Comments on: What does Berry’s victory mean for 2010?

By: jivaro99

jivaro99 — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 13:37:29 +0000

This is definite proof that the people are fed up with the present structure in our state. As with our President, many people can see that voting a straight ticket is not the way to go.

It will be interesting to see how things stack up during the 2010 election, now that the eyes of the people are open to the mistake that was made in the last election. The chink in the dam is there, all the people have to do is keep pushing on it and the dam will break. This will lead us back into a sane government for the people of this state and this country.

By: Tyler

Tyler — Thu, 08 Oct 2009 01:05:52 +0000

It must be further noted that since this was a “nonpartisan” race, it is possible that some people voted strictly based on name recognition. There are many people that vote on issues based strictly on superficial criteria.

By: Mr. Canicas

Mr. Canicas — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 23:01:44 +0000

Folks, although Richard Berry ran a good campaign, I wouldn’t say this reveals anything about anti-incumbent sentiment in New Mexico. It’s obvious that Mr. Berry prevailed because the two Hispanic Democrats split the 56% vote. Sadly this was not a non-partisan election, and the majority of people that voted for Romero (the so called progressives) would never have voted for Mr. Berry in a run-off, they would have voted for Marty Chavez.

This is not unlike how the pre-primary Hillary Clinton voter did not vote for McCain. However, had there been a three way race between Hillary, Obama and McCain, then McCain would have prevailed. I don’t think that scenario would have revealed the tide turning for the Republicans either.

And further, in my opinion, Chavez and Romero also don’t represent a particular “split” between the moderates and the progressives—Chavez was a competent mayor and Romero is a likable and well known candidate. They both had their fervent bases, and both their bases turned out. I think most would agree that 56% for the Dems is a good turnout.

But Richard Berry carried the day, so congrats to the winner.

By: master_debater

master_debater — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 22:34:14 +0000

I’m inclined to think that Chavez & Romero split the vote and could have easily won if one of them wasn’t there.

By: Dr. J

Dr. J — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 14:42:37 +0000

This is an encouraging sign that perhaps, just perhaps, a crack is forming in the entrenched La Politica power base that has ruled NM for decades. Mayor Marty has been a very loyal foot soldier for La Politica over the years. They told him not to run against Patsy, he didn’t, they told him not to run against Heinrich, he complied, they told him to stay out of the coronation of yet another Udall dynasty member, he did not demur. So now he wants yet another turn and the La Politica bosses abandon him, or perhaps they have lost the stroke they once had to run NM as they see fit. Maybe the later, we can hope. But I always feel sorry for professional politicians who don’t know when to quit and have very few skills outside being an elected bureaucrats. Since he hasn’t had a real job for decades, he will need some help finding one. But there is always lobbying, helping businesses “do business” with the city, county, and state, and other similar type activities. Since NM is not serious about any corruption, cronyism, and pay for play laws that is still fertile ground.

By: Ramirez

Ramirez — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 13:04:30 +0000

This is indeed a move toward significant progress for the Republican Party in New Mexico. Burgos was right, people here are sick of the nonsense the Dems have brought upon NM in the past few decades.

I applaud RJ’s victory, and I wish him the best. I hope and pray that this is the beginning of a new day, where an equal political playing field will begin to be a possibility in New Mexico.