Diane Denish: Press Releases

Denish-ColA3n Proudly Accept Endorsement of Conservation Voters New Mexico

Tue, 07 Sep 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Diane Denish and Brian Colón today proudly accepted the endorsement of Conservation Voters New Mexico.

"New Mexico's precious water resources must be protected for future generations," Denish said. "Conservation voters want New Mexico to be prosperous and successful -- that includes protecting our wild places and water. I am proud to stand with them and I will fight to keep New Mexico's air and water clean."

"Being on the side of New Mexicans means fighting for clean water," Colón said. "Susana Martinez has proven she is in the pocket of powerful interests that want to roll-back environmental protections and spoil our land and water. We cannot let that happen. That's what's at stake in this election."

But the Denish-Colón conservation agenda is more than the protection of New Mexico's wild places, it's also about jobs. From watershed restoration to wind farms; from weatherization of homes to the construction of renewable energy power lines -- now more than ever conservation means jobs.

"Diane Denish understands that long-term economic development and the protection of our air, land, and water go hand in hand," said Sandy Buffett, Executive Director of Conservation Voters NM (CVNM). "CVNM is proud to endorse Diane Denish and Brian Colón to lead New Mexico and to protect our most precious resources for future generations."

The Denish-Colón conservation agenda:

A bad-actor bill to hold chronic polluters accountable.

Continued protection for places that should be off-limits to drilling, such as the Otero Mesa.

A state Clean Energy Investment Pool -- By linking a portion of severance-tax revenue to incentives and programs for growing the clean-energy economy, we can target state capital to renewable-energy projects

Create a center of excellence for green energy development based at one of our research universities. This center of excellence will go hand-in-hand with the goals of Innovate New Mexico.

Expand tax credits for clean energy companies -- Increase the Industry Research and Development Tax Credit to 10% for clean technology businesses and offer favorable tax treatment to startup founders to encourage them to stay in New Mexico.

Fight for the expansion of special assessment districts for renewable energy. Take on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make sure this innovative program, which puts renewable energy directly into the hands of average homeowners, remains a viable green-job engine.

Support the creation of a green-job business incubator.

Encourage the conversion of government car fleets to high-efficiency vehicles and natural-gas.

Ensure all new state buildings meet green standards, expand renovation of existing buildings and put all government utility bills online for the public to inspect.

Invest in bonds for renewable energy transmission capacity so that New Mexico can sell its renewable power to other states.

Promote and develop deep-source geothermal energy using spent oil and gas wells. This new effort would be a great way to engage oil and gas companies in the green energy revolution and create jobs in the oil patch.

New Denish Ad Sets Record Straight; Highlights Martinez Plans to Cut Money from Public Schools

Tue, 31 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The Denish for Governor campaign today unveiled “Communities,” a new ad that sets the record straight about Diane Denish’s commitment to New Mexico’s small communities and highlights Susana Martinez’s plans to take money from public schools and give it to private schools.

“New Mexicans won’t be fooled by Susana Martinez’s misleading attacks. Diane Denish has worked in communities across the state to help small businesses create jobs and to expand educational opportunities for young children," said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. "Susana Martinez has never created a job and is now running attack ads to distract New Mexicans from her risky plan to take money from public classrooms and divert it to wealthy private schools -- plain and simple."

As Governor Diane Denish will continue to fight for all New Mexico communities -- from Quay to Luna, San Juan to Eddy -- to ensure New Mexico has the public-education system to help our kids compete in the 21st Century Economy.

Double Click Below to view the ad or follow this link and click on "Working with our Communities"

Transcript of the ad:

Voice Over: Another false attack by Republican Susana Martinez.

The truth: Diane Denish is working in communities accross the state. Helping small buisnesses and especially our local schools. Diane expanded Pre-K. Helping 17,000 kids learn to read. While Martinez would give public school dollars to wealthy private schools.

Diane Denish: As governor, I'll take on anyone to keep money in the classroom, where it belongs. Because standing up for New Mexico families, means giving our kids a great education.

Statement from Diane Denish on Latest Twist in Martinez's No-Bid Sweetheart Deal for Employee

Tue, 24 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Diane Denish this morning released the following statement on news reported in the Albuquerque Journal that Susana Martinez continued to buy office supplies from friend and employee Janetta Hicks after being ordered by the state to stop. Martinez claims she was unaware of the directive.

The following is a statement attributable to Diane Denish:

“With each passing day, it becomes harder for New Mexicans to believe anything Susana Martinez says. First Martinez denies ever supporting a voucher plan that cuts money from public schools, then a video surfaces of her telling Republican audiences that she supports it. Susana Martinez talks about securing our border, then we learn she took more than $350,000 in funds that should have been spent on border security and instead gave it away as big bonuses. Now Martinez says she disclosed the $60,000 no-bid deal she was caught giving to her friend, but it turns out she never alerted the Department of Finance and ignored their instructions to stop. At a time when we so badly need a Governor who will look out for our families, Susana Martinez is showing herself to be just another Republican politician who New Mexicans can't trust.”

On August 6, the Journal first reported that Susana Martinez's 3rd Judicial District Office bought office $60,000 worth of office supplies in a no-bid deal from one of her top deputies. Now, the Journal is reporting the office continued to buy supplies from the company after it was told to stop by the state.

Below is the text of today's story, which ran on the front page of the Albuquerque Journal. Below that is the text of the original story on Susana Martinez's $60,000 no-bid deal with employee Janetta Hicks, who is now a District Attorney herself.

From Today:

Martinez, State Spar Over Office Supply Deal

By Colleen Heild
Journal Investigative Reporter

State finance officials say they ordered the office of District Attorney Susana Martinez to stop buying supplies from a company owned by a top deputy, but Martinez says she believes any such directive was rescinded because the state continued to pay the vendor's invoices.

A Department of Finance and Administration spokeswoman told the Journal last week that the DFA notified Martinez's Las Cruces office in early 2004 that buying from Titan Office Supply would no longer be permitted after learning the vendor was a DA employee.

The DFA said it hasn't been able to locate records documenting the order directly, but did produce a 2004 memo from Martinez's chief financial officer confirming the DA's office would no longer be permitted to use Titan.

Martinez, a Republican running for governor, told the Journal on Monday that she never knew about a DFA directive but if there was one she believes it was reversed because the state continued to approve payments for another nine months.

"This election-year revisionism by the very Richardson/Denish agency that approved each payment smacks of a political smear," her campaign said in an e-mail.

The campaign added: "It is clear that there were subsequent conversations," between the DA's office and the DFA permitting the purchases.

Asked whether she had records to show that the directive was rescinded, Martinez told the Journal she didn't but added: "What's important here ... I can't tell you how many decisions they make that are not in writing."

She said she wasn't involved in any conversations on the issue.

Martinez's office didn't put the purchases from Titan out for competitive bid, nor did it have a contract with the firm. She said neither was required by law. From 2003 to late 2004, the office spent more than $60,000 with Titan, which was based in Las Cruces.

Titan was owned by Janetta Hicks, who was a deputy district attorney in Martinez's office until several years ago. Hicks, also a Republican, is now a district attorney based in Roswell.

Martinez said she fully complied with the law, that independent annual audits of her agency prove as much, and that she saved taxpayers money by buying from her employee's home-based business.

The purchases included office supplies, computer accessories and law enforcement equipment.

At the time, there was no state law prohibiting such employer-employee purchases.

But once a DA employee alerted the DFA that Hicks worked for the agency, DFA officials intervened, said spokeswoman Nicole Gillespie. She didn't name the employee.

"The Financial Control Division (of the DFA) reviewed the payments made ... to the employee-owned company and informed the agency that DFA did not see a public benefit in the 3rd Judicial District Attorney's Office making such substantial purchases from an employee," Gillespie said in an e-mail to the Journal.

DFA said it would allow payment of goods purchased and delivered before March 12, 2004, Gillespie said.

