Former state Rep. Brian Moore of Clayton became today the first Republican to announce that he is running for lieutenant governor.
“If we truly want to change the face of politics in New Mexico, working together is the only way to get it done, and I believe I can help make that happen,” he said in a news release announcing his candidacy.
Moore said in the release that the only way to be effective in politics is “to build relations with people from both parties.”
Moore developed a reputation for working across party lines in the House. When he announced that he would not seek re-election in late 2007, Gov. Bill Richardson, a Democrat, was among those who said they were sorry to see him go.
“Brian was a statesman who put the interests of New Mexicans ahead of partisan politics,” Richardson said at the time.
Moore’s Web site states that he will focus on improving education, promoting ethics and honesty in government and improving the economy.
On education, his Web site states, “State government can set critical education standards and goals, then we need to get out of the way and let local schools get the job done.”
On ethics, he cited the scandals plaguing government and said, as a lawmaker, he was “deeply involved with crafting and passing bills dealing with campaign finance reporting, ethics commissions and more open government.”
“All these bills were important, but the most important things we can do is elect honest people, then make sure the dishonest ones get voted out of office and prosecuted,” Moore states on his Web site.
As for the economy, Moore states that state government should be more efficient and productive. He said he wants to keep taxes low and to create a regulatory system that will ensure that state agencies are “acting responsibly, fair, efficient, collaborative while being as low-cost as possible.”
Moore and his wife Linda own a grocery store in Clayton. They have five children and seven grandchildren.
The race for the Democratic nomination for lieutenant governor is crowded. Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano, state Sens. Linda Lopez and Gerald Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque, State Rep. Jose Campos of Santa Rosa, former state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colón, and Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, are running.
In addition, Matthew Padilla, a law student and former U.S. Navy officer, and Española Mayor Joseph Maestas say they are considering running.