Democracy for New Mexico

Albuquerque Area Firefighters Union Endorses Eric Griego in Senate District 14 Race

Eric Griego today received the endorsement of the Albuquerque Area Firefighters Union IAFF Local 244 in his run for the State Senate in Albuquerque's District 14 in the Democratic Primary.

"This was an easy decision for us--Eric has a demonstrated ability to lead," said Diego Arencon, President of the Firefighters Union. "Eric has done more than be supportive; he's really been proactive on our behalf. When Eric was a City Councilor, he fought to get the resources firefighters need to do our jobs better."

"This is an important endorsement I'm proud to receive," said Griego. "Our firefighters are our first responders and everyday they work to make us safe."

The union pointed to Griego's strong record of standing with the firefighters, citing:

--As an Albuquerque City Councilor, Eric sponsored the Quarter Cent for Public Safety, which the voters passed. The initiative provided an ongoing revenue stream of nearly $10 million annually for equipment and new cadet classes. He led the initiative to pass the proposal and bring all of the unions together.

--Griego strongly opposed attempts in 2002 to lay-off hundreds of city employees, including civilian employees at AFD. The lay-offs were prevented through other budget-cutting measures.

--Griego supported and helped pass the minimum wage proposal for the Albuquerque area.

Griego 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.

Last week Griego was endorsed by Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM).

Griego will face incumbent James Taylor and challenger Al Armijo in the Democratic Primary on June 3, 2008. More can be found about Eric Griego at his website www.ericgriegofornewmexico.com.

For more on this race, see Steve Terrell's recent article for the Santa Fe New Mexican. To read our previous coverage of 2008 NM Legislative races, visit our archive.

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.

Brian Egolf Files for State Rep District 17: Unopposed in Race

Brian Egolf and daughter Cameron handing signatures and declaration to Santa Fe election director Denise Lamb

From the :
Yesterday Brian Egolf officially filed his Declaration of Candidacy for State Representative – District 47, an open seat being vacated by Rep. Peter Wirth. Seven hundred fifty voters signed a petition to nominate Brian for State Representative, nearly nine times the eighty-six signatures required. Voters from every precinct signed Brian’s petition. Brian will have no primary opponent or Republican challenger for the seat.

Brian said, “I am extremely grateful to all the voters who have signed my nominating petition. The support I have received from people throughout the district has been, and continues to be, extremely humbling. I am looking forward to the campaign ahead and to my favorite part of campaigning: meeting voters at their front doors to talk about a shared vision for a sustainable future in Santa Fe.”

The signatures filed today represent the result of the efforts of over fifty volunteers who spent more than one hundred twenty hours walking door-to-door over the past four weekends, who circulated nominating petitions on their own in their neighborhoods and places of work, and who hosted house parties in Santa Fe and Eldorado in support of Brian’s candidacy.

Brian Egolf is a Santa Fe water lawyer with his own private practice. He is married to Kelly, and they have a three month-old daughter, Cameron Elizabeth. Brian is running because he wants his children to be able to raise their families in Santa Fe. He is committed to a sustainable future for Santa Fe.

Additional information about Brian’s campaign can be found at www.BrianForSantaFe.com.

More Than 2000 Signatures: John Blair Qualifies for State Senate District 15

From the John Blair campaign:
John Blair, Democratic candidate for State Senate District 15, today filed his declaration of candidacy, submitting more than 2,000 qualifying petition signatures with the Bernalillo County Clerk's Office. 

"Voters are hungry for new leadership and fresh ideas in Santa Fe," said Blair. "The overwhelming support we received in the District shows that Democrats are behind us and will give us the edge in June."

Although only 69 signatures of registered Democrats are required to qualify for the Democratic position in District 15, Blair turned in over 2,000 signatures. As part of his grassroots campaign, Blair has walked more than 125 miles across District 15 talking with voters about their concerns and what he'll do as State Senator. Blair's campaign has knocked on more than 3,200 doors in District 15 and Blair personally knocked on more than 2,200 of these doors. 

As estimates based on prior Democratic primary results show that approximately 2500 votes will be needed to win the primary election, Blair said that he's excited by the early response to his message of change.

"It has been hard work, but time very well spent, getting to know everyone I can in the District," remarked Blair. "Voters realize that if the right people are elected to the State Senate we can really make some progress on crucial issues like bringing down the cost of health care and prescription drugs, strengthening our economy and creating high wage jobs, and developing new sources of energy for a cleaner environment."

Previously, Blair served as a Legislative Aide to U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman, Chief of Staff for New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas and a Law Clerk for New Mexico Supreme Court Justice Edward L. Chavez. 

Blair is also a current member of the Board of Directors for Popejoy Hall and the UNM School of Law Alumni Association, and he is a former board member for Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The winner of the Democratic primary in State Senate District 15 will face incumbent Republican State Senator Helen Diane Snyder in November.

For our previous coverage of 2008 New Mexico legislative races, visit our archive.

