Most who vote in poll say Perea will win judgeship

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site think there will be a change in the leadership of the Las Cruces Municipal Court when voters go to the polls on Nov. 6. Of 157 voters, 88, or 56 percent, said Conrad F. Perea would win the race for presiding judge of the court, while 69, or 44 percent, said incumbent Melissa Miller-Byrnes would be re-elected. Don’t forget to vote in this week’s poll, located at the top of the right column on this page. Continue Reading

Arnold-Jones may run for Congress

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State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, is considering running for the seat in the U.S. House being vacated next year by Republican Heather Wilson, who is running for Senate instead of seeking re-election. Arnold-Jones confirmed on Saturday that she may get into the race. “I am really considering this,” she said. Arnold-Jones said she will be on the phone this week to determine how much cash she can raise, but she doesn’t think money is the only factor in building support for a run. In the mostly metropolitan First Congressional District, door-to-door campaigning is much more doable than it is in the state’s other congressional districts. Continue Reading

Chávez says he’s seriously considering Senate race

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Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez confirmed moments ago that he’s seriously considering running for U.S. Senate. In a brief phone interview, Chávez said he has been honored to receive phone calls in recent days from all across the state and nation from people urging him to run. “This decision is a very serious one, not one to be taken lightly, and I’ll make a decision in the near future,” he said. Chávez also asked if I knew anything more than has been reported publicly about whether U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., would join the Senate race. I told him I did not, and he said Pearce is “the toughest the GOP could put up.” He said U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., who announced today that she will run, is “damaged.” Continue Reading

Wilson confirms run, hasn’t sought Domenici backing

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U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., formally announced today that she will give up her House seat to run for the Senate seat coming open next year because of the retirement of U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici. “We’ve been so fortunate to have Sen. Pete Domenici working for us for the last 35 years,” Wilson said. “… I will treasure the next 15 months working with Sen. Pete Domenici in the United States Congress.” She talked about what she believes are the nation’s most pressing needs – better schools and health care and increased security – and said New Mexicans “deserve leaders who will fight for these things.” “For these reasons I want the people of New Mexico to know that I will run for the United States Senate,” Wilson said. The news was first leaked on Thursday that Wilson would seek the seat, so today’s announcement was a formality. Wilson, 46, also indicated that today’s event, at which she was joined by her husband and children, wasn’t her formal announcement or campaign kickoff. Continue Reading

State Sen. Grubesic won’t seek re-election in 2008

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State Sen. John Grubesic, D-Santa Fe, announced today that he won’t seek re-election next year, the Santa Fe New Mexican is reporting. That leaves lawyer and Democrat Brian Egolf, who has already raised $85,000, as the frontrunner in the race for the District 25 seat. Democrat Mekah Gordon has also announced that she’s running. Grubesic told the newspaper his decision is based primarily on financial reasons. “Being in the Legislature has a significant impact on my ability to make a living and support my family,” he told the newspaper. Continue Reading

Wilson to announce Senate run at 4 p.m.

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U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., will announce at 4 p.m. today that she’s running for Senate. According to a news release from her office, she’ll make the announcement at Nativo Lodge, 6000 Pan American Freeway in Albuquerque. Though the release doesn’t say she’s running, it’s already well known as has been reported on this site. Read the latest from the Associated Press. Continue Reading

Guerra announces city council run

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Conrado M. Guerra has announced his candidacy for the District 1 seat on the Las Cruces City Council, the Las Cruces Sun-News is reporting. Guerra waited to make his announcement until after filing day for the Nov. 6 election. Though I asked, he has not provided the information to me, so here it is from the Sun-News: A resident of Las Cruces for 44 years, Guerra is 71, a retired insurance agent and a U.S. Army veteran. He’s focused on “decision making through common sense,” the newspaper reported. Continue Reading

Pearce says decision won’t be driven by poll numbers

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce says his belief on what’s right, not poll numbers, will drive his decision on whether to run in a Senate GOP primary against U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson. “I’m not sure what the math lays out, what the polls would say, but we’re very little driven by polls. We’re more driven by what’s the right thing in our heart, what do we feel we need to and must do,” Pearce said. “So it’s not like we’re going to go out and run polls and then do what the polls say. We’ll reflect and then decide what’s right for the state and what’s right for our office.” Pearce made the comments on Thursday to Jodi Breisler of Capitol News Connection, whose story you can listen to by clicking here. Continue Reading

