A Statewide Candidate?

Only Nine New Mexicans Outside the Second Congressional District Contribute to Susanna Martinez’s Campaign

ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Although Dona Ana District Attorney Susanna Martinez calls herself a candidate for statewide office, its clear that she’s a long way from having a statewide base of support. An analysis of the finance report that Martinez submitted yesterday to the Secretary of State reveals that only nine New Mexicans who live outside of the 2ndCongressional District made contributions to her campaign.

“Susanna Martinez has been a candidate for Governor for several months, but she has yet to show a grasp of statewide issues or anything that remotely resembles a statewide base of support,” said Josh Geise, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. “With only nine New Mexican contributors outside of Susanna Martinez’s home region, it’s simply hard to take her seriously as a statewide candidate.”

The nine contributions from New Mexicans outside of Congressional District 2 were from Albuquerque (7) and Clovis (2). Martinez received no contributions at all from residents in key cities key cities like Santa Fe, Farmington, Taos, Las Alamos or Las Vegas.

Despite the fact that 91% of Martinez’s donors reside in her home region of the Second Congressional District, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has amassed twice as many donors from the region. Lt. Gov. Denish has 479 contributors from the Second District, while Martinez has only 240 contributors.

In the first and third Congressional Districts, Lt. Gov. Denish has 2,835 contributors, while Martinez has just nine.

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Statement from Chairman Javier Gonzales: Denish Raises More Than Entire GOP Field - Combined

UPDATED: A PREVIOUS VERSION OF THIS RELEASE CONTAINED FUNDRAISING INFORMATION THAT INCLUDED SOME IN-KIND DONATIONS. THE RELEASE HAS BEEN UPDATED TO ONLY INCLUDE CASH CONTRIBUTIONS AND LOANS.

Albuquerque, NM – Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales issued the following statement on today’s fundraising reports:

“Lt. Gov. Diane Denish raised more money last period than all of her Republican opponents – combined. The reason for that is simple: New Mexicans know that Lt. Gov. Denish will make our state a leader in the 21st Century economy, while the Republicans would move us backward. While Diane Denish has experience, the organization and the grassroots support it takes to win statewide, it’s quite clear that none of the Republican candidates are ready for primetime.”

A re-cap of the fundraising numbers available:

Diane Denish raised last period: $931,300.11

Cash-on-hand: $2,197,018.97

Allen Weh raised last period: 494,893.22 (including a loan of $250,000)

Cash-on-hand: $372, 164.30

Susanna Martinez raised last period: $141,265

Cash-on-hand: $130,658

Doug Turner raised last period: $255,852.35 (including a loan to self of $243,552.35)

Cash-on-hand: $211,100.00

Janice Arnold-Jones raised this period: $20,945

Cash-on-hand: $8,286.78

Total raised by all GOP candidates: $912,955.57
Total cash-on-hand by all GOP candidates: $722,209.08

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Albuquerque, NM - Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales released the following statement:

"I would like to commend the Nobel Committee for their selection today of President Obama as the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize recipient. I agree with the President that this award gives momentum to a set of causes that he is championing around the globe. In recognizing the President, the Nobel Committee has not awarded his accomplishments, but rather his vision to bring nations together and reestablish America as a leader in the quest for peace. Anyone who tries to attack the President for receiving this award, as RNC Chairman Michael Steele did today, will only continue the cavalier attitude towards other nations that we hoped had left Washington with the Bush Administration."

For Immediate Release

September 12, 2009

GONZALES ELECTED DEMOCRATIC PARTY STATE CHAIR

Nominated by Lieutenant Governor Denish, Gonzales was elected by acclimation

Pueblo of Isleta, NM - The Democratic Party of New Mexico's State Central Committee today elected Javier Gonzales as State Chairman at a party meeting held at Isleta Casino and Resort.

Gonzales ran unopposed and was elected by acclimation. The State Chair position was vacated when Brian S. Colón resigned August 8th to run for Lieutenant Governor. Gonzales will serve the remainder of Colon's term that expires in April 2011.

"It is in the name of my father George Gonzales, and his belief in a brighter future, that I stand before you seeking the privilege to become Chairman of the people's party, the Democratic party of the Great State of New Mexico," said Gonzales.

"I commit to you today, as your Party Chair that I will fight for you and the principles and ideals of our Democratic Party. You believe what I believe, we are right on all the issues and when we have Democrats in office, the people of this nation and this state have people fighting for them and against the status quo. We are a Party of progress and not stifled. We are the party of labor, education, environment, civil rights and working families."

Gonzales served as a Santa Fe County Commission from 1994 to 2002. During his term he also was elected the youngest ever president of the National Association of Counties (NACo) and the first Hispanic President in the organization's 66 years. He also served as chief representative for NACo testifying before Congress, the White House and the Administration, and served as an expert witness to the U.S. Senate and the White House on Homeland Security.

Gonzales was nominated by Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish.

