NM GOP First Vice Chairman, Jon Barela, subject of complaint

A complaint has been filed with the Rules Committee of the
New Mexico Republican Party. The subject of the complaint
is Republican Party First Vice Chairman, Jon Barela.

Republican party rules forbid sitting state officers from running
against other republicans for public office.

1-4. GENERAL - CONFLICT OF INTEREST - RESTRICTIONS

1-4-1 WHEN A PARTY OFFICER BECOMES A CANDIDATE FOR PUBLIC OFFICE

In the event the State Chairman, or any other State Officer of the Republican State Central Committee, shall file as a candidate for Public Office, and more than one Republican files as a candidate for that office, the State Officer shall immediately vacate the Party Office. In that event, the successor shall be selected in the manner for filling vacancies as in the Rules provided.

Jon Barela had at least three republican opponents to his appointment to the school board, but chose not to vacate his party office as required by the rules.

The whole process by which the (former) Modrall lawyer and APS good ol' boy, Barela was appointed to the APS school board stinks of corruption.

Two priorities of the APS school board are to avoid an honest and impartial audit of the relationship between the APS and the Modrall law firm, and hiding the nature of the good ol' boy organizational structure that leads the APS. When Modraller and APS good ol' boy Jon Barela's name was first announced, it was clear that the board intended to fill the empty board seat with their crony. link

In fact, there really was no good reason at all, to fill the vacant seat by any means but election; the scheduled election is only months away. By being appointed to the board before the election, Barela will enjoy an unearned incumbent advantage in the February election for the seat.

I expect little satisfaction from the complaint process,
good ol' boys are not known for holding each other accountable
for much of anything, but the chair of the Rules Committee,
Ms. Lou Melvin, seemed to take the complaint seriously, and
promised to get back to me after talking with Barela.

And, we shall see what we shall see.