A couple of unsuccessful legislative candidates, as well as a political action committee used to help Javier Gonzales re-elected as state Democratic Party chairman last spring found out this week that they're going to have to pay the state at least $850 for not filing their campaign finance reports on time last week.
I wrote a story about that in today's New Mexican.
According to state law, the fine for not filing on time is $50 a work day, up to the maximum of $5,000. The reports were due on Oct. 11.
Ken Ortiz, chief of staff for Secretary of State Diana Duran, told me that it's not clear whether this law actually has been enforced before.
There could be some significantly larger fines coming down the road. Ortiz said he's sending letters to 40-50 candidates who have failed to file multiple reports in recent years. Stay tuned.
Showing posts with label "campaign finance reports". Show all posts
Showing posts with label "campaign finance reports". Show all posts
Friday, November 4, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Big $$ in Senate Races
I finally ploughed through the most recent campaign finance reports of New Mexico's U.S Senate candidates. You can find that story HERE.
Some have questioned where the generically-named Good Government Fund, the major contributor to Republican Heather Wilson, came from. It's a a joint fundraising committee associated with Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's political-action committee, which raised money for Wilson and other Republican candidates.
The Wilson campaign provided me with a copy of the GGF's most recent report. I've posted it below.
My story points out that Democrat Martin Heinrich got a contribution from Gerald Cassidy, who was the focus of a book called So Damn Much Money, The Triumph of Lobbying and the Corrosion of American Government by Robert G. Kaiser. There's an interesting reading from that book by the author, which originally was broadcast on NPR. You can find that HERE.
UPDATE 12: 49 pm I originally reported that state Rep. Zach Cook had contributed to Democrat Hector Balderas' campaign. The online version of The New Mexican story has been changed (as has this blog) to reflect the $300 contribution actually came from Angie Schneider-Cook, the representative's wife. She just told me she went to law school with Balderas.
Here's that "Good Government" report:
Good Government Fund 3rd Quarter 2011 Report 101311
Some have questioned where the generically-named Good Government Fund, the major contributor to Republican Heather Wilson, came from. It's a a joint fundraising committee associated with Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison's political-action committee, which raised money for Wilson and other Republican candidates.
The Wilson campaign provided me with a copy of the GGF's most recent report. I've posted it below.
My story points out that Democrat Martin Heinrich got a contribution from Gerald Cassidy, who was the focus of a book called So Damn Much Money, The Triumph of Lobbying and the Corrosion of American Government by Robert G. Kaiser. There's an interesting reading from that book by the author, which originally was broadcast on NPR. You can find that HERE.
UPDATE 12: 49 pm I originally reported that state Rep. Zach Cook had contributed to Democrat Hector Balderas' campaign. The online version of The New Mexican story has been changed (as has this blog) to reflect the $300 contribution actually came from Angie Schneider-Cook, the representative's wife. She just told me she went to law school with Balderas.
Here's that "Good Government" report:
Good Government Fund 3rd Quarter 2011 Report 101311
Monday, October 17, 2011
Monday, Monday
Happy Monday to ya. Ready to start the work week.
In case you missed my story in yesterday's New Mexican about the money race in the Public Regulation Commission race, you can find that HERE. Actually there's not much of a race. All but one of the small army of Democratic candidates say they will or probably will use public financing, which means, assuming they qualify, they each will be receiving checks for $39,000 and change.
The only one who has said he won't use public financing is Danny Maki, who apparently is using his dad Butch Maki's contacts to build a good-size campaign war chest. And because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down part of Arizona's public financing law, if Maki (or any other candidate not using public financing) gets contributions beyond that $39,000, chances are the other candidates won't be getting marching funds from the state.
However, the fact that some Washington, D.C. telecommunications lobbyists among Maki's biggest contributors could become a sore point in the campaign, as the PRC is responsible for regulating the telecommunications industry.
Meanwhile let's start off this week with a little music. Here's Republican front-runner Herman Cain. He's said that if he's elected he'd like to jazz up the stodgy old "Hail to the Chief." I'm certainly against that. Unless he replaces it with this:
(Thanks to The Daily Beast)
In case you missed my story in yesterday's New Mexican about the money race in the Public Regulation Commission race, you can find that HERE. Actually there's not much of a race. All but one of the small army of Democratic candidates say they will or probably will use public financing, which means, assuming they qualify, they each will be receiving checks for $39,000 and change.
The only one who has said he won't use public financing is Danny Maki, who apparently is using his dad Butch Maki's contacts to build a good-size campaign war chest. And because of a U.S. Supreme Court decision striking down part of Arizona's public financing law, if Maki (or any other candidate not using public financing) gets contributions beyond that $39,000, chances are the other candidates won't be getting marching funds from the state.
However, the fact that some Washington, D.C. telecommunications lobbyists among Maki's biggest contributors could become a sore point in the campaign, as the PRC is responsible for regulating the telecommunications industry.
Meanwhile let's start off this week with a little music. Here's Republican front-runner Herman Cain. He's said that if he's elected he'd like to jazz up the stodgy old "Hail to the Chief." I'm certainly against that. Unless he replaces it with this:
(Thanks to The Daily Beast)
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Roundhouse Roundup: Keep Those Campaign Contributions Coming In
(Sorry this is late to be posted. I'm still not used to posting my column early Sunday instead of early Thursday. I'll get the hang of it I promise)
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
October 16, 2011
I’m going to do something I rarely do. I’m going to say “thank you” to the state Legislature.
I’m not talking about the recent special session. My thanks are for our lawmakers passing a bill a couple of years ago that requires candidates for state office to report their donations more frequently. In the bad old days, our beloved politicians only had to file one report during a non-election year. Now it’s twice a year.
And the recent filings have yielded interesting stories. My colleague Trip Jennings reported about Attorney General Gary King accepting a $15,000 contribution from some New York law firm — which everybody except Attorney General Gary King seems to think is a clear violation of the new law establishing campaign contributions limits.
Then there’s the story about Gov. Susana Martinez, who, between her re-election committee and her political action committee, raked in more than $82,000 during the recent special session and the bill-signing period after it. The catch here is that the law prohibits a governor from soliciting contributions during that period but doesn’t say anything about accepting money during that time.
There’s no evidence that Martinez actually solicited any money during the session — except a “Donate” button on her SusanaPAC website, which was promptly removed when the Albuquerque Journal pointed it out in late September. The governor’s PACmen said only two small donations came over the website during the prohibited time and said both weren’t accepted.
What’s amazing to me though is that three years before the 2014 gubernatorial election, Martinez’s re-election campaign was able to bring in more than $66,000 without even asking for it. There might be campaign contribution limits in place now, but you can bet that 2014 is going to be another expensive campaign year.
Sonoma Susana: Another story to emerge from the campaign finance reports is the one about Martinez’s campaign funds paying thousands of dollars for a luxury resort in California wine country where Martinez gave a speech at a Republican National Committee dinner.
The liberal grassroots group ProgressNow blasted her for staying at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, which, the news release said “boasts a $565/night couples spa package and a $195/per person buffet (not to mention golf outings, wine dinners, body sculpting classes and cooking classes on site.)”
I haven’t verified all those fancy accommodations. But I looked at the Fairmont website and the joint does look fancier than a Motel 6.
There’s no proof Martinez partook in all these luxuries. But you can’t blame her if she went to a cooking class or two. After all, Martinez fired the Governor’s Mansion chefs and even though she said she liked her husband Chuck Franco’s baloney sandwiches, chances are she’s sick of them by now.
Martinez isn’t the only politician who has used campaign funds to pay for out-of-state travel. Bill Richardson did it all the time. And I don’t think he ever stayed at an Econo Lodge.
Still, it’s funny how all the campaign ads you’ll ever see in New Mexico show the candidate talking to cowboys and construction workers and reading to school children. They never show the candidate sipping wine at luxury resorts.
Bill Richardson supports Susana! Here’s another tidbit from the campaign finance reports. On May 12, Bill Richardson gave $5,000 to SusanaPac.
But I don’t think it’s the guy Martinez vilified at every possible turn in last year’s campaign. This Bill Richardson lives in Jackson, Tenn. His occupation is listed as “business owner.”
