Democracy for New Mexico: Guest Blog by Helen Laura López: Will It Be the Name or the Accomplishments in Denish v. Martinez?

[Martinez] broke all campaign records when she accepted $450,000 from a Texan who financed the swift boat campaign full of lies against John Kerry. There is a lot more Texas money in her war chest and more than half of her contributions are from outside of New Mexico. When she says in her ad, “It’s our state and we can take it back,” what “we” is she talking about? Texas? …

I would love to see an Hispana governor. But I don’t want one there who will fail us. I don’t want one there who will take marching orders from a Texas billionaire, her supporter Sarah Palin, or the GOP in Washington. I would love to vote for a Martinez, but in this case, the beautiful name is hollow. …

It means a lot when 90 percent of Diane Denish’s contributions are from New Mexicans. That is why I support Lt. Gov. Diane Denish for governor.

This is a guest blog by Helen Laura López. It has also appeared in The Taos News and on the DPNM blog.

Democracy for New Mexico: Guest Blog by Helen Laura López: Will It Be the Name or the Accomplishments in Denish v. Martinez?

The men behind Martinez’s payday loan fundraiser (updated) « New Mexico Independent

By Matthew Reichbach 10/22/10 8:56 AM

One of the more dramatic moments in Thursday night’s gubernatorial debate between Diane Denish and Susana Martinez was when Denish produced a printout of an invitation (pdf) to a fundraiser hosted by a high-powered lobbyist and a former state Attorney General. Denish said it was an example of the payday loan industry backing Martinez.

Hal Stratton and Mickey Barnett are familiar names to Republicans around the state. [mjh: follow the link to read about Barnett and Stratton, if you don’t recall who they are. Both are big-time DUHbya supporters.]

The men behind Martinez’s payday loan fundraiser (updated) « New Mexico Independent

Diane Denish knows the state and the state government. The Republican lust for inexperience and mad faith in outsiders – people like DUHbya – works with their view that government can do no good: True, if you keep electing Republicans.

Democracy for New Mexico: Leaders from Small Communities Around New Mexico Endorse Diane Denish

Nearly 100 local community leaders at the city, town and county level from around New Mexico have endorsed Diane Denish for governor. Why? Obviously because they have faith in Diane’s understanding of New Mexico’s diverse communities, the needs of folks who live, work and own small businesses around the state and her proven abilities to bring people together in collaboration to get problems solved with practical, common-sense solutions.

"I am honored to have received so much support from around the state," Denish said in a statement. "People in smaller communities want a governor who is on their side — someone who understands the needs of rural New Mexico and will fight for small towns every day. While Susana Martinez has been traveling the country attending fancy events with the rich and powerful in New York and Texas, I have had my feet firmly planted in New Mexico."

The shocking fact is that in the final weeks of the campaign, Martinez has been hiding from New Mexicans — going more than a week without a single public appearance in the state!

Democracy for New Mexico: Leaders from Small Communities Around New Mexico Endorse Diane Denish

The Republicans have an interesting message that seems to divide us from them all on its own. So, New Mexico belongs to 32% and to hell with the rest. Nice folks.

NM voter registration up 5.5% from 2006 « New Mexico Independent

By Matthew Reichbach 10/18/10 11:16 AM

Although voter registration statewide has risen 5.5 percent since 2006, slightly fewer new voters are registering Republican, while Democrats’ registrations held steady.

Democrats still maintain a voter registration advantage in the state overall. Nearly half, 49 percent, of the voters in the state are registered Democrats, a rate unchanged since 2006. Republicans make up 32 percent of the electorate, but that number is down slightly from 33 percent in 2006.

Registration in Bernalillo County, the state’s most populous county, rose by 44,751. This is nearly 70 percent of the gain in statewide voter registrations since 2006 and an increase of 11 percent in the county itself. The gains are mostly from Democrats, with 28,088 more registered Democrats in 2010 than 2006, while Republicans gained 5,287 party members. Decline to state, known to some as independents, gained 8,011 voters and third-parties like the Green and Libertarian parties added 3,365 voters.

NM voter registration up 5.5% from 2006 « New Mexico Independent

How does 32% take power? When the rest surrender it.

ABQJOURNAL OPINION/EDITORIALS: Journal Selections in Bernalillo County Races

Willow Misty Parks for Probate Judge
        There are no educational or licensure requirements for probate judges in New Mexico; the law basically says each county must have one, and it’s a part-time position that pays $28,000 a year.
        But probate judges fill an important role with the potential to touch many lives. They mostly deal with the transfer of property of people who have died, whether or not there’s a will. (Serious disputes go to district court.)
        So it is a plus that Democratic candidate Willow Misty Parks is a lawyer who has specialized in wills, trusts, probate and business law. She received her law degree from the University of New Mexico in 2003.
        Her interest in probate-related issues has led her to teach at UNM and Central New Mexico Community College and give presentations for groups as diverse as the AARP and the New Mexico State Bar, where she is a volunteer attorney in its Elder Law Section.
        Her legal background will enable her to work with everyone from lawyers to regular folks handling their own cases.
        The Journal recommends voters elect Willow Misty Parks for Bernalillo County probate judge.

ABQJOURNAL OPINION/EDITORIALS: Journal Selections in Bernalillo County Races

While the journal speaks of the ‘plus’ that Parks is an attorney experienced in this area of the law, they won’t say that her opponent is just the opposite: a non-lawyer who knows nothing about probate.

According to the liberal media, NM voter registration is 50% Democratic. Moreover, registered Republicans account for 36%. (I cannot link to these stats because, curiously, the Abq Journal doesn’t have this particular article online.) So, how is it that the Republican candidate for governor leads in most polls? Are the polls bogus? Do they only poll Republicans? Well, I do believe polls are bogus and anti-democratic in that they are used to suppress turnout, which ALWAYS benefits Republicans. For whatever reason, the less-qualified Republican leads and, perhaps, will win.

You can be sure that a Republican governor will do everything she can to strengthen the impact of those 36% who are Republican. For Republicans, 36% is 100%. So, if you are a Democrat: Are you going to let the Republican win?

NM Governor’s Race Crucial To District Lines – Albuquerque News Story – KOAT Albuquerque

One reason why the outcome of the New Mexico governor’s race is so critical is the winner controls how the state’s political districts are redrawn.

Every 10 years the state has to adjust the election boundaries. New Mexico is due for another adjustment and the new governor will have key input in where those lines are drawn.

"Who wins the governor seat will be critical to the impact of redistricting," KOAT political analyst Brian Sanderoff said.

Sanderoff said whoever controls the governor’s seat will control where the district lines are drawn.

NM Governor’s Race Crucial To District Lines – Albuquerque News Story – KOAT Albuquerque