State waits as Pearce considers Senate race

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., has made no public comment to this point on whether he will run for the Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici, but he’s also said little to most GOP insiders, leading to rampant speculation. According to the Albuquerque Journal, Pearce has been silent because he hasn’t yet decided what to do. U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., is announcing at 4 p.m. today that she’ll run for the seat, but Land Commissioner Pat Lyons is trying to talk with Pearce before he decides whether to take his chances in a Republican primary. It’s no secret that Pearce is seriously considering running. When I reached his campaign finance director, Andrea Goff, on her cell phone earlier today, she was with Pearce Chief of Staff Bob Carter. Continue Reading

Rep. Park considering run for Congress

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State Rep. Al Park is seriously considering running against his friend, Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich, in the First Congressional District Democratic primary next year. Park and Heinrich are friends and often work in the same political circles. But Park, D-Albuquerque, said he sees the open seat being vacated by U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, who will announce today that she’s running for Senate, as a “political opportunity of a lifetime.” Park said he hopes to make a decision in the next couple of weeks. “I’m actively considering my options,” he said. “If this is another way I can serve the people of New Mexico, I feel obliged to consider it.” As chair of the powerful state House Judiciary Committee, Park is an influential member of a group of House Democrats who often work with Republicans to find compromise on issues and bypass the will of Speaker Ben Lujan. Continue Reading

Udall won’t run for Senate

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U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., will not run for the Senate seat being vacated by Sen. Pete Domenici. Udall informed close supporters of his decision Thursday evening and released a statement this morning making it official. He said his new seat on the powerful appropriations committee was a factor in his decision. “The election to replace Domenici in 2008 will be a tough one, but I have every reason to believe I could win it,” Udall said. “I also believe, however, that as I continue to gain in seniority in the House, assume more of a leadership role, assert my authority on the appropriations committee and pass significant legislation like my bill to promote renewable energy, I am in the right place to serve New Mexico and the country.” As a member of the House, Udall said, he has “consistently stood up against the war in Iraq, against infringements on our constitutional rights and against favors for the special interests.” “I believe the House of Representatives, the ‘people’s house,’ can fix the mess the administration has gotten us into,” Udall said. Continue Reading

Udall will announce 2008 plans on Friday

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U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., will announce Friday morning whether he will run for Senate next year, his spokesman confirmed. If he enters the race, Udall would be the first top-tier Democrat to do so, and the move would likely be aimed at deterring others from getting in. At the end of June, Udall already had more than $700,000 on hand for a 2008 House run, money that can easily be transferred to a Senate race. On the other hand, Udall recently secured a coveted seat on the House Appropriations Committee, and he might be hesitant to give that up for what could be a hotly contested primary that might end his political career. High-ranking Democrats, including Sen. Charles Schumer of New York, have been encouraging Udall for months to consider the Senate race, but they’ve been pushing harder to get Gov. Bill Richardson to abandon his presidential campaign and enter the Senate race. Continue Reading

Domenici reveals disease, announces retirement

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U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici’s announcement this afternoon that he would not seek a seventh term was a formality, but it was also a time of celebration of a man who has devoted 35 years of his life to working for New Mexicans in the nation’s capital. The room at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Albuquerque was full and the applause was loud. Domenici was soft-spoken – a common trait in recent years – as he announced his plans, explained his disease and talked about his career – both what has happened and the 15 months that remain. “We’re going to do our best with those 15 months to do something spectacular,” Domenici said. Continue Reading

Bingaman expects Domenici to finish term effectively

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In a speech on the Senate floor today, U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman praised his colleague Pete Domenici, and in a later interview he said he has seen nothing that might indicate New Mexico’s senior senator isn’t able to continuing serving until his planned retirement at the end of 2008. Domenici is announcing his retirement today because he has frontotemporal lobar degeneration, which can lead to frontotemporal dementia and affect parts of the brain important for organization, decision-making and mood and behavior control. “Senator Domenici called me yesterday afternoon to tell me of his decision,” Bingaman said today during the speech. “My reaction was one of surprise, which gave way to admiration and appreciation for this man’s decision to conclude his distinguished career of public service on his own terms.” Bingaman said when he arrived in the Senate in 1983 that Domenici was “here to welcome me,” and said the senator has “earned a reputation as a fierce and effective champion for New Mexico.” “Today, and during his entire Senate career, Pete has achieved what all of us try to achieve – that is to be effective in getting results in Washington while also staying close to the people who have sent us here to represent them,” Bingaman said. “He has assured me that he expects the remaining fifteen months of his service to be productive. Continue Reading