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.
There’s a political “summit” of western Democratic political leaders happening in Denver this week, convened by a group called “Project New West,” which billed itself in a news release as “the leading authority on the rapidly growing Intermountain West.”
“By any measure — political, economic, demographic — the region we live in today is a far different place than it was thirty years ago, or even ten years ago,” said Project New West President Jill Hanauer.
“Our goal at Project New West is to understand these changes and give progressives the tools they need to shape the debate, control the agenda, and achieve lasting success in this changing environment.”
According to a report in the Wall Street Journal today, the “take-home” message from the event is “Think Latino.” The WSJ piece highlighted comments made by New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas, discussing the Latino community:
New Mexico state auditor Hector Balderas, another panelist, cited his state’s high dropout rate as one of the most crucial issues for candidates to connect with if they hope to move Hispanic voters.
Balderas, who won statewide office in 2006 — when he was just 33, — also urged Democrats to groom more young Latino candidates. “When you do that, the language changes, the optics change, the issues change,” Balderas said. “Never underestimate the power of a young voice.”
His parting words of wisdom to the crowd of activists: “Do not be afraid of our communities.”
Balderas had an audience with clout, with the roster of attendees released by Project New West including a number of other prominent New Mexican elected officials:
U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter, Robert Redford, T. Boone Pickens, U.S. Sen. Jeff Bingaman of New Mexico; U.S. Sen. Tom Udall of New Mexico; U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado; U.S. Congressman Raul Grijalva; U.S. Congressman Walt Minnick of Idaho; New Mexico Lieutenant Gov. Diane Denish; Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard; New Mexico State Auditor Hector Balderas; Colorado Speaker of the House of Representatives Terrance D. Carroll; Nevada Assembly Majority Leader John Oceguera; Utah Senate Minority Leader Patricia Jones; Chairman of the Coeur D’Alene Tribe Chief J. Allan; and Arizona Assistant House Democratic Leader Kyrsten Sinema.
And as it turns out, Bingaman, Udall, Denish, and Balderas aren’t the only New Mexicans who traveled north to the summit. Updates and observations have been streamed onto Facebook from several others, and we suspect there are probably plenty more who made the trek.
Here are some of the updates I’ve come across from Facebook’ing politicos:
Brian S. Colon Attending and learning at Project New West Summit. New Mexico is very well represented. Currently… great conversation with Sen. Udall and Robert Redford on important environmental issues.
Tim Keller is at Project New West’s Summit: T. Pickens championing natural gas driven 18 wheelers as first practical step toward energy independence, Robert Redford and Sen. Udall discuss their western heritage and authentic Western values. The Western states are experiencing a second great “boom,” populations doubled in the last 20 years
This one had a picture of T.Boone Pickens giving a presentation:
Brian Egolf What’s wrong with this picture? Swift-Boat financier at PNW.
And finally, Hector Balderas gave an update late last night saying he’s heading home:
Hector Balderas Just finished long day in Denver speaking on panel at Project New West. Topic was about hispanics in politics. Flying home tonight.
