Fictional 'Deep Throat' offered sage advice

Apr. 25—Never underestimate the power of a well-off incumbent, even one who wasn't chosen by the voters.

State Sen. Moe Maestas received his political office on the strength of a 3-2 decision by Bernalillo County commissioners.

An incumbent by appointment, Maestas began this month with more than twice as much money as Julie Radoslovich, his challenger in the June 4 Democratic primary election.

Maestas had almost $166,000 on hand compared to $81,000 for Radoslovich. In addition, Maestas has the advantage of being married to powerhouse lobbyist Vanessa Alarid, whose influence became a point of contention in his appointment to the Senate.

Alarid made a $5,000 in-kind contribution that financed a campaign mailer for then-Bernalillo County Commissioner Charlene Pyskoty. It was the largest donation Pyskoty received during her failed reelection bid in the June 2022 Democratic primary.

Five months later, with Pyskoty's term winding toward an end, she voted for Maestas to be appointed to the Senate. Had Pyskoty abstained because of the financial assistance she received from Alarid, Maestas' nomination would have failed on a 2-2 vote of the commissioners.

A resident of Albuquerque filed a complaint against Pyskoty on grounds her support for Maestas was a conflict of interest. Bernalillo County's weak ethics board dismissed that complaint, inexplicably claiming a lack of evidence.

That same ethics board censured Pyskoty and fined her $500 for accepting the $5,000 campaign donation from Alarid, who had lobbied Bernalillo County officials on behalf of a developer.

Maestas brought another element of controversy to the appointment process.

He was a state representative from 2007 until the end of 2022. Maestas lived in a different Senate district during most of that period.

Knowing a vacancy was going to occur in Senate District 26, Maestas and Alarid moved their family into the district so he could seek appointment to the seat.

Maestas would not have moved without confidence a majority of the five county commissioners would pick him. Pyskoty's vote put him over the top after she rebuffed critics who said she should recuse herself.

All the moves, physical and political, to land an appointment to the state Senate bring to mind the movie industry's three-word contribution to watchdog journalism. Hollywood made "follow the money" a term that would live forever.

Mark Felt, better known as Watergate source "Deep Throat," never told Washington Post reporter Bob Woodward to follow the money. But in the 1976 movie All the President's Men, actor Hal Holbrook offered that advice in his chilling portrayal of "Deep Throat."

A money trail linked lobbyist Alarid to Commissioner Pyskoty. News coverage about that connection brought attention to Maestas as he pushed for appointment to the Senate.

Seven other people, including Radoslovich, also applied for the Senate appointment. None could muster more than two votes from the commissioners.

Walt Benson, Bernalillo County's only Republican commissioner, once told me he interviewed candidates for the appointment. Benson said Maestas best answered questions about what the Senate should do to improve the state's economy.

Following the money continues as the contested primary election approaches.

Maestas in his campaign report this month listed nearly $101,000 carried over from his years in the House of Representatives. Like most well-heeled incumbents, he received contributions from political committees, lawyers and companies with interests in oil, energy production and telecommunications.

The state Senate's two leading Democrats, Mimi Stewart of Albuquerque and Peter Wirth of Santa Fe, donated money to Maestas. House Speaker Javier Martínez was another high-profile contributor, giving Maestas $2,000.

Radoslovich had fewer corporate contributors, but she received financial help from four of Maestas' legislative colleagues.

Retiring Sen. Bill Tallman, D-Albuquerque, gave Radoslovich three contributions totaling $2,500. Another senator in his final term, Democrat Jerry Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, donated $500 to Radoslovich in two installments.

Contributing $250 each to Radoslovich were state Reps. Debbie Sariñana and Patricia Roybal Caballero, both Democrats from Albuquerque.

Radoslovich is running hard on her background as an educator and her ties to the Senate district. She and her family have lived in within its boundaries for more than 20 years.

She's a clear underdog as the stretch run of the campaign approaches. Maestas is better known, having been through nine campaigns for his old seat in the House. A handful of those races were competitive.

More important, his financial prospects are better. Sitting legislators often command more money from corporations and PACs as their pleas for campaign advertising escalate.

Those who contribute cash expect lawmakers to lend them an ear. They're following the money, too.

Ringside Seat is an opinion column about people, politics and news. Contact Milan Simonich at msimonich@sfnewmexican.com or 505-986-3080.