Farmington councilor considers running for Congress

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Farmington City Councilor Jason Sandel, son of former state Rep. Jerry Sandel, is seriously considering running for the Third Congressional District seat being vacated by Tom Udall, who is running for U.S. Senate. Sandel, 33 and a Democrat, said he has been encouraged by many to consider running and has spoken with Udall, the state Democratic Party chairman and the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee about the possibility. “Most significantly I am evaluating impact to my family and my business should I decide to run to represent New Mexicans in the Third Congressional District,” he said. “All told, I think that I would be a terrific representative for the Third Congressional District; moreover, I am confident that I would be a strong voice and advocate to ensure that areas inside the Third Congressional District are treated with the respect which we deserve.” Sandel did not provide a timeline for a decision. Democrats Don Wiviott and Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya have both entered the Third Congressional District race, and a number of others are seriously considering it. Continue Reading

Here’s why I’ve temporarily disabled all comments

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Comments on this site have been temporarily disabled because I’ve learned that someone has been impersonating a Las Cruces couple, apparently with the intent of trying to discredit certain political groups by submitting comments that make those groups’ members – and that couple in particular – appear to be extremists or nutcases. Many of you have been reading comments signed “Vi and Ron” and have become increasingly annoyed with their talk of a progressive Democratic “slate” of candidates. The comments have become increasingly obnoxious in recent days and have claimed to be submitted by two people who belong to the Progressive Voter Alliance and other groups that share some of the same members. There’s only one couple who fits that profile and who frequently goes by “Vi and Ron.” They are Violet and Ron Cauthon of Las Cruces, and, though they sometimes attend PVA meetings, they have not been submitting those comments. It appears that someone else has been intentionally impersonating them. Continue Reading

Zamora won’t run for Udall’s House seat

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Geno Zamora, former attorney general candidate and former chief legal counsel to Gov. Bill Richardson, announced today that he will not seek to replace U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, who is vacating his House seat to run for Senate. “I am proud to have Tom Udall as a mentor in both politics and the practice of law. It is my hope that Northern New Mexico’s next representative is as strong and progressive as Tom has been, and it would be an honor to succeed him,” Zamora said. “For me and my family, however, now is the time to remain in New Mexico and continue working for change here.” Zamora currently serves as a board member of the New Mexico Coalition Against Domestic Violence, the New Mexico Domestic Violence Leadership Commission, the Attorney General’s Advisory Board and the New Mexico Sports Authority Advisory Committee. Earlier this year, Zamora served as a member of the Governor’s Task Force on Ethics Reform. Continue Reading

Pearce polling has him gaining in Wilson’s district

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce has already made significant gains among GOP voters in the Albuquerque area in his bid to replace Pete Domenici in the Senate, at least according to his campaign’s internal polling. Before he traveled the state earlier this month to formally announce that he’s running for Senate, Pearce’s polling indicated that he had the support of less than 20 percent of GOP voters in the First Congressional District. After the tour, which included an official announcement in Albuquerque that was covered by local television stations, Pearce’s support among Republicans in that district jumped in internal polling to just under 40 percent, a source with knowledge of the situation confirmed. Pearce was able to make such a quick gain in part because he had a chance to sell himself to GOP voters in a district where he’s largely unknown. That’s good news for Pearce’s bid, but it doesn’t mean he’s the favorite to win the GOP nomination. Continue Reading

NMSU professor to run for Cervantes’ House seat

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A New Mexico State University professor with a history of involvement in the Democratic Party has decided to run for the District 52 seat in the state House of Representatives being vacated by Joseph Cervantes, who is running for Congress. Jose Z. Garcia, 62, confirmed today that he’s running. “I’ve been telling my friends and potential supporters that I am tossing my hat in the ring,” he said. He is the first to announce his candidacy for the open House seat. Garcia, who teaches government at NMSU, was appointed by the governor to the New Mexico Border Authority in 2002 and served for four years. Continue Reading

At least four Las Crucens considering District 6 race

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I reported last week that Las Crucen Lawrence Joy was seriously considering running for the District 6 seat on the Las Cruces City Council that is being vacated by Ken Miyagishima, who was elected mayor last week. The Las Cruces Sun-News has added four more names to the list of potential candidates. They are: • Pat Curran, a former county magistrate judge. • Sherry Thomas, head of the Quality Growth Alliance. • Edward Fernandez, a former Las Cruces Public Schools administrator. Continue Reading

