UPDATE 9/22: It seemed that Gov. Richardson’s plan for using federal stimulus dollars to create a wild horse sanctuary was practically a done deal. But now Lt. Governor and gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish has come out against the plan. Since Denish is a member of the state Board of Finance, which has to OK the proposal, her opposition is significant.

Furthermore, according to a story by Thomas J. Cole in this morning’s edition of the Albuquerque Journal, Denish says she has contacted other members of the board and “Nobody I talked to said they were going to vote for it.”

Cole quotes Denish as saying Richardson’s plan for spending $2.8 million to purchase more than 12,000 acres of land and expand the Cerrillos State Hills State Park near the town of Madrid is “a terrible use” of federal stimulus dollars during the state’s tough economic times. Her comments echo that of state Sen. John Arthur Smith (D-Deming), who published a critique of the governor’s plan in the Sept. 21 edition of the Santa Fe New Mexican.

Republican gubernatorial candidate Susana Martinez also opposes the move, issuing a statement saying, “With 55,000 lost jobs in New Mexico, this is inexcusable.” You can read Cole’s entire article here.

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Original post 9/21: Should federal stimulus funds be used to create a wild horse sanctuary?

Bill Richardson thinks it’s a good use of $2.8 million but a fellow Democrat, state Sen. John Arthur Smith (D-Deming), doesn’t.

Richardson — accompanied by cabinet members, supporters and officials of the state parks department — formally announced Tuesday (Sept. 21) that the state will spend federal stimulus dollars to purchase 12,142 acres of land known as the Ortiz Mountain Ranch to expand Cerrillos Hills State Park in northern New Mexico and create a wild horse sanctuary.

At a ceremony at the Ortiz Mountain Ranch Tuesday, Richardson said that expansion will not only preserve land in the Galisteo Basin but “will provide the public with opportunities for recreation, and support our local economy by supporting jobs, and promoting tourism.”

But in the Tuesday edition of the Santa Fe New Mexican, Sen. Smith — one of the most influential members of the state legislature — disagreed. While acknowledging that “land preservation and animal protection are worthy goals, this is not the time” to use stimulus funds on such a venture. Smith says that given the state’s budget problems, the $2.8 million would be better spent on social services. Smith’s entire op-ed can be seen here.

After Richardson’s presentation, he stopped very briefly to talk to reporters about his rationale:

The state has entered into a purchase agreement with the Nature Conservancy and a private owner.

Cabinet Secretary Jim Noel of the New Mexico Energy, Minerals and Natural Resources Department said that the purchase “has been on our radar screen for the last six to nine months” and cited what he says is the proposed sanctuary’s tremendous potential for eco-tourism. “It’s a huge draw,” Noel said.

The state Board of Finance was supposed to hear a discussion of the purchase on Tuesday morning at its monthly meeting but the item was withdrawn, Noel said, because further consultation was needed among stakeholders. Noel said he expects the purchase proposal to go before the board within a month or two.

Meanwhile, Smith’s critique maintains that “The state barely has the money to operate its existing parks and has already put one park in mothballs until state finances get stronger” and Smith says the state doesn’t have the money to hire staff to operate an expanded park in the Galisteo Basin. Smith also says that, rather than using stimulus funds, the governor’s office has access to $5 million in a conservation fund that could be used instead.

Bottom line: Once final consultations are completed, the proposed purchase goes before the Board of Finance and if a simple majority approves it, the land can be bought.