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Dem Chairman Gonzales being challenged
Javier Gonzales
With Republicans set to pick their new state chairman this weekend, the Democratic Party of New Mexico has its own leadership battle.
Democratic Party Chairman Javier Gonzales is being challenged by Letitia Montoya, The Santa Fe New Mexican’s Steve Terrell is reporting. Montoya most recently worked on outgoing Secretary of State Mary Herrera’s unsuccessful re-election campaign.
From Terrell:
“Among (Montoya’s) promises is to hold elected Democratic officials accountable if they supported Republicans in the election. That’s bound to be a reference to the Herrera race. At least six Democratic county clerks, including Santa Fe County Clerk Valerie Espinoza, supported Herrera’s Republican opponent Dianna Duran, who beat Herrera by a 15-point margin.”
Montoya has run unsuccessfully for secretary of state and state senator several times, Terrell reported.
Here are portions of Montoya’s letter to party members, which was obtained by Terrell:
“This last election made me upset that we lost the 3 highest statewide positions, several legislative races and numerous local races to the republicans. Why did this happen? No coordination from the state Democratic Party. That is why I am going to run for NM State Democratic Chair.”
“…We need to create better communication out reach for all candidates. Outreach programs MUST get more democrats involved, campaign training schools, and an updated website. Last but not least is to start holding county central members, state central members and elected Democrat officials ACCOUNTABLE FOR HELPING REPUBLICANS.”
Democrats won’t gather until April to select their next party chair.
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Montoya came to Alamogordo to our pre-primary convention in 2006 when she was campaigning for the SOS Dem nod– I was very impressed by her.
Well Javy is no prize, but Montoya would be a great gift to the Republicans, and it would keep on giving. I suspect the non-progressive Democrats here (like myself) would never allow someone like Montoya to deep six the party in NM. But then again, I have been continually surprised at the lurch to the left that the Democratic Party has taken over the last decade or so here. This I suspect driven by national party forces, and the likes of Colon, etc. Will it moderate and come back to the center? We will soon see.
I want Montoya. She worked on trying to re-elect Herrara. Please, Democrats, pick Montoya. It will be a gift to Republicans for a generation to come.