Pearce Announces Congressional Candidacy

Updated to include audio from telephone interview.

Former U.S. Representative Steve Pearce, who lost his bid to replace Sen. Pete Domenici last fall, wants his 2nd Congressional District Seat back. Today he announced he'll run for the Republican Party nomination and try to unseat first-term Representative Harry Teague.

Pearce wasn't expected to make a final decision until after July 20th, but made the decision to campaign over the 4th of July Holiday.

Pearce told 770KKOB News Director Pat Allen, in this telephone interview, that he considered running for Governor, "but at the end of the day most of the issues I've worked on are national."



Last week political blogger Joe Monahan said despite Teague's vote for the Cap and Trade bill it will be a tough battle for Pearce to regain his seat.

Even if Teague's energy vote does hurt him some with voters in the SE portion of the district, there is still a major problem with the GOP Teague death wish. It's called Dona Ana County.

From the campaign - news release .


Hobbs, NM -- For the past half year, I have stood by and hoped for the best for our state and country. I had hoped Harry Teague would look out for the hard working people of New Mexico.

Sadly while I hoped for the best, Harry Teague embraced a reckless set of policies that directly jeopardize our economy and threatens future generations.

He went to Washington and quickly voted for massive amounts of wasteful spending, loading up on pork barrel projects and radically increasing the size of government.

Now Harry Teague chose to vote for the job-killing cap and trade bill. If this bill becomes law, it will devastate jobs in New Mexico and further cripple the American economy.


Harry Teague’s cap and trade bill will:

* Hit families with as much as $1500 a year in higher energy costs.
* Destroy jobs in New Mexico’s energy sector.
*Will cost New Mexico over $200 million in higher electricity bills, but lower costs in California and New York.

Harry Teague put his allegiance to the liberal leadership of Nancy Pelosi ahead of the working families of New Mexico.

I can not let this happen to the people of New Mexico. So today, I am signing paperwork to run for the Second Congressional District. This district needs a Congressman who will fight for jobs for New Mexico families. Harry Teague won’t. I will.

Peace Activist Announces Congressional Bid

Peace & Liberty activist and Iraq war veteran, Adam Kokesh, announced a bid for the congressional seat in New Mexico's Third Congressional District.

Kokesh announced he's already raised $25,000, in a single-day web event fundraiser despite computer servers being overwhelmed and crashing. He said in a news release that his campaign signs are springing up all over the district urging people to join the "Kokesh R3VOLution."




During a "Celebrate American Revolution" Kokesk said he would seek a seat in the U.S. House of Representative currently held by first-term congressman Ben Ray Lujan, Jr.

Kokesh referenced Thomas Paine's "The Crisis" as he announced, "'These are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country . . . Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered.' So began the great American tradition of winter soldiering. I have decided that for myself, the greatest way to continue that tradition is to run for Congress to represent New Mexico's Third Congressional District."

Frank Martin, a local author, indicated, "This is the most important moment in my personal life . . . a critical mass of willingness and defiance has occurred. Widespread civil disobedience is underway." He continued, "People en masse are doing the one thing that government cannot survive - they are refusing to serve the state."

During Kokesh's event, various speakers described what they were already doing to support the campaign. There was even a demonstration of the campaign's iPhone application, the first of its kind, due to be released in a couple of weeks, with a Blackberry version soon to follow. With the wide array of talented, enthusiastic, volunteers already committed 17 months out that are involved in this race, it appears to be one to watch as we approach the 2010 elections.

Romero Makes Campaign Changes 90 Days Before Election

With just 90 days before this fall's city election Richard Romero's mayoral campaign is introducing a new lead strategist. Romero says Murray Fishel, the president of Grassroots Political Campaigns, Inc., and a long time trusted adviser, is taking over the reigns of his campaign.

Fishel will replace New Mexico political consultant Neri Holguin who's been leading Romero's campaign since Romero first announced. She spent the 4th of July with her family in Southern, New Mexico.

Romero, who may have sensed his campaign needed a new direction, ahead of Mayor Marty Chavez' formal re-election announcement (expected in July).

Romero had nothing but nice things to say about Holguin and his new strategist.

Neri Holguin is leaving our campaign and I’m sad to see her go. When she took this job last year, she told me that because of other commitments she could only serve until the end of April to help me launch my major petition efforts to qualify for public financing and to get on the ballot. We passed those tests with flying colors thanks to her leadership. I then convinced her to stay on a little longer, which she agreed to do. I want to thank her for all that she has done to get this campaign off to a great start.

An online website describes Fishel's company as a progressive firm offering training and candidate services to organizations and candidates. It has a 70% success rate over the last 32 years and has worked with over 2500 candidates in more than 39 states.

