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Pearce is the first candidate to put ads on TV

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U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce became this week the first candidate in the 2008 election cycle to air television advertisements promoting his campaign. The Republican U.S. Senate candidate is currently airing a 30-second advertisement statewide promoting his conservative values. It tells New Mexicans that he grew up in Hobbs, “excelled at 4-H,” served in the Air Force and is a family man and businessman. “Steve Pearce shares our conservative values,” the ad’s narrator states. “Lower taxes, stronger borders and a solid record of fighting al Qaeda and Islamic terrorism.” The ad is a wise move for the Pearce campaign. Continue Reading

Sowards formally announces congressional run

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Greg Sowards of Las Cruces has formally announced his campaign to replace Steve Pearce in Congress. “As your representative, I will not cave under pressure. I love people but will not sell my soul for popularity in Washington,” Sowards said. “The decisions that I make will be based on my conservative, God-fearing principles and on the Constitution.” Though I’ve written about Sowards’ candidacy several times already, he had not previously made a formal announcement of his candidacy. Sowards, a Republican, lives in Las Cruces and owns Kid’s Kountry Child Care Centers and a small manufacturing business. Continue Reading

Thinking of King and Altamirano

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By Carter Bundy This year’s legislative session, unusually, started on the actual birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. It also started without the leader of the Senate, President Pro Tem Ben Altamirano, who passed just after Christmas. As we work on our New Year’s resolutions, we could all do worse than to emulate their excellence. Very different paths Dr. King and President Altamirano don’t seem to have too much in common. They hailed from different parts of the country, with different backgrounds. One was a minister and civil rights leader, the other a long-time politician. Continue Reading

District 6 voters overwhelmingly pick Thomas

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Sharon Thomas secured more than 54 percent of the vote today in becoming the new District 6 representative on the Las Cruces City Council. Of 2,448 votes cast, Thomas had 1,322, or 54 percent, to Karen Trujillo’s 578 votes, or 24 percent. “I think that people really want change and they went out and voted,” Thomas said. “People want the city to have some new leadership.” Lawrence Joy finished with 240 votes, or 10 percent, while Berchard Ray Shipley finished with 207 votes, or 8 percent, and Patrick J. Curran finished with 101 votes, or 4 percent. Thomas spoke by phone from a volunteer appreciation party attended by 50-60 people. Continue Reading

Thomas’ lead grows with four polling places left

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With the votes from the polling place at the American Legion facility on Madrid Avenue counted, Sharon Thomas’ lead is growing. Thomas now has 425 votes, or 54 percent, to Karen Trujillo’s 174 votes, or 22 percent. Lawrence Joy is in third with 85 votes, or 11 percent, while Berchard Ray Shipley has 57 votes, or 7 percent, and Patrick J. Curran has 47 votes, or 6 percent. There are four polling places left to be counted. Continue Reading

Vigil-Giron is considering running for Congress

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Former Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron is considering jumping into the race to replace Heather Wilson in Congress. The Democrat, when reached by phone, would not comment, but sources confirmed that she spoke with others about her consideration of the race during ceremonies marking the opening of the legislative session earlier today. The Democrats in the race are former Albuquerque City Councilor Martin Heinrich and former state Health Secretary Michelle Lujan-Grisham. On the Republican side, the candidates are state Sen. Joe Carraro and Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White. Vigil-Giron applied last year but was not selected to become the state Democratic Party’s executive director. Continue Reading

Guv lays out agenda topped by universal health care

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There weren’t a lot of surprises in Gov. Bill Richardson’s 2008 state of the state address, which he delivered earlier today. Home following an unsuccessful presidential bid, the governor thanked those who supported him and named a handful of proposals – most with national significance – that he will push during the 30-day session. He said he wants the Legislature to focus on universal health care, energy efficiency, ethics reform, domestic partner benefits and combating domestic violence. The proposals he named were expected. Before the Senate and governor entered the House chambers for the state of the state address, Speaker Ben Lujan spoke about the full agenda the governor will try to squeeze into the short session. Continue Reading

