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Edited on Tue May-04-04 11:42 PM by hedgetrimmer
NEW LEADERSHIP FOR THE DEMOCRATS TOO
First the Republicans, now the Democrats in the Land of Enchantment are under the leadership of a new chairman. The Democratic new state party chairman is John Wertheim, an Albuquerque attorney who’s political experience includes an unsuccessful run at the Congressional seat held by the late Steve Schiff in District One in 1996. Wertheim has also served as the campaign manager for Democratic Governor Bruce King in 1994, and he was the state director of Bill Clinton’s presidential campaign in 1992.
Wertheim is a 1990 graduate of Yale University and a 1995 graduate of the University of New Mexico law school. He’s married to Bianca Ortiz Wertheim, who is the director of Cabinet Affairs for Governor Bill
Richardson.
Wertheim had the backing of Governor Bill Richardson in his quest for the New Mexico Demos top post. As reported in a recent Dateline New Mexico radio broadcast with Tom Trowbridge, Senator Jeff Bingaman says he’s glad that the 36-year old Wertheim is the new chairman. Bingaman notes, “His job is to try to elect Democrats this fall and, of course, the main election this fall is for President. His success will depend, to a large extent, on how well the Democrat nominee Senator Kerry does in New Mexico this fall.”
Wertheim agrees with Senator Bingaman, stressing that, “Job Number One of the Democrat Party is going to be to elect John Kerry the next President of the United States!” Wertheim concedes that will be a
challenge in New Mexico and elsewhere, “It’s going to be a very tight election, but we feel very good because of John Kerry’s agenda about turning this economy around, about improving education, providing more money for higher education in Pell Grants and other such matters. We think we can win this election.”
The Democratic chairmanship became vacant when Joni Gutierrez of Las Cruces stepped down last month. Gutierrez is seeking the seat in the state House of Representatives that has been occupied by J. Paul
Taylor for years. Wertheim fills her term, which runs until April 2005. And the new party chairman readily remarks that the Presidential race is among his priorities, which include broadening the party’s majorities in both chambers of the State Legislature.
To quote the new Demo chairman, “It is extremely important that we try to pick up seats in both the House and Senate and I think we have a good shot a doing that. I think that’s important for the future of New Mexico, given how well this state is being run by our Democratic Governor and legislature.”
Wertheim is joined in the Democratic Party’s New Mexico leadership by Annadelle Sanchez of Espanola, who was elected Vice Chairwoman. Also, Mary Gail Gwaltney of Las Cruces was re-elected as National Committeewoman, serving as a member of the Democratic National Committee, and former House Speaker Raymond Sanchez of Albuquerque was elected a National Committeeman.
FINAL DEMO NOTES
John Wertheim brings much to the Democratic party leadership, but the party faithful has to be hoping for a couple of balls to bounce in the right direction in the very very near future. First, that Wertheim comes
REPUBLICANS CLEAN HOUSE
Heads have rolled as six state GOP staffers, including Executive Director Tom Carroll, were fired by incoming Republican Chair Allen Weh. Despite having been represented as being neutral in the bitter battles between the two wings of the New Mexican Republican party, the Dendahlites and the Gorham supporters, it appears that Weh does indeed have partisan (Dendahl versus Gorham)preferences. Wall-leaners report that John Dendahl’s team, having succeeded in forcing Senator Gorham out of both her Chairmanship and her Senate seat, now has the support of national Republicans (in the guise of the Bush campaign and the congres-sional delegation)in consolidating power at the top of the State GOP.
In a letter to New Mexico Republicans, Chairman Weh remarks, opening with a powerful understate-ment, “The last few weeks have brought change to the Republican Party of New Mexico.” Weh explains that his letter is intended to share his goals for the party and lay out his vision, and how “we will reach our goals--together!”
