ABQ Dem Congressional candidate Richard Romero has followed incumbent Republican Heather Wilson onto the TV airwaves with a 60 second spot that seeks to smooth over the ABQ state senator's image. The Romero spot is well-produced, if not memorable, and asks voters to look at Romero the man, not the well-known two term state senator In fact, the spot does not once mention Romero's government service. The spot, with a female voice-over, seems tilted towards women voters with much emphasis on Romero's service to education and children.

The spot was produced by the Washington firm Laguens Hamburger Stone. Its founder, Dawn Laguens, has a long record of political success, but perhaps the most interesting thing on her resume is that she is the mother of triplets.

By the way, a group calling itself the "United Seniors Association" is on the air touting Heather's support of the Medicare drug benefit bill. With that ad buy, combined with Heather's own, she is easily outspending rival Romero in the early going.

DEATH CLAIMS LOBBYIST YOUNG

Friends and associates are mourning the untimely passing of veteran NM lobbyist Charlie Young who died in a bicycle accident this weekend in Colorado. Young, father of soon-to-be ABQ NE Heights GOP State Rep Justine Fox-Young, was 54 and a well-known lobbyist for healthcare and automotive concerns in Santa Fe.

Dem lawmakers attending a legislative conference with the Governor in Red River, NM, not far from Colorado, were shocked when told of the news.

Young, an attorney, was a longtime Democrat who worked for ABQ Mayor Ken Schultz in the 1980's. In recent years he had worked on projects with lobbyist/attorney and GOP activist Mickey Barnett. In November Young's daughter, 26 year old Justine, is running unopposed for election to the Legislature. She defeated incumbent Republican Bob White in the June primary.

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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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