Sportsmen decry replacement of game commissioner

By Staci Matlock | The New Mexican

2/21/2012

Southern New Mexico sportsmen are upset by the governor's recent move to replace one of their own with an Albuquerque attorney on the New Mexico State Game Commission.

Gov. Susana Martinez last week appointed Paul M. Kienzle III to succeed retired university chemistry professor Rob Hoffman of Las Cruces.

"We were shocked to hear Rob was taken off. Everyone down here is unhappy," said John Moen, president of New Mexico Quail. "We finally had someone interested in what the hunters think. Hunters and anglers pay all the fees that provide almost all the funding for the whole Game and Fish Department."

Kienzle, a partner at the Albuquerque law firm of Scott and Kienzle, is one of three attorneys who filed suit against the state and the governor on Feb. 13 in federal District Court over redistricting. He represents The Paragon Foundation, a New Mexico nonprofit organization dedicated to private property rights and limited government, and is a member of the conservative nonprofit Mountain States Legal Foundation. Kienzle was on Martinez's campaign committee and led the search for her general counsel.

Kienzle, according to the Governor's Office, has been hunting since he was a teenager, but belongs to no official sportsmen groups. He did not immediately respond to a message asking for comment.

"We had hoped Martinez would do better than her predecessor [former Gov. Bill Richardson] with Game Commission appointments," said Joel Gay, communications director for the New Mexico Wildlife Federation. "We thought Hoffman was doing a great job. We're just disappointed the governor took off an everyday New Mexico sportsman and replaced him with what seems to be a political associate."

Gay said sportsmen also had hoped Martinez, who has promoted government transparency, would have made the commission appointment process more open than Richardson did.

Gay said the two nonprofits represented by Kienzle's firm, "are not on the same side as us when it comes to public lands."

Moen said sportsmen sent emails supporting Hoffman's reappointment to the Game Commission and sent emails again expressing their disappointment when he was replaced. "I just think this was a bad deal," he said.

Kienzle's appointment puts three Albuquerque residents on the seven-member commission, which sets policy for the Department of Game and Fish and its $36 million a year budget.

The commission has seen several turnovers in the last year. Martinez replaced four of the seven Richardson appointees to the commission when she took office in January 2011. Among them was Sandy Buffet, the executive director of Conservation Voters of New Mexico and the only woman on the board. She represented the hunter-friendly northeastern region of the state. Martinez replaced Dutch Salmon, a well known Silver City hunter and angler, a few days before the end of his term. Albuquerque residents Jim McClintic and Tom Arvas, both from Albuquerque, were kept on the commission.

Martinez replaced one of her own appointees, former state Game and Fish Department director Jerry Marachinni, six months after his appointment, with sportsman Robert Espinoza Sr. of Farmington.

The board is supposed to consist of five representatives from five regions in the state, and sportsmen think those appointees should be hunters and anglers. The other two board members are supposed to represent special interests -- agriculture and conservation.

Buffet was the last "conservationist" on the board, and Gay said he wonders who could claim the position now.

Sportsmen advocated for Hoffman, a longtime hunter and angler, and were happy when Martinez appointed him, said Moen. Hoffman and a fellow Las Cruces member of the commission, Thomas "Dick" Salopek, were advocates for modifying management of the funds available from the federal Sikes Act, which makes hunter fees charged on federal land available for habitat restoration projects. Last year, those funds amounted to $800,000. The funds are critical for helping habitat restoration on federal lands in New Mexico that benefit hunters and anglers.

The Game Commission is scheduled to vote on a modified Sikes Act program Thursday in Hobbs.

Hoffman, retired from his job as longtime organic chemistry professor at New Mexico State University, said he asked to serve on the commission and would have been happy to stay. "We serve at the pleasure of the governor," he said. "But I would like to have known if I offended someone. I would have liked to know if I did something wrong. I didn't think I had. I had a lot of support from sportsmen in the southwest region, the people I represent."

Hoffman is not convinced the new appointee has the best interests of sportsmen and public lands at heart.

Contact Staci Matlock at 986-3055 or smatlock@sfnewmexican.com.

