Tomorrow morning at 10:00am in front of the house of House of Representatives candidate Johnny Luevano, there will be an interesting press conference. Anyone who believes in supporting the troops should take note of the event.
Retired Colonel Allen Weh, a former gubernatorial candidate in New Mexico and other New Mexico veterans will join Luevano when he announces his decision on whether or not to appeal the ruling by District Court Judge Alan Malott to summarily toss him off the November election ballot.
Last week, just days after Judge Malott’s decision, the New Mexico Supreme Court provided appropriate leniency on its ruling affecting nearly a dozen candidates around the state. Despite various errors made by all candidates in their filing paperwork, the high court made sure every single candidate remained on the ballot. Voter choice and candidate intent took precedence over nit-picking technicalities. The principle was applied equally to both parties in all cases.
Last week, just days after Judge Malott’s decision, the New Mexico Supreme Court provided appropriate leniency on its ruling affecting nearly a dozen candidates around the state. Despite various errors made by all candidates in their filing paperwork, the high court made sure every single candidate remained on the ballot. Voter choice and candidate intent took precedence over nit-picking technicalities. The principle was applied equally to both parties in all cases.
The Luevano situation seemed similarly benign. But the case was heard in a lower court. Less than four months ago Luevano ended his status as an active duty Marine. Back in June of 2011 he began building his permanent residence in Albuquerque. The permanent home, located in the district where Luevano filed his candidacy, was in fact ready for occupancy in February.
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| Johnny Luevano |
Unfortunately, the slow pace of the City of Albuquerque bureaucracy got in the way. It seems that an absence of any sense of urgency by bureaucrats, coupled with their complete control of final occupancy permits, was irrelevant to Judge Malott's ruling against the twenty year Marine Corps veteran. If Luevano chooses not to appeal, or if he does appeal and Judge Malott's ruling is not overturned, Representative Antonio "Moe" Maestas, an attorney in Albuquerque, will hold the dubious distinction of being the only candidate in either party in the entire state this year to be able to eliminate his opponent in the courts rather than at the ballot box.
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