Text of Richardson’s state of the state address

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Here is the full text, as prepared for delivery, of Gov. Bill Richardson’s 2008 state of the state address: Lt. Governor Denish, Speaker Ben Lujan, Senate President Pro Tem Tim Jennings, Chief Justice Ed Chavez and members of the state Supreme Court; Democratic and Republican leaders, members of our state House of Representatives and Senate; former governors, distinguished guests, dedicated public servants of the House and Senate, including Ms. Ruth Ortiz who’s participating in her 50th session – and my wonderful partner First Lady Barbara Richardson. Thank you all for being here. It’s good to be back. Thank you, New Mexico, for your unprecedented support in my run for president. We worked harder than anyone. Continue Reading

Full agenda, power struggle could color 2008 session

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A number of factors make it difficult to predict the outcome of the 30-day legislative session that begins at noon today: • At the top of the list is the mood of Gov. Bill Richardson. Fresh off a failed presidential campaign, is the governor looking to pump up his résumé with some hot-button policy changes so he can secure another job in Washington? Or will a new Richardson emerge, one who is more amenable to compromise because he wants to serve out his term in Santa Fe with success? • Is the Senate as prepared to take on the governor as some lawmakers believe? The Senate called the shots during the 2007 regular session, and many Senate leaders are ready to exert even more influence this year. Continue Reading

District 6 special election is today

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It’s Election Day for residents of city council District 6 in Las Cruces. Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. You can find your polling place by clicking here. If you haven’t been paying attention to the candidates and issues, now is the time. Click here to learn more about the candidates and here to watch them try to sell themselves to voters. If you have questions, you can visit the City Clerk’s Web site or call the clerk at 541-2115. Continue Reading

Presidential campaigns get active in New Mexico as Denish backs Clinton and Domenici backs McCain

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Hillary Clinton scored a major victory in New Mexico today when Lt. Gov. Diane Denish endorsed her, but Barack Obama’s campaign is also focusing on the state and John Edwards’ organization may soon follow. On the Republican side, meanwhile, U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici today endorsed the campaign of John McCain. Gov. Bill Richardson’s withdrawal from the presidential race has left the state’s delegates to the Democratic convention in August up for grabs, and New Mexico is gaining increased attention in advance of its Feb. 5 Democratic caucus. Today’s announcement that Denish will chair Clinton’s campaign in New Mexico comes four days after the lieutenant governor was released from her role as national co-chair of Women for Richardson because the governor disbanded his campaign. Continue Reading

ABQ businessman to run for state Senate District 11

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Albuquerque businessman Michael Padilla has announced that he will challenge state Sen. Linda Lopez in the Democratic primary in June. “It is more important than ever that state Senate District 11 has a hard-working and experienced leader that gets things done,” said Padilla, 35 and a lifelong Democrat. “Our district needs a leader willing to fully commit the time, energy and courage to make sure we are well represented in the state Legislature.” Padilla pledged to campaign full-time to reach every voter, and said in the news release announcing his candidacy that he will “provide solid leadership” as a lawmaker to “stay ahead of public safety trends, economic changes, educational requirements, environmental impacts and desperately needed infrastructure enhancements.” Padilla’s family settled in the district, located on Albuquerque’s west side, almost 100 years ago, he said. He is chairman and CEO of Altivus CRM Solutions LLC, a call-center consulting firm that builds, improves and expands call centers across the United States. That experience, Padilla said, will help him work with business and industry to “bring home high-paying jobs.” Padilla also helped start Albuquerque’s 311 Citizen Contact Center in 2004, and he managed the center until 2007. Continue Reading

Dunn touts conservative bent, explains party switches

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This is the second in an occasional series of articles based on conversations with the Second Congressional District candidates. Articles on each candidate who agrees to an interview will run before the parties’ preprimary nominating conventions in March. There are a few facts about the past of Aubrey L. Dunn Jr. that might make some Republicans suspicious of him, but Dunn wants them to know he’s conservative to the bone. In fact, the rancher and retired banker who is running as a Republican for the Second Congressional District seat being vacated by Steve Pearce compared his views to those of conservative presidential candidate Fred Thompson during an interview last week. “I think his views are probably closest to mine,” Dunn said. Continue Reading