Foley announces state House re-election campaign

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House Minority Whip Dan Foley, R-Roswell, announced today that he’s seeking re-election this year. The District 57 representative has served five terms in the Legislature, and wants a sixth. “I want to continue the success we’ve had in the first 10 years,” Foley said in an interview. “Clearly, we’ve built a foundation from which to make New Mexico, specifically District 57, better.” Foley cited among his successes his tough stances on crime and border security. He said in his first year in the Legislature he voted for Megan’s Law, and this year his was one of the key votes that helped pass domestic violence legislation being pushed by the governor. Continue Reading

County elections supervisor files to run for clerk

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Citing concerns about the health of Doña Ana County Clerk Rita Torres, the county’s elections supervisor, Lynn Ellins, filed today to run against her in the Democratic primary for clerk. “This was not a decision easily arrived at, as it puts me in opposition to County Clerk Rita Torres, for whom I have the utmost respect and affection,” Ellins said in a news release. “However, many of us are concerned about her health and stamina and her ability to successfully complete what promises to be a long general election campaign.” Ellins said he decided to run “at the urging of many Doña Ana County citizens.” Ellins, an attorney, is a former committee counsel to the New York State Legislature, a former Regent for the University of Colorado and a former Deputy Secretary of State in Colorado. Torres hired him in 2006 to clean up elections in the county, which had a history of problems but has had smooth elections since he took over. Democrats and Republicans alike have praised the elections staff, under Ellins’ leadership, for professionalism and competence. Continue Reading

Marquardt changes mind, drops congressional bid

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A day after I reported that Terry Marquardt was staying in the race to replace Steve Pearce in Congress, Marquardt announced today that he’s changed his mind and is dropping out. “Our goal to elect a proven conservative with a proven record of results as our next congressman did merit our efforts,” the Republican Marquardt said today in an e-mail to supporters. “However, I underestimated the disadvantages and difficulties that proved to be insurmountable with a late start. For this reason, after careful consideration and consultation with trusted advisers, I have decided to withdraw from the race for New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District.” Marquardt thanked his family and supporters, saying they “refused to rest easy” and “used personal involvement to achieve the greater good.” “The challenge of a statesman is to have the vision to dream of a better, safer world, and the courage, persistence and the patience to turn that dream into reality,” Marquardt wrote. “I still have that vision, and I will continue to work with you to turn that dream into reality.” After receiving two votes, or about 1 percent, at Saturday’s preprimary nominating convention, Marquardt said in an e-mail to me over the weekend that he had already gathered more than enough signatures to stay in the race. Continue Reading

Second PRC candidate qualifies for public financing

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A Republican Public Regulation Commission candidate says he has become the second to qualify for public financing this year. Alan Reed, who is challenging PRC Chairman Jason Marks this year for the Albuquerque-area seat, confirmed in an e-mail that he has reached the threshold of raising at least 230 $5 contributions. “We will be the first Republican campaign (of this election season) to meet this requirement,” Reed said in an e-mail, adding that several GOP organizations helped him qualify. Marks recently announced that he was the first candidate to qualify for public financing by filing notice of more than 400 $5 contributions. The public-financing system was first tested in PRC races in 2006, with the three candidates who took advantage of the system expressing some concerns about the timeliness of payments and reporting deadlines. Continue Reading

Fischmann announces candidacy for state Senate

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Democrat Steve Fischmann, 54, of Las Cruces, has announced his candidacy for state Senate in District 37, the seat currently held by Republican Leonard Lee Rawson. His main goal is to return government to serving the needs of everyday citizens first, he said in a news release announcing his candidacy. “Whether the issue is good jobs, health care, education or the environment, the needs of average people have too often taken a back seat to partisan bickering and powerful lobbies,” Fischmann said. “The opportunities for our region have never been greater, and it’s time to move forward by working together.” Fischmann has been active as an advocate on a variety of issues in Southern New Mexico. He is a founding member of the Quality Growth Alliance and chair of the Southwest Energy Alliance, which has been instrumental in promoting clean and affordable energy initiatives in Southern New Mexico. Continue Reading

Rep. Gutierrez announces re-election bid

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State Rep. Joni Marie Gutierrez, D-Mesilla, has announced that she will seek a third term as the representative of District 33. Gutierrez said in a news release that she wants to continue her service to improve the quality of life for constituents in communities stretching from Fairacres through west Las Cruces to Mesilla and San Miguel. “I have been an advocate for families facing mental health challenges, for conservation of our environment and for consumer protection,” she said. Gutierrez said she has targeted funds toward eliminating the city sewage treatment plant’s smell that has branded Las Cruces as “stink town.” “It is my goal to keep after that problem until it is totally solved,” she said. “Through my neighborhood meetings and other contacts with constituents, I know their priorities and I share their goals of keeping their communities unique while enhancing their opportunities.” Gutierrez successfully introduced legislation to enhance recreational opportunities by reducing liability obstacles so multi-use trails could be established on major irrigation rights-of-way. Continue Reading

