White Gets Another Professional Endorsement!

The day after Darren White's campaign released its fifth TV ad the the Chicano Police Officers Association (CPOA) has announced it has endorsed Darren White for Congress.

The CPOA was established in 1973, the Chicano Police Officers Association stands for “equality, opportunity, and justice for all.” The CPOA has approximately 330 members.




Today’s endorsement continues Darren White’s overwhelming support from New Mexico ’s law enforcement community. Darren has also received the official endorsements of the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association (APOA), the Bernalillo County Deputy Sheriff’s Association (BCDSA), and the New Mexico Fraternal Order of Police (FOP).

“The support that I have received from my fellow law enforcement brothers and sisters is overwhelming,” said Darren White. “Many politicians speak about their respect for the law enforcement community and solving local crime problems but nobody really gets it until they put on that uniform and actually experience it. My 20+ years of public service in Albuquerque and Santa Fe have prepared me well to face the tough challenges ahead in Washington.

“I am humbled by the Chicano Police Officers Association’s endorsement, and I look forward to serving them and our community with honor.”

The television ad, entitled "Broke the Law," attempts to highlight allegations that former city councilor Martin Heinrich admitted to breaking city law by illegally operating an unlicensed business while serving on the City Council. Heinrich also admitted to being paid by special interest groups to lobby and influence government officials, but never registered as a lobbyist. Heinrich even claimed he was not required to register as a special interest lobbyist, but his former boss has publicly disagreed, saying Heinrich should have registered as a lobbyist.

“Our ad points out that Martin Heinrich used his elected City Council office and position to help his own special interest lobbying clients, by pushing their liberal agenda on the City Council,” said Stephen Schatz. “By using his title as City Councilor, Heinrich influenced elected officials and government bureaucrats in Congress, Santa Fe , and Albuquerque on his own clients’ behalf. It is time for you to come clean, Mr. Heinrich. Who were the special interest groups that paid you to push their agenda? The voters deserve the truth.”

KOB TV will air the first CD-1 debate tonight at 7pm.

Photo: MG Bralley

WHITE HAS $631K FOR FINAL STRETCH

On Thursday, the Darren White for Congress campaign released its latest financial report to the Federal Elections Commission (FEC). The report showed that Darren White’s campaign has $678,371 cash-on-hand compared to Martin Heinrich’s $327,608 – a 52 percent difference.

“We are in great standing for the home stretch,” said Stephen Schatz. “With just 19 days left to go, we feel that we have the resources and manpower necessary to close strong and to achieve victory on November 4th. Our cash-on-hand total puts us in a good position to respond to our opponent’s false character attacks, and will allow us to get-out-the-vote.”

Darren White received $554,347 in contributions for the quarter, and has raised $1,507,556 since he began his campaign.

The cash-on-hand report follows an earlier press release from the Heinrich campaign requesting local TV stations pull ads the Republican Party is sponsoring for the White Campaign. See the their news release here.

Whites report does not mention that Heinrich reported donations of $750k in the third quarter of 2008 and has the support of big money fro the DNCCC for local television media buys.

Updated: WHITE LAUNCHES NEW TV AD.

The day after the National Republican Congressional Committee cut funding for some Darren White TV commercial's, his campaign has released a new ad, called the "Trolley." The ad highlights his Democrat Martin Heinrich’s push to extend the City of Albuquerque 's quarter-cent transportation tax for 10 years – without voter approval – to pay for a $270 million trolley car that would service his own Nob Hill neighborhood.



Campaign spokesman Stephen Schatz claims, "When the transportation tax was first passed in the nineties, voters were promised it was temporary and would sunset in 10 years. But Martin Heinrich tried to extend the tax without voter approval."

Schatz also said, "This led to weeks of public and media criticism, which ultimately forced Heinrich to back off his plan to increase taxes without voter approval to fund the trolley car."

Blogger Joe Monahan reports the NRCC will put up about $232,000 in tube time for Darren starting October 14th.

