Comments on: Colón apologizes, explains Rio Arriba situation

By: k

Fri, 08 Feb 2008 16:52:00 +0000

Grand Panjandrum: Unless you have taken on responsibility and done something yourself except sit and been an armchair quarterback you should hold you comments. For the 100th time this is all volunteer run and it is the system not the people giving up time from their families and work lives that is to blame. People’s time is better spent establishing sustainable funding so that next time, we can have more sites and more officials.

By: Sam D

Sam D — Fri, 08 Feb 2008 10:46:00 +0000

Actually, responsibility for designating and setting up polling places is that of the COUNTY chairs, not that of the State chair. As far as seeing the wave, it got hidden by Richardson's embarrassingly poor performance on the Trail to Glory, which as long as he was in the race kind of precluded the other candidates from campaigning here. Furthermore the low level of absentee ballot requests, just 1,500 made it seem like interest was low.

I think Colon behaved extremely well and am proud of him. And of course the rest of the volunteers.

I reckon those posters sounding off with such vitriol above didn't put in any time themselves.

By: Michael Swickard

Michael Swickard — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 20:14:00 +0000

I don't know him, never have met him but he did what I would have done in the same place, he admitted fully the mistakes and did not try to run for cover.

He might even have taken more of the share of blame than was actually his, but wanted to err on the side of full disclosure. I appreciate on either side of the isle when someone exhibits candor and character.

I bet nothing like this ever happens again on his watch. So he gets a kick in the butt and a pat on the back. I subsequently now have more respect for the New Mexico Democrat Party by him being a stand up guy.

By: SteveR

SteveR — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 14:27:00 +0000

Colon’s apology is the least he can do and resignation would be appropriate. To turn it into a “look how excited people are that so many came to vote” explanation, ignores obvious mismanagement like one voting location in Rio Rancho. Of course being the last place to have all the votes counted is nothing new.

By: miss wild thing

miss wild thing — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 08:01:00 +0000

OH c’mon, how often do you hear anybody accept full responsibility for some major mistakes. I applaud Brian for being a stand up guy and wish that many more people involved in politics in NM would do the same thing. WE all make mistakes, we all don’t take responsibility for those mistakes.

By: The Grand Panjandrum

The Grand Panjandrum — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 05:09:00 +0000

Brian Colon must resign. The leadership of the Democratic Party was asleep at the switch. Every state has seen record turnout since this primary season began. What made Colon et al believe NM would be any different? They’ve seen this wave coming for weeks. No excuses. Resign.

Consolidating Rio Rancho into one polling site is a mistake so utterly misconceived that it highlights Mr Colon’s inability to handle this important job during a critical time in the life of this state and the country.

By: Michael Swickard

Michael Swickard — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:33:00 +0000

Heath, good job of staying on top of this.

I appreciate the candor of Brian Colón's mea maxima culpa. And, given the increase in cast votes, I suspect it would have happened to any of us if we had been in charge.

Michael Swickard

By: David

David — Thu, 07 Feb 2008 04:17:00 +0000

Chairman Colon,
You apology comes as no less than first class…
Although we pray the sanctity of the ballot box did was not breached.