Ok, not quite yet- but! - New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson is asking the state legislature to get behind a series of ethics and reform proposals, including extending the state's public financing program (now available to candidates for the Public Regulation Commission) to include judicial races.

Richardson appointed an ethics commission some months back to look at ways to restore New Mexican's faith in their government, now he's shopping their proposals to the legislature. In addition to limites on campaign contributions and gifts to lawmakers, Richardson wants to create project for judicial public financing. Public financing is already available to candidates for the state's Public Regulation Commission - and will soon be available for municipal elections in Albuquerque - and Richardson envisions phasing a larger public financing program in eventually, with judicial races up first. This is great news!