Former Doña Ana County Commissioner D. Kent Evans announced on Wednesday that he is running for the Public Regulation Commission seat being vacated by Sandy Jones.
“We need to get back to the basics of regulatory policies that level the playing field for consumers and providers,” Evans said in a news release. “We need affordable rates and realistic appraisals of alternative-energy proposals. We need coalitions based on New Mexico’s needs rather than Santa Fe’s whims. I can help make this happen.”
Evans, a Republican from Las Cruces, ran for the PRC seat in 2006 but lost in the primary to C. Earl Greer of Truth or Consequences. Greer went on to lose to Jones, a Democrat, in the general election. Term limits prevented Evans from seeking re-election to the county commission last year.
In his news release, Evans highlighted a number of awards he has received. In 2006, he was honored with the Ronald Reagan Award for Public Service, and in 2005, the National Association of Counties chose him as its Republican elected county official of the year. In 2006, the Las Cruces Elks Club named him its citizen of the year.
“I’m honored and humbled by all the awards, but it’s not awards that drive me,” Evans said. “The awards come because the work has been done. The work is what drives me. I like seeing people with problems get results. I like seeing government work the way Ronald Reagan envisioned it: as a hand up for people rather than a hand out or an undue entitlement.”
“My work ethic has been about results, whether the issue is community lighting, law enforcement, road improvements or a regional approach to water planning and managed growth,” he said.
Evans said he is familiar with PRC District 5 because he has run for the seat before. He said the lessons learned from that race will help him be a more effective and viable candidate in 2010. And he said he brings to the campaign energy, experience and a commitment to win.
“For eight productive years,” Evans said, “I was an accountable and effective county commissioner, involved on a daily basis in policy making, constituent responsiveness and stewardship of public dollars. With your vote, I can bring new accountability and traditional Republican values to the PRC while simultaneously continuing to lead Doña Ana County forward.”
Evans also ran unsuccessfully for a state Senate seat last year.
He’s been married to Anna Mae for 47 years. They have three children, seven grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
No other Republicans have announced their candidacies for the seat. The only Democrat who has entered the race is a former colleague of Evans on the county commission, Bill McCamley.
The race doesn’t have an incumbent because Jones, instead of seeking re-election next year, is running for state land commissioner.
As I’ve disclosed in the past, I’m friends with McCamley. Click here to read more about that.