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By John
Arnold
Albuquerque Journal Staff Writer (11/27/06)
Gov. Bill Richardson is
widely expected to take a shot at the White House in 2008. Before that happens, a former Albuquerque journalist wants the
country to know what he's done with his shot in New Mexico.
In his documentary "Inside Bill Richardson,"
set to screen Sunday as part of the Santa Fe Film Festival's New Mexico Film Expo, former KOB-TV reporter Neil Simon examines
Richardson's political rise and his first term in the Roundhouse.
"When you look at what his ambition
is, you look at a governor who wants to be chief executive of his country, I think that most people would want to know, 'Well,
how was he as chief executive of his state?' '' Simon said by phone from Washington, D.C., where he works as a freelance journalist.
Simon produced "Inside Bill Richardson" in the summer and fall of 2005, shortly before he left KOB-TV for a journalism fellowship
in Washington. It has previously aired on KOB-TV, but Sunday's screening will be the program's film festival debut, according
to Simon.
He said he worked on the documentary mostly on his own time while employed as a political
reporter for KOB-TV. The 30-minute program relies heavily on KOB archive news footage interspersed with interviews that Simon
conducted specifically for the documentary.
He said Richardson provided him with "decent access," including
a lengthy interview. And Richardson's wife, Barbara, supplied old photos from her husband's childhood and school days.
Simon interviewed Richardson's friends and foes who describe a leadership style considered by some to be ambitious and effective,
by others to be bullying and opportunistic.
"I'm sure there were parts that (Richardson) wished were
not in there, and I'm sure there are parts that he is happy are in there," Simon said.
The documentary
first touches on Richardson's early years— from growing up in Mexico to his fraternity and baseball days at Tufts University
in Massachusetts— before moving on to Richardson's political career.
Simon sets the stage for
Richardson's successful gubernatorial bid with experiences— high and low— from Richardson's time as U.S. congressman,
U.N. Ambassador and Energy Secretary.
"I don't apologize for anything I did," Richardson said when addressing
the nuclear security controversies he endured as Energy Secretary. "I made some mistakes, but that's part of my record and
everyone's going to have to judge it."
Richardson's political career bounced back with a decisive win
in New Mexico's 2002 gubernatorial race, and Simon lays out a broad range of the popular Democrat's ambitious policy agendas,
implemented with the help of his savvy and sometimes controversial political skills.
In interviews supporters
applaud Richardson for "breaking the gridlock" in Santa Fe with new bipartisan initiatives on immigration, education, drunken
driving and tax cuts.
Critics accuse Richardson of "bullying" and "grandstanding."
"He strong-arms, he has his way of getting what he needs," said Rep. Dan Foley, R-Roswell.
Simon hits
on other controversies familiar to New Mexicans, including the state purchase of a luxury jet and a well-publicized freeway
speeding incident.
He also addresses Richardson's popularity, his "colorful" public persona and the
favorable national exposure that could play into the 2008 presidential race. Richardson recently cruised to his second term
in the governor's office.
Simon said he aimed to produce "an independent look" at Richardson's record
that could serve as a resource for future voters and others interested in presidential politics.
"That's
what I liked about the timing of when I produced this," Simon said. "This is not looking at a governor the year of his re-election.
This is not looking at a governor in his second term eyeing a for-sure presidential (bid). This is looking at a governor in
his first two years who has a stellar résumé behind him and was being tested as chief executive for pretty much the first
time."
The New Mexico Film Expo is a five-day series of screenings showcasing more than 60 films by
New Mexicans or about New Mexico. It runs Dec. 1-5 and precedes the Santa Fe Film Festival, which is set for Dec. 6-10.
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