Geno Zamora: He Does What He's Told

Geno Zemora (left) is Santa Fe's new City Attorney. He has always done what he was told to do and so has David Coss. So it is no surprise that when Governor Bill Richardson (right), who is running Coss' re-eleection campaign, told the Mayor to appoint Zamora ... both Coss and Zamora obeyed. Below is a reprint from four years ago describing when I first met Geno.


Santa Fe, New Mexico: Oct. 1, 2005

Governor Bill Richardson is up for re-election in 2006 and today was the first day to pick up filing papers for State of New Mexico's political campaigns.

I love the Capitol area on Saturday. Calm.

It has been six years since the Secretary of State for New Mexico has had offices in the Roundhouse. How the fuck should I know?

The church bells actually were chiming eight when I opened the door to the two story building next to the Capitol that housed the Secretary of State. I was there to pick up a petition to run for Governor.

As far as I could tell, Santa Fe City Councilor David Pfeffer, Geno Zamora, and I were the first ones there. Pfeffer was filing papers for the U.S. Senate (Republican) and Zamora, former Chief Counsel to Fat Bill, was there for papers to run for N.M. Attorney General.

As I went to the window to get the packet, I caught Pfeffer's eye. The last time we met, David Pfeffer told me, "I'm not talking to you about anything."
"Why?" I asked.
"Because of all the bad things you said about Jews", Pfeffer snapped back at me.
What things did I say? I really didn't know what anti-Israeli comment of mine he misconstrued to be Anti-Semitic.
"I don't remember exactly what you said, but..." Pfeffer answered, with that look like, 'Oh shit, I don't have a quote.'

Anyway, when I saw Councilor Pfeffer I put out my hand to shake his and I gave him a respectful nod, "Councilor." This time, Pfeffer was ready with his quote..."What are you running for now, God?". What a geek, I thought.
"I'm running for God's Boss, Governor of New Mexico", I said.
Just then the smiling clerk asked, "Will that be on a Major Party ticket?"

As I was walking toward the elevator a guy in a suit came walking toward me. Nice smile, looked important. I put out my hand, "Hi, I'm Cove."
"Hi Cove, I'm Geno Zamora."



I asked Geno if he was getting help with his race from the Governor, his ex-boss.
"That a good question," he answered.
That's not a very good answer, I said in my head. In fact, it's a pretty dumb question, come to think of it.
After a little chit-chat, I said I was running for Governor from the extreme extreme left. "Out beyond the Deanie's" is how I put it.
Geno smiled.
Then it was poker time.
"As a lawyer," I said, "you would be interested in this...I have been blogging for a while now that Governor Richardson took money from the CIA to throw the last election."
One one-thousand; two one-thousand..."Interesting," Fat Bill's Suit replied.
"Yeah, I think the Governor is CIA and it doesn't matter," I continued.
One one-thousand; two one-thousand..."Interesting," Attorney Zamora repeated in the same Suit language.

I said something to Zamora about Fat Bill Richardson's position on the war.
"He cares deeply about the war. He's the only Governor to lower the flag at half mast when we lose a soldier. You know he calls the family..." Zamora rambled on defending his old boss.

"Oh yeah, the Governor is pro-military." I said, silencing Geno. "I've been trying to find out if the Governor has ever mentioned the words 'Abu Ghraib' publicly." I continued, "Do you know if he ever talked about it?"

Zamora laughed and said, "I guess I shouldn't be talking about my conversation with my boss."

"Let's ask him," I said, looking around the room for Governor Lardo.

"I have to join my party now. Nice talking to you."