On the same day, two other “business owners” named Richardson from Jackson, Tenn., (James and Joe) also gave $5,000 apiece.
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
October 16, 2011
I’m going to do something I rarely do. I’m going to say “thank you” to the state Legislature.
I’m not talking about the recent special session. My thanks are for our lawmakers passing a bill a couple of years ago that requires candidates for state office to report their donations more frequently. In the bad old days, our beloved politicians only had to file one report during a non-election year. Now it’s twice a year. And the recent filings have yielded interesting stories. My colleague Trip Jennings reported about Attorney General Gary King accepting a $15,000 contribution from some New York law firm — which everybody except Attorney General Gary King seems to think is a clear violation of the new law establishing campaign contributions limits.
Then there’s the story about Gov. Susana Martinez, who, between her re-election committee and her political action committee, raked in more than $82,000 during the recent special session and the bill-signing period after it. The catch here is that the law prohibits a governor from soliciting contributions during that period but doesn’t say anything about accepting money during that time.
There’s no evidence that Martinez actually solicited any money during the session — except a “Donate” button on her SusanaPAC website, which was promptly removed when the Albuquerque Journal pointed it out in late September. The governor’s PACmen said only two small donations came over the website during the prohibited time and said both weren’t accepted.
What’s amazing to me though is that three years before the 2014 gubernatorial election, Martinez’s re-election campaign was able to bring in more than $66,000 without even asking for it. There might be campaign contribution limits in place now, but you can bet that 2014 is going to be another expensive campaign year.
The liberal grassroots group ProgressNow blasted her for staying at the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn and Spa, which, the news release said “boasts a $565/night couples spa package and a $195/per person buffet (not to mention golf outings, wine dinners, body sculpting classes and cooking classes on site.)”
I haven’t verified all those fancy accommodations. But I looked at the Fairmont website and the joint does look fancier than a Motel 6.
There’s no proof Martinez partook in all these luxuries. But you can’t blame her if she went to a cooking class or two. After all, Martinez fired the Governor’s Mansion chefs and even though she said she liked her husband Chuck Franco’s baloney sandwiches, chances are she’s sick of them by now.
Martinez isn’t the only politician who has used campaign funds to pay for out-of-state travel. Bill Richardson did it all the time. And I don’t think he ever stayed at an Econo Lodge.
Still, it’s funny how all the campaign ads you’ll ever see in New Mexico show the candidate talking to cowboys and construction workers and reading to school children. They never show the candidate sipping wine at luxury resorts.
Bill Richardson supports Susana! Here’s another tidbit from the campaign finance reports. On May 12, Bill Richardson gave $5,000 to SusanaPac.
But I don’t think it’s the guy Martinez vilified at every possible turn in last year’s campaign. This Bill Richardson lives in Jackson, Tenn. His occupation is listed as “business owner.”
On the same day, two other “business owners” named Richardson from Jackson, Tenn., (James and Joe) also gave $5,000 apiece.
Friday, October 29, 2010
Private Prison Cash
Check out my story in today's New Mexican on contributions to the gubernatorial candidates from the sin and punishment industries
Long and short of it: Diane Denish is leading in gambling, liquor and cigarette money. But Martinez is ahead in private prison cash.
NPR ran a story yesterday about the private corrections industry -- including companies that run some prison facilities here -- helping draft Arizona's controversial immigration law.
Locking up more undocumented people means opportunities for more business for the private corrections industry.
While the GEO Group -- which has given $33,000 to Republican Martinez and $2,500 to Denish -- was not the main focus of the NPR piece, it's mentioned at the end of the piece. GEO presdent Wayne Calabrese is heard telling investors, "I can only believe the opportunities at the federal level are going to continue apace as a result of what's happening. Those people coming across the border and getting caught are going to have to be detained and that for me, at least I think, there's going to be enhanced opportunities for what we do."
We'll see during the next legislative session whether GEO and other prison companies push such a bill in New Mexico.
Long and short of it: Diane Denish is leading in gambling, liquor and cigarette money. But Martinez is ahead in private prison cash.
NPR ran a story yesterday about the private corrections industry -- including companies that run some prison facilities here -- helping draft Arizona's controversial immigration law.
Locking up more undocumented people means opportunities for more business for the private corrections industry.
While the GEO Group -- which has given $33,000 to Republican Martinez and $2,500 to Denish -- was not the main focus of the NPR piece, it's mentioned at the end of the piece. GEO presdent Wayne Calabrese is heard telling investors, "I can only believe the opportunities at the federal level are going to continue apace as a result of what's happening. Those people coming across the border and getting caught are going to have to be detained and that for me, at least I think, there's going to be enhanced opportunities for what we do."
We'll see during the next legislative session whether GEO and other prison companies push such a bill in New Mexico.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Roundhouse Roundup: Rape Jokes and Christian Nations. Another Day in NM Politics
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
October 14, 2010
When Texas oilman, rancher and Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton “Claytie” Williams made an crude joke about rape in front of reporters 20 years ago, it immediately had an effect on the governor’s race in Texas. And now it’s created a stir in the 2010 New Mexico gubernatorial race.
Back in 1990, Williams quipped that rape was like bad weather. “As long as it’s inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.”
On Wednesday, following several hours of indignant e-mails, press releases, Tweets and blog posts from state Democrats, Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez decided not to hang on to $20,000 in campaign contributions. Her campaign manager, Ryan Cangiolosi, told my colleague Kate Nash that Martinez would donate the contributions to a rape crisis center in Las Cruces.
Just two years ago, GOP presidential candidate John McCain canceled a fundraiser scheduled at Williams’ home in Midland, Texas, after reporters started asking him about the rape joke. McCain said at the time he was unaware. Democrats in that instance also demanded McCain return campaign contributions — Williams had raised $300,000 or so. McCain declined to do that, saying the contributions were from people other than Williams.
The Old Wildcatter: Williams in Texas has a reputation as a colorful, irascible character. The rape joke is Williams’ most notorious utterance. But it wasn’t his only one. During the 1990 Texas gubernatorial campaign, he compared his Democratic opponent, Ann Richards, to the cattle on his ranch, bragging that he’d “head her and hoof her and drag her through the dirt.” Richards won.
Williams was quoted in a 2001 story in The Dallas Observer admitting that he’d frequented bordertown brothels as a youth.
“It’s part of growing up in West Texas ... it was a lot different then. The houses were the only place you got serviced. It was kind of what the boys did at (Texas) A&M.”
The Associated Press in 2007 ran a story about Williams’ biography Claytie: The Roller-Coaster Life of a Texas Wildcatter, written by former AP correspondent Mike Cochran. Cochran called Williams a “remarkably unsophisticated and charmingly flawed West Texan.” The author argues it would be a shame if Williams was remembered only by his campaign gaffes.
The wire service story said Williams “climbs mountains and hunts big game. He’s known for his big grin, his love of a good drink, occasional barroom brawls and a fondness for belting out songs in Spanish.
“He learned Spanish as a teenager working alongside Mexican farm laborers,” the AP said, “and he openly uses the disparaging label ‘wets’ in one of his journal entries quoted in the book.”
Some believe Williams lost to Richards not because of his rape joke or other earthy gaffes. Instead, some say, he lost because he refused to shake Richards’ hand at a public event.
Onward Christian soldiers: If you’re a Voodoo priest who wants to officiate at a gay wedding on state trust lands, apparently you can forget about it if Republican Matt Rush gets elected as land commissioner.
A video that Rush apparently made for some church group has been popping up on several blogs lately. (Including this one now, scroll down) In it, Rush encourages Christians to get involved in politics.
“If we want to be a Christian nation again, Christian people have to start standing up, running for office again ... if we ever want to become a Christian nation again,” he says. “That’s the reason I got involved in politics.”
Rush goes on to say, “For those of us who are Christians and we are proud to say we are Christians, we need to start standing up being proud of it again and we need to take the fight to the enemy. ... We’ve got to start standing up because we are one nation under god and we need to make sure we take that back to our legislative process.”
