Latest Stories

Chávez will enter Senate race on Tuesday

By |

This article has been updated. It previously stated that Chávez’s entrance into the race was likely. Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chávez will announce at 11 a.m. Tuesday that he is running for the U.S. Senate seat being vacated by Pete Domenici. Though Chávez would not confirm that he’s running, other sources with firsthand knowledge of his plans did. Chávez would confirm the 11 a.m. news conference at the offices of Eclipse Aviation in Albuquerque, but said only that it is to announce “what my intentions are.” Asked if he could provide any clues about whether he plans to run, Chávez talked about his teenage son and the war in Iraq. Continue Reading

Newcomer to battle Wilson in Senate primary

By |

A Republican oil man who had previously considered a primary run against U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici told a group of 60 people in the Alamogordo area on Saturday that he will run for the seat next year. That means U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson will have a primary battle regardless of whether U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce decides to jump into the race for the open Senate seat. Spiro G. Vassilopoulos made the formal announcement at a pig roast, the Alamogordo Daily News is reporting. “I will begin my campaign this coming January,” the newspaper quoted him as saying. “And I feel my only serious competition will be Stevan Pearce, if he decides to run for the position. Continue Reading

Most who vote in poll say Perea will win judgeship

By |

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

By |

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

Analysis: Bet on Richardson replacing Pete

By |

By Jose Z. Garcia Before discussing the political fallout, let me assert that Pete Domenici ranks among the top two senators in New Mexico history. His contributions in reforming the Senate budget process were historic, and if Congress squandered a chance to be fiscally responsible in the last few years, it was not because of him. At the peak of his power his moderate, bipartisan approach to policy, abandoned years ago by Senate leaders in favor of the Gotcha Game, helped produce legislation of which people were actually proud. His work ethic on behalf of New Mexicans is legendary, and there is no one in the state who has not benefited from this work. His modest, unassuming character was rare among first-tier politicians, and he knew how to listen well. Continue Reading

Chávez says he’s seriously considering Senate race

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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.

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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

By |

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

Vile names and false accusations

By |

© 2007 Michael Swickard, Ph.D. “If you cannot answer a man’s argument, all it not lost, you can still call him vile names.” – Elbert Hubbard It is no longer possible for every citizen to become president of the United States or even a state or local politician. Many will not stand for the tactics of shouting vile names and false accusations. People who would be good leaders will not subject themselves and their families to this abuse. In this information age, people get their facts wrong only because they want to. They are increasingly not ashamed to shout lies, nor are they taken to task by the media. Continue Reading

Udall won’t run for Senate

By |

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