Grandiose House Republican Centennial Plan Falls Flat On Jobs

Nothing more than wedge issues and failed policies

Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester

January 24, 2012 505-934-5681

Albuquerque, NM - Today House Republicans announced their "Centennial Plan" for New Mexicans. But somehow they managed to almost completely overlooked what we think is the number one issue for all New Mexicans today and, presumably, well into the future: JOBS.

The following is a statement from DPNM Executive Director Scott Forrester on the House Republicans grandiose plan for the next 100 years:

"This is just a repackaging of the same old tired ideas that New Mexicans have been rejecting for years. No one is fooled by more of the same, and no one is looking forward to 100 more years of a GOP establishment that is more focused on politics and wedge issues than policy and progress.

And to barely even mention jobs, particularly in the midst of the worst recession since the Great Depression, is more than just bad policy. It's shockingly bad political strategy.

What the House Republicans presented today is nothing more than a partisan laundry list of policies that have failed on both a national and a local level. They aren't even giving their usual lip service to job creation, and according to their own document they don't even plan on getting started until 2013. New Mexicans need action now.

By comparison, yesterday Senate Democrats presented an 11-point H.I.R.E. Comprehensive Jobs Package that will address every sector of New Mexico's economy, and within the next few days the House Democrats will be introducing a comprehensive legislative agenda. Democrats in both houses of the Legislature are focused on the priorities of the people of New Mexico. "

###

January 23, 2012

For Immediate Release

Contact: Scott Forrester, (505) 934-5681

Albuquerque, NM - Recently Governor Susana Martinez held a press conference at which she touted her support for ethics reform in New Mexico and claimed to be a champion of ethical government. Sadly, her actions clearly do not live up to what she said, at the press conference or on the campaign trail before she was elected.

The following is a statement from Scott Forrester, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico:

"Any New Mexican who has followed the coverage of the Governor's first year in office - especially her work to steer millions of dollars in contracts to her political donors - must have had a good laugh today when the Governor claimed to be a champion of ethics.

We shouldn't be surprised. Sadly this Governor's actions just don't match her words. She says "I'm for job creation" but attacks proven incentives; she says "I'm against cronyism" but wastes no time arranging jobs for Darren White, Jon Barela and a dozen others; she says "I'm against judges who contribute to politicians" but she appoints her contributors to the bench.

And, Lord knows, she never stopped shouting from the rooftops that Pay-to-Play would end when she took office. Now that's become the biggest broken promise of them all.

Democrats have taken the lead on ethics reform in New Mexico for years, carrying legislation to cap political contributions, end contributions from lobbyists and government contractors and create unprecedented access to state government
.
Somehow, Susana kept a straight face through the entire press conference, at one point even saying she was appalled that elected officials would abuse their power. But just two weeks ago, the Governor rigged a bid process that gave millions to one of her donors.

The hypocrisy of it all is enough to make you think that the Susana Martinez who convinced New Mexicans to elect her and the one who showed up in Santa Fe last year are two completely different people - with opposite beliefs."

###

Posted at: 01/15/2012 11:20 PM | Updated at: 01/16/2012 10:54 AM
By: Chris Ramirez, KOB Eyewitness News 4

KOB Eyewitness News 4 asked viewers to grade Governor Susana Martinez on how she has tackled five subjects in her first year in office.

On a KOB.com web poll, Martinez received a C- for her performance on job creation.

When Gov. Martinez took control of state government, unemployment in New Mexico was at a record high.

Phone operators at the Department of Workforce Solutions worked overtime to answer calls about unemployment insurance and it seemed bad economic news dominated headlines.

What has Martinez done in her first year in office to make the situation better?

"First, we put our fiscal house in order,” said Martinez. “We balanced our budget, we did not raise taxes and we did not cut classroom spending. That was huge. That was an enormous accomplishment. Unemployment was at 8.7. Today it’s at 6.5."

The governor boasts in the past year, New Mexico regained 9,000 new jobs of the 53,000 lost since 2008.

She said her team worked out the deal with Lowe’s bringing 600 new jobs to staff a customer support center in Albuquerque.

The governor takes credit for creating another 600 new jobs in the border town of Santa Teresa by changing a train fuel tax exemption that lured the Union Pacific rail hub away from El Paso and into New Mexico.

She is confident she has the right people to help fix the state's economic woes.

