It’s a new day in the NM Legislature and environmental battles played a key role in these races. From deregulation and attacks on our environmental protection agencies, sprawl development, oil and gas to uranium mining, pro-environment challengers defeated powerful anti-environment incumbents by talking to voters about these issues and striking a stark contrast between protecting our air, land and water versus protecting special-interest polluters.

CVNM Action Fund, our political action committee (PAC), helped get-out-the-vote for Eric Griego, Tim Keller, Eleanor Chavez, and June Lorenzo through environmental mailings, phone banking, walking door to door, polling, and radio ads.

Here is a summary of our environmental victories:

Eric Griego defeated Senator James Taylor, Vice-Chair of Conservation Committee, 64%-36%. In the last legislative session, Senator Taylor voted for the “Suncal TIDD” (Tax Increment Development District) bill to divert $659 million of taxpayers funds to a big real estate developer. Taylor also sponsored a bill for oil and gas companies that reduced industry’s taxes. In contrast, as a city councilor, Eric Griego took on big developers and fought to protect our water resources and promote smart growth. Congratulations to Senator Eric Griego!

Tim Keller handily defeated Senator Shannon Robinson, the chair of Senate Corporations, 66%-34%. Robinson had voted against clean air, against renewable energy transmission, against monitoring greenhouse gas pollution, and against public transportation. Further, the committee he chaired infamously killed good environmental bills. Tim Keller comes to the State Senate ready to invest in new “green collar” jobs in the renewable energy industry. Congratulations to Senator Tim Keller!

Eleanor Chavez beat Representative Dan Silva, a two-decade incumbent and Chair of House Transportation Committee, 54%-46%. Silva sponsored legislation to hinder environmental agencies from rulemaking, a bill often referred to as the “polluters bill of rights.” Eleanor is a longtime organizer and is committed to environmental health and justice issues. Congratulations to Representative Eleanor Chavez!

Recap of CVNM Endorsed State-level Candidates for the 2008 June 3rd Primary
12 out of 16 endorsed candidates won their races!

Senator John Pinto, State Senate District 3-- WIN!
Laverne Wyaco, State Senate District 4-- Lost
Senator Linda Lopez, State Senate District 11-- WIN!
Senator Dede Feldman, State Senate District 13-- WIN!
Eric Griego, State Senate District 14-- WIN!
Tim Keller, State Senate District 17-- WIN!
June Lorenzo, State Senate District 30-- Lost
Senator Mary Jane Garcia, State Senate District 36-- WIN!

Eldred Bowekaty, State House of Representatives District 6-- Lost
Representative Elias Barela, State House of Reps District 8-- WIN!
Eleanor Chavez, State House of Representatives District 13-- WIN!
Representative Miguel Garcia, State House of Reps District 14-- WIN!
Representative Kathy McCoy, State House of Reps District 22-- WIN!
Representative Joni Gutierrez, State House of Reps District 33-- WIN!

Joseph Maestas, Public Regulation Commission (PRC), District 3--Lost
Jason Marks, Public Regulation Commission, (PRC) District 1-- WIN!

Thank you so much for helping us hold elected officials accountable for their environmental votes.

Previously, in November of 2006, Conservation Voters NM also chalked up many important electoral victories in the New Mexico State Legislature. 91% of CVNM-endorsed legislative candidates won their races, with a net gain conversion of 3 pro-conservation legislative seats, formerly held by anti-conservation legislators. We also successfully protected all of our pro-conservation incumbents. CVNM endorsed winners include:

• Elias Barela, D in HD 8 (formerly Fred Luna’s seat from Los Lunas) defeated Jackie Farnsworth, R;  Elias will fight to protect our natural heritage and water resources.

• Jeff Steinborn, D in HD 37 (formerly Ed Boykin’s seat in Las Cruces) defeated Scott Witt, R;  Jeff is a wilderness advocate and will bring a fresh voice from Southern NM.

• Nate Cote, D in HD 53 defeated incumbent Terry Marquardt, R.  Nate is a tireless environmentalist who defeated a staunch anti-conservationist!

Including all of the statewide and PRC races, 82% of CVNM endorsed candidates won, including Gary King for Attorney General and David King for PRC.

CVNM Endorsed Candidates for statewide offices:

Governor: Bill Richardson—RE-ELECTED!
Lieutenant Governor: Diane Denish—RE-ELECTED!
Attorney General: Gary King, D—ELECTED!
State Land Commissioner: Jim Baca-- defeated

CVNM Endorsed Candidates for State Representative:

(HD 8) Elias Barela, D—ELECTED!
(HD 14) Representative Miguel Garcia, D—RE-ELECTED!
(HD 16) Antonio "Moe" Maestas, D—ELECTED!
(HD 18) Representative Gail Beam Chasey, D—RE-ELECTED!
(HD 22) Representative Kathy McCoy, R—RE-ELECTED!
(HD 35) Representative Antonio Lujan, D—RE-ELECTED!
(HD 36) Representative Andy Nunez, D—RE-ELECTED!
(HD 37) Jeff Steinborn, D—ELECTED!
(HD 53) Nate Cote, D—ELECTED!
(HD 58) Pablo Martinez, D—defeated
(HD 60) Representative Thomas Swisstack, D—RE-ELECTED!

CVNM has followed up on our many legislative electoral victories by communicating our priorities to legislators, the Governor, and NM citizens in the 2008 New Mexico State Legislative Session.

Check back here soon for CVNM endorsements in the June 2008 primary election.