Before starting her campaign consultancy, Holguin worked for Eli Lee at Soltari, a campaign training consultancy. She also worked as the Treasurer for Conservation Voters Alliance of New Mexico and was employeed by The Wilderness Society.

Holguin successfully directed the New Mexico Senate campaigns for Eric Griego, Tim Keller and helped with Eleanor Chavez' successful campaign to the State House of Representatives. Her candidates successfully ousted three incumbent lawmakers, Shannon Robinson, Sen. James Taylor, and Rep. Dan Silva.

Eric Griego defeated Taylor by 24 percentage points, Tim Keller defeated Robinson by 32 points and Eleanor Chavez defeated Silva by eight points.

After the state primary victories, the defeated lawmakers filed suit. They claimed non-profits associated with the Center for Civic Policy were used to raise and funnel tax deductible contributions to the three campaigns, along with providing manpower for get out the vote efforts.
Eli Lee and other defendents called the lawsuits baseless. Matt Brix told political blogger Heath Haussamen in August the former lawmaker's lawsuit was a completely false allegation.

"I have no idea where that comes from,” said Matt Brix, the center’s policy director. He added that the center has never taken any money from Soros or his Open Society Institute.

Holguin's candidates were alleged to have full knowledge of the contributions and in fact are purported to have approved individual mail pieces distributed by the non-profit organizations.

“There are so many completely outlandish allegations that we don’t even know where to begin. Everything in the lawsuit is categorically untrue,” Brix said.

In the Spirit of 1776, Tea Party Ralliers Greet Firework Fans

Hundreds, if not thousands, of frustrated voters lined up along Alameda Boulevard on Saturday afternoon, for the second Albuquerque Tea Rally which organizers called The Spirit of 1776. They skipped backyard barbecues and weekend getaways to show their discontent for both political parties and "out of control spending" here and in Washington.

Some signed up to vote, others filled out pre-addressed post cards to members of the state's congressional delegation and even the governor. Most carried signs and wore red, white, and blue clothing and hats.

Firework fans headed to the City of Albuquerque's Freedom Fourth event at Balloon Fiesta Park honked their car horns at the T-partiers, in what appeared to be support, as they slowly moved their way down Alameda.

Parking lots near Telstar Construction company, which was ground zero for the rally, were full and both sides of the street were lined with hundreds more people carrying signs.

Event volunteers told us they were putting colorful stickers on attendees to try and get an accurate count. They also contracted for an aerial photograph and wouldn't say how many people attended until they counted voter signup, stickers, and looked at the overhead pictures.

Organizers said they'd also pinned small American flags on a pinwall signifying a voice for hundreds of New Mexicans who had sent notes of support, but were unable to attend the afternoon rally.

Weh Campaigning While He Explores 2010 Gubernatorial Nomination.

One of the people they might see in those aerial shots is Albuquerque businessman Allen Weh. He's sounding more and more like a man ready to shift gears from exploring a gubernatorial bid to an all out fight for the Republican Party nomination. He said people around the state are "appalled and astonished at the level of corruption in New Mexico."

Weh told us in this AUDIO INTERVIEW "if you think people are frustrated here, they're frustrated all over, and they're mad."



Weh said the people he's talking to are mostly upset with political corruption and the millions lost by the State Investment Council, which is chaired by Governor Bill Richardson.

When they get to the bottom of this we're going to have 90% of New Mexican's appalled. We're already astonished at the level of corruption in this state. People, regardless of their political persuasions, don't like someone stealing from the public coffers and that's what's been taking place.

The former Republican Party Chairman also criticized the National Education Association for giving Richardson its "Americas Greatest Education Governor" award yesterday in San Diego.

He says the Richardson administration has failed miserably and cited an Education Week report that ranks New Mexico 48th in the nation for school dropouts.

We asked Weh what he would do to improve graduation rates if he were elected:

We're going to compel change and keep kids in schools and in school seats. Before we add one more dime, before we throw one more dollar at the problem, we're going to peel the onion skin back at all the money that's being spent, because I submit that there's enough money to fund our schools and fund it [them] its just our priorities are wrong.

Weh said he'll make his final announcement for governor shortly after Labor Day:

I'm campaigning while I'm exploring, and exploring while I campaign because I'm not wasting one minute of time. When it gets around to the formal announcement phase, which is right after Labor Day, we won't look back and say we wasted July and August.

Gov. Richardson Gets NEA Honor - NM Teachers Head to Court.

Updated to include audio soundbites.


Just months after New Mexico lawmakers cut school funding in the state by $30 million, Governor Bill Richardson flew to San Diego today, from Cape Cod, where he is vacationing for 11 days, to accept the National Education Association's "America's Greatest Education Governor Award." The annual award recognizes governors who have made major state-level education strides that improve public schools.