“John Barela, the cabinet secretary, is fabulous," she said. "He travels the state constantly. He makes sure I am meeting with the right people of companies who are looking at New Mexico."

State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino sits on the New Mexico Senate Finance Committee and he watches the governor’s moves closely.

“There hasn't been, frankly, as much leadership on economic growth as I would have liked to have seen," Ortiz y Pino said. “So far, to be honest, it's been really weak. Talking about making New Mexico open to business by regulatory hurdles for business to start on and trying to reduce taxes is pretty minimal stuff."

The governor argues she has bills she’s backing in the 2012 New Mexico Legislative session that will make the state more competitive for private sector jobs.

One such bill removes tax pyramids, where a tax is layered on another tax multiple times.

“I'm not sure we've seen any real tangible proposals that we could say—hey, this is a Susana Martinez project,” Ortiz y Pino said.

KOB Eyewitness News 4 will unveil her grades on other topics throughout the week.

The New Mexico Legislative session begins Tuesday.

Susana Martinez Still Batting .000 at Supreme Court

Background as Prosecutor Not Helping in Solutions for NM

For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester

December 14, 2011 505-934-5681

Albuquerque - Today, in yet another rejection of Gov. Susana Martinez's partisan power grab, the New Mexico Supreme Court once again voted unanimously that Susana Martinez illegally vetoed a provision of an unemployment bill that would have increased what businesses pay into the unemployment fund.

Below is a statement from Javier Gonzales, Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman, on Susana Martinez's simple failure to follow the law and her continued broken promises:

"New Mexicans are searching for solutions to the jobs and education crisis, but Susana Martinez has her own agenda. Her priorities are not in sync with New Mexico's, and her prosecutorial approach to governing is hurting the reputation of this great State. She continues her .000 batting average with following the laws.”

This latest decision is another embarrassment to her office. Despite her prosecutorial background, she still lacks a fundamental understanding of what the law is. So far she is operating under what she believes is the law.

She needs to get on with the business of governing New Mexico according to the law of our State -- not what she thinks the law should be. Susana Martinez ran her campaign on "Bold Change," yet New Mexicans continue to scratch their heads in search of that change.

###

For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester

November 21, 2011 505-934-5681

What Does $70k Buy You In The Martinez Administration?

A Rigged Bid for the Abq Downs Contract and Millions of $ for Contributors

Albuquerque, NM - Today New Mexico State Fair commissioners met and approved a lease agreement with the Downs of Albuquerque to build a casino at the State Fair grounds. This same group of folks has given over $70,000.00 to the Governors' campaign.

Today's meeting was defined as a "special session/ workshop" where no vote was to occur. Expo manager Dan Mourning - - who was appointed by Susana Martinez - made sure language was added last week to so a vote could take place, even though it was not expected and two state fair commissioners even stated they did not believe this was the intent of today's meeting.

Below is a statement from Scott Forrester, Executive Director of the DPNM:

"Running for Governor, Susana Martinez never let a day or a public appearance go by without endlessly decrying what she saw as pay-to-play in Santa Fe. Now, just 11 months in, Susana Martinez is already engaging in exactly the same behavior she accused the former administration of, and it's resulted in the first pay-to-play scandal of her administration.

The case is cut and dry: she received a $70,000.00 check and the contributors received a multi-million dollar state contract when no one was expecting a vote." You tell me how she can spin that into anything other than what it is: PAY-TO-PLAY."

###

Background: Please see Joe Monahan's article this morning for a better picture of the relationships at the Downs:

DIRTY DEALING AT DOWNS?
Tom Tinnin

A Senior Alligator has a simple summation of the questionable activities going on over the awarding of a new racino and a 25 year lease to the Downs at ABQ at the NM Expo. He notes this newspaper report and wonders: "Problems ahead?" First, the news:

As chairman of the State Fair Commission from 1997 through 2002, Albuquerque businessman Tom Tinnin was passionate about the fair. Tinnin apparently hasn’t lost that fire. Upset with the Martinez administration’s handling of a new lease for the racetrack and casino at the state fairgrounds, Tinnin resigned his seat on the state Board of Finance. The resignation is just the latest fallout from the administration’s troubled attempt to award a new lease, and Tinnin’s resignation is further damage to the credibility of the process.