"It is my honor to place the name of Javier Gonzales into nomination," said Denish. "He has been a Democrat through and through - from his family roots to his service today. I would like to thank Javier for his willingness to serve and I look forward to celebrating with him in November 2010."

Currently, Gonzales is leading the effort to bring a state-of-the-art film studio to Santa Fe. Santa Fe Studios was conceived as a world-class and environmental sustainable facility that will encompass up to 500,000 square feet of studio stages, is expected to employ up to 500 New Mexicans, and generate an annual payroll impact of $71 million to the local economy.

Gonzales earned his B.A. in Accounting from New Mexico State University in Las Cruces, New Mexico in 1989. He currently serves as a Vice-Chair of the New Mexico State Board of Regents.

A lifelong resident of Santa Fe County, N.M., Gonzales' commitment and dedication to public service is a family tradition. His father, George Gonzales, also served as a Santa Fe County Commissioner and later was elected mayor of the City of Santa Fe in the 1970's. Gonzales and his wife Consuelo have two daughters, Cameron and Cadence Gonzales.

Gonzales is also an entrepreneur. In the early 1990's, Gonzales along with his family, successfully co-founded La Voz Broadcasting, Inc., which is New Mexico's largest locally-owned Spanish language radio station. He served as the corporation's Chief Financial Officer. He has continued to serve his family as a principal owner in their radio, telecommunication and real estate ventures.

Albuquerque, NM – Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales released the following statement upon the news of Former Governor Bruce King’s passing:

“The Democratic Party of New Mexico is saddened at the news of the passing of former Governor Bruce King. During his long tenure of service to New Mexico, spanning from the 1950s through the 1990s, Governor King served as a Santa Fe County Commissioner, Speaker of the House of Representatives and has the distinction of being the first person to serve the State as Governor for three separate four-year terms.

“As Chairman of the Democratic Party of New Mexico – an office which Governor King also held – I am personally humbled to have the opportunity to continue advancing the ideals and goals that he fought for his entire life.

“Governor King’s service has been widely credited as a driving force of modernization within the State of New Mexico, and his legacy of service to the Democratic Party is only overshadowed by his love of New Mexico and his service to its citizens.

“Whether Democrat, Republican or Independent, today is a day of mourning for all New Mexicans. We remember Governor King and his family in our thoughts and prayers.”

Albuquerque, NM - Republican National Committee Chairman Michael Steele is to attend a posh fundraiser at the Hotel Albuquerque in Old Town later today. After devastating losses in 2008, the NM GOP is attempting to pull their head above water, but is Michael Steele really the answer for the New Mexico GOP? They seem to be two peas in a pod.

Democratic Party of New Mexico Executive Director, Josh Geise, issued the following statement:

“Steele is presiding over a national party that has presented no solutions to the multitude of problems created by eight years of mismanagement under the Bush administration. I suppose he’ll fit in well with the GOP candidates in New Mexico that have presented no ideas to move New Mexico forward. Instead they have taken a page from Steele's playbook and have done nothing but lob inaccurate personal attacks to distract voters from their lack of positive plans for the future of our State.

“I do have a hunch that the GOP candidates for Governor will be climbing over each other trying to court his support by showing him their own right wing credentials. I’m sure they all agree with Steele’s statement that ‘Not in the history of mankind has the government ever created a job.’ Just ask the folks at Sandia, Kirtland and Los Alamos. I’m sure they would agree, too.”

Albuquerque, NM – As noted by New Mexico reporter Steve Terrell, Sarah Palin wil be in Roswell on December 1 to promote her new book, Going Rogue.

But will she pledge her support --solicited or otherwise-- for a Republican candidate for Governor while she’s in town?

According to Terrell's article, three of four NM GOP candidates for Governor have stated they would not be present at her book signing, simultaneously avoiding the all-important question: Would they accept a Palin endorsement?

“Some Republican candidates for governor have said they wouldn't actively seek a Palin endorsement, but they have also not ruled out accepting one,” said Josh Geise, Executive Director of the Democratic Party of New Mexico. "Now is the time for candidates to explicitely state whether they would accept a Palin endorsement or their reasons for not accepting it.

"New Mexicans deserve candidates who are willing to go on the record with their beliefs, but none of the Republicans seem willing to do so."

Albuquerque, N.M. – The Bernalillo County Commission yesterday evening unanimously appointed Manuel "Manny" Gonzales III to the office of sheriff for Bernalillo County. A veteran of the department for over twenty years and life-long resident of Bernalillo County, Gonzales was a capitan in the sheriff's office.

Democratic Party of New Mexico Chairman Javier Gonzales released the following statement upon the news of Manny Gonzales' appointment as Bernalillo County sheriff :

“The Democratic Party of New Mexico extends its congratulations to Manny Gonzales on his appointment to Bernalillo County sheriff.

“With more than twenty years of service, he brings a wealth of experience, knowledge and common-sense to the office and I am confident that he will serve the citizens of Bernalillo County with the same honor, integrity, and hard work which has defined his career thus far."