Tuesday, September 13, 2005Back To The Future: Stephanie Gonzales Readies Another Run For Sec. Of State, Plus: We Take You Back On The ABQ Campaign Trail; Let's Blog This Town!
Stephanie Gonzales
![]() Gonzales and current Secretary of State Rebecca Vigil-Giron started their unprecedented run of terms in 1986 when Becky won. She did it again in 98', succeeding Stephanie, and took the trophy home again in 02'. Stephanie also goes way back having served as deputy during Rebecca's first term. Big Bill hired Gonzales in 03' as director of the Human Services Department's child support enforcement division, but the lure of La Politica is again pulling her back into the limelight. The Gonzales go is especially bitter news for Bernalillo County Clerk Marry Herrera who has been cutting a bunch of "public service announcements" and building name ID in vote-laden ABQ, but Mary has little statewide ID and the added disadvantage of coming from the area which has a terrible reputation for compiling election results, despite her generally competent stewardship. THE ETHNIC FACTOR Vigil-Giron ![]() The Guv's blessing is more important for money than for votes in a Dem primary. Let's see which way he leans when influencing the cash handouts. And what about Light Guv Diane Denish, who unleashed unforgettable nuclear warfare against Stephanie when they both sought the Dem nomination for Light Guv years back? Will she be having a welcome back party for Stephanie? Just wondering. If history is any guide it's good to be a Gonzales and run for the position. A check of the history books (the things I do for you!) shows three different Gonzales' have held the position for a total of twelve years since we became a state back in that glorious year of 1912. And what of Stephanie's soulmate Rebecca? Things are rough for her right now with nothing really to run for. Could she end up cooling her heels as deputy secretary of state under Stephanie? TRAIL TALK ![]() Juan Jose Pena, an Hispanic activist with a following around NM and who unsuccessfully tried to get a ballot spot for the ABQ city council seat representing Downtown and Barelas, is now endorsing Isaac Benton who did make the ballot. Only Hispanics have been elected to the district. That will change this year with either Anglo Benton or African-American Diana-Dorn Jones prevailing. But the Hispanic vote is crucial and Benton is hoping the Pena endorsement will help. Dorn-Jones' supporters say Juan, no stranger to controversy, could lose Benton as many votes as he wins for him. By the way, there has been one African-American on the city council. In the 1970's Dr. Solomon Brown was appointed by then-Mayor Kinney to fill out the term of Mel Aragon who resigned. I don't believe Brown ran for the seat on his own, thus keeping the record intact of no African-American ever being elected to the panel. Dorn-Jones would be the first since 74.' COUSIN LENTON Lenton Malry ![]() Get out the credit card, Lenton. Once a politico, always one, which gives you the honor. Thanks for joining me today. Hope to see you again tomorrow. (c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2005 Not for reproduction without permission of the author |
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