I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
“We need a change in the way the city of Albuquerque does business,” Richard Romero said Tuesday morning as he announced his candidacy for mayor of Albuquerque.
Speaking in front of City Hall, surrounded by supporters, the former congressional candidate, state senator and high school principal strongly criticized the governing style of the city’s two-term incument mayor, Mayor Martin Chavez.
Romero added: “It’s important that you treat your colleagues with civility and respect. Our city government is plagued with mistrust. Where goodwill and cooperation were needed, instead we’ve had eight years of acrimony and bickering amongst the mayor and the city council. …This really is no way to do business.”
Capitalizing on a reputation for a cool head and an even temper, Romero painted himself as a clear alternative to City Councilors Debbie O’Malley and Michael Cadigan, who have both said they’re running. “I see the council and the mayor at war with each other. We need cooperation, we need respect… and we need to talk to each other,” Romero said.
Although Mayor Chavez has not yet said whether he will run for reelection, last year he won a court battle to strike down the two consecutive term limit that would have prevented him from running again. Chavez served his first term as mayor from 1993-1997, followed by an unsuccessful run for governor in 1998.
Romero also lashed out against the abuse of power in politics, saying, “Corruption has no place in government. We need leaders with integrity.”
“When I served in the state Senate, I stood with Republicans and a small group of Democrats, and we took on Manny Aragon. We took him on and we ousted him in 2001 because he was abusive and he was corrupt,” Romero said.
Ex-state Sen. Aragon, the long-time powerhouse of the Senate, last year pled guilty to corruption charges related to the construction of the Metropolitan Courthouse.
“A New Way Forward,” Romero’s campaign slogan, hints at his political philosophy without actually saying “I’m a progressive Democrat,” something that’s expressly forbidden in Albuquerque’s nonpartisan mayoral election.
Romero has been endorsed by other prominent progressives New Mexico Democrats, including state Sens. Jerry Ortiz y Pino, Cisco McSorley, Eric Griego and Tim Keller, as well as state Rep. Mimi Stewart.
Like Councilors Cadigan and O’Malley, Romero plans to use public financing to fund his campaign. Romero is a director of Public Campaign, a national, nonprofit campaign finance reform group.
“[Public financing] allows the little guy, with a lot of work, and a lot of heart, to go after the voters. I think the money we have appropriated will be enough and if it isn’t, we’re going to work harder,” the freshly minted mayoral candidate said.