That is addressed in the memo from Martinez's chief financial officer, Beverlye Zubia, to the DFA dated March 23, 2004.

"Once the remaining outstanding invoices are paid, our agency will not be permitted to submit for payment any further invoices from (Titan)," the memo said.

Records obtained by the Journal show that more than $6,400 in additional purchases were submitted by the DA's Office and approved for payment by the state after the cutoff date.

Agencies such as Martinez's office send invoices to the DFA, which approves them and writes the checks.

Gillespie said her agency hasn't found any other documents related to the issue, but said the Zubia memo was retained "as the official public record."

Martinez said that she had never seen the Zubia letter to the DFA and that it is not in her agency's files.

Documents show Martinez's office continued to submit payment vouchers for Titan payments until about December 2004. Martinez said Monday that the state wouldn't have approved those additional purchases if they were improper.

Gillespie said her agency has located no documents showing the earlier prohibition was rescinded.

Asked why the DFA continued to pay the invoices, Gillespie said the agency had assigned a new pre-auditor to the DA's Office in July 2004 "who was unaware of the previous communication ... pertaining to Janetta Hicks/Titan Office Supply."

Zubia retired from the DA's Office in June 2004 and couldn't be reached for comment. Her successor, Juliete Lucero, told the Journal she never knew about any prohibition.

Martinez told the Journal on Aug. 5 that her office stopped buying supplies from Titan in the fall of 2004 because the state began offering agencies a more convenient way to purchase goods with a state-issued procurement card. Titan went out of business shortly thereafter.

Some government agencies, including Metro Court in Albuquerque and the Court of Appeals, had been using the cards for several years by that time. But Martinez said the card wasn't available to her agency until September 2004.

She also told the Journal earlier this month that the DFA was aware of the employee-employer relationship and had approved it. Asked on Monday about that statement, Martinez said her office didn't make any special notification to the DFA about Hicks.

How would the DFA know? "I guess because they do payroll, too," Martinez said. "I don't know."

She said her office at the time considered it was making full public disclosure by filing a financial disclosure statement about the employer-employee relationship with the Secretary of State's Office.

**********

From August 6, 2010:

Martinez Bought Supplies From AideBy Colleen Heild

Copyright © 2010 Albuquerque Journal
Journal Investigative Reporter

The office of Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez bought more than $60,000 in officesupplies 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 said Hicks' company, Titan Office Supply, is no longer in business.

Invoices submitted to the DA's office from the company list Hicks' name and an address that is a residence in Las Cruces.

The New Mexico Secretary of State used that same address for Hicks on its 2006 general election roster when she ran unsuccessfully for state district judge in Las Cruces.

Hicks was a senior deputy district attorney at that time, and Martinez endorsed her judicial candidacy. Hicks has also worked on Martinez's political campaigns, according to news reports.

Hicks didn't return a Journal phone message or e-mail seeking comment this week.

Procurement rules

State law bars contracts for "tangible personal property" between a state agency and a state employee unless a public disclosure is made and the purchases comply with the state Procurement Code. That law also says that the "potential contractor shall not be eligible for a sole source or small purchase contract."

But Martinez, who has been the Las Cruces-based district attorney since 1996, said there was no contract and that her office used Titan because her agency couldn't simply go into a store and purchase supplies.

Purchases had to be routed to the state Department of Finance and Administration for pre-approval and payment.

With Titan Office Supply, she said the office could order the supplies in bulk "at a relatively cheaper price and store (them)."

Asked how she knew Titan had the best prices, Martinez said she could provide examples.

"I know (in retail stores) a case of paper could be as much as $30. ... because we were purchasing it in bulk, it was anywhere from $24 to $25 a case."

She said her office stopped using Titan sometime after 2005 when the state provided agencies with purchase cards so agencies could shop in retail outlets.

Martinez said she cleared the arrangement with Titan with a lawyer for the Secretary of State, who advised that a financial disclosure statement be filed with his office. She couldn't immediately recall the attorney's name on Thursday.

Secretary of State spokesman James Flores this week could find no such disclosures but said his agency isn't required to keep such records on file for more than five years.

Flores said he had no idea what lawyer in his office Martinez might have been referring to.

Martinez also said DFA approved the payments and knew the vendor selling the supplies was owned by one of her employees.

The relationship was also reported in her office's annual audits for those years.

"The auditor actually referenced that very issue saying he was aware there had been purchases of officesupplies and it had been through Titan and that all procedures had been complied with ...," Martinez told the Journal.

Martinez's gubernatorial campaign provided the specific pages of the audits where the arrangement was mentioned. The entire audit reports for those years weren't immediately available from the State Auditors'Office.

Domingo Martinez, who was state auditor during that time period, told the Journal on Thursday that he always advised agencies that purchases totaling more than the legal threshold — at that time $10,000 — should go out to bid.

Martinez, a Democrat who is no relation to Susana Martinez, is now Santa Fe County Assessor.

When a reporter described the purchases involving Titan, he said "I think there's some issues there, I really do."

Susana Martinez said there was no need for a bid because there wasn't a single purchase of supplies that was higher than the legal threshold.

Only one purchase, for police car cameras, went out to bid because it was over the procurement limit, she said. Titan bid but didn't win.

Frequent purchases

Because they are independently elected, district attorneys in New Mexico "are quasi-autonomous," said Pat Davis of the Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office. They aren't obliged to make purchases through the state's central purchasing system, he said, but must abide by other procurement rules.

In the year 2003, the DA's office purchased supplies from Titan more than 30 times. Purchases included recognition plaques, a vacuum cleaner, paper and a computer printer. In 2004, Titan Office Supply issued at least 41 invoices for supplies that included four $100 adult body shields and two $2,300 pieces of training equipment.

Martinez in a March 2004 letter to DFA justified such purchases as part of her office's mission to help law enforcement agencies "who bring cases for prosecution."

Neither the city of Las Cruces nor Doña County officials could find Titan Office Supply as having a business license at the time the DA's purchases were made.

Martinez's campaign on Thursday provided the Journal with copies of documents showing Titan had registered with the city.
        Martinez said she had no personal or financial interest in Titan Office Supply.

"Many state employees, some of them will have other businesses, elected officials will also have businesses because their elected positions are only part time," she said. "What's important is to make sure we're getting the best price for what we're purchasing, but at the same time making it very obvious to the public who the vendors are."

Diane Makes Case for Strengthening Our Schools

Fri, 20 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Denish Outlines Vision to Strengthen Public Schools; Martinez Struggles to Defend Statements About Taking Money Out of Public Schools

Martinez says one thing to GOP audiences, another to the education community

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – In tonight’s gubernatorial debate hosted by Albuquerque Public Schools, Diane Denish demonstrated her commitment to our students and teachers when she outlined her positive vision to improve achievement in New Mexico public schools, while Susana Martinez struggled to defend her past statements in support of vouchers – taking money out of public schools and giving it to wealthy private schools. Martinez insisted in tonight’s debate that she did not support vouchers, but her past statements make it clear she wasn’t being straight with New Mexicans.

“For months, Susana Martinez told Republican audiences that she supports a voucher plan that takes money out of our public schools and gives it to wealthy private schools, but tonight she had trouble defending her position. That’s because taking money from our public schools is simply indefensible,” said Denish. “Unable to defend her position on school vouchers, Martinez resorted to national Republican talking points and tried to sell it off as her own plan. New Mexico families won’t be fooled.”

“As someone who has worked with New Mexico teachers and parents for years, I know what it’s going to take to strengthen and transform our public schools. We must fully fund our public schools and give our teachers the support they deserve and need. We must expand early childhood education opportunities, hold schools accountable for performance, and make sure our high schools give students a clear pathway to either the workforce, college or a career in the military. But one thing is clear: we will not strengthen our public schools by taking money out and giving it to private schools, as Susana Martinez has proposed doing time and time again.”

