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.
Former state Attorney General Patricia Madrid confirmed today that she’s considering running for land commissioner next year.
“Always thinking of options and this is one of them, but way too soon to contemplate details,” Madrid wrote in response to an e-mail asking if she’s thinking about running for land commissioner.
Madrid’s name most recently surfaced in November when The Politico reported that she was on the short list for interior secretary in President Barack Obama’s administration. It’s a job that instead went to former U.S. Sen. Ken Salazar, D-Colo.
Madrid, a Democrat who is originally from Las Cruces, became the first woman elected to be a district court judge in New Mexico in 1978 when she won a judgeship in Albuquerque. In 1998, she was elected attorney general, and she won re-election in 2002.
In 2006, Madrid ran against then-U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, R-N.M., but lost by fewer than 1,000 votes out of about 211,000 cast.
Since 2007, Madrid has worked as a consultant to a high-powered Washington law firm that represents some of the companies she took to court on behalf of New Mexico’s citizens as AG. Madrid has also said she may run for governor in 2010, but few expect that to happen.
The current land commissioner, Republican Pat Lyons, is term-limited from seeking re-election and is instead running for a spot on the Public Regulation Commission next year. Former state Land Commissioner Ray Powell is the only Democrat who has announced his candidacy for the seat.
On the Republican side, retired law-enforcement agent Errol Chavez is running for land commissioner, and GOP activist Bob Cornelius has formed an exploratory committee “with the intent to seek” the office.
