Nate Cote
Just over two months after losing his House seat in the November election, former state Rep. Nate Cote is trying to make his way back into the Legislature.
Members of the Doña Ana County Board of Commissioners have voted unanimously to recommend that Gov. Susana Martinez appoint Cote to replace former State Sen. Dianna Duran, R-Tularosa, who became secretary of state earlier this month.
The problem for Cote? He’s a Democrat, and the governor is a Republican. The Senate district is located in both Doña Ana and Otero counties, and the Otero County Board of Commissioners has recommended that Martinez appoint Republican Bill Burt of Burt Broadcasting to replace Duran.
By law, Martinez must choose one of the candidates recommended by the county commissions.
Cote is a realist, saying though he has some legislation drafted he knows his odds of winning the appointment are “slim.” But he points out that parts of the Senate district overlap with the House district he used to represent, and he’s familiar with the area and its needs.
“I’ve held my share of town hall meetings, know the city and county commissioners (even received a proclamation and had a day named after me by the city commission in December),” Cote said.
“We are at least giving the new governor a choice, and I am more than certain I could work with her,” Cote said.