New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan
8/9/10
Susana's Press Honeymoon: Is It Ending? 

Let's kick-off this summer Monday with some media and politics. How about those two unflattering front-pagers in the state's largest fishwrapper on GOP Guv nominee Susana Martinez? Democrats thought they would never get here.

Since announcing her candidacy 13 months ago Martinez has received little scrutiny, but with the very real possibility she could be the next Governor and early voting now less than 60 days away, the wake-up call has been made.

One of the headlines screamed: "Martinez Defends Office Purchases."

Hey, what happened to Baby Brianna?

The ABQ Journal article reporting how Martinez, the Dona Ana County DA, appeared to have entered a sweetheart contract for office supplies with one of her assistant DA's is not devastating. But it is bad. That's because she is the candidate who has presented herself as clean as a whistle and anything that undermines that notion also undermines her credibility.

That the Martinez camp was worried that her reputation as a corruption fighter had taken a serious hit in that Friday report was on full display when the paper followed up with a Saturday front-pager on the same topic filled with push back from Susana's camp.

The Dems have been pounding the table that Martinez has been getting an easy press ride--especially from the Journal--while Dem nominee Diane Denish is repeatedly punished by the paper and other media as they associate her with the seamy side of Big Bill and pen editorials condemning her use of the state jet.

The Martinez hit came from the paper's still strong investigative unit. Did the basis for the story originate with Dem opposition researchers? Perhaps. But the larger point is that the front-pagers may be signaling the end of the press honeymoon for Susana, while there never really was one for Denish.

Original Albuquerque Journal Stories:

 Martinez Bought Supplies From Aide – Colleen Heild, Albuquerque Journal 8/6/10, Silver City Sun-News & Las Cruces Sun-News 8/7/10 

The office of Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez bought more than $60,000 in office supplies from a home-based company owned by one of her top deputies and political ally. There was no contract or competitive bidding process that covered the purchases from 2003 to 2005, and a former state auditor questions whether state law was followed. But Martinez, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, said the arrangement was legal, had approval from two state agencies and saved the taxpayers money. She also said she would do it all over again as governor, "so long as there was transparency in that transaction" and a cost savings was the result. The deputy district attorney involved, Janetta B. Hicks, also a Republican, is now the elected district attorney in the Fifth Judicial District based in Roswell.

Martinez Defends Office Purchases – Colleen Heild, Albuquerque Journal 8/7/10

District Attorney Susana Martinez of Las Cruces said Friday that state-mandated audits prove her office did nothing improper in purchasing more than $60,000 in office supplies and equipment from a company owned by one of her top deputies.  The Republican candidate for governor took issue with statements by former state Auditor Domingo Martinez, who called the purchases into question in a Journal story published Friday. She pointed out that it was Domingo Martinez's office that signed off on the yearly audits that found no irregularities with her office's finances or purchases. "For Domingo Martinez, whose office accepted the audits .... to now suddenly claim in an election she did something wrong ... is beyond the pale," said Ryan Cangiolosi, Martinez campaign manager.

Follow-ups and write-throughs:

Ethics Hit – New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan 8/6/10

Martinez has been running on what seems like "an all ethics all the time" platform, but that can cut both ways. The Dona Ana County DA is taking this hit: The office of Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez bought more than $60,000 in office supplies from a home-based company owned by one of her top deputies and political ally. There was no contract or competitive bidding process that covered the purchases from 2003 to 2005, and a former state auditor questions whether state law was followed. But Martinez, the Republican gubernatorial candidate, said the arrangement was legal, had approval from two state agencies and saved the taxpayers money.

As DA, Martinez Bought Supplies From Company Owned by Top Aide, Journal Reports – Trip Jennings, NM Independent 8/7/10

The office of Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez bought more than $60,000 in office supplies without a contract or competitive bidding process from a company owned by one of Martinez’s then-top deputies and a political ally, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. A former state auditor now questions whether state law was followed in the purchases, which were made from 2003 to 2005, according to the paper. Martinez, who is the Republican nominee for governor, told the paper that the arrangement was legal and had approval from two state agencies. In addition, it saved the taxpayers money, Martinez is quoted as saying. She would do it all over again as governor, “so long as there was transparency in that transaction” and a cost savings was the result, Martinez told the paper.

Martinez Office Purchases Draw Scrutiny – News New Mexico 8/7/10

The office of Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez bought more than $60,000 in office supplies without a contract or competitive bidding process from a company owned by one of Martinez’s then-top deputies and a political ally, the Albuquerque Journal is reporting. A former state auditor now questions whether state law was followed in the purchases, which were made from 2003 to 2005, according to the paper. Martinez, who is the Republican nominee for governor, told the paper that the arrangement was legal and had approval from two state agencies. In addition, it saved the taxpayers money, Martinez is quoted as saying. She would do it all over again as governor, “so long as there was transparency in that transaction” and a cost savings was the result, Martinez told the paper. Read more here:

Susana Martinez and Ethics – Jim Baca, Only in New Mexico 8/7/10

The Journal revisited the story on GOP Gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez today.  Martinez defended herself through her campaign spokesman saying everything she did was legal when she bought office supplies from her friend, employee and campaign supporter.  Maybe it was legal, but I am betting it wasn't.  I also know when something isn't ethical and this was not ethical.  Here are a few more questions for someone to follow up on.  Was the DA's office the only customer of this home based office supply store?  How much money did this employee donate to Martinez's campaigns?  Was there any apparatus set up in the DA's office to look at the ethics of transactions there?  Were all taxes paid?  Did any sales from this store go to the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s office where Susana's husband is undersheriff?  Just asking!

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