Fight for Our Nation's Veterans

On Monday Carl attended the Memorial Day Event at the Santa Fe National Cemetery.  Hundreds of people attended from all over the state to honor our military and those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our nation’s safety and freedom.

While we have Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day to recognize our men and women who serve us, we must also appreciate them on a daily basis.  Veterans and their families need the support from our communities to help them adjust back to civilian life. Their skills and discipline make them a perfect fit for many job opportunities here.

There are many veterans among us in our Northern New Mexico Communities.  Take the time to say “Thank you” for everything they have done for us and our nation.

Now's our time to fight for those that fight for us!

I'm supporting Carl Trujillo because...

I worked for the State of New Mexico for over 20 years. During this time I've headed a number of government posts, including the Director of Child Support Services, Director for Administrative Services and Inspector General for the State Human Services Department.

Like Carl, Mayor David Coss is a good friend of mine. And my family will continue to support him as our Mayor. Yet the clear-cut conflict of interest that accompanies holding two elected offices is too much for me to support. It is fundamentally wrong; I strongly believe that a citizen should only hold one elected office, anything more than that threatens our democracy.

During my time in State Government, I dealt with many elected officials, some good, some bad. I have complete confidence that Carl Trujillo will represent District 46 with honesty, fairness and compassion. Carl Trujillo will continue to fight for openness and transparency in Government and he will always put the voices of our communities first and foremost. I've always been impressed with Carl's work ethic and I know that he will be a tireless voice in the Roundhouse for the communities and families of District 46.

Ben Silva

Another great Listening Party!

This weekend Carl attended yet another listening party at the home of a community member.  

We've been attending these parties throughout the campaign -- small groups of people gathering in homes and sharing their thoughts on what's working and not working with state government.  And though Carl does take a few minutes to introduce himself and talk a bit about what he stands for, the main focus for all of these events has been on you. Your thoughts, your ideas, your concerns.  That's the kind of candidate Carl is and that's the kind of legislator he'll be -- the kind that listens to the needs and ideas of the people and carries those ideas to the floor of the legislature where they can really make a difference in making our community better, healthier and more inclusive.

At this particular party, people shared their ideas and concerns on everything from making our schools better to preserving our acequias.

There's still a little bit of time to host a Listening Party of your own -- if you're interested, or if you have any ideas of your own you'd like to share with our Campaign for Change, we're always here to listen.  699-7717 or campaign@CarlTrujillo.com.

The Journal North Endorses Our Campaign for Change!

We're happy to announce that the Journal North has endorsed our Campaign for Change. So far, two out of three of the major newspapers in our community have endorsed our campaign, and even the New Mexican, which endorsed our opponent, called Carl and "appealing" and "talented" candidate with "roots deep in the north, he understands the culture and ways of rural Santa Fe County" and expressed serious concern with Mayor Coss' desire to hold two elected offices at the same time.

Here's the full text of the endorsement:

In this hotly contested, two-way race, one candidate has the backing of the Democratic “establishment” and the endorsement of the retiring incumbent, veteran House Speaker Ben Lujan, who has served in the Legislature since 1975.

 The other, Carl Trujillo, is the young upstart who almost defeated Lujan in the last election. As in so many other races in northern New Mexico, the June 5 Democratic primary is the deciding arena — no Republican is running in this heavily Democratic district.

 Trujillo has his own political connections — one of his uncles currently represents Santa Fe in the Legislature. He has deep roots in Nambé, just like Lujan. With that background, we’d have expected Trujillo to be more inured to the contentiousness of political campaigning, and to have been more willing to join the fray. Instead, he’s absented himself from most of the campaign’s public forums, for which his opponent rightly criticizes him.

 But Trujillo has some reason to be disgruntled with the Democratic Party establishment. He came within 80 votes of defeating Lujan in the 2010 election, suggesting that he has a real understanding of, and popularity in, the Pojoaque Valley that still comprises most of the newly redrawn district. Nevertheless, Lujan and his son, U.S. Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, are endorsing Coss.

