Who are the next generation of New Mexican political leaders? In ABQ young hot shots like 32 year old Democratic City Councilor-elect Martin Heinrich and 20 something Republican Seth Heath have made radar contact, but on a statewide basis 33 year old Democratic State Rep. Al Park is drawing the big buzz. Park showed up with Governor Bill on TV screens across our Land of Enchantment during the recent special session of the Legislature when he successfully marshaled the sex offender bill through the House. (The other main House sponsor of the bill was Dem. Rep. Tom Swisstack who won a cliff hanger in 02' to gain entrance to the Roundhouse.) The brainy young lawyer, a graduate of Sandia Prep and George Washington Law School, was first elected in 2000 and laid pretty low until now. His emergence in the special has put him in the middle of the buzz as a possible candidate for the Dems for Attorney General in a couple of years. Park is not discouraging the chatter.
He tells "New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan" that the AG's job, which Patsy Madrid will vacate in 06', is on his radar screen, but right now he's concentrating on getting re-elected next year to his District 26 seat. That could be a bit more challenging than it was two years ago, when the GOP dropped the ball and failed to field a candidate against Park, even though he represents a swing district (50% Democrat) which covers portions of the ABQ Southeast and Northeast Heights in the Central and Louisiana area. The latest word is that Republican Kathy Leyendecker, who worked for the highway department under Governor Johnson and now works for the ABQ International Balloon Fiesta, is thinking about challenging the popular Park.
Park's shepherding of the sex offender bill gives him a boost, but is also drawing the attention of other possible Democratic AG hopefuls even though the race isn't until 2006! Attorney Dolph Barnhouse from the environmental group 1000 Friends of NM, who sought the job previously, is again a possible contender, as is State Rep. Joseph Cervantes of Dona Ana County. Republican Dona Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez is also said to be eyeing the AG's job, if she can get re-elected DA, which she narrowly won in 2000.
Park doesn't wear his ambition on his sleeve, but has been plodding along and hit paydirt this year. He has the pedigree to be a major factor in the AG's race. His father, a University of Virginia Law School grad, is wrapping up a successful career at Sandia Labs, and previously worked in the Panama Canal Zone, where Al was born to his mother of Venezuelan descent. He even has a bit of Republican in his background. He served as law clerk to federal judge John Conway, a former State Senate GOP leader. The old saying goes "youth must be served." And so it must, but for Al Park youth serving the public is also an imperative; one that has landed him in the limelight of La Politica.
SECOND THOUGHTS
State Sen. Cisco McSorley of the Southeast Heights has done it again--played the big tease. Cisco informs us via Harry Moskos of the Journal that he WILL seek re-election to his Senate seat after months of floating trial balloons (mentioned on this web site) that he might bow out to run for the Bernalillo County Commission seat being vacated by Tom Rutherford. Associates of the liberal McSorley tell me he wants to make another run at the Democratic nomination for State Land Commissioner in 2006 and believes the Senate provides him with the necessary platform from which to run. He got beat by fellow Democrat Art Trujillo in 02.' Trujillo lost to Republican Pat Lyons in the General. An old friend of Trujillo, Dan Serrano, who has run a couple of races for ABQ City Council, tells me he is looking toward a Land Commission run as well. Cisco's decision also puts to rest for now the Senate aspirations (if she had any) of State Rep. Gail Beam, (AKA Mrs. David Norvell) former Bernalillo County Commissioner Lenton Malry and Rutherford. Sounds like a game of dominoes doesn't it? One falls and there they go......McSorley was key in Senator Manny Aragon's loss of the Senate Pro Tem job to Sen. Richard Romero a couple of years ago when he joined with Senate Republicans to elect Romero. By the way, our younger readers might not know it, but Moskos was a pioneer in bringing modern newspapering to NM when he served as managing editor of the ABQ Trib in the 60's and 70's.
And speaking of special NM newspaper guys, Ned Cantwell, publisher of the Carlsbad Current Argus for 25 years, is retired to Ruidoso now, but is still stirring things up with a regular column. Check Ned out at www.currentargus.com
SECOND THOUGHTS, TAKE TWO
ABQ attorney David Duhigg, reported here earlier as toying with the idea of a run for the Democratic nomination for the State Supreme Court seat held by Edward Chavez, is apparently NOT going to play. Chavez was appointed by Big Bill to replace retiring Supreme Gene Franchini. We'll keep you posted.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2003
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