During the debate when Denish challenged Martinez about her support for school vouchers Martinez said:

"You know Diane, you can say it over and over and over again, and it's not gonna make it true."

WRONG

It's Susana Martinez who has consistently voiced her support for school vouchers over and over and over again:

Martinez Said Dollars Should Be Set Aside And Follow The Child To Whatever Type Of School The Parent Decided Their Child Should Go. Martinez was asked at the Otero County Republican Forum what she would do to reform education. “We find that school choice is very important, parents having a say so in whether or not they’re going to have their child attend the local elementary school that may be failing their child, or if they get to receive a tax credit, voucher, whatever it is you want to call it, that that child should have in order to select a charter school, a Christian school, a Baptist, whatever kind of school that parent decides their child should go to. The dollars that are set aside for that child should follow that child and the parent knows best as to where that child should go to school.” [Otero County Republican Forum, 4/1/10]

Martinez Said Each Child Should Receive A Certain Amount Of Money That Goes To The School In Reference To That Child. Martinez was asked about school choice at a rally in Belen. “I think you should receive, each child receives a state, each child, when you attend public school, receives a certain amount of money. Local, State, Federal funding, goes to that school in reference to that one child…if that schools failing your child, then absolutely you should receive a tax credit in that amount, so that you can turn around and place your child in Christian school, private school, home school, charter school. You as a parent should be making those decisions - not us. And if the school’s failing you, then maybe we’ll have some true competition for that child and the funds that come with the child.” [Rally at Harla Mays Fat Boy Grill, 5/30/10]

Martinez Said “The Money Should Follow The Child.” Martinez said, “I strongly believe that our education process is suffering,” Martinez said. “We don’t have competition. I think the money should follow the child.” [Roswell Daily Record, 8/19/09]

Martinez Said She Supported Giving Parents Tax Credits To Decide Where To Educate Their Children. Martinez said, “I would support a tax credit making sure that parents aren’t stuck having their children in, in failing schools. They can take those children to a charter school, home school them and then receive the tax credit that is provided for that child through the tax dollars.” [Interview on Villanucci, 770KKOB, 4/20/10]

John Sanchez Said He And Martinez Would Like To Refer To Vouchers As “Opportunity Scholarships.” Sanchez said “And so she talks about higher standards, teacher merit pay when it comes to our children and to those teachers. Understanding that there should be a choice element when it comes to education, charter schools, vouchers, we would like to refer to those as opportunity scholarships.” [Martinez Gallup Fundraiser, Gallup, 5:22, 07/26/10]

Just a few short months ago in front of Republican insiders, Martinez said outright that she supports vouchers. See the video here.

Tonight, Denish outlined her vision to strengthen and transform New Mexico schools, including:

• Making sure that every child has access to quality early-childhood education opportunities to help close the achievement gap at the start of school. A majority of positive learning habits and brain development occurs before children turn 5. This is also the best time to engage parents in their children’s education. Data from the first years of Pre-K in New Mexico show children have made clear improvements: Such as increases in literacy and math, over the first three years alone pre-k kids scored 24% higher in early literacy. [National Institute for Early Education Research Rutgers University, The New Mexico PreK Evaluation, 2008]

• More accountability for school districts, including putting independent audits on the Sunshine Portal to ensure that the majority of dollars are being spent in the classroom.

• Raising the bar through more stringent academic standards such as the Diploma of Excellence, which provides more math, science and career-oriented learning.

• Redesigning the final years of high school. Too often, the last years of high school are when kids check out. Diane believes the last years of high school should be focused on allowing kids to earn college credit, gain real-world workforce or gain volunteer experience, and obtain the vital skills necessary for the next steps in life. New Mexico has recently seen some improvement in graduation rates -- from 60 percent in 2008 to 66 percent in 2009.

Day Before Education Debate, Martinez Announces She Doesn't Believe in Science

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Day Before Education Debate, Martinez Announces She Doesn't Believe in Science

Politico Report: Martinez Doubts Role of Human Activity in Global Warming
***

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Turning her back on mountains of scientific evidence that shows humans are playing a role in global warming, Susana Martinez recently told Politico: “I’m not sure the science completely supports" that global warming has been caused by people.

Read the full Politco story here

"With each passing day, we are learning more and more about Susana Martinez and her true colors. Whether it is draining money from public schools through a voucher plan, using border security money to hand out fat bonuses to her top aides, or denying that global warming is human caused, New Mexicans are learning that Susana Martinez is just a typical Republican politician who doesn't get it," said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. "There's only one candidate who is on the side of New Mexico's families and understands that a vital piece of New Mexico's economic future is a strong investment in renewable energy and clean-energy jobs -- and that's Diane."

Eight Northern Pueblos Council Endorses Denish-ColA3n Ticket

Wed, 18 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE) – The Denish for Governor campaign proudly announced that the Eight Northern Pueblos Council has endorsed the Democratic ticket of Diane Denish and Brian Colón.

The Eight Northern Pueblos Council consists of the following pueblos: Taos, Picuris, Santa Clara, Ohkay Owingeh, San Ildefonso, Nambé, Pojoaque, and Tesuque. Diane Denish has received very strong support from Pueblo, tribal and Navajo entities as a result of her keen understanding of the issues that are critical to the Native American communities across the state.

Diane Denish issued the following statement upon receiving the endorsement:

"I am honored to receive the support from the Eight Northern Pueblos Council. What these communities have in common with each other and with all New Mexicans is the hope that New Mexico can achieve prosperity so that all of our state's children have the chance to grow up and be successful here. As governor, I am committed to respecting tribal sovereignty and having strong government--to-government relationships as we all work together to create jobs, improve education and get New Mexico's economy moving."

New Radio Ad: While Martinez Makes Sweetheart Deals with Employees, Denish Named 'Budget Bulldog' for Standing Up Against New Taxes

Mon, 16 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The Denish for Governor campaign released a new ad that will begin airing today on Albuquerque metro stations.

The ad contrasts recent stories of Susana Martinez's cronyism and use of border-security money to give fat bonuses to allies with Diane Denish's record of consistently under-spending her budget and earning a Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce 'Budget Bulldog' award for taking a stand against new taxes.

"New Mexicans are starting to learn a lot about the real Susana Martinez," said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. "I don't know what's worse: Cutting sweetheart no-bid deals with your cronies or Martinez saying she'd do it all over again as governor. Either way, that's not the leadership our state needs during these tough times."

<Click here to listen to the new ad>

Here is a transcript of the 60-second ad:

Breaking News: The Albuquerque Journal revealed on August 9th that candidate Susana Martinez spent hundreds of thousands in border security funds on pay raises and bonuses to state employees in her office.

Repeat: Susana Martinez spent hundreds of thousands of taxpayer-dollars on bonuses for aides instead of on border security.

The Journal also reports that Susana Martinez spent 60 thousand in taxpayer dollars to buy office supplies from her top deputy’s home business. It was a no-bid deal. There wasn’t even a contract.

In other news, Diane Denish earned a budget bulldog award from the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce opposing big tax increases on families.

And because Diane Denish came in under-budget every year, she’s returned nearly a quarter of million dollars to taxpayers.

The facts are clear: Diane Denish is looking out for New Mexico’s budget. And our families.

While Susana Martinez is just another typical politician looking out for herself. She’s not on our side AND not the change we need.

Paid for by the Committee to elect Diane D. Denish.

Martinez Can Flip-Flop on Vouchers, But CanaEUR(TM)t Run from the Video Footage

Thu, 12 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE) – In a moment of apparent rage or frustration, Susana Martinez lashed out yesterday and called Diane Denish a liar for suggesting that Martinez supported school vouchers. The facts (and the video) say otherwise.

Susana Martinez could have easily said she reversed her position on vouchers. But rather than be embarrassed by her flip-flop, she chose to call Diane a liar for pointing out a position Martinez held and campaigned on throughout her candidacy for Governor.

