Albuquerque Journal from Albuquerque, New Mexico • Page 1

1rii.r nr T) Tr f.t. 1 1 JOURNAL NEW MEXICO'S LEADING NEWSPAPER ALBUQUERQU 107th Year No. 2 94 Pages in 5 Sections Friday Morning, January 2, 1987 Copyright 1987, Journal Publishing Co. Carratheire Promie mm New Governor Asks State To Reach For 'Finest Year' i Ml By David Staats OF THE JOURNAL'S CAPITOL BUREAU SANTA FE New Mexico's 27th governor, Garrey Carruthers, promised compassion and a positive attitude Thursday in a series of New Year's resolutions he made to mark his inauguration. "Let it be resolved: This will be our finest year, together," Carruthers said minutes after his swearing-in at a noon ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda.

The 47-year-old Las Cruces Republican embraced his wife, Kathy, and waved to the applauding audience of hundreds after he took the oath of office from former Supreme Court Justice William Riordan. The new governor displayed his characteristic sense of humor as he thanked dignitaries and supporters for spending the holiday in official ceremonies. Remarking on the football bowl games scheduled New Year's Day, he said, "I want to thank you men for dragging your wives out from in front of the television set." Carruthers' formal speech drew praise from officials of both parties for its positive tone. "The resolutions Garrey Carruthers has asked all New Mexicans to join in are resolutions we can all support him in," said Toney Anaya, the Democrat who governed the state for the past four years. "With that kind of resolve, he will have a very successful administration." Carruthers asked the state to resolve with him to thank people who volunteer their time, work for state MORE: See CARRUTHERS on PAGE A10 Liquor Chief Axed; Race Head Quits By Rene Kimball JOURNAL STAFF WRITER State liquor control director Abe Rodriguez was fired Wednesday by the incoming gubernatorial administration.

Also, state Racing Commission chairman Nick Franklin has submitted his resignation, saying he wanted to give Gov. Garrey Car-ruthers a chance to name his own appointee. Maralyn Budke, Carruthers' chief of staff, confirmed she telephoned Rodriguez's office to tell him not to report to work today. Rodriguez will be replaced temporarily, according to Ms. Budke, by Santa Fe lawyer David Sierra, who served as liquor control director under Republican Gov.

David Cargo in the late 1960s. Ms. Budke said she did not speak to Rodriguez directly. "He was not in the office. I spoke to the deputy and advised him," she said.

Ms. Budke would not comment on why Rodriguez was dismissed. Rod-riquez declined Thursday to speculate on the reasons. "I got the call that there would be a new man coming in Friday morning," Rodriguez said. "I did what I needed to do while I was there and I'm proud of that," Rodriguez said.

Rodriguez's term as director of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Division (ABC) was marked by controversy, including criticism for his hiring earlier this year of a friend and business partner, Sara Billing-sley, for a top ABC job. Then-Gov. Toney Anaya suspended Rodriguez for 15 days without pay in connection with the hiring. Then-Attorney General Paul Bar-dacke had earlier questioned MORE: See TWO on PAGE A10 4 4 I fn if- JOURNAL PHOTO NEIL JACOBS r.a..M uy ni8 wue, ainy, ana u. oov.

Jack Stahl, Gov. Garrey Carruthers acknowledges cheers at swearing-in. Most Cabinet Appointees Win Hi gh raise By John Robertson ments SO far. although some of the annmntpos JOURNAL POLITICS WRITER Commission. He said in an interview this week that his businesi experience is chiefly in working for his family's Carlsbad furniture company and radio station for about the last 10 years.

He said he has a two-year associate degree from New Mexico State University and studied communications and public relations at Brigham Young University and NMSU. "At least in terms of his (Jenkins') qual- MORE: See MOST on PAGE A10 tions questioned the credentials of 33-year-old Economic Development and Tourism appointee Nick Jenkins of Carlsbad. Peter Hanagan, the former director of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association, and Harold J. "Doc" Weiler, the retired director of the Association of Commerce and Industry, each questioned Jenkins qualifications in light of the priority Carruthers has given his assignment. Jenkins is president of the New Mexico 'Association of Counties and was the first Republican elected to the Eddy County are not widely known.

Carruthers is still conducting personnel searches for some cabinet appointments. "I think he's appointed a good cabinet for the most part," said former Gov. Bruce King, who supported Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ray Powell, Carruthers' opponent in the 1986 general election. But while government watchers are willing to give the new governor the benefit of the doubt on any appointment, the widely known former directors of two business organiza- Several of Gov. Garrey Carruthers' cabinet appointments are winning high praise, but questions are being raised about the credentials of the appointee for economic development the field the new governor says will be his administration's top priority.

