| SUBSCRIBE | | Why we charge |
|
|
|
Front Page
news state
Wednesday, October 15, 2008
Lawmakers Expect Fallout from NM Corruption Case
By Barry Massey
Associated Press
SANTA FE — Ex-Senate leader Manny Aragon's guilty plea in a public corruption case stains a long career of public service and could erode voter confidence in the Legislature, his former colleagues say.
"It's something the whole Legislature feels bad about. I'm greatly disappointed because it casts a shadow on everyone," said Senate Majority Leader Tim Jennings, a Roswell Democrat who was elected in 1978. "It's a very sad day for all of us because one of us violated the public confidence and public trust."
Aragon, an Albuquerque Democrat, served in the Senate for 29 years and became one of the state's most high profile and powerful legislators. He was the Senate's top leader for more than a decade.
He pleaded guilty Wednesday to three federal felony counts of conspiracy and mail fraud in a scheme to defraud the state in the construction of the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Courthouse in Albuquerque.
In his plea agreement, Aragon acknowledged receiving kickbacks of $626,000 in 2003 and 2004 from a contractor for the installation of an audiovisual system in the courthouse. Aragon had requested $3.6 million in capital improvement money during the 2002 Legislature for the audiovisual system — at the time knowing that he would receive hundreds of thousands of dollars for overcharges being billed in the courthouse construction.
Gov. Bill Richardson "is satisfied that the judicial process has run its course. We have many dedicated public officials serving honorably on behalf of New Mexicans, and it's time to move forward and work to restore the public trust," said Gilbert Gallegos, a spokesman for the governor.
Senate Republican Leader Stuart Ingle of Portales, who was elected in 1984, said the Legislature will weather the bad publicity and public disapproval that's likely to result from Aragon's misconduct. However, he doubted there would be any immediate backlash in the November general election for lawmakers seeking re-election.
"In a lot of cases it does reflect on all of the Legislature," Ingle said in a telephone interview. "It has happened before ... we'll get through it."
The state Republican Party was harsher in its criticism.
"Republicans have known that Manny Aragon has been a part of corrupt, back room politics for decades. It's an unfortunate episode for New Mexico, but Aragon admitting his guilt only proves what we've known for a long time," said Shira Rawlinson, a spokeswoman for the GOP.
But Jennings insists that Aragon is "just one bad apple."
"I don't believe that those actions represent the Legislature in any way, shape or form," he said.
Aragon ranks among the most prominent political figures in New Mexico to become entangled in a corruption scandal.
Two years ago, former state Treasurer Robert Vigil was convicted of one count of attempted extortion but acquitted of 23 extortion and racketeering charges. Federal prosecutors alleged wrongdoing over the tenure of two Democratic treasurers. Vigil's predecessor, Michael Montoya, pleaded guilty to one federal count of extortion for demanding kickbacks from investment advisers.
In 1992, former Democratic legislator Ron Olguin, was convicted in state court of soliciting a $15,000 bribe in exchange for help in securing money in the Legislature for a crime counseling program in Albuquerque. The state House of Representatives publicly censured Olguin in February 1992, after voting against his expulsion. It was the first time lawmakers had disciplined one of their own.
Aragon served as Senate president pro tem from 1988 until being ousted at the start of the 2001 Legislature. However, he reclaimed a leadership job 10 months later when Senate Democrats named him majority floor leader. He resigned from the Senate in mid-2004 to become president of New Mexico Highlands University and left after two years when the school bought out his contract. He was indicted eight months later.
Jennings, who was bounced from the No. 2 leadership post by Aragon's return to power, said Aragon's reputation will be tarnished by his role in the corruption scandal.
"There are a lot of good things he did, but they're not going to remember him for the good things," said Jennings. "While you can look at him and be critical of what he did wrong, we shouldn't forget what he did right either."
He described Aragon as a "champion for disabled people" and a "great force for the underdog."
Vigil's prosecution led to a push in the state for ethics and campaign finance law changes. A number of proposals, such as an independent ethics commission and limits on campaign contributions, have failed to pass the Legislature.
Ingle said there will be renewed pressure in the Legislature for ethics measures because of Aragon's guilty plea.
But Ingle questioned whether more laws were necessary.
"I think the public knows that ethics is something that is done on an individual basis. You can have all the laws in the world and somebody wants to be unethical, well, that's what they're going to do. There were laws against what Sen. Aragon did," said Ingle.
Copyright ©2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Albuquerque Journal Subscriber Services
Submit a news tip | Place a classified ad | Advertise Online at ABQjournal | Advertise in Albuquerque Journal print products | Subscribe to newspaper
Save & Share
Tag this Page
| 
...go to bookmarks
E-mail Story
Print Friendly