UPDATE- 5:31

The Editor of the New Mexico Independent David Alire Garcia has an in-depth story on the "war of words" in the 2008 1st Congressional District race here. Garcia says the Heinrich campaign is still trying to clarify the flap over whether or not he was an unregistered lobbyist.

FRATERNAL ORDER OF POLICE RIPS MARTIN HEINRICH’S NEGATIVE POLITICAL CAMPAIGN

Updated - 7:03pm

The President of the New Mexico Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Auxiliary Sharon Valtierra, and President of the Albuquerque Lodge #1 Auxiliary Linda Martinez have written a letter (posted below) to Darren White’s Congressional Campaign refuting charges made by his opponent in this recent television message.



White responded to the Heinrich ad with his own controversial ad featuring the parents of a slain Bernalillo County Sheriff's Deputy.



Valtierra and Martinez characterize the attacks as baseless and misleading. They say it's just more "deceptive personal character attacks that Martin Heinrich has used in his negative political campaign advertising. "

With over 327,000 members in the United States, and 2,500 members in New Mexico, the FOP and its Auxiliary “work to represent and support law enforcement officers who go out every day into their communities to serve and protect their fellow citizens.”

The Presidents write that they are “appalled” by Martin Heinrich’s “spurious, specious, and unfounded attacks against [Darren White],” and they call Martin Heinrich’s negative political campaign advertisements “blatantly false and deceptive.”

The letter references the FOP’s unanimous endorsement of Darren White for Congress, and cited some specific reasons for their support of their fellow law enforcement professional, including Darren White’s personal handling, command, and response to the national tragedy in New Orleans caused by Hurricane Katrina.

They support Darren because he “will stand up for the right things and defend the rights of citizens and law enforcement officers” in Congress.

Text from Letter:

Dear Darren,

The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) in New Mexico is the largest law enforcement organization in the state. There are more than 2500 members in the state and over 327,000 members in the country. The FOP and its Auxiliary work to represent and support law enforcement officers who go out every day into their communities to serve and protect their fellow citizens. These officers do this at great risk to their own personal safety and have the support of their spouses and families to be the shepherd dogs in their communities to protect all families from the wolves who prey on law abiding citizens in the cities and towns throughout New Mexico and especially in Albuquerque.

As wives of law enforcement officers, we are appalled at and take exception to the spurious, specious and unfounded attacks against you by your opponent. Clearly, Martin Heinrich neither understands nor appreciates the sacrifices that law enforcement officers and their families make each day. The reality of not knowing whether your loved one will come home after his or her shift places a great burden on the officers and his or her spouse, their family and loved ones. When Martin Heinrich attacks you, he is attacking every law enforcement officer who has taken an oath to do his or her duty of protecting and serving the community. The current articles and political advertisements that Martin Heinrich is using to try to discredit you are “old news”. These articles come from over ten years ago and do not have any basis in fact regarding the support and confidence that you enjoy from the law enforcement family in New Mexico, today. It is very clear to us that these advertisements are blatantly false and deceptive. We are particularly incensed by these attacks on your commitment and support of your law enforcement brothers and sisters and their families because at the 55th Annual New Mexico State Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Conference held this past June in Roswell the Albuquerque Lodge #1 delegation made a motion that the members of the New Mexico Fraternal Order of Police endorse you for the position of United States Congressman for District #1. The motion to endorse you was unanimously passed.

As the President of the New Mexico State Fraternal Order of Police Auxiliary and the President of the Albuquerque Lodge #1 Auxiliary, we represent the family members of the Fraternal Order of Police throughout the State of New Mexico and the Albuquerque Metropolitan Area. We would also like you to know that we respect and admire the way you have represented law enforcement officers and their families in this State, the greater Albuquerque area and the nation.