Governor Martinez decried "pay to play" during her campaign. The dicey Downs deal is now raising that question on her watch. Some of the players:

GOP National Committeeman and Republican attorney Pat Rogers is now representing the Downs. Former ABQ Public Safety Director and GOP Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White landed a consulting agreement with the Downs when he was forced to resign from the city. He cut campaign commercials for Martinez. Dan Mourning, a former ABQ restaurant manger and close friend of White's, manages the state fairgrounds upon which the Downs is located.

And, as always, lurking in the background and connected to all the players is Jay McCleskey, the Guv's powerful political consultant as well as Republican activist and attorney Mickey Barnett. In addition, the three members of the panel appointed to evaluate proposals for a new racino at the Fairgrounds and a 25 year lease are all tapped in Republicans:

Gov. Martinez appointed three people to evaluate the confidential proposals and make a recommendation to fair general manager Mourning, a Martinez appointee... The three appointees are Chuck Gara, director of the Property Control Division of the state General Services Department; John A. Garcia, director of the city of Albuquerque’s Economic Development Department; and Garrett Hennessy, former intergovernmental affairs liaison for Mayor Richard Berry....

Top sources say there was a move to have a larger panel evaluate the proposals that would have included members not so tightly connected with the administration, but it didn't happen.

Laguna Development corporation--which runs an Indian casino--was the only other bidder to build a new racino, but the request for proposals was only out there for a month. The three member panel recommended to the fair commission that the Downs get the deal.

The extremely tight timeline for putting in a proposal to build a racino served to exclude bidders, especially for those from out of state, say sources following the action. That's where the concern about the deal being wired for the Downs comes in.

RED FLAGS FOR GUV

All of this and more has given Tom Tinnin pause. He's a highly respected businessman and longtime player in the state GOP whose name has often been floated as a possible party chair. And the State Fair Commission--all of whom are not Martinez appointments--are worried enough that they have delayed until December a final decision on giving the Downs permission to replace the current dilapidated racino.

Tinnin's resignation and the trepidation over this deal at the commission are major red flags for this new Governor who may be unaware of the long ties among the players involved. This deal signals the return of what we've often referred to over the years as the lobbying/consulting wing of the GOP that has warred with other factions. It started when the GOP lobbyists-consultants committed heresy by joining with GOP Governor Gary Johnson in supporting the legalization of drugs and picking up lucrative contracts as a result. That wing still operates, as illustrated by the machinations over this racino. It's more evidence that this new Governor needs to grab the reins and call on competing political and legal advice to keep her on the straight and narrow. In other words, what does Tom Tinnin know that this Governor should know?

For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester

November 8, 2011 505-923-5681

Governor Martinez For Pay-to-Play and Reaps Reward of $70,000 Donor

Disregards "Bold Change" Promised To New Mexicans

Albuquerque, NM - Today's ABQ Journal digs deeper into the shady dealings around the proposed Casino at the State Fairgrounds, finding Governor Martinez and shadow governor Jay Mcleskey awarding the lucrative NM Downs contract to a donor who gave her $70,000!

Below is a statement from DPNM Executive Director Scott Forrester:

"While running for Governor, then-candidate Martinez led the charge on getting rid of pay-to-play in Santa Fe, but it turns out the Governor just wanted a piece of the action. This is pay-to-play at its worst. The insider dealing involved goes back years, and there is much more than meets the eye.”

"Defined Fitness - where Traci Moore Wolf is President - used to have Jay McCleskey on the payroll and lists Paul Blanchard as a part-owner. But Traci is also the Vice President at the Downs (also co-owned by Blanchard). Every step in the contract process was directly controlled by the Governor and her minions. To even pretend to be unbiased is completely ridiculous."

"This contract should be revoked and the RFP process re-opened for a truly open and transparent process. To ignore such an obvious conflict of interest is an ethical failing of massive scale, and an blatant flip-flop from what was promised to New Mexicans when running for Governor. The Governor's actions are politics as usual in New Mexico and not the "Bold Change” promised to New Mexicans."

