Sandy Jones
Sandy Jones is right on the heels of Ray Powell in a wide open Democratic land commissioner primary, according to a new poll conducted for Jones’ campaign.
The poll had Powell leading with 23.5 percent of the vote to Jones’ 22.4 percent and Harry Montoya’s 9.1 percent, according to the polling memo. That left 45 percent of those surveyed undecided.
The poll was conducted April 30 to May 2, surveyed 400 New Mexico Democratic voters and had a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points. It was conducted by the firm FDR Services.
“The race is up for grabs,” the polling memo states. “With a low turnout of approximately 120,000 voters and the race in a virtual dead heat, any candidate who obtains 50,000 votes will win the race. The election comes down to who will be able to communicate to the most voters with the most compelling message.”
The primary is June 1.
Powell fared best in the poll in Bernalillo County, where he had the support of 38 percent of those surveyed. He also had a significant lead with younger voters – 32 percent – and individuals who identify environment as their greatest concern. But he had the support of only 14 percent of those surveyed in the northern part of the state and of 18 percent in the southern part of the state.
Jones had the support of 36 percent of those surveyed from the south and 28 percent of those from the north but only 10 percent in Bernalillo County.
Montoya had the support of 22 percent in the north, but the poll didn’t say how he fared in the south and in Bernalillo County.
Other key findings
Other key findings from the poll:
• More than half of voters surveyed were unable to give a job performance rating of the candidates running for land commissioner. Powell, a former land commissioner, had the most recognition (47 percent) followed by Jones, a member of the Public Regulation Commission (32 percent), and Montoya, a Santa Fe County commissioner and former congressional candidate (29 percent).
• Voter interest in the 2010 Primary is at an all-time low. Less than 46 percent of those surveyed had an interest in voting. The only age group in which a majority expressed an intent to participate in the primary was those 50 and over.
• Those surveyed believe New Mexico is headed in the wrong direction – 54 percent wrong versus 42 percent right. This is especially true of older voters and residents of northern New Mexico.
• Jobs and economic development (41 percent) was the issue of greatest concern to those surveyed. Education (27 percent) came in second, followed by government corruption (8 percent) and environment (4 percent).
Update, May 7, 7:20 a.m.
Montoya had this to say:
“Although the poll shows me at 9.1 percent, there are a significant number of voters who will turn out for me and give me the victory to be the Democratic nominee for the general election. The 50 and under voters will come out for me and will recognize the leadership I have provided as a Pojoaque School Board member and president of the New Mexico School Boards Association and currently as the chair for the Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners. (That) is what the State Land Office needs to move New Mexico forward into the 21st Century. I will provide the vision and action to move us in the right direction.”