Richardson Grok

Richardson Wants Fairness for Wolves

By Emily Esterson, 7-09-07

Governor Bill Richardson this week took on a highly controversial, but mostly western issue this week, when he said he would like to change key protocols related to the management of Mexican Gray Wolves. “I am deeply concerned about the recent escalation in wolf removals and incidents surrounding yesterday’s lethal removal of a female wolf,” said Governor Bill Richardson in a statement. “State Police are investigating the incident and are collecting the facts as this investigation takes its course.” His reaction followed the killing of a female wolf in Southwestern New Mexico, which had been initiated by federal wildlife officers before the state was notified.  In March 2007, the Governor asked New Mexico Fish and Game to redouble its efforts to “work with all interests to promote healthy wolf populations living in reasonable compatibility with our communities and land stewards in New Mexico.” says the statement. The wolf issue in southern New Mexico is largely considered a ranchers-vs.-enviros problem that has ignited anger among conservative southern New Mexico residents.

Also closer to home base this week, New Mexico Attorney General Gary King told the Albuquerque Tribune that he will investigate the ethics of the Richardson administration hiring an on-loan staffer who had been a lobbyist for Public Service Company of New Mexico. The lobbyist, Art Hull, worked for the governor as part of a loaned executive program that’s intended to give private sector officials a view of how state government works, writes the Albuquerque Tribune. Hull remained on PNM’s payroll and mostly served as a liaison between the governor and republican legislators. Ben Luce, a solar energy activist, wrote the letter to King noting that, “it appears that the administration has made an illegal donation of state facilities and services to PNM via the access and position afforded Mr. Hull, and in a manner that afforded PNM undue influence over the administration’s policy proposals and lobbying efforts.” Until recently, Luce had been a supporter of the Richardson administration’s energy policies, but now says that the governor and the legislature are too close to the state’s largest utility. Luce also called for a repeal of the energy policies enacted in the last legislative session.

On the campaign trail, Richardson urged South Carolinians not to choose yet. Richardson met with about 100 democratic party activists over the weekend in the state, and told them not to be swayed by money or fame, but to choose the person with the best experience.

Yet another blogger, this time politico.com, is talking about a possible Clinton/Richardson ticket.  Or not. Politico points out that Richardson was too close to the Monica Lewinsky debacle (he offered her a job at the United Nations, post blue dress incident). It was all legal and above board, but perhaps that’s just too much water under the bridge for Hilary to put up with. Although it’s being widely bandied about, the chances are slim, says the blogger.

Richardson’s travels this week take him to Bettendorf, Clinton, Maquoketa and Dubuque, Iowa, and then it’s on to Michigan and California (with the occasional stop off in New Mexico).

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