[Lwvcnmtopics] Who'll Get Appointed to Open Senate Seat?

[Trish Lopez]

That makes sense to me, Dick. Thank you for the clarification.

I do hope you and the league take a position on conflicts of interest going
forward then, especially in matters of elected officials. I have never seen
anyone from the league stick their neck out on issues like this since my
mom and I joined several years ago.

Trish Lopez


On Fri, Oct 21, 2022 at 7:21 PM Richard Mason <polirich at aol.com> wrote:

> I don't think this is appropriate for any League list serve. We do not
> take positions on individual candidates.
>
> Dick Mason
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Trish Lopez <trishlopez33 at gmail.com>
> To: lwvcnmtopics <lwvcnmtopics at mailman.swcp.com>; LWVCNM <
> LWVCNMTopics at yahoogroups.com>; LWVNMAction at yahoogroups.com
> Sent: Fri, Oct 21, 2022 3:09 pm
> Subject: [Lwvcnmtopics] Who'll Get Appointed to Open Senate Seat?
>
> Santa Fe New Mexican: "Don't Advance a Legislator Who's Married to a
> Lobbyist"
> <https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/dont-advance-a-legislator-whos-married-to-a-lobbyist/article_036d3930-4eed-11ed-a920-eb19e7eb23a9.html>
>
> *Hi everyone,*
>
> *I would like to thank Lora Lucero for bringing to our attention a very
> compromised and high profile legislator seeking to fill the newly opened
> senate seat that westsider Jacob Candelaria is leaving. Today she wrote the
> Bernalillo County Commission to ask that we not advance politicians who
> have very clear conflicts of interest that go unaddressed everyday (even by
> their own party members). We may have elected officials even on this list
> serve who might turn the other cheek when they see conflicts of interest
> among their friends, and I'm hoping that ends. Whether our words make any
> impact or not, **I recommend that **we, as league members, at least call
> out these obvious conflicts given the ongoing corruption and quid pro quos
> that have existed in NM forever. My family and I will join Lora in writing
> our own email.*
>
> *To email all commissioners, simply send your message to this one email: *
> Commission at bernco.gov
>
> *Here is Lora's letter (the article she refers to is posted above): *
>
> Dear Commissioners,
>
> I'm writing to urge you not to appoint Rep. Moe Maestas to the NM Senate.
>
> This article in the Santa Fe New Mexican today explains the conflict of
> interest which should disqualify him, as his wife is a lobbyist.
>
> But the article fails to mention Alarid's role as lobbyist
> <https://www.abqjournal.com/1508533/its-time-to-stop-the-santolina-ring-development.html>
>  for the Santolina project which may not directly implicate Maestas'
> responsibilities in the Legislature, but it demonstrates how deeply
> enmeshed this couple is in New Mexico politics.  Whose interest does Rep.
> Maestas represent --- the people of New Mexico or his wife's business
> interests?
>
> New Mexico needs to turn the corner on the pervasive corruption
> (appearance and in fact) that has permeated our state politics for so long.
>
> Please don't appoint Rep. Maestas to the NM Senate.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Lora A. Lucero
> PO Box 7638
> Albuquerque, NM 87194
> 505-453-3938
> LoraLucero3 at gmail.com
>
> *Here is what my family and I are planning to send:*
>
> Dear Commissioners,
>
> On behalf of my family, neighbors and myself, we are writing to express
> our wishes that you support the appointment of an uncompromised* community
> member* to replace outgoing westside Senator Jacob Candelaria and not
> long-time politico Representative Antonio Moe Maestas to this open seat.
> Use this opportunity to give a chance to someone who does not have the
> luxury of political connections. Mr. Maestas is welcome to run in 2024 like
> anyone else in his position. We have always wondered how it's possible that
> NM legislators like Mr. Maestas are allowed to continue their political
> ascent despite being extremely compromised through conflicts of interest;
> and in his case; being married to one of the most successful lobbyists in
> New Mexico and *not* recusing himself from votes on bills for which she
> is lobbying.
>
> In addition to today's article (Santa Fe New Mexican: "Don't Advance a
> Legislator Who's Married to a Lobbyist
> <https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/dont-advance-a-legislator-whos-married-to-a-lobbyist/article_036d3930-4eed-11ed-a920-eb19e7eb23a9.html#comments>"),
> there are multiple news pieces over the years that have discussed this
> conflict, his spouse's profit-based work with the legislature, and his
> refusal to recuse from her bills. When a legislator is married to a
> lobbyist and is not disclosing that obvious conflict or disengaging from
> votes on their bills, we are obviously left to wonder who they actually
> represent -- and who among our elected officials will put a stop to this?
> You have that opportunity now.
>
> New Mexico residents have dealt with old school politics, quid pro quo,
> and worse, for far too long. Our family asks that, as our elected
> commissioners, you thoroughly research the applicants for this new open
> seat, their work, their history, and their conflicts of interest before
> supporting them with your vote.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Trish Lopez, and on behalf of
> Gregorio Lopez
> Carmelita Lopez
> Margarita Lopez
> Andrew Francisco,
> and our westside family:
> Michael Lopez
> Brendita Lopez
> Alyssa Lopez
> Emmanuel Lopez
> Nicolle Lopez
> Gabriel Lopez
> Liana Lopez
>
> Please feel free to reach out with any questions.
>
>
> *Trish Lopez  <http://linkedin.com/in/trishlopez>*
> *(310) 266-4128*
> _______________________________________________
> Lwvcnmtopics mailing list
> Lwvcnmtopics at mailman.swcp.com
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>
-- 
*Trish Lopez  <http://linkedin.com/in/trishlopez>*
*(310) 266-4128*
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