Somebody stop me! I know we haven't even had the 03' city election, the unification election or next year's presidential election, but the political junkies are so cranked up they need another election to talk about, ABQ Mayor 2005. Since noone else will, it looks like I will assume the dubious honor of being the first to write about this tale so far in the future that we could all be driving electric cars by then.

What we have to report is the new mom who would be mayor. She's Democratic State Senator Linda Lopez of the south valley (She lives in the city) and rumors of her seeking the city's top job just won't die. They started months ago, were shot down by "those in the know" but today are back in full force. I am hearing it from valley political operatives as well as Green Party circles. That's a pretty big spread, enough to be taken seriously.

Linda isn't talking, which can be read any way you like. But she is the new chair of the Bernalillo County Democratic Party, a former chair of the state senate Democratic caucus and the lady who ousted well-know Democrat Tom Benavidez from the senate back in 96'. She just also happens to be the mother of Lorenzo, born the week in 02' when Manny Aragon was ousted as Senate President Pro Tem by Richard Romero. That happened because Linda was giving birth and could not vote for Manny and he lost his title by one vote. (He later became Senate Majority Leader and took a chunk of that power back.)

Most interesting is Linda's run for the Democratic nomination for Lt. Governor last year against eventual winner Diane Denish. Linda was denied a spot on the June primary ballot because she failed to secure enough votes at the Democratic Party pre-primary convention. In 98' Diane beat out another prominent Hispanic woman for the Lt. Governor nomination, Sec. of State Stephanie Gonzales. It was a rough campaign that left some scars. The operatives in the valley would have Diane supporting Linda for mayor in part to make amends with Hispanic women who still harbor a bit of a grudge. But didn't Lady Di partner with Mayor Marty in 98' when they sought the governor and light guv jobs? Yes.

A run for mayor by Linda Lopez would ceratinly put the Hispanic and female vote in play. She would not be a token candiate, and she might just get a few tips from Manny Aragon, that is if Little Lorenzo doesn't need some motherly attention when Manny comes a knockin.'