Marquardt may run for Pearce’s House seat

Former state Rep. Terry Marquardt, R-Alamogordo, is considering running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce.

Though I’ve been unable to reach Marquardt for confirmation or other comment, he has confirmed his attendance at a forum next week in Alamogordo for GOP candidates and potential candidates for the seat. He’s also been telling area Republicans that he’s considering running.

Marquardt, an optometrist, served 12 years in the state House of Representatives and was the minority whip until he was defeated last year by challenger Nate Cote, D-Las Cruces.

After his defeat, Marquardt hinted at a future political comeback. And, according to the Alamogordo Daily News, he gave a speech last week in Alamogordo about “the battle for America’s values,” covering topics including faith, terrorism and a push by some to remove the words “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance.

“… an arrogant and secular elite, backed by a powerful judiciary that holds itself supreme over the executive and legislative branches, is waging a war against God and our public life,” the newspaper quoted Marquardt as saying. “It is a war to define America down, to change the character of our nation. This change would be something that the men and women who founded this nation wouldn’t recognize.”

“Winning the battle for America’s values means reaffirming that America was founded on the recognition that our liberties come from our creator and that our continued prosperity rests, as George Washington put it in his farewell address, on the indispensable supports of religion and morality,” the newspaper quoted Marquardt as saying.

Cote’s margin of victory last year was slim – 199 votes, or 2.8 percent – and he outspent Marquardt, with the help of Democratic leaders in Santa Fe, by $12,000. Cote ran a much more active campaign, walking more neighborhoods and sending out more mailers than Marquardt.

Earlier this year, Marquardt ran during the state GOP leadership contest for Second Congressional District delegate, but lost to Mike Kakuska of Roswell.