Eric Griego Files for Senate District 14 with Strong Petition Support

From the Eric Griego campaign:
Eric Griego filed all necessary paperwork in Santa Fe yesterday for State Senate in District 14, including 645 petition signatures, which represents 20 percent of all residents who voted in the last Democratic primary. 

Senate District 14 includes the Barelas neighborhood where Eric was born and raised along with several other neighborhoods in Albuquerque, much of the South Valley, Isleta Pueblo, East Mountain communities and the Bosque Farms area in Valencia County.  As a former Albuquerque City Councilor, Eric represented nearly one third of the Senate district from 2001-2005. Since January, Eric has walked every weekend and, along with volunteers, has worked tirelessly to meet and talk with voters at their doors.   

"The message I'm getting from talking to voters at their doors is that we need a change in the way things are done in Santa Fe," Griego said. "Many voters in this district feel their State Senator must make sure that the basic needs of our district like roads and schools are a priority."

A total of 54 nominating signatures from voters in District were required; Eric turned in 645.  Eric previously represented eight of the 29 precincts in Senate District 14, and he won most of them in his City Council election and in his 2005 Mayoral campaign.   

"Voters I have talked to want a state senator who is committed to championing the interests of our community - not the special interests of corporate lobbyists," Griego said. "In addition to working to address the important state policy issues like healthcare for all, better schools and ethics reform, they want their senator to help get the roads, parks and community facilities that improve the quality of life for our families."

Eric will likely face incumbent James Taylor in the Democratic Primary on June 3, 2008, assuming Taylor files the minimum number of valid petition signatures.

Eric has over two decades of practicing, teaching and studying public policy, including work at the local, state, national and international level.  In addition to his prior elected office as an Albuquerque City Councilor, he has served as the Assistant Secretary of Economic Development for New Mexico. Today, he is the Executive Director of New Mexico Voices for Children, a non-profit policy, research and advocacy organization.

More can be found about Eric Griego at his website www.ericgriegofornewmexico.com.