State Democratic chairman resigns
Ellenberg criticized over handling of harassment allegations against other party figures
New Mexico Democratic Party Chairman Richard Ellenberg resigned Tuesday amid simmering criticism of his handling of harassment allegations involving prominent figures in the party.
The decision to step down came on the same day The New Mexican quoted him as casting doubt on the credibility of sexual harassment accusations against union leader Jon Hendry. But some in the party said the move was a long time coming after a wave of upheaval over chauvinism in politics, the media and beyond.
“I regret the way in which I have managed complaints of survivors who have come forward about sexual harassment, and take full responsibility to continue to learn and grow so that I can be an advocate and ally in the future,” Ellenberg said in a letter to the New Mexico Democratic Party’s central committee.
Ellenberg, who lives in Santa Fe, apologized in writing earlier this year for his reaction when state party Vice Chairwoman Neomi Martinez-Parra leveled allegations of sexual harassment against then-Doña Ana County Commissioner John Vasquez. Martinez-Parra suggested Ellenberg had pressured her not to go public with the allegations. The party chairman said that was not his intention and pledged to do better.
But the episode stirred controversy in the party, with frustration over state Sen. Michael Padilla’s run for lieutenant governor still simmering for Democrats. Amid mounting scrutiny of years-old lawsuits accusing him of creating a “sexually hostile” work environment, U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham in late 2017 called for Padilla to drop out of the race.
But the last straw for many in the party appeared to be Ellenberg’s comments to The New Mexican about the lawsuit naming Hendry. A former employee of IATSE Local 480 — a union representing film and television crews — filed the lawsuit last week accusing Hendry of touching her inappropriately, harassing her and blocking her from getting work elsewhere after she was fired.
Ellenberg, who co-owns a rental property with Hendry, cast doubt on the claims.
“I have some information about the allegations in this case that I’m told would cast some of this in a very different light,” he told the newspaper.
By Tuesday afternoon, prominent Democrats were calling on Ellenberg to resign.
“It’s not a matter of getting tonguetied,” said Heather Brewer, a Democratic political consultant based in Santa Fe. “He just doesn’t get it.”
Damon Martinez, a former U.S. attorney and a candidate for Congress, charged that Ellenberg “used his position to do what so many powerful men have done before — cast doubt on a survivor and send a message to other victims that they will be ostracized, threatened and mocked for coming forward.”
Party members elected Ellenberg as state party chairman last year as they sought to parlay the outrage that followed President Donald Trump’s election and also aimed to heal its wounds after a divisive 2016 primary election.
During the controversy surrounding Padilla’s candidacy, the party instituted new sexual harassment training for candidates.
In a statement, several of the state’s top elected Democrats called for new leadership.
“Questioning the credibility of sexual misconduct allegations is contrary to our values, and it is time for new leadership that better reflects them,” said the statement, signed by Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich and U.S. Reps. Michelle Lujan Grisham and Ben Ray Luján. U.S. Sen. Tom Udall also issued a statement urging that “victims should be heard and their allegations taken seriously.”
According to the party’s bylaws, the vice chairwoman — Martinez-Parra — will serve as chairwoman. The state central committee will elect a new leader at its next meeting on April 21.