Field of second district hopefuls and potentials grows

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The race to replace Steve Pearce in the Second Congressional District got much more complicated over the weekend with a number of people entering the race or announcing that they’re seriously considering it. In addition, at least one candidate plans to enter the race later today. Here’s the quick rundown: • Republican Bob Cornelius announced Saturday that has formed an exploratory committee “with the intent” to run. The native of Tatum recently moved back there from Albuquerque, where he was a former executive director of the Bernalillo County GOP. • State Rep. Jose Campos, D-Santa Rosa, surprised many by announcing at Saturday’s meeting of the party’s state central committee that he’s seriously considering running. Continue Reading

Non-scientific poll voters say Miyagishima will win

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima will win the Las Cruces mayoral race on Tuesday. Of 360 voters, 208, or 58 percent, said Miyagishima will defeat incumbent Bill Mattiace, while 152, or 42 percent, said Mattiace will win. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Tying up loose ends for the municipal election

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With less than four days until polls open at 7 a.m. Tuesday in the Las Cruces Municipal Election, there are a few odds and ends that need to be wrapped up, all relating to disclosure. Any of these topics could have warranted its own article but, this close to the election, I hesitate to go there. It’s time to try to wrap up investigate reporting on election-related issues. So here’s what I know that’s outstanding: People for Prosperity Last weekend, a group calling itself People for Prosperity made public its attempt to affect the outcome of the election with a quarter-page advertisement in the Las Cruces Sun-News. It has since unveiled a Web site and a series of pricey newspaper ads. Continue Reading

Even if Udall vacates it, Wirth won’t seek House seat

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Even if U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., runs for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, state Rep. Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, won’t run for his U.S. House seat, he said today. Wirth reaffirmed his plan to run for the state Senate District 25 seat being vacated by John Grubesic, and said an open U.S. House seat won’t change that. “When Congressman Udall told me several weeks ago that he was staying in the U.S. House of Representatives, we made a family decision to seek the open District 25 state Senate seat,” he said. “While it is certainly humbling to have such interest in the possibility of me serving in Washington, Carol and I are very happy with our choice and feel strongly that it makes the most sense at this time for our family, which is deeply rooted here in Santa Fe, and for the community.” “I am honored to serve in the state legislature and look forward to meeting the voters in state Senate District 25,” Wirth said. Udall hasn’t made a formal announcement, but he’s trying to put the pieces in place for a U.S. Senate run. Continue Reading

Mayoral candidates’ differences were clear at debate

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The differences between the two candidates for Las Cruces mayor were clear during this morning’s debate on The Morning Show with Alan Riehl. Mayor Bill Mattiace believes Las Cruces is in great shape. He believes growth policies are moving the city in the right direction and that the city is doing a good job of involving residents in the process. District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima, on the other hand, believes the city is growing too quickly. He wants the city to do a better job of planning and wants more requirements for developers to ensure better infrastructure in new neighborhoods. Continue Reading

Cervantes plans to run for Congress

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If there was any doubt left, State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, has essentially confirmed that he’s running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M. He made comments that essentially indicate he’s running Wednesday on The Morning Show with Alan Riehl. You can listen to the podcast of the interview by clicking here. “We’re taking all the steps we need to do,” Cervantes said. “We are moving in the direction of putting… a team in place that can win that race.” The fact that Cervantes is running is something that we pretty much knew, and I reported earlier this week. Though he didn’t flat-out say he’s running on the radio show, Cervantes said he is “moving in the right direction” but still had some phone calls to make and wants to be joined by friends when he makes the final decision. Continue Reading

Denish decides against running for U.S. Senate

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Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has decided to forgo a 2008 U.S. Senate run and instead run for governor in 2010 as she originally planned. A knowledgeable source confirmed on Thursday that Denish had decided against running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. The news came the same day the public learned that U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., had decided to reconsider whether to run for Senate and that he is trying to put together the pieces necessary for a Senate run. Many Washington insiders had spent weeks pushing Denish or Udall to run for the seat. But Denish told me months before Domenici announced his coming retirement that she had no interest in leaving New Mexico. Continue Reading

Udall is trying to put pieces in place for Senate run

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A number of sources are confirming that U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., has moved beyond simply reconsidering whether he should run for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. He’s now trying to put the pieces in place for a Senate run. That’s sort of obvious, even without the confirmation from sources. Udall considered a Senate run once and decided against it. To reconsider now – and confirm it publicly – means he must be very serious. Continue Reading

