Rep. Kenny Martinez

STATE News:

ALBUQUERQUE – The New Mexico Republican Party is asking the Office of Attorney General Hector Balderas to investigate Rep. Kenny Martinez for possibly granting special access to lobbyists who donated vast amounts of money to his PAC.

“Attorney General Balderas needs to address the question; if Rep. Martinez is violating state law, people deserve to know,” said Pat Garrett, spokesman for the Republican Party of New Mexico.

Local news broke the story about two lobbyists, Natasha Ning and Drew Setter, who were possibly given office space in the New Mexico State Capitol free of charge to conduct their private lobbying business. Those two lobbyists and their clients were among the largest donors to Rep. Martinez and his political activities.

Rep. Martinez and Attorney General Balderas are both Democrats, and recently the Albuquerque Journal’s Editorial Board slammed Balderas for using his office to advance his own political ambitions as well as those of his party.

Despite the New Mexico Republican Party requesting an investigation into this issue, the Attorney General’s Office has taken no action.  

“The Attorney General’s Office needs to look into the issues raised by the media. Republican or Democrat the Attorney General should make sure that no one is selling keys to the State Capitol,” Garrett said.