Video: Rael will build coalitions

In December, Lawrence Rael took off his hard hat, and retired from the Mid-Region Council of Governments after building and managing the state's only commuter railroad. On Monday night, Rael, a Democrat candidate for lieutenant governor, opened his primary campaign headquarters in Albuquerque.

After telling about sixty supporters that his campaign will be about "building a better New Mexico" he sat down with us to talk about ethics, campaign reporting, the state's budget deficit, and a host of other issues.

We aksed Rael if he win's the primary in June, and the general election in November, how he'll use his two plus decades in government and public service to build coalitions in Santa Fe.



Rael is running in the Democratic primary against former state Democratic Party Chairman Brian Colón, State Rep. Joe Campos of Santa Rosa and state Sens. Linda Lopez and Jerry Ortiz y Pino of Albuquerque. Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano withdrew from the race last month.

Five Republicans have announced their candidacies for lieutenant governor — state Sen. Kent Cravens of Albuquerque, 2006 Republican gubernatorial candidate J.R. Damron, former state Rep. Brian Moore of Clayton, 2002 Republican gubernatorial nominee John Sanchez. Albuquerque nurse Bea Sheridan has dropped out of the race.