 Trujillo has been a small-business entrepreneur since early adulthood and still runs a home building company. He pursued an education in engineering and then went to work in Los Alamos National Laboratory’s materials science division, where he has stayed for more than 20 years. He’s active in his community, having served as coach for any number of sports.

 A life-long Democrat, Trujillo generally follows the party line on most of the issues. But his independence from insiders in a party lately associated with numerous public corruption rackets both large and small encourages us and, as the 2010 election results showed, also strikes a chord with District 46 voters.

Elect Trujillo and break from the past

Community member Will Schmitt explains why, even though he's a personal friend of our opponent, he still supports Carl--largely due to his concerns about Coss' two-office power grab and history of ethical problems. You can read the full article below or on the New Mexican site here:

I joined Carl Trujillo's campaign to win the District 46 seat in the state House of Representatives several months ago, before Mayor David Coss announced his candidacy.

I decided to do this because I fundamentally dislike the level of corruption that appears to surround retiring House Speaker Ben Luján. I met Trujillo and liked what he had to say about issues that I am concerned about as a liberal Democrat, such as the environment, education, immigration, health care, women's rights, and the economy and its relation to all of the above.

When Coss announced his bid for the seat, I almost quit the Trujillo campaign because I have known Coss to represent many of the things that I like about Carl Trujillo. I decided to stay with the Trujillo campaign after considering whose horse Coss hitched his wagon to. If Coss wins, I believe he will be obligated to Speaker Luján. Coss is surrounded by controversies like the suppression of the cost of the annexation before the recent bond election, the evolving parking-meter scandal, campaign money from Advantage Asphalt, and most recently, the $5 million borrowed to buy and renovate space in the Railyard for city office space that many see as a sweetheart deal to bail out a developer, as well as his intention to keep his job as mayor should he win the election.

All of this looks like business as usual in the Democratic Party and in Santa Fe, and yet we Dems wonder why our base is eroding in New Mexico. This was described very succinctly by Orlando Romero in his May 29 column, "It's hard to be a Democrat."

I am convinced that Trujillo will make the best legislator representing our interests. He is smart, honest, energetic and genuinely concerned. He can be trusted to serve our common good as an honest broker. 

Trujillo represents a clean shift from the past, and I give him my enthusiastic endorsement.

Standing up for Inclusiveness

Campaign Manager Faith McKenna "My View" was recently published in the New Mexican in response to our opponent's smear campaign. You can read the full article below or that the New Mexican website here:

Regarding Marcos Trujillo's May 14 letter, "keeping company," that calls me an "out-of-state operative" who has "worked with Republicans": 

First, it's important to note that Trujillo conveniently fails to disclose that he's our opponent's, Mayor David Coss', campaign treasurer, so his letter isn't a letter from some ordinary citizen expressing a concern. It's part of an ongoing dishonest smear campaign.

As to his "accusations," as Carl Trujillo's campaign manager, I have never made a secret of working with candidates and groups on both sides of the aisle, from Republicans to progressives, who sought a more respectful, more inclusive way to engage in our political process. I believe that my work and the work of others who try to build bridges, not walls, represent the best of what our democracy can be -- dialogue instead of argument, collaboration instead of combat.

Hyperpartisan political rhetoric already demonizes people just because of their political affiliations. Now it seems we've moved to a new level of intolerance and bigotry that demonizes people for even associating with people who have ideas we don't agree with. How very sad for our democracy if we're not even allowed to communicate with anyone who doesn't share our point of view.

Also, this is exactly the sort of partisan nastiness and bigotry that drives good, honest people out of the political process. The more we leave things to the Swift Boat campaigns, the Karl Roves, Koch brothers and the Marcos Trujillos of the world, the less likely it is that good people like Carl Trujillo and his supporters will be willing to be part of the process.

