Unfounded attacks a poor substitute for integrity

Wayne Johnson defends his record, blasts opponent in bid to retain state auditor post

I have found that when they fear you, they attack you and the first casualty is usually the truth. Manufactured complaints and partisan chicanery are no substitute for honesty and integrity.

I was somewhat amused when I read Brian Colón’s ... tirade in the Journal just days before Election Day.

Predictably, Colón throws out a screed of partisan attacks, innuendo and accusations while claiming he doesn’t engage in negative campaigning. Complaints filed by cronies and heard by conflicted partisans who make up the law as they go in order to reach a political objective shouldn’t be taken seriously, and neither should Colón.

... Another complaint that Colón (referred to) was filed by the state Democratic Party on Sept. 24 – the very group that he once led, or perhaps misled. In fact, on Oct. 5, just days after filing the bogus complaint, Colón sent the party a $5,500 check for what he called a “coordinated campaign.” ... Meanwhile Colón’s own past is littered with ... partisan hackery.

Colón (was treasurer for) Bill Richardson’s Moving America Forward Foundation, (which) raised $1.7 million in ... contributions that have, to this day, never been made public.

He ran the ill-fated 2008 Democratic Caucus where it took nine whole days to determine a winner and where poll workers were having to use blank sheets of paper as ballots.

Democrats were so disgusted with his performance that a Democratic party ward chair was one of many who demanded Colón’s resignation . ...

My office has been working to bring transparency to government entities that have escaped scrutiny for years. One organization spent thousands on parties and bonuses instead of feeding seniors. Others went on trips, bought baseball tickets and booze with tax money.

Another state agency, the New Mexico Medical Insurance Pool, is suing the Auditor’s Office to prevent taxpayers from seeing their books. The lawyer suing to prevent transparency is ... Colón’s hand-picked top aide when he was the Democratic Party boss — the same group filing complaints on Colón’s behalf . ...

I’m proud of my record, both as your state auditor for the last 11 months, and as a Bernalillo County Commissioner for eight years. I’m a public servant, not a politician. I’m running based on my record, not on empty promises.

I am honored to stand as your state auditor and humbly ask for your vote.