Party leader out after caucus fiasco

Former Richardson campaign worker takes over as state Democratic director

Heather Clark | The Associated Press

2/20/2008 -

ALBUQUERQUE — The executive director of New Mexico's Democratic Party has resigned in the wake of the state's problem-plagued Super Tuesday caucus.

Laura E. Sanchez resigned Tuesday, her replacement, interim executive director Josh Geise, was confirmed Wednesday.

Sanchez was one of a handful of party officials who helped plan and run the caucus. She did not immediately return a call to her cell phone Wednesday.

The Feb. 5 caucus was plagued by long waits at some polling places and a shortage of ballots that forced some to cast the vote on scraps of paper.

Sanchez and state Democratic Party chairman Brian Colón came under severe criticism during the prolonged counting of ballots, which ended Feb. 14 — nine days after voting ended — with Hillary Rodham Clinton being declared the narrow winner.

Geise, who started working for the party Tuesday, said his focus is getting the party ready for the general election in November.

Asked about the party's investigation into complaints about the caucus or whether Democrats are rethinking having an early caucus next time around, Geise said: "We have to take a hard look and see. That's a ways off. For now, I'm focused on winning in November."

Geise is the fifth executive director of the party since 2003.

"I am excited to be returning to the Party in what is shaping up to be the most intense campaign cycle in New Mexico history," Geise said in statement. "We have a lot of long days and nights ahead of us and with the leadership of Chairman Colón, I am confident Nov. 4th is going to be a very good night for New Mexico Democrats."

Meanwhile, Democrats on Saturday will hold a special meeting of the party's State Central Committee to talk about its platform and resolutions. The 11 a.m. meeting is at Smith-Brasher Hall on the campus of the Central New Mexico Community College in Albuquerque.

The meeting comes in advance of the party's March 15 pre-primary convention.

Most recently, Geise worked on Gov. Bill Richardson's presidential campaign as the early states director in the political department. Geise said that job ended Jan. 10, when Richardson withdrew from the race.

Richardson had expressed his frustration with the problems on caucus day and the delay in the vote count.

Hillary Rodham Clinton won the state, defeating Barack Obama by about 1,700 votes.

New Mexican staff writer Kate Nash contributed to this report.