Voters Reject Martinez’s Judge(ment)
November 7, 2012
It was a good day yesterday for Democrats. For Governor Martinez, Jay McCleskey, and Keith Gardner, it was not quite such a good day.
Martinez, McCleskey, and Gardner gambled big and lost. Martinez’s polling numbers were of no help to her chosen candidates this election cycle. The voters rejected many of the candidates she backed.
True the massive sums spent attacking Tim Jennings may have played a role in his defeat. Martinez spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to extract her pound of flesh against Jennings because he spoke out against the Dirty Downs deal.
Jennings though did much better than the typical voting performance for Democrats in the district. Some Republicans only vote for Republicans, no matter how qualified. Jennings’ loss might simply be a result of demographics.
Unseating a long-term legislator, especially one as experienced as Jennings, can cause a district to lose out on funds. If so, the residents of the district may soon develop a case of buyer’s remorse.
A couple of Democrats self-destructed during the campaign thanks to some ethical lapses. Martinez can try to claim credit for those who lost, but self-destruction is self-destruction.
The Albuquerque Journal ran a regular front-page ad of Martinez calling on voters to support her handpicked slate of judges. They didn’t. The Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and District Court judges that she appointed all lost.
The voters also rejected the three judges she appointed to the bench in Dona Ana County, including her former deputy district attorney.
And speaking of district attorneys, Martinez’s handpicked successor was also shown the door by the voters.
Martinez relied upon her close “advisor” Jay McCleskey to take care of all of the races. He raised and spent an unheard of amount of money for legislative and judicial races. It really was unprecedented. McCleskey counted on widespread use of statewide television ads and dozens of glossy mailers to convey messages that did not resonate with the public.
For Michael Sanchez, a prime target of these sensationalized attacks there might even be a silver lining. Sanchez, who won handily, now has statewide name recognition, and is inoculated against further attacks from Martinez. Might we see Sanchez throw his hat in the ring for governor?
McCleskey’s tactics unified Democrats and fractured Republicans. Harvey Yates, Jr. a former head of the state GOP called on Martinez to clip McCleskey’s wings. She did not do so. Such bad blood can last for years.
Keith Gardner is supposed to help Martinez push legislation through the legislature. Not likely to happen thanks to Gardner’s own abhorrent actions. His conduct has tarnished him to point where few legislators have an interest in accommodating him.
Yet, Martinez has kept him around.
If a young woman who works as an APS lobbyist can stand up to Gardner’s bullying, so too can legislators from both parties. Especially those elected in the face of Martinez’s efforts to take control of the legislative branch of government.
Martinez has also suffered a blow to her national ambitions. As co-chair of Romney’s Hispanic outreach organization, Martinez was tasked with bringing Hispanic voters into Romney’s corner. The Albuquerque Journal touted her trip to Nevada as one such opportunity. Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Widespread joblessness should have opened a door for Romney.
But it didn’t work out that way as Hispanics there gave Obama 70% of the vote.
Martinez also was of no help delivering the Hispanic vote to Romney in Colorado, Florida, or here in New Mexico. Her high polling numbers did not translate into success.
Actions speak louder than words and images. Martinez basically has only two items on her agenda. Forcing third graders to repeat third grade, which impacts Hispanic students disproportionately, and taking away lawfully obtained drivers’ licenses from illegal immigrants who the Federal government has authorized to work and attend school.
Not hard to see why Martinez’s Hispanic “outreach” didn’t provide a boost to Romney’s presidential bid.
Martinez would do well to end her reliance on McCleskey and Gardner and learn the art of compromise.
The voters have spoken loud and clear. We’ll see if she listens.
November 7, 2012
It was a good day yesterday for Democrats. For Governor Martinez, Jay McCleskey, and Keith Gardner, it was not quite such a good day.
Martinez, McCleskey, and Gardner gambled big and lost. Martinez’s polling numbers were of no help to her chosen candidates this election cycle. The voters rejected many of the candidates she backed.
True the massive sums spent attacking Tim Jennings may have played a role in his defeat. Martinez spent hundreds of thousands of dollars to extract her pound of flesh against Jennings because he spoke out against the Dirty Downs deal.
Jennings though did much better than the typical voting performance for Democrats in the district. Some Republicans only vote for Republicans, no matter how qualified. Jennings’ loss might simply be a result of demographics.
Unseating a long-term legislator, especially one as experienced as Jennings, can cause a district to lose out on funds. If so, the residents of the district may soon develop a case of buyer’s remorse.
A couple of Democrats self-destructed during the campaign thanks to some ethical lapses. Martinez can try to claim credit for those who lost, but self-destruction is self-destruction.
The Albuquerque Journal ran a regular front-page ad of Martinez calling on voters to support her handpicked slate of judges. They didn’t. The Supreme Court, Court of Appeals and District Court judges that she appointed all lost.
The voters also rejected the three judges she appointed to the bench in Dona Ana County, including her former deputy district attorney.
And speaking of district attorneys, Martinez’s handpicked successor was also shown the door by the voters.
Martinez relied upon her close “advisor” Jay McCleskey to take care of all of the races. He raised and spent an unheard of amount of money for legislative and judicial races. It really was unprecedented. McCleskey counted on widespread use of statewide television ads and dozens of glossy mailers to convey messages that did not resonate with the public.
For Michael Sanchez, a prime target of these sensationalized attacks there might even be a silver lining. Sanchez, who won handily, now has statewide name recognition, and is inoculated against further attacks from Martinez. Might we see Sanchez throw his hat in the ring for governor?
McCleskey’s tactics unified Democrats and fractured Republicans. Harvey Yates, Jr. a former head of the state GOP called on Martinez to clip McCleskey’s wings. She did not do so. Such bad blood can last for years.
Keith Gardner is supposed to help Martinez push legislation through the legislature. Not likely to happen thanks to Gardner’s own abhorrent actions. His conduct has tarnished him to point where few legislators have an interest in accommodating him.
Yet, Martinez has kept him around.
If a young woman who works as an APS lobbyist can stand up to Gardner’s bullying, so too can legislators from both parties. Especially those elected in the face of Martinez’s efforts to take control of the legislative branch of government.
Martinez has also suffered a blow to her national ambitions. As co-chair of Romney’s Hispanic outreach organization, Martinez was tasked with bringing Hispanic voters into Romney’s corner. The Albuquerque Journal touted her trip to Nevada as one such opportunity. Nevada has the highest unemployment rate in the country. Widespread joblessness should have opened a door for Romney.
But it didn’t work out that way as Hispanics there gave Obama 70% of the vote.
Martinez also was of no help delivering the Hispanic vote to Romney in Colorado, Florida, or here in New Mexico. Her high polling numbers did not translate into success.
Actions speak louder than words and images. Martinez basically has only two items on her agenda. Forcing third graders to repeat third grade, which impacts Hispanic students disproportionately, and taking away lawfully obtained drivers’ licenses from illegal immigrants who the Federal government has authorized to work and attend school.
Not hard to see why Martinez’s Hispanic “outreach” didn’t provide a boost to Romney’s presidential bid.
Martinez would do well to end her reliance on McCleskey and Gardner and learn the art of compromise.
The voters have spoken loud and clear. We’ll see if she listens.