NM Fairgrounds could see multi-million-dollar racino

The State Fair Commission is scheduled to hold a hearing today on a proposed no-bid contract for a friend and major campaign contributor to Gov. Bill Richardson to build a multi-million-dollar racino on the State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque. A state senator who represents the district where the casino would be located criticized the no-bid process Tuesday and predicted certain doom in the Legislature for the project if the people who live and run businesses nearby object. Under the proposal, The Downs at Albuquerque, owned by Richardson's friend Paul Blanchard, would be allowed to extend its lease of the fairgrounds property for 25 years, with an extension option of another 15 years. The new agreement, which requires approval by the Legislature, would allow The Downs to build "a new, state-of-the-art racino facility" at its own cost, according to a news release from the fair. According to the National Institute on Money in State Politics, Blanchard donated $10,000 in addition to raising cash. His wife, Kandace Blanchard, gave another $10,000 in 2002, while The Downs at Albuquerque contributed $100,000. In 2006, Blanchard contributed $120,000 to Richardson's re-election, while The Downs at Albuquerque contributed $36,000. Zia Park racetrack in Hobbs, which was then co-owned by Blanchard, gave $38,000...more