Allen Weh lays out a four-pronged goals line-up, featuring voter registration, winning elections up and down the ticket, re-electing(sic) President George W. Bush, and fund-raising. He closes his missive to the Republican membership by saying,
Our party has been caught up in disagreement between good people and
good intentions. However if we intend to meet our goals in the November election then all of us must put aside our differences and work together. I’m only looking forward at this point and
encourage all of you to do the same. We don’t have time to do otherwise. -Allen E. Weh, Chairman
A good “Rally the Troops” letter, but is it enough to heal such deep and caustic rifts as we have experi-enced
here among New Mexico Republicans. Further battles await, as the Mickey Barnett/George Buffet contest for Republican National Committeeman comes up in June. Republican candidates in legislative and local races in the June primary may have a hard time showing up on their Chairman’s radar in time to get funds and support. Clearly the Presidential race is the main focus for Weh, and it is unlikely he will serve here past the November election. There are many other facets in these developments, so stay tuned, neighbor.
A LIGHTER REPUBLICAN NOTE
Enter “REGGIE, The Registration Rig!” Now appearing at Republican BBQ, voter registration and fund-raising events! Reggie is an 80,000 pound 18-wheeler that the Republican National Committee has put in
the field to travel around the USA to register voters and deliver the GOP message. It is equipped with 3 plasma screen televisions, X-box game systems, computers and a sound stage. Looks like it will put the FUN back in FUND-RAISING!
ONE DOOR OPENS AND ANOTHER DOOR CLOSES
New leadership takes hold at the New Mexico Department of Indian Affairs, as Governor Richardson announces his choice for the agency’s director. Benny Shendo, Jr. has been named as the New Mexico Secre-tary of Indian Affairs. Secretary-designate Shendo is a native of Jemez Pueblo, and currently serves as Senior Manager for Native American Programs, at the University of New Mexico. He starts his new job next week.
The Governor quotes “Benny Shendo’s background and experience make him uniquely qualified to lead the Department of Indian Affairs.” Richardson also mentioned Shendo’s “commitment to working with the
Nation’s Tribes and Pueblos to strengthen our government-to-government relations.”
Alas, for all who have had the pleasure of working with New Mexico Film Office Director Frank Zuniga, he has decided that he is leaving to work on film projects of his own. That announcement comes from
New Mexico Economic Development Department Secretary Rick Homans. Homans notes that under Zuniga’s leadership, the Film Office witnessed an explosion in the number of films brought to New Mexico. Frank has help put New Mexico on the map and has led the state in the right direction. Homans added that although Zuniga’s been an effective administrator, in his heart, he’s a filmmaker, and that he needs to leave state govern-ment to once again become an artist.
Deputy Director Lisa Strout has been named the Acting Director. The economic impact from the film industry rose tenfold last year from the previous year. Movies filmed in New Mexico in 2003 included Ron
Howard’s “The Missing,” the academy award nominated “21 Grams,” “Blind Horizon,” “Off the Map,” “Coy-ote Waits,” “Thief of Time.” “Elvis Has Left the Building,” and “Around the Bend.” Programs implemented during Director Zuniga’s tenure include the “Be Our Guest” program, the Job Training Incentive Program for
films, and the Native American Casting Database. Frank, we wish you well! May your creativity soar on your new projects!
“TREE CITY USA” HONORS
U.S. Representative Tom Udall, D-N.M., today praised eight New Mexico communities for being recognized as a “Tree City USA” by the National Arbor Day Foundation. The following communities were nationally honored this year: Albuquerque, Cannon Air Force Base, Clovis, Holloman Air Force Base, Kirtland Air Force Base, Las Vegas, Roswell, and San Jon.
“The collective resources invested by these New Mexicans towards enhancing the quality of life in their communities should be applauded. I congratulate the continued efforts of city officials, conservation groups and concerned volunteers who have been relentless in their efforts to ensure the preservation of our natural re-sources
for future generations to enjoy,” Udall said.
In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service Urban and Community Forestry program, the National Arbor Day Foundation awards the honor “Tree City USA” to qualifying com-munities. To qualify, a community must meet four standards: designated responsibility for public tree care to a city department; have a tree-care ordinance in effect; spend at least $2 per capita annually on community forestry; and observe Arbor Day. National Arbor Day is April 30.
So, who says there’s no good news? Sometimes in politics it’s hard to see the forest for the trees...
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