Denish to remain Lt.
Gov. for now

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - A major transition of power in New Mexico is now on hold. Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, D-N.M., will not move into the governor's seat, at least not yet.

Denish received word Sunday that Gov. Bill Richardson, D-N.M., would not be leaving the state for a national cabinet post as expected.

She's Washington, where she's planning to attend the swearing in of the state's congressional delegation.

Denish spent the last month preparing to move into the governor's office.

"When the time comes for me to be governor, I will be ready to step in and take the lead," she said.

Now, there's no telling if and when that time will come.

Since early December, Denish has identified her legislative agenda, looked into cutting many of Richardson's exempt positions, asked those employees to reapply for their jobs and worked with her transition team.

Some members of Denish's transition team left other jobs to work with her.

"I don't think you can keep a transition team in place if there is not a transition," Political Analyst Joe Monahan said. "She's going to probably have to disband it and regroup in the weeks or months ahead, if Gov. Richardson is successful in getting another appointment to the Obama administration."

In a statement on Sunday Denish said, "Governor Richardson postponed taking a position in the administration to ensure that President Obama and the American people face no delays in getting to work to fix our ailing economy, and the President-elect said he looks forward to Governor Richardson joining his administration in the days ahead. In the meantime, Governor Richardson and I will work together, as we have over the last six years, to tackle challenges at home, to craft a workable budget with the legislature and to strengthen our economy to make sure that every New Mexico family has the opportunity to succeed."

A spokesperson for Denish said that she spoke with Richardson about his decision early Sunday morning.