In a prepared statement, Rush wrote, “Last summer I was more than happy to participate in a student-produced video with the idea of encouraging younger members of the church to get involved in a wide variety of activities including politics and community service. This video was shown to a youth group at the church with the hope of motivating them to move beyond their traditional circles and at the same time to take pride in their faith.”
But he didn’t answer my questions about whether he planned to use the Land Office to espouse his religion and just who “the enemy” is or where “the fight” should be taken.
October 14, 2010
When Texas oilman, rancher and Republican gubernatorial candidate Clayton “Claytie” Williams made an crude joke about rape in front of reporters 20 years ago, it immediately had an effect on the governor’s race in Texas. And now it’s created a stir in the 2010 New Mexico gubernatorial race.
Back in 1990, Williams quipped that rape was like bad weather. “As long as it’s inevitable, you might as well lie back and enjoy it.”
On Wednesday, following several hours of indignant e-mails, press releases, Tweets and blog posts from state Democrats, Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez decided not to hang on to $20,000 in campaign contributions. Her campaign manager, Ryan Cangiolosi, told my colleague Kate Nash that Martinez would donate the contributions to a rape crisis center in Las Cruces.
Just two years ago, GOP presidential candidate John McCain canceled a fundraiser scheduled at Williams’ home in Midland, Texas, after reporters started asking him about the rape joke. McCain said at the time he was unaware. Democrats in that instance also demanded McCain return campaign contributions — Williams had raised $300,000 or so. McCain declined to do that, saying the contributions were from people other than Williams.
The Old Wildcatter: Williams in Texas has a reputation as a colorful, irascible character. The rape joke is Williams’ most notorious utterance. But it wasn’t his only one. During the 1990 Texas gubernatorial campaign, he compared his Democratic opponent, Ann Richards, to the cattle on his ranch, bragging that he’d “head her and hoof her and drag her through the dirt.” Richards won.
Williams was quoted in a 2001 story in The Dallas Observer admitting that he’d frequented bordertown brothels as a youth.
“It’s part of growing up in West Texas ... it was a lot different then. The houses were the only place you got serviced. It was kind of what the boys did at (Texas) A&M.”
The wire service story said Williams “climbs mountains and hunts big game. He’s known for his big grin, his love of a good drink, occasional barroom brawls and a fondness for belting out songs in Spanish.
“He learned Spanish as a teenager working alongside Mexican farm laborers,” the AP said, “and he openly uses the disparaging label ‘wets’ in one of his journal entries quoted in the book.”
Some believe Williams lost to Richards not because of his rape joke or other earthy gaffes. Instead, some say, he lost because he refused to shake Richards’ hand at a public event.
Onward Christian soldiers: If you’re a Voodoo priest who wants to officiate at a gay wedding on state trust lands, apparently you can forget about it if Republican Matt Rush gets elected as land commissioner.
A video that Rush apparently made for some church group has been popping up on several blogs lately. (Including this one now, scroll down) In it, Rush encourages Christians to get involved in politics.
“If we want to be a Christian nation again, Christian people have to start standing up, running for office again ... if we ever want to become a Christian nation again,” he says. “That’s the reason I got involved in politics.”
Rush goes on to say, “For those of us who are Christians and we are proud to say we are Christians, we need to start standing up being proud of it again and we need to take the fight to the enemy. ... We’ve got to start standing up because we are one nation under god and we need to make sure we take that back to our legislative process.”
In a prepared statement, Rush wrote, “Last summer I was more than happy to participate in a student-produced video with the idea of encouraging younger members of the church to get involved in a wide variety of activities including politics and community service. This video was shown to a youth group at the church with the hope of motivating them to move beyond their traditional circles and at the same time to take pride in their faith.”
But he didn’t answer my questions about whether he planned to use the Land Office to espouse his religion and just who “the enemy” is or where “the fight” should be taken.
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Three GOP Candidates Winning in the Cash Race
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
October 13, 2010
With three weeks remaining before the 2010 general election, three statewide Republican candidates report raising more funds than their Democratic opponents.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez; Dianna Duran, who is running for secretary of state against a Democratic incumbent; and GOP land commission candidate Matt Rush each reported getting more campaign cash than their opponents during the past month, according to reports filed Tuesday. (Find 'em all HERE )
Perhaps more importantly, Martinez, Duran and Rush have more money in the bank for the final push of the campaign season.
Martinez, the district attorney in Doña Ana County, raised more than $1.4 million during the past month, compared with $820,595 for Lt. Gov. Diane Denish. Martinez had $1.3 million cash on hand as of Oct. 4, compared with Denish’s $951,000.
Denish, who has been raising money to run for governor since 2007, had a huge money lead over Martinez going into the campaign. But by the end of the summer, Martinez, who has been leading in polls, began to catch up with Denish in fundraising.
Among Martinez’s largest contributor is the Republican Governor’s Association, which gave her $500,000. That’s on top of the $500,000 the organization already had contributed to her campaign.
Denish has tried to make an issue of Martinez receiving large donations from Texas residents. There were more such contributions in the most recent report.
Lewis Burleson Properties of Midland, Texas, contributed $75,000. Stanley Harper, a rancher and businessman from Mansfield, Texas, gave $20,000. Clayton Williams Energy Inc. of Midland, which according to the company’s website operates primarily in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico, gave Martinez $15,000. Clayton “Claytie” Williams was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor of Texas in 1990, losing to Democrat Ann Richards.
Several Texans contributed $10,000 apiece to Martinez. These include Houston consultant Michele Mosbacher; Legacy Reserves, an oil company from Midland; Fasken Management, another oil company from Midland; rancher John Brittingham of Athens; Houston developer Steve Alvis; and rancher Cliff Skiles of Dalhart.
Other big contributors to Martinez were Roswell accountant Ronald Miller, who gave $20,000; Richard Wickens of Albuquerque; Roswell insurance man Randall Miller; Ray Westall of Loco Hills, N.M.; and the Pfizer drug company of New York — each of whom gave the campaign $10,000.
One of the better-known names among Martinez’s contributors was former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, who gave $5,000. Domenici’s son, Pete Domenici Jr., was one of the candidates Martinez defeated in the Republican primary in June.
Denish’s largest contributors were labor unions — the National Education Association and The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, each of which gave Denish $100,000. AFSCME had previously contributed $100,000 to Denish’s campaign.
The Democratic Governor’s Association gave her $50,000. The DGA previously had given $181,000 to Denish. The group separately reported spending $385,000 for TV ads on behalf of Denish.
Emily’s List, a group that gives money to female candidates who support abortion rights, gave $20,000. The group previously has given $90,000 to Denish’s campaign.
The International Association of Fire Fighters and Harvey Operating and Production Co. of Colorado each contributed $20,000 to Denish. Her $10,000 contributors included Sundance Services, a Eunice water recycling company; The Design Company, an Albuquerque firm; Intrepid Production Corp., a Colorado mining company; and Molina Healthcare Inc. of Long Beach, Calif.
In the secretary of state race, Republican Duran raised more than five times the amount that incumbent Democrat Mary Herrera reported taking in last month. Duran received $54,121 in the past month while Herrera raised $9,425. Duran had nearly $85,000 in the bank as of the end of last month, while Herrera had $51,400.
Almost half of Duran’s contributions in the last reporting period came from the state Republican Party, which gave $25,000.
Herrera’s largest single contribution in the report filed Tuesday was $2,000 from Sierras Y Llanos, a sales company from Tijeras. She also got $1,000 from the New Mexico Federation of Labor and $500 each from unions representing carpenters and communications workers. House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, gave Herrera $500 last month.
GOP Land Commission candidate Matt Rush of Portales is outraising his Democratic opponent, former Land Commissioner Ray Powell, according to the latest reports. Rush in the last month collected more than $93,000, nearly three times the $33,352 that Powell took in.
Rush’s biggest contribution was $25,000 from the state Republican Party. The Eddy County Republican Party gave him another $10,000. Rush got $5,000 contributions from Shannon Kizer in Movesand, N.M.; the International Potash Corp. of Colorado; and Knute Lee of Albuquerque.
