Dan Lewis
Albuquerque City Councilor Dan Lewis, a Republican, has formed an exploratory committee as he considers challenging U.S. Rep. Martin Heinrich, D-N.M., next year.
Lewis made the announcement Sunday as he unveiled his exploratory committee’s website.
“I’ve heard from many people who believe we are not well represented in Congress. They want and we need a better choice than what we have right now,” Lewis said in a news release published on the site.
“We need someone who understands the people who live, work, raise families, and go to school in our district,” he said. “We need a Congressman who’s focused on the unique challenges facing the people of central New Mexico.”
Lewis criticized Heinrich for voting against President Barack Obama’s tax compromise with Republicans last month, saying Heinrich “voted against extending critical tax cuts for New Mexican workers.”
“That is someone who is out of sync and out of touch with the people he is supposed to be representing and fighting for,” Lewis said.
He said Americans want representatives who will advocate for “fiscal restraint, less spending, and lower taxes,” and said he would support policies that help create jobs.
No one has formally entered the 2012 race against Heinrich.