Land Commissioner candidate Ray Powell (Photo by Peter St. Cyr)
Powell calls for green-energy job creation, land conservation and ethics reform in the State Land Office
Democrat Ray Powell, who served as land commissioner from 1993-2002, formally launched his campaign to once again hold the office on Saturday in Albuquerque.
He told NMPolitics.net that he wants to bring back his team and is looking for creative options to maximize the value of the state’s lands, create jobs and build a new energy economy while providing ethical leadership.
“As a candidate for state land commissioner, I bring a record of ethical leadership,” Powell said. “I have worked to create thousands of new jobs for New Mexicans. I have a track record of generating more money for our schools and a proven commitment to healing and protecting our state lands. I’m eager to return to the state land office, where there’s much to be done.”
In this video, Powell cautions against ideas to tap the state’s permanent fund to help offset the state’s current budget shortfall:
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDK64KJ7ERs[/youtube]
Powell faces three other Democrats in the land commissioner primary: Santa Fe Commissioners Harry Montoya and Mike Anaya and PRC Commissioner Sandy Jones. On the Republican side, GOP activist Bob Cornelius and retired law-enforcement agent Errol Chavez are running. They’re all battling to replace the GOP’s Pat Lyons, the current land commissioner who is term limited from seeking re-election.
St. Cyr is a contributing writer for this site and a reporter at 770KKOB.com. He can be reached at peter.stcyr@gmail.com.