiating with North Koreans than with his Gubernatorial opponent. Or maybe that's a misreading and the intent of the statement is to say that all Dendahl would do is criticize the Governor and thereby the state and that would be a disservice to all New Mexico. I'm not sure which position I find more arrogant.

Technorati Tags: CD1, Congress, Democrats, Elections, New Mexico, NM, Patricia Madrid, Politics

NM GOP Files FEC Complaint Against Patricia Madrid Madrid engaging in illegal campaign activity

September 14, 2006

Lawrence H. Norton, Esq.
General Counsel
Federal Election Commission
999 E Street, NW
Washington, D.C. 20463

New Mexico Bureau of Elections
325 Don Gaspar
Suite 300
Santa Fe, NM 87503

Re: Complaint Against Patricia Madrid, Madrid for Congress, Rita Longino as Treasurer

Dear Mr. Norton:

We respectfully file this complaint against Patricia Madrid, candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives in New Mexico’s First Congressional District, for illegal campaign activity made in her capacity as New Mexico Attorney General.

We remind the Commission that this is just another attempt by Patricia Madrid to violate federal election law using non-federal funds. On June 12, a complaint was filed with the Commission that informed you of Madrid’s association with a New Mexico state political action committee, Justice for America, and its likely role in funding her campaign for federal office with unregulated non-federal funds and her continuing control of non-federal funds while a candidate for federal office. In that complaint it was noted that “a large portion of the PAC’s funding came from Stanley Fulton, the owner of Sunland Park racetrack and casino. His $100,000 donation accounted for a fifth of the committee’s fundraising in the last year. Remarkably, according to an article by Jeff Jones, an Albuquerque Journal Politics writer, that donation came “just six weeks after Madrid [in her official capacity as Attorney General] officially objected to a proposed off-reservation casino” near Sunland Racetrack. See Exhibit A. Engaging in official duties in order to receive non-federal funds that assist her campaign for Congress appears to be a pattern for Attorney General Madrid. Such a pattern suggests that her violations are knowing and willful.[1]

Specifically, four of Madrid’s self-aggrandizing mail-brochures, titled “Be Afraid,” “Attorney General Patricia Madrid Has Taken Action to Protect Veterans” (hereinafter “Veterans”), “Spending too much on prescription drugs?” (hereinafter “Prescription Drugs”), and “Message From Danny Escobedo [and] Patricia Madrid” (hereinafter “Meth Lab”), are no less than self-promotional campaign flyers, paid for by state government money, disguised as informational brochures. We ask the Commission to investigate these disturbing violations and punish Madrid and her campaign accordingly.

The Brochures Clearly Constitute Campaign Communications

“Be Afraid”

“Be Afraid,” attached hereto (Exhibit B), purports to warn parents of the dangers of internet predators, but instead glorifies Patricia Madrid’s own purported achievements as state Attorney General. Costing taxpayers over $100,000, the flyer advertises Patricia Madrid far more than any public service.

The brochure reads like an obvious campaign flyer. The cover page tells the ominous story of a preyed-upon 12-year old girl and asks, “Who’s watching your daughter?” Unfolded, Madrid’s name prominently appears eight times in lines such as “Attorney General Patricia Madrid is taking action to keep New Mexico’s children safe,” and “Attorney General Patricia Madrid needs your help to protect New Mexico’s children from online predators.”

In addition, an inset designed to look like a newspaper clipping displays a quote from a January 19, 2006 piece in The Albuquerque Tribune which states that “State Attorney General Patricia Madrid has taken a much needed, aggressive stance in combating internet sexual predators who target children.” The use of the news article praising the Attorney General is neither necessary nor appropriate for an informational advertisement for a state government program. On the brochure’s reverse, a headshot of Madrid[2] prominently appears next to a quote in which she says, “I need you to help me protect New Mexico’s children and teens.” Underneath this, her name appears again in bold, large-font type.

Clearly, the flyer is more about promoting Patricia Madrid’s campaign for Congress than preventing sexual abuse on the Internet.

b. “Veterans”

Similarly, Madrid’s recent flyer regarding theft of veterans’ identities (Exhibit D) is clearly a campaign communication disguised as an official alert from the Attorney General’s office. In bold letters at the top, the flier reads, “Attorney General Patricia Madrid Has Taken Action to Protect Veterans.” Underneath, it states, “The personal information of 26.5 million veterans has been stolen due to the negligence of the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs. New Mexico Attorney General Patricia Madrid has taken action to help you deal with the crisis by developing an Identity Theft Repair Kit that can help you take back your identity.” Next to this caption is a portrait shot of Madrid—apparently the same photo which appears on “Be Afraid.” Next to this photo is a quote from Madrid—“Here in New Mexico I’ve taken action to give you the tools to take back your identity and prevent identity theft from happening to you in the future.”

This is clearly an attack by Patricia Madrid on the Federal Department of Veterans Affairs, not an appropriate subject matter for a state government informational advertisement.

c. “Prescription Drugs”

In “Prescription Drugs” (Exhibit E), Patricia Madrid makes no effort to hide the fact that the mail brochure is a piece of campaign literature. The brochure leads with the self promoting headline, “Attorney General Patricia Madrid Fighting to Keep Your Prescription Costs Down” and the face of a worried woman holding two pills. This is followed by two unnecessary quotes, purportedly from television and a local newspaper, that lavishly praise Madrid’s fighting spirit, but do nothing to inform New Mexico citizens how they or the Attorney General can control prescription drug costs. The only civic service contained in the brochure is a post card and one sentence informing New Mexicans that there exists a book containing prescription drug prices. But for this one statement, the brochure is in all respects campaign literature touting Madrid’s purported accomplishments that is printed, mailed, and paid for by the state of New Mexico. The Santa Fe New Mexican reports Madrid’s spokesman saying the brochure costs $61,257 to produce, money that came from the settlement of a class-action law suit paid into a New Mexico state fund. See Exhibit F. This is an inappropriate use of taxpayer money and constitutes a citizen funded campaign advertisement for Madrid.[3]

Technorati Tags: Blogs, Congress, Democrats, DNC, Elections, enforcement officer, New Mexico, Patricia Madrid, Politics, Republicans

Qwest Proposed Settlement Agreement

Here it is! The original document. Read it and weep.

