{"id":4070,"date":"2008-12-15T14:04:00","date_gmt":"2008-12-15T20:04:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/12\/meet-lt-guv-hopeful-lawrence-rael\/"},"modified":"2008-12-15T14:04:00","modified_gmt":"2008-12-15T20:04:00","slug":"meet-lt-guv-hopeful-lawrence-rael","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/nmpolitics.net\/index\/2008\/12\/meet-lt-guv-hopeful-lawrence-rael\/","title":{"rendered":"Meet lt. guv hopeful Lawrence Rael"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Meet Lawrence Rael<\/a>, executive director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, who wants to be the state\u2019s next lieutenant governor.<\/p>\n

He\u2019s been involved in some high-profile projects, including getting the Rail Runner Express<\/a> running and helping the state sort through the mess left in the wake of the housing authority scandal<\/a>.<\/p>\n

David Alire Garcia, who co-hosts KNME\u2019s New Mexico in Focus<\/a> and is the managing editor of the New Mexico Independent<\/a> (for which I also write), interviewed Rael for an episode of the TV show that aired this weekend.<\/p>\n

\u201cOh, absolutely,\u201d Rael said when Garcia asked if he\u2019s interested in being lieutenant governor. \u201cI think I could offer her a great deal of experience and understanding about budgets, about government in general\u2026 I\u2019d be very honored and delighted to do that job.\u201d<\/p>\n

President-elect Barack Obama<\/a> has nominated Gov. Bill Richardson<\/a> to serve as commerce secretary in his administration. Assuming Richardson is confirmed by the Senate, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish<\/a> will become governor and get to name her replacement.<\/p>\n

You can watch more of Garcia\u2019s interview with Rael right here:<\/p>\n