To go directly to timeline hit continue below or the X in the right corner.;xNLx;;xNLx;Notes: Using source documents, campaign finance reports, emails and news accounts, the Santa Fe Reporter has created this visual timeline to depict how The Downs Racetrack and Casino owners gained access to Susana Martinez, first as the 2010 Republican nominee for governor and then when she became the 31st elected governor of the state. ;xNLx;;xNLx;[Click continue at the bottom of this box to advance to the timeline]
Dona Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez wins a five-way primary contest with 51 percent of the vote and becomes the 2010 Republican nominee for governor. When she's elected in the fall she becomes the state's first woman governor and garners attention from the RGA after becoming the nation's first Latina governor.
SunRay Gaming of New Mexico LLC, contributes $15,000 to Martinez’s campaign account. Windham and Turner are majority owners of the Farmington racino.
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell, who met Martinez in Aspen earlier in the year, hosts a RGA fundraising luncheon for her.
Meeting expectations: Mr. Windham will be contributing $20,000. Discuss his firm’s development interests in New Mexico NOTE: Windham and Turner have both contributed to Diane Denish. Total contributions: $10,000 Marie Vulaj writes: Bill Windham has been self-employed in real estate and investments for 25 years. He began his first company in 1980, which was a licensed general contracting business specializing in commercial work including restaurants and multi-family constructions. Windham also served as the chairman of the Brentwood Companies from 1993 until he sold it in sold in 2004. (Brentwood owned and operated hospitals in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi.) Over the last three decades he has been involved in many different businesses including real estate, construction, healthcare and energy. Windham serves as the finance chairman for St. Mark’s Cathedral School Board, and he also serves on the Board of Louisiana’s SciPort Discovery Center. He is also on the Board of The Louisiana Stadium and Exposition District and the Superdome Commission. Business partner: John Turner John was the developer/owner of the Residence Inns in Albuquerque and Santa Fe as well as the Homewood Suites in Santa Fe. Relation to New Mexico: For the last 20 years he and Turner have owned and operated the Downs at Albuquerque and Sunray Park and Casino in Farmington. NOTE: SunRay Casino has contributed $15,000 to the Susana Martinez for Governor campaign (6/7/2010) Owns a large ranch in Chama. Meeting expectations: Mr. Windham will be contributing $20,000 Discuss his firm’s development interests in New Mexico.
Marie Vulaj writes: Bill Windham will be writing the check out to the RGA. I have discussed this with him but wanted to inform you of this. Anissa, please make sure Susana is aware of this going into the meeting. He has also upped the amount to $25,000 so please inform Susana of that change.
Martinez staffers set up a private meeting with Lousiana Businessmen William Windham and John Turner at Perry's Steakhouse in Austin, Texas.
The Albuquerque Downs and Casino Developer donates $25K to RGA rather than Martinez directly. Texas Gov. Rick Perry is the RGA finance chair in 2010.
Racetrack and Casino donates $1,000 to Martinez's running mate, Lt. Gov. John Sanchez.
The national Republican Governor's Association sends $50,000 to its RGA-NM PAC two days before depositing Windham's $25,000 check.
Money distributed from RGA National to it's NM arm is recorded in Susana Martinez's finance log.
