Rael picks up tribal endorsements

Lawrence Rael, one of five Democratic primary candidates for lieutenant governor, announced he has received the endorsement of the All Indian Pueblo Council and 7 separate tribal governments, including Isleta Pueblo, Santa Domingo Pueblo, Cochiti Pueblo, San Felipe Pueblo, Zia Pueblo, Jemez Pueblo and Pojaque Pueblo.

“Lawrence’s ability to build partnerships and get good things done would have been enough to earn our endorsement,” Isleta Pueblo Governor Robert Benavides. “But what really sets him apart is his integrity and the respect he shows to everyone he works with.”

Rael has worked closely with cities and tribal governments throughout the region. First as City Manager of Albuquerque and later as Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments.

“Whether it was getting a Rail Runner station in Santo Domingo, helping with Bosque restoration projects in Isleta, or arranging meetings between local mayors and the All Indian Council, I have always enjoyed working with the tribal leaders,” Rael. “I’m honored that they’re supporting me in my bid for Lieutenant Governor.”

Rael, faces former party chairman Brian Colón, State Rep. Joe Campos of Santa Rosa and state Sens. Linda Lopez and Jerry Ortiz y Pino. Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano withdrew from the race last month.

Four Republicans are also campaigning for lieutenant governor, including 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.

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.

Rael beats crowded field to the airways

Lawrence Rael has launched his first television ad campaign in his bid for the Democrat Party's 2010 nomination for lieutenant governor.

A news release from his campaign team says they are buying time to air the the 30 second ad on Albuquerque's commercial stations and on cable outlets throughout the state.

Updated: We've learned the total ad buy is around $7,700.

The messaging, in the ad, focuses on Rael’s ability to build relationships for a better New Mexico and is tied to his Ask Anyone email campaign, which features voters sharing their personal stories about Rael.

“What we wanted to show was the unique power of his leadership, from his personal warmth to his integrity and commitment," Steve Wedeen, of Vaughn Wedeen Kuhn said about the spot he produced. "We wanted to show Lawrence up close for the voters to see.”

Rael, who retired from as the Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, faces four other candidates, including former Democratic Party of New Mexico chair Brian Colón, state Rep. Joe Campos and state Senators Linda Lopez and Jerry Ortiz y Pino.

Colón's camp said it is also making plans for a "substantial ad buy early in the campaign."

Each candidate is vying for at minimum of 20 percent of the delegate vote at the New Mexico Democrat Party's 2010 state convention on March 13th at the Buffalo Thunder resort for an automatic ballot position in June primary election.

Four 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. Albuqureque nurse Bea Sheridan has withdrawn from the race.

Sen. Ortiz y Pino opens campaign headquarters

Ortiz y Pino makes it official - he wants to be the state's next lieutenant governor.

On Friday evening, at Winrock Mall, State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque) officially announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor on the Democratic ticket.

“New Mexicans want a clear choice of honest, ethical, productive, and progressive leadership that my campaign represents," Ortiz y Pino said. "Our recent special session and the upcoming budget struggles show clearly that without such progressive leadership, hard-working families and other New Mexicans most in need unfairly take the brunt of cuts they can least afford. I stand today not just as a Democratic Party candidate for Lt. Governor, but as the leader of all New Mexicans no matter how they vote, how they live, how they work, or how they love.”

He enters a crowded field including, former Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Brian Colón, Lawrence Rael, State Rep. Jose Campos, Sheriff Greg Solano, and State Sen. Linda Lopez.
On Friday evening, at Winrock Mall, State Senator Jerry Ortiz y Pino (D-Albuquerque) officially announced his candidacy for Lieutenant Governor on the Democratic ticket.

Ortiz y Pino, a progressive Democrat told the crowd he wants to be the voice that says, "we can do better."

"We must match the people's courage and bring about reforms," Ortiz y Pino said.

The senator said he wants to reform ethics rules for public servants, promote environmental stewardship, help improve statewide education results, provide quality healthcare for every citizen and focus on economic strategies for the state.

To qualify for the June 2010 primary ballot the candidates will have to get 20 percent of the pre-primary convention vote, or collect enough qualifying signatures.

Arnold-Jones Plans Saturday Announcement

It was a busy Sunday in what New Mexico Political Blogger Joe Monahan calls "La Politica."