###

See Journal article below and background on Susana's stances on pay-to-play in Government when running for Governor in 09:

Downs Interests Gave Gov. $70,000
Abq Journal – 11/8/2011 - http://www.abqjournal.com/main/2011/11/08/news/downs-interests-gave-gov-...
By Charles D. Brunt and Sean Olson

People connected to the Downs at Albuquerque ponied up at least $70,000 to Gov. Susana Martinez’s campaign while competitor Laguna Development Corp. gave $1,000, according to campaign finance reports filed with the New Mexico Secretary of State’s Office.
People with ownership interest in the Downs also gave more than $50,000 to Martinez’s general election opponent, Democrat Diane Denish, since 2006.
The Downs and Laguna Development, the tribal-owned company that operates Route 66 and Dancing Eagle casinos west of Albuquerque, were the only two businesses that submitted bids to build a new multimillion-dollar casino and sign a 25-year lease with Expo New Mexico, home to the racino and the New Mexico State Fair.
Martinez spokesman Scott Darnell said the lease was put out to a competitive bid and campaign donations had nothing to do with any decisions regarding the Downs.
“The Governor makes decisions based on merit, as is evidenced by her appointment of an independent to the (Public Regulation Commission) and the fact that she has, at times, placed Denish contributors into key roles in her administration,” Darnell said in an email.
After reviewing the proposals, a three-member evaluation committee appointed by Martinez recommended that interim Expo general manager Dan Mourning — also a Martinez appointee — negotiate a contract with the Downs.
The governor-appointed State Fair Commission is set for an up-or-down vote Wednesday on whether to give the Downs, which has leased the 93-acre racino tract at Expo since 1985, another 25-year lease as part of the new deal.
Bill Windham, a Louisiana businessman and part owner of the Downs, gave Martinez’s gubernatorial campaign $15,000.
Windham and fellow Louisianan John S. Turner, who also owns part of the Downs, each owns about 25 percent of SunRay Park, a racino between Bloomfield and Farmington.
SunRay Gaming, which operates SunRay Park, gave Martinez’s campaign $45,000 in three contributions between June 2010 and January 2011.
Traci Moore Wolf, who became vice president of the Downs in May after Windham replaced then-majority owner Paul Blanchard as president, contributed $10,000 to the Martinez campaign.
Wolf also is president of Defined Fitness, a chain of gyms owned in part by Blanchard.
Blanchard still retains some ownership in the Downs, but Pat J. Rogers, an attorney representing the Downs in its negotiations with Mourning, has declined to say what percentage of the racino Blanchard, Windham and Turner currently own.
Prior to Windham becoming president, Blanchard owned 50 percent, and Windham and Turner owned 25 percent each. Turner remains the Downs’ secretary/treasurer.
Windham and Turner also contributed a combined $12,000 to Martinez’s challenger, Democrat Diane Denish, according to the Secretary of State’s office.
Between 2006 and 2010, SunRay Gaming gave Denish’s gubernatorial campaign $28,000, and the Downs at Albuquerque gave Denish $24,000 during that period. Blanchard, a close political ally of former Gov. Bill Richardson, donated $5,000 to the New Mexico Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee last year, according to the Secretary of State’s Office.
The State Fair Commission meets at 9 a.m. Wednesday at the UNM Continuing Education Center Auditorium, 1634 University NE.
The Downs was recently criticized in a Legislative Finance Committee audit for problems blamed in part on poor oversight by Expo officials. Among the criticisms was that the Downs owed Expo hundreds of thousands of dollars in racing revenues and increases in its $2 million annual lease payments that were required when the Legislature approved two one-year lease extensions.
Mourning said the Downs paid $215,000 it owed for race meet revenues last week, and plans to pay $420,000 it owes in lease increases on or before the end of the current lease, which he said expires Jan. 11.
According to a summary of the new lease, the Downs agreed to increase its lease payments from the current $2 million to $2.75 million beginning in 2014. Laguna Development had offered to pay $3 million by that year.
The Downs also has agreed to pay Expo additional revenues based on its “net win,” the amount of money wagered on slot machines less payouts and approved regulatory fees.
The Downs also agreed to: drop nearly $2 million in unspecified claims it says is owed by Expo; pay for all maintenance of the leased property, an expense currently paid by Expo; pay all electric bills on the leased property; pay $300,000 per year in cooperative advertising that cannot be used to “offset” lease payments; sponsor and pay rent for 12 events a year at Tingley Coliseum and four events per year at the horse arena; conduct the 17-day live horse racing during the State Fair; and make a number of specified capital improvements.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal

