DPNM Chair Sam Bregman called for Secretary-Designate Skandera to tender her resignation immediately, as unqualified, un-confirmable and for her unprecedented attempt to ignore the New Mexico State Senate and confirm herself as Secretary of the New Mexico Public Education Department.

“Governor Martinez has nominated a polarizing, partisan consultant as Public Education Secretary.  Ms. Skandera is unqualified, cannot get confirmed after three legislative sessions and has set herself above the law, ignoring the authority of the New Mexico State Legislature. She has bestowed the title ‘Secretary of Education’ upon herself because she dislikes the process.  This display of arrogance is a flagrant abuse of power and indicates the disdain Ms. Skandera and Governor Martinez have for the legislature and the laws of New Mexico.  Ms. Skandera should resign now,” stated Chairman Bregman.

Currently, the two nominees for state cabinet departments, David Martin, Energy and Minerals and Ryan Flynn, Department of the Environment, are following state law and using secretary-designate for their job titles.

Governor Martinez and Mayor Berry begin and end their days pushing ideas and policies that fail to create jobs for out-of-work New Mexicans.  Big photo-ops are staged in Albuquerque and around the state that display smiling children, balloons and big, empty promises. In Albuquerque, a few hundred jobs are offered by Target and the Downs Race Track, while thousands and thousands of applicants stand in line for hours waiting to apply. On Election Day, Governor Martinez hands out pizza to long lines, but offers a shrug, silence and a wave saying ‘good bye and good luck’ to the forgotten masses of New Mexicans that continue to leave because of this Governor’s failed policies and uncaring attitude.

Item: Mayor Berry refuses to enforce the new minimum wage law passed by city voters’ saying it’s up to the city attorney—the one he appoints and that reports directly to him.  Next, he forces companies doing business with Albuquerque to fund his re-election campaign in violation of campaign finance laws, telling his friends to sue his City Clerk to make sure the law is overturned. Then, he outsources the city contract that promotes and markets Albuquerque, to New York, pushing local, small businesses that are qualified to receive this contract, under a speeding bus. These selfish, what’s-in-for-me Republicans are only concerned about the next election and making sure their friends receive government contracts. 

Democrats are going to hold Governor Martinez and Mayor Barry accountable for their callous, indifference to the thousands and thousands of New Mexicans that have no job and no hope for the future. 

The DPNM is building the future right now---new ideas, new energy, and new staff, ensuring that Democratic candidates stand up and promote pro-job policies while supporting strong ethics and transparency for all elected officials.

Bold change is coming—I’m just getting started.

DPNM Chairman Sam Bregman has filed a formal complaint with the Albuquerque Board of Ethics, saying Mayor Richard Berry is fostering a “culture of pay to play” while seeking campaign funds from vendors holding city contracts.  “Republicans were quick to go after Democrats a few years ago, ready to pronounce themselves judge and jury when allegations of impropriety surfaced.  Now, when there is clear evidence of a violation of the city charter in requesting and accepting contributions that are against the law, there is dead silence and an attitude that says ‘we don’t care and no one will remember anyway’,’’ stated Chairman Bregman.

Governor Martinez recently vetoed House Bill 33, which would have required prospective contractors to disclose all campaign contributions and increased transparency by putting this information on the Sunshine Portal for all New Mexicans to access.

“New Mexicans want their elected officials to follow the law and practice full transparency with anyone seeking special access, especially campaign contributors.  Governor Martinez and Mayor Berry talk a good game about transparency, then they do the complete opposite. More empty promises of promoting sunshine in government,” commented Chairman Bregman.

ALERT: Last night at the Bernalillo County Commission Meeting, County Commissioners voted 3-2 to raise Minimum Wage for working people. 

It was a great win for all Bernalillo County residents, that was until the Republicans realized they were defeated and resorted to childish humor and sexism to trivialize the hard-working organizers who were there advocating for progress.

This is why just 22% of Americans are even willing to self-identify as Republicans. The Republican Party is out of touch, living in a different era, and every time they open their mouths they lose another chunk of mainstream America.

Check out what the Bernalillo County Republicans were tweetting and facebooking about when they realized they lost ( Attachment ) 

Please forward if you think this is disgraceful and they should apologize for their remarks.