The Santa Fe New Mexican, Nov. 6, 2013

Page 1

Demonettes defeat Bernalillo in district quarterfinal opener Sports, B-5

Locally owned and independent

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

www.santafenewmexican.com 75¢

City attorney: e-signatures invalid on campaign forms Opinion underscores uncertainties in election code amid heated race

By Tom Sharpe The New Mexican

Electronic signatures can’t be used on forms to qualify for public campaign money in Santa Fe’s municipal elections, the City Attorney’s Office said in an opinion this week — another

indicator of ambiguities in the city’s Public Campaign Finance Code that are gaining attention as the mayoral race progresses. The 2009 code, being used for the first time in a mayoral race, requires candidates seeking public campaign funding to collect 600 contributions of $5 each

from city voters. At least two candidates for mayor in the March 4 election, City Councilors Patti Bushee and Rebecca Wurzburger, have solicited contributions online. However, both have indicated

See CAMPAIgN, Page A-4

High profits, flat wages In a sluggish economy, record stock prices are fueled by low pay, cost cutting. PAge A-3

New grad standards

A skier’s dream Taos Ski Valley reported that its slopes received 14 inches of snow overnight. LOCAL, B-1

School board backs the superintendents’ plan for guidelines for seniors. LOCAL, B-1

Property tax road show Treasurer plans countywide tour to meet with residents, collect payments

New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez, left, appears with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie during a campaign stop on Monday. MEL EVANS/THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

Martinez’s tour with Christie spurs 2016 talk New Mexico gov.’s spokesman stresses her commitment to state By Steve Terrell The New Mexican

Gov. Susana Martinez’s trip to New Jersey this week to campaign for Gov. Chris Christie has some national political pundits’ tongues wagging about a 2016 Republican “dream ticket.” Martinez joined Christie at campaign stops in at least six locations Monday, the last day of the New Jersey campaign. As expected, Christie, who is considering a presidential run, won re-election Tuesday by a comfortable margin. Christie’s campaign paid for Martinez’s travel expenses. While the 2016 campaign is a long way off — and many question whether Christie can survive a GOP primary — headlines in national online news publications fueled speculation about the future for both governors. Business Insider published this story: “Last Night, We Got Our First Look At Chris Christie With The Woman He Might Pick For Vice President.” The NorthJersey.com blog site also included a post about the duo: “2016 preview? Christie campaigns in Hillside with New Mexico’s GOP governor.”

Please see MARTINeZ, Page A-5

Tea Party takes hit in Virginia Christie’s landslide win is hopeful sign for GOP’s establishment wing By Sean Sullivan and David A. Fahrenthold

The Washington Post

New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie won a decisive reelection victory Tuesday, as the Republican known for blunt talk, moderate politics and presidential ambitions won support from a wide swath of voters in his Democratic-leaning state. Christie, running for his second term, was leading Democratic state Sen. Barbara Buono by about 20 percentage points late Tuesday with more than 70 percent of precincts reporting. His victory was a hopeful sign for the GOP’s establishment wing, on a day when two champions of the party’s rival tea party faction lost their races: gubernatorial candidate Ken Cuccinelli II in Virginia and House hopeful Dean Young in Alabama.

Please see eLeCTION, Page A-5

INSIde u Results of ballot measures around the U.S. PAge A-5

Index

Calendar A-2

Classifieds C-3

Comics A-8

Santa Fe County Treasurer Patrick Varela assists Victoria Rodriquez on Tuesday with her property tax questions at his office in the county administration building, 102 Grant Ave. Rodriguez has requested that her property taxes be paid monthly. Varela plans several outreach sessions around the county, where residents can pay their taxes in person or ask questions. CLYDE MUELLER/THE NEW MEXICAN

By Bruce Krasnow The New Mexican

P

atrick Varela is still getting used to the fact that people stand in line to hand him money. As Santa Fe County treasurer, Varela knows there are lots of ways to pay property taxes — by mail, drop box, electronic transfer or through an escrow account with a mortgage company. But now in office almost a year, Varela also has learned that many longtime residents want to pay in person. “It’s a pilgrimage for many,” he said of property owners who prefer to get in the car and drive to downtown Santa Fe to pay their taxes at the county administration building, 102 Grant Ave. “Most of the people pay their own taxes, and most like to have that piece of paper in hand [a receipt] that says they did,” Varela said.

When I was campaigning, a lot of people approached me who don’t live in Santa Fe and asked, ‘Is there any way I can pay without going into Santa Fe?’ ” Patrick Varela, county treasurer, on property owners who pay taxes in person

INSIde u A list of sites around Santa Fe County where Treasurer’s Office staff will hold sessions on property taxes. PAge A-4

Starting Wednesday, Varela and his staff will hit the road to accept payments (no cash) and to answer any questions from property owners about their 2013 property tax bills due Dec. 10. The county treasurer has

Today

The authors discuss and sign copies of Blowback: A Vanessa Pierson Novel, 6 p.m., Collected Works Bookstore, 202 Galisteo St., 505-988-4226 More events in Calendar, A-2

Editor: Ray Rivera, 986-3033, rrivera@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Cynthia Miller, cmiller@sfnewmexican.com

81,636

Total number of property tax bills

3,588 Commercial property bills

25,410 Bills paid by loan companies

56,226

Bills paid by individuals

Paul O. Manzanares, Santa Fe, Nov. 1

Valerie Plame and Sarah Lovett

Police notes B-2

Property tax collections

Virginia Leyba, 59, Oct. 31

www.pasatiempomagazine.com

Opinion A-7

Please see TAx, Page A-4

$151M

Obituaries

Pasapick

Lotteries A-2

set up outreach sessions all over the county, from Nambé and Pojoaque to Rio en Medio and Galisteo, as well as inside Santa Fe city limits. This is the first time a county treasurer has hosted such outreach sessions. Varela said the idea arose while he was meeting with voters during his campaign for treasurer as a Democratic candidate in 2012. Varela said the sessions took some planning because his office has to coordinate

COuNTy PROPeRTy TAxeS, 2013

Sports B-5

Fidel Lee Gutierrez, 51, Santa Fe, Nov. 3

Mostly sunny. High 50, low 28.

Martha Helen Milam Bickley, Oct. 31

PAge A-6

PAge B-2

Time Out C-8

Travel C-2

Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010

Pie Mania makes a comeback Get your holiday fix at The Food Depot fundaiser. TASTe, C-1

Three sections, 24 pages 164th year, No. 310 Publication No. 596-440


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