While Richardson received the NEA award in California, teachers here in New Mexico are headed to court. They are battling a legislative decision to to close the state budget gap by increasing the amount teachers contribute to their pension plan.

During his acceptance speech in San Diego, Richardson told the NEA Union assembly that education has been his administration's top priority since he was first elected in 2002.

From increasing teacher pay, to ensure that we recruit and retain the best and brightest, to better preparing our kids by implementing a statewide preK program, I’m proud of the reforms we’ve made.

Richardson told the crowd (listen here) that he believes his education reforms will be a part of his eight-year gubernatorial legacy.

The governor, who only has 18 months left in his administration, got a warm reception when he said (listen here) that it's time to completely change the "No Child Left Behind," program. Richardson also said state's can't afford to stop spending money on educational reforms (listen here), because education, he believes, is the key to the nation's economic future (listen here).

Federal Stimulus Money Not For Teacher Raises

NEA-New Mexico president Sharon Morgan said New Mexico received a bundle of stimulus money for education, but teachers still took a hit:

The legislature still cut school funding in New Mexico by $30 million, and that's a problem. We believe we could be using stimulus money to make up that difference.

Lawmakers say across-the-board cuts were the only fair way to close the budget gap, but the NEA says investing in education pays bigger dividends down the road and helps the state weather downturns.

But Richardson told the NEA assembly he doesn't believe that states should balance their budgets on teacher's backs (listen here).

In May, Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish, who was touting President Barack Obama's first 100 days in office, told Barbara Wold at DFNM, "New Mexico has received $450 million in education for pre-school through college to help with funding shortfalls."

Denish said:

Our job is to make sure the dollars are well spent. Most importantly, what we've seen is that times are tough and these funds can't come at a better time for those working for education.

In a good economy, millions of dollars for state education programs come from the State Land Office. It has seen a decline in money from a drop in oil and gas revenues over the last year.

Lawmakers say across-the-board cuts were the only fair way to close the budget gap, but the NEA says investing in education pays bigger dividends down the road and helps the state weather downturns.

The teacher's union isn't the only group criticizing the administration and lawmakers for reducing the budget.

State GOP spokeswoman Janel Causey said this Education Week report ranks the state's drop out rate 48th nationally. The report says only 56% of high school students in the class of 2006 graduated.

The NM Secretary of Education Dr. Veronic Garcia says criticism like that is unfair. "One statistic cannot be a grade for our entire educational system," Garcia said.

KOB TV 4 reporter Cris Ornelas talked to prospective republican gubernatorial candidate Allen Weh. Weh told Ornelas, "On education, Richardson and Denish have failed and they failed miserably."

But leaders at the NEA said Richardson stands out "for extending kindergarten to a full day and for raising teacher salaries."

The NEA's representative assembly, meeting in Southern California through Monday, is considering a blueprint for fixing the No Child Left Behind law which is up for renewal in congress this year according to Morgan.

She said a big part of the plan is adding more flexibility: "We would be able to measure growth rather than just a standardized test score. We all know students who don't test well, and no matter how great their teacher is, they may not test well."

The group is also working on a 12-point dropout prevention plan, and one part of the plan has been gaining traction in recent lawmaking sessions in Santa Fe, adds Morgan.

"It's having more individual attention to our students, so that they have smaller, safe schools, or if they're in a large school, smaller learning communities and smaller classes."


NEA President Dennis Van Roekel presented the award to Governor Richardson:

Governor Richardson speaks up on issues that affect children, and he follows up the talk with action,” said Dennis Van Roekel, president of NEA. “Realizing the impact early childhood education has on long-term success, he extended kindergarten programs to full-day classes. Despite criticism, he advocated for and passed a law to provide free preK for 4-year-olds.

In addition to his early childhood education efforts, the award recognized Governor Richardson for fighting to put physical education back into elementary schools and taking junk foods out, increasing teacher pay and restoring collective bargaining rights for educators.

"Governor Richardson has made great efforts to improve school funding, increase school employee salaries, and make sure that the needs of the whole child are considered in making education policy decisions,” said Sharon Morgan, president of NEA-New Mexico. “He has been a champion of both educators and students.

Richardson is just the second recipient of the award. He will return to Cape Cod to continue his vacation before returning to New Mexico by July 13th.

Photos Courtesy: NEA

Heather Wilson Announces Her Plans on Facebook

Photo Credits: MG Bralley

No it's not "that." Former U.S. Representative Heather Wilson is not ready to make any political announcements. She hasn't decided whether or not she's going to jump into the Republican race for Governor in 2010. She's not being coy, but she is packing her bags for a long trip to Africa.

Wilson told her Facebook friends that she's making a journey to Sudan and Kenya. Her trip to the largest country in Africa begins tomorrow and is being sponsored by IRI, a non-profit organization funded by grants from the State Department and the US Agency for International Development.