Let's go to the tape .

"Susana Martinez may think a flip-flop is the right political move, but she’s made it clear that she supports vouchers and having the money ‘follow the child’ – which means taking money out of public schools and putting it into private schools," said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. "And let’s remember, she didn’t make these pro-voucher statements years ago, before entering the political arena. She made them just a few months ago, as a candidate for Governor, in front of a Republican audience."

Also, just a few weeks ago, her running mate John Sanchez, restated their support of vouchers. Here's the tape on that one.

"Susana Martinez can change her position every day if she wants, but the people of New Mexico are going to start wondering whether she has any principles at all," Cervini said. "Her position seems to change with the wind -- which means we really have no way of knowing what it will be tomorrow. So, we’re just going to take her at her word that she believes vouchers are right for New Mexico students. That means money going out of public schools and into wealthy private schools."

New Radio Ad Highlights Contrast Between Gov. Candidates on Education

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Also, New You-Tube Video Shows Susana Martinez Supported School Vouchers…(You know, before she opposed them)

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The Denish for Governor campaign this week began airing a new radio ad that features a New Mexico teacher contrasting Susana Martinez’s support for school vouchers – taking money out of public schools to give to private schools – with Diane Denish’s commitment to strengthening our public education system.

Although Susana Martinez now claims she opposes school vouchers, a new You-Tube video released by the Denish campaign shows that just a few months ago at a Republican forum in Otero County, she touted her support for vouchers.

Watch the new Martinez video here

The Denish campaign’s new radio ad features 2nd grade teacher Carolyn Serai! n-Abeyta from Belen and is airing on major radio stations in the Albuquerque region.

Click here to listen to the new Denish radio ad.

“From her time as a PTA mom to her fight for increased access to early-childhood education, Diane Denish has always been a strong champion of our public schools,” said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. “Susana Martinez has been clear that she’d support voucher programs that take money out of our public schools and give it to wealthy private schools. During these difficult times we need a governor committed to our public schools, not someone who has turned her back on them.”

Susana Martinez has repeatedly said she would support a school voucher program and that money should follow children out of public schools and into wealthy private schools via vouchers.

On the other hand, Diane Denish fought to create a pre-K program that has served 17,000 New Mexico four-year-olds -- children who have shown gains in reading and math. She opposes any moves that would take money from public schools.

The following are examples of Martinez's on-record campaign-trail support for school vouchers:

In April 2010, Martinez said: “We find that school choice is very important, parents having a say so in whether or not they’re going to have their child attend the local elementary school that may be failing their child, or if they get to receive a tax credit, voucher, whatever it is you want to call it, that that child should have in order to select a charter school, a Christian school, a Baptist, whatever kind of school that parent decides their child should go to. The dollars that are set aside for that child should follow that child and the parent knows best as to where that child should go to school.” [Otero County Republican Forum, 4/1/10]
In August 2009, Martinez said: “I strongly believe that our education process is suffering,’ she said. ‘We don't have competition. I think the money should follow the child.’” [Roswell Daily Record, 8/19/09]
In April 2010, Martinez said, “I would support a tax credit making sure that parents aren’t stuck having their children in, in failing schools. They can take those children to a charter school, home school them and then receive the tax credit that is provided for that child through the tax dollars.” [Interview on Villanucci, 770KKOB, 4/20/10]
In May 2010, Martinez was asked about school choice at a rally in Belen. “I absolutely support empowering the parents to decide where your children go to school. I think you should receive, each child receives a state, each child, when you attend public school, receives a certain amount of money. Local, State, Federal funding, goes to that school in reference to that one child…if that school is failing your child, then absolutely you should receive a tax credit in that amount, so that you can turn around and place your child in a Christian school, private school, home school, charter school. You as a parent should be making those decisions - not us. And if the school's failing you, then maybe we'll have some true competition for that child and the funds that come with the child.” [Rally at Harla Mays Fat Boy Grill, 28:20, 5/30/10]

A full transcript of the new Denish ad is here:

It’s the start of the school year again. For students that means excitement and new challenges.

But for teachers it means trying to do even more with less.

This is Carolyn Serai! n-Abeyta, I teach second grade here in Belen New Mexico.

I want to tell you about why teachers are so concerned about this Governors race.

Susana Martinez would cut public school funding that means larger classes and less one-on-one attention for students.

But Diane Denish fought to expand pre-Kindergarten to reach 17,000 more children. Denish’s program helped increase literacy by 14%.

New Mexico teachers stand with Diane Denish because she’s fighting for education.

As Governor, I’ll take on anyone to keep money in the classroom where it belongs – funding good teachers, smaller classes and the opportunity every New Mexico child deserves.

Because standing up for New Mexico families means giving our kids a great education.

Denish Applauds Passage of Federal Bill to Keep New Mexico Teachers in the Classroom

Wed, 11 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

ALBUERQUE, N.M. – Lt. Gov. Diane Denish today applauded the passage of the federal Education Jobs and Medicaid Assistant Act (HR 1586), which will provide the state $64.8 million in education funds and likely saved the jobs of more than 1,000 New Mexico teachers. Following passage of the bill, Denish released the following statement:

“As the proud product of New Mexico’s public school system, I know firsthand how important good teachers are to making sure our children have an opportunity to succeed. We must stand by our dedicated teachers today and every day. Even during difficult budget times, laying off teachers is simply not an option. I applaud the members of our state Congressional Delegation for voting for this important job-saving bill.”

Statement from Diane Denish on Susana Martinez's Wall Street-Style Bonuses for State Employees

Tue, 10 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.) -- An investigative report in today’s Albuquerque Journal revealed that Susana Martinez used federal Southwest Border Prosecution Initiative funds to give hundreds of thousands of dollars in bonuses to top deputies and political allies, nearly three-times as much in bonuses (more than $477,000 between FY06-FY10) as any other District Attorney in the state. During the same period of time that she handed out large taxpayer-funded bonuses in FY06, Martinez advocated for a tax increase on Dona Ana County residents to pay for public safety.

“It’s unconscionable to think that Susana Martinez used federal border security funds to give Wall-Street style bonuses for her top lawyers and political allies. That’s not how you secure the border and it’s not how you treat the taxpayers’ money during tough fiscal times. This is a slap in the face to New Mexico taxpayers. The more New Mexico families learn about Susana Martinez’s record, the more they’ll come to see she’s simply not on their side,” said Diane Denish.

“New Mexicans will have a hard time taking Susana Martinez seriously on matters of border security and fiscal responsibility,” said Chris Cervini, Denish’s campaign spokesman. “These Wall Street-style bonuses are exposing Martinez’s hypocrisy on the very issues she’s centered her campaign around.”

At the same time Martinez was giving her staff large taxpayer-funded bonuses in fiscal year 2006, she also lobbied for a tax increase on Dona Ana County residents to pay for public safety. [Las Cruces Sun-News, 11/27/05]

Earlier this year, Denish was honored by the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce as a Budget Bulldog for her strong opposition to the tax increase on New Mexico families during the past legislative session. She has also consistently under spent her state office budget, reverting more than $200,000 back to the general fund during her time in office.

In light of this news, the Denish campaign is calling on Martinez to release the following:

Kelly Kuenstler, the director of the Administrative Office of the DA's, defends Martinez’s bonuses in today’s Journal story. However, Kuenstler worked for Martinez in the DA’s office for over 10 years. Did she ever receive any of these bonuses that she’s now objectively defending in the press? If so, how much?
Last week, the Journal revealed that Martinez gave her Deputy District Attorney Janetta Hicks (currently the District Attorney for the 5th Judicial District) a $60,000 no-bid handout. Did Hicks receive any of these big taxpayer-funded bonuses? If so, how much?
According to the Journal article Martinez doled out nearly half-a-million dollars in bonuses from fiscal years 2006 to 2010, how much has she given in bonuses over her entire tenure?