But come to think of it, maybe that was the real agenda behind Marcos Trujillo's letter, to discourage anyone besides the career politicians and their cronies from participating in our government. How very sad that would be in a city that calls itself progressive. As to the "out-of-state" part, I certainly can't claim to have been part of this community for 400 years like Carl Trujillo's family can, but I did grow up in New Mexico and have lived in Santa Fe since 2007.

New Mexican columnist comments on Coss' robo-calls

Orlando Romero of the Santa Fe New Mexican believes Coss' robo-calls to be improper and disrespectful of the Hispanic community. You can read the full article below or at the New Mexican website here:

For any Northern New Mexican as old as I am and, for that matter, any young progressive Democrat who has "Occupy Movement" sympathies and is confronted with the terms "Democratic Party establishment" or "the machine," it is synonymous with the same-old, same-old. In other words, the same old party hacks who would control your future through the pay-for-play tactics of powerful lobbyists would be back in power.

A friend called me recently and asked what Carl Trujillo stands for. The issues seem fuzzy. I wanted to say, excuse me, the main issue in this state is corruption -- political shenanigans, bullying, abuse of power -- what issue could be more important than that to the health of a true democracy? For years, this state has been run by Democrats, especially up north, who act more like Hugo Chávez than true representative government. Why do you think Gov. Susana Martinez won?

My last column, in which I stated that it's become an embarrassment to say one is a Democrat in Northern New Mexico, drew an enormous number of responses to my email address. Yet, few of them appeared as letters in this section. That in itself should tell you something. Are they afraid of reprisals? Then, as I was writing this column, I get the same robo-call poll from the David Coss Democratic machine that I've answered before. But the most amazing thing is that the poll begins with the question, "Do you support Gov. Martinez's denial of driver's licenses to illegal aliens?" What in the world does that have to do with the race between Coss and Trujillo? Is it implying that Trujillo is a conservative? It's a totally unethical question, especially in regard to the subsequent questions.

For example, the robo poll asks: "Do you have a favorable impression of Coss; press one if yes. Do you have a favorable impression of Trujillo; press one if yes." Then there's this winner. It asks, "Some people have an unfavorable opinion of Coss being both mayor and state representative; do you have a favorable or unfavorable opinion; press one," etc., etc., etc. Then to the most obnoxious question: "If you are Hispanic, press one; if you are Anglo press two."

I have had this robo call before, but it never mentioned this conflict-of-interest question, so obviously the Democratic political "machine" must be feeling the heat. But what really is offensive to me is the ethnic card. Is it saying or asking if Anglos are more concerned with democracy than Hispanics or that Hispanics are less capable of understanding a democracy? Shame on you Miss Robo Call operator. I am an American -- my ancestors have been here since 1598 -- and I find your poll truly offensive!

By the way, look who is getting the big bucks and who they are getting them from. Trujillo, as a progressive, should be congratulated. He promised he would not take big-money contributions from lobbyists and political action committees. "His campaign finance report shows he hasn't," as reported by this same newspaper, which failed to endorse him. Let me ask you. Isn't that a real issue? Isn't the fact that Trujillo is not beholden to anyone a real issue? What more do you want in a representative? What you want in a representative is "a citizen candidate, not a career politician," as Trujillo has said on nmpolitics.net, and "I'm seeking to represent the people, not govern them."

Maybe the better word would have been "lord" over them, as many of these career politicians think they are feudal lords. And that we, as peasants, should follow their every whim, especially when it comes to the distribution of pork and other political favors. By the way, at the time this column was written, it was announced that investigative TV reporter Larry Barker was going to do an exposé on "pork" in New Mexico politics. Obviously, this issue of who's getting the pork is still haunting New Mexico politics.

Maybe the real issue is the trouble with Coss wanting to hold two elected positions. As professor Lonna Atkeson, director of The University of New Mexico Center for the Study of Voting, Elections and Democracy has stated, it is"not fair" and "fundamentally problematic."

