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Wednesday, September 10, 2014

What's Gary King Thinking? How He May Believe He Can Pull Off The Upset, Plus: A Readers' View: Building Up New Mexico; Not Leaving Her  

The political community is still absorbing the semi-shocker that Gov. Martinez has 25 times more cash on hand than Gary King--her $3.8 million to his $157,000--but the Democratic gubernatorial hopeful probably isn't shocked or even all that much worried. Candidates have a way of convincing themselves that no matter how gloomy things appear, in the end they will emerge to take the prize. Which leads to the question: Just what is going on in Gary King's head? For that we turn to the armchair psychologists and Alligators.

What's going on is this: King realizes he is far, far behind in the important money chase which finances the media message that sways the undecided voters, but in his mind the King name is so well known that he will only need a month of media or so to catapult him in the polls and start bringing Martinez down. His father Bruce was a three term Governor--the longest in state history--and Gary tells himself the goodwill from those years will be a major factor in enabling him to pull off the upset.

That's how King likely sees it, but it should be noted that Bruce was defeated in his effort to secure a fourth year term. As for the King legacy, there is one, but it is not universally known. King was defeated by Gary Johnson way back in 1994--20 years ago. Scores of voter have only a faint memory or none of the avuncular rancher known for his effective one-on-one campaigning.

King's thinking--at least what we believe to be his thinking--comes across as long shot thinking but this is now a long shot race. Former Governor Richardson and national labor unions held a fund-raiser for King (only $100 bucks  head?) and there will be more in the days ahead as King works to raise the October TV money. That's money he must have and that even he can't rationalize away.

BUILDING UP NM

NM native Michael Montoya, a corporate VP for a cybersecurity firm headquartered in Asia, is so dismayed with the outlook for his home state that he urged young people here to leave. We carried his thoughts on the blog and ABQ attorney Miguel Suazo comes with this counterpoint:

We need to stop calling for leadership and collectively start to show it. Political leaders are only a small segment of the leadership needed to change the fabric of our state. As a 10th generation New Mexican, I know that my ancestors made the life that they wanted by making, for example, their own soap, clothes, and raising and selling livestock. That time has past but that approach can still work. It is incumbent upon each generation to stop making excuses and make the life they want out of what’s available. 

At an event for Young Professionals in Energy New Mexico (YPE-NM), I heard from David Gonzales from Aztec. He's built a $200M company, Logos Resources, with hard work, risk, and discipline. He is not even 35. David understands that to make NM vibrant you have to look within and sacrifice in order to achieve. He hasn’t called for leadership he has shown it. He hasn’t looked at NM and said, “there’s no opportunity,” he’s created opportunity. He left but he returned and now he’s creating jobs. 

There’s nothing wrong with leaving but much wrong with forgetting. We should call upon those who are out of state but who still have ties here to give back. I encourage Mr. Montoya to help us. Maybe he could work with local universities to offer massive open online courses (MOOCs) in cybersecurity? On November 14 YPE-NM will be holding an energy issues roundtable. A component of this will be a panel on economic development opportunities for New Mexicans. I invite Mr. Montoya to participate.

What do you say, Mr. Montoya? You want in on this?

BANKING ON IT

Reader Laura Stokes writes of an interesting idea for New Mexico's forlorn economy--a public bank that would help stimulate business and jobs:

Joe, I am impressed more and more every day with your reporting of important actual news in the cities and state. I wish you had your own newspaper--bring back the Trib! In a recent column, you talk of investing in people. Well there is a  grassroots movement to do that by getting public banking in NM. There is a growing interest in this in the legislature and other organizations. Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales is hosting a symposium in Santa Fe in September  27. Here is  the website for the event. which is titled "Banking on NM."

Thanks, Laura. NM may be hearing a lot more about this public banking concept to stimulate the economy here. It first took hold in North Dakota nearly a century ago.

WORD FROM A SPONSOR

Solar Fiesta, on Sept 27 at CNM’s Workforce Training Center, near Alameda and I-25, brings you the information for an informed choice about solar for your home. With lower prices on panels and federal tax credits expiring in 2016, there’s no better time than now to Go Solar! 

The Fiesta will also include vendor exhibits focusing on practical uses of renewable energy, active and passive solar home design and green building and other sustainable living practices.Visit us here.

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