Denish protecting state workers jobs?

The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, AFSCME, has sent an email to state employees. The email was apparently forwarded by Department of Health employees. The Journal reports, link,

"In an e-mail sent to state employees, an AFSCME political coordinator, Josh Anderson, wrote that Republican governor candidate Susana Martinez would lay off 5,000 state employees — read: union members — if elected."

Susana Martinez has not expressed any such intention.

It is of no small concern that state employees used state resources to influence an election. Republican Party of New Mexico spokeswoman Janel Causey said;

"It is completely inappropriate to use taxpayer resources to perpetuate a special-interest scare tactic."

The implications of the AFSMCE argument are interesting. I would suppose that AFSMCE expects that Lt Gov Diane Denish, if elected, will protect the state workers jobs that Martinez allegedly threatens.

The real question of course is, should state workers jobs be protected even if they are unnecessary to fulfill the legitimate missions of state government?

In an election campaign where issues are trumped by negative ads, an issue has emerged upon which candidates can be compared and contrasted.

One candidate would be expected to eliminate at least the unnecessary jobs while the other would enjoy AFSMCE support based on the promise to protect state workers jobs whether necessary or not.

One serves the interests of all New Mexicans, the other the interests of those state workers holding unjustifiable or unnecessary jobs in state government, and who would like to see their employment continue.