Another lawmaker drops out; more could be kicked off ballot

Bernadette Sanchez is the eighth senator to decide against seeking re-election this year; seven legislative incumbents are among candidates who could be kicked off the ballot because they didn’t list the numbers of the districts they were seeking on nominating petitions.

State Sen. Bernadette Sanchez abandoned her re-election bid today, and more candidates – including seven legislative incumbents – could be kicked off the ballot because they didn’t comply with a new requirement to list the numbers of the districts they were seeking on nominating petitions.

Sanchez’s decision comes three days after she filed to run for re-election.

“I was struggling to make a decision and decided to go ahead and sign up to run on filing day to provide some additional days to make this important decision,” the Albuquerque Democrat said in a prepared statement. “After serious consideration and a need to focus on my health and well-being, I have decided not to seek re-election for the state Senate.”

She said she was proud of her work to curb predatory lending and prevent youth from “losing their lives to opiate addiction,” but was “conflicted about returning to the Legislature.” She complained about “stalling of important legislation and a lack of working together.”

“As a result, moving New Mexico forward to ensure New Mexicans receive quality jobs, education, and health care they deserve has become increasingly difficult,” Sanchez said.

Her withdrawal leaves three Democrats in the District 26 race – Jacob Candelaria, the president of Equality New Mexico; former Albuquerque City Councilor and Bernalillo County Commissioner Steve Gallegos, and Carlos Jose Villanueva. There’s no Republican running for the seat.

Candelaria wished Sanchez well.

“Though we disagree on many issues, I would like to thank Sen. Sanchez for her years of service. … It’s not easy to serve, and she deserves our thanks,” he said, adding that the race moves forward and he believes there’s a “clear choice.”

Duran asks AG whether to disqualify others

Sanchez is the latest in a long list of state legislators to opt against seeking re-election this year. If a letter Secretary of State Dianna Duran sent to Attorney General Gary King on Thursday is any indication, it’s possible more incumbents and other candidates could be kicked off the ballot.

Democratic Rep. Thomas Garcia of Ocate, who is running against Sen. Pete Campos of Las Vegas in the primary, has challenged Campos’ candidacy, alleging that he failed to list the number of the district he was running for on his nominating petitions and is thus not qualified to run.

A new provision the Legislature and governor added to the law last year requires candidates to list the district or division number of the office they’re seeking on such petitions. Failure to list the number makes a nominating petition and all signatures on it invalid.

Campos isn’t the only incumbent or challenger affected. A bipartisan group of legislative and other candidates failed to list the district numbers of the offices they’re seeking, according to Duran’s letter. The legislative candidates are:

• Rep. Rick Little, R-Chaparral.
• Sen. Sue Wilson Beffort, R-Sandia Park.
• Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, D-Roswell.
• Rep. Dianne Hamilton, R-Silver City.
• Rep. James Roger Madalena, D-Jemez Pueblo.
• Rep. Rodolpho Martinez, D-Bayard.
• Democrat Guadalupe Cano, who is running for the seat Hamilton now holds.

Duran wants King’s opinion on whether the petitions are invalid and, if so, whether she should disqualify the candidates or certify their candidacies and allow “any voter that feels aggrieved by the decision” to challenge it in court.

King hasn’t yet responded. If Duran doesn’t kick the candidates off the ballot, additional legal challenges are likely.

Eight senators jump ship

Sanchez is the eighth senator to decide against seeking re-election this year. The others are:

• Vernon Asbill, R-Carlsbad, who has served since 2005.
• Mark Boitano, R-Albuquerque, who has served since 1997.
• Dede Feldman, D-Albuquerque, who has served since 1997.
• Steve Fischmann, D-Mesilla Park, who isn’t seeking a second term in part because of a “highly partisan” atmosphere in the Roundhouse.
• Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque, who is instead running for Congress.
• Clinton Harden, R-Clovis, who Gov. Susana Martinez was looking to unseat.
• Cynthia Nava, D-Las Cruces, who like Sanchez cited the difficulty of getting things done in the current climate.

In addition, redistricting moved Bill Burt, R-Alamogordo, and Rod Adair, R-Roswell, into the same district, so at least one of them won’t be back next year.

The House exodus

There are also 11 House members who aren’t seeking re-election. Those who are stepping down without seeking another position are:

• Rhonda King, D-Stanley, who has served since 1999.
• Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambe, who is battling cancer.
• Danice Picraux, D-Albuquerque, who has served since 1991.

In addition, six House members are giving up those seats to run for state Senate. They are:

• Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, who is running for the seat Nava is vacating.
• Eleanor Chavez, D-Albuquerque, who is running for the seat Griego is vacating.
• David Doyle, R-Albuquerque, who is running for the Senate seat currently held by Democrat John Sapien of Corrales. Sapien is seeking re-election but also faces a tough primary.
• Bill O’Neill, D-Albuquerque, who is running for the seat Feldman is vacating.
• David Chavez, R-Los Lunas, who initially said he had to focus on his law practice but then decided to run against Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez, D-Belen.
• Garcia, who is running for the seat currently held by Campos.

Two House members are seeking positions outside the Legislature rather than running for re-election. They are:

• Joni Gutierrez, D-Mesilla, who is seeking the political position of Democratic national committeewoman for New Mexico.
• Al Park, D-Albuquerque, who is running for a seat on the Public Regulation Commission.

In addition to the voluntary exodus, redistricting means Roswell Republicans Dennis Kintigh and Bob Wooley are now in the same district and will face each other in a primary. The loser is out.

Thanks to KOB-TV’s Peter St. Cyr for posting Duran’s letter online. A prior version of this posting incorrectly listed Little as being from Las Cruces.