Santa Fe State Representative and Democratic House Minority Leader Brian Egolf is raising the possibility of an effort to impeach Republican Secretary of State Dianna Duran. Egolf says the charges of fraud, embezzlement and money laundering against Duran are serious and if the House decides to pursue impeachment, the process needs to be a bipartisan effort. The Albuquerque Journal reports that Republican House Speaker Don Tripp says talk of impeachment is premature, but describes the Secretary of State’s apparent gambling addiction as a quote, “personal tragedy.” Duran is facing a 64-count complaint accusing her of funneling campaign donations into personal accounts and withdrawing hundreds of thousands of dollars at casinos around the state. Duran's attorney says she looks forward to addressing the allegations in court. The secretary of state's office declined to comment on the charges Monday, saying only that the staff would continue to carry out the duties of the office.
The allegations of fraud, embezzlement and money laundering involving Secretary of State Dianna Duran has again raised the question of why New Mexico State Government lacks an ethics panel. The state is one of only eight without an ethics commission. The Director of the University of New Mexico’s Institute of Public Law, Paul Biderman, says such a commission would be able to do a much broader job of enforcing ethics. He says many violations of New Mexico’s Governmental Conduct Act and campaign finance laws are misdemeanors, which are very difficult—and costly—to prosecute and meet the standard of proof beyond a reasonable doubt. *****090115-Biderman-3 :09***** Professor Biderman worked with Santa Fe State Senator Peter Wirth on the Democrat’s 2015 efforts at ethics reform, which included Wirth’s bi-partisan co-sponsorship of a constitutional amendment proposing to establish an ethics commission. *****090115-Biderman-1 :12***** UNM Institute of Public Law Director, Paul Biderman.
An Amber Alert has been issued for a four-year-old boy last seen in Taos. Police say Kingston Rodriguez was last seen with his mom, 36-year-old Katrina Bryant, on Monday. Bryant was last known driving a black Dodge sport utility vehicle with New Mexico registration LYG - 945. Police say she may be traveling to Texas. Police say the boy is supposed to be in state custody. Officials say Kingston is about three-feet, eight-inches tall with black hair and brown eyes and weighs about 50 pounds. Anyone with information is asked to call the New Mexico State Police office in Española.
After a tumultuous start to his job as Superintendent of Albuquerque Public Schools, its Board on Monday voted to accept Luis Valentino's voluntary resignation Monday. Valentino’s departure comes just two months into his tenure as the district's leader. According to the voluntary resignation and settlement agreement signed by Valentino and the APS board, Valentino will receive a lump sum payment of 80-thousand dollars plus his full salary and benefits according to the terms stated in his contract through October first. The agreement also says Valentino will be provided a letter of reference signed by the board president and secretary. The settlement agreement must be approved by the New Mexico Public Education Department and a district court judge. Valentino’s troubles include hiring a deputy superintendent wanted in Colorado on child sex-abuse charges and allowing the deputy to avoid a background check. Valentino also recently erroneously sent APS Financial Officer Don Moya a text say he was going to, quote, “go after” Moya, who’s on paid leave from the district.
Meantime, the Albuquerque Journal reports the two Santa Fe Public Schools officials who applied for the APS post that went to Valentino are noncommittal as to whether they’re interested in the vacancy. Deputy Superintendent Almundena“Almi”Abeyta and Assistant Superintendent James Lujan both say they’re happy in their current SFPS positions.
In spite of the Governor-appointed New Mexico Game Commission’s recent decision to ease limits on hunting and trapping bears and cougars around the state, Governor Susana Martinez has proclaimed today—September First—as "Animal Humane New Mexico 50th Anniversary Day." Founded in 1965, the innovative animal shelter has grown from a single two-story building to a four-acre campus, housing 20 comprehensive programs, and recently completing a more than five-and-a-half million dollar renovation. Animal Humane celebrates its official birthday on Tuesday, and has also received congratulations from President Barack Obama.
In National News:
No reports of deaths or serious injury after heavy storms hit the Phoenix area last night. High winds, lightning and heavy rain knocked out power to thousands, disrupted air travel, and stranded motorists in flash floods. Fire officials say crews received more than 400 calls for help in a two-hour period — a record number.
A shooting involving police in DeKalb County, Georgia, has left an officer critically wounded, a homeowner shot in the leg, and the homeowner's dog dead. Authorities say gunfire broke out after three officers responded to a call of a suspicious person and showed up at the wrong house. It's not clear yet who fired, or whether the homeowner had a gun.
Now that the U.S. Supreme Court has spoken, a Kentucky county clerk faces a choice: Whether to issue same-sex marriage licenses, or continue to refuse because of her religious beliefs. Kim Davis of Rowan County appears to have run out of legal options after the high court denied her last-ditch appeal late Monday.
Santa Fe Weather: Partly sunny today with the high 81. Tonight: Mostly cloudy with showers and thunderstorms mainly before midnight, the overnight low, 60. Tomorrow: Mostly sunny with the high near 80. There’s a 30-percent chance for precipitation today through tomorrow.