Representatives of interest groups ranging from bankers to environmentalists, as well as political leaders, give good marks in general to the new Republican governor's appoint Across State, Jan. 1 Brings Tax Changes Sales Levies Rise in 26 Cities, Counties While Revisions Cut State Withholding Rate Wi By David Staats taxpayers are expected to owe the state money by April 15, compared with one in five last year. The typical family of four will have to write a check of $30 to $40, the tax department has said. The latest round of local sales (gross receipts) tax increases result from local governments' need for more money, said Taxation and Revenue Secretary Vickie Fisher on Thursday. The number of local governments imposing such increases "offhand does seem like an extraordinary amount," she said.

State law allows local governments to change sales-tax rates twice a year, Jan. 1 and July 1. Bernalillo and Lea counties increased their sales taxes an eighth of a penny. That means in Albuquerque, consumers pay a nickel tax on each dollar spent, while in unincorporated Bernalillo County, the tax is 5Vi cents per dollar. Sales taxes rose a quarter cent in 16 cities.

They are: Alamogordo, MORE: See JAN. 1 on PAGE A3 OF THE JOURNAL'S CAPITOL BUREAU SANTA FE The new year brought higher sales tax rates for 24 New Mexico cities and two counties, including Bernalillo County. At the same time, the amount of state income tax withheld from paychecks declined for some workers. The changes result from tax increases imposed by local governments and from new income tax withholding tables issued by the state Taxation and Revenue Department for 1987 taxes, which will be due in 1988. The changes come at the start of a tax season when many New Mexicans accustomed to getting tax refunds from the state will be surprised to find they won't get them this year.

They may even owe extra money because the Legislature in June repealed most food and medical rebates on 1986 income taxes to compensate for the collapse in oil and gas revenues. About two-thirds of New Mexico's Student Loan Plan Cancels Subsidies THE WASHINGTON POST WASHINGTON The Depart-ment of Education Thursday released a proposal to increase dramatically a new and controversial student financial aid program that does not subsidize interest rates and links repayment schedules to a student's earnings after college. If approved by Congress, the program of "income-contingent loans" would grow from a $5 million pilot project during the 1987-88 school year to $600 million in 19S8-89. The program would allow students to borrow more than they are allowed under current financial aid formulas but would require them to pay the full cost of interest. Under most financial aid programs, the federal government covers the interest costs above a set ceiling.

The funding proposal part of the department's fiscal 198S budget proposal to be released Monday would provide 500,000 loans to students at 1,500 institutions, according to education officials. Under the pilot project scheduled to begin in the 1987-88 school year, the program will be tested at 10 colleges and universities. "We're very excited about this program." said Bruce Carnes, deputy undersecretary of education. "We think it is the single biggest advance in the financing of higher education for students in the last 15 years." The announcement was greeted with skepticism by representatives of higher education, who argued that the department should the pilot project's results before expanding funds for income-contingent loans. "We were very supportive of the $5 million experiment.

What I would not support is prejudging the MORE: Sm STUDENT on PAOE AJ S- ASSOCIATED PRESS Students March in China Chinese police push back students who ban and marched through the capital to surged I through lines during a protest Thurs- demand the release of students detained day in Peking. About 5,000 students defied a earlier in the day. Story on Page A3 0 FRIDAY superpower relations too poor to warrant a televised exchange of New Year greetings, but state-run radio broadcasts President Reagan's holiday message expressing hope for arms-control progress in 1987. Page A12. 1 section.

Metropolitan Last season, snow at Sandia Peak was about as plentiful as rain in the Sahara. This season, it's a different story and the slopes are attracting skiers from all over the country. Page Bl. Nation The death toll from Wednesday's hotel fire in Puerto Rico reaches 60. Page A3.

More than a third of the people working in movies and television turn to drugs and alcohol to Good Morning A new governor is at the helm of the ship of state. You can bet he's hoping no one makes any waves. Weather Partly cloudy, chance of snowshowers Sandia, Manzano mountains. High near SO. Low lower 20s.

Page C13. Arts A committee of students and professors at the University of relieve stress and end up becoming addicted, a counselor for the industry estimates. Page A14. Sports The nearest thing to a college football playoff takes place tonight when No. 1 Miami and No.

2 Penn State battle for the national championship in the Fiesta Bowl. Page CI. World Soviet officials deem New Mexico is writing a play about the pros and cons of the sanctuary movement. Page BS. Business Many Wall Street experts hold high hopes for a healthy stock market in 1987.

Page B13. Entertainer John Forsythe stars in "On Fire" as an arson squad chief who is forced to retire at age 60. Forsythe says the story reminds him of his father's forced retirement at 60. Entertainer ACTION LINE A2 DEAR ABBV B4 ARTS B5-11 DEATHS R3 BRIDGE A1S EDITORIALS A4-S BUSINESS B13-H HAPPENINGS b4 CLASSIFIED C8-U HOROSCOPE COMICS C14 METROPOLITAN Bl CROSSWORD B4 MOVIES 0-9 DAILY RECORD B4 SPORTS C1-6.