Johnson doesn't meddle in Racing Commission matters, lawmakers told

Billy Blackburn, chairman of the commission, told the Senate Corporations and Transportation Committee that Johnson hasn't told him how to vote on any matter.

"He has always told me, 'You do what you think is in the best interest of New Mexico,"' Blackburn said.

Another commissioner, Peggy Beaudette, also said Johnson hadn't meddled in decisions about licensing and regulating of tracks.

"This commission is made up of the most independent-thinking people you can find," Beaudette said.

The commissioners testified Friday at the request of Senate President Pro Tem Manny Aragon, D-Albuquerque, who wanted to know whether Johnson was blocking the licensing of any additional racing tracks.

Aragon and Sen. Billy McKibben, R-Hobbs, are pushing legislation this session to expand gambling at horse tracks in New Mexico.

Aragon wants to expand slot machine operating hours at a racing track in Albuquerque.

McKibben, who has been an outspoken critic of Johnson, is promoting a racing track in Hobbs as a form of economic development. The Senate has approved a bill by McKibben that would permit tracks to have full-scale casinos if a new track was licensed at Hobbs or Raton.

Last year, the Racing Commission heard proposals for a new track in Hobbs and a reopening of La Mesa Park in Raton. Commissioners took no action to impose a moratorium on new tracks but agreed that the state isn't ready to expand horse racing beyond the four existing tracks: Sunland Park, Ruidoso Downs, The Downs at Albuquerque and SunRay Park in Farmington.

Last year at a legislative committee hearing, McKibben asked Economic Development Secretary John Garcia to lobby Johnson to support the licensing of a track at Hobbs. Garcia refused, however.

Despite the testimony of Blackburn and Beaudette, Aragon says he wants to hear from other members of the five-member commission on whether the governor has instructed the regulators to oppose more racing tracks.

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