Musical Chairs

With Gov. Richardson officially being named as the Commerce Secretary designate, we can cue the music and begin the musical chairs.  Soon-to-be Governor Diane Denish will take the first vacant chair, holding in hand a bill for $500 mil left by the soon-to-be former Governor of New Mexico.  After a brief pause in the music, the shuffling will continue for the next available chair:  Lt. Governor. The names being circulated in ubiquitous fashion are State Auditor Hector Balderas and Mid Region Council of Governments official Lawrence Rael.  Once the music resumes, there will be a host of other participants vying for seats in the new administration from Chief of Staff down to the vacant seats left behind by those seeking to move up the ranks in State Government.  

Like any dance, this one also has a sequence of steps.  First, exactly when will Gov. Richardson vacate his post?  Will he resign early much like President-Elect Obama did with his Senate seat?  Can soon-to-be Governor Diane Denish begin to build her team now or will it have to wait until the dawn of the legislative session, which begins on January 20th--otherwise reserved in the public consciousness as the official start of the Obama era.  

Cue the music........this dance could last awhile!