ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – It’s now been three days since news broke of a racist and violent email circulating through Susana Martinez’s District Attorney’s office and the Republican candidate for Governor still has not directly condemned the email or disclosed whether the prosecutor responsible for sending it will keep her job. Martinez’s failure to directly speak out against the racist email, and manage this scandal, has led one prominent New Mexico political reporter to question whether she is ready for prime time. 

“It shouldn’t be difficult for Susana Martinez to directly condemn racism in her office, but it’s been three days now, and this scandal is now raising serious questions about her leadership abilities,” said Javier Gonzales, Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.  “If Martinez can’t take a strong stand against racism in her own office, why would New Mexicans think she’ll stand up for their needs as Governor?”

New Mexico’s most prominent political commentators are weighing in, with Joe Monahan today questioning whether Martinez is ready for primetime.  Monahan concluded that by failing to call the email “reprehensible” or “outrageous”, Martinez has “lost a chance to turn the joke into a leadership opportunity…”

Read Monahan’s full analysis of the Martinez scandal here: New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan

A piece by Sean Olson, political reporter for the Albuquerque Journal, reported on Hispanic leaders calling for Martinez to speak out against the racist email and fire the prosecutor responsible for sending it.

Below is a copy of Olson’s piece – which also includes news of a Martinez campaign staff shake-up:

Joke Prompts Calls To Fire Prosecutor 

By Sean Olson
Journal Staff Writer
          Democrats are calling for the head of Lisa Kuykendall, a senior prosecutor working in governor candidate Susana Martinez's Las Cruces District Attorney's Office, after she forwarded a joke e-mail depicting a "New Mexican girl" killing an Arab and a Mexican illegal immigrant. 
        In a hastily called news conference Wednesday morning in front of Bernalillo County's District Court, elected officials and community groups called for Martinez to apologize for the "offensive" e-mail and fire Kuykendall for forwarding it. 
        "We need to send a message to Mexican and Arab children in our country that they are loved ... and that no one is going to shoot them," said Carolyn Margolies, president and CEO of the YWCA Middle Rio Grande. 
        Kuykendall has been reprimanded for sending the e-mail, but a spokeswoman for Martinez's District Attorney's Office declined to comment further, citing employee confidentiality laws. 
        Martinez has not addressed the e-mail personally, instead allowing her campaign and a subordinate at her District Attorney's Office to make statements on her behalf. She responded on Wednesday to a Journal request for her comment with a statement from a campaign staff member. 
        "Susana Martinez found the forwarded e-mail 'joke' to be unacceptable, and immediately addressed the issue when it was brought to her attention by reprimanding the individual and issuing a statement from her official office to make clear that the e-mail forwarded by one employee did not represent her views, nor the views of the office," Martinez campaign spokesman Adam Deguire said in a prepared statement. 
        Rep. Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D-Albuquerque, Albuquerque City Councilors Ken Sanchez and Rey Garduño, former Albuquerque Police Department Deputy Chief Marie Sisi Miranda, lawyer Ahmad Assed and Margolies all spoke out against Kuykendall and the e-mail at the news conference. 
        Martinez's opponent, Democrat Diane Denish, also stepped into the fray, calling the incident "offensive" and "inexcusable" in a statement Wednesday. 
        "Needless to say, if this happened in my office, the employees responsible would no longer have their jobs," Denish said.

        SHAKE-UP: Governor candidate Susana Martinez is shuffling her campaign, hiring former Republican Party of New Mexico Executive Director Ryan Cangiolosi as her campaign manager. 
        Adam Deguire, who managed Martinez's campaign in the primary, will manage field operations for Martinez from now on. 
        Cangiolosi quit his post at the state GOP to work for Martinez. He is a veteran of numerous New Mexico Republican campaigns, a Naval Reserve officer and a former vice president of the Jalapeno Corp., a Nevada-based oil and gas exploration company that works in New Mexico. 
        State GOP Chairman Harvey E. Yates Jr. is the president of the company, according to Public Regulation Commission records. 

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Martinez Silent on Racist E-Mail; DA Office’s Apathetic Response Raises More Questions than Answers

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – After news reports exposed a racist email being circulated by state employees from her 3^rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office, gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez remains silent on the matter – refusing to condemn the hateful email or hold her staff accountable.  The apathetic response by a DA spokesperson raises more questions than answers, including the following:

1.      What are the names and positions of the state employees who sent or forwarded the racist email from their state email accounts?

