New rules might be clipping the wings of lobbyists in Washington, DC but in New Mexico lobbyists for developers, health care companies, and the like are lining up to give to campaigns, take legislators to dinner, and host fancy receptions to court legislators as they come into session.

An ethics task force appointed by New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson (D) has issued a number of proposal recommendations the state legislature as it heads back into session including improved campaign finance disclosure, an independent ethics commission, and public financing for statewide offices and district judicial races (an extension of the existing judicial public financing program from Supreme and Appellate court positions).

New Mexico Governor and Democratic candidate for President Bill Richardson weighs in with support for the Voter Owned Iowa Clean Elections (VOICE) Act to offer a full public financing option for state races. Richardson called a special session of New Mexico's legislature this year to pass a law creating a full public financing system for judicial races. A system is already in place in the state for candidates for the Public Regulation Commission.

With five of the nine eligible candidates qualifying in Albuquerque's first run of its public financing program for city elections, the system is being called a success. While both public financing supporters and participating candidates are discussing potential improvements to the law, they are praising the first test of this system which was overwhelmingly approved by voters in a 2005 ballot initiative.

City councilors in Santa Fe, New Mexico are considering a proposal to provide public financing for municipal elections.  Not all are sold on the idea, but supporters are hoping to put the proposal on the ballot for voters to decide.  New Mexico first adopted a public financing program for seats on its Regulatory Commission. Albuquerque voters supported a ballot initiative to offer public financing for municipal races, and Governor Bill Richardson (D) signed a law earlier this year creating a program for judicial races.

This year Albuquerque, New Mexico will see its first run of city council races where a full public financing option is available and from this report on the candidates who have qualified for public financing it seems there's enthusiasm to participate, especially in the 6th district!