The fire still burns for old time politico and former NM Lieutenant Governor Roberto Mondragon. Now he has lit the match over in Guadalupe County where he is seeking a seat on the county commission. His bid has gone mostly unnoticed around the state, but we got wind of it the other day from one of ABQ's Valley alligators.

Roberto served two four years term as Lt. Governor, both times under Gov. Bruce King. He also ran unsuccessfully for Congress back in 74.' But his most famous foray into politics was his 1994 run for Governor under the Green Party banner. He garnered 10 per cent of the vote in that race which Gary Johnson won. It was the high-water mark for the Greens who have never replicated that success. It also put Roberto in the doghouse with some Dems who place the blame for Johnson's victory over Bruce King at his doorstep.

Mondragon, now in his mid 60's, is back to his roots as he runs as a Democrat in the four way
race for the nomination for the commission seat being vacated by Jim Barela. One of the other candidates is Gerald Rivera, who went to Santa Rosa High with Mondragon. But Rivera says he is not worried about his old classmate getting the best of him. "The bigger they are the harder they fall, he chuckled over his cell phone from the wide-open spaces east of the big city.

In recent years Roberto has done radio work and has battled for the rights of land-grant heirs in northern NM. His brother, Fred, was recently named the economic development director for the city of ABQ. Once lit, the flame of La Politica is hard to extinguish, as evidenced by the over 30 years of practice of the political arts by these two brothers from deep in the heart of New Mexico.

A POLITICAL MOM

La Familia is still the rallying cry in the South Valley and that's clear by the piece of campaign lit featuring House Majority Whip James Taylor and his mother, Mella. Yep, Mom, apple pie and maybe a little green chile. Works everytime. The card featuring Ma Mella and her politico son hit just before Mother's Day. According to Taylor's campaign, it was mailed to all women over 30 in his district. Of course, Taylor faces a female opponent for the Dem nomination, Cecelia Romero-T'kach. He is the clear favorite, but Romero-T'kach is picking up support from some Valley politicos, like former Taylor mentor and ex-county commissioner Al Valdez, who is not happy with Taylor. He knows it and has hit the trail to combat it.

WELCOME ABOARD TO THE FOLKS AT PFIZER



Thanks to Pfizer for joining us in covering New Mexico Campaign 04,' and making possible in part our Election Night program on KANW 89.1 FM starting at 6:30 p.m June 1. Be sure to join me and top NM lobbyist Scott Scanland as we bring you the most comprehensive coverage in the Land of Enchantment

Make our site---www.joemonahan.com--one of your 'favorites.' Bookmark it now and send a link to interested friends. Want to advertise to NM's large political community? E-mail me or call 505-243-4059 for details. And thanks for e-mailing me your news tips and comments. There's a link at the top right of this page.

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2004
Not for reproduction without permission of the author