Morning Word
How will Gary Johnson do in New Mexico? That's one of the big questions in November's elections. --- There is little doubt that Johnson will finish well back of Barack Obama and Mitt Romney. But if the former New Mexico governor gets 5 percent of the vote in New Mexico, he will
pave the way for the Libertarian Party to become a "major party" in New Mexico
. This eases the way for candidates down ballot to actually get on the ballot and would make for an interesting dynamic in some of the smaller races.
Now this is no sure thing for Johnson. While polls have him above the threshold now, third-party candidates tend to lose steam as the election nears and voters worry about "wasting" their votes on candidates with little to no chance of winning.
But outside of the U.S. Senate race, this looks like one of the key storylines come November. Obama is expected to win New Mexico easily and the Congressional races look to be predictable at this point. So keep an eye on Johnson and how he does in November. It could have an effect on races in 2014.
On to the Word:
- Winthrop Quigley continues to write about the debate over
- whether or not to expand Medicaid in New Mexico
- .
- Gov. Susana Martinez
- reacted to the announcement that she would speak at the Republican National Convention
- .
- Martinez's administration
- did away with a $100 annual fee for businesses
- .
- The New Mexican called on the state Legislature to
- find a new way to do redistricting that will reduce costs
- .
- In a state with so much scientific brainpower, let’s hire a computer geek to draw up the boundaries. Data to create the new districts could start with the following: establishing politically competitive districts, equalizing voting population and complying with the Federal Voting Rights Act so as to maintain minority voting strength. We’re sure more has to be taken into consideration, but this would be a start. Then, feed the information in, and watch the districts form. No gerrymandering. No court fights. No millions wasted on special sessions and attorney fees. Best of all, we’d end up with districts based on the best interests of voters, not political parties or politicians.
- Yeah, good luck on trying to get politicians to give up a way to affect who elects them.
- A teenager, with the help of WildEarth Guardians, is
- suing Gov. Susana Martinez over inaction on climate change
- .
- As Sunland Park turns... There is a
- complaint over a potential violation of the Open Meetings Act
- in Sunland Park's latest attempt to appoint a mayor.
- The basis for the complaint is an account by Mayor Pro Tem and City Councilor Isabel Santos, who claims that two other councilors approached her, independently, before the public meeting and said the council had reached agreement about whom to appoint to the vacant mayor's seat. Santos' account suggests a potential "rolling quorum," in which a public board carries out discussion of public business or takes action on it outside of a proper public meeting.
- No expansion of the Albuquerque City Council
- to 13 members. The measure failed on a 4-4 vote, with all Democrats voting for the proposal and four Republican voting for it; councilor Don Harris was absent, making the tie possible.
- Pat Lyons l
- obs the latest volley in his battle against current State Land Commissioner Ray Powell
- .
- The Public Regulation Commission is going to look at w
- hether or not PNM can stop gas service to 400+ homes in San Juan County
- .
- The
- pushback against Monday Morning Quarterbacks on the early handling of the Little Bear fire
- continues.
- "I walked into that fire with Anthony (Sanchez, fire management officer for the Smokey Bear Ranger District). We walked in on Thursday (June 7). I just wanted to get my own eyes on it. I've fought fires in my career, not to the extent of these guys. Where that fire was and the type of terrain it was in, that retardant wouldn't have reached the ground, it wouldn't have helped at that point."
When the winds picked up on Friday and spot fires were thrown off by the original blaze, Warnack said air tankers were ordered and responded fairly quickly. - Los Alamos National Labs is
- studying how climate change affects plants
- .
- Tommy Lasorda
- was in Albuquerque
- to speak at a Chamber of Commerce meeting at Sandia Casino. He also took in the Isotopes game that ended up being a heartbreaking loss.
- “First of all, I’ll let everyone know how great their city is,” Lasorda said. “Albuquerque’s one of the fastest growing cities I’ve seen and it’s really taken it’s place with other big cities around the country. Besides, that’s what the Chamber of Commerce wants to hear, right?”
- I hope he blows kisses to any Giants fans in attendance.
