Instead, the best Secretary of State Mary Herrera can offer is that she didn't provide handouts to employees during the campaign talks and that after getting a legal opinion she stopped the shakedown schemes. Should that make taxpayers feel better?

The accusations are part of a blistering resignation letter from Bureau of Elections director AJ Salazar. The former Santa Fe deputy district attorney says he "has never worked in such a crooked organization." Herrera, known as "Madame Secretary," dismisses the claims with "he can allege whatever he likes."

What New Mexicans would like is a Secretary of State's Office that takes its responsibilities seriously — to maintain updated voter rolls, ensure compliance with campaign reporting laws, and provide access to commerce, agriculture and finance records, lobbyist registration and spending files, and campaign finance reports.

What they have is a secretary of state who, prior to Salazar taking the job, appointed not one but two elections chiefs with conflicts of interest regarding fellow Democratic candidates. She also has yet to deliver on a campaign promise of an improved finance report database, has not audited campaign finance reports to ensure candidates fill in the blanks, or documented where her predecessor — who, by the way, is under indictment — spent more than $6 million in federal voter-education funds. She hasn't given a heads-up when her office's Web site is down for days, or explained how the full page of duties she trumpets on her Web site will be fulfilled amid a shrinking state budget, furloughs and cutbacks. It would appear Herrera has spent more time justifying her January economic development junket to India than ensuring the conduct of her office is above reproach.

Salazar has made his concerns regarding solicitations, misuse of government time and resources, and lax voting oversight known to the Attorney General's Office. AG Gary King should take serious note of the conduct of his fellow government watchdog.

So should voters come November.