Carl On KSWV

Always happy for opportunities to reach out and engage with the people of our community, Carl was at KSWV in Santa Fe for a live interview last week.  Here's some of what he talked about regarding the importance of having a state representative who listens to the needs and ideas of the people over his own personal agenda:

El Paso Times cites Coss' "me first" attitude

It turns out that news sources based as far away as El Paso are concerned about Santa Fe mayor David Coss’ attempted power grab. Milan Simonich, chief of the Santa Fe Bureau for the Texas-New Mexico Newspapers Partnership recently published an article about what he calls the mayor's "me first attitude" and that attempting to be “mayor and state representative all at once is wrong because it ignores the public's needs.” The entire text can be viewed here.

The criticism of him is both fair and unfair. Other legislators have held high-stakes public jobs while serving in the Legislature.  Nonetheless, Coss' plan to be a mayor and state representative all at once is wrong because it ignores the public's needs.  

A Democrat, Coss is running for state representative in House District 46. If he defeats Carl Trujillo in the June 5 primary election, Coss says he will continue as mayor when he takes office in the Legislature.  This me-first attitude shows that Coss, a Santa Fe native, has a streak of Huey Long, the Louisiana powerbroker of the 1930s.

 Coss, we should say, has not responded to requests to talk about his candidacy and his plan to be a dual officeholder. The main question he needs to answer is how he could do both jobs effectively.  Legislators go to work in a 60-day session starting in January. Would Coss attend city council meetings that conflict with legislative hearings or floor votes? Which work, the city's or the state's, would be his priority?  Perhaps most important, why does Coss want to hold two political offices at once?

 Is it because he perceives the political bench in Santa Fe to be thin, or because his ego tells him being mayor of the capital city is more prestigious than being a freshman legislator at the Capitol?

Although Simonich seems to miss the mark when pointing out that other legislators currently hold other jobs.   Holding another job is not where the dubious ethics of Coss’ power grab lies. It is the fact that two elected offices can and will conflict with each other. What happens if Coss is in a position where he must vote on a capital outlay project that benefits the City of Santa Fe, but may not benefit or completely ignore the Northern communities? Heath Haussamen addressed this in his blog NMPolitics.net today. That story can be viewed here.

Now’s our time to elect a candidate that will represent us equally and fairly!

Making Safe Neighborhoods a Priority

Recently Carl attended a local Neighborhood Watch meeting where citizens voiced their concerns and discussed how to help each other keep their communities safe.


Our communities in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico are special places, where people care about each other and get to know their neighbors. Common sense tells us that the more of that we do, the safer we all are.


Recently the Santa Fe Police Department reported that residential burglaries have increased 52 percent the first four months of the year, as compared to the same months in 2011. The men and women of the SFPD are doing their absolute best to address the problem, but they can use our help.


There is no easy answer to combating crime, but together we can do a lot to ensure the safety of our families. We can make our community safer by becoming involved in neighborhood watch groups, making close relationships with our neighbors, and reporting suspicious activity.


Another way we can protect our communities is by supporting candidates and legislators that will fight hard for the safety of our neighborhoods. State legislators may not have direct authority over public safety, but there is still a lot of work that can be done at the Roundhouse to help reduce crime.


This includes giving people more hope of a better economic future, which will in turn give our kids more options beyond gangs and drugs and violent crime. They can support schools so that our graduation rate improves and teachers have all the resources they need to keep students engaged and learning. And anti-drug programs can be supported, which will help reduce the crime often committed by those
struggling with addiction.


Now’s our time to elect candidates that will listen to our concerns and make public safety in our neighborhoods a priority!

The Rio Grande SUN Endorses Our Campaign for Change

We are happy to announce that this week's issue of the Rio Grande SUN contained an endorsement for our Campaign for Change! Below is the full text from the editorial section of the SUN:

---------------------------------------------

With the retirement of Ben Lujan Sr., District 46 is open for a new representative. Lujan is throwing his support to Santa Fe Mayor David Coss.

Los Alamos National Laboratory engineer Carl Trujillo is taking his second run at the seat. He almost beat Lujan two years ago.

Coss says he’ll remain the mayor of Santa Fe and represent Northern Santa Fe County fairly. We doubt that is possible. The many letters we’ve received asking how Coss can serve two masters are right on point.

