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Saturday, November 07, 2009
Diane Denish Is No Wallflower
By Thomas J. Cole
Journal Staff Writer
In September, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, a candidate for governor next year, issued a news release on her plans to go to a state park in the Jemez Mountains to celebrate National Hunting and Fishing Day.
"I plan to do a little fishing, and I may try my hand at archery and air rifle shooting," Denish said, adding that she also planned to sample the food of a campfire cook at Fenton Lake State Park.
The lieutenant governor encouraged families to join her at the park and take in the special activities. It was a free fishing day in New Mexico, meaning no license was needed.
Because the news release could have been interpreted as a play by Denish for the votes of the hook-and-bullet crowd, I asked the Game and Fish Department whether she had ever had a fishing or hunting license.
The answer: No, according to the department's database, which contains license information dating back to 1999.
The news release could be viewed as an example of how Denish's aggressive style as lieutenant governor, both in terms of public policy and seeking the public spotlight, has resulted in her overreaching at times.
It is that aggressive style that also led to reports this week that Denish, a Democrat, had spent $225,000 in federal funds on public-relations efforts and other expenses of her office.
Some Republicans — one even suggesting Denish might have done something illegal — did a little over-reaching of their own in attacking the lieutenant governor on the use of the money. Of course, exaggeration to gain a political edge is the nature of the business.
The reports on Denish's use of the federal funds overshadowed her release of proposals to help address the state's budget crunch, including a plan to curb the practice of "double dipping" by government retirees, who are able to keep their pensions if they return to jobs in the public sector.
Denish, on the job since 2003, has been one of the state's most active lieutenant governors on a wide range of public policy issues, from ethics reform to children's services.
She also has been one of the most active in promoting her work to the news media and public. That's been a tough task, given the shadow cast by Gov. Bill Richardson, one of the most towering political figures of our time. Denish has a $70,000-a-year media coordinator.
The reports this week on Denish's use of the federal funds noted that under the state Constitution, the only duties of the lieutenant governor are to serve as president of the Senate and vote in case of a tie.
But state laws impose additional duties and give the lieutenant governor, who earns $85,000 a year, wide discretion in shaping the job.
The lieutenant governor is a mandated member of the state Board of Finance, the Children's Cabinet, the Military Base Planning Commission, the Spaceport Authority, the Border Authority, the Community Development Council and the Mortgage Finance Authority.
State law also requires the lieutenant governor to "facilitate and promote the cooperation and understanding between the people of this state and the agencies of state government" and to "perform any other duties that may from time to time be assigned him by the governor."
State law is consistent in using male pronouns to refer to the lieutenant governor. Denish is the first woman to hold the job.
The Denish camp says it is prepared to debate Republicans on whether her elevation and expansion of the Office of Lieutenant Governor has been good for New Mexicans.
I suspect we're going to get that debate before voters go to the polls next November to elect a new governor and lieutenant governor. There is a flood of candidates for the No. 2 job, in part because Denish has shown that the lieutenant governor doesn't have to be a wallflower.
UpFront is a daily front-page opinion column. Thom Cole can be reached in Santa Fe at 505-992-6280 or at tcole@abqjournal.com
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