On Sunday morning Democrat Lawrence Rael officially announced he was entering the crowded race for Lieutenant Governor, and on Sunday afternoon, State Representative Janice Arnold-Jones used her Facebook Page to announce her plans to formally enter the Republican race for Governor in 2010.

Arnold-Jones said her announcement/rally will be held at the Sheraton Hotel (Uptown), on Saturday, August 30th. The two hour event event is open to the public and begins at 4pm.

Arnold-Jones, who has been exploring her options since July, will face Albuquerque PR operative Doug Turner, Dona Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez. Former GOP Chairman Allen Weh, who announced his exploratory committee on May 5th, has been traveling the state, but has not formally announced.

Former U.S. Representative Heather Wilson, who spent July in Africa, told 770KKOB Morning Show Host Bob Clark earlier this month, that she has not ruled out running for Governor. New Mexico National Guard Brigadier General Greg Zanetti dropped out of the race on July 17th.

Rael Makes It Official, He's Running for Lieutenant Governor

On Sunday, Lawrence Rael, Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments (MRCOG), formally announced his candidacy for the office of Lieutenant Governor for the State of New Mexico.

Rael, made the announcement at the Albuquerque Isotopes baseball park at 5:30pm. He chose the "lab" because he believes the park is a testament to his long public service career. He served three consecutive mayoral administrations and was responsible for bringing baseball back to the Duke City after the Albuquerque Dukes left town.

He told us he's prepared to become president of the senate if he's elected because he knows how to balance billion dollar budgets, bring people together and how to make hard decisions.

Rael told us his top issue will be education and reducing the high dropout rates in the state. He also said that he understands that government officials have to earn back the public trust by acting ethically.

Rael said he "politely" disagrees with one of his opponents about rolling out ethics reforms incrementally. "If you want to be a leader, then you have to lead," said Rael.

Rael faces a crowded field for the 2010 Democratic Party nomination. Former party chairman Brain Colon is preparing to enter the race and has a fundraiser planned for August 31st at the Hotel ABQ. State Senators Linda Lopez and Gerald Ortiz y Pino have already started campaigning. Freshman Senator Tim Eichenberg is also traveling the state exploring his options for the race. Last week former Santa Rosa Mayor Joe Campos said he was running and Santa Fe County Sheriff Greg Solano has been in the race for months. Military veteran Matthew Padilla also announced he's seeking the nomination. And we've heard former New Mexico Department of Health Secretary Michelle Lujan Grisham is also looking at the race.

All the candidates will be competing for at least 20 percent of the vote, at next year's pre-primary nomination convention, to automatically be placed on the June primary ballot. Candiates with less than 20 percent will have to gather enough qualifying signatures to be added to the ballot.

Rael, who's has been in public service in New Mexico for 25 years, said the decision to run for Lieutenant Governor was influenced by the support he has received from people around the state and from some early fundraisers.

Rael said he's running because he understands the state is facing tremendous challenges, but that he also see opportunities for new leaders they can trust:

I am running for Lieutenant Governor because New Mexicans need a leader they can trust who has a proven track record and a demonstrated ability to bring people together to tackle problems and provide real solutions,” Rael said. “I believe that I have shown that leadership, and that together we can build a better New Mexico.

Rael served as the Deputy Secretary of Transportation under former New Mexico Governor Toney Anaya and as an Aide to Senator Jeff Bingaman. He also served as Chief Administrative Officer for the City of Albuquerque through three successive mayoral terms. He currently serves as Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, a multi-county organization that assists in a variety of planning services ranging from transportation and land-use to workforce and economic development.

As a city administrator, Rael said projects he spearheaded created results for New Mexican families:

We successfully built programs that revitalized educational and family-oriented facilities such as Balloon Fiesta Park, Explora Science Center, the Albuquerque Aquarium and Botanic Gardens, and the Isotopes Baseball Park.

More recently as Executive Director of the MRCOG, Rael was the driving force behind the New Mexico Rail Runner Express. The New Mexico Rail Runner Express has become the fastest start-up of a commuter rail project in the country in the last 20 years. The project required working with more than 19 tribal and county governments, and creating partnerships necessary for the New Mexico Rail Runner Express’ successful completion. The Rail Runner demonstrates Rael’s ability to build consensus while respecting the diverse cultures of New Mexico.

For more information or to be part of Rael’s campaign for Lt. Governor please visit www.rael2010.org.