New Mexico Front and Center on Wage Hike

ABC News: Minimum-Wage Hike Battle Heats Up in Senate:
WASHINGTON, July 31, 2006 — Anyone listening to the radio in recent weeks in Albuquerque, N.M., might have heard a man with a voice like a game-show host intoning  "Let's play 'Who Deserves a Pay Raise?'"
The "contestants" are  a nurse's assistant who works long, hard days and earns $5.15 an hour, and  Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who "just voted herself another $3,300 pay raise, and [is] saying no to increasing the minimum wage."

Versions of this ad — paid for by the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee — have been running in 10 competitive House districts across the country.  But now they may have to undergo some creative editing.
Thanks to a hastily assembled package that passed the House in the wee hours of Saturday morning, vulnerable House Republicans like Wilson can now boast that they've voted in favor of a minimum wage hike. The bill, which passed with mostly Republican support, would raise the minimum wage from $5.15 to $7.25 an hour over the next three years  but would also cut estate taxes and extend a host of other tax breaks.

LA TIMES STEPS INTO TWILIGHT ZONE

The L.A. Times landed right here in the political twilight zone we call New Mexico politics, picking up on inverse situation of corruption in New Mexico being driven by Democrats compared to D.C., where Republican rule supreme. Wow. So we're really getting from both ends in New Mexico.

Local Ethics, D.C. Ethics: Both Key To N. Mexico Race - Los Angeles Times:
For all the Democratic enthusiasm, however, Madrid faces an uphill fight against the oft-tested and popular Wilson. To win, the Democrat acknowledges, she must turn the contest into a referendum on President Bush, the war in Iraq and the high gas prices that are especially burdensome in this spread-out state.

"Most every race I've ever run was a lot about me — what I've done, what I would do, how I compare," Madrid said during an hourlong interview in her campaign's scruffy headquarters, just a thrown hubcap from busy Interstate 25. "But this race is a little bit different."

Republicans disagree. They say the election is about local issues and the records of the two candidates, even as Wilson has been working hard to forge an image of independence from Bush.

The tension between local and national issues reflects the dynamic surrounding this year's midterm elections, when control of the House and Senate are at stake.

Democrats have made an alleged "culture of corruption" in Washington a major theme of their campaign nationally. But in a turnabout, it is Republicans who are trying to make ethics an issue in New Mexico, seizing on the corruption trial of a former state treasurer, the FBI probe of an ex-insurance superintendent and other criminal allegations swirling about a powerful former lawmaker.

"All of the current scandals that are just busting out all over New Mexico have happened under her watch," said Marta Kramer, executive director of the state GOP. The idea that Madrid was unaware of malfeasance is "absurd," Kramer said, an argument echoed in a recent Wilson TV spot.

Technorati Tags: Blogs, Congress, corruption, Democrats, DNC, Elections, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Patricia Madrid, Politics, reform, Republicans

Seductive Democrats Seducing. Live at 9

This morning at 9 a.m., Albuquerque Mayor Marty Chavez will endorse fellow Dem, Patricia Madrid, in her effort to unseat Heather Wilson. The endorsement suggests Democrats are seeking to take advantage of the interesting dynamic that the Mayor brings to table.

That dynamic might be a more bold attempt at stealing away some of Heather's more moderate GOP base, and who better to do it than likely 2010 Candidate for Governor, Marty Chavez?

Madrid to Receive Endorsement
From Mayor Chavez

Skyrocketing Gas Prices a Key Issue for Albuquerque Residents

Who: Attorney General Patricia Madrid
Mayor Martin Chavez

What: Mayor Martin Chavez will endorse Attorney General Patricia Madrid in her campaign to become the next congresswoman to represent New Mexico’s First Congressional District.

Where: Madrid for Congress Headquarters, 200 Oak St., NE

When: 9 a.m., Wednesday, Aug. 2

Technorati Tags: Blogs, Congress, corruption, Democrats, Education, Elections, New Mexico, Patricia Madrid, Politics, reform, Republicans

Feeling The Vigil Vibe in Vegas

Richard Vigil, brother to former state treasurer Robert Vigil finds himself the subject of scrutiny over an appropriation he  secured during the 2006 legislative session.

State legislator defends wife’s appropriation

Money for bilingual program was used to pay for party LAS VEGAS, N.M. — State Rep. Richard Vigil defended legislative appropriations he obtained for a West Las Vegas Schools bilingual program run by his wife — a target of criticism after the program used some state funds for an invitation-only party. “She is my wife, but she’s also a constituent,” said Vigil, D-Las Vegas. “Her request went in with every other request. It didn’t have any special shape or form. It went through committee, and the whole Legislature approved it.” READ FULL STORY >> POST A COMMENT >>

technorati tags:NM, N.M., Blogs, politics, corruption, Democrats, Treasurer, Indictments

Blogged with Flock

Today's Must Read: Terrell's Roundhouse Roundup on Madrid's headaches Roundhouse Roundup: Madrid’s headaches hot Beltway topic

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.

Technorati Tags: 2006, Bernalillo, Blogs, Democrats, DNC, Elections, newmexico, news, NM, Politics, EricSerna, conalma