Powell also received $5,000 from the International Potash Corp. as well as $5,000 from Forest City Covington, which is developing the Mesa del Sol project in southeast Albuquerque.
In the race for attorney general, incumbent Democrat Gary King maintained his fundraising lead over Republican Matt Chandler in the latest reports. King raised $73,875 in the past month, compared with Chandler’s $54,976 in the same period. King had $139,00 in the bank while Chandler had about $109,000.
King’s biggest contributors were Albuquerque lawyer William Carpenter and his wife, Patricia Carpenter, who gave him a combined $25,000.
The Downs at Albuquerque racetrack and casino contributed $5,000 to King while track owner Paul Blanchard gave another $2,500. King also received $5,000 donations from the International Capital Asset Management firm of New York and the Pfizer drug company.
Unlike Duran and Rush, Chandler, who was trailing King in an Albuquerque Journal poll last month by 20 percentage points, didn’t get any money from the state Republican Party. His biggest contributions were $5,000 from Yates Petroleum of Artesia and $2,500 from RAI Services, a business from North Carolina.
In the state treasurer’s race, Democratic incumbent James Lewis held a huge money advantage over Republican challenger Jim Schoonover. Lewis reported more than $26,000 in the bank compared to Schoonover’s $458. The incumbent raised $17,700. His largest single contributor was Albuquerque lawyer Robert White, who gave $2,500.
Schoonover raised $1,300. Former Gov. Garrey Carruthers contributed $200 to his campaign.
Incumbent Democratic state Auditor Hector Balderas raised $22,789 for his race last month and had more than $150,000 cash on hand. His largest contribution was from Mansfield rancher Stanley Harper — who also gave to Republican Martinez’s gubernatorial campaign.
GOP challenger Errol Chavez’s latest report wasn’t available on the Secretary of State’s website Tuesday evening. As of his previous report filed last month, Chavez had $12,677 cash on hand.
October 13, 2010
With three weeks remaining before the 2010 general election, three statewide Republican candidates report raising more funds than their Democratic opponents.
Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez; Dianna Duran, who is running for secretary of state against a Democratic incumbent; and GOP land commission candidate Matt Rush each reported getting more campaign cash than their opponents during the past month, according to reports filed Tuesday. (Find 'em all HERE )
Perhaps more importantly, Martinez, Duran and Rush have more money in the bank for the final push of the campaign season.
Martinez, the district attorney in Doña Ana County, raised more than $1.4 million during the past month, compared with $820,595 for Lt. Gov. Diane Denish. Martinez had $1.3 million cash on hand as of Oct. 4, compared with Denish’s $951,000.Denish, who has been raising money to run for governor since 2007, had a huge money lead over Martinez going into the campaign. But by the end of the summer, Martinez, who has been leading in polls, began to catch up with Denish in fundraising.
Among Martinez’s largest contributor is the Republican Governor’s Association, which gave her $500,000. That’s on top of the $500,000 the organization already had contributed to her campaign.
Denish has tried to make an issue of Martinez receiving large donations from Texas residents. There were more such contributions in the most recent report.
Lewis Burleson Properties of Midland, Texas, contributed $75,000. Stanley Harper, a rancher and businessman from Mansfield, Texas, gave $20,000. Clayton Williams Energy Inc. of Midland, which according to the company’s website operates primarily in Texas, Louisiana and New Mexico, gave Martinez $15,000. Clayton “Claytie” Williams was an unsuccessful Republican candidate for governor of Texas in 1990, losing to Democrat Ann Richards.
Several Texans contributed $10,000 apiece to Martinez. These include Houston consultant Michele Mosbacher; Legacy Reserves, an oil company from Midland; Fasken Management, another oil company from Midland; rancher John Brittingham of Athens; Houston developer Steve Alvis; and rancher Cliff Skiles of Dalhart.
Other big contributors to Martinez were Roswell accountant Ronald Miller, who gave $20,000; Richard Wickens of Albuquerque; Roswell insurance man Randall Miller; Ray Westall of Loco Hills, N.M.; and the Pfizer drug company of New York — each of whom gave the campaign $10,000.
One of the better-known names among Martinez’s contributors was former U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, who gave $5,000. Domenici’s son, Pete Domenici Jr., was one of the candidates Martinez defeated in the Republican primary in June.
Denish’s largest contributors were labor unions — the National Education Association and The American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees, each of which gave Denish $100,000. AFSCME had previously contributed $100,000 to Denish’s campaign.
The Democratic Governor’s Association gave her $50,000. The DGA previously had given $181,000 to Denish. The group separately reported spending $385,000 for TV ads on behalf of Denish.
Emily’s List, a group that gives money to female candidates who support abortion rights, gave $20,000. The group previously has given $90,000 to Denish’s campaign.
The International Association of Fire Fighters and Harvey Operating and Production Co. of Colorado each contributed $20,000 to Denish. Her $10,000 contributors included Sundance Services, a Eunice water recycling company; The Design Company, an Albuquerque firm; Intrepid Production Corp., a Colorado mining company; and Molina Healthcare Inc. of Long Beach, Calif.
In the secretary of state race, Republican Duran raised more than five times the amount that incumbent Democrat Mary Herrera reported taking in last month. Duran received $54,121 in the past month while Herrera raised $9,425. Duran had nearly $85,000 in the bank as of the end of last month, while Herrera had $51,400.
Almost half of Duran’s contributions in the last reporting period came from the state Republican Party, which gave $25,000.
Herrera’s largest single contribution in the report filed Tuesday was $2,000 from Sierras Y Llanos, a sales company from Tijeras. She also got $1,000 from the New Mexico Federation of Labor and $500 each from unions representing carpenters and communications workers. House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, gave Herrera $500 last month.
GOP Land Commission candidate Matt Rush of Portales is outraising his Democratic opponent, former Land Commissioner Ray Powell, according to the latest reports. Rush in the last month collected more than $93,000, nearly three times the $33,352 that Powell took in.
Rush’s biggest contribution was $25,000 from the state Republican Party. The Eddy County Republican Party gave him another $10,000. Rush got $5,000 contributions from Shannon Kizer in Movesand, N.M.; the International Potash Corp. of Colorado; and Knute Lee of Albuquerque.
Powell also received $5,000 from the International Potash Corp. as well as $5,000 from Forest City Covington, which is developing the Mesa del Sol project in southeast Albuquerque.
In the race for attorney general, incumbent Democrat Gary King maintained his fundraising lead over Republican Matt Chandler in the latest reports. King raised $73,875 in the past month, compared with Chandler’s $54,976 in the same period. King had $139,00 in the bank while Chandler had about $109,000.
King’s biggest contributors were Albuquerque lawyer William Carpenter and his wife, Patricia Carpenter, who gave him a combined $25,000.
The Downs at Albuquerque racetrack and casino contributed $5,000 to King while track owner Paul Blanchard gave another $2,500. King also received $5,000 donations from the International Capital Asset Management firm of New York and the Pfizer drug company.
Unlike Duran and Rush, Chandler, who was trailing King in an Albuquerque Journal poll last month by 20 percentage points, didn’t get any money from the state Republican Party. His biggest contributions were $5,000 from Yates Petroleum of Artesia and $2,500 from RAI Services, a business from North Carolina.
In the state treasurer’s race, Democratic incumbent James Lewis held a huge money advantage over Republican challenger Jim Schoonover. Lewis reported more than $26,000 in the bank compared to Schoonover’s $458. The incumbent raised $17,700. His largest single contributor was Albuquerque lawyer Robert White, who gave $2,500.
Schoonover raised $1,300. Former Gov. Garrey Carruthers contributed $200 to his campaign.
Incumbent Democratic state Auditor Hector Balderas raised $22,789 for his race last month and had more than $150,000 cash on hand. His largest contribution was from Mansfield rancher Stanley Harper — who also gave to Republican Martinez’s gubernatorial campaign.
GOP challenger Errol Chavez’s latest report wasn’t available on the Secretary of State’s website Tuesday evening. As of his previous report filed last month, Chavez had $12,677 cash on hand.
