Montoya to kick off campaign for Udall’s House seat

Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry B. Montoya will officially announce on Wednesday his candidacy for the Third Congressional District seat being vacated by Tom Udall.

“As a nation we face great challenges here at home and globally on the world stage. I know that we can overcome these challenges by working together,” Montoya said in a news release. “As Americans we have proven that when we stand together there is nothing we cannot accomplish. I ask you to stand with me as I announce that I am running for Congress.”

The announcement will be made at the Pueblo of Pojoaque Boys and Girls Club, 101 Lighting Loop Road in Santa Fe, at 4 p.m.

Montoya was first elected county commissioner in 2002. In 2006, he ran unopposed and won re-election. Before elected to the commission, he served eight years on the Pojoaque Valley School Board, and he is a past president of the state school board association.

He’s a native New Mexican who has been married to Doris for 28 years. They have two children, Brian, 27 and Angelo, 22, and three grandchildren. He is CEO of Hand Across Culture Corp., a non-profit agency involved in community mobilization efforts that includes educational, health and social services programs.

Montoya has a master’s degree in counseling psychology from New Mexico State University and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Westmar University in LeMars, Iowa.

Two other Democrats –state Indian Affairs Secretary Benny Shendo Jr. and Santa Fe green builder Don Wiviott – have entered the race. One Republican – Marco E. Gonzales, an attorney who spent 10 years working for U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici as a defense appropriations specialist – is running. Several other Democrats and Republicans are considering running.