In Española, corruption breeds indifference

Maggie says:
In a noteworthy expose for a small newspaper in a town long known for political corruption, the Rio Grande Sun has published allegations of vote-buying in Española. While these charges probably seem shocking to outsiders, they are run-of-the-mill to locals, who credit the outcome of many an election throughout the town's history to purchased votes.

The allegations, explored meticulously by staff writer Nick Wilkinson, center on the current mayoral election, where in-person early voting just began. But according to nearly everyone in town - public officials included - the tales of vote-buying in town are nothing new. In the story, Wilkinson's sources explain how vote-buying is a way of life in Española, particularly in the public housing complex where all the sources live. For up to $20 a vote (or less regularly, gifts of beer or firewood) and a ride to the polls, one source even calls an accused man "Santa Claus," because his appearance once a year at her doorstep is as predicatable as the bearded man himself.

While many public officials admit to the Sun that stories of vote-buying are rife throughout the town's history, claims have never been proveable because no one in town would talk. The importance of the Sun expose rests upon the sources who share details of how their votes were purchased. Although they are anonymous in the story, each source agreed to cooperate using their full names if charges were filed against the two men in question.

As we'll see, the vote-buyers take advantage of a provision in the law aimed at helping the disabled. Current state law allows someone to accompany voters into the voting booth as long as the voters request their presence, presumably for help with the machine. However, vote-buying and selling are fourth-degree felonies.

The allegations center around three local men: Eppie Martinez, Steve Sanchez, and a man only known as "Tommy." Martinez and Sanchez are both consultants to various elected officials, but appear to have close ties to current mayoral candidate Floyd Archuleta. According to residents of the Española public housing complex, Martinez and Sanchez have been buying votes in town for years.

Each documented vote buy begins with Martinez or Sanchez offering a "ride" to the polls, usually for $15.

The SUN witnessed Martinez taking voters into city hall. He has done so repeatedly since the in-person early voting began Feb. 8, according Española City Clerk Jeanette Beesley.

Martinez stayed in a hallway outside the voting both while Sanchez was out picking people up in Martinez's white Toyota truck. When they arrived, Sanchez escorted a voter inside and said he was there to assist the voter. Sanchez and the voter then went into the voting booth together.

During one such incident, Beesley tried to tell Sanchez that he could only accompany the man into the booth if the voter was blind, physically disabled or unable to read or write.

But she relented and Sanchez went into the booth with the voter. The voter later said Sanchez filled in the ballot.

Precinct judge Santiago Madrid stood and watched the incident, but did nothing else.
"That's not my job," he said later. "If I was God, I could pay attention to everything. (Eppie's) never done anything in front of me but I hear stories."

Stories, indeed. One woman notes that Martinez has escorted her to the polls every election cycle for the last 12 years. "We go with [Eppie] every year," she said. "I've always known him as Santa Claus."

Mayoral candidate Floyd Archuleta admits working with Martinez. "I believe he's a supporter of our campaign," Archuleta said. "I believe he's talked to people for us. He's one that is available to give people rides to the polls."

Residents who've been approached by Martinez and Sanchez come to different conclusions about the value of their vote. Many express that for "a hamburger and a coffee," selling their vote is worth it. Another who sold his vote proclaimed, "I'm just doing my patriotic duty in a free democracy."

But two residents who chose not to sell their vote provide poignant reminders of the severity of these allegations.

"No, I didn't [sell my vote]," he said. "I just didn't feel it was right. I know about politics and how everything works around here but I just don't think it's right. To come up and offer money to people on a fixed income that need it is terrible. I think it's crap because people should be able to make up their own minds. It's taking away your choice."

Another source shows us what's lost when politics are played on the bottom line:

"To me, it sounds like dirty politics no matter what," he said. "I can't stand any of these politicians. That's why I don't vote."

To me - an outsider to New Mexico politics if there ever was one - these stories are pretty gut-wrenching. This story is more than politics-as-usual in a corrupt town, more than a couple of guys offering money and rides, more than a potentially corrupt candidate who probably shouldn't be on the ballot. It's about dignity and responsibility and fairness. The source has it right - it's not fair to buy votes from folks who desperately need the cash. It doesn't matter that they probably wouldn't vote anyway.

Democracy isn't a stagnant certainty; it's a living and breathing notion constantly fighting a vicious struggle between modern realities. Low turnout is one of those realities. So is corruption. So is power. The balance is a tenuous one, hardly ever even. Actions like these tip it irrevocably off-course.

The Attorney General has begun an investigation into the Sun's claims. Chances seem good that Martinez and Sanchez will go down for this. But what about the bigger picture? We're talking a town where corruption is bred into its backbone, where a new Martinez and Sanchez (or perhaps the graduation of "Tommy") will mean more of the same. In a society where corruption is increasingly expected, how much can really change? In a political atmosphere where our president lets his minions hang out to dry for dirty deeds on behalf of them all, can we really ever get it right?

From the dirtiest kind of Santa Claus to an attitude that's anything but "the buck stops here," this optimist is scared to hope for the best.