Read the full Journal story here

New Ad: Denish Keeps Focus on What Really Matters to New Mexico Families

Wed, 04 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

New Ad: Denish Keeps Focus on What Really Matters to New Mexico Families

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The Denish for Governor campaign today unveiled a new ad, "What Really Matters," broadcasting on major networks and cable. The ad highlights the difference between the candidates in the Governor’s race: Diane Denish is consistently on the side of working families, while Susana Martinez is running a campaign based on negative attacks and empty promises.

"Diane was a small business owner, a single mom and an fighter for working families -- she understands the struggles New Mexicans are facing and she has put forward detailed ideas to get New Mexico back on track," said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. "While Susana Martinez offers negative attacks and empty promises, Diane is looking New Mexico families in the eye and telling them how she intends to turn things around. That's real leadership."

Click here to see the ad.

Or Double Click this box:

Here is a transcript of the ad:

Voice Over: In these tough times, we need a governor who's on our side, and fights for us.

Diane Denish: I never stop fighting for families. First for my own family as a young mother and small business owner, then for all New Mexico families.

Taking on predatory lenders. Creating jobs. And expanding pre-k education.

So even while my opponent attacks me, I'll stay focused on what really matters: Fighting for you, your family, and New Mexico's future.

Denish Campaign Proposes 8 Gubernatorial Debates

Tue, 03 Aug 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Denish Campaign Proposes 8 Gubernatorial Debates

Campaign also proposes three Lt. Gov candidate debates

ALBUQUERQUE, NM - With less than 100 days until the election, New Mexicans need as much information as possible about the gubernatorial candidates to decide who is most qualified to lead our state through these tough times. The Denish for Governor campaign has proposed eight debates in different regions of the state that cover a range of topics important to New Mexico families.

The first debate, hosted by Albuquerque Public Schools on August 19, has been agreed to by both campaigns. However, the Denish campaign has repeatedly contacted the Martinez campaign to discuss the release of a full debate schedule, but the Martinez campaign has thus far declined to agree to a schedule of debates. The Denish campaign first approached the Martinez campaign about debates on June 2, the morning after the primary.

“The stakes couldn’t be higher for New Mexico families in this election and voters deserve to hear how each candidate for Governor would address the challenges facing our state,” said Denish campaign manger Oren Shur. “Most New Mexicans aren’t familiar with Susana Martinez and she’s been virtually silent on a wide range of issues that directly impact families like education and jobs. Debates are always a critical part of the electoral process and that’s particularly true in this campaign.”

The debate schedule proposed by the Denish campaign (below) includes three televised debates and five other debates in communities around the state such as Las Cruces, Taos and Santa Fe. More than 15 organizations from across the state have invited the candidates to debate and this proposed schedule includes sponsors from a range of business groups, media organizations and education institutions. The campaigns have also agreed to participate in the Domenici Public Policy Conference at NMSU on September 2, 2010 but the event will be a joint appearance, not a debate.

The Denish campaign will also propose three debates between the nominees for Lt. Governor.

The Denish campaign’s objective was to find non-partisan sponsors who would agree to a format that allowed the candidates to have a thoughtful debate on key issues. The proposed schedule below is not a list of the only debates the Denish campaign is willing to do, but rather a proposed schedule based on thoughtful debates and availability on the schedule.

Times and formats for each debate are TBD and will be announced prior to the debate.

DATE	DETAILS
August 19	APS Board of Education Candidate Forum (Confirmed by both campaigns) Eldorado High School - 11300 Montgomery Blvd., NE Albuquerque
Week of Sept. 6 or Sept. 13	NM Business Weekly Candidate Debate National Hispanic Cultural Center, Albuquerque
September 17	UNM-Taos Candidate Debate 1157 County Road 110 Ranchos de Taos, NM 87557
Week of September 20	League of Women Voters Las Cruces Good Samaritan Auditorium
September 26	Congregation Albert 3800 Louisiana Boulevard Northeast Albuquerque, NM 87110-1476
Week of October 4	Live Network Television Debate (station and format TBD)
Week of October 18	Live Network Television Debate (station and format TBD)
October 22	KNME/KUNM debate Studios: 1130 University BLVD

Denish: New Mexico's Recovery Will be Fueled by High-Tech, Renewable Energy Jobs

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Denish: New Mexico's Recovery Will be Fueled by High-Tech, Renewable Energy Jobs

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Diane Denish today announced a bold plan to create high-tech and renewable energy jobs.

Diane Denish announced her plan at the Silver Gardens Workforce Housing green apartments, an innovative workforce housing development that is applying for Platinum LEED certification and uses cutting-edge renewable technologies. Three-hundred New Mexicans were employed in the construction and development of Silver Gardens.

"These are difficult times and New Mexicans from all walks of life are hurting. That's why I believe the time is now for bold action to create jobs and give people hope for the future," Denish said. "Let my opponent focus on the past. I am going to be focused the the work that needs to be done to get New Mexicans back to work."

The Denish Plan for high-tech and green-job creation includes:

Innovate New Mexico: A statewide, high-tech development corporation focused on working with our federal labs and research universities to support the creation and marketing of tech-transfer spin-off companies.
A state Clean Energy Investment Pool -- By linking a portion of severance-tax revenue to incentives and programs for growing the clean-energy economy, we can target state capital to renewable-energy projects.
Create centers of excellence for green-energy development based at our research universities. These centers of excellence will go hand-in-hand with the goals of Innovate New Mexico.
Expand tax credits for clean energy companies -- Increase the Industry Research and Development Tax Credit to 10% for clean technology businesses and offer favorable tax treatment to startup founders to encourage them to stay in New Mexico.
Fight for the expansion of special assessment districts for renewable energy. I will take on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to make sure this innovative program, which puts renewable energy directly into the hands of average homeowners, remains a viable green-job engine.
Support the creation of a green-job business incubator.
Encourage the conversion government car fleets to high-efficiency vehicles and natural-gas.
Ensure all new state buildings meet green standards, expand renovation of existing buildings and put all government utility bills online for the public to inspect.
Invest and bond for renewable energy transmission capacity so that New Mexico can sell its renewable power to other states.
Promote and develop deep-source geothermal energy using spent oil and gas wells. This new effort would be a great way to engage oil and gas companies in the green energy revolution and create jobs in the oil patch.

"Creating jobs takes a whole lot more than platitudes and sound bites, it takes hard work, innovative ideas and the courage to get it done," Denish said. "I've been a small business owner and I have a track record of creating jobs. As governor that will be my number one focus every day."

Susana Martinez's Talk on Ethics And Government Spending Doesn't Match Her Record

Thu, 29 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Susana Martinez's Talk on Ethics And Government Spending Doesn't Match Her Record

Denish Has Been a Leader in the Fight for Ethics Reform

(ALBUQUERQUE, NM) -- Susana Martinez likes to talk about ethics and government spending, but she shouldn’t throw stones when she lives in a glass house. Specifically, Martinez highlighted protecting the taxpayers’ dime and campaign finance reform – two areas where she has failed miserably.

“Anyone who’s been paying attention knows that Diane Denish has been a leader in the fight for ethics reform. She signed the Sunshine Portal to put the state's checkbook online, took on her own party to reform the State Housing Authorities, and increased campaign finance reporting requirements,” said Chris Cervini, spokesman for Denish’s campaign. “We’re not going to take any lectures on ethics from someone who took $450,000 from the Texas multi-millionaire that funded the disgraceful Swift Boat Veterans ads. From buying iPods with taxpayer money to spending tens of thousands on fancy office furniture, Susana Martinez should look at her own conduct before attacking someone else’s character.”

Susana Martinez took $450,000 from Texas multi-millionaire Swift Boat funder Bob Perry and his wife during the primary. The Swift Boat Veterans for Truth ran a despicable campaign questioning the patriotism and service of John Kerry.

Last year, Denish rolled out a comprehensive ethics reform plan, which included the creation of a non-partisan, independent Ethics Commission.

