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Another day, another eyebrow-raising story about the Richardson administration
Gov. Bill Richardson (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
“Soft landings” is how the Albuquerque Journal characterizes the contracts Gov. Bill Richardson’s administration gave to two members of his cabinet after they left those public jobs.
The contracts – which some might characterize as “thank-yous” – given to former Information Technology Secretary Roy Soto and former Workforce Solutions Secretary Betty Sparrow Doris after they quit were funded, of course, by taxpayers.
It’s the Journal’s Thomas J. Cole who wrote about the situation today. From his article:
“RLR Resources, the consulting company of former Information Technology Secretary Roy Soto, received a six-month, $49,500 contract from Soto’s old department.
“It was a no-bid contract, of course.
“And former Workforce Solutions Secretary Betty Sparrow Doris received a $100-an-hour, $49,200 contract with her old agency shortly after she left the Cabinet, saying she wanted to spend more time with her family.
“No-bid, too.
“… Under the state Procurement Act, departments can award contracts of up to $50,000 for professional services without seeking competitive proposals.
“Also, state officials can lawfully enter into contracts with their former agencies as long as they didn’t take any actions while in office that led to the contracts.”
Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez is the only one who’s put out a statement about Cole’s article this far.
“This administration is preparing to raise taxes on families and businesses during a historic recession to make up for the waste, fraud and abuse that has bankrupted our state,” Martinez said. “Instead of cutting off the spigot, Richardson and Denish continue to perpetuate a corrupt system that rewards friends while stealing from taxpayers.”
FYI, the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Kate Nash was the first to write about Doris’ situation.
Because of Martinez’s statement, I’d be reckless if I didn’t point out that the Cole and Nash articles say nothing about Lt. Gov. Diane Denish – the likely Democratic nominee for governor next year – having any role in the contracts given to Soto and Doris. As lieutenant governor, it’s not likely that she did. Trying to tie Denish to this one may be a bit of a stretch.
And, for the record, the two former employees say they didn’t do anything wrong.
Regardless, I sure get tired of publishing articles about these suspicious situations. Do you get tired of reading about them?
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This can only happen because it is legal. Immoral, but legal. Change the laws!
This is classic Richardson–hand always in the taxpayer’s pocket, free spending when it comes to public money, and always generous when it comes to awarding State contracts to his campaign contributors. As for the cheap pot-shot directed at Denish by Martinez and her Republican advisers, guilty by association is a rotten political ploy we don’t need at this point in history.
The Lt. Governor is more or less a do-nothing role and we all know that. As for her association with Richardson, that’s something the electorate determines. Richardson didn’t choose her to be his running mate, the electorate did. I doubt they were pen pals before she got elected to stand next to him as a running mate, or that they’ll be close associates after his majesty returns back East to join is stogi-sucking cronies in one big final laugh at how New Mexicans got bamboozled for so long by this carpet-bagging shyster. So New Mexico basically got what it deserved for being asleep the whole time. As for Denish, there’s no evidence as yet that she was part of Richardson’s three-decade mud fest. If and when evidence surfaces to the contrary, that’s another matter. But until then, guilt by association is a lousy ploy..
“… Under the state Procurement Act, departments can award contracts of up to $50,000 for professional services without seeking competitive proposals.
“Also, state officials can lawfully enter into contracts with their former agencies as long as they didn’t take any actions while in office that led to the contracts.”
Sounds like you got nada. What’s more, this has nothing to do with Denish.
Were that contracts fulfilled competently? That would be another matter.
jiviro99 needs to get a life
You should not be apologizing for Denish. She knew about the things that went on in the Richardson Administration, but did nothing to stop it. She believes she owes allegiance to Richardson and not to the voters, so she will sit back and say nothing.
Publishing articles is what you are supposed to do Heath. If you grow tired of doing so, then you should close your blog and try another field. You tend to lean a little far to the left as it is. To stop reporting the news as it really is would put you in a category of being completely biased.
And … is anyone suprised? Soto had absolutely NO idea what he was doing in the DOIT and many IT professionals called him incompetant. As for the comment that they “didn’t do anything wrong” … if Soto had just done NOTHING, the state would’ve been better off – what he DID DO retarded the progress of IT by years and wasted millions. How long did the super computer sit in the warehouse (YEARS) … or is it still there … or did they finally sell it …?
Heath – keep publishing … it ain’t news, it is status quo … but we need to see it.