Campos drops out of congressional race

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Just two days after announcing that he would run for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce, state Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, is dropping out of the race because a ruptured disc in his back requires immediate surgery. Campos said he has been aware of the problem in his back for some time and knew he would need surgery eventually, but he hoped to delay it at least a year with exercise and other natural treatment. Campos had an MRI on Monday to ensure he could delay the surgery, and it revealed the ruptured disc, he said. His doctor has scheduled him for surgery on Wednesday that will keep him off his feet until just before the state Legislature convenes in mid-January. He said he plans to be ready for the session. Continue Reading

Cervantes tells supporters he is running for Congress

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State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, is informing close friends and supporters tonight in an e-mail that he is running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce. Cervantes plans to make his formal announcement at a party that will be held Monday evening in Las Cruces. Cervantes joins state Rep. Jose Campos of Santa Rosa, Al Kissling of Las Cruces, Doña Ana County Commissioner Bill McCamley, Roswell businessman Frank McKinnon and former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague in the Democratic primary. On the Republican side, only GOP restaurant-chain owner and rancher Ed Tinsley has formally entered the race, but former Bernalillo County GOP Executive Director Bob Cornelius has formed an exploratory committee “with the intent to run.” Sierra County Republican Party Chair C. Earl Greer and Aubrey L. Dunn Jr. are expected to make final decisions soon, and others are also considering the race. Cervantes will be joined at Monday’s party by a number of high-profile Democrats, and will be endorsed by House Majority Leader Ken Martinez, state Reps. Continue Reading

Mattiace plans to challenge election results

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Mayor Bill Mattiace announced this evening that he will challenge the results of Tuesday’s Las Cruces municipal election, which had him narrowly losing to District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima, and that he will sue a number of people for defamation related to election campaigning. Meanwhile, the city council voted at this evening’s meeting to certify the election results. That included adding to the previously released totals another six ballots that were all cast for Miyagishima and increased his margin of victory to 80 votes out of 11,424. He finished with 5,751 votes, or 50.3 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,671 votes, or 49.7 percent. The six ballots that were added to the count came from people who requested absentee ballots but later signed sworn statements that they never received them. Continue Reading

Dems seeking federal seats tout endorsements

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In the midst of other candidates entering or considering entering the federal races, Democrats Martin Chávez, Bill McCamley and Martin Heinrich are announcing new endorsements and reminding people about previously announced backers of their campaigns. Chávez, facing a likely U.S. Senate primary against Democratic Rep. Tom Udall, announced on Wednesday the endorsements of state Treasurer James Lewis and former Govs. Jerry Apodaca and Toney Anaya. McCamley, a Second Congressional District candidate who has been running since April but has seen three high-profile Democrats enter the race in the last month, announced today the endorsements of Doña Ana County Commissioner Dolores Saldaña-Caviness, Eddy County Commissioner Tony Hernandez and Carlsbad City Councilmen Manny Anaya and Jeff Diamond. Heinrich, a First Congressional District candidate who is facing three other Democrats in a primary, announced today the endorsement of the Pueblo of Zia, the first pueblo to endorse any candidate in the race. Continue Reading

Carraro forms committee to consider congress

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State Sen. Joe Carraro, R-Albuquerque, announced today that he has formed an exploratory committee as he considers whether to run for the First Congressional District seat being vacated by Heather Wilson. “As a state senator I have dedicated my life to improving the quality of life of every New Mexican. Now, I believe I can make a real difference in the life of every citizen of our great country and am considering running for the United States House of Representatives,” Carraro said. He said his committee includes friends, supporters and business leaders, and he plans to do polling and “evaluate financial, volunteer and consultant commitments to ensure a successful run for this important congressional race.” At this point, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White is the only Republican who has entered the race, but state Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, has also formed an exploratory committee. On the Democratic side, attorney Jon Adams, teacher Jason Call, Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich and former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham are running for the House seat. Continue Reading

Joy may seek Miyagishima’s council seat

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Lawrence Joy, a well-known Las Crucen who has twice run unsuccessfully for state representative, said he is “strongly considering” running for the District 6 seat on the Las Cruces City Council when a special election is held in January. The seat will become vacant on Nov. 19 when Ken Miyagishima is sworn in as the city’s new mayor. The clerk hasn’t set a date for the special election – preparations will begin after the completion of the canvass of Tuesday’s election later today – but it will be held sometime in January. “When running for state representative I campaigned on bringing the legislative process back to the voters to include the community on all decisions. Continue Reading