Today is candidate filing day

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Today is filing day for candidates for legislative and other races throughout the state. Every legislative seat is up for grabs, and tonight we’ll know who’s running. In Doña Ana County, several other offices, including district attorney, treasurer and clerk, are up for grabs. So are three seats on the county commission. No statewide offices are open this year. Continue Reading

Newman says it’s ‘full steam ahead’ in CD2 race

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Monty Newman says his campaign to become the next representative of the Second Congressional District of New Mexico is moving forward even after he narrowly missed qualifying for the ballot at Saturday’s Republican preprimary nominating convention. “We expect to file at least 1,500 signatures when we officially qualify for the Republican primary in 10 days,” Newman said in a news release. “We are ecstatic with the overwhelming support we’ve gotten directly from the voters. When over 1,500 voters say ‘We want you to run,’ you have to listen. My record in Hobbs and my sincere conservative message is resonating loud and clear.” Aubrey Dunn Jr. won Saturday’s contest with the support of 40 delegates, or 30 percent. Continue Reading

Kissling undecided on whether to keep going

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Al Kissling said today he hasn’t decided whether to try to gather the signatures necessary to stay in the race to replace Steve Pearce in Congress. “At this point, we’re still doing thinking and reflection, OK? No comment,” Kissling said in a brief phone interview. Kissling won 13 percent of delegates at Saturday’s Democratic preprimary nominating convention, while Bill McCamley won 49 percent and Harry Teague won 36 percent. Candidates had to secure at least 20 percent to win a spot on the ballot. Continue Reading

McKinnon won’t try to stay in CD2 race

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Frank McKinnon won’t attempt to stay in the race to replace Steve Pearce in Congress after receiving only 1 percent of the vote at Saturday’s Democratic preprimary nominating convention. “It looks like Pete Domenici and George W. Bush have succeeded in helping the nuclear industry buy all Democratic candidates for the congressional seat of New Mexico’s District 2,” McKinnon wrote in an e-mail and a posting on his campaign Web site. “Having Tom Udall as a senator may be enough to override any damage that Bill McCamley or Harry Teague may do. I hope so.” McKinnon said his campaign Web site would be taken down in the next couple of weeks. While McKinnon secured only 1 percent of the vote, McCamley won 49 percent, Teague won 36 percent and Al Kissling received about 13 percent of the vote. Continue Reading

Vigil-Giron says she’ll stay in CD1 race

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Rebecca Vigil-Giron plans to stay in the race to replace Heather Wilson in Congress despite failing to qualify for the ballot at Saturday’s Democratic preprimary nominating convention. “I got into the race approximately five weeks ago. I didn’t expect to get the 20 percent of the delegates,” she said in an e-mail. “But I did communicate with most of them and they were very sorry that they had committed to the other candidates and, had they known that I was entering the race, they would have supported me. But my Democratic delegates are true to their word.” In anticipation of not reaching the 20-percent threshold at the convention to qualify for the ballot, Vigil-Giron said, her campaign has gathered more than 1,500 signatures of registered Democrats in the First Congressional District. Continue Reading

Marquardt says he plans to stay in CD2 race

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Terry Marquardt plans to stay in the race to replace Steve Pearce in Congress despite getting the votes of only two delegates at Saturday’s Republican preprimary nominating convention. “The campaign moves forward,” he said in an e-mail. “At this point, we have much work ahead of us.” Marquardt said he needs to submit 817 signatures by March 25 to stay in the race. My calculations are that he needs 804 signatures, based on information I was provided by the Secretary of State’s Office. Either way, Marquardt says he has already gathered more than enough signatures to stay on the ballot. Continue Reading

NMSU president must back up apology with action

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New Mexico State University President Michael Martin isn’t one to generally admit any sort of weakness or mistake in public. That’s why I was surprised on Saturday when he sent an e-mail to the NMSU community apologizing for comments he made that appeared to discount the hard work of students who were protesting the forced departure of two faculty members from the Department of Health Science. A number of current and former students held a protest on Tuesday against the decision to not renew the contracts of John Moraros and Yelena Bird. The outgoing professors say months of racial and sexual discrimination led to their ousters. An associate dean and the department head have temporarily stepped down pending the outcome of a university investigation. Continue Reading

Carraro plans to stay in CD1 race

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Republican Joe Carraro plans to stay in the race to replace Heather Wilson in Congress despite failing to qualify for the ballot at Saturday’s Republican preprimary nominating convention. Carraro won 15 percent of the vote at the convention, while Darren White took 85 percent. Carraro said he suspected before the convention that he wouldn’t reach the 20-percent threshold that would qualify him for the ballot. He said on Sunday that he has already collected the signatures necessary to qualify for the ballot via the alternate route. “After seeing the results of (the) Bernalillo County Convention, we knew we were at 10 percent in Bernalillo, so we went out and got what we needed,” Carraro said of gathering signatures. Continue Reading