Three lawmakers endorse Powell for Land Office

Jeff Steinborn (left), Ray Powell, Nate Cote, Steve Fischmann at the Roundhouse in Santa Fe on Monday.

Democrat Ray Powell, a primary candidate for commissioner of public lands this year, picked up endorsements from three Doña Ana County lawmakers on Monday.

Sen. Steve Fischmann and representatives Jeff Steinborn and Nate Cote said they will back Powell “because of his commitment to reforming the State Land Office and re-establishing an and open and transparent administration.”

In 2009, all three lawmakers proposed legislation to reform the State Land Office after a land exchange on Las Cruces’ East Mesa.

“Ray Powell is the reform candidate,” Sen. Fischmann said. “He’s who I trust. It’s no question that we need him back at the Land Office.”

“The stakes are high. With Ray, he’ll bring much needed stability back to the Land Office,” Steinborn said. “He’s ethical, principled and knows how to work with communities to maximize the dollars returned to the land office and ultimately our schools.”

“When Ray Powell served as land commissioner, he was recognized for running one of the best land management agencies in the country,” Cote said. “Right now, the Land Office is in crisis, and we are desperately in need of leadership we can trust.”

Ray Powell, a veterinarian, who previously served as land commissioner from 1993-2002, is currently employed as a regional director for the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Education and Conservation in the western United States, said “these legislators have been instrumental in exposing the behind-the-scene deals happening at the Land Office.”

“I’m eager to clean the place up. I look forward to working with these outstanding leaders to ensure real reform is enacted to protect our public lands and the significant revenues they generate for our public schools, universities, and hospitals,” Powell said after receiving the endorsements.

Powell face Santa Fe County Commissioners Harry Montoya and Mike Anaya, and PRC Commissioner Sandy Jones in the Democratic primary this June.

Earlier this month, Jones, who is currently a Public Regulation Commissioner, was endorsed by the New Mexico Professional Fire Fighters Union, New Mexico Building and Construction Trades Council, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local Union 611, Iron Workers Local 490, Plumbers and Pipe Fitters Local 412 and Lordsburg Mayor Arthur Clark Smith.

Four Republicans are also running in the primary, including oilman Spirio Vassilopoulos, Jim Jackson, who took a leave of absence from the land office to campaign for the post; cattle rancher Matt Rush; and GOP activist Bob Cornelius.

Sheriff White endorses Berry in Albuquerque's mayoral race

After claiming to be neutral in the 2009 Albuquerque mayoral, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White, switched gears and announced this morning that he's endorsing fellow Republican State Lawmaker Richard "RJ" Berry.

White indicated it is Berry’s position on crime and "the false attacks" by Marty Chavez that persuaded him to get involved. Both men have claimed Albuquerque has become a sanctuary city.

“I did not endorse anyone against Chavez in 2005, but Richard Berry is a good man and I know he’ll be tough on crime,” said Sheriff White. “I’m disgusted by the false, personal attacks made against Richard Berry and his family. Claiming Berry is not a businessman is like saying I’m not a cop.”

Just last week, Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White said he was upset at comments that Albuquerque mayor Martin Chavez made at a recent debate about the crime rate in unincorporated parts of Bernalillo County. Albuquerque lies in the borders of Bernalillo County.

Richard Berry has made crime a centerpiece of his campaign, promising to crackdown on gangs, target property crime and end the mayor’s sanctuary city policy for criminals.

Mayor Chavez' campaign quickly responded to our inquiry about White's endorsement. Spokeswoman Joan Griffin, an email to us, wrote:

The Albuquerque Mayor's race is a non-partisan race. The Mayor is proud to have the endorsement of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, the Fraternal Order of Police the Albuquerque Firefighters Association and the National Rifle Association.

But, the Berry campaign isn't wasting anytime promoting the endorsement by long-time Republican White. They've purchased radio time on 770KKOB and are airing these commercials.



In this spot, an announcer states "12-year incumbent Mayor Chavez wants to play games." The ad goes on to describe "facts" about one of Berry's top campaign issues the city's so-called sanctuary city policy.

The spot refers to a 2007 policy which prohibited Albuquerque Police Officers from checking the immigration status of criminals in their custody. Berry has said the policy attract criminals. Berry's ad states that some criminals that are suppose to be turnover to immigration officials were never deported.

Chavez' has regularly said anyone arrested for a crime who is later determined to be in the country illegally is reported to the I.C.E. for deportation, but that the custom's agency hasn't always followed up with deportation. Suspects not picked up within 48 hours can then be released back on to Albuquerque streets.

In the ad, White tells voters the "personal attacks against Richard Berry and his family are desperate and false." He urges voters not to be fooled by them."

Udall Endorsed by Las Vegas, NM Newspaper

The Las Vegas Optic has endorsed Tom Udall for United States Senate.

The northern New Mexico newspaper concluded: “Again and again, Udall takes positions that deserve respect. We would be proud to have him as our senator.”

The full endorsement can be read here.

In making its endorsement, the Optic cited several instances in which Udall took a principled position even if it was unpopular at the time.

“While in Congress, Udall has become known as someone who won’t necessarily vote with the herd,” the paper stated. “Back in 2001, he was one of very few who voted against the Patriot Act because it increased the federal government’s surveillance of private citizens. This law passed in the days after Sept. 11 when just about everyone in Washington was willing to support any law labeled as anti-terrorism. It now seems ironic that Pearce would call Udall an extreme liberal. After all, what’s more conservative than insisting on the protection of constitutional rights?”

The newspaper also noted Udall’s consistent opposition to the
Iraq war and his insistence that Los Alamos National Laboratory diversify its mission to meet the demands of a changing world as other principled positions that went against the grain.

At the same time, the Optic noted Steve Pearce’s steady support for President Bush: “Few people would disagree that Bush has been a disaster, and as such, Pearce, who used to brag about his support for Bush, deserves part of the blame.”

Udall has also been endorsed by the Las Cruces Sun-News, the Santa Fe New Mexican and the Los Alamos Monitor.

Steve Pearce Endorsed by National Veterans Group.

The Chairman of the National Vietnam & Gulf War Veterans Coalition was proud to endorse Steve Pearce for U.S. Senate this month, noting the congressman's dedication to veterans, the war in Iraq and national security.

Chairman John J. Molloy, who like Pearce is a Vietnam War veteran, said the coalition chooses to endorse candidates who have a record of supporting veterans and members of the armed forces, securing our nation's borders, preventing illegal immigration and achieving energy independence.

"We're very satisfied with what he has done," Molloy said. "These are American issues and not Republican or Democrat issues."

Molloy said the coalition also based its endorsements upon the ratings given by the Center For Security Policy. The CSP's 2005 - 2006 National Security Scorecard rated Steve Pearce 88 points out of 100 based upon his voting record of supporting national security issues. In contrast Tom Udall was give a 12 point rating.

Molloy, who is also a survivor of the Sept. 11, 2001 and Feb. 26, 1993 attacks on the World Trade Center, said now more than ever America needs those who are willing to stand up and do what is right to keep the nation safe and secure. On 9/11 Molloy's firm was located in Tower Two and he lost 95 friends and co-workers during the attacks.

'This is what we are all trying to do, we're all trying to protect our country," he said.

In response Steve Pearce said "Securing of our nation is something that every veteran feels they can never stop doing, even when the war is over.

"Receiving this endorsement from my brothers and sisters-in-arms is a privilege that I will never take for granted. They will always have my support."

The coalition represents more than 80 veterans organizations and veterans advocacy groups, made up of about 250,000 veterans and their family members totaling more than 2 million voters nationwide.