Read Diane Denish's Ethics Proposal here.

Denish also announced a plan to save taxpayers $450 million over five years through smart reforms and consolidations, including cutting political appointees, eliminating Cabinet positions and consolidating 100 boards and commissions.

Here are some examples of Susana Martinez's spending in just the past three years:

Over $120,000 on six new cars in two years
$60,000 on luxury furniture in just three years for her office
Over $1,000 In late fees for past-due bills
$760 on Starfish clocks for employees
$643.57 on Apple Ipod Nano’s, and even paid extra for overnight and 2 day shipping

MartinezaEUR(TM)s Negative Campaign Continues; and So Does Her Hypocrisy on Spending

Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Martinez’s Negative Campaign Continues; and So Does Her Hypocrisy on Spending
New ad continues Martinez’s theme of lip service about job creation while Diane Denish has outlined a detailed plan showing how she’d get New Mexicans back to work

ALBUQUERQUE -- While Diane Denish has spent the past months outlining her detailed plans for how to get New Mexicans back to work, Susana Martinez continues her negative attacks in an attempt to mask her thin agenda and lack of a substantive plan to turn New Mexico’s economy around.

“Susana Martinez has never made a payroll and never created a job, and her only real professional experience is as a government employee,” said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. “Diane Denish was a small business owner. She created jobs in the private sector and has first-hand knowledge of what New Mexicans need during these challenging times. As Lt. Governor, she fought to help small businesses create jobs through an innovative micro-lending program.”

Debunking Martinez’s latest negative ad, Part One:

Martinez’s Hypocrisy On Spending: In the ad, Martinez criticizes Diane Denish’s spending, while her own office’s lavish spending has yet to be truly investigated.

Susana Martinez complains about the growth in government, yet her state office budget has grown by 160% over her tenure.
She spent more than $60,000 on office furniture in the last three years alone.
She spent $750 on “Starfish clocks” for her employees.

“Martinez attacking Diane for spending is highly hypocritical, especially in light of the fact that Diane has consistently under-spent her budget and regularly put money back into the general fund,” Cervini said.

Denish has reverted more than $200,000 back to the general fund since taking office.

Debunking Martinez’s latest negative ad, Part Two:

Martinez’s claim: She has a plan to create jobs.

The Truth: Martinez’s economic plan is full of tired sound bites with no specifics. Diane Denish has outlined a detailed multi-point plan to both help put New Mexicans back to work and train our workforce to be more competitive in the global economy.

“Susana Martinez doesn’t say a whole lot about how she’d actually create jobs, and it’s because she doesn’t know the first thing about how to do it,” Cervini said. “New Mexicans are worried about how to feed their families and stay in their homes -- they need specifics. And that’s what Diane Denish is offering -- a real plan to get New Mexicans back to work.”

New Ad: Diane's Story and Her Commitment to New Mexico's Families

Tue, 20 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(Albuquerque) -- Denish for Governor unveiled a new 30-second television ad which tells Diane's story from her childhood in Hobbs through her time as a single mom to her days as a successful small-business owner.

"Diane understands the struggles New Mexicans are facing and she has spent her career fighting for opportunity for New Mexico's working families," said longtime friend and campaign chair Ted F. Martinez. "Diane's commitment to creating jobs is rooted in her experience as a small business owner. Her fight to expand Pre-Kindergarten education is based in the fact that she's a mom and grandmother and above all else wants to build a New Mexico where every child can grow up happy, heathy and well educated."

You can see the ad here.

Here is a transcript of the ad:

A native New Mexican. A single Mother for several years. Diane Denish built a successful small business from the ground up, then she helped other New Mexicans build theirs.

As Lt. Governor, Diane championed pre-kindergarten for 17,000 kids; to give them a strong start.

As governor, she'll use her real life experience in business to create jobs, and her college scholarship plan will make sure New Mexicans are ready for those jobs.

Diane Denish - Governor.

Denish Outlines Veterans' Proposals at LULAC Breakfast

Wed, 14 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Diane Denish today outlined her strong support for New Mexico's veterans while speaking at the 81st Annual League of United Latin American Citizens Veterans Breakfast in Albuquerque this morning.

As part of her remarks, she outlined several important policy initiatives aimed a helping returning veterans find work and making sure veterans with post-traumatic stress do not fall through the cracks.

"Veterans stepped up to the plate and risked their lives making our nation safe so that we all can enjoy the blessings of freedom,” Denish said. “We honor them by remembering their sacrifices. But more important, we honor our veterans by ensuring that no person who served their country is forgotten.”
Some of the proposals Denish outlined include:

    * A comprehensive collaborative partnership between the Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Service Organizations, Community Colleges, the Behavioral Health Community and labor unions to create increased pathways to the workforce and to identify and quickly locate services for veterans experiencing post-traumatic stress and readjustment issues. This includes more support for innovative workforce training programs such as Helmets to Hardhats.
    * A goal of 5 percent of all state contracts to go to veteran-owned businesses by 2014.
    * An increase in Veterans Service Officers who are specially trained to identify problems early and arrange for a higher level of care for vets who have difficulty readjusting to civilian life.
    * A Hall of Heroes at the National Hispanic Cultural Center to commemorate the sacrifices of the 48 Hispanic veterans who have been awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor.
    * A task force to explore and propose incentives New Mexico can develop to encourage retired vets to move to New Mexico.

"Veterans did their duty and then came home and became cornerstones of our community," Denish said. "After World War II, my dad built his life here in New Mexico. His story is like so many other veterans who just want to work hard, raise their families and give a little back to their communities. That's the type of people we should be actively attracting to New Mexico."

New TV Ads: Denish Focuses on Jobs, Economy, Future aEUR" Martinez Stuck on Divisive Wedge Issues

Fri, 09 Jul 2010 00:00:00 -0500

New TV Ads: Denish Focuses on Jobs, Economy, Future – Martinez Stuck on Divisive Wedge Issues

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Today both candidates for Governor released new ads and the contrast couldn’t be clearer. While Susana Martinez continued to focus on the same wedge issues that divide New Mexicans, Diane Denish’s ad features New Mexicans speaking about Diane’s commitment to the values that unite us – job creation, education, family and community.

“Susana Martinez’s insinuations are absurd given that Diane believes killers should spend their lives in prison without the possibility of parole and she led the fight to crack down on dangerous methamphetamines and pass Katie’s Law," said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. "There’s a reason why Susana Martinez wants this race to be about the wedge issues that divide New Mexicans – it’s because she can’t talk about the economy, education, health care or the other kitchen-table issues important to families during these tough times."

“Susana Martinez has never created a job or made a payroll, and her economic plan consists of nothing more than sound bites and rhetoric. Diane Denish owned a small business, has helped 1,800 small businesses grow and create jobs, and has put forward a real plan to turn our economy around. That’s the difference between the candidates,” Cervini said.

Watch Denish’s new ad, which is airing statewide and titled “Familia,” here

Watch Martinez’s new ad here

Denish Outlines Agenda to Make New Mexico's Workforce Competitive in Global Economy

Mon, 21 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Denish Outlines Agenda to Make New Mexico's Workforce Competitive in Global Economy

Bridge to the Workforce Scholarship; a more purposeful Senior year of high school highlight detailed multi-point proposal to give New Mexico workers competitive edge

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Diane Denish today outlined a detailed agenda to make New Mexico's workforce more competitive.

"If we are ever going to create a modern 21st Century economy in New Mexico, we must develop a workforce capable of taking on the high-tech and green jobs of today and tomorrow," Denish said. "This is about empowering New Mexicans to get the skills they need to get the types of jobs that will allow them to create a better life for their families."

Citing a recent report which indicated an immense demand for skilled workers with at least a community-college level of educational attainment, Denish focused her plan on making community colleges serve as vital connectors to the workforce.

