Senators mum over Altamirano's replacement

Most senior Democrat, John Pinto, could become first American Indian to hold post

Steve Terrell | The New Mexican

1/1/2008 - 1/1/08

As legislators this week paid tribute to New Mexico Senate President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano — who died of a heart attack last week — no obvious candidate immediately arose to seek his leadership post in the Senate, which convenes Jan. 15.

Senators were reluctant to talk about a possible replacement for the popular Silver City Democrat, who had held the position for the past three years.

"We just want to honor Senator Altamirano today," Senate Major Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen, told a reporter shortly after Altamirano's memorial service at the Capitol Rotunda on Monday. Sanchez said he hadn't spoken with other senators about choosing a new president pro tem.

Sen. Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, speculated the Senate might name a "caretaker" president pro tem for the upcoming session, then decide on a permanent replacement following the November elections. That is the usual time the Senate elects its leaders.

During the upcoming 30-day session, Feldman noted, the president pro tem is slightly more powerful than during 60-day sessions — held in alternating years — because the president chairs a committee that decides whether proposed bills are germane to the primarily financial session. Bills can't be considered unless they are ruled germane or have been placed on the governor's call.

Feldman wouldn't speculate who might be chosen. "Whoever has the fewest enemies," she said. "That's why Ben Altamirano was such an obvious choice for the job. He had no enemies."

Whoever is selected probably won't be as loyal to Gov. Bill Richardson as Altamirano was. In recent sessions, some senior Democratic senators have bucked the governor on various issues.

Usually the president pro tem is the nominee of the majority party. Democrats hold a majority in the Senate. Assuming Richardson appoints a Democrat to fill out the remainder of Altamirano's term in the Senate, the party division in the chamber will remain 24 Democrats and 18 Republicans.

The most senior current Democrat in the Senate is John Pinto of Tohatchi, chairman of the Senate Indian and Cultural Affairs Committee. Pinto was first elected in 1976. If Democrats use seniority as the main criteria for a new president pro tem, Pinto would be the first American Indian to hold the position.

Next in seniority is Tim Jennings of Roswell, a co-chairman of the Senate Finance Committee and a former majority leader. During his eulogy for Altamirano on Monday, Jennings twice mentioned he'd been in the Senate for 30 years.

Carlos Cisneros of Questa, the vice chairman of the Finance Committee, has the third most seniority among Democrats. He first was elected in 1984.

One senator, who asked not to be named, said he thought Sen. John Arthur Smith, D-Deming, might be the likely choice to replace Altamirano. A conservative Democrat who co-chairs the Finance Committee with Jennings, Smith is popular with members on both sides of the aisle.

For most of the Senate's history, the president pro tem position has not been as powerful as that of majority leader, who is responsible for scheduling floor sessions and votes on legislation. That changed in the late 1980s, however, when Sen. Manny Aragon, D-Albuquerque, was elected to the position and turned it into a center of power.

In 2001, a coalition of three Democrats and 18 Republican senators ousted Aragon and elected Richard Romero of Albuquerque to the post. For the next few sessions, Aragon, who later got elected majority leader, and Romero spent much time sniping at each other.

The president pro tem isn't as powerful as the speaker of the House is in his chamber. The speaker alone decides on committee assignments and determines what and how many committees will hear bills.

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