New Mexico State University Regent Javier Gonzales confirmed today that he’s seeking the chairmanship of the Democratic Party of New Mexico.
“In consultation with my family and friends, as well as consultation with Democratic Party leaders, I’ve concluded this is an ideal opportunity for me to join with other good Democrats in New Mexico in pushing our progressive agenda forward,” Gonzales said in a statement released this afternoon.
Gonzales is seeking to replace Brian Colón, who is expected to announce his resignation on Friday and run for lieutenant governor. Gonzales had previously been saying he was considering running for lieutenant governor, but his new statement appears to put an end to any talk of that.
“I’ve long searched for where I can best serve New Mexico, and I believe I’ve found the right place where I can best serve all New Mexicans,” he said of the party chairmanship. “My fundamental belief is that our Democratic Party values are the most aligned with the values of working families in New Mexico.”
Gonzales is a former Santa Fe County commissioner and former president of the National Association of Counties. He has served on a number of boards in New Mexico including the National Hispanic Cultural Center Foundation board, and was a member of the board of regents at New Mexico Highlands University in Las Vegas, N.M. until the governor appointed him to the NMSU board in December.
In the early 1990s, Gonzales cofounded La Voz Broadcasting, New Mexico’s largest privately-owned Spanish language radio station. In 2003, he founded IronStone Consulting to help companies work with local governments. He currently works for Santa Fe Studios.
At least one other man is seeking the party’s chairmanship — Sandoval County Democratic Party Chairman David Montoya. Michael Ray Huerta of Las Cruces is being urged by some to run but hasn’t said whether he will do that.
The party plans to hold a meeting in September or October to vote on a new chair. The party requires its chair and vice chair to be of different genders, and the vice chair is Annadelle Sanchez, so the new chair must be a man.