Denish endorses Montaño in city council race

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has decided to put the weight of her endorsement – and some cash – behind the campaign of Steven Montaño, who is running for an open seat on the Las Cruces City Council.

“He understands economic development and he understands the city of Las Cruces,” Denish said. “He’ll work with the other councilors to make sure good things happen for the city.”

Montaño is one of three candidates running on Nov. 6 for the seat being vacated by Steve Trowbridge, who decided against seeking re-election. Denish Campaign Manager Steve Fitzer said the lieutenant governor has “had the chance to work very closely with Steve (Montaño).”

That’s at least in part because Montaño runs the Las Cruces office of the state’s Economic Development Department. When Denish is in town, Montaño often helps with coordination of events and other tasks.

“I feel honored that the second-highest elected official in the state would go out of her way to endorse a local candidate here in Las Cruces,” Montaño said. “It’s quite an honor when one of your bosses will endorse you.”

Denish is backing up the endorsement with some cash. Her campaign pays for an ad that runs in the left column on this site. For the next four weeks, she will be using the space to run an ad promoting Montaño’s campaign, instead of the Denish ad that has been running since July.

The other candidates running for the District 4 seat are local businessman Isaac Chavez and Nathan Small, a member of the county’s Planning and Zoning Commission and an employee of the New Mexico Wilderness Alliance.

Asked if Denish will make any other endorsements in the upcoming Las Cruces city election, Fitzer said the lieutenant governor “is not really aware of the other candidates running down there.”