The nightmare scenario for the Democrats in the ABQ congressional district is back. The Green Party's Jeremy Brown tells "New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan" he will be a candidate in the race and won't be a token contender. Brown is a sociology instructor at TV-I and, in something new for the Greens, he's a candidate with military ties. Brown is a retired Army veteran who served in the Special Forces in Panama for four years and 15 years in the Army reserves.
Brown, who lives in the East mountains and ran for the Bernalillo County Commission in 98', tells me his big issue in the 04' race is "corporate power." He says incumbent Rep. Wilson is "completely controlled" by corporate interests and his three Democratic opponents "are not much better." State Sen. Richard Romero, running for a second time against Heather after getting pasted in 02', phoned Brown in an unsuccessful effort to keep him out of the race. The Dems say the Greens siphon crucial votes away from them and make a GOP victory easier. But Brown says Romero's pleadings were hopeless because the Greens are determined to provide an alternative to the two major parties which they see as identical twins.
GREEN: IT MAKES DEMS SEE RED
The Greens sat out the 2002 Wilson-Romero battle. In 2000 Dr. Daniel Kerlinsky ran and was viciously attacked by Democratic contender John Kelly. Still, Kerlinsky garnered 6 percent of the vote. In 98', when the seat became vacant upon the death of Rep. Steve Schiff, Green Bob Anderson scored an astonishing 14 percent, in part because of intense negative campaigning between Wilson and Democrat Phil Maloof.
But this time it's Romero who has the most to lose. He's already battling two other Dems for the nomination. Coming out of the primary, which he is expected to win, Romero will now have to fight off the Greens who appeal to environmentalists and those tired of the huge money interests that dominate the political landscape. The Greens are designated a major party because their governor candidate, David Bacon, won 5 per cent of the vote in his 02' race. Like the D's and R's, the Green's will have a pre-primary convention as well as a June primary to nominate Brown and other candidates.
Look for Brown to perform decently, especially when we get another round of multi-million dollar negative media ads. Brown will take most of his vote from disgruntled Dems, but Wilson could also see her totals impacted. She has yet to make the district hers, winning votes but not deep support, which keeps the Dems on her trail. But with the addition of Green Jeremy Brown that trail just got a lot colder.
DARE HE QUIT?
SEN. ADAIR
Rumors are busily floating in high-level Republican political circles that hard-right State Senator Rod Adair of Roswell may not seek re-election this year, and that his friend, State Rep. Dan Foley, another Roswell Republican, could move to replace Rod, leaving his House seat open. Adair has said nothing publicly to refute the widespread rumors. He is one of the toughest opponents the Democrats have in the Legislature with a mind that even one of his critics says is 'fully engaged at all times." However, Adair is a supporter of former State GOP Chair John Dendahl whose followers remain locked in a power struggle with new GOP Chair Ramsay Gorham. Adair's departure from the Senate would relieve her of some serious heartburn. Adair is a demographic expert who was awarded lucrative contracts under Dendahl, but not so under Ramsay. Adair's statewide fame came when he engaged in fisticuffs with then House Speaker Raymond Sanchez that were captured on a video camera in a Roundhouse hallway.
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(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
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