Rep. Joseph Cervantes (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Las Cruces Democrat has committed to Republicans that he’s on board with a bipartisan coalition if they are
State Rep. Joseph Cervantes is trying to form a bipartisan coalition to become speaker and has committed to Republicans that he’s on board if they are, three Democrats who support Cervantes say.
“He is committed. He is fully committed,” Rep. Andy Nuñez, D-Hatch, said of the Las Cruces Democrat.
“It’s in Republicans’ lap,” said Rep. Dona Irwin, D-Deming. “Voters have spoken. They want change. Now it’s up to Republicans. Do they want change?”
Cervantes challenged current House Speaker Ben Luján, D-Nambé, unsuccessfully in a Democratic caucus meeting in November. Even before that, Nuñez, Irwin and Rep. Mary Helen Garcia – D-Las Cruces and Cervantes’ aunt – said they would support a bipartisan coalition, if necessary, to oust Luján.
Cervantes isn’t speaking publicly about the situation, but Garcia, like the others, confirmed that he is working to form a bipartisan coalition. He’s been talking with Republicans and Democrats to ask them for support. Luján has also been reaching out to members of both parties as he seeks enough votes to keep the position.
Minority Leader Tom Taylor, R-Farmington, said a potential bipartisan coalition is one of the main topics of discussion among House Republicans.
“It’s still out there and still in discussion, almost on a daily basis,” he said. “But there’s a lot of things that have to fall in line between now and then. We all know that it’s out there and that it’s a possibility.”
‘My vote does not automatically go with Cervantes’
The House speaker is the second most powerful official in state government. Luján has built a reputation over the years for doing things secretly, punishing those who oppose him, and not being fair to Republicans.
In fact, when Luján allotted more capital outlay money for Democrats than Republicans in 2007, it was Nuñez who offered to give his share to Republicans to even things out. Such actions by Luján are what Nuñez said led him to believe a change is necessary.
Nuñez said his “personal feeling” is that Cervantes will have the votes to become speaker. He said he’s planning to nominate Cervantes for the position on the opening day of the session.
“I cannot imagine how a Republican would vote for Ben Luján,” Nuñez said. “There may be some that will not vote for Cervantes, but I just cannot imagine them voting for Luján.”
One Republican who is undecided is Jeannette Wallace, R-Los Alamos. Her district is adjacent to Luján’s, and she said she must consider regional issues as well as other factors.
“I feel Cervantes would be a good speaker,” Wallace said. “On the other hand, my district is north central New Mexico, and I feel that’s also important to me. … I can’t give you a definite answer, but my vote does not automatically go with Cervantes.”
‘There’s still a lot of maneuvering’
The issue of whether Luján will remain speaker – or whether Cervantes will even decide to publicly challenge him – isn’t likely to be decided until at least Jan. 17, the day before the session begins. Republicans caucus that evening and will discuss the situation.
Speaker Ben Luján (Photo by Heath Haussamen)
Even after that meeting, jockeying is likely to continue until the session opens at noon on Jan. 18 – and maybe beyond.
“Until we meet I really can’t say how this is going to be,” Wallace said.
“It might come down to the very end – to right before we get on the floor – because there’s still a lot of maneuvering going on,” Garcia said.
What’s certain is that Nuñez, Irwin and Garcia are prepared to break with their caucus and vote for Cervantes over Luján. Beyond that, sources believe the hypothetical vote between Cervantes and Luján is currently too close to call, with a handful of members from both parties undecided.
A promise to be fair
Some Democrats have criticized those willing to break with the party, but Garcia and Nuñez said this isn’t about giving Republicans more power. Both said Cervantes has promised Republicans that they’ll be treated fairly if he’s speaker, but nothing more – including committee chairmanships.
“All I can promise you is that there will be a lot of transparency and that your legislation won’t be held up,’” Garcia said Cervantes promised.
Irwin and Nuñez said they are not crossing over to the other side.
“I don’t dislike the speaker. Don’t misunderstand me,” Irwin said. “But I think it’s time for change.”
Cervantes’ only public comments on the situation came in November after his caucus chose to nominate Luján for speaker. He wouldn’t say whether he would try to form a bipartisan coalition, but said it was time to “evaluate where the (Democratic) caucus is going, and listen to all New Mexicans to see if they support the same direction.”
Cervantes said the message he took from Democratic losses in the November election was that voters wanted to see change in the Democratic Party. He said it was a message “that we shouldn’t take any voters for granted,” a message “for consensus building,” and a message that voters want reform.