Denish outlined several innovative new workforce-development initiatives that are part of the plan, including:

Creating the New Mexico Bridge to the Workforce community-college scholarship to allow recent high-school graduates the opportunity to get training in one of eight high-demand career areas: health and biosciences, business services, communications and information, arts and entertainment, energy and environmental technology, engineering/construction and manufacturing, hospitality and tourism, and education. This bridge to the workforce scholarship would cover the first semester of community-college learning until the Lottery Scholarship kicks in.

New Skills for the Unemployed: Using federal workforce training funds, Diane proposes a community-college and labor apprenticeship program targeted to adults who lost their job in the previous two years and are still unemployed. This program will help displaced workers pay tuition at a community college or labor apprenticeship in one of the eight high-demand areas outlined above. This will allow displaced adult workers the option of re-potting themselves and setting a new course.

Expand the availability of online, distance-learning workforce education programs and tailor those programs to the eight high-demand career areas.

A Purposeful Senior Year of High School. Rather than having students run out the clock, the senior year should be used to take college credits, have internships or focus on developing marketable skills or trades depending on the individual student's interests and talent.

Expand advanced-placement opportunities to include middle-school preparatory work for AP high school courses and appropriate professional development training for teachers.

Collaborate with business and philanthropic communities on creating increased apprenticeship, service learning, and intern opportunities to provide more students with real-world experience.

Expand the Career Academies model at all public high schools to increase the amount of real-world learning that occurs in public schools.

Expanding Carve Your Path, an online goal-setting tool that students and parents can use to create a portfolio and roadmap to academic success. Such a program is being piloted in 2009-2010.

These are just a few of Denish's ideas for creating a nimble workforce for New Mexico. For the full proposal please visit: http://www.dianedenish.com/workforce

"We can do what we've always done before or we can do things differently," Denish said. "I believe the model for successful economic development and job creation is to create a workforce that makes outside companies and New Mexico businesses take notice and consider locating or growing right here in New Mexico. The goal is creating prosperity for New Mexico families. The best way to do that is to help them become more skilled and economically competitive in the Global Economy."

Two New Ads Contrast DianeaEUR(TM)s Focus on Jobs with MartinezaEUR(TM)s Failed Record

Tue, 15 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The Denish for Governor campaign today began airing two new 30-second television ads.

The first ad, “Grain of Corn,” features New Mexico small business owners telling their stories and discussing Diane’s commitment to supporting small business and creating jobs.

The second ad, “Safe,” highlights two disturbing cases in which Susana Martinez cut deals with sex offenders allowing them to avoid appearing on the public sex offender registry.

“There is a clear difference between the two candidates for Governor: Diane Denish has a record of getting results for small businesses and families, while Susana Martinez talks a big game but has a troubling record,” Cervini said. “Times are tough and New Mexico families need a Governor on their side, focused on the issues that matter most, and that’s Diane Denish.”

Background on the cases cited in “Safe”:

Case 1: A high school coach who was charged with 29 counts of criminal sexual penetration of a minor in the fourth degree and 12 counts of criminal sexual contact of a minor in the fourth degree, cut a deal with Martinez so that he wouldn’t have to appear on the public sex registry. He pled guilty to only one count of child abuse and 14 counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. A motion by the coach’s attorney read that the parties “deliberately entered a plea so that…[the coach] would not have to be treated as a sex offender nor have to register as a sex offender.”

Case 2: A school janitor who was caught “fondling” a 15-year-old student by another school employee and was charged with criminal sexual contact of a minor in the forth degree. The charge would have required him to appear on the public sex offender registry, but he received a plea deal from Martinez and was ultimately was convicted of contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

Click here to see Grain of Corn and here to see Safe.

The transcript of both ads is below:

“Grain of Corn”

We’re just a little mom and pop operation.

From a little grain of corn we have been able to make a living and build a family.

Diane had her own business, she the struggles, the challenges, and the opportunities that we have because she’s been there.

She understands what you have to do to survive.

Some politicians speak with only words and she speaks through her actions, and I know that Diane will be an awesome governor.

“Safe”

You think your children are safe – because the sex offender registry lets you know if predators are in your neighborhood or working at your school.

But check again.

When a New Mexico high school janitor and coach were both charged with sexual contact with students…District Attorney Susana Martinez cut deals and allowed these child predators to avoid publically registering as sex offenders.

Today we don’t know where these sex offenders are lurking …because Susana Martinez didn’t do her job.

Denish Proudly Accepts Eastern Navajo Agency Council, Ohkay Owingeh Endorsements

Mon, 14 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Denish Proudly Accepts Eastern Navajo Agency Council, Ohkay Owingeh Endorsements

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- The following is a statement from Diane Denish on her recent endorsements from the Eastern Navajo Agency Council and Ohkay Owingeh.

"I am honored to receive the support from the Eastern Navajo Agency Council and Ohkay Owingeh. Both communities are very different with different cultures. But they have something important in common with each other and with all New Mexicans. That's the hope that New Mexico can achieve prosperity so that all of our state's children have the chance to grow up and be successful here. As governor, I am committed to respecting tribal sovereignty and having strong government to government relationships as we all work together to create jobs, improve education and get New Mexico's economy moving."

New Ad Contrasts Diane Denish's Record of Results with Martinez's Broken Pledge

Tue, 08 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

New Ad Contrasts Diane Denish's Record of Results with Martinez's Broken Pledge

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – The Diane Denish for Governor campaign today began airing "Results", a 30-second ad that contrasts Diane Denish's record of accomplishment on small-business, early-childhood education and housing-authority reform with Susana Martinez's broken pledge on DWI.

"If Susana Martinez will break a campaign promise on something as serious a cutting deals with felony DWI offenders, why should New Mexicans believe any of the big promises she’s making now?, said Denish spokesman Chris Cervini. "Diane Denish has a record of standing up for what's important -- helping our New Mexico small-businesses and expanding access to education for our children. Susana Martinez talks a big game, but where it matters to New Mexico's families, Diane has delivered."

A full transcript of the ad is below, click here to view the ad.

Susana Martinez promised not to plea bargain felony drunk drivers – but

she broke her promise and cut over 800 plea bargain deals.

It's a dangerous record of failure

In these tough times we need a Governor who protects families and gets results -

Diane Denish.

A loan program that helped 1,800 small businesses grow and create jobs;

Pre-K EDUCATION for our kids

And taking on Santa Fe insiders to clean up the housing authority.

Diane Denish – Governor

Hypocrisy Alert

Mon, 07 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Hypocrisy Alert

Susana Martinez Touts Non-Partisan Court Data…Until It Shows
She Has The Worst Murder Conviction Rate In New Mexico

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – After the Denish campaign released a TV ad that cited an analysis of data from the non-partisan Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) that showed Third Judicial District Attorney Susana Martinez to have the worst felony homicide conviction rate in the state, Martinez challenged the AOC data and scrambled to distribute her own set of homicide conviction data. The hypocrisy problem: Up until yesterday, Martinez has embraced the AOC data – using it in past campaigns to compile her own conviction rate and citing it just two weeks ago when talking about her DWI plea rate.

Ø Hypocrisy Alert #1: Although Martinez is trying to distance herself from the AOC data now, she used the very same data to tout her own conviction rates during her 2004 campaign. She defended the legitimacy of AOC data in 2004 by saying “[t]hese are the figures the state Legislature used …” [Las Cruces Sun-News, 10/10/04]

Ø Hypocrisy Alert #2: And just two weeks ago, Martinez cited the AOC data in a campaign press release in a failed attempt to divert attention from her broken DWI pledge. [Official Press Release, Susana Martinez for Governor, 5/25/10]

“Based on the only non-partisan data available to the public, Susana Martinez has the worst murder conviction rate in the state,” said Oren Shur, Denish’s campaign manager. “It’s not surprising that she’d want to go behind closed doors and create a new set of data, but given her pattern of stretching the truth, it’s really hard to trust anything she says about her record. The hypocrisy here is clear: Martinez is willing to embrace the non-partisan data when it’s in her political interest and then abandons it when it reveals something about her record she doesn’t like. She can’t have it both ways.”