Chávez reaches out online as criticism continues

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Progressive Democrats sure aren’t making the road ahead in the U.S. Senate race easy for Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez. But that isn’t stopping him from trying to use their favored method of communication – the Internet – to reach voters. A couple of weeks after he held a conference call with progressive bloggers in New Mexico to try to begin a dialogue, the mayor isn’t getting any love – and that’s an understatement. U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, who just jumped into the race, is getting just about all the support of progressive Democrats. Barbara Wold, who was on the conference call with Chávez and runs the site Democracy for New Mexico, wrote today that Chávez has been beaten up in the blogosphere since entering the race, and she links to some of the postings. Continue Reading

Cervantes says he will stand on principle in Congress

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State Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, told a crowd of some 200 people on Monday evening that he’s running for Congress because Washington needs more leaders who – like him – are willing to act on principle and with conviction. Such leaders, he said, will help restore America’s position as a beacon. “I believe the most important task today in Washington, D.C. is to recapture that role of the United States in the world,” Cervantes said. “… I want to represent you in Congress because there are not enough people in Washington, D.C. today who are willing to risk the political consequences by standing on principal and political convictions, but I think we need at least one more.” The kickoff of Cervantes’ bid to replace U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce, R-N.M., who is vacating the seat to run for Senate, was held at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces and attended by about 20 elected officials, a number of family members and other supporters. The enthusiastic crowd cheered frequently as Cervantes and others spoke. Continue Reading

Making a list of candidates and potential candidates

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There are a lot of New Mexico politicos running for or considering running for three open seats in the U.S. House and one in the U.S. Senate. I’ve been asked to put all their names in one place so people can keep things straight. So I’m putting together a list of all declared candidates and people who are seriously considering running for the open federal seats. I’m going to publish it on Wednesday. This is a call for anyone who wants to be included on the list to e-mail me at heath@haussamen.com. Continue Reading

Commissioner Evans to run for Steinborn’s House seat

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Doña Ana County Commissioner Kent Evans announced today that he will challenge state Rep. Jeff Steinborn, D-Las Cruces, for the District 37 seat in the state House of Representatives next year. Evans is serving his second and final term on the county commission and will leave that office at the end of 2008 regardless of whether he is successful in his House bid. Evans said in a news release that he plans to use his experience in the private sector and government to “better represent” the district’s residents. “I want to represent all of the folks in the district and not just a select few with myopic agendas,” Evans said. “I offer a lifetime of community involvement.” Steinborn is an energetic, well-funded incumbent, but the district is fairly evenly split between Democrats and Republicans. Continue Reading

Cervantes to announce congressional run this evening

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Tonight’s announcement by state Rep. Joseph Cervantes, D-Las Cruces, that he’s running for the U.S. House seat being vacated by Steve Pearce will be made at about 5 p.m. at the Farm and Ranch Heritage Museum in Las Cruces. The event is scheduled to begin at 4:30 p.m., but a program that will include a series of speakers and Cervantes making his announcement begins at 5 p.m. Cervantes will join 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. Continue Reading

Voters in poll pick Pearce to win primary

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The majority of those who voted in last week’s non-scientific poll on this site said U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce will win the GOP primary in the U.S. Senate race. Out of 260 voters, 154, or 59 percent, said Pearce will win, while 106, or 41 percent, said U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson 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

Udall confirms Senate run; Wiviott to seek House seat

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The chief of staff to U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., confirmed today that the congressman will run for the Senate seat being vacated next year by Pete Domenici. Meanwhile, Democrats Don Wiviott and Jim Hannan will drop out of the Senate race as a result of Udall’s decision. Wiviott plans to run for the House seat Udall will be vacating. The confirmation of Udall’s candidacy comes a day after I reported that Udall had told a number of Democratic insiders he’s running for Senate. “He’s definitely running,” Tom Nagle, Udall’s chief of staff, told the Associated Press today. Continue Reading

Richardson bets everything on Iowa, New Hampshire

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With 54 days until the Iowa Caucus on Jan. 3, Gov. Bill Richardson is putting everything he has into Iowa and New Hampshire as he makes a final push in his underdog bid for the presidency. Earlier this week, Richardson moved 10 staffers from Nevada to Iowa, weakening his organization in a state he once called critical. Richardson also moved some staffers from New Hampshire to Iowa, but replaced them with staffers from the campaign headquarters in Santa Fe. Overall, that increased the number of staffers in both Iowa and New Hampshire. Continue Reading

Miyagishima, other winners are sworn in

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Ken Miyagishima officially holds the title of Las Cruces mayor after he and the other candidates who won Tuesday’s municipal election were sworn in today. However, Miyagishima and the others won’t officially take office until Nov. 19, when a ceremonial swearing-in is planned. Today’s ceremony was not previously announced to the public. The city’s municipal code requires that candidates be sworn in within 14 days of the results becoming official, which happened on Thursday, but state law requires that they be sworn in within six days. Continue Reading