The Latest in the Foy Suit

Former Education Retirement Board investment officer Frank Foy filed an amended version of his whistle-blower lawsuit this week in state district court.

In it, he claims state Finance Secretary Katherine Miller pressured members of the State Investment Council to keep SIC director Gary Bland last October in the days before Bland resigned.

Miller on Tuesday denied the accusation. But backing her up was state Land Commissioner Pat Lyons, a member of the SIC who was actively pushing for a no-confidence vote for Bland. He said that nobody tried to pressure him or any other members he knows of, to keep Bland on the job.

Lyons, a Republican, usually isn't the first to defend the administration of Democrat Bill Richardson. In fact he and Richardson have been on opposite sides of several issues -- including the state investment scandals.

See my story in Wednesday's New Mexican HERE.

PSA Memories

Gov. Bill Richardson's proposal of a ban on politicians making state-paid public service announcements and Lt. Gov. Diane Denish's subsequent decision to get the Health Department to stop her PSA on flu prevention reminded me of a column I wrote three years ago.

That piece was sparked by a parent of a girl who had appeared in a campaign ad for Land Commissioner Pat Lyons. The girl's elementary school apologized saying they thought the TV spot was going to be a PSA.

My take:

Any time an elected official gets a film crew together the real purpose is political — whether it’s for a “public service” announcement or an actual campaign commercial. Lets not kid ourselves.

And I'll stand by my observation in that column that besides office holders using PSAs to get their names and faces out there, I wish politicos would take Pink Floyd's advice and "leave those kids alone."

... while many wring their hands over “negative” ads, it’s some of the “positive” ads that give me the willies.

I know this appeal probably is useless, but I wish the politicians would leave the kids out of it. Surely there’s some brave candidates out there who would pledge to refrain from using youngsters as political props.

Do it for the children.

Lyons Running for PRC

State Land Commissioner Pat Lyons announced today he's running for the District 2 (southeastern New Mexico)  Public Regulation Commission seat currently held by David King.

“Infrastructure is vital for society and the economy to function, and should be governed to protect the interests of the public. At the same time, we must sustain a healthy business climate,” Lyons said in his e-mailed announcement. 

“It can be delicate balance but I have always taken a proactive role in fostering business and industry and my sound business approach has made companies feel comfortable investing in New Mexico,” he said.

Republican Lyons of Cuervo, N.M. is a former state senator who was first elected land commissioner in 2002 and re-elected in 2006. He had been mentioned as a possible gubernatorial candid, though in 2006 he told me he didn't think a Republican from the east side of the state could be elected governor.

The seat currently is held by Republican David King.

CHECKING THE POWER OF THE GOV & THE LAND COMMISSIONER

Land Commissioner Pat Lyons is backing a bill to cut back the governor's power on the State Investment Council.

Three Las Cruces Democrats have introduced bills to cut back the Land Commissioner's power on real estate development deals, such as the controversial 2,450-acre Vistas at Presidio development near Las Cruces. (Lyons called that "a little retribution, obviously." The Dems deny it.)

Meanwhile, Senate Republican Whip Bill Payne is trying to take away the pensions of state officials convicted for corruption on the job.

Read all about it HERE.