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Roundhouse Roundup: Dueling IPRA Requests
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
September 16, 2010
The bad blood continues between Mary Herrera and some county clerks across the state. Last week some county clerks complained on KOB News about Herrera getting $10,000 from the state to hire temporary “liaisons” at various “problematic” areas statewide.
“Liaisons are a direct line of communication between the polling locations and the Secretary of State's Office, who by statute is the Chief Election Officer of the state responsible for efficient elections,” said a SOS news release last week.
But some county clerks bristled at being called “problematic” — a word that Deputy Secretary of State Don Francisco Trujillo said was used by some staffer at a legislative committee, not the Secretary of State’s office.
And some clerks complained that the liaisons didn’t seem to know what they were doing and, at least in one case, didn’t seem to be around until after the polls closed.
Whoever said, Deputy Santa Fe County Clerk Denise Lamb responded Monday with a public information request under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) to the SOS. Some of the items she asked for included the names of all “liaisons,” their resumes, the “dates, times and duration” of the training for all liaisons and temporary workers employed by the SOS in the primary and the “familial relationship” of any liaison or temporary worker to any SOS staff member.
Lamb also requested all correspondence related to the hiring of these folks and all of the communications from the liaisons on primary day.
Herrera herself answered within just a few hours. She said her office would comply with the request. But then she added, “This is a good idea for the office of the Secretary of State to obtain in the files of all the staff hired by your office as well, who we do I send the IPRA request to?”
Lamb quickly shot back: “Mary, We don't hire any ‘liaisons’ to monitor your conduct of the election.” She said any request for public information should go to the county attorney.
Herrera started the IPRA Wars last month when she made a public information request for correspondence involving some of her staff past and present and her critics.
The Out-of-Staters: Earlier this week Diane Denish’s gubernatorial campaign blasted Republican candidate Susana Martinez for getting 52 percent of her campaign contributions from out-of-state supporters, according to her latest campaign finance report.
Nearly a quarter of Martinez’s total in the most recent report came from the Republican Governor’s Association, based in Washington, D.C. She also received several five or six-figure contributions from out-of-state sources, including some big GOP moneymen.
Denish, who raised less than half of what Martinez did since late June, received a few big contributions from outside of New Mexico herself, mainly from unions. She’s saying that about two thirds of the cash in her latest report came from New Mexico.
The Institute of Money in State Government’s website Followthemoney.org, has not yet included this week’s reports in their totals. But as of the previous campaign finance reports submitted in early July, 63 percent of Martinez’s money had come from New Mexico and almost 37 percent had come from out-of-state. Denish’s figure was about 67 percent in-state, 32 percent from out of state.
But even if Martinez eventually does end up with about half her campaign funds coming from outside of New Mexico, she wouldn’t be the first.
According to Followthemoney.org, in 2006 less than 51 percent of Gov. Bill Richardson’s campaign funds definitely came from New Mexico. Nearly 48 percent was from out of state, while the place of origin of 1.7 percent of Richardson’s money couldn’t be determined.
The real question is why New Mexico gubernatorial get so much money from elsewhere. In Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma, all gubernatorial candidates, both Democratic and Republican, according to followthemoney.org, all are getting more than 90 percent of their campaign cash from inside their respective states.
September 16, 2010
The bad blood continues between Mary Herrera and some county clerks across the state. Last week some county clerks complained on KOB News about Herrera getting $10,000 from the state to hire temporary “liaisons” at various “problematic” areas statewide.
“Liaisons are a direct line of communication between the polling locations and the Secretary of State's Office, who by statute is the Chief Election Officer of the state responsible for efficient elections,” said a SOS news release last week.
But some county clerks bristled at being called “problematic” — a word that Deputy Secretary of State Don Francisco Trujillo said was used by some staffer at a legislative committee, not the Secretary of State’s office.
And some clerks complained that the liaisons didn’t seem to know what they were doing and, at least in one case, didn’t seem to be around until after the polls closed.
Whoever said, Deputy Santa Fe County Clerk Denise Lamb responded Monday with a public information request under the Inspection of Public Records Act (IPRA) to the SOS. Some of the items she asked for included the names of all “liaisons,” their resumes, the “dates, times and duration” of the training for all liaisons and temporary workers employed by the SOS in the primary and the “familial relationship” of any liaison or temporary worker to any SOS staff member.
Lamb also requested all correspondence related to the hiring of these folks and all of the communications from the liaisons on primary day.
Herrera herself answered within just a few hours. She said her office would comply with the request. But then she added, “This is a good idea for the office of the Secretary of State to obtain in the files of all the staff hired by your office as well, who we do I send the IPRA request to?”
Lamb quickly shot back: “Mary, We don't hire any ‘liaisons’ to monitor your conduct of the election.” She said any request for public information should go to the county attorney.
Herrera started the IPRA Wars last month when she made a public information request for correspondence involving some of her staff past and present and her critics.
The Out-of-Staters: Earlier this week Diane Denish’s gubernatorial campaign blasted Republican candidate Susana Martinez for getting 52 percent of her campaign contributions from out-of-state supporters, according to her latest campaign finance report.
Nearly a quarter of Martinez’s total in the most recent report came from the Republican Governor’s Association, based in Washington, D.C. She also received several five or six-figure contributions from out-of-state sources, including some big GOP moneymen.
Denish, who raised less than half of what Martinez did since late June, received a few big contributions from outside of New Mexico herself, mainly from unions. She’s saying that about two thirds of the cash in her latest report came from New Mexico.
The Institute of Money in State Government’s website Followthemoney.org, has not yet included this week’s reports in their totals. But as of the previous campaign finance reports submitted in early July, 63 percent of Martinez’s money had come from New Mexico and almost 37 percent had come from out-of-state. Denish’s figure was about 67 percent in-state, 32 percent from out of state.
But even if Martinez eventually does end up with about half her campaign funds coming from outside of New Mexico, she wouldn’t be the first.
According to Followthemoney.org, in 2006 less than 51 percent of Gov. Bill Richardson’s campaign funds definitely came from New Mexico. Nearly 48 percent was from out of state, while the place of origin of 1.7 percent of Richardson’s money couldn’t be determined.
The real question is why New Mexico gubernatorial get so much money from elsewhere. In Arizona, Texas, and Oklahoma, all gubernatorial candidates, both Democratic and Republican, according to followthemoney.org, all are getting more than 90 percent of their campaign cash from inside their respective states.
Monday, September 13, 2010
Martinez Cleans Up in $$ Race
In the last campaign finance reporting period, Republican Susana Martinez reported raising more than $2 million. That's well over twice what Democrat Diane Denish reported, just under $796,000.
My story about the reports is HERE
For months Denish had a huge lead in campaign funds. Now she has $1.3 million in the bank. Martinez has pulling close with about $1 million.
Martinez's report wasn't filed with the Secretary of State yet because of a technical glitch. I've been assured it will be up tomorrow. The figures I'm using for her are from a news release on her website.
About a quarter of Martinez's total for the period would be that $500,000 contribution from the Republican Governor's Association. I'm assuming that was made before the Sept. 6 cut-off date. The story broke in the Washington Post on Sept. 9, so I guess there's an outside chance it was made on Sept. 7 or 8. We should know tomorrow.
Here's Denish's latest report. I'll post Martinez's as soon as I can when it becomes available.
(Don't make yourself blind. You can enlarge this to full screen.)
Denish Finance Report Sept 2010
My story about the reports is HERE
For months Denish had a huge lead in campaign funds. Now she has $1.3 million in the bank. Martinez has pulling close with about $1 million.
Martinez's report wasn't filed with the Secretary of State yet because of a technical glitch. I've been assured it will be up tomorrow. The figures I'm using for her are from a news release on her website.
About a quarter of Martinez's total for the period would be that $500,000 contribution from the Republican Governor's Association. I'm assuming that was made before the Sept. 6 cut-off date. The story broke in the Washington Post on Sept. 9, so I guess there's an outside chance it was made on Sept. 7 or 8. We should know tomorrow.
Here's Denish's latest report. I'll post Martinez's as soon as I can when it becomes available.
(Don't make yourself blind. You can enlarge this to full screen.)