2.      What exactly does it mean when the District Attorney’s Office says that the prosecutor responsible was “disciplined” and “reprimanded”? 

3.      Will the state employee or employees responsible for sending the racist email continue to work for Susana Martinez?

4.      Why hasn’t Susana Martinez shown leadership by condemning the violent, hateful and racist sentiments expressed in the email?  

Yesterday, DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales called on Martinez to determine which state employees were responsible for sending the racist email and to fire them immediately. Today he reiterated his call for Martinez to hold her staff accountable for this deplorable action.

“In her first opportunity to show real leadership as a candidate for Governor, Susana Martinez has been silent and is nowhere to be found,” said Chairman Gonzales. “There should be zero tolerance for racism and the people of New Mexico deserve some answers from Susana Martinez.  Instead of hiding behind a spokesperson, Martinez should immediately condemn the racist email and fire the staff members responsible for sending it around.”

The racist joke from the 3rd Judicial District Attorney’s Office email is attached below.  

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Albuquerque, NM – Following news reports of a racist and violent email "joke" that was circulated by an employee of the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office, DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales called on District Attorney Susana Martinez to terminate the state employee(s) responsible. Chairman Gonzales released the following statement:

"New Mexico is a place unlike any other, where our rich and diverse Hispanic cultures have flourished long before the United States even became a nation.  The harmonious melding of our heritages such as Hispanic, Anglo, Native American, African American, Middle Eastern and Asian make our state one of the most welcoming places in the world.  As New Mexicans we are proud to celebrate and embrace this diversity.  As such, this deplorable joke has no place in state government, and it is utterly shocking that it would emanate from a law enforcement employee of Susana Martinez's 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office."

“The people of New Mexico must trust their law enforcement officials, not fear them. The racial slurs in this joke about our Hispanic and Middle Eastern communities are absolutely unacceptable and not conducive to making people feel safe.  Hate breeds hate, and I urge Ms. Martinez to take immediate action and terminate all state employees in her office who sent this violent and hateful email."

Below is an Associated Press article on the matter:

Immigrant Joke Prompts Reprimand by GOP Candidate –  Barry Massey, Associated Press

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) - Republican gubernatorial nominee Susana Martinez has disciplined a prosecutor in her district attorney's office for using a government computer to forward an e-mail that jokes about killing Mexicans and Arabs.

The e-mail, according to a copy obtained by The Associated Press, describes a New Mexico girl shooting a Mexican and an Arab in a bar and then saying, "In New Mexico, we have so many illegal aliens we don't have to drink with the same ones twice."

The e-mail was sent a week after Martinez won the GOP gubernatorial nomination in a campaign in which immigration was a hot-button issue.

Chief Deputy District Attorney Susan Riedel said Tuesday that forwarding the e-mail was inappropriate and the employee has been reprimanded.

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Albuquerque, NM – Republican Gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez has spent weeks – both in television ads and on the campaign trail – claiming to have taken on dangerous Mexican drug cartels in her role as District Attorney.  An investigative report by the Santa Fe New Mexican now reveals there is no evidence to support Martinez’s claim and that most of the drug dealers she has prosecuted are “relatively small fish.”

Martinez’s television ad in the GOP primary claimed that she “prosecutes members of the most violent Mexican cartels,” but she provided no data or specific cases to validate the claim. View the ad here:Border

When asked by New Mexican reporter Steve Terrell for the names of those violent drug cartel members, Terrell reported that “Martinez doesn’t name names.”

“New Mexicans are tired of the empty rhetoric, exaggerations and political double-speak from Susana Martinez,” said DPNM Executive Director Scott Forrester. “Susana Martinez should come clean and admit that she’s been exaggerating her record in order to create a tough-on-crime persona.”   

To read today’s full Santa Fe New Mexican article please click here.

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Albuquerque, NM- Susana Martinez was all too happy today to chat it up with nationally syndicated Conservative talk show host Laura Ingraham, but when it comes to an issue that affects the health care costs of hundreds of thousands of New Mexicans, Martinez has been silent.

