More Editorial

• Commentary: New Mexico Tech's plans have some Socorro residents up in arms
• Trib takes: Feb. 20
• Bouquets & brickbats: Feb. 20

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Surely the great state of New Mexico can afford security for its lieutenant governor.

With surplus revenues from tax receipts and oil and gas revenues, it can't be a cost-saving measure — which, if so, would be penny wise and pound foolish — that explains why most of the time Lt. Gov. Diane Denish literally is on her own out there.

This, in a state and nation where violence is routine and often involves some of the most mundane circumstances — such as road rage, because motorists couldn't agree over who should be first in a turning lane. And this after several incidents in which Denish felt threatened and appeared to be in harm's way, including one incident on a road at night.

So, what is it? Why does Denish not have a regular state police security detail assigned to her? Why has she, the second-highest elected official in the state, been forced to hire private security on occasion, while Richardson has a platoon (almost) of state police officers surrounding him most of the day?

Why would state officials, such as Richardson and N.M. Public Safety Secretary John Denko, be so casual about protecting the state official who is but a heartbeat away from being governor and who has frequently served as acting governor in Richardson's absence over the last year, while he pursued the Democratic nomination for president?

In some ways, the risks to her may not be as serious as the governor's are, but they are real nonetheless, as her own experience has borne out.

No question that the governor, who previously served as a U.S. secretary of energy and as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations and who has served the nation well in several hostage situations overseas deserves a full measure of security.

But not at Denish's expense.

Several prominent state legislators, interviewed earlier this week about the situation, agreed. Why wouldn't they?

Let's get with the program — and that includes the governor, lame duck or not.

Let's provide regular security for New Mexico's lieutenant governor. Like, yesterday!