We’re troubled Trujillo will not participate in forums or debates but it is part of the political game. He answered the SUN’s questions and they’ll be published next week. He earned the seat two years ago by doing the hard work and taking on an entrenched democratic icon when most Democrats were busy riding both Lujan’s coattails and kissing the appropriate ring.

The representative of this district must remember we’re here and it’s not just Santa Fe. Trujillo will represent the northern parts of the district equitably and with forethought. He’s already proven he is his own person and capable of independent thought, separate from influences.

Vote for Carl Trujillo in the District 46 house race.

Mayor Coss' Campaign is Spreading Misinformation

I'm Carl Trujillo and, as most of you probably know, I'm running for state representative.

Over the past few weeks, my opponent, Santa Fe mayor David Coss and his campaign have spread misinformation and outright lies about who I am and what I stand for.

My stands on the issues are clear -- they've been on my website since the beginning of the LAST campaign in 2010 -- and for Mayor Coss and his campaign to suggest otherwise is dishonest political posturing.  

I’ve been a Democrat since I was first old enough to vote. And I’m proud to come from a long line of Democrats, because I believe in the values that the Democratic Party has long stood for -- chief among them, fairness, honesty, social justice and inclusivity.

My opponent and the Establishment party insiders who back him have seem to have forgotten those ideals.  I haven’t.  And I don’t think the people in our community have, either.

When I got into this race, I expected that it would be a tough campaign and I welcome that. What’s not okay is my opposition’s dishonesty.  Trying to win a campaign through dishonest smear tactics is beneath the dignity of our community. It’s the same tactics used by the Swift Boat Veterans in 2004 or when opponents insinuated that President Obama wasn't born in the US and "obviously" has ties to terrorists because his name sounds Muslim.

The truth is that Mr. Coss and I aren’t that different when it comes to our positions on “the issues”. What is deeply, fundamentally and profoundly different is how we view the role of a representative.  Mayor Coss is a career politician.  I’m a citizen candidate.

That means I’m seeking to represent the people, not govern them. That’s why instead of spending my time arguing with my opponent about “the issues,” I prefer to invest my time in the community listening to what the people think. Because I believe in a government by the people, for the people.

And while we’re on the subject, as a Democrat, I believe that “we the people” means ALL of the people.  Black, Hispanic, Native American, or white, gay, straight or bisexual, old or young, male or female, Progressive, Democrat, Republican, Independent, Green Party, Socialist, Libertarian, Tea Party, Liberal or conservative -- I welcome everyone’s ideas if they will make our community better.  

To my mind, that's what being a representative means.  That’s what being a Democrat means -- being open to new ideas even when we disagree, including every member of our community in the discussion, respecting different points of view, and creating solutions that are based on our shared experience of living in this community together in peace.  

The people I've been listening to in our community have all kinds of great ideas for solving the problems we have here in New Mexico-- teachers and students and parents who have innovative ideas for reforming education that deserve a chance to be heard. Leaders in the alternative energy field, both in the community and at LANL where alternative energy is a particular interest of mine, have some exciting ideas for supporting green, sustainable energy that will uniquely benefit New Mexico.  Local business people struggling to keep their doors open who know first hand what the state could do to help their business so they can hire more people.  

These are the people I seek to represent.   They are all throughout our community and they are ready to have a voice in the Roundhouse. 

So, it’s understandable that Mayor Coss and company would feel the need to lie to win this election.  He’s a career politician with a dubious record when it comes to ethics, candor and transparency in government. Also, he’s backed by the political old boy network and their cronies, who are threatened at the idea of a candidate who is willing to listen to the people and not simply vote as he's told by the special interests and old boy club. It’s understandable, but that doesn’t make it okay to lie.

On June 5, we will all have a choice as to who we want speaking for us in the legislature.  I hope and trust that the people in our community would rather have a representative who doesn't ignore what they think to advance his own personal agenda. 