According to an analysis of AOC data, Martinez has the lowest felony homicide conviction rate (60%) over the past 11 fiscal years of any District Attorney’s Office in New Mexico. [Complete chart of AOC data available upon request]. The AOC provides the only non-partisan, independent data in the state and the Legislature relies on the data to make budget decisions.

Martinez still has not directly addressed another point made in the campaign ad: why she broke a campaign pledge not to cut plea bargain deals with felony DWI offenders. AOC records show that since making that campaign pledge in 2004, Martinez has cut plea bargain deals for more than 800 felony DWI offenders.

Background Facts on Martinez’s Hypocrisy:

Hypocrisy Alert 1: Martinez Favored Administrative Court Numbers Until They Proved She Has Worst Felony Homicide Conviction Rate In State: A compilation of data provided by the Administrative Office of the Courts shows Martinez to have the worst felony homicide conviction rate in the state. The Martinez campaign has criticized the non-partisan data and created its own. However, the excuse rings with hypocrisy since Martinez used the same Administrative Office of the Court data to calculate her own conviction rates in the past (including just two weeks ago).

Example: Martinez Used Office Of The Administrative Court Numbers To Calculate And Tout Her Conviction Rates In 2004 Campaign. Martinez refuted her opponent’s assertion that she had a low conviction rate by saying, “These are the figures the state Legislature used in deciding to bring another judge to Las Cruces.” According to the Las Cruces Sun-News, “Martinez said her office handled more than 1,000 cases last year. Of those, 717 were plea bargained, 193 were dismissed and 99 went to trial. Martinez’s record reflects a 96 percent conviction rate. [Greg] Valdez said a look at a court Web site would show much lower numbers. He also has claimed Martinez’s office loses more than half its trials.” [Las Cruces Sun-News, 10/10/04]

Indeed Martinez cited data (see above) which directly corresponds to the FY03 AOC report:

Fiscal Year 2003: Martinez Said She Plea Bargained 717 Cases. According to documents from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Martinez pled 717 cases before trial in fiscal year 2003. [New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, New Mexico State Court Annual Reports, FY 2003, accessed 5/11/10; Las Cruces Sun-News, 10/10/04]

Fiscal Year 2003: Martinez Said She Dismissed 193 Cases. According to documents from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Martinez dismissed 193 cases. In fiscal year 2003, 79 cases were dismissed before trial, 114 were dismissed by the prosecution, and 0 cases were dismissed at trial. [New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, New Mexico State Court Annual Reports, FY 2003, accessed 5/11/10; Las Cruces Sun-News, 10/10/04]

Fiscal Year 2003: Martinez Said Her Office Handled 99 Cases That Went To Trial. According to documents from the Administrative Office of the Courts, Martinez’s office handled 98 Jury Trials, and 1 Non-Jury Trial in fiscal year 2003. [New Mexico Administrative Office of the Courts, New Mexico State Court Annual Reports, FY 2003, accessed 5/11/10; Las Cruces Sun-News, 10/10/04]

Example: Martinez Cited AOC Data in Compiling DWI Conviction Rate 2 Weeks Ago: In a May 2010 press release, the Martinez campaign said: “Of the major Judicial Districts, the Doña Ana County DAs office has the lowest plea bargain rate in the state for felony DWIs (administrative office of the courts).” [Official Press Release, Susana Martinez for Governor, 5/25/10]

Hypocrisy Alert #2 – Martinez Promised Not To Plea Bargain DWI Offenders, Then Did So Over 800 Times: In 2004, Martinez pledged that she would “not plea bargain a DWI case…We don’t pretend it is a first or second offense just to move the court docket along.” [Las Cruces Sun-News, 9/5/04] However, since then, more than 800 DWI cases in Martinez’s district have been settled with plea bargains, representing about 63 percent of the total DWI cases her office handled from fiscal years 2004 to 2009, according to court records.” [Albuquerque Journal, 5/19/10]

According to a prominent New Mexico political commentator, “She had flatly said a couple of years ago she would not plea bargain felony DWI cases, but she did.” [Blog, New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan, 5/20/10] Martinez still has not explained why she broke this pledge.

Denish Wins Democratic Nomination for Governor

Tue, 01 Jun 2010 00:00:00 -0500

Denish Wins Democratic Nomination for Governor

Denish: I'm going to be a different kind of governor – standing up for families and against the powerful interests and insiders

(ALBUQUERQUE) -- Diane Denish tonight officially became the Democratic nominee for Governor of New Mexico.

The following are a few excerpts from her prepared remarks:

"Thank you for officially nominating me to represent the Democratic Party as a candidate for governor in November’s election.

Today we took the first step toward building the New Mexico that our families deserve.aEUR..

Toward making sure our education system is preparing our students for the jobs of the future. aEUR..

Toward making sure the needs of families come ahead of the powerful corporate interests.

There’s a lot of uncertainty out there these days. New Mexicans are tired of politicians who promise them the world – deliver very little – and then find someone else to blame. aEUR..

I may not be the flashiest candidate out there. I don’t overpromise. I won’t sell you a load of bull.

I’ll look you in the eye and tell you what I know and what I don’t. What I can do and what I can’t. Where we are and where we need to go. And how we get there.

I’m going to be a different kind of Governor, unlike any governor or leader our state has seen before.

And how do you know? Because I’ve been a different kind of Lieutenant Governor.

I carved my own path… fought tirelessly on behalf of New Mexico families – whether that meant taking on the powerful interests or taking on the Santa Fe insiders:

When predatory mortgage lenders were taking advantage of New Mexico families trying to buy a home – I said NO – and passed tough laws to protect New Mexicans from rip-off mortgage deals.

I took on the payday lenders to stop them from duping New Mexicans into loan agreements with 300, 500, 1,000 percent interest rates.

I stood up to Santa Fe – cleaned up the Housing Authority.

I pushed for investments in new energy solutions to create green jobs; prepared New Mexico to lead our nation’s economic recovery.

Because that’s what so many New Mexican families are confronted with right now – unable to find the job they need, or worried about losing the job they have. aEUR..And New Mexico families need a Governor in their corner. aEUR..aEUR..That’s why my focus – in this campaign and in my life’s work – has been helping small business owners create jobs for New Mexicans.

I come from a family of small business owners;

I ran my own small business for many years;

And I launched a micro-lending program that has helped 1,800 New Mexico small businesses grow and create new jobs in our communities.

But we can’t stop there: This campaign is about NEW ideas.

I’ve put forward an agenda of new ideas to help small business owners create jobs. And more are to come.

New ideas to prepare New Mexico’s workforce through education – so that our state can compete for high-wage jobs.

New ideas to make government smarter and more efficient – more open and accountable;

My record -- and my ideas for the future -- are very different than what you’ll hear from Susana Martinez.

New Mexicans will have a very clear choice in November.

Susana Martinez talks about change; I have a record of delivering it.

She talks about job creation; I’ve helped make it happen.

Susana Martinez so far has only offered sound bites and empty promises. I’ve put forward solutions and new ideas for the future.

During these tough times New Mexicans don’t want the sizzle, they need the steak.

But this race will be competitive - and I look forward to a spirited contest.aEUR..

The powerful interests and polluters have made their choice for governor – and their candidate is Susana Martinez.aEUR..

I’m going to fight every day to be the choice of New Mexico’s working families.

We want to be back here in November celebrating victory and for that to happen, I’ll need your help. aEUR..I’ll need your energy. I’ll need your volunteer hours. I’ll need your help to share our ideas with New Mexico families.aEUR..

I know you share my belief that the best days of New Mexico are ahead of us, not behind us. aEUR..

But that starts by electing a different kind of Governor. A Governor you can trust to be on your side.”