BACKGROUND:

Susana on Pay-to-Play: People want to know what the rules are and if you have pay to play then it depends who your with, not what you bring to the table. It depends on what you are willing to pay and not what your willing to do to provide to New Mexicans as far as jobs are concerned. So corruption is number one and the removal of every aspect of our government. [54 Candidate Forum, Roswell, 19:00, 4/30/10]

Martinez: Running For Governor Because Tired Of Corruption. In a September 2009 op-ed, Martinez wrote, “One of the main reasons I have decided to seek New Mexico’s governorship is because I, along with so many of you, am sick and tired of reading about scandal after scandal and instance after instance of corruption. As someone charged with not just upholding the law – but also enforcing it – I feel like the bad actors in state government have left a stain on our great state and completely lost sight of their responsibilities.” [Martinez op-ed, Heath Haussamen on New Mexico Politics, 9/9/09]

Martinez Attacked Denish – “Public Will Have To Weigh Her Self-Serving Campaign Rhetoric” Against “Unethical Behavior Of The Richardson/Denish Administration.” In September 2009, Martinez wrote, “Now that she is running for governor, Denish is singing a different tune and claiming to be a champion of ethics reform. The public will have to weigh her self-serving campaign rhetoric against the overwhelming evidence of unethical behavior of the Richardson/Denish administration and determine whether her newfound positions are borne out of political convenience or true conviction. I look forward to having that debate. [Martinez op-ed, Heath Haussamen on New Mexico Politics, 9/9/09]

Campaign Donations Questioned
By Sean Olson / Journal Staff Writer on Fri, Oct 14, 2011

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez has been facing criticism from political opponents over contributions found in new campaign finance reports, but the governor’s political representatives said the numbers don’t tell the whole story.

Meanwhile, the Secretary of State’s Office reversed its interpretation of a new campaign contribution cap law, leaving Martinez, as well as numerous Democratic political action groups, in the clear.

Democratic Party of New Mexico Executive Director Scott Forrester said this week that Martinez possibly broke state law when she accepted more than $60,000 for her campaign and more than $13,000 for her political action committee, called Susana PAC, during the Sept. 6-24 special legislative session.

“Such a large amount of money raises serious questions about whether Susana Martinez or her ‘agents’ solicited funds throughout the special session, breaking the very laws she vowed to uphold,” Forrester said.

State law prohibits soliciting donations during a legislative session. It does not prohibit accepting a donations during a session.

Martinez political consultant Jay McCleskey said Martinez did not solicit any of the questioned contributions during the session, nor were the donations given by supporters during that time.

“In raising resources, the governor’s PAC operates transparently by disclosing all donors, limits contributions, and adheres to both the spirit and letter of the law, including only soliciting contributions during appropriate times and not during any prohibited period,” Susana PAC spokesman Danny Diaz said.

In the controversy over campaign contribution caps, Ken Ortiz, chief of staff for Secretary of State Dianna Duran, said Thursday that his office changed its policy by allowing candidates for statewide office to accept up to $10,000 – other candidates can accept up to $4,600 – at one time, as long as the money is dedicated evenly between spending for primary and general elections – $5,000 for each cycle.

A new state law that took effect following the 2010 election puts a cap of $5,000 per donor eligible to go to a statewide candidate. Other candidates have a cap of $2,300. Donors can give up to the contribution limit in both the primary and general elections.

The Associated Press reported that the policy reverses a position taken in January, when a Democratic official was told by Duran’s office that a campaign or PAC had to gather separate donations for each election or risk violating the law.

Thomas Dow, a lawyer with Duran’s office, said he began reviewing the policy after several PACs reported accepting donations of more than $5,000 in April, including a donation from the Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee.

Martinez also reported accepting several $10,000 contributions starting in May.

Dow said that after the review, “We came to the understanding that the intention of the legislation was to mirror the federal election law,” which allows candidates to accept primary and general election funds at the same time.
— This article appeared on page C1 of the Albuquerque Journal

For Immediate Release                      Contact: Scott Forrester

October 7, 2011                                  505-934-5691

Albuquerque, NM - Today Susana Martinez vetoed fair, legal maps drawn by democratically elected representatives of the people. The last time Republican Governor Gary Johnson vetoed the maps that were passed by a majority of democratically elected legislators it cost NM taxpayers $3.6 million.  

