Shades of ‘My Weekly Reader’

What’s Wrong With This Picture?

I remember as a child in grade school waiting for the day that ‘My Weekly Reader’ would be distributed in class. It was a students’ first brush with newspapers.

With all the political activity of the last month or so and what turned out to be a demanding class at the University, I have the odd feeling that my blogging resembles more ‘My Weekly Reader’ than an up to the moment, or at least up to the past couple of days old reporting and analysis, that I would like to strive for.

So here’s the news.

This is State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones (R) Bernalillo County District 24 at a “community discussion on ethics,” held Dec. 6, listening to one of the 35 constituents in attendance.

Arnold-Jones was also considering a run for the Republican nomination for the Congressional District 1 seat being vacated by Rep. Heather Wilson who is running against Rep. Steve Pierce for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat being vacated by the retirement of Pete Domenici. Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White and State Senator Joe Carraro (R) Bernalillo County District 23 are seeking the Republican nomination. Former City Councillor Martin Heinrich, Highland High School Math teacher John Call and former Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham are running for the Democratic nomination.

“I have concluded that this is not the time for me to seek election to New Mexico's 1st Congressional District,” Arnold-Jones wrote in an e-mail press release Dec. 16. “I will seek re-election to the New Mexico Legislature, House District 24.”

As a matter of disclosure, I will again be providing her campaign with photographic services.

Dec. 13
A Short Road Trip

Trying to take a quick break, I headed off towards San Antonio, Texas, but even then I can’t seem to escape the reminders of the political blogging demands.

This is Monahans, Texas exit along Interstate Highway 10. Joe Monahan hails from Pennsylvania; maybe these are some relatives who also abandoned the east.

This is Adrian Robert Nogales, graduate of the University of Texas at San Antonio. He is the second son of my buddy and proofreader Francisco Roque and his wife Eileen Nogales.

He is given a hug and kiss from his grandmother, Carmen and congratulated by his uncle, John Muirhead, left, while his older brother, Damacio, right, looks on. Adrian Nogales majored in geography with a minor in international studies.

I had heard that southeastern New Mexico was prospering due to the high cost of a barrel of oil. It’s true. There are two ways of telling: every few miles along U.S. Highway 285 from Malaga to Carlsbad, in Eddy County, you see these lit up oil drilling derricks; and you can smell the oil!

UPDATE: Monahan reports…

John Call, left, has withdrawn from the Democratic nomination race for New Mexico’s Congressional District 1 seat. He has thrown his support behind Martin Heinrich. Earlier, Democrat John Adams, right, withdrew from the central district race and moved north, entering the race for the Congressional District 2 seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Udall, who is running against Leland Lehrman for the Senate nomination.