The following facts are indicative of the support and active interest that you have taken with regards to law enforcement officers, their spouses and their families:

· When Deputy McGrane was killed we saw you work tirelessly side by side with officers for days during the investigation until his killer was caught. No one wants to make a death notification especially to an officer’s family. Law Enforcement Agencies have Chaplains to deal with this type of tragedy. However, the fact is that you took it upon yourself to personally notify Deputy McGrane’s wife and his mom and dad. By your doing this, it attests to your compassion and concern for your officers and their families. You also traveled with the McGrane family to Washington DC to honor the memory and life of a husband and son at the National Peace Officers’ Memorial Service. We watched how you personally made sure that the family was taken care of.

· When the horrible catastrophic Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, you personally took command of a team of deputies and went to New Orleans to assist a seriously strained law enforcement community in need of help by subjecting yourself to the dangers of patrolling a lawless area and by you and your deputies protecting helpless citizens in need of help while witnessing the death and the devastation as you went from house to house.

· For years we have seen you stand up for the rights of officers and their families and not just for the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Department; but, for the entire law enforcement community including local police departments and the state police agencies.

· We have read your articles to the Editor of the Albuquerque Journal and other newspapers correcting misleading or inaccurate statements about the actions of law enforcement officers and their agencies. You have consistently provided a coherent and balanced approach to describing the obligations, responsibilities and duties of a law enforcement officer.

· You have shown us many times that you are not afraid of making your voice heard or signing your name to something and taking whatever responsibility comes from it. This fact has been noticed and appreciated by law enforcement officers and their families throughout the state.

In closing, we want you to know that you have the unequivocal support of the families in New Mexico that are proud to have a father, mother, son or daughter, brother or sister who is a law enforcement officer. You have the support of the families of New Mexico Law Enforcement.

We would be honored to have you as our Congressman in Washington DC representing us. We want you as our Congressman because you will stand up for the right things and defend the rights of citizens and law enforcement officers. We want you as our Congressman because you will not be afraid of being up front and honest, someone who corrects the facts when they are wrong, someone who has shown the respect and care for the people of this State. We want you as our Congressman because we know that you will represent law enforcement officers, their spouses and their families and fight for our issues and concerns.

Fraternally,

Sharon Valtierra Linda Martinez

President President

State Auxiliary Albuquerque Lodge #1 Auxiliary


Cc: Bill Standridge, State President

Toby Gallegos, Albuquerque Lodge #1 President

Heinrich Ads Touts Clean Energy Technology

Democratic Martin Heinrich is also rolling out a new spot on Friday.



Heinrich is on the attack. The spot attempts to link his Republican opponent Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White to President George Bush's energy policies, and claims White will block any new investment in clean, energy efficient technologies. Heinrich advocates an Apollo-style project to rid America of its addiction to oil.

Darren White Pledges Independence in First TV AD!

As we reported earlier this week the first TV spots for Darren White are being rolled out today.



Click to play

The biographical ad highlights Darren White’s 20+ years of public service, from his time in the United States Military and Cabinet Secretary to his duty as a police officer and the two-term elected Sheriff of Bernalillo County. The ad will re-introduce Darren to the citizens of New Mexico, and provide information on Darren’s independence, experience, and leadership.

Will Congressional Candidates Put"Care" back in Health Care?

Photo: M.G. Bralley

Democratic and Republican CD-1 (NM) candidates attended a health care forum on Thursday, May 8th at the First Unitarian Church in Albuquerque. The forum was sponsored by Health Action New Mexico and the League of Women Voters. Rebecca Vigil Hiron was absent due to illness.

Listen to Michelle Lujan-Grisham (D), Darren White (R), Robert Piddock (D), Martin Heinrich (D), and Joe Carraro (R) discuss their ideas, plans and vision in this un-edited (90 minute) audio recording.

Sen. Joe Carraro Speaks Out!

On March 25, 2008 Senator Joe Carraro filed more than 900 signatures with the NM Secretary of State's office, and qualified for the GOP CD-1 primary election after being shut out at the party's pre-primary nominating convention by Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White.

Carraro says he has the experience to represent the district in Washington.

Listen to the un-edited interview from March 25, 2008 with State Senator Joe Carraro.

Photo: M.G. Bralley