FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Forrester

April 13, 2011 505-934-5681

Martinez wrongly dismantled state labor board, court rules.

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The following is a statement from Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales upon the news today that Governor Martinez's firing of Public Employee Labor Relations Board members was ruled unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court.

"In barely more than 100 days in office Susana Martinez has yet again lost in the state supreme court for overstepping her authority," said DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales. "First she was caught making a back-room deal with lobbyists to weaken clean-water protections, now she has been soundly rebuked for attempting to take away employees' rights by dismantling the board assigned to hear worker complaints. Clearly Governor Martinez has a troubling agenda and it appears she is willing to run afoul of state law to do it."

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Forrester

March 29, 2011 505-934-5681

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales yesterday sent a letter to Governor Susana Martinez asking her to reconsider her nomination of Darren White to the Judicial Standards Commission.

The following is the letter in its entirety:

March 28, 2011

The Honorable Susana Martinez
Governor of New Mexico
Office of the Governor
490 Old Santa Fe Trail
Room 400
Santa Fe, NM 87501

Dear Governor Martinez,

I understand and respect the executive power of the governor to make appointments. But with this power comes great responsibility.

I am not talking about a responsibility to ensure ideological balance, though I would hope that would be one of your aims when making appointments. What I am talking about is a responsibility to ensure that your appointments are not so severely ethically compromised that they -- by their mere connection to a commission or department -- raise serious questions about the validity of any decisions coming out of that commission or department.

Specifically, I am talking about the recent appointment of Darren White to the Judicial Standards Commission.

I do not oppose White because I think he's conservative. I oppose him because too many serious questions have been raised about his dealings while holding public office or while in publicly appointed positions. From securing a lucrative contract for a campaign donor to his questionable practice of seizing money and property from people who have not been charged with a crime, to the overwhelming no-confidence vote levied against him by rank-and-file members of the Albuquerque Police Department, White's track record has raised much more doubt than it has inspired confidence.

It is for these issues that I respectfully urge you to withdraw your nomination of White for the Judicial Standards Commission.

The Judicial Standards Commission is one of those rare institutions in government where lay people and experts come together and do the hard work of judging our judges. And because White's judgment has been so suspect, it is increasingly important to the public's faith in the Judicial Standards Commission that he not be allowed to serve. It would be abhorrent to think of a commissioner having a vendetta against a judge who ruled against him. But that is potentially the conflict the White appointment presents considering how his property-seizure policy was recently found to be illegal by a judge who he would oversee were he to become a commissioner.

I'm no lawyer, but that seems like a terrible way to oversee judges.

As someone who campaigned on ethics, I would hope you could clearly see the pitfalls of moving forward with a Darren White appointment to the Judicial Standards Commission and reconsider.

Regards,

Javier M. Gonzales
Chairman, Democratic Party of New Mexico

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Scott Forrester

March 23, 2011 505-934-5681

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Darren White, who has recently faced serious questions over his role in helping a campaign contributor get a lucrative contract selling useless DWI-monitoring equipment to Bernalillo County, has been appointed by Governor Susana Martinez to the State's Judicial Standards Commission.

White has also been roundly criticized for supporting a controversial practice of seizing property and cash from people before they were even charged with a crime. A judge ruled that White and the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department overreached in their interpretation of seizure guidelines and the county will have to pay back $3 million it illegally seized.

"Talk about a bad appointment," said DPNM Executive Director Scott Forrester. "Here we have a Martinez crony with a track record of questionable ethical decisions being put on a board that oversees the behavior and practices of our judges. The Judicial Standards Commission must have members that have an impeccable record and demonstrated history of good judgment. Sadly, that's not the case with Darren White."

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For Immediate Release Contact: Scott Forrester
February 2, 2011 505-934-5681

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The following is a statement from DPNM Secretary and Las Cruces resident Christy French upon learning Gov. Susana Martinez had made the appointments to fill vacancies on the Third Judicial District Court in Las Cruces. The appointments are Susan M. Riedel and Jacinto Palomino. Ms. Riedel and Mr. Palomino, both Republicans. Riedel has been the chief deputy district attorney in Las Cruces, and Palomino is a deputy district attorney in the office.

"This is a clear case of cronyism and political payback for a loyal soldier. Gov. Martinez talks about changing the way business is done but her actions show she's just another back-room dealer. First she let lawyers and lobbyists try to stop clean-water protections now she gives a long-time friend and recipient of huge tax-payer bonuses a plum judgeship. Typical."

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Background:
Martinez Gave Lavish Wall Street Style Bonuses To Senior Staff

Name Date Amount Title

Susan Riedel 10/7/05 $9,194.43 Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susan Riedel 8/25/06 $10,471.00 Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susan Riedel 7/27/07 $7,290.64 Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susan Riedel 7/25/08 $7,644.84 Chief Deputy District Attorney
Susan Riedel 7/24/09 $7,253.32 Chief Deputy District Attorney

Source:
[Martinez 41, Payroll Records, Administrative Office of District Attorneys, accessed 4/22/10; Martinez 42, Payroll Records, Administrative Office of District Attorneys, accessed 4/22/10; Susana Martinez 6, State Of New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/05; Susana Martinez 7, State Of New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/05; Susana Martinez 8, State Of New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/05; Susana Martinez 9, State Of New Mexico Third Judicial District Attorney Annual Financial Report For The Fiscal Year Ended 6/30/05]

Martinez’s Employee Jacinto Palomino Helped Himself To A Hooters Meal On The Taxpayers Dime. On September 19, 2008, Susana Martinez’s employee, Jacinto Palomino stopped at a Bloomington, Minnesota Hooters for hot wings and tea. The bill was a total of $14.91. [Minnesota Hooters Receipt, 9/19/08]