There's another Gary back on the New Mexico political scene and its not the former peripatetic governor. It's affable Gary King who says he has been bitten by the political bug again and will seek the Democratic nomination for New Mexico's Second Congressional District seat held by Republican Steve Pearce who was elected to a two year term last year. Pearce took over for Joe Skeen who held the seat for two decades. Gary gamely took on Big Bill for the Democratic governor nomination last year, but the stars never did line up right. Gary is an attorney, Ph.d and a former state representative whose father is legendary former Governor Bruce King. Rumors have circulated about his plans for a couple of months but this week Gary confirmed to me personally that he will definitely seek the Congressional seat and is busy lining up support. Jeff Steinborn, a former aide to Senator Jeff Bingaman, is also seeking the Democratic nod and the right to take on Pearce next November. Jeff's father is a former multi-term Mayor of Las Cruces.

Gary does not live in the Second Congressional District but his biggest law client is the WIPP project in Carlsbad and he spends most of his working time there. He plans on establishing residency full-time soon. Political observers down south tell me Pearce's fortunes could rest in part with the popularity of President Bush. If the Prez remains popular, a GOP congressman will be tough to beat, but if Bush continues to slip....

A congressman is most vulnerable to defeat in his first term which is a motivator for Gary to get in. He was mentioned as a possible Speaker of the House, a job his father had back in the 60's, but again the right timing was not to be. He hopes his watch is set right this time as he prepares to wage battle for a Congressional seat that is one of the largest in land area in the U.S. Gary feels his conservative/moderate political approach will play well down south. It certainly is not territory hospitable to liberal types. In fact, the Pearce TV ad screaming that Democratic challenger John Arthur Smith was "too liberal" is credited by political consultant and pollster Harry Pavlides as a key reason for the Smith shellacking at the hands of oilman Pearce. Pavlides managed former State Treasurer Michael Montoya's bid for Congress against Skeen in 2000.

Well over 90 per cent of U.S. Reps get re-elected so any challenger has an uphill battle from the start. Gary King has the political acumen and name id to get a fast start out of the gate so southern cd'ers are in for a political treat.