Michelle Lujan Grisham to Announce Candidacy for Bernalillo County Commission

Former New Mexico Secretary of Health Michelle Lujan Grisham will formally announce tomorrow that she is a candidate for the Democratic nomination for Bernalillo County Commissioner for District 1. The announcement event will take place at the Rio Grande Nature Center at 2901 Candelaria NW at 3:30 PM.

The District 1 seat, which represents the West Mesa and North Valley, is currently held by Alan Armijo, who is term-limited and finishing his second four-year term. Armijo chaired the Commission for six years. He ran unsuccessfully for City Council this year against incumbent Ike Benton.

Grisham is a 12th generation New Mexican, and has lived in Albuquerque for over 30 years, 17 of which she spent serving New Mexicans in the administrations of three governors. She was appointed Director of the state’s Agency on Aging by former Governor Bruce King 1991 and continued in that capacity through the administration of Governor Gary Johnson and into Governor Richardson’s tenure. Richardson elevated her position to cabinet rank, and later named Grisham to be Secretary of the Department of Health, a position she resigned in 2008 to run for Congress.

Lujan Grisham is a nationally recognized authority on aging and healthcare issues and has continued to work on access to health care and social services for New Mexicans, according to a statement released by her campaign. The release described Lujan Grisham as having an unparalleled record of public service in a bipartisan environment and being a strong advocate for health and long term care reform. Michelle says she understands the value of a strong voice on the County Commission and the impact the Commissioners have on the quality of life for Bernalillo County residents. She’ll wants to balance the challenges of growth with sustainability, while protecting the county’s natural resources and fighting for the well being of its citizens.

Michelle is the widow of the late Greg Grisham and the granddaughter of former New Mexico Supreme Court Chief Justice Eugene Lujan. She holds a Bachelor’s and a Juris Doctor degree from the University of New Mexico and has two grown daughters. She’s originally from the Los Alamos/Santa Fe area and has resided in Albuquerque since 1977.

The campaign’s web site will be up and running within a few days.

Loretta Naranjo-Lopez is also running in the Democratic primary for District 1 County Comissioner. She retired from her post as city planner at the City of Albuquerque in 2003 after 25 years of service. She ran also ran for County Commission in District 1 in 2006, and served as President of AFSCME, Local 3022, in 2001.