New Mexico delegates schmooze and booze at convention

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

8/25/2008 - 8/26/08

DENVER — It was too good a cliché to pass up: a smoke-filled room at a political convention.

But that's exactly what was going on Sunday night with New Mexico delegates to the 2008 Democratic National Convention and assorted friends in the Churchill Room of the historic Brown Palace hotel.

Perhaps it was politically incorrect in these health-conscious times, but state party chairman Brian Colón hosted a "smoker" — a cigar party for New Mexicans who made the trip to Denver this week.

The booze was flowing and there was food — a deli tray, some jumbo shrimp wrapped in lettuce. And there were boxes of cigars: strong dark CAOs, short but powerful Punches and several milder brands.

Virtually every man in the room was smoking. And many of the women, too. If politics was discussed, it was in the confines of informal conversation. Mainly it was a time to socialize and relax the night before the convention officially got under way on Monday.

That's the main purpose of these parties — to provide opportunities for political leaders to bond and network, to get to know one another better in recreational settings. And for the businesses that pay for these events, it's a good way to establish and maintain friendly relations with people in power.

"For me, the main purpose is to schmooze with the many state officials who we work with on an ongoing basis," said Fred O'Cheskey of Albuquerque, a lobbyist for Southern Union Railroad.

Immediately before Colón's smoker Sunday, Southern Union sponsored another party for New Mexicans. It was a reception in railroad cars parked at Denver's Union Station. Attendees spread out over several cars, sitting in plush chairs and munching on crabcakes, shrimp in tequila sauce and chocolate chip cookies. And, of course, there were free drinks for all.

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish went from car to car greeting party-goers as did former Oklahoma U.S. Sen. Fred Harris, a former New Mexico party chairman and current convention superdelegate.

After the party, as the delegates boarded a bus back to the Crowne Plaza hotel, they picked up their party favors — wooden train whistles. On the way back to the hotel, few could resist blowing on the whistles.

"It's a benefit for Union Pacific," O'Cheskey explained in an interview Monday. "The railroad has like 600 miles in New Mexico. They are a very big player. Railroads are coming back and we want to be more in tune with what the state is doing."

O'Cheskey said the railroad isn't pushing any specific legislation in New Mexico, but the company does have big plans in the state. Union Pacific is building a $600 million refueling station at Santa Teresa near the Mexican border, he said. "That's going to put Santa Teresa on the map."

The schmoozing goes late into the night and starts early each day of the convention. In addition to the parties, there are daily breakfasts for the delegates.

Monday's breakfast for the New Mexicans featured speeches by dignitaries such as former Denver Mayor Federico Peña and Al Gore's 2000 presidential campaign manager, Donna Brazile.

But somebody has to pay for the bacon. Monday's morning meal was sponsored by Public Service Company of New Mexico as well as The Williams Cos., a natural gas corporation based in Tulsa, Okla., that does business in northwestern New Mexico. "We have substantial holdings in the Four Corners area and have a major pipeline for gas and oil going out of the San Juan Basin," said Evan Hanson, director of state government affairs for Williams.

Why would Williams want to buy breakfast for a bunch of New Mexico political party delegates?

"We value our relationships with these fine folks," Hanson said. "It's an opportunity to get to know them better, a chance to talk to them. And if they have questions about energy, we're happy to answer them."

Like O'Cheskey, Hanson said the company isn't pushing any specific legislation. Though one of its lobbyists said a few words of greeting at the breakfast, she didn't talk about any major energy issues.

Just a couple of hours after breakfast ended, it was off to lunch at Maggiano's, a nearby Italian restaurant. There, the lunch tab was split among several interests, including Zamora Strategic Advisors, RBC Dain Rauscher, the New Mexico Oil & Gas Association and the local film and television technicians union. And late Monday night, after the convention session ended, it was back to the Crowne Plaza, where there was a reception for Gov. Bill Richardson beside the swimming pool. That party was paid for by the International Association for Firefighters and American Benefits Consulting.

Contact Steve Terrell at 986-3037 or sterrell@sfnewmexican.com.