Statehouse Dems Retain Leadership Team

The House Democratic Caucus of the New Mexico House of Representatives elected their leadership for 2009 yesterday. The Dems re-elected Speaker of the House Ben Lujan (D-SantaFe-46), House Majority Floor Leader Ken Martinez (D-Cibola, McKinley & San Juan-69), House Majority Whip Sheryl Williams Stapleton (D-Bernalillo-19) and Caucus Chair John A. Heaton (D-Eddy-55).

“I am honored that our House Democratic Caucus has expressed its trust and confidence in re-electing all of us to our respective leadership capacities,” said Speaker Lujan in a statement. “These are exciting and unprecedented times in the country. However, these are also unprecedented and challenging times in New Mexico that will require all of us working together utilizing our collective experience and expertise on behalf of the citizens of New Mexico as we address the revenue shortfall and other very important issues facing our state.”

“I am honored to be re-elected Majority Leader,” said Majority Leader Martinez. “I look forward to working with our leadership and all the Members of the House to serve our citizens, especially during these challenging economic times.”

The only challenge to the current leadership lineup allegedly came from HD 68 Rep. Thomas A. Garcia of Ocate, who reportedly ran against Rep. Williams Stapleton for Whip, and lost in the secret voting.

In contrast to the Dem House leadership elections, the Dem caucus elections on the State Senate side promise to be a bit contentious this year. It's practically a given that current President Pro-Tem Tim Jennings of Roswell will be ousted as a result of his public support of Repub Leonard Lee Rawson in a recorded robo-call and radio ad in Rawson's race against Dem challenger Stephen Fischmann in SD 37 in the Las Cruces area. With the addition of a number of new reform-minded Dems in the Senate, the time may be ripe for a new, more progressive coalition to have a say in Senate leadership. Then again, old power blocs are hard to defeat in any year.