Denish Finance Report Sept 2010
Thursday, September 9, 2010
GOP Governors Association Pump $500 K Into Martinez Campaign
That's what Chris Cillizza is reporting in his Washington Post blog The Fix.
Actually, the RGA's previous contribution to Martinez ($250,000) came immediately after the June primary, according to the organization's report filed with the IRS.
The Republican Governors Association in recent days has donated $500,000 to Dona Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez's gubernatorial campaign in New Mexico, the latest sign that national GOP strategists believe that they have a genuine pickup opportunity in the Land of Enchantment.
Martinez, who won a contested primary in June with the financial help of the RGA, is running strongly against Lt.Gov. Diane Denish in the race to replace term limited Gov. Bill Richardson (D).
Actually, the RGA's previous contribution to Martinez ($250,000) came immediately after the June primary, according to the organization's report filed with the IRS.
The Democratic Governors Association has contributed $181,500 to Denish as of the most recent available campaign finance reports, though, as Cillizza notes, the DGA has run tv commercials bashing Martinez.
The next round of campaign finance reports are due Monday.
Monday, June 7, 2010
BP Campaign Cash Washes Ashore in NM
In Tuesday's New Mexican looked at campaign contributions from BP to New Mexico politicians. You can find that HERE.
No huge revelations here -- and, in the big picture of the unlimited amounts of contributions currently allowed in state campaigns, the amounts given are relatively low. It's just something that a few people have been wondering about, exactly how much BP campaign money has been contributed to New Mexico candidates.
The biggest amount from BP for a state campaign went to Gov. Richardson in 2002. But that was only $2,000 -- not even walking-around money for Richardson during a campaign. In fact, as I point out in the story, BP is far less active in state politics than other major oil companies.
Some New Mexico Congress members have received more from BP during the years.
Former Sen. Pete Domenici still is on the list of Top 20 BP beneficiaries in the past 20 years -- getting more than $20,000 from the company and its executives. But that's over an 18-year period.
Domenici, who left office last year, chaired the Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee, as Sen. Jeff Bingaman does now. BP has given Bingaman $14,000 since 1994.
Friday, April 16, 2010
3rd CD Campaign Finance Update
Congressional candidate Tom Mullins says he's still having problems getting his report posted on the Federal Election Commission site. But on his Web site he reports raising $ 26,102 in the first quarter, spending $28,399 during that time and having $28,680 in the bank as of March 31.
Mullins' GOP opponent Adam Kokesh reported raising more than $57,000 and spending more than $50,000, which leaves just over $12,000 in the bank.
Democratic incumbent Ben Ray Lujan raised more than $150,000 in the first quarter. He spent more than $61,000 in the last quarter, leaving more than $375,035 cash on hand.
My story about the reports from this morning's paper is HERE
Mullins' GOP opponent Adam Kokesh reported raising more than $57,000 and spending more than $50,000, which leaves just over $12,000 in the bank.
Democratic incumbent Ben Ray Lujan raised more than $150,000 in the first quarter. He spent more than $61,000 in the last quarter, leaving more than $375,035 cash on hand.
My story about the reports from this morning's paper is HERE
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Roundhouse Roundup: The Other White Meat
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
April 15, 2010
New Mexico is becoming less swinish, according to a national report released Wednesday.
According to the 2010 Pig Book, published by the Washington, D.C.-based Citizens Against Government Waste, this state no longer is in the Top 10 states in terms of pork — government earmark spending — per capita.
April 15, 2010
New Mexico is becoming less swinish, according to a national report released Wednesday.
According to the 2010 Pig Book, published by the Washington, D.C.-based Citizens Against Government Waste, this state no longer is in the Top 10 states in terms of pork — government earmark spending — per capita.
We slipped from No. 6 to No 12.
The Pig Book each year delights in pointing out what it considers outrageous examples of federal pork spending — $2.5 million for potato research in four states, $500,000 for brown tree snake control and interdiction in Guam, $693,000 for beef improvement research in Texas.
The Pig Book each year delights in pointing out what it considers outrageous examples of federal pork spending — $2.5 million for potato research in four states, $500,000 for brown tree snake control and interdiction in Guam, $693,000 for beef improvement research in Texas.
But though New Mexico is no stranger to ridicule in the Pig Book in past years, no earmark project made the list in the 2010 book.
However, it's not that all our bacon has turned to tofu. New Mexico still gets $56.97 of federal pork for every man, woman and child in the state, the authors say. That's more than twice the national average of $27.36.
But why did New Mexico slip in terms of pork power?
However, it's not that all our bacon has turned to tofu. New Mexico still gets $56.97 of federal pork for every man, woman and child in the state, the authors say. That's more than twice the national average of $27.36.
But why did New Mexico slip in terms of pork power?
David Williams, vice president of policy for CAGW, said the major reason is that the state lost longtime U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici — who Williams said was "unabashed about getting pork" — as well as all three incumbent House members in the last election. (Tom Udall last year went from the House to replace the retired Domenici in the Senate.)
"When it comes to pork, it comes down to who's been in Congress longer and who's on the appropriations committees," Williams said in a telephone interview.
He pointed out that Alaska lost Sen. Ted Stevens — notorious for his bacon bringing — in the 2008 election and slipped down three notches in the pork-per-capita rankings from first place to fourth.
"That's one of the biggest problems with pork," Williams said. "The money is not evenly distributed. Is it really fair to a state like New Mexico that you get less money just because you lost members of your congressional delegation?"
Williams said the number of pork projects declined by 10.2 percent, from 10,160 in fiscal year 2009 to 9,129 in this fiscal year, while the total tax dollars spent to fund them decreased by 15.5 percent, from $19.6 billion to $16.5 billion.
Altogether, New Mexico's delegation secured $114,499,540 in federal earmark funds in 2010. The previous year's total was more than $266 million.
"One thing that's happening is that there are diminishing political returns for bringing home the bacon," Williams said. Noting transparency rules that the House implemented last year, Williams said, "There's a lot more sunlight in the system."
Fun with campaign finance reports: Could this be the Republican version of the old Marxist line about capitalists selling the rope that the revolutionaries will use to hang them with?
According to his latest campaign finance report, filed this week, former state Rep. Brian Moore, a Clayton Republican running for lieutenant governor, spent $311 on calling cards printed at Alphagraphics in Albuquerque last October.
"When it comes to pork, it comes down to who's been in Congress longer and who's on the appropriations committees," Williams said in a telephone interview.
He pointed out that Alaska lost Sen. Ted Stevens — notorious for his bacon bringing — in the 2008 election and slipped down three notches in the pork-per-capita rankings from first place to fourth.
"That's one of the biggest problems with pork," Williams said. "The money is not evenly distributed. Is it really fair to a state like New Mexico that you get less money just because you lost members of your congressional delegation?"
Williams said the number of pork projects declined by 10.2 percent, from 10,160 in fiscal year 2009 to 9,129 in this fiscal year, while the total tax dollars spent to fund them decreased by 15.5 percent, from $19.6 billion to $16.5 billion.
Altogether, New Mexico's delegation secured $114,499,540 in federal earmark funds in 2010. The previous year's total was more than $266 million.
"One thing that's happening is that there are diminishing political returns for bringing home the bacon," Williams said. Noting transparency rules that the House implemented last year, Williams said, "There's a lot more sunlight in the system."
Fun with campaign finance reports: Could this be the Republican version of the old Marxist line about capitalists selling the rope that the revolutionaries will use to hang them with?
According to his latest campaign finance report, filed this week, former state Rep. Brian Moore, a Clayton Republican running for lieutenant governor, spent $311 on calling cards printed at Alphagraphics in Albuquerque last October.
Moore confirmed that this is the same Alphagraphics owned and operated by state Sen. Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque. About a month later, Cravens himself jumped into the lieutenant governor's race.
State Sen. Tim Eichenberg, D-Albuquerque, was among several Democratic senators who endorsed fellow Albuquerque senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino for lieutenant governor, according to a news release last week from Ortiz y Pino's campaign. Eichenberg put his money where his mouth is, contributing $500 to Ortiz y Pino's campaign.
