(Is this legal?)

Richardson's presidential campaign donated to help get spaceport tax passed

By Jose L. Medina Sun-News reporter
Article Launched: 06/19/2008 12:00:00 AM MDT

To read the campaign finance report, click here.
http://extras.mnginteractive.com/live/m ... mpaign.PDF
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LAS CRUCES — Gov. Bill Richardson's unsuccessful presidential campaign was the largest contributor to a political action committee that pushed for passage of a spaceport tax referendum in Sierra County last April, according to reports submitted to the New Mexico Secretary of State's office.

The Richardson for President campaign gave $10,000 to People for Aerospace of Sierra County on April 8, two weeks before the April 22 vote in which Sierra residents overwhelmingly approved the tax, clearing the way for a spaceport taxation district.

The second largest donation — $7,000 — came from Las Cruces developer Phillip Phillipou.

"He (Richardson) was a supporter," said Gary Whitehead, the PAC's chairman and a Sierra County commissioner, "It's been kind of his project and he certainly wanted it to be successful and he was willing to invest in the success of the election."

A spokesman for the Richardson campaign could not be reached Wednesday.

When created, the taxation district, which includes Doña Ana County and possibly in the future Otero County, would provide a portion of the money needed to pay for the construction of Spaceport America in southern Sierra County.

It will be the world's first purpose-built commercial spaceport at a price tag of $198 million in public funding.

Otero County voters are expected to take up the issue in November.

According to records, the gift from the Richardson campaign was part of about $105,000 the People for Aerospace of Sierra County raised. The group spent about $96,700, with more than $45,000 of that going to Wilson Binkley Advertising and Marketing, a Las Cruces firm that also does work for the New Mexico Spaceport Authority, the state agency charged with building and operating the spaceport.

Last year, People for Aerospace of Doña Ana County raised $142,000 for its campaign here, spending $140,000.

Tax opponents in Sierra County did not have as many resources as spaceport supporters.

April Schmidlapp, who worked to defeat Sierra's tax, said she feels the vote was bought. She said a loosely organized group of tax opponents at most spent "a couple thousand dollars."

"It's all part of a group in (Truth or Consequences) that just bullies its way through decision-making and gets what they want done," She said.

But Whitehead said he was not concerned with any perception that money was linked to a successful outcome.

"I understand that people will make their own judgment on the issues themselves," he said. "The folks that opposed the election are certainly going to be find some level of fault in the outcome and I certainly can see how they would use the amount of money expended as an issue."

Other top contributors to the Sierra County campaign included the Turtleback Development Corp., and the Verde Group. Each gave $5,000.

Turtleback has plans to build a resort and develop other ventures in Sierra County. Verde Group has plans for an industrial park and home development in Santa Teresa.

Also giving $5,000 were the Albuquerque law firm of Sutin, Thayer and Browne, the Michael P. Mataya Revocable Trust, the X Prize Foundation, Union Pacific, Homes by Joe Boyden and Hot Springs Land Development.

Residents and businesses in Doña Ana also gave to the Sierra County effort.

State Sen. Lee Rawson of Las Cruces, a Republican, gave $100. Barrett Appraisal contributed $300 and 1st Community Bank gave $1,000.

Brent and Alice Westmoreland of Las Cruces gave $2,500.


Jose Medina can be reached at jmedina@lcsun-news.com


Top 10 contributors

Richardson for President campaign $10,000

Phillip Phillipou $7,000

Turtleback Development $5,000

Verde Group $5,000

Sutin, Thayer and Browne $5,000

X Prize Foundation $5,000

Union Pacific $5,000

Hot Springs Land Development $5,000

Michael P. Mataya Revocable Trust $5,000

Homes by Joe Boyden $5,000

Source: New Mexico Secretary of State

http://www.lcsun-news.com/news/ci_9629830