Dem Tim Keller Files for State Senate District 17

Tim drops off his signatures

From the Tim Keller campaign:
Recently announced challenger Tim Keller turned in petition signatures today, filing his candidacy for State Senate District 17 in Albuquerque's Southeast Heights. He will face incumbent Shannon Robinson in the Democratic Primary on June 3, 2008. A total of 36 nominating signatures from voters in District were required; Tim turned in 336 -- ten times the number needed.

Tim notes, "Since I announced my candidacy, the outpouring of support from the voters I've met has been encouraging. In short, the feedback has been, 'we need a change in Santa Fe.' I'm running because we need leadership in Santa Fe that will fight for our district—someone who we can count on who will fight for healthcare and ethics reform. I am a candidate who will work for our district and not the special interests."

Tim Keller, a progressive Democrat from Albuquerque, is a business consultant and spends much of his time volunteering on the boards of several non-profit groups that foster economic opportunities in the Southeast Heights and around the New Mexico.

Tonight: Reelection Fundraiser for Rep. Moe Maestas

Javier Benavidez, Chris Catechis, Jennifer Conn, Francie Cordova, Miguel Maestas, Naomi Salazar, Iris Guzman, Faizel Kassam, Martha Chicoski, Eric Hannum, Marshall Martinez, Kenneth Owens, Lupe H. Preciado, Angela Spieght, Laura E. Sanchez, Elaine Lopez, Mario Benavidez, Michelle Otero, Route 66 Design, Nate Tapia, Raul Torrez & Barbara Armijo

Cordially invite you to a Fundraiser for
REP. ANTONIO "MOE" MAESTAS
STATE REPRESENTATIVE, DIST. 16
Monday, March 17, 2008
St. Patrick's Day, 5:30 to 7:30 PM
Q-Bar at Hotel Albuquerque
800 Rio Grande Blvd. NW

Suggested Contribution $100. Checks payable to: The Moe Family, P.O. Box 188, Albuquerque, New Mexico  87103. For more information: antonio@moejustice.com.

Conservation Voters New Mexico Endorses Eric Griego for State Senate District 14

Speaking to Eric's pro-conservation record is Leanne Leith, CVNM's political director. That's Javier Benavidez, CVNM's outreach
coordinator (left), and Tim McGivern, former Weekly Alibi
editor (right) with Eric (far right).

Representatives of Conservation Voters New Mexico (CVNM) announced the group's endorsement of Eric Griego for State Senate at last night's well-attended campaign fundraiser at Albuquerque's Artichoke Cafe. Shown are photos are from the event, and here's the statement released by CVNM on their support of Griego:

Conservation Voters New Mexico has endorsed Eric Griego in his campaign to challenge incumbent State Senator James Taylor, District 14, in Albuquerque.

“Eric Griego has a proven track record of effectively turning our state’s conservation values into successful public policies that protect the well-being and quality of life of all New Mexicans,” said Sandy Buffett, Executive Director of Conservation Voters New Mexico. “Eric has the leadership and commitment to stand up to the powerful special interests that threaten our communities,” added Buffett.

Eric speaks to crowd about the endorsement.

While serving as a City Councilor in Albuquerque, Griego sponsored many legislative initiatives important to the New Mexican values for which Conservation Voters New Mexico fights, including the Planned Growth Strategy (PGS) and efforts to protect the Sandia Mountains and the Valle Vidal. The PGS, along with its “pay-as-you-go” system of assessing new infrastructure impact fees to big developers, has helped to tackle Albuquerque’s problem with sprawl development and has helped guide public investment back into established areas of the City.

Part of crowd at Griego's fundraiser last night.

Griego also took on a tough fight to reform Albuquerque’s water policies to better meet the needs of the city’s residents without sacrificing the Rio Grande or the quality of life of future generations.

Conservation Voters New Mexico works to make the protection of our air, land, and water a top priority for elected officials, voters and candidates across the state. For more information on CVNM’s legislative priorities and accountability work, please visit www.cvnm.org.

For more information on Eric Griego’s campaign, visit his website. Whether you live in Senate District 14 or not, you can support Griego's candidacy by:

Making a donation (online or through the mail)

Hosting a house party

Encouraging your friends and family to support the campaign

Click on photos for larger versions. To read our previous coverage of 2008 NM Legislative races, visit our archive.

Thursday: Young Professionals Fundraiser for Eric Griego Campaign

You are invited to a Young Professionals Fundraiser for
Eric Griego
Democratic Candidate for
State Senate, District-14
Thursday, March 13, 2008
5:30 to 7:00 PM
Artichoke Café
424 Central Ave., SE (Central and Edith)

Hors d'oeuvres · Cash Bar · Guitar by Bill Parnall

Please RSVP to 505.620.2783. $50 Suggested Contribution (all contributions accepted). If you are unable to make it, but would like to donate, please do so here.

Co-Sponsors: Bineshi Albert, Mark Allison, Herman Baca, Ken Balizer, Hakim Bellamy, Javier Benavidez, Heather Brewer, Sandy Buffett, Chris Callott, Marjorie Childress, Claire Dudley, Joseph Garcia, Laura Harris, Everette Hill, Neri Holguin, Rachel LaZar, Leanne Leith, Tim McGivern, Jenny Metzler, Brandt Milstein, Claude Morelli, Gabe Nims, Ken Owens, Ann Marie Padilla, Mariana Padilla, Mike Puelle, Carrie Phillis, Andrea Plaza, Lupe Preciado, DeAnza Valencia, Greg Webb and others.