State Sen. Tim Eichenberg, D-Albuquerque, was among several Democratic senators who endorsed fellow Albuquerque senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino for lieutenant governor, according to a news release last week from Ortiz y Pino's campaign. Eichenberg put his money where his mouth is, contributing $500 to Ortiz y Pino's campaign.
But that's not the only senator to whom Eichenberg contributed. Sen. Linda Lopez, another Albuquerque Democrat running for lieutenant governor, also got $500 from Eichenberg.
Monday, April 12, 2010
More Campaign Finance Reports
I revamped this entire post so it's not such a patch work
Democratic Governor Candidate
* Lt. Gov. Denish raised $1,114,142 in this reporting period and spent $715,538.69, leaving her with $2,598,632 cash on hand. I'll have a list of her largest contributors in tomorrow's paper.
Republican Governor Candidates
* Susana Martinez's report is up. She's raised $428,064 and spent $194,809, leaving a balance of $363,913.
* The Allen Weh campaign emailed a news release saying Weh had raised $1.29 million. According to his campaign, this is a total for the race --not just this reporting period-- and includes monetary contributions, loans, and, and inkinds. The Associated Press did the math. This period Weh raised $691,000, $500,000 of that from a personal loan. Weh’s campaign has about $544,000 in the bank. (This section was updated at about 6 p.m.)
* Pete Domenici, Jr.'s report just popped up on the SOS site. He reported raising $372,107, of which $70,000 was a loan from himself. Domenici spent $$242,409, leaving a balance of $129,698.
* Nothing yet from Janice Arnold-Jones or Doug Turner, though I ran into Turner, who said he raised about $200,000 in cash and $55,000 in in-kind donations.
Democratic Lieutenant Governor Candidates
Former state party chairman Brian Colon reported raising $156,489. He reported spending $201,651, which leaves him $205,886. His biggest contributors were his Albuquerque law firm Robles, Rael & Anaya, which gave him $11,879, and L&F Distributors of McAllen, Texas, which contributed $10,000.
Lawrence Rael's report is in. He $162,175, of which $105,000 are personal loans. Rael spent $162, 175, leaving $126,195 in cash on hand.
Nothing yet from Joe Campos, Jerry Ortiz y Pino or Linda Lopez
Republican Lieutenant Governor Candidates
* John Sanchez's report is in. He seems to be running a self-financed campaign. Sanchez reported raising $279,300. But $273,800 is from a series of personal loans. In addition to the loans, $2,500 of the $5,500 in monetary contributions was from Sanchez himself. And his Albuquerque roofing company gave an in-kind contribution of $6,735. Sanchez spent $23,018 leaving a balance of $256,281.
* Brian Moore's report has yet to show up on the Web site, but Moore e-mailed a spreadsheet to reporters. He raised $139,840, $100,000 of which was a personal loan to himself. Moore spent $14,231, leaving his treasury $129, 535.
* Kent Cravens has raised $57,990 and spent $34,583.
* J.R. Damron, a Santa Fe doctor who has dropped out of the race raised $24,975 and spent $24,451 -- some of which was in the form of partial campaign contributions.
* Kent Cravens has raised $57,990 and spent $34,583.
* J.R. Damron, a Santa Fe doctor who has dropped out of the race raised $24,975 and spent $24,451 -- some of which was in the form of partial campaign contributions.
Late Monday afternoon the Secretary of State's Office released this statement:
The New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office will extend today’s 5:00 PM deadline for candidates to file their reports. The agency will be working prolonged hours today and this evening in an effort to respond to all requests from candidates for assistance with the new campaign finance reporting system.
Richardson Raises $11,800 for Governor Campaign
True, he's not running, but Gov. Bill Richardson just filed a campaign finance report.
Of the $11,800, $11,565 was from the Democratic Governor's Association for renting one of Richardson's lists. The rest was all interest from various bank accounts -- except one $50 from Myriam DePelichy, an Illinois resident.
The committee spent more than $64,000. Among the expenditures were political contributions to Santa Fe Mayor David Coss ($1,000), U.S. Sen. Harry Reid ($1,000), and the state Democratic Party ($5,000). He also paid Virginia pollster Stephen Clermont $6,4000 in October.
The Richardson campaign still has more than $63,000 in the bank.
Of the $11,800, $11,565 was from the Democratic Governor's Association for renting one of Richardson's lists. The rest was all interest from various bank accounts -- except one $50 from Myriam DePelichy, an Illinois resident.
The committee spent more than $64,000. Among the expenditures were political contributions to Santa Fe Mayor David Coss ($1,000), U.S. Sen. Harry Reid ($1,000), and the state Democratic Party ($5,000). He also paid Virginia pollster Stephen Clermont $6,4000 in October.
The Richardson campaign still has more than $63,000 in the bank.
Campaign Finance Reports Trickling In
Actually, "trickling" might be an exaggeration. The waters seem pretty stagnant.
I'll update when things start to move.
As for Denish, according to her news release she raised $1,114,142 in this reporting period and spent $715,538.69, leaving her with $2,598,632 cash on hand.
Team Denish pointed out that she did not raise money during the 30-day legislative session or the following 20-day bill-signing period.
At this writing, no gubernatorial candidates have reports up on the new Secretary of State site -- though Democrat Diane Denish issued a press release saying she raised more than a million dollars between October and April.
The same two lieutenant governor reports are still there, with no new ones appearing.
Secretary of State Mary Herrera told reporters this morning that many candidates will wait until the last moment to submit.
There also was this troubling prediction (from an SOS news release):
... the first reporting period takes into account a grace period for the ethics administration to ensure all reports submitted are properly incorporated and may “take a few extra days” to have all data compiled for public view, for this report date, said Bureau of Election Director Don Francisco Trujillo II. And some “glitches” are expected in the first period.
I'll update when things start to move.
As for Denish, according to her news release she raised $1,114,142 in this reporting period and spent $715,538.69, leaving her with $2,598,632 cash on hand.
Team Denish pointed out that she did not raise money during the 30-day legislative session or the following 20-day bill-signing period.
I haven't seen the actual report yet, so I can't yet report who the major contributors.
Denish voluntarily reported on her fund-raising in mid January . At that time she reported raising about $750,000 in the previous three months. Those numbers are included in the current report.
It's Campaign Finance Report Filing Day ...
And the Secretary of State has a new campaign finance report Web site.
Checking shortly before 9 a.m., none of the gubernatorial candidates had filed.
As for lieutenant governor, Republicans Kent Cravens and J.R. Damron (who has dropped out of the race) win the early bird prize.
Cravens, a state senator from Albuquerque, has raised $57,990 and spent $34,583.
Damron, a Santa Fe doctor,$24,975 and spent $24,451 -- some of which was in the form of partial campaign contributions.
More of these will be coming in throughout the day.
Cravens, a state senator from Albuquerque, has raised $57,990 and spent $34,583.
Damron, a Santa Fe doctor,$24,975 and spent $24,451 -- some of which was in the form of partial campaign contributions.
More of these will be coming in throughout the day.
Friday, January 15, 2010
SUSANA RELEASES CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTORS
Following Democrat Diane Denish and Republican Janice Arnold-Jones, Susana Martinez, also a Republican gubernatorial candidate, has released her campaign finance report -- several months before it's legally due.
According to the numbers on her Web site, Martinez has raised more than $306,000 for her campaign. more than half of it since she filed her previous report in October. She has more than $228,000 in the bank.
The campaign makes a point of saying 65 percent of her contributors were from outside of Las Cruces. Denish in October pointed out that the lion's share of Martinez's contributions at that point were from southern New Mexico.
Martinez's biggest contributors were $17,500 from the Mack Energy Corp in Artesia and $10,000 from James and Deborah Gianneli, who are in the contstruction business in Albuquerque and Alliance Drilling Fluids of Midland, Texas, which also gave $10,000.
Denish reported yesterday she'd raised $750,000 in the last three months of 2009, while Arnold-Jones reported raising more than $50,000. Republicans Allen Weh and Doug Turner have not released their campaign finance figures since the last legally required report in October.
