Cornerstone of New Mexico political journalism crosses over to join lieutenant governor’s staff

Kate Nelson, the managing editor of the Albuquerque Tribune and a longtime political junkie, is leaving to become deputy chief of staff and communications director for Lt. Gov. Diane Denish.

The move comes the day after Denish’s office announced that spokesman Michael Henningsen was leaving to take a job as public information officer for the Economic Development Department. Nelson will take some personal time after finishing duties at the Tribune in July, and will begin her new job on Aug. 1.

Nelson is one of the most respected political journalists around.

“I have loved New Mexico politics for 18 years and always wanted to experience it from the other side,” Nelson said in a news release. “While it’s hard to leave the news side – especially the Albuquerque Tribune – I’m looking forward to this as my newest adventure. I admire the lieutenant governor and respect the work she’s doing, as well as the work she’ll do in the future. She’s making a difference for New Mexico.”

“I’m glad to have Kate as part of the team,” Denish said. “We have some serious work to do to protect our communities, grow our economy and improve access to health care, and we’re going to need to reach out to every community in New Mexico to do this. I know Kate has the talent and dedication to help us do that outreach.”

It’s hard to ignore the fact that the shift to a higher-profile spokesperson comes as Denish is filling the shoes left by a governor who’s on the campaign trail and preparing for her own run at the state’s top job in 2010. It should also be noted that Gov. Bill Richardson is a master at snatching journalists to fill government jobs.

Nelson has spent 18 years with the Tribune as a reporter, columnist, editor and managing editor. She has hosted a weekly talk show on KNME-TV, and served as an adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico.

She won the New Mexico Press Association’s first-place award for columns in 1992, 1998, 2001 and 2002, and was named by the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women as an “Outstanding Woman of New Mexico” in 2001.