GOP activist Bob Cornelius announced today that he’s running for state land commissioner next year with the intent of diversifying the state’s energy industry and reducing regulation.
“Oil and gas continue to be the backbone of our state, but we must diversify our energy economy in order to provide new jobs, new opportunities and new funding sources for the Land Grant Permanent Fund,” Cornelius said in a news release.
Cornelius had previously announced that he had formed an exploratory committee “with the intent” to run, and he’s been traveling the state since early June to campaign.
In today’s news release announcing his candidacy, Cornelius said he plans to “advocate a for a more sound energy policy for New Mexico.”
“All points of view need a seat at the table. We must be straight forward with the citizens of New Mexico and admit that our current policies are not working,” he said. “Over-regulation for regulation sake, to appease a few while hurting the many, must end.”
If various parties work together, Cornelius said, “we can create a sound policy that protects jobs, protects families, protects the environment, and protects the solvency of the Land Grant Permanent Fund.”
Above all, Cornelius said, he plans to “take the necessary steps to ensure that the State Land office is transparently accountable, fiscally prudent and thoroughly efficient.”
Cornelius is a former executive director of the Bernalillo County GOP. He briefly entered the 2nd Congressional District race in 2008 but ultimately didn’t file to run in the Republican primary. He has recently been working for the Public Regulation Commission in Santa Fe, assisting investigations of those who are suspected of committing fraud against New Mexicans.
Cornelius, who grew up in Tatum, is also part owner of a company that is looking to bring a biogas plant to southeastern New Mexico.
He’s not the only Republican to declare his candidacy for the seat, which is being vacated next year by Republican Pat Lyons, who is term-limited from seeking re-election. Retired law-enforcement agent Errol Chavez, a Republican who lives in Las Cruces, is also running for land commissioner.
Former state Land Commissioner Ray Powell is the only Democrat who has announced his candidacy for the seat, but former state Attorney General Patricia Madrid has said she’s thinking about running.