From left, Jeff Steinborn, Ray Powell, Nate Cote and Steve Fischmann
State Land Commissioner candidate Ray Powell picked up endorsements from three Doña Ana County lawmakers today.
Sen. Steve Fischmann and Reps. Jeff Steinborn and Nate Cote, all Democrats, said they will back Powell in the Democratic primary “because of his commitment to reforming the State Land Office and reestablishing an open and transparent administration.”
All three lawmakers proposed legislation to reform the State Land Office after a controversial land exchange on Las Cruces’ East Mesa.
“Ray Powell is the reform candidate,” Fischmann said. “He’s who I trust. It’s no question that we need him back at the Land Office.”
“The stakes are high. With Ray, he’ll bring much needed stability back to the land office,” Steinborn said. “He’s ethical, principled and knows how to work with communities to maximize the dollars returned to the land office and ultimately our schools.”
“When Ray Powell served as land commissioner, he was recognized for running one of the best land management agencies in the country,” Cote said. “Right now, the land office is in crisis, and we are desperately in need of leadership we can trust.”
Powell, a veterinarian who served as land commissioner from 1993-2002, is currently employed as a regional director for the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Education and Conservation. He said the lawmakers who endorsed him “have been instrumental in exposing the behind-the-scene deals happening at the Land Office.”
“I’m eager to clean the place up. I look forward to working with these outstanding leaders to ensure real reform is enacted to protect our public lands and the significant revenues they generate for our public schools, universities and hospitals.”
Powell faces Santa Fe County Commissioners Harry Montoya and Mike Anaya and PRC Commissioner Sandy Jones in the Democratic primary.
Four Republicans are also running for the office – oilman Spiro Vassilopoulos; Jim Jackson, who took a leave of absence from the land office to campaign for the post; cattle rancher Matt Rush; and GOP activist Bob Cornelius.
Peter St. Cyr is a contributing writer to this site, and Chief Political Reporter at 770KKOB AM. He may be reached at peter.stcyr@gmail.com