HESS YNTEMA
A mass of politicos are considering their options for the myriad of elective offices up for grabs in 2004, and some of them are actually making a decision. We have the early news.
Albuquerque attorney David Duhigg, a veteran of Democratic Party politics, is preparing to run for the nomination for the State Supreme Court seat held by Edward Chavez. You may not recognize Chavez as a Supreme because he was only appointed this year by Governor Bill to replace retiring Chief Justice Gene Franchini. A judge appointee like Chavez must stand once for election, not a simple retention where voters say yes or no to an incumbent judge. Duhigg is the first to announce he will go against Chavez, who was a big supporter of the Guv and a succesful ABQ trial attorney before getting the court job which pays about $96,000 a year. Chavez had no judge experience before his appointment. But neither, I believe, does Duhigg. New Mexico Supreme's get an eight year term. All five are Democrats. Republicans on the court are as rare as the silvery minnow.
ABQ City Councilor Hess Yntema says he's not ready to leave the public arena. The populist Republican from the southeast heights leaves the council December 1, but is already eyeing the Public Regulation Commission seat being vacated by fellow GOP'er Herb Hughes. Besides the nod for that nomination, Hess tells me he is toying wih the idea of running for the state senate if Sen. Cisco McSorley decides to step down to run for the Bernalillo County Commission seat being vacated by Tom Rutherford. But the PRC seat would be his best bet. Another outgoing councilor, Greg Payne, has that PRC seat on his radar as well as the legislative seat probably being vacated by Republican Joe Thompson who is ready to go against Yntema for the PRC. If Thompson stays put, Greg may go for PRC.
HERNANDEZ
Speaking of Rutherford, if Cisco leaves the senate he is a likely Democratic candidate to replace him. Rutherford was a heavy-hitter in the senate back in the 80's. And who would replace Rutherford? Well, the contenders are not even waiting for the unification vote to be final because they all assume it will fail. Danny Hernandez, a liberal activist and member of the area flood control board, is getting an early start. His friends tell me Hernandez will announce his commission candidacy Tuesday, right when the polls close on the unification election.
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