National restaurant group pushes Tinsley to run

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The National Restaurant Association is pushing GOP restaurant chain owner Ed Tinsley to run for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce. Tinsley owns the K-Bob’s chain of restaurants and, after he lost to Pearce in the 2002 primary, he became heavily involved in the influential group, serving last year as the chairman of its board.Tinsley is expected to announce as early as next week whether he’ll run for the congressional seat. “Throughout his many years of service on the National Restaurant Association board and during his term as chairman, Ed has demonstrated that he is not only a talented leader, but that he has a keen understanding of the issues that small businesses face,” Dawn Sweeney, president and CEO of the association, said in a news release. “As chairman, Ed had a tremendous impact, representing the industry at White House meetings and on Capitol Hill. We encourage Ed to consider a run for Congress. Continue Reading

Trowbridge fed up with council’s focus on downtown

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One of the central questions in Tuesday’s Las Cruces municipal election is whether the city’s growth is out of control. This article is the second in a two-part series that explores that question. Wednesday’s article looked at growth in a new area, while today’s article considers infrastructure needs in older neighborhoods. By Vicki Nisbett Streets that need paving, water mains that break and sidewalks built in the 1930s are just some of the items on the outgoing District 4 Las Cruces city councilor’s list that need to be fixed, and he’s frustrated it’s not happening. In fact, that’s why Steven Trowbridge isn’t seeking re-election. Continue Reading

Udall will reconsider running for Senate

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U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., is reconsidering running for U.S. Senate, a knowledgeable source confirmed today. Udall’s entrance into the race would further shake up the New Mexico political landscape that is being reshaped by the coming retirement of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici. Udall announced recently that he would not run for the Senate seat, and would instead seek re-election to his House seat, in part because he has a coveted spot on the powerful House Appropriations Committee. Udall is now reconsidering both options, the source confirmed today. He already has more than $800,000 in the bank for a House run and has no announced opponent. Continue Reading

Mayoral candidates to debate on radio Friday morning

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The only debate between the two candidates vying to be Las Cruces’ mayor will be held Friday morning. You won’t be able to attend in person, but will be able to listen on KSNM-AM 570 from 7-9 a.m. The debate is part of The Morning Show with Alan Riehl. Though there have been some public forums, this will be the only true debate between the two candidates – incumbent Bill Mattiace and District 6 Councilor Ken Miyagishima – in advance of Tuesday’s election. A portion of the debate will be dedicated to questions from listeners. In addition to calling in, listeners will be able to submit questions during the debate via e-mail. Continue Reading

Pearce campaign tour includes ten stops

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has released the schedule for his weekend tour to announce that he’s running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. It begins Friday at noon at the Teen Center in Hobbs, 620 West Alto. Pearce will be at the Embassy Suites, 1000 Woodward Place NE in Albuquerque at 4 p.m. to try to make the evening newscasts. On Saturday, he begins the day at 8:30 a.m. at TJ’s Downtown Diner, 119 East Main in Farmington. At 10:30 a.m., he’ll be at the municipal airport in Santa Fe, and at 1 p.m. he’ll be at the municipal airport in Clovis. Continue Reading

Teague to formally announce congressional run Nov. 8

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Former Lea County Commissioner Harry Teague plans to formally announce on Nov. 8 that he’s running for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by GOP U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce. Teague plans to make the announcement at 5 p.m. on that day at the Democratic Party headquarters in Hobbs, located at 604 West Broadway, according to a news release. “The issues our country is facing – ending the war in Iraq, health care coverage for all, immigration reform and access to a high quality education – are too important to ignore,” Teague said. “The needs of the people of this district have been neglected for years, and we must have a strong voice who can fight for us on these issues and who can work with members of both parties to get things done for New Mexico and our nation. Continue Reading

Chávez reaches out to progressives through bloggers

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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez, who is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M., is attempting to reach out to the progressive wing of the Democratic Party through its bloggers. There are quite a few progressive bloggers in New Mexico, and Chávez had a dialogue with several of them on a conference call on Tuesday evening that he said he hoped was “part of an ongoing conversation.” Chávez isn’t well liked, to put it mildly, by many progressives, who recently worked with Republicans to defeat candidates and referenda backed by Chávez, or at least some of his top staffers, in the Albuquerque municipal election. In a recent interview with me, Chávez said he gets “a bad rap” from progressives that isn’t deserved, and cited his work on combating climate change and other issues he says should earn him the support of progressives. In the same conversation, however, Chávez said he wasn’t afraid of the possibility that U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, a favorite among progressive Democrats, might enter the race, saying Udall is “so far to the left.” That comment was one of the points Chávez was asked about during Tuesday’s call. It upset many progressives as it circulated on state and national blogs last week. Continue Reading