SunCal Ad Report: Double Standards and the Zombie TIDD

The regular session of the 2009 Mexico State Legislature is over now, but the aftermath of what happened in and around the Roundhouse keeps floating down around us like tiny flecks of ash.
One detail that’s just been released is the amount of money that Westland/SunCal spent on advertising during the legislative session.
Many New Mexicans were [...]

Accommodating SunCal’s Message Strategy

I’m glad someone else noticed that surreal statement from Westland/SunCal spokeswoman Catherine Wambach in Sunday’s Albuquerque Journal.
Wambach was asked how much the California-based development company spent wooing New Mexico legislators who are poised to consider legislation that could give the company over $400 million in tax increment development districts, or TIDDs, for a development on [...]

Department of Distress: SOS on-line woes continue

What’s going on at the Secretary of State’s office?
No, I’m not referring to this.
Infuriating as that is, it’s old news.
No, I’m talking about backlogs in posting public records online and barriers to access for people who are searching for those records.
Legislators, election observers and advocates for good government have been complaining about the efficiency of [...]

NM SOS: Transparency Need Not Apply

At this point during election years in New Mexico, familiar themes seem to emerge. Candidates for office at all levels define themselves and their opponents (aggressively in some cases), while radio and television are flooded with all manner of advertisements. Our state also draws an inordinate amount of national attention, especially during presidential election years.
New [...]

The Dark Ages of Campaign Reporting

Yesterday was the first deadline of the year for candidates to file campaign finance reports with the Secretary of State’s office. Candidates are encouraged (I write “encouraged” because anybody filing a report can claim a “hardship” and fax in their paper reports) to file donation and expenditure reports on-line.
According to news reports, the Secretary of [...]