Republican considers another run at Udall’s seat

Ron Dolin, a Republican who ran unsuccessfully against U.S. Rep. Tom Udall last year, is considering running again now that Udall is vacating the seat to run for Senate.

Dolin, an engineer at Los Alamos National Laboratory, is the only Republican who has confirmed that he’s considering running for the Third Congressional District seat.

“I am considering a run for U.S. Congress in the third district,” Dolin said. “Now is that rare moment in Northern New Mexico when a true grass-roots candidate has the ability to make a difference. I very much believe that the nation and New Mexico needs someone outside the political dynasties/inner-circles to represent the people of Northern New Mexico in Washington.”

Dolin is also a small-business owner and adjunct professor at the University of New Mexico. He said those points and the facts that he is married to an immigrant, grew up on a reservation in South Dakota, is an expert on homeland security and is a “pragmatic environmentalist” means he represents “the economic, educational, job security, agricultural, immigration, border security, environmental and community concerns unique to Northern New Mexicans.”

However, Dolin said, there’s a challenge to him running.

As a political outsider I am unencumbered, which means I am able to represent the best interests of the people,” he said. “… The unfortunate reality of politics as it has devolved is that it takes money to successfully run for office. The GOP is not willing to invest in New Mexico’s third district and I am not independently wealthy. I was recently told by a senior political official that it is more important to find candidates with money than it is to promote candidates with vote-worthy ideas, principles and positions.”

“I am trying to line up grass roots financial support, but the very reason I would be a people’s representative is the reason I don’t have the funds necessary to run a successful campaign; I am not owned by, or a puppet for, special interest,” Dolin said. “… I remain determined to help Northern New Mexico reclaim the representative principles envisioned by our founding fathers, principles that have been lost by today’s political estate. I remain willing to set aside my personal and highly successful ambitions to serve my nation and the people of Northern New Mexico in this most critical moment in history.”

Democrats Don Wiviott and Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya have both entered the Third Congressional District race, and a number of others are seriously considering it.