Morning Word: Balderas Accused of Personal Vendetta

Motion filed to remove attorney general from secretary of state's criminal case

By Peter St. Cyr

Conflict Alleged

A day after Attorney General Hector Balderas said he was going to stop providing legal opinions to the secretary of state’s office, Erlinda Johnson, the criminal defense attorney representing Dianna Duran, filed a motion to boot Balderas from Duran’s criminal case. Johnson alleges Balderas has a “personal vendetta” and conflict of interest due to his

past working relationship

with Duran. District Judge Glenn Ellington is expected to rule on this motion and others on Oct. 23.

Tit for Tat

Political bickering in Santa Fe isn’t new, but it appears to be heating up ahead of the 2016 elections. Now the State Personnel Office says it won’t assist the state treasurer’s office with employment matters. The governor’s administration claims Treasurer Tim Eichenberg has

ignored its advice, made demeaning sexist comments and even remarked about employees'

race. Eichenberg denies those claims.

Busted

Doña Ana County sheriff’s deputies busted a Sunland Park city councilor on drug possession charges during a council meeting on Monday night. On Sunday, they stopped Sergio Carrillo’s car and confiscated

less than an ounce of marijuana.
Up in Smoke

Citing city, state and federal laws, Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry has

followed through on his promise

and vetoed an ordinance that would have decriminalized possession of small amounts of marijuana. His decision could be overturned, but it’s unlikely five Democrat city councilors can roll even one Republican No vote.

Wiggle Room 

With grass in some of Santa Fe’s parks dying and in other states of decline, city councilors are

reconsidering their earlier decision to ban city crews

from working on bond-funded projects.

Worse than Spilt Milk 

The number of oil and gas spills in New Mexico is

up 61 percent

, even though production is only up 23 percent year-over-year.

Crop Busters

US Sen. Martin Heinrich, D-New Mexico, is weighing in on the escalating interstate green chile battles among Colorado, Georgia and New Mexico. He’s concerned that

a batch from Hatch

could get confused with other inferior crops. At the same time, some folks think the hot stuff south of the border may actually be superior.

Hear It Roar

A few times a year, we hear about animals escaping from one zoo or another and wandering around, scaring residents. We’re not sure chickens are too worrisome, but

one appears to be on the loose

in White Rock.

Santa Fe Reporter

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