Scoping the 8 House hopefuls.
In the wake of US Rep. Tom Udall's decision to run for New Mexico's open US Senate seat, a mad dash is on to replace him in the third congressional district. SFR puts potential Democratic contenders through early interviews.
Name: Javier M Gonzales, 41
Occupation:
Owner/managing partner of Iron Stone, a government-relations consulting firm; former SF County commissioner; NMHU Regents chairman
How good is your Spanish: "
I'd say it's fairly good."
Most recent vacation:
Carlsbad Caverns with his kids
Political hero:
Robert Kennedy
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
7
How would your voting record in Congress differ from Udall's:
"Well I think overall there'd be a lot of similarity in the record. I'm in favor of ending the war in Iraq. I'm in line with where he's at in terms of health care and the environment. I'd have a little different focus on the Los Alamos National Labs. I think it's important we make larger funding commitments."
Name:
Ben R Luján, 35
Occupation:
Chairman, New Mexico Public Regulation Commission
How good is your Spanish:
"Fairly good, I feel comfortable speaking to people and listening. In my household we speak both English and Spanish."
Most recent vacation:
San Francisco, Calif.
Political hero:
His father, speaker of the New Mexico House of Representatives Ben Luján Sr.
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
9.9
How would your voting record in Congress differ from Udall's:
"As far as the congressman's record in the area of energy, I would see it as similar. In the area of energy, I'm the strongest candidate with my record on moving renewable energy to the forefront. The one area where we may differ a little bit is I grew up in a family that hunted and I think we need to do what we can to preserve those rights."
Name:
Joseph M Maestas, 47
Occupation:
Mayor, Española, NM; Registered professional civil and transportation Engineer
How good is your Spanish:
"I'm fluent in understanding it, and conversational in speaking it."
Most recent vacation:
Sanibel Island
Political hero:
Abraham Lincoln
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
8
How would your voting record in Congress differ from Udall's:
"I think I would be very similar in terms of his position on civil liberties and environmental stewardship, but I would be much more proactive in bringing more capital outlay monies to the district because the needs are so great.
Name:
Harry B Montoya, 48
Occupation:
Chief Executive Officer, Hands Across Cultures, a substance abuse prevention nonprofit.
How good is your Spanish:
"I'm not gonna say I'm totally literate, in terms of reading and writing, but I speak it well and I understand it well."
Most recent vacation:
Cabo San Lucas, Mexico
Political hero:
Martin Luther King Jr.
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
10
How would your voting record in Congress differ from Udall's:
"It would probably be similar. I think in terms of the war in Iraq, he did the right thing from the very beginning. In terms of his environmental polices of looking at alternative fuels, alternative energy, those are issues I'm working on at the local level in Santa Fe County. I can't think of any differences."
Name:
Jason Sandel, 33
Occupation:
Vice President of Farmington-based Aztec Well Servicing; Farmington city councilor
How good is your Spanish:
"Poor, but I have a good accent!"
Most recent vacation:
Tahiti
Political hero:
his father, former 15-term state Rep. Jerry Sandel, D-San Juan
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
5
How would your voting record in Congress differ from Udall's:
"I think I would be different in the issues I'd focus on. I'm very interested in budgetary issues and I'm also very interested in promoting things for rural New Mexico. Many of Udall's positions I'd support with the exception of the Los Alamos vote."
Name:
Benny Shendo Jr.
Age:
43
Occupation:
secretary, Indian Affairs Department
How good is your Spanish:
"As good as most other people's Towa."
Most recent vacation destination:
Boulder, Colorado
Political hero:
John F. Kennedy
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
9
How would your voting record in Congress be different from Tom Udall's:
"I think my record would in some ways be very similar, in terms of the environment, health care and his support for Native American issues like the Indian Health Care Improvement Act. I haven't really looked at all of his voting record, so I just can't pinpoint the differences yet."
Name:
Greg L Solano, 44
Occupation:
Santa Fe County Sheriff
How good is your Spanish:
"Muy pocito. My mother grew up in a time where it was a detrimental to speak Spanish. She was actually disciplined if she spoke Spanish."
Most recent vacation:
Dallas, Texas
Political hero:
Cesar Chavez
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
7
How would your voting record in Congress differ from Udall's:
"On environmental issues, I believe we'd be pretty similar. I probably would be a little stronger on other issues. I would not have voted along the same lines on Los Alamos budget cuts. I just think the lab is too important to New Mexico. But on the Iraq war, I think we would have voted pretty much along the same lines."
Name:
Patsy Trujillo, 54
Occupation:
Deputy Secretary, New Mexico Aging and Long-Term Services Department
How good is your Spanish:
"It's good. It's not perfect, but it's good."
Most recent vacation:
San Francisco, Calif.
Political hero:
Her father, Carlos Trujillo, who once ran for Congress
On a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
5
How would your voting record in Congress differ from Udall's:
"My record would be similar. It would kind of be deja vu for me, in that I worked for Gov. Richardson when he was first elected to Congress. I was his receptionist. I was able to see how the office works and the committees and being available to constituents. Also, we're both against the war. No big differences come to mind."
Name:
Don Wiviott, 52
Occupation:
Co-owner, The Lofts, a Santa Fe-based sustainable development firm.
How good is your Spanish:
"Bien, pero se me olvidó demasiado." (Good, but I have forgotten a lot.)
Most recent vacation:
Rogers, Ark.
Political hero:
President Bill Clinton
On a scale of 1-10, 10 being most likely, how likely are you to run for Congress:
10
How would your voting record in Congress differ from Udall's:
"I think it would be very similar. I think I can provide more detail on small-business legislation and rebuilding the Small Business Administration. I'd also like to see a very clear mission for Los Alamos National Labs towards clear energy initiatives and simplifying the management structure for a high rate of commercialization."
Santa Fe Reporter