Milan Simonich

Santa Fe

Columnist and Bureau Chief at Santa Fe New Mexican

Columnist, Santa Fe New Mexican

Articles

Texas-size curse on New Mexico's GOP

6 days ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

Republicans in New Mexico suffered for six years under the poor leadership of "Amarillo" Steve Pearce. They did not win any statewide elections with Pearce as chairperson of their party. Democrats might have been tempted to weep when Pearce stepped down. He left with Democrats holding both of New Mexico's U.S. Senate seats and all three of its seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Democrats also have sizable majorities in both chambers of the state Legislature.
The Duke of cannabis wants to be governor

1 week ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

One potential candidate for governor is wary of being typecast. Don't call Duke RodriguezÂ the king of cannabis. He says there is much more to his story. Rodriguez, 67, wants to be seen as a captain of industry who's busy investigating whether he can win the Republican nomination and then the general election. "I'm prepared to spend $2 million personally," he said Tuesday in a wide-ranging interview. Ego, Rodriguez added, has nothing to do with his aspiration to be governor. "This is sincere.
Bad time, yes; worst ever, no way

1 week ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

One of my pals, a retired physician living in Santa Fe, says the Trump years are the worst of times. Hacks in executive government jobs. Economic chaos and decline because of ping-ponging tariffs. Due process violations. Pointless, relentless bullying of Canada and Greenland. A president whose reality is so warped he claims Ukraine started the war with Russia. Are you tired of winning yet? Me either.
No cheering in press box for publicly financed campaigns

1 week ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

There once was an advocacy organization operating under the least truthful name possible: "New Mexicans for Money Out of Politics."The group actually supported public financing of campaigns. Those who babble about the evils of money in politics only act as though green confetti instead of cold cash goes to publicly financed candidates. More important, the possibility of candidates securing public financing does not discourage privately financed campaigns.
Holes mar investigation of man's death at bus stop

2 weeks ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

The late Glen Smith, long a figure in Santa Fe's world of art, sounded like quite a guy. His bizarre death at the hands of city driver in a city vehicle deserves a more thorough police investigation than it's received. I've read and reread the Santa Fe Police Department's recent reports about transit employee Robert Armijo driving over and killing Smith as he sat on a bench, waiting for a city bus.
Ex-Las Cruces mayor running for governor - sorta

2 weeks ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

Modern campaign announcements are as annoying as the "preboarding process" of big airlines. You've probably heard the illogical directives from a crew member mumbling into a microphone. Certain passengers, such as those with small children, are told they can preboard, which actually means they can go aboard.
T or C was O'Neill's kind of story

2 weeks ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

Deadline day was solemn instead of frenetic. I joined a crowd at the Capitol to remember the late state Sen. Bill O'Neill, who died at 69 of prostate cancer. More artist than politician, he was a published novelist, playwright and poet. O'Neill, D-Albuquerque, turned real-life confrontations and controversies into allegories. I thought he might have liked this one: The 75th anniversary of electioneering by small-town residents with high hopes and eccentric tastes in marketing.
Governor's race might get third Democratic candidate

3 weeks ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

Lt. Gov. Howie Morales has a self-imposed deadline he promises to meet. "I'll decide by June whether I'm running for governor," he said Tuesday. Morales, 52, is more experienced in state government than fellow Democrats Sam Bregman and Deb Haaland, who already are campaigning for the gubernatorial nomination in the spring 2026 primary election. Morales as a state senator represented three southwestern counties from 2008 through 2018.
New Mexico's stagnation has root cause: Corruption

3 weeks ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

One word more than any other explains why New Mexico has not grown or prospered as much as neighboring states. It's not addiction, sloth or stupidity. Every state has those plagues. New Mexico's chief hindrance is corruption. Grifters and other crooks in public jobs seem as common as the winds of April. One recent anecdote exemplifies the extent of New Mexico's corruption.
Rancor in a long, slow death investigation

3 weeks ago | santafenewmexican.com | Milan Simonich

Sixteen months have gone by since 70-year-old Darlene George died in a crumbling, trash-filled mobile home that had no heat. Some of her relatives say a killer took her life. Her son, Daryl George, who was alone with his mom on her last night, has a different story. He told Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies he noticed his mother had stopped breathing. Daryl George said he tried to save her with mouth-to-mouth resuscitation and chest compressions.