Ballot-access law causing headaches for Democrats

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During the 2007 Legislature, the powers-that-be quietly pushed through a change in state law that made it more difficult for many major-party candidates to get on the ballot. The scramble that has resulted from U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici’s retirement has that law causing headaches for Democratic leaders. Under the previous law, a Democrat or Republican could get on the ballot by receiving the votes of 20 percent of delegates at their party’s preprimary nominating convention or, if they failed in that attempt, by submitting petitions containing enough signatures to qualify. The change got rid of the second provision, and was designed to increase the power of those who control the major parties. However, as reported today by The Santa Fe New Mexican’s Steve Terrell, getting rid of the alternative path to the ballot is causing headaches for Democrats. Continue Reading

New council reflects a community split over growth

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Las Cruces Mayor Bill Mattiace and District 1 Councilor José Frietze and their supporters should have seen the writing on the wall in April, when Doña Ana County voters shocked many by only narrowly approving a gross-receipts tax increase to help fund Spaceport America. If they didn’t understand the situation then, it should have become increasingly clear in May, when a galvanized group of Las Cruces residents cried foul over the city council’s approval of a 6,000-acre development on the East Mesa without as much public involvement as they wanted. There were strong signs that a growing number of Las Cruces residents weren’t on board with the vision shared by Mattiace, Frietze and others. They believe the city’s growth is either too fast or happening without rules to ensure adequate infrastructure and services are being provided. They don’t like the idea of paying a tax for a spaceport in Sierra County when infrastructure in their neighborhood is lacking. Continue Reading

Campos, Tinsley confirm congressional runs

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State Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, and GOP restaurant-chain owner and rancher Ed Tinsley are both confirming that they are running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. Campos confirmed this morning in an e-mail that he’s running. “I am running for congressman in N.M.’s Second Congressional District because I believe I have both the skills and the experience necessary to make a positive difference in Southern New Mexico,” Campos said. “…I am the only candidate for this congressional seat that fully understands the intricacies of county, city and state government. I’ve been a county commissioner, and I am currently a mayor and a state representative.” Tinsley made his announcement in a news release this morning. “I understand what makes our district so near and dear in the hearts of Southern New Mexicans,” Tinsley said, “from the oil and gas fields of the southeast, to the tourism and hospitality industry of the mountains, to Las Cruces – one of the fastest-growing cities in the southwest, to the rich farming lands in the lower Rio Grande Valley, to our forest lands throughout the district, and ranching. Continue Reading

Voters give Miyagishima a chance to make changes

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By Vicki Nisbett Las Cruces Mayor-elect Ken Miyagishima ran on a platform of slowing the city’s growth and increasing public involvement. Now he’ll get a chance to make that happen. “I feel very good,” Miyagishima said after he learned on Tuesday that he had defeated Mayor Bill Mattiace by 74 votes out of 11,416. “It really hasn’t sunk in yet. It’s a credit to everyone who’s worked so hard for me.” At a gathering for Mattiace, meanwhile, sullen supporters consoled the mayor after it became clear that he had been defeated. Continue Reading

Final results from Las Cruces municipal election

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Here are the final, unofficial results from the 2007 Las Cruces municipal election. The City Council is scheduled to certify the results at 5 p.m. Thursday in the council chambers at City Hall. Mayor Ken Miyagishima: 5,745 votes, 50.3 percentBill Mattiace (i): 5,671 votes, 49.7 percent Presiding municipal judge Melissa Miller-Byrnes (i): 6,410 votes, 58 percentConrad Perea: 4,694 votes, 42 percent Council District 1 Miguel Silva: 625 votes, 45 percentJosé Frietze (i): 504 votes, 36 percentRon Gurley: 144 votes, 10 percentConrado Guerra: 116 votes, 8 percent Council District 2 Dolores Connor (i): 831 votes, 52 percentVince Boudreau: 777 votes, 48 percent Council District 4 Nathan Small: 600 votes, 42 percentSteve Montaño: 489 votes, 34 percentIsaac Chavez: 335 votes, 24 percent Total votes in mayoral race: 11,416Voter turnout: about 24 percent Continue Reading

Clerk confirms tally; Miyagishima declares victory

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The City Clerk’s Office is now confirming that District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima has defeated Mayor Bill Mattiace by 74 votes, and Miyagishima is declaring victory. The final total from the clerk matched the total I already reported. Miyagishima finished with 5,745 votes, or 50.3 percent, to Mattiace’s 5,671 votes, or 49.7 percent. “I want to thank the people of Las Cruces for exercising their right to vote, and I promise to serve them to the best of my ability, include them in all my decision-making, raise the level of public input… and serve everybody, not just a select few,” Miyagishima said. He said he had not spoken with Mattiace. Continue Reading