For the June 6 New Mexico primary elections, SFR will call up candidates in the CONTESTED races to test their knowledge. The rules for Pop Quiz are as follows: No research allowed and if they call back later with the right answer, too bad. To see who answered correctly (or came closest), check out our answer key below.
Questions:
1. What is the Attorney General's Capital Crimes Unit?
2. In 2005, Attorney General Patricia Madrid and Gov. Bill Richardson filed a lawsuit against the Bureau of Land Management. Why?
3. New Mexico ranks among the states with the highest rates of domestic violence. What
steps can the Attorney General's Office take to combat the problem?
4. Though long considered a federal issue, candidates for state office throughout the country are taking an increasingly outspoken stand on immigration. For example, Arizona Republican Attorney General candidate Bill Montgomery is running on a platform of controlling crime related to illegal immigration. Would you devote resources to the issue and collaborate with federal authorities to prevent people from coming into the state illegally?
5. What is the main source of complaints to the Attorney General's Office?
6. In 2004, Attorney General Patricia Madrid ordered the Sandoval County Clerk to stop issuing same-sex marriages because, in her opinion, they were illegal according to state law. Madrid ended up suing the County Clerk. Would you take the same approach?
7. What violent crimes does the Attorney General's Office have jurisdiction over?
8. In what capacity might the Attorney General's Office appear before the Public Regulation Commission (PRC)?
Answers:
***image1*** Gary King, 51, is a private attorney in Moriarty and former state legislator.
1. It's a very important unit. Capital crimes are, of course, the crimes where we can execute somebody, and generally the AG will get these cases when there is some problem or issue where the DA can't pursue the case on their own.
2. I would assume it had to do with the drilling on Otero Mesa.
3. I was sponsor of the original Family Violence Protection Act, which allows, essentially, for police to take the abuser out of the home. The AG can help coordinate with law enforcement, help review what the courts are doing, make recommendations to the legislature and in certain cases take over for the DA.
4. Yes, I would. I think we should expend some resources to help. I think it's important we secure our borders. When I was campaigning in southern New Mexico, I actually spoke with a lot of law enforcement people on the border and land owners. Frankly, the land owners said they actually see a lot of activity and don't really have a good way to coordinate with local agencies. We could do a lot to help local agencies coordinate and communicate.
5. It's my understanding that the main source is auto-related issues.
6. Uh, I would have probably at least informed them that they violated state law. I haven't reviewed the law as she did. Whether it was necessary to sue, that would depend on whether the law was violated.
7. I'm not aware of any statute that gives the AG direct jurisdiction over violent crimes. I believe a district attorney can refer crimes to the AG.
8. When I was in the Legislature, at my behest, we gave the AG's office the authority to be the ombudsman for rate payers in front of the PRC.
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Lemuel Martinez, 49, is currently the District Attorney of Cibola, Sandoval and Valencia Counties.
1. The Capital Crimes Unit was started by the AG because of a murder case in Santa Rosa. Originally, the Fourth District DA had the case, but because of funding and expertise the AG was called in to help with it.
2. I think it was Otero Mesa. Or Valle Vidal. I believe it was Otero Mesa.
3. I think education, prevention and prosecution are key. First of all, we need to educate our children at a young age that domestic violence isn't acceptable. In terms of prevention, we can send a message through TV spots, through schools. For treatment, when people are hurt by domestic violence, there must be a shelter available where they can go, available medical attention and reinforcement with psychological treatment.
4. My focus will be on monitoring those who are now trying to monitor the border. They should be watched so they are not encroaching upon people's rights. Any kind of development with the AG's office will have to be funded prior to the state taking action. We barely have enough law enforcement officers to take care of the crime we have. I will not put an additional burden on our law enforcement officers to enforce federal law without additional resources committed in advance.
5. Uh, I think it's probably car dealerships. What happens when people buy a new or used car.
6. I don't think we need to. That case was decided in the Appeals Court. To do it again would not be right. This is a state question, so the Legislature should clarify the law. As a law enforcement officer, I need to know exactly what the law is in order to make it clear.
7. Well, it has jurisdiction over all violent crime when a local DA will either not prosecute, refuses to prosecute or he gives over prosecutorial authority to the AG.
8. Well, the AG's Office is in every PRC meeting. We are the lawyers and the advisors and the counselor for the PRC. We would be answering every question for them.
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Geno Zamora, 36, is currently an attorney with Gallagher and Kennedy law firm in Santa Fe.
1. The Attorney General's Capital Crimes Unit provides assistance to DAs who are prosecuting death penalty cases, and also provides additional resources and expertise in those cases.
2. It's a proposal to protect the Otero Mesa from drilling and from opening up the area to drilling so that wildlife can be protected.
3. Training and education for our prosecutors in all 33 counties, as well as bringing together experts throughout the state for a domestic violence summit so that we can share the best ideas and programs to effectively end domestic violence.
4. Illegal immigration is first and foremost a problem for the federal government. As AG, I'll work with the federal government to deal with the issue and make sure we keep drug smugglers and criminals and terrorists out of our state. In addition, as AG, I need to work with the Mexican government and officials from the state of Chihuahua to develop ideas and solutions that are good for both countries.
5. Its been reported that most consumer complaints relate to new and used car sales. As AG, I feel it's important to work with consumers and car dealers to reform sales practices and educate consumers about auto purchasing.
6. As a candidate, it's not my role to second guess the current AG. What I would do is to investigate all the facts, compare it to our laws and advise our county clerks.
7. All violent crimes. What most folks don't know is that the AG's office handles criminal cases before the Court of Appeals and Supreme Court. I'm the only candidate who has argued criminal cases before our Appellate Courts when I was Assistant Attorney General for Tom Udall. I'm also the only candidate that has argued before the Supreme Court of New Mexico.
8. To protect consumers on rate issues involving utilities such as electricity and natural gas and telephone lines.
Answer Key:
1. The Capital Crimes Unit is made up of investigators, prosecutors and attorneys with experience in death penalty cases. At the request of local district attorneys, the unit can provide specialized assistance in the investigation and prosecution of capital crimes.
2. Attorney General Madrid and Gov. Richardson filed a lawsuit in 2005 against the Bureau of Land Management because of a proposal to allow drilling on the Otero Mesa.
3. To combat domestic violence, the Attorney General's Office can apply for federal grants, provide statewide training and assist district attorneys' offices on the issue, according to Attorney General Spokeswoman Sam Thompson.
5. The main source of consumer complaints to the Attorney General's Office is auto sales.
7. The Attorney General will take over a violent crime case when a local district attorney refers the case to the Attorney General's Office or when the violent crime case becomes part of the appellate process.
8. The Attorney General's Office represents consumers and small businesses in front of the PRC primarily when a public utility wants to raise its rates.
