THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW

1. "ARE YOU SERIOUS?" - DEMOCRAT STATE SEN. RICHARD MARTINEZ REFUSES TO RESIGN, NOW RUNNING FOR RE-ELECTION

The Albuquerque Journal caught up with Democrat State Sen. Richard Martinez, who has been in hiding since his June arrest for DWI. He finally emerged at a legislative hearing being held in Los Alamos.

 From the Albuquerque Journal:

Asked Friday whether he plans to remain in the Legislature, Martinez said, “Of course.”

“I have no intention to resign,” Martinez said, “and I’m running for reelection, too.”

Just a brief reminder of what Martinez did:
Rear ended a Jeep in Espanola after a party on a June Friday night
Begged and pleaded for the cops not to arrest him (all caught on police lapel video)
When the police informed him he was being arrested, he responds with, "Are you serious?"; he then refused to take a breathalyzer test to prove his (false) claim that he had not been drinking
Was charged with aggravated DWI and reckless driving
Pleaded not guilty
Meanwhile, Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and the Democrat Party of New Mexico refuse to call for Martinez's resignation.

We wonder why. And so, too, does the Santa Fe New Mexican Editorial Page which opined on the situation since Martinez's arrest:

Since then, we have not seen Martinez make a sincere apology. It’s one thing to make a mistake. It’s another to refuse to acknowledge the error. Martinez is failing on all counts. Yet Martinez likely will cruise to reelection. That’s embarrassing for New Mexico.

Democratic leaders, from the governor on down to Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, need to speak more strongly about Martinez’s future in the Legislature. He is a powerful lawmaker, the chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee. Martinez helps write the laws that deal with crime and punishment. He must be stripped of that assignment, and Senate leaders should make that clear now.

Further, it’s taking entirely too long to hear the case, as one judge after another steps aside or is recused by attorneys. Stop the delay. Find a retired judge from another area of the state without a conflict, and let Martinez have his day in court. Voters deserve to know their senator’s fate before the June 2020 primary. Justice delayed, as we often see, is justice denied.

2. NM SUPREME COURT OVERTURNS DEMOCRAT ELECTION LAW CHANGES

Democrats billed it as a "50 Year Tune-Up" of our election laws. They rushed a bill through the legislature this past winter and Democrat Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham signed it into law.

Well, on Monday, a big part of it was determined by the NM Supreme Court to violate the New Mexico State Constitution and was struck down. It would have extended the term of district attorneys by moving the election cycle for district attorneys from the presidential election cycle to the gubernatorial election cycle.

From the Santa Fe New Mexican:

The New Mexico Supreme Court on Monday nullified election law changes enacted by state lawmakers this year, ruling that planned alterations to terms of office for certain elected officials were unconstitutional.

District attorneys, judges and county officials from around the state challenged the changes in three separate lawsuits, arguing that, among other things, the new rules would create confusion and make the terms of some office holders longer than what is called for in the state constitution....

“The court issued rulings invalidating the changes as ‘an unconstitutional alteration’ of the terms of offices for the officials,” [New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts spokesman Barry] Massey wrote.

“The challenged sections of law would have temporarily extended the terms of some elected officials as part of an effort to revise which offices appear on the ballot in gubernatorial or presidential election years,” Massey said. “The new law would have staggered terms of district and metropolitan court judges. In the staggering transition, some judges would have temporarily served longer terms than provided for in the New Mexico Constitution.”

3. OTHER NEW MEXICO NEWS BRIEFS
State unseals $1M DPS settlement (now brings the total of the formerly secret settlements for alleged misconduct up to at least $2 million)

Democrat Deb Haaland called out for praising Antifa as "peaceful"

Las Cruces preps for first ranked-choice election (approved unanimously by the progressive dominated city council)

—Republican Party of New Mexico