Contact
Subscribe
|
Tweet
| (12) |
Vassilopoulos enters land commissioner race
Spiro Vassilopoulos
Oilman and geologist Spiro Vassilopoulos announced today that he will enter the Republican primary for land commissioner.
“As a certified petroleum geologist and independent oil and gas producer, my domestic and international experience gives me considerable advantage over those with no such expertise,” Vassilopoulous wrote in an e-mail received by NMPolitics.net.
In 2008, Vassilopoulos, a political newcomer, campaigned briefly for Sen. Pete Domenici’s seat after the six-term senator announced his retirement, but he dropped out of the race after then-U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce jumped in.
Vassilopoulos has hired Daniel Garza has his campaign manager. He told NMPolitics.net that he’s confident he will have enough petition signatures and will file with the secretary of state’s office on Feb. 9.
In the Republican primary race, Vassilopoulos will face Jim Jackson, who took a leave of absence from the land office to campaign for the post; cattle rancher Matt Rush; retired law-enforcement officer Errol Chavez; and GOP activist Bob Cornelius. All are vying for the 20 percent of votes at the party’s pre-primary nominating convention on March 13 in Albuquerque, which would guarantee them a spot on the ballot.
Four candidates have entered the Democratic primary, including Santa Fe County Commissioners Harry Montoya and Mike Anaya, PRC Commissioner Sandy Jones and former commissioner of public lands Ray Powell.
St. Cyr is a contributing writer for this site and a reporter at 770KKOB.com. He can be reached at peter.stcyr@gmail.com.
|
Share
Tweet
|
Advertisements
|
12 comments so far. Scroll down to submit your own comment.
Leave a response
You must be logged in to post a comment.
This is actually fascinating to read. I’m sure Spiro is a great guy but I’m not sure why he would decide to run for an office that already has a crowded field. I’m actually rather disappointed with the GOP and their lack of recruiting candidates for other offices. Besides that though, I am sure everyone that is running for this office has good intentions. I was able to hear the candidates at a forum recently and there was one that stood out in my eyes. I think Matt Rush is the guy for this office. We’ll see how it plays out and I am looking forward to hearing more from all of the candidates, especially Mr. Rush
He should have announced for governor then that other blog could make a claim that he was asked to drop out and run for something else not that it matters because he got in this too late to win the primary
It should be noted that I have removed two comments from this posting that were submitted by rooseveltrepublican
after deeming that they violated this site’s comment policy, which you can read at http://www.nmpolitics.net/index/policies/.
Wow Roosevelt – what a “credible” news source. Name calling is the only argument some candidates have. You are doing Bob Cornelius no justice with such actions.
Making fun of my name is not appreciated.
One more thing Roosevelt-
“This guy was going to run for CD-1, then US Senate, and now Commissioner of Public Lands. Give me a break.”
Isn’t your boy Bob in the same boat? But he tried at CD-2?
Roosevelt-
I too am sick of “cookie-cutter candidates.” That’s why I am questioning the experience of someone who seems to be making a career out of running for office. Sure he has worked with oil companies. But does that make him someone who is qualified to handle the finances of a large part of our educational system funding? I don’t think so. In fact, it makes me more concerned that he would take the sides of big oil rather than the well-being of our kids.
We do need new blood in the party. Just because Cornelius is young certainly doesn’t make him “new blood.” He has the same ideas as many of the older individuals running the party now.
re: Ramirez
For the past two years, Bob has worked with both oil companies and renewable energy companies. He has played a vital role in working on a proposed biogas plant project that would bring hundreds of jobs to the Clovis/Portales area. He also grew up on a ranch and lives in Tatum in northern Lea County. I think he has the balance of ranching and energy experience, plus he’s a young and exciting candidate.
We need new blood in the Party. We Republicans can’t keep putting up these old, whitehaired, rich, white candidates for public office. New Mexicans are tired of our cookie-cutter candidates. Did you read Bob’s op-ed? He has ideas, energy, and a will to run. That’s what I am supporting him.
Well, you are right when it comes to the involvement within the party. I know Bob has been an active member. However, that’s all the experience he has. He may know the ins and outs of winning an office, but what experiences does he bring to the table that would make him a solid, qualified candidate that can beat a Democrat in November? I don’t see it. That’s why his primary congressional campaign couldn’t hold water. I’m sure he’s a great guy, but this office is very important.
re: Ramirez “None of these candidates are qualified, nor really active within the party.”
That’s a silly statement. Bob Cornelius is very much involved in the Republican Party! He spent nearly a decade on the RPNM State Central Committee, was Bernalillo Co. GOP Executive Director, and Roosevelt Co. GOP’s Vice Chairman. Most of the time he is attacked for being “too” involved in the GOP! He has been working the last couple of years with oil companies and with renewable energy companies. He lives in Lea County and comes from a ranching family.
While a little shaky at the start, Bob Cornelius has been the only candidate with ideas and a vision for the future of this state. I was actually supporting Matt Rush at the beginning, but Bob has won me over.
This recent OpEd has me convinced Bob Cornelius is right for Commissioner of Public Lands.
http://www.newmexicopolitico.org/2010/01/more-energy-more-jobs-more-revenue.html
Look a little deeper and you will find a very qualified individual and a fine man..
As for competition, is that not what politics is all about.? It is nice to have several individuals making the decision to step up and show that they can offer the state. Pay atention and listen. This process should be interesting.
As anyone knows from my posts, I am a pretty solid Republican. But the Land Commissioners primary race for the GOP nomination has turned into nothing more than a mess. None of these candidates are qualified, nor really active within the party. I’m going to seriously look at the Democrat candidates this year.