Governor's PAC pumps oil, gas cash

Associated Press

Updated: May 15, 2012 4:14 PM

SANTA FE, N.M. (AP) — Gov. Susana Martinez's political organization raked in more than $77,000 during a five-week period as she aims to make GOP gains in the New Mexico Legislature.

Susana PAC reported Monday raising the money during the reporting period that stretched from April 3 through May 7, The Albuquerque Journal reported. The governor's PAC said it received $10,000 each from six companies, including Mack Energy of Artesia, which contributed $117,500 to Martinez's gubernatorial campaign in 2010.

Nearly half of the money - at least $30,000 - came from oil and gas companies in southeastern New Mexico and Texas.

Martinez political consultant Jay McCleskey said that the $10,000 contributions include $5,000 each for both the primary and general election cycles.

A state law that took effect after the 2010 election restricts campaign contributions to a statewide candidate or PAC to $5,000 per cycle, or $10,000 per election.

Martinez's political organization did not report giving money to GOP legislative candidates during the recent reporting period, though McCleskey said financial backing probably will be provided in the days leading up to the June 5 primary election. Susana PAC previously reported giving $17,500 to four Republican House and Senate candidates statewide.

"There will likely be more contributions to legislative candidates before the primary, but making direct contributions is only one way reform-minded candidates will be assisted," McCleskey told the Journal in an email.

Other forms of assistance could include political mailers, he said.

Overall, the governor's political organization reported spending $99,245 during the five-week period. About $27,000 of that was spent on a statewide survey. The PAC reported raising a total of $77,800 and has $273,734 on hand.

Susana PAC had previously reported raising $336,000 during the early primary reporting cycle, with about one-third of that money coming from Texas donors.

Meanwhile, a super PAC that recently came to the aid of embattled state House Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton, an Albuquerque Democrat, reported receiving a $30,000 contribution from the Communications Workers of America labor union.

In a news release, Independent Source PAC said it is not adhering to the campaign contribution caps because it is not contributing money directly to candidates. A U.S. district judge ruled this year that the state law restricting campaign spending could not be applied to independent expenditure groups.

The $30,000 contribution from CWA brings the total received by Independent Source PAC from the national union to $220,000.

Monday's deadline was the second of four mandatory primary reporting dates. The next deadline is May 31, five days before the election.

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