Today, Martinez was on national right-wing radio singing the praises of Sarah Palin, Tea Party activists and the Arizona immigration law. Meanwhile, she has been conspicuously unavailable to the media when asked about the Blue Cross Blue Shield rate hikes and whether to give the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) more power. [6/22/10]

“The big insurance companies are trying to jack-up premium rates on working New Mexicans, but instead of taking a position, Susana Martinez is focused on becoming the next national Republican superstar,” said DPNM spokesman James Hallinan. “Going on right-wing radio to praise Sarah Palin may help Martinez raise more big out-of-state checks, but it won’t help New Mexico families during these challenging times.” 

Martinez has failed to answer whether she thinks it was appropriate for the PRC to approve a 21 percent increase on the health care rates for 40,000 New Mexicans insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Mexico. From day one, Diane Denish has been on the side of New Mexico families by opposing both the Blue Cross Blue Shield health insurance premium rate hike.

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Albuquerque, NM- A day after Diane Denish rolled out a detailed and comprehensive workforce development plan to make New Mexico's workers more competitive in the global economy, Susana Martinez did more of what she has been doing – talking about the need for a discussion about issues, yet putting forward no new ideas whatsoever. 

In her letter to NM Politics, Martinez states, "I believe this campaign will be about where each of us stands on the issues that matter to voters." [6/22/10]  

“Susana Martinez has given New Mexicans nothing more than flashy ads, fluffy rhetoric and empty promises,” said DPNM Executive Director Scott Forrester. “Susana Martinez doesn’t want to talk about her extreme right wing positions, which were exposed during the primary, or her broken record as a District Attorney, which has been exposed in recent weeks, so instead New Mexicans are getting fluff and platitudes. Maybe Susana Martinez needs to spend a little less time hanging out with Sarah Palin or raising money in Texas, and a little more time with working New Mexicans.” 

Meanwhile, Diane Denish has put forth several major in-depth policy proposals to reform government and create jobs -- including plans to save taxpayers $450 million dollars by rooting out waste and maximizing efficiency in government, a small business and rural jobs growth plan creating economic growth through tax credits and increased access to capital, and a recent workforce development plan that will position the state's workforce for the high tech and green jobs of today and tomorrow.

Click here to read more about Diane’s small business job creation plan.

Click here to read more about Diane’s workforce development plan. 

Click here to read more about Diane’s government reform plan. 

Click here to read more about Diane’s ethics reform plan.

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Albuquerque, NM - Just days into the general election campaign Susana Martinez is ramping up the double-talk and dishonest retorts of her ugly record of felony DWI plea bargains. After promising in 2004 not to plea bargain felony DWI cases – and breaking that promise and cutting plea deals more than 800 times – she has a new excuse. According to today’s Albuquerque Journal, Martinez is now saying that she meant she wouldn’t plea felony DWIs down to misdemeanors. Problem: that’s not true either. 

“New Mexicans are sick of political double-talk and broken promises, and that is exactly what Susana Martinez has had to offer thus far,” said DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales.  “Enough is enough, and the last thing this failed prosecutor deserves is a promotion to governor.  One thing Mrs. Martinez does deserve is increased scrutiny of her record as a prosecutor.”

In 2008, Jaime Cardenas was charged with felony, aggravated DWI when he was found with an open bottle of Jose Cuervo and failed his field sobriety test. Court records showed that Cardenas had been convicted five times previously for driving under the influence. However, Jaime Cardenas and Susana Martinez’s office reached a plea agreement where he was only charged as a third time offender, a misdemeanor. [State of New Mexico v. Jaime A. Cardenas, D-307-CR-200800773, DWI Repeat Offender Plea and Disposition Agreement, Filed 6/2/08; Blog, NMPolitics.net, Heath Haussamen, 6/4/10]

This is an example of Martinez’s broken promises and failed record.  Martinez has gone back and forth with excuses in the press, but that does not change the facts.  The Cardenas case clearly demonstrates that Martinez is even contradicting her most recent excuse and claim that “her office has not wavered on its promise to ensure felony DWIs remain felonies.” [Albuquerque Journal, 6/9/10]

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Albuquerque, NM – After Susana Martinez won the Republican nomination by distorting her record and making empty promises, the Denish campaign today released an ad to introduce New Mexicans to the real Susana Martinez – and her failed record as District Attorney.

