Let the hyperbole, overkill begin

link Tom McDonald

State columnist

Now begins Election 2014.

All the noise you’ve heard so far was just the warmup. Now comes the hyperbole, followed by a big dose of overkill.

Still, it’s an important election. On every New Mexico ballot this November, there will be boxes to check for governor and lieutenant governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, auditor, land commissioner, U.S. senator and representative and five state constitutional amendments.

Then, depending on where you live in the state, your ballot will be filled out with races for commissioner, legislator, judge and more, including some important local issues to decide.

Allow me to touch on a handful of issues that will or won’t matter on Nov. 4.

Legalizing marijuana is a big issue these days, but it won’t be decided in New Mexico’s election this year. The issue didn’t make it on the ballot, and Gov. Susan Martinez and challenger Gary King are both opposed to it.

The way things are developing, however, with efforts in Bernalillo and Santa Fe counties to decriminalize small amounts of pot and get it on their ballots, it could affect turnout in two of the most populated counties. Younger voters, who don’t exactly turn out in droves for elections, are typically pro-legalization and will likely show up in stronger numbers for any kind of vote on this issue — to the benefit of the Democratic candidates also on those ballots.

Two issues that do matter for everyone in this election, I think, are energy production and environmental protection.

In areas like the oil patch of eastern New Mexico, it’s drill-baby-drill, and folks there resent Norteños who condemn drilling (especially hydraulic fracturing) while cashing in on the tax revenues it creates.

What’s more, I think there’s a fair number of Democrats in the northern reaches of the state who actually like Susana and might just vote for her, but her party’s environmental apathy get in their way.

I’m not sure how the Tesla Motors loss will effect the governor’s race, but if it’s still being bantered about in a month, I’ll bet it’s as an example of how Martinez, pro-business Republican that she is, just isn’t delivering the economic growth we’d all like to see.

Another uncertainty is the behavioral health issue, in which the Martinez administration, after alleging overbilling and fraud, froze out 15 New Mexico providers and replaced them with five Arizona firms.

It seems King is holding the cards on this issue. As attorney general, he has a responsibility to investigate the allegations, which means he decides on when to announce his findings. If he has evidence that discredits the Martinez administration’s allegation, and he gets it out soon, I think he could sway the election. But if his findings back up the governor’s claims, it won’t do him a bit of good.

Tom McDonald is editor of the New Mexico Community News Exchange. Contact him at:

tmcdonald@

gazettemediaservices.com