Wilson said while she's in Sudan she will meet officials from the parliament help train legislative staffs, and speak at a women's leadership conference:

I will be meeting with the Speaker of the Southern Sudan Parliament, conducting training and consultations with their legislators who are involved national security and international affairs matters, training the staffs of legislators on constituent service and communications, and speaking at a women's leadership conference sponsored by the UN Mission in Sudan and the US Agency for International Development. I will also be meeting with the leaders of all of the political parties in Southern Sudan about preparations for elections in 2010 and making sure that election is legitimate.

New Mexico Governor Bill Richardson has also traveled to Sudan several times.

Just before announcing his presidential bid in 2007, the governor pressed Sudan President Omar al-Bashir to open the wartorn Darfur region to U.N. troops. He rode to the rescue again in September 2006 to rescue New Mexico resident and Chicago Tribune Journalist Paul Salopek who had been held by rebels for 38 days. In 1996 he traveled to the region to negotiate three international Red Cross workers, an American pilot, an Australian nurse, and Kenyan co-pilot who were taken hostage by rebels.

During her trip this month, Wilson will also travel to Kenya.

I will be meeting with the Minister of State for Defense and members of the Kenyan Parliament involved in national security matters.

Pondering Her Own Political Future?

We imagine that while she's working hard helping set up free elections in a country that didn't event allow political parties until the last four years, she may spend some time enjoying the sights, eating new food, and making new friends. She might spend some down time thinking about her own political plans.

Before traveling she talked about the 2010 race in New Mexico with Albuquerque Journal's Capitol Hill reporter Michael Coleman.

For readers without access to Wilson's Facebook Notes here's her message:


I'm leaving for Africa on Thursday. I'm going to Southern Sudan and Kenya to conduct training and consult with their governments and political leaders. The bulk of the trip will be in Sudan.

I was asked to do this by IRI, a non-profit organization funded by grants from the State Department and the US Agency for International Development.


Sudan is the largest country in Africa. It gained its independence from Britain in 1956 and dissolved into decades of civil war between the largely Islamic north and the African south. The current government of Sudan in Khartoum came to power in 1989 in a coup. Their President, Umar al Bashir, has been indicted in the Hague for war crimes in the Darfur region of western Sudan. Opposition political parties were banned after 1989. Osama bin Laden and al Qaeda spent significant time in Sudan before moving to Afghanistan. Estimates are that 2 million people died in the civil war and another 4 million were displaced. An additional 400,000 died in the Darfur genocide, where much of our attention has focused since 2003.

With the support and good offices of Kenya and the United States, a peace agreement between the north and the south was negotiated and signed in 2005. The agreement created a government of national unity based in Khartoum, created a provisional Government of Southern Sudan based in Juba, set the first free elections which are scheduled to take place in 2010 and scheduled a referendum on independence for the south in 2011.

Since 2005, the US has been working with the new government in Southern Sudan to build their capacity to be self-governing. That includes training of government ministers and staff, training of political parties (but not al Bashir's NDP), and helping the southern based Sudan People's Liberation Movement make the transition from being a rebel movement to being a national political party.

Some elements of the 2005 Comprehensive Peace Agreement were implemented early on, but progress on difficult issues has slowed. An all party conference hosted by the US in Washington last week was intended to make progress on outstanding issues -- most importantly marking the border and revenue sharing from oil. There is a serious risk of renewed violence if these matters are not resolved.

There is also a risk that Southern Sudan could vote for independence in 2011 and dissolve into the kind of failed state we see in Somalia because of tribal and war lord rivalries with weak institutions of government. The UN recently reported that killings in southern Sudan between rival militias exceeded deaths in Darfur for the same period. There is an opportunity over the next 2 years to significantly strengthen government and party institutions, build a sense of unity in Southern Sudan and reduce the levels of violence. My visit is part of that effort.

This is a country that has been torn by war for 45 of the past 55 years. The average age of the population is 19 years old. GDP per capita is $2,100 a year and unemployment is at 18%. Political parties were banned until 4 years ago and they have no history of self-government. They enjoy a young peace, but they have never had a free election and are learning what peaceful governance requires. The challenge is formidable.

While in Sudan, I will be meeting with the Speaker of the Southern Sudan Parliament, conducting training and consultations with their legislators who are involved national security and international affairs matters, training the staffs of legislators on constituent service and communications, and speaking at a women's leadership conference sponsored by the UN Mission in Sudan and the US Agency for International Development. I will also be meeting with the leaders of all of the political parties in Southern Sudan about preparations for elections in 2010 and making sure that election is legitimate.

In Kenya, I will be meeting with the Minister of State for Defense and members of the Kenyan Parliament involved in national security matters.

--Heather Wilson

Photo Credit: MG Bralley