I believe that the people of our community understand that a politician who is willing to lie about his opponent to win an election is likely a politician who is equally willing to ignore the will of the people once he gets into office. And we all know what it feels like when the people we elect to speak for us vote against the will of the people.  The invasion of Iraq.  Healthcare reform.  The debt ceiling debacle.  Do we really want more of the same or do we want something more in line with our deeper values as Democrats?

Of course, that's a choice we'll all have to make for ourselves.

I'm supporting Carl Trujillo because...

Each day I wake up concerned whether or not my children will have the same opportunities in their futures than I had in mine. Unfortunately, I’m becoming more and more discouraged about the current trend of our state government. Political tricks and games have taken a priority over the future of our children. Throughout the years I have observed career politicians line their pockets and the pockets of their friends while the children, elderly and others in need in our communities continue to suffer.

Like me, Carl Trujillo shares the same concern over the future of our children and our communities. This is why I am supporting him.

Carl and I both grew up here in Northern Santa Fe County. We both care deeply about our communities and its residents.

My family has deep roots in Northern New Mexico. My great grandfather and grandfather were sheep and cattle ranchers and I too grew up working on a cattle ranch. I believe that Northern New Mexico is one of the most beautiful and culturally-rich places on this Earth, which is why after graduating from college I returned to Northern New Mexico to raise my family. Thankfully, I was fortunate enough to start a career in Research and Development here in Northern New Mexico.

I have worked with Carl for the past 12 years and during this time I have also come to know Carl on personal level. We have had many discussions regarding our concern that our state government is not providing the foundation for a sustainable, successful community. We both share concerns that our young sons will not be able to secure reliable, well-paying careers here in Northern New Mexico and out of economic necessity will be forced to move elsewhere.

The problems are sitting right in front of us, yet it feels as though our communities do not have a voice. Our communities do not need more of the same corrupt, career politicians. We need a change; we need someone who listens to the residents of our communities; we need someone who will be the voice for our communities and will always work for us and not their own political agenda.

Carl is motivated, intelligent, innovative, ethical and a good person. I feel that Carl will always put our communities and children first—as a lifelong Northern New Mexican community member and father—that is why I’m supporting Carl.

Sincerely,

Thomas A. Sisneros

Stand up for homeless animals

One of the things that makes northern New Mexico and Santa Fe so special is that we're an animal loving community.  Our dogs, cats and other creatures hold a special place in our hearts -- and in Carl's, too!  Carl currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Santa Fe Animal Humane Society & Animal Shelter and has adopted several rescue animals himself.  

The Santa Fe Humane Society and Shelter has been been committed for more than seven decades to reducing “animal suffering by curbing overpopulation, teaching compassion, and supporting healthy relationships between people and animals.” (period in quotes)

One way the Shelter is able to engage the public in their work is by holding special events to highlight the special relationship between people and animals. Last week, Carl attended the Paws for a Cause Run & Walk event, co-sponsored by the Santa Fe Humane Society and St. Vincent Hospital Foundation. He had the opportunity to listen to what the animals - and their humans - had to say about life in our community! Carl loved the chance to share some time outside with everyone at this fun event.

This month’s special adoption event at the Shelter is titled “Back In Black.” The event focuses on finding forever homes for animals with black fur - studies show these animals are often overlooked at shelters. Adoption fees are 50 percent off all adult animals with black markings through May. Give black cats and dogs the attention they deserve by spreading the word about the Shelter's adoption event.

Check out some of the amazing pets available for adoption at the shelter below.  For more information on pet adoptions, call at the shelter at (505) 983-4309.  

Cleo, a black Bombay mix, is about 6 years old. She’s independent, curious and loves to explore or hang out with other cats. Cleo loves back rubs and playtime and will do well in a multicat home. She’s in foster care right now, but would love to find a forever home.

Duke, a black Staffordshire Bull Terrier and Boxer mix, is about 2 years old. This big boy – about 60 pounds – loves to go for walks and outdoor adventures. He’s energetic, curious and super friendly.