Below is a statement from DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales:

"It should come as no surprise to New Mexicans that Susana Martinez is playing politics, as she has continued to do so over her first 9 months in office. Ultimately her continued political games will be corrected by the courts as they've done at least four times before.   Democrats will take their fight to court where they will fight for "One person, One Vote," and ensure all minorities’ voters’ rights are protected.

Democrat legislators refused to rig the next decade of elections in Republicans favor, and that's not what Susana Martinez wanted, so now she is sending us into an unnecessary court battle costing taxpayers millions of dollars. New Mexicans have larger issues to devote their attention then Susana's usual political games like jobs, education, and healthcare.

Make no mistake, with this veto, Susana Martinez is sending fair and legal maps, and drawn by democratically elected representatives of the people to court and wasting taxpayers millions of dollars."

                                                                                    ###

New Mexicans call on Governor Martinez and GOP politicians to return contributions from corrupt Koch Brothers

$10,000 to Martinez, $10,000 to Pearce, $5,000 to State Party, from business interest that secretly and maybe illegally sold petrochemical equipment to terrorism-sponsor Iran

October 4, 2011 Contact: Scott Forrester
For Immediate Release (505) 934-5681

Albuquerque, NM – New Mexicans today are calling for politicians who have accepted contributions from Koch Industries and their political arm KOCHPAC to immediately return the money or donate it to charity.

A Bloomberg investigation revealed Sunday that David and Charles Koch – two of the largest funders of Republican causes in New Mexico and around the country – have built their company on corruption, greed, theft, intimidation and illegal business dealings for years.

It also revealed that they made millions of dollars selling petrochemical equipment to Iran – one of only four countries designated by the State Department as a state sponsor of terrorism.

What did they do with the money they made by doing business – possibly in violation of federal law – with the people behind some of our worst enemies? At least a portion of it rolled right into the pockets of some of New Mexico’s highest profile Republican politicians.

According to the New Mexico Secretary of State election filings, Koch Industries and their political action committee KOCHPAC gave $10,000 to Governor Susana Martinez, $5,000 to the Republican Campaign Committee of New Mexico, and $10,000 to Congressman Steve Pearce during the 2010 election.

The following is a statement from Javier Gonzales, Chairman, DPNM:

“Koch Industries has betrayed their country – and may have broken federal law in the process – all to turn a profit. They’ve made millions on business dealings with a terrorist-supporting foreign country.

It’s dirty money. And now it’s being funneled directly into the bank accounts of Republican leadership. This money should be returned or donated to charities doing real work to move New Mexico forward.

Politicians have no business taking money from people who do business with countries like Iran that sponsor terrorism. Every Republican who benefited from the Koch's illegal profiteering should immediately denounce the Koch Brothers and return or donate the money."

###

BACKGROUND:

· According to the Bloomberg report, “Internal company records show that Koch Industries used its foreign subsidiary to sidestep a U.S. trade ban barring American companies from selling materials to Iran. Koch-Glitsch offices in Germany and Italy continued selling to Iran until as recently as 2007, the records show.

“The company’s products helped build a methanol plant for Zagros Petrochemical Co., a unit of Iran’s state-owned National Iranian Petrochemical Co., the documents show. The facility, in the coastal city of Bandar Assaluyeh, is now the largest methanol plant in the world.”

A former Koch Industries employee told Bloomberg that “Every single chance they had to do business with Iran…they did.”

· In a 2009 report, the State Department called Iran the most active state sponsor of terrorism, stating “Iran’s financial, material, and logistic support for terrorist and militant groups throughout the Middle East and Central Asia had a direct impact on international efforts to promote peace, threatened economic stability in the Gulf and undermined the growth of democracy.”

· Records show that the Republican committee receiving Koch Brothers funding provided polling, fundraising, direct mail, postage and direct contributions to unidentified state candidates and county political parties through at least 27 different transactions after receiving Koch money.

Martinez has also since started her own PAC, known as SusanaPAC, with $5,000 transferred from the same campaign account Koch money entered.