Today is March 14, 2018. It is the day after “filing day” in New Mexico when candidates file for their races around the state, from county commissions to the governor. With little exception, if candidates haven’t submitted the required amount of signatures or have for some other reason been disqualified by the Secretary of State’s office, we now have a pretty good idea of who’s running in 2018 across the board. ProgressNow New Mexico will be looking at some top-level races more in-depth over the next few weeks to bring our perspective to the key races we’re expecting to see in New Mexico this year. New Mexico is in the national spotlight as one of the “most likely to flip” states in terms of our governor’s race.
“NMOGA is going to be the most powerful organization in the state of New Mexico, period.”
– Ryan Flynn, Executive Director New Mexico Oil and Gas Association
This is the beginning of a series of articles highlighting the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association. NMOGA lobbies on behalf of oil and gas interests, seeking less regulation and oversight for their industry and greater access to political power in the state. Last year, the Executive Director of NMOGA, Ryan Flynn, spoke at their annual meeting about the future of oil and gas in New Mexico as they moved into the election cycle of 2018, their goals to seize power, and the strength of their “opposition,” the citizens of New Mexico who have pushed back against the fossil fuel industry and their stranglehold on the state at all levels.
Every fall, members of the New Mexico Oil and Gas Association meet in Santa Fe for their annual member meeting; a meeting so large that two years ago there weren’t enough hotel rooms in the city to accommodate legislators who had to return to the Roundhouse for a special session. At the most recent convention in October of 2017, the NMOGA Executive Director Ryan Flynn gave his keynote address to his members, highlighting the return of higher per-barrel oil on a worldwide level, the increased growth of wells and production in New Mexico, and towing the line that their work was critical to the success of the state. About halfway through his half-hour remarks, Flynn gave a nod to his former boss and her role in the Oil and Gas Industry’s continued success in New Mexico.
The Las Cruces City Council seated its new and re-elected members today and, in a flourish of newly proposed business, showed what a dedicated panel of progressive leaders can accomplish when working together. In their first session, the newly seated council saw returning Progressive Champion Gill Sorg be elected unanimously as the new Mayor pro-tem, signaling a shift away from registered Independent Greg Smith who’s held the post for the last two years. Sorg also went on to introduce proposals that the council take up a resolution in support of the Legislature legalizing recreational cannabis as well as a measure to bolster support for immigrants living in Las Cruces. Major cities in New Mexico are “home rule cities” which allow citizens to directly shape their cities in important ways — the most prominent being the use of citizen-led ballot initiatives. This rule has been an extremely important tool for progressive voters to move New Mexico forward.
Consider your options, talk to your neighbors, attend one of the remaining forums, and then go vote. Municipal level elections are where change is influenced most immediately. As an outlet for information, keeping people aware, informed and engaged, is always our focus. We urge you to keep the focus as we head toward October 3rd and November 8th and push your friends and fellow community members to vote. We appreciate it and you.
The International Business Times published an article today detailing allegations that Governor Susana Martinez used her office to help private companies who made big donations to her campaigns to secure investment deals from state agencies in violation of federal Securities and Exchange Commission rules. REALLY BIG deals.
As part of our continued efforts to inform the voters of New Mexico about their choices when it comes to who they/we elect for public office, we are providing a comprehensive voter guide for the upcoming municipal election. See the full Voter Guide here. Gus Pedrotty
Registered as a Democrat
Endorsements by community organizations:
None listed on candidate’s public website. Endorsement lists can be sent to carlos[at]progressnownm.org. Occupation: Recent Graduate of University of New Mexico
Facebook: Gus Pedrotty for Mayor
Website: http://www.gusformayor.com
Who pays for their campaign: view the finance report.
As part of our continued efforts to inform the voters of New Mexico about their choices when it comes to who they/we elect for public office, we are providing a comprehensive voter guide for the upcoming municipal election. See the full Voter Guide here. Dan Lewis
Registered as a Republican
Endorsements by community organizations:
None listed on candidate’s public website. Endorsement lists can be sent to carlos[at]progressnownm.org
Occupation: Executive VP Desert Fuels, City Councilor Dist. 5
Facebook: Dan Lewis
Website: http://www.lewisabq.com
Who pays for their campaign: view the finance report.
As part of our continued efforts to inform the voters of New Mexico about their choices when it comes to who they/we elect for public office, we are providing a comprehensive voter guide for the upcoming municipal election. See the full Voter Guide here. Wayne Johnson
Registered as a Republican
Endorsements by community organizations:
None listed on candidate’s public website. Endorsement lists can be sent to carlos[at]progressnownm.org
Occupation: President at Vista Media, Currently serving as County Commissioner Dist. 5
Facebook: Wayne Johnson for Mayor
Website: http://votewaynejohnson.com
Who pays for their campaign: view the finance report.
As part of our continued efforts to inform the voters of New Mexico about their choices when it comes to who they/we elect for public office, we are providing a comprehensive voter guide for the upcoming municipal election. See the full Voter Guide here. Michelle Garcia Holmes
Registered as Independent
Endorsements by community organizations:
none listed on candidate’s public website. Endorsement lists can be sent to carlos[at]progressnownm.org
Occupation: Former Detective APD, Former Chief of Staff NM Attorney General’s Office
Facebook: Michelle4abqMayor
Website: http://wwww.michelle4mayor.org
Who pays for their campaign: view the finance report. What they say about themselves: I desire to be the Mayor of Albuquerque because I believe in accountability, integrity, responsibility and using your life to make a difference in other people’s lives.
As part of our continued efforts to inform the voters of New Mexico about their choices when it comes to who they/we elect for public office, we are providing a comprehensive voter guide for the upcoming municipal election. See the full Voter Guide here. Susan Wheeler-Deichsel
Registered as Independent
Endorsements by community organizations:
None listed on candidate’s public website. Endorsement lists can be sent to carlos[at]progressnownm.org
Occupation: Owner and Innkeeper at Endion ABQ/La Casita Rosada
Facebook: Susan for ABQ
Website: http://www.susanforabq.com
Who pays for their campaign: view the finance report. What they have to say about themselves: I was once told there are two types of people in the world: those who enter a room and announce ‘Here I am,’ and those who come in saying, ‘There you are.’
“Albuquerque, there you are.
