THE PARTY’S OVER
The governor’s brush with the law raises questions about the accountability of public officials, and the news media as well
Gov. needs accountability
ACCOUNTABILITY. That word is used a lot in political circles. Being ready to answer for one’s actions is a central tenet of governance. If you’re an elected official, you more than anyone must answer for your actions.
I was arrested this year after failing a field sobriety test and refusing a Breathalyzer in the early morning hours on Easter Sunday. I was charged with an aggravated DWI for refusing, sentenced to a year of probation, had an interlock installed in my vehicle, along with a host of other mandatory penalties.
I hold myself accountable for my terrible mistake. I have not tried to shy away from it. I made the decision to stop drinking entirely as I saw that, for me, alcohol had become something I could not manage or control. It has been one of the best decisions of my life. I have complied with my sentence, completed assigned classes and community service hours and made financial restitution to the state.
Everyday I look back at my mistake and realize the danger I put others in and the risk I took getting behind the wheel drunk. I rightfully accepted my punishment and have sought to improve myself beyond the steps required of me by the state.
When considering Gov. (Susana) Martinez’s actions after my own experiences, I am exasperated. On Dec. 7, she issued an executive order getting tough on DWIs in the state. It includes directives such as sending out more officers to catch those with bench warrants who have “not taken responsibility for their actions.”
But how can we take Gov. Martinez seriously when she refuses to take responsibility for her own actions? She has failed to tell the whole truth and continued to lie. She allowed a narrative about “snowballs” to become part of the story even when she (believed) someone had been heaving bottles from her balcony earlier that night. She also said she only had “one and a half cocktails” over a few hours, but it was clear to the security guard and police officer that responded that she was obviously “inebriated.”
Why isn’t her apology posted on her website? Why haven’t we seen her speaking to New Mexicans directly? I wholly support the intention of her directive, to keep the roads safe for our families and to enforce the laws of the land. But how can we act upon those ideas when we have an executive in power who can’t lead by example?
LUCAS HERNDON
Las Cruces
Gov.’s scandal distracting
A BEAUTIFUL, memorable occasion to welcome and honor 38 New Mexico National Guardsmen (last) week in Santa Fe took second billing to the news media’s fixation on getting the scoop on Gov. Susana Martinez’s sobriety at a recent staff party. My family and I attended the homecoming for Charlie Company 1-171st Aviation Unit to welcome our son and his fellow soldiers and their commanders from a nine-month tour of duty in Kuwait providing medical evacuation services in the Middle East.
Gov. Martinez gave a sincere, warm welcome to the returning soldiers, but she did not stay to mingle with the soldiers and their families, as she was rushed out the back door to avoid reporters’ questions related to the never-ending story of her alleged inebriated state at a staff party. The news media’s insistence on questioning the governor at this solemn ceremony was inappropriate and distracting, as it detracted from the honor and respect of the office of the governor and her purpose for being there — to welcome and honor 38 brave National Guardsmen.
To add further insult, two of the three local TV stations covering the solemn event slighted the Guardsmen and their families by devoting the brief news clip to shots of Gov. Martinez eluding reporters via the back door, instead of pointing their cameras at the soldiers with their families. Perhaps the governor should have eluded the reporters by heading in the direction of the Guardsmen and their families. That would have put the focus where it belonged.
ORLANDO VIGIL
Albuquerque
No proof she was drunk
SO, WHAT HAPPENED to “you are innocent until proven guilty”?
A police sergeant says Gov. (Susana) Martinez was “inebriated” and all of a sudden that single statement makes it so?
Unless a Breathalyzer test was given to the governor providing proof positive evidence that she was in fact inebriated at the time, I think it only fitting that we should all give her the benefit of the doubt on that one!
TIMOTHY T. KNIGHT SR.
Bosque Farms
Term limits would benefit NM
AS I OPENED the Journal on Saturday morning (Dec. 19), I was greeted by three what should have been disturbing stories — Gov. (Susana) Martinez — bonehead bullying; (former Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court administrator) Toby Martinez — lack of payment of restitution/ allowed to keep his public pension; and (former Secretary of State) Dianna Duran — reporting to jail/keeping her three public pensions.
While this news should really upset most people, including myself, I felt it was just business as usual in New Mexico. I began to wonder if any academic institution or secretive think tank had ever done a correlation analysis on traditionally extremely low academic performance of a population and traditionally corrupt government. I think this analysis might provide a useful case study to other states that are following our tragic path and may even enlighten our lowly state, those of us who can read.
The lack of interest of the electorate in New Mexico in what our “public servants” are doing must somehow be seated in the low level of education. Possibly (interim Secretary of State) Brad Winters can somehow repair this damage as he appears to be the only person who comes to mind of our political leaders when we have dysfunctional organizations. It may actually uncover a theory that politicians in this state have a vested interest in keeping New Mexican citizens uneducated, as it allows our “public servants” to continue to serve their political handlers and themselves first.
While the governor is term-limited, I firmly believe this study would most certainly find that term limits for all elected politicians would be the first step in correcting the ills that continue to keep New Mexico last on the most desirable lists and first on the lists that should make our blood run cold. Of course this would never happen because guess who sets term limits?
JAMES C. ROMERO
Albuquerque