Cervantes’ decision to put family first is commendable

Politicians talk all the time about the importance of family, but too many put their work ahead of their own families. That’s why the decision by state Rep. Joseph Cervantes to withdraw from the Second Congressional District race is so commendable. It’s a rare example of a politician backing up his statements on family with action.

Cervantes took quite a political risk by withdrawing last week from the race. He’s been pushed by supporters for years to run for Congress, has openly considered the race, and has decided each time against running. He also considered and decided against running for attorney general in 2006.

That frustrated many who believe he is a great leader and should someday be in Congress or a statewide office.

Cervantes finally ended years of frustration among supporters by announcing in November that he would run for Congress. So imagine their disappointment now that he has dropped out, after only six weeks in the race, even though he was considered by many to be the frontrunner.

Cervantes risks losing supporters. He risks being taken less seriously in the future. He apparently didn’t quite know what he was getting into, and it must have become evident very quickly in the month of December – one traditionally spent with family.

Some have speculated that Harry Teague’s money chased Cervantes from the race, or that Cervantes underestimated support for Bill McCamley, who had been running a strong campaign for months before Teague or Cervantes decided to run. But the political risk Cervantes is taking in withdrawing makes it perfectly believable that family is the real reason he dropped his congressional bid. Once Cervantes got on the campaign trail, he realized quickly what it would take to win, and with three daughters – one in elementary school, one in middle school and one in high school – he wasn’t willing to make such a sacrifice.

It’s a decision many of Cervantes’ supporters won’t understand. For some politicos, that’s because they’ve spent their lives doing the opposite – putting their work ahead of their families – and can’t relate to the decision Cervantes has made.

Cervantes said the decision was easy.

“It’s a balance between family and politics, and it’s always going to weigh on the side of the family for me,” Cervantes told me. “… I’m really excited about still trying to do good things through government. I think there’s a lot that I can contribute and still keep my family as my first priority.”

You may recall state Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson making a similarly commendable decision in October to not run for the congressional seat. His family is coming off a tough year that saw his father killed in a horrific car accident in Illinois, and the state senator is in his last years with children still at home.

The future

Cervantes told me he plans to seek re-election to his state House seat. He shouldn’t have much difficulty keeping it. New Mexico State University professor Jose Garcia, who had previously announced that he would seek to replace Cervantes in the House, said he will withdraw from the race.

“I’m a friend of Cervantes. He’s been a great legislator,” Garcia said. “Obviously, he’s the incumbent. Why would I get in the way? So for the good of the people of the district, I’m stepping aside for him.”

Don’t count Cervantes out of politics. He earned influence in the Legislature because of his intelligence and willingness to work across party lines. As vice chair of the House judiciary and rules committees, he has opportunities to continue to be an effective legislator.

And he’s only 46. He could run for higher office in the future, even if he waits until his youngest daughter is out of the house.

Cervantes said he is looking forward to working on health-care reform, which is expected to be the main policy issue debated during the upcoming 30-day session, and is also optimistic about the prospects of the Legislature creating an independent ethics commission to investigate allegations of misdeeds by public officials.

“I have no doubt that I’ll continue to work well with other legislators in accomplishing important things for Southern New Mexico,” he said.

Cervantes said he doesn’t know, at this point, if or when he might try to make a move to a higher office.

“I will continue to look for the opportunities to better the state. Where the opportunities arise in politics, I will pursue those,” he said. “… I love this state and I want to improve this state – I think we all do – and I will continue to look for every opportunity to do that. To speculate on the timing is impossible to do. Right now my family is too young to be thinking about moving them to Washington or to be living in two places at one time.”

Cervantes should hold his head high. If we had more politicians truly putting their families first, this nation would be in a better state.