Lawrence Rael

Lawrence Rael became today the first candidate in the lieutenant governor’s race to spend money on television ads. The Democrat is out with an ad that focuses on his “ability to build relationships for a better New Mexico,” according to a news release.
Here’s the ad:

Jerry Ortiz y Pino says progressives have been “used” by the Democratic Party in New Mexico for a long time. He says his candidacy for lieutenant governor is “a great opportunity for the progressive wing of the party to assert itself.”

Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Lawrence Rael raised more than $147,000 from May to October, his campaign announced today.
That total includes almost $113,000 in individual contributions and $19,500 in in-kind contributions. He also loaned his campaign $15,000, according to a finance report you can view by clicking here.

The lieutenant governor hasn’t historically been too involved in managing state government. Lawrence Rael thinks that should change, saying he ‘can manage programs and projects in a manner that lieutenant governors haven’t done in the past.’

Democratic lieutenant governor candidate Brian Colón is off to a quick start, having already raised more than $100,000. Colón announced the fundraising number in an e-mail he sent to supporters early today. “In less than one month we passed the magical $100,000 mark in our fundraising efforts,” the e-mail states.

Ads about the Rail Runner with a candidate Lieutenant Governor are raising some eyebrows, according to an article in today’s Santa Fe New Mexican. Lawrence Rael, the Executive Director for the Mid-Region Council of Governments, appears in the 30-second ads which have appeared on cable and one broadcast network. The ads, Rael says, are about safety. [...]

The Santa Fe County Democrats will host all seven (yes, seven) candidates for Lieutenant Governor at a forum on Wednesday, Sept. 16 according to a press release from the party. The seven candidates will each give five minutes opening statements then answer questions that are submitted to the moderator.

In case you were wondering, the number of Democrats who are either in the race or have expressed interest in the race to replace Diane Denish as lieutenant governor is now at nine.
Santa Fe County Sheriff, one of the nine, told the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Kate Nash, “We got to the point of a [...]

Lawrence Rael, executive director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments, formally announced today that he’s entering the crowded Democratic primary race for lieutenant governor.
“New Mexico faces tremendous challenges, but I also see tremendous opportunities,” Rael said in a news release. “I am running for lieutenant governor because New Mexicans need a leader they can trust [...]

When the Las Cruces-based Region VII Housing Authority shut down in August 2006, board members said the agency’s records would be sent to Region III in Albuquerque.

Yesterday, the New Mexico Rail Runner Express celebrated a significant milestone: Its two-millionth rider.
The Rail Runner began in 2006 between Belen and Bernalillo and has since expanded to Santa Fe as well.

It must be a commuter rail kind of day.
In addition to citizens expressing their hopes for an expansion of the Rail Runner Express in northern New Mexico, southern New Mexico Democratic Congressman Harry Teague wants to take a look at expanding the commuter rail further into his neck of the woods, even Texas.

Kate Nash of the Santa Fe New Mexican wrote in her blog earlier today that “15 to 20″ people have expressed interest in succeeding Diane Denish as lieutenant governor. This would be in the event that Gov. Bill Richardson is confirmed as secretary of commerce and heads to Washington, D.C.
Nash writes:
You’ve probably heard the same [...]

The maiden Bernalillo-Santa Fe trip on the Rail Runner Express was an opportunity for Gov. Bill Richardson to crow about what he sees as one of his most prominent accomplishments–sometimes to the point of exaggeration.

Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has a big decision on her hands.
Upon her automatic promotion to governor when (and if) Gov. Bill Richardson is confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the nation’s next commerce secretary, Denish will have to name a replacement to her current post.
While she probably won’t pull the trigger until February, it’s a [...]