Serving the High Plains
Serving the High Plains
The response to our weekly web poll last week gave us quite a start.
It produced 4,000 votes within 24 hours on the question of whether Gov. Susana Martinez should have reappointed Judge Albert Mitchell to preside over the courtrooms of the 10th Judicial District.
We knew the issue had been hot, but we had no idea it was that volatile.
Then we remembered that what seems too good to be true, generally is not true.
Skepticism paid off. Our website wizards probed down a few layers and found that, indeed, a whole lot of the responses on both sides of this controversy were from very few individual computers.
A few people tried to make our opinion poll a contest to see who had the fastest index finger to register votes.
We ended up with about 50 solo votes to count when all was said and done, which is still well above average for responses to our web poll questions.
The repeat votes left us scratching our heads.
We understand that Mitchell has made some controversial decisions that generated strong feelings. We don’t understand, however, why those strong feelings would lead people to try and manipulate a public opinion poll. It’s not likely to change the governor’s mind and definitely would not sway the supreme court, which makes decisions based on readings of the law.
Further, it tarnishes the credibility of both sides.
For the record, Gov. Martinez reappointed Judge Mitchell after a chain of events that began with Mitchell not gathering enough votes in the November general election to be retained. He received a handful of votes shy of a majority in the election, 1,884 votes against retention to 1,880 votes in favor, but he needed 57 percent to keep the job.
Judge Mitchell then reapplied for the job, and despite an effort to block his application, was recommended to the governor by a judicial nominating commission, along with former judge Don Schutte.
On Jan. 12, the governor appointed Mitchell. We supported the governor’s decision, and we stand by that opinion.
On Jan. 13, attorney Warren Frost, representing Pam Clark, treasurer of an organization that opposed Mitchell’s retention for the election, challenged Mitchell’s appointment in a petition to the New Mexico Supreme Court. Mitchell was temporarily suspended from duties, but on Friday, the court upheld Mitchell’s re-appointment.
Mitchell will hold the job for two years, when he can be challenged in a partisan election.
We say again we hope some candidates will run against Mitchell, so voters will have a clear choice.
In the meantime, we are serving notice that when something looks too good to be true, we will check it out.