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Slur words over DWI?
Governor jumps on radio comments made by his GOP foe

By Kate Nash
Tribune Reporter
July 15, 2006

SANTA FE - Twenty-one words on a radio talk show have sparked the biggest back-and-forth of the 2006 gubernatorial election so far.

The words: "I think that the Legislature understands that statistically, too many people who are repeat offenders happen to have Spanish last names."

The speaker: GOP candidate John Dendahl, on a KKOB-AM (770) talk show Wednesday that dealt, in part, with the state's DWI law. Host Jim Villanucci spoke with Dendahl about a range of issues in the hourlong show.

Dendahl went on to say, "And the Legislature will not enact legislation, on the basis (that) `Gee, that would be racist,' " according to a transcript of the show.

Gov. Bill Richardson's campaign lashed out at Dendahl on Friday, saying the words should be a "red flag" to Republican voters.

"Unfortunately, John Dendahl has a history of sticking his foot into his mouth by making insensitive comments and alienating whole classes of people," said Dave Contarino, chairman of the governor's re-election campaign.

Dendahl said Friday that his point was that Hispanics and American Indians have a disproportionally high number of DWIs and that the Legislature is doing them a disservice by not crafting stronger laws.

He said his comments were not intended to be racist and that his opponents were mischaracterizing them.

"Sometimes, in the radio studio, you aren't quite as articulate as when you are writing a column," he said.

Dendahl pointed to a state Department of Health report that showed 54 percent of 2003 DWI offenders were Hispanic, 24 percent were Anglo and 20 percent were American Indian.

It also showed American Indians and Hispanics had the highest re-arrest rates for DWI between 2000 and 2003.

Contarino said Dendahl didn't take into account the changes Richardson has made since taking office in 2003.

"All legislators, including Republicans, should be offended by Dendahl's careless comments, which minimize their hard work on DWI laws that have moved New Mexico forward and made our streets safer."

Under Richardson, it has become a fourth-degree felony to sell or provide alcohol to a minor. Another change in state law requires first-time DWI offenders to get an alcohol-detecting ignition interlock in their vehicles before they can legally drive again.

Dendahl said he intends to verify the Richardson campaign's boasts about his record.

"I'm checking his record to see if it's as fine as he says."

Voters will choose between Richardson, a first-term Democrat governor, and Dendahl on Nov. 7.