Rep. Lundstrom

The Lundstrom for Speaker camp is nipping in the bud any suggestion that the powerful Democratic chairwoman of the House Appropriations Committee would spearhead a conservative coalition with Republicans to win the coveted speakership which is also being pursued by House Majority Leader Javier Martinez.

A source close to Lundstrom says:

Unlike the state senate there has not been a conservative coalition taking charge in the House since the early 80's when GOP members and conservative Dems formed one dubbed "The Cowboy Coalition" because of its rural tilt. 

The speaker's post is decided by all 70 House members but without a coalition the winner comes out of the majority Dem caucus. 

Lundstrom's speakership ambitions surfaced again this week when campaign financial reports showed her giving $1,000 contributions to four moderate Democrats running in the primaries--most of them against progressive incumbents. 

Our source reports that $1,000 is not all she will give to each of her favorite candidates from her campaign kitty that reported about $169,000 in cash on hand as of April 4. 

Leader Martinez reported $137,000 in his fund and is also writing checks. His are going to progressive Dems battling the moderates. 

Rep. Martinez

Lundstrom is described as not yet all in for a run at speaker. The position, often described as the second most powerful in state government behind that of Governor, will become vacant when current Speaker Brian Egolf departs the legislature at the end of the year. Back to our senior source:

Both Lundstrom and Martinez, who has been majority leader for eight months, would appear to have considerable strength among the current House Dem caucus. Insiders say that the votes of a number of progressive women appear up in the air and names of other possible speaker seekers are being circulated.

 

There are about ten House Democratic primaries being closely monitored. Their outcome will have a major impact on the race for speaker and future state government policies, yet another subplot to watch as the June 7 primary unfolds.

As we said, Lundstrom's campaign reported nearly $169,000 in cash on hand on April 4. Among her largest contributors in the six month period covered were $5,000 from oil company Occidental; $5,000 from BNSF Railway; $2,500 from the Dan Weeks lobbying firm and $2,000 from the Presbyterian Health Plan. 

Javier Martinez's campaign reported $137,000 in cash on hand April 4. He is an unabashed progressive but his report was heavy on fossil fuel company donations including $5,200 from Devon Energy. He received $5,000 from tobacco giant Reynolds; $5,200 from the Mescalero Apache Tribe and $3,000 from Ultra-Health, the state's largest marijuana company. 

So ends the streak--the only streak in state history we believe--of a single person as Governor. 

MLG, 62, has announced she will tie the knot May 21 with longtime boyfriend Manny Cordova, 66, who owns an auto repair shop. Both have previous marriages and adult children. The Governor was widowed in 2004. 

The wedding will be a high falutin' affair with the ceremony performed by Vice President Kamala Harris at the Veep's residence at the Naval Observatory in DC and with family and close friends of the couple in attendance. A New Mexico celebration will be held later in the month in northern NM. 

As for the single streak, it was fun while it lasted but as it often does romance carried the day. MLG says she will keep the Lujan Grisham name--unless the re-election polls go south. Then she's Mrs. Cordova.