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Editorial: Do All Roads in N.M. Lead to Pay to Play? (More Richardson legacy)
The Albuquerque Journal ^ | Wed, Jul 13, 2011 | ABQ Journal Editorial Board

Posted on 07/13/2011 9:40:53 AM PDT by CedarDave

How does a company bidding on a $38 million state road contract end up with confidential documents regarding the job? Taxpayers deserve an answer if New Mexico wants its public procurement process to have any credibility.

It is undisputed that FNF Construction, the second-lowest bidder and the company the Richardson administration tried to give the job of rebuilding 18 miles of Interstate 10 south of Las Cruces, got the internal documents.

And, according to the story in Sunday’s Journal by investigative reporter Colleen Heild, they would have succeeded except that federal officials who held the purse strings balked at the switcheroo.

It is apparent the documents came from an insider, and the new administration says it looks like that insider is former state Transportation Commission Chairman Johnny Cope. One set of documents is attached to what appears to be his personal fax cover sheet, and the pile includes an interoffice memo to him as well as documents to and from his e-mail account.

Cope was a major contributor to Richardson campaigns. So was FNF New Mexico Vice President Paul Wood, a friend of Cope’s, who with his family and former company gave more than $50K to Richardson campaigns and causes.

(Excerpt) Read more at abqjournal.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Government; US: New Mexico
KEYWORDS: billrichardson; cope; johnnycope; richardson
Do All Roads in N.M. Lead to Pay to Play?

Sure seems so. Other ongoing investigations include consideration for a judgeship in return for contributions and large fees going to Richardson contributors for state investment council transactions.

1 posted on 07/13/2011 9:40:58 AM PDT by CedarDave
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To: LegendHasIt; Rogle; leapfrog0202; Santa Fe_Conservative; DesertDreamer; OneWingedShark; ...

NM list PING! Click on the flag to go to the Free Republic New Mexico message page.

(The NM list is available on my FR homepage for anyone to use. Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list. For ABQ Journal articles requiring a subscription, scroll down to the bottom of the page to view the article for free after watching a short video commercial.)

2 posted on 07/13/2011 9:43:12 AM PDT by CedarDave
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To: CedarDave

Why hasn’t Chubby been indicted yet? There is plenty of evidence against him.


3 posted on 07/13/2011 9:44:52 AM PDT by kittymyrib
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To: CedarDave

Man, Richardson is not in prison YET?


4 posted on 07/13/2011 9:45:48 AM PDT by hattend (Its a matter of public record that I did not go to Harvard Law School, but I can add. - Sarah Palin)
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To: CedarDave
Bill Richardson is Rod Blagovich without the rug. I think.


5 posted on 07/13/2011 9:49:38 AM PDT by E. Pluribus Unum ("A society of sheep must in time beget a government of wolves." - Bertrand de Jouvenel des Ursins)
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To: hattend; kittymyrib
My response on an earlier thread. From Wikipedia: In 2011, Richardson joined the boards of APCO Worldwide company Global Political Strategies as chairman, the World Resources Institute, the National Institute for Civil Discourse at the University of Arizona, and Abengoa (international advisory board). He was also appointed as a special envoy for the Organization of American States.

Given his stature (or more honestly his notoriety), he no doubt is reeling in the dough from speaking appearances like his recent stint at Harvard.


6 posted on 07/13/2011 10:03:56 AM PDT by CedarDave
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To: CedarDave
On March 31, Richardson will speak in the John F. Kennedy Jr. Forum and deliver the 2011 Corliss Lamont Lecture, a lectureship featuring an individual widely recognized for leadership in diminishing the risk of nuclear war. Visiting fellows traditionally meet with student groups, lead discussion groups on topical issues and their experiences in public and political service, and participate in public policy classes with students and Harvard University faculty.
7 posted on 07/13/2011 10:05:22 AM PDT by CedarDave
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To: CedarDave

Pay to play is a polite way to say “bribery”. It is a felony and all participants should be prosecuted accordingly.


8 posted on 07/13/2011 11:14:35 AM PDT by JimRed (Excising a cancer before it kills us waters the Tree of Liberty! TERM LIMITS, NOW AND FOREVER!)
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Boop His Nose! You Know You Want To.

This guy would like to ask you nicely to donate
But he's too cranky right now


Give what you can
Or donate monthly, and a sponsoring FReeper will contribute $10

9 posted on 07/13/2011 11:25:52 AM PDT by TheOldLady (FReepmail me to get ON or OFF the ZOT LIGHTNING ping list.)
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