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Powell picks up legislative endorsements
From left, Jeff Steinborn, Ray Powell, Nate Cote and Steve Fischmann
State Land Commissioner candidate Ray Powell picked up endorsements from three Doña Ana County lawmakers today.
Sen. Steve Fischmann and Reps. Jeff Steinborn and Nate Cote, all Democrats, said they will back Powell in the Democratic primary “because of his commitment to reforming the State Land Office and reestablishing an open and transparent administration.”
All three lawmakers proposed legislation to reform the State Land Office after a controversial land exchange on Las Cruces’ East Mesa.
“Ray Powell is the reform candidate,” Fischmann said. “He’s who I trust. It’s no question that we need him back at the Land Office.”
“The stakes are high. With Ray, he’ll bring much needed stability back to the land office,” Steinborn said. “He’s ethical, principled and knows how to work with communities to maximize the dollars returned to the land office and ultimately our schools.”
“When Ray Powell served as land commissioner, he was recognized for running one of the best land management agencies in the country,” Cote said. “Right now, the land office is in crisis, and we are desperately in need of leadership we can trust.”
Powell, a veterinarian who served as land commissioner from 1993-2002, is currently employed as a regional director for the Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research Education and Conservation. He said the lawmakers who endorsed him “have been instrumental in exposing the behind-the-scene deals happening at the Land Office.”
“I’m eager to clean the place up. I look forward to working with these outstanding leaders to ensure real reform is enacted to protect our public lands and the significant revenues they generate for our public schools, universities and hospitals.”
Powell faces Santa Fe County Commissioners Harry Montoya and Mike Anaya and PRC Commissioner Sandy Jones in the Democratic primary.
Four Republicans are also running for the office – oilman Spiro Vassilopoulos; Jim Jackson, who took a leave of absence from the land office to campaign for the post; cattle rancher Matt Rush; and GOP activist Bob Cornelius.
Peter St. Cyr is a contributing writer to this site, and Chief Political Reporter at 770KKOB AM. He may be reached at peter.stcyr@gmail.com
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If this Jane Goodall Institute job that Powell has and touts so much on the campaign trail is such a great gig then why doesn’t he stick with it?
I’m supporting Ray Powell because of his record. As a former State Land Commissioner he won numerous accolades from business, agricultural, sportsmen’s, academic and environmental groups for his service as Commissioner. And now, he works in environmental education for the well respected Jane Goodall Institute for Wildlife Research, Education and Conservation.
mmm…ok, “LongtimeObserver”…the only candidate with an extensive background in NM public education(2 terms as Pojoaque School Board member and a past president of the NM School Board Association) and someone who’s introduced and co-sponsored many environmentally friendly ordinances and resolutions as a Santa Fe County Commissioner is Harry Montoya.
Nothing that Powell did came remotely close to the kind of collusion with paying customers Lyons has been charged with over and over again, most recently in connection with White Peaks. As for “new direction 2010″: come up with someone who actually can combine earning money from public lands to support schools and hospitals with environmental responsibility — don’t just spew empty political vitriol.
Is Powell the same guy who was in office that helped Steinborn get Sonoma Ranch up and running?
I am with new direction 2010 Powell cant win this is a perfect time for the democrate to take back the Land Office and Ray Powell keep getting in this race. Ray you already proved that you cant win your time has past.
My recollection is that the Powell was the one who set the stage for the current environment in which Lyons operates – it was Powell who really got commercial develop of state lands going with the start of Mesa del Sol, executed a land swap with the King Family involving thousands of acres of relatively worthless Rio Puerco land west of Rio Rancho and 800 acres of prime land NW of Santa Fe (shrewd move there ….) and the partial sale of state lands to create residential subdivisions. Lyons is only building upon the legacy of Powell – the D nominee should be someone with some shred of integrity remaining … Mike Anaya comes to mind.
Looks like Steinborn was busy endorsing Powell in the morning and taking illegal contributions in the afternoon. If Powell wants to be Mr.Ethics maybe he should look at who’s endorsing him! Powell had a fundraiser in Santa Fe last week. I guess it’s ok for him to solicit funds during the session too.
http://www.krqe.com/subindex/news/politics/nm_legislature
Heath, are you going to pay any attention to this?
“I’m eager to clean the place up…” Powell’s talking like he’s already been voted in. Sounds like his overconfidence could be his undoing.
Besides, if he did such a bang-up job during his previous tenure as land commish in the 90′s, then why did he lose to Jim Baca four years ago?
Let’s give someone else a chance.