Marg Elliston

What's not to like? That was the prevailing sentiment as the NM Democratic Party Central Committee met Sunday in Rio Rancho to elect party officers for the 2020 election cycle after making historic gains last year. Presiding over those gains was Party Chair Marg Elliston who delegates rewarded with another two year term by a landslide vote of 353 to 51 over challenger Rusty Pearce of Las Cruces.

The afterglow of the '18 election results hung in the air. How could it not? Elected were a new Dem Governor, an all Dem congressional delegation, a near Dem super majority in the state House and a Dem capture of all elected statewide offices.

For her part, Elliston, a retired government employee and wife of legendary former US Senator Fred Harris, told the convention she was especially pleased that women now make up 35 percent of the 112 member Legislature, an apparent high water mark. She also touted the organizational drive the Dems put on to win their hardest fought '18 victory--electing Xochitl Torres Small to the southern congressional district.

While Elliston of Corrales basked in the glow of undeniable success, there were dissenters. The complaints are from the party's progressive wing which aches to see a number of conservative Democratic state senators who have thwarted their favored legislation removed. That would include an abortion bill and a constitutional amendment that would tap the $18 billion Land Grant Permanent School Fund for very early childhood education. But Elliston declared that despite the failure of those bills to get Senate backing progressives are winners:

Progressive priorities that had been pushed off the table in past years, like raising the minimum wage, a path to 100% carbon-free power, and over $500 million in investments in education took center stage in the legislative session because we demanded action.

In recent remarks Elliston, 74, rankled  progressive doubters by refusing to take sides in what could be several primaries challenging conservative Dems. She said:

There’s no “litmus test” for legislators who are elected to represent diverse districts statewide – and no punishment for Democrats who stray from the party’s platform. “We put the platform out there and we don’t chop anyone’s head off for not following it 100 percent."  

More to come on that to be sure, but for now Elliston can celebrate her re-election. It's not like it happens every time.

SENATE SPARKS

Two prominent Dems already on the primary battlefield were at the convention seeking support. Both Rep. Ben Ray Lujan and Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver wooed delegates as their campaigns for the 2020 Dem nomination for the US Senate began to take form. And there were a few sparks.

Former Sandoval County Dem Chairman David Montoya, a Lujan  backer, took to social media to call on Robert Lara, treasurer of the state Dem Party and also the treasurer for the MTO campaign, to step aside from the party job because he now has a conflict of interest. But Lara retorted he sees no conflict and also said his decision to serve in both roles met with approval of none other than BRL.

Does the early elbow throwing among campaign acolytes signal a rough and tumble campaign to come? Or will it be a peaceable affair? To be continued. . .

MANUEL LUJAN, JR.

Here are details of services this week for former NM Congressman and Secretary of the Interior Manuel Lujan Jr. who died Thursday night at the age of 90.

A memorial service is set for Thursday at 5 p.m. at ABQ's Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church. A  rosary service will follow. The funeral Mass will be held Friday at 11 a.m. also at Our Lady of Fatima. He will then be buried at Gate of Heaven Catholic Cemetery.

His brother, Edward Lujan, a former chairman of the NM GOP, said Manuel had been in ill health in recent months and recently fell and broke his hip.

The NYT came with a thorough obituary of Lujan's life as did his hometown paper.

In today's photo, taken a number of years ago (when we had few gray hairs), we are meeting with Manuel and veteran public administrator Bob Gurule. I forget the occasion but we all look intensely involved in the conversation so politics would be a good guess.

I found that photo (probably taken by Mark Bralley) thumbing through memorabilia from my time on the congressman's staff in Washington as communications director in the late 70's and early 80's.

A highlight of that time was the 1980 campaign when Manuel faced what would become his stiffest re-election challenge to his ABQ congressional seat. It came from a young Bill Richardson who he narrowly defeated. However, Richardson had made his mark and went on to represent the northern congressional district and become a two term NM Governor.

As we reminisced over the weekend this email came from the always globetrotting Big Bill:

Joe, Enroute to Nigeria and am in London and just learned of Manuel’s death. Know how important he was to you and to our state and country. A classy guy with the best constituent service I ever saw. A great moderate. As governor I tried to name a state building after him. He would not hear of it because of his great modesty and class. Americans miss leaders like Manuel Lujan who was always looking for bipartisan solutions. My condolences to Jean and the family.

Even though his public service ended in 1992 his send off has been heartfelt and widespread. That's because he won the hearts of New Mexicans with his vibrant smile, warm personality and natural ability to connect and empathize with people from all walks of life. No wonder he was so successful in politics.

His passing, coming as it does in the midst of a polarized political environment, evoked memories and longing for a time when there were certain rules of decorum, respect and decency that could not and would not be crossed. By his constant example Manuel was an enforcer of those standards. That time is sorely missed, as he will be by the many whose lives he touched.

For that and more, Manuel Lujan, Jr. earned his chapter in the never-ending book of La Politica. Vaya Con Dios, MLJ.

THE BOTTOM LINES

We blogged recently that Santa Fe attorney Teresa Leger was seriously considering a run for the Dem nod for the northern congressional seat. Now she is close to announcing, having filed paperwork with the FEC. . . And outgoing ABQ City Councilor Brad Winter is 67, not 64 as we first blogged Friday.

This is the home of New Mexico politics.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2019