Denish reported yesterday she'd raised $750,000 in the last three months of 2009, while Arnold-Jones reported raising more than $50,000. Republicans Allen Weh and Doug Turner have not released their campaign finance figures since the last legally required report in October.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Roundhouse Roundup: Richardson Campaign Still Alive
A version of this was published in The Santa Fe New Mexican
October 15, 2009
Even though he can't run for re-election and he's not running for anything else we know of, Gov. Bill Richardson's gubernatorial campaign is still raising and spending a little money.
Technically, Richardson's last state campaign was in 2006, when he won his second term. But according to his latest campaign finance report, filed Tuesday with the Secretary of State's Office — just like the reports of those candidates who actually are running for office — Richardson's campaign raised more than $12,000 between May 5 and Oct. 5 and spent more than $58,000. He had $115,758.78.
There's nothing illegal or even unusual about politicians using their campaign funds for things other than campaigns. New Mexico's laws are relatively lax on this, and thus you have legislators using campaign money for expenses incurred during legislative sessions, travel to out-of-state conferences, etc.
By far, Richardson's largest contributor in his latest report was Nexus Direct, a direct-marketing company based in Virginia Beach, Va. The company gave him $11,565. There is a connection between the governor and the company. Its founder and CEO, Suzanne Cole Nowers, was in charge of direct marketing for the Richardson presidential campaign.
So how did Richardson spend its money in the past five months?
He donated $1,000 to the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, a Concord, N.H.-based charity formed to further the legacy of the late Rep. Tom Lanton, D-California, former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the only Holocaust survivor elected to Congress.
He contributed $2,000 to Santa Fe Mayor David Coss' re-election campaign.
He paid $1,611 to the Sandler, Reiff & Young law firm in Washington, D.C. I'm not sure what legal services were performed there, but I bet it's something mundane. $1,600 doesn't buy much in the way of lawyering.
But most interesting was $38,353 paid for "research/polling" to a company called Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates in Santa Monica, Calif. Nearly all the money was paid in June, a much smaller chunk paid in September.
What was the poll about? Was there a particular issue the governor was looking at? Was it just a "Mirror, mirror on the wall" poll to see how his approval numbers were looking? (The most recent Survey USA/KOB-TV poll in late September showed 48 percent approved of the job Richardson is doing while 47 percent disapproved. The margin of error was 4.1 percent.)
We don't know what kind of polling was done by the Santa Monica company. Nobody on the governor's public information staff responded to e-mails asking about that.
Richardson's campaign committee has slowed down in the areas of spending and fundraising. In its previous report in May, the committee reported raising $105,000 and spending more than $490,000.
But it's still alive. The campaign is spending hundreds of dollars a month on telephone service from three companies — $1,477 in September alone.
And it's paying an Albuquerque storage company $298 a month. What are they keeping in there? Is that where they're storing Richardson's fabled political machine?
A decent time slot for Lorene: It's good to have a "neighbor" like Lorene Mills. She uses the television studio next door to my office in the Roundhouse each week to tape her show Report from Santa Fe. Because of that, I've met many national figures — among them Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame, Noam Chomsky, Arianna Huffington and retired Brig Gen. Janis Karpinski, who was in charge of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Also, her show has come in handy when I need to talk with legislators or other politicians who come in to do her show.
But for years, poor Mills has had to contend with what I consider an inhumane time slot — 6 a.m. on Sunday. No more. Starting Friday, Report moves to 10:30 p.m. Friday nights on KNME, Channel 5. It's not exactly prime time, but it's a lot better than 6 a.m. Gov. Bill Richardson is her first guest on the new time slot.
And on Sunday morning, the show will be rebroadcast at 7:30 a.m. — which also is better than 6 a.m.
And in case you want to check out some of those shows you missed on early Sunday mornings, check out the archives at Report from Santa Fe Web site at www.reportfromsantafe.com.
October 15, 2009
Even though he can't run for re-election and he's not running for anything else we know of, Gov. Bill Richardson's gubernatorial campaign is still raising and spending a little money.
Technically, Richardson's last state campaign was in 2006, when he won his second term. But according to his latest campaign finance report, filed Tuesday with the Secretary of State's Office — just like the reports of those candidates who actually are running for office — Richardson's campaign raised more than $12,000 between May 5 and Oct. 5 and spent more than $58,000. He had $115,758.78.
There's nothing illegal or even unusual about politicians using their campaign funds for things other than campaigns. New Mexico's laws are relatively lax on this, and thus you have legislators using campaign money for expenses incurred during legislative sessions, travel to out-of-state conferences, etc.
By far, Richardson's largest contributor in his latest report was Nexus Direct, a direct-marketing company based in Virginia Beach, Va. The company gave him $11,565. There is a connection between the governor and the company. Its founder and CEO, Suzanne Cole Nowers, was in charge of direct marketing for the Richardson presidential campaign.
So how did Richardson spend its money in the past five months?
He donated $1,000 to the Lantos Foundation for Human Rights and Justice, a Concord, N.H.-based charity formed to further the legacy of the late Rep. Tom Lanton, D-California, former chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee and the only Holocaust survivor elected to Congress.
He contributed $2,000 to Santa Fe Mayor David Coss' re-election campaign.
He paid $1,611 to the Sandler, Reiff & Young law firm in Washington, D.C. I'm not sure what legal services were performed there, but I bet it's something mundane. $1,600 doesn't buy much in the way of lawyering.
But most interesting was $38,353 paid for "research/polling" to a company called Fairbank, Maslin, Maullin & Associates in Santa Monica, Calif. Nearly all the money was paid in June, a much smaller chunk paid in September.
What was the poll about? Was there a particular issue the governor was looking at? Was it just a "Mirror, mirror on the wall" poll to see how his approval numbers were looking? (The most recent Survey USA/KOB-TV poll in late September showed 48 percent approved of the job Richardson is doing while 47 percent disapproved. The margin of error was 4.1 percent.)
We don't know what kind of polling was done by the Santa Monica company. Nobody on the governor's public information staff responded to e-mails asking about that.
Richardson's campaign committee has slowed down in the areas of spending and fundraising. In its previous report in May, the committee reported raising $105,000 and spending more than $490,000.
But it's still alive. The campaign is spending hundreds of dollars a month on telephone service from three companies — $1,477 in September alone.
And it's paying an Albuquerque storage company $298 a month. What are they keeping in there? Is that where they're storing Richardson's fabled political machine?
A decent time slot for Lorene: It's good to have a "neighbor" like Lorene Mills. She uses the television studio next door to my office in the Roundhouse each week to tape her show Report from Santa Fe. Because of that, I've met many national figures — among them Joe Wilson and Valerie Plame, Noam Chomsky, Arianna Huffington and retired Brig Gen. Janis Karpinski, who was in charge of Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq. Also, her show has come in handy when I need to talk with legislators or other politicians who come in to do her show.
But for years, poor Mills has had to contend with what I consider an inhumane time slot — 6 a.m. on Sunday. No more. Starting Friday, Report moves to 10:30 p.m. Friday nights on KNME, Channel 5. It's not exactly prime time, but it's a lot better than 6 a.m. Gov. Bill Richardson is her first guest on the new time slot.
And on Sunday morning, the show will be rebroadcast at 7:30 a.m. — which also is better than 6 a.m.
And in case you want to check out some of those shows you missed on early Sunday mornings, check out the archives at Report from Santa Fe Web site at www.reportfromsantafe.com.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Lopez Raises Almost $17,000
The campaign finance report of Linda Lopez, a Democratic contender for lieutenant governor, finally appeared on the Secretary of State's Web site. She's the last of the light gov candidates to have her report posted.Lopez raised $16,830 and spent $3,168. Her largest contribution by far was $7,000 from the Westland corporation, the California development company that wants to built a 55,000-acre residential/commercial/industrial project on Albuquerque's west side.
Lopez sponsored the bill this year that would have created tax increment development districts (TIDDs) for the proposal. That bill passed the Senate but unexpectedly died in the House on the last night of the session.
For other lieutenant governor campaign finance reports see Kate's story.
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