Tim Keller: Truly a Progressive Dem

Tim Keller (center) with Digital Data Divide workers in Cambodia

Recently I've been writing positive things about Tim Keller, who's a progressive Dem running in the primary for State Senator in District 17. I've had a chance to talk with Tim at some length, and he spoke at last week's DFA-DFNM Meetup, making a very positive impression on the group with his passion and his positions. There's a lot of excitement in the progressive community about Keller's candidacy, including right here on this blog.

Unfortunately, I noticed that there's an item on Monahan today trying to make an issue of the fact that when Keller was 18 he registered as a Republican. Tim was also an independent for some years afterwards as he involved himself in exploring life and finding his niche -- before developing a focused political identity. It appears that Tim's opponent, four-term incumbent Shannon Robinson (SD-17), may try to use this to discredit Tim, but it's clear to me that Keller has a solid record he can stand by.

Monahan could have explained what Tim was doing when he wasn't registering himself as a Democrat. What was he up to? Among other things, getting a top notch education and helping to develop an innovative non-profit program overseas:

• He was away at Notre Dame getting his undergrad degree
• He helped start a non-profit in Cambodia helping land mine victims and other displaced persons (see article about Digital Data Divide)
• He went to get his MBA at Harvard 
• He moved back home--to be closer to his family

Tim in Cambodia

Since returning to New Mexico, he's been busy working at his regular job in addition to volunteering for groups that foster economic opportunities in Albuquerque's Southeast Heights—putting his business skills to work in the district where he lives. He also serves on the boards of numerous groups in the state and has helped develop small businesses here. The sum of his experiences led him to run for office as a Democrat -- because core Democratic values match his own heartfelt values. As Tim says:

"I have been a registered Republican, an Independent, and a Democrat. I am not a political insider and have got my experiences and values from things outside of politics, through community involvement, economic development and poverty alleviation both abroad and in New Mexico."

"I have a record I am proud to explain. I was born and raised in New Mexico. I went away to school and lived and worked overseas to improve the lives of disenfranchised people. I paid attention to issues more than I did politics. But now, I want to take those same organizing, civic minded skills to politics and the public sector--to help people.

"I became a progressive Democrat thoughtfully and through conviction."

Tim (upper right) with Digital Data Divide workers in Cambodia.

I don't know about you, but I have a lot of respect for a real Dem who started out in a Republican family, became successful in the business world, found a way to put his business acumen to work to help people in need help themselves -- and decided to run for office to serve his community.

Unfortunately, there are too many politicians in office today who call themselves Democrats but who have lost their way and abandoned many of their Dem ideals in order to acquire and hang onto power and clout. From my point of view, Tim's the real deal, and he came to his political identity through his rich experiences in life, as well as a conscious choice. I hope he's a harbinger of many more caring, progressive candidates to come, in his generation and beyond.

To read our previous coverage of New Mexico legislative races, visit our archive.

Eric Griego & Tim Keller at Meetup Last Nite: How We Can Achieve Reforms

District 14 State Senate candidate Eric Griego speaks at DFA-DFNM Meetup

District 17 State Senate candidate Tim Keller addresses the group

In addition to a top-notch presentation on voter demographics and GOTV by Jennifer Ford of America Votes at last night's Albuquerque DFA-DFNM Meetup, the group heard from Eric Griego and Tim Keller. Eric and Tim are both passionate and engaging Dems who are challenging Dem incumbents in State Senate primary races set for June 3, 2008.

Eric Griego on the importance of electing Dems to the Legislature who will support a reform agenda

Both Griego and Keller stressed their strong commitment to needed reforms related to ethics, campaign finance, health care, education and a living wage. They explained how crucial it is for those who advocate change to band together and work hard to replace legislators more interested in protecting the status quo than reforming a broken system. Only grassroots action and determination can elect Democrats who will work on behalf of the people instead of the monied special interests. Whether or not we live in a given candidate's district, we can volunteer, make a small donation and help get the word out to support their campaigns. If they win, we'll all benefit -- not just constituents in their districts.

Griego on how we achieved public financing in Albuquerque and how he'll make ethics and campaign finance reform top priorities in the legislature

It seems clear that until we can get big money from big donors out of the election system, it will remain difficult to enact much-needed legislation on things like universal health care and a true living wage. Strong citizen support won't necessarily translate into the passage of popular measures unless we elect more Democrats who are willing to work hard to first get ethics and campaign finance reform signed into law.

If we consider ourselves to be grassroots activists, we must do more than read the blogs and go to meetings. To get people-powered candidates elected, we have to do our part. Do it now:

Visit the campaign websites of these two candidates to get actively involved in their races:

• Eric Griego, who's running in Senate District 14
• Tim Keller, whos' running in Senate District 17

To see our previous coverage on 2008 New Mexico legislative races, visit our archive. Photos and video by M.E. Broderick. Sorry the video clips aren't of better quality. We need to get a real video camera!