The ad directly quotes Susana Martinez talking about the importance of looking at candidates’ records, and then challenges Martinez to explain her broken pledge on felony DWI plea bargains and her horrible murder conviction rate – which is the lowest in the state. [New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, New Mexico State Court Annual Reports, FY 1999-2009]

“Susana Martinez won the Republican nomination with sound bites and empty promises, but in reality, she’s been a failed District Attorney who doesn’t deserve a promotion,” said Chris Cervini, Denish’s campaign spokesman. “New Mexicans want a Governor who they can trust to get the job done, not a failed District Attorney who broke her pledge to be tough on DWI offenders and has the worst felony murder conviction rate in the state. New Mexicans deserve more.”

The new ad entitled “Record,” is running statewide on network/cable television and it can be viewed here: http://www.youtube.com/user/Denish2010

Read the Back-Up.

Albuquerque, NM - With results for the Democratic Party Primary now in, New Mexico Democrats have a unified state-wide ticket for the 2010 election. Leading the ticket is Diane Denish, the party’s nominee for Governor. Brian Colón joins Denish as her running mate and the Lieutenant Governor candidate.

“I would like to congratulate each of the stellar nominees who truly bring excellence to New Mexico, along with the unity and strength they lend the Democratic ticket,” said DPNM Chairman Javier Gonzales. “New Mexico Democrats are united behind Diane Denish and her focus on creating jobs and helping our state become more competitive. As Democrats we will work hard as a unified party and always put our state’s working families first.”

Below is the list of candidates that make up the 2010 Democratic ticket:

Diane Denish, Governor

Brian Colón, Lieutenant Governor

Martin Heinrich, 1st Congressional District

Harry Teague, 2nd Congressional District

Ben Ray Lujan Jr., 3rd Congressional District

Mary Herrera, Secretary of State

Gary King, Attorney General

James B. Lewis, Treasurer

Hector Balderas, Auditor

Ray Bennett Powell, Commissioner of Public Lands

Judge Robert E. Robles, Court of Appeals Position 1

Judge Linda M. Vanzi, Court of Appeals Position 2

Judge Tim L. Garcia, Court of Appeals Position 3

Albuquerque, NM – After winning the Republican primary with glossy TV ads that do not tell the real stories behind of Martinez’s record, New Mexicans are left wondering: who is Susana Martinez and what’s her real record? As New Mexicans will soon come to know, Susana Martinez is selling them a bill of goods – and she’s asking for a promotion based on her spotty record.

“Once you look past the fancy ads and sound-bytes, Susana Martinez has been an ineffective prosecutor who breaks her pledges and cuts deals with violent criminals,” said Javier Gonzales, Chairman of the New Mexico Democratic Party. “Susana Martinez is all steak, no sizzle – and during these tough times, New Mexico families need a Governor they can trust to get the job done. Needless to say, a mediocre District Attorney does not deserve a promotion.”

Some facts about Susana Martinez’s record that she doesn’t want New Mexicans to know:

• In 2004 Martinez said she wouldn’t plea bargain felony DWI cases – in fact it was a campaign pledge – and then she broke her promise literally hundreds of times. She cut plea bargain deals with more than 800 felony DWI offenders since making the pledge, and more than 1,000 in total. [Albuquerque Journal, 5/19/10; Las Cruces Sun-News, 9/5/04; Administrative Office of the Courts, Annual Reports, Third District Court, FY 1999-2009, accessed 5/11/10]
• Martinez boasts about her conviction rate, but in reality her office let roughly one out of every three criminal defendants off the hook. [Administrative Office of the Courts, Annual Reports, Third District Court, FY 1999-2009, accessed 5/11/10]
• Martinez has let far too many of our most dangerous criminals off the hook. Over her tenure she has let 40 percent of murder defendants off and her rape conviction rate is only 57 percent. [Administrative Office of the Courts, Annual Reports, Third District Court, FY 1999-2009, accessed 5/11/10]
• Martinez’s campaign is being bankrolled by big oil and she received $450,000 from the Texas millionaire and his wife who financed the Swift Boat ads against John Kerry in 2004. [New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan, 5/28/10]