Let's reclaim our government from corporate lobbyists!

Over the course of this campaign, we've been approached multiple times by corporate and special interest lobbyists looking to contribute to our campaign. We've said (a polite) no thank you to every single one.

And in the legislature, that's what we will continue to do.

Because too often at all levels of our government, corporations and their lobbyists have more influence over our elected officials than we do. We saw this multiple times in the last legislative session here in New Mexico, where large corporate lobbyists packed committee meetings to influence legislation.

I’ve been actively working with the dedicated, concerned local grassroots organization, Money out of Politics, for almost a year now. Their mission is to reclaim our government from corporate fat cats and their lobbyists and return our democracy back to the people. This mission aligns closely with the mission of our campaign to reclaim the state legislature from professional career politicians and restore it to the people where it belongs.

It will take some work, but we can reclaim our government from career politicians and lobbyists. We can do it by getting involved with groups like Money Out of Politics. By encouraging our friends and neighbors to stand up and say, no more lobbyist influence in government. And by voting for candidates who accept no lobbyist contributors at all.

“Now’s our time to turn the page on the corrupt, lobbyist driven, outdated New Mexico political system!”

Early Voting start this Saturday, May 19th

Just a reminder that early voting is set to start this Saturday, May 19. 

Voting early is a great way to avoid lines on election day and make sure your vote and voice gets counted!

Here is a link with information on locations of polling places. During early voting you can vote at any of these polling locations regardless of where you live. And if you need a ride to the polls, let us know and we’ll be happy to help.

Now’s our time to have our voices heard -- let's show them that we want a citizen candidate, not a professional career politician, representing us in the legislature.

Coss' campaign "Fundamentally Problematic"

On Friday, an article on the District 46 race at NMpolitics.net  included a discussion with the Director of the UNM Center for Study of Voting, Elections and Democracy pointing out that Santa Fe mayor David Coss' intention to hold two elected offices at the same time is "fundamentally problematic" and "not fair."

The excerpt is below (our emphasis added),

_____________________________

Would dual roles be complementary or problematic?

Coss said he views the dual roles of mayor and representative as complementary. If the Legislature considers the issue of gross receipts taxes and the amount local governments have to contribute, Coss knows the issue well since he is intimate with Santa Fe's city budget and understands the effects of state decisions.

The jobs might complement each other, but if there's a conflict, there is an issue of ethical representation, said UNM Political Science Professor Lonna Atkeson. Atkeson is the director of Center for the Study of Voting, Elections and Democracy.

"How do you balance the needs of the state over the needs of your city and your residents?" Atkeson questioned. "I don't see how you can balance that. I think it overwhelms any complementary perspective."

Atkeson isn't sure how voters will perceive Coss' interest in being a legislator and mayor, and it may be a bigger issue for people outside of House District 46.

"What if I use my mayoral office to benefit my district, leveraging one branch of government to benefit my self-interest in another political arena?" Atkeson asked. "You might look at it as a plus, but it's not fair to other constituents that don't have that power. It's fundamentally problematic because your institutional powers are crossing different branches of government."

_____________________________

Read the full article here (and here's a link to today's Journal North Article expressing concern about the ethics of Coss' campaign as well).

What do you think?

I'm supporting Carl Trujillo because...

I enthusiastically endorse Carl Trujillo for State Representative, District 46. Carl takes his responsibilities seriously and tackles problems with thrift, honesty, and a sense of community spirit.

I have come to know Carl as a man of integrity who does what he says, listens carefully to the concerns of others, responds with compassion and fights fearlessly for the things he believes in. Carl will make a terrific Representative for District 46

Will Schmitt
Owner, Fine Art Framers Inc.
Santa Fe, NM

Check out our Campaign for Change video!

We're really excited to announce our brand new "Meet Carl" video.

Carl and our volunteers have been working hard, going door to door and doing lots of listening parties, but we might not get to everybody before June 5.  This video is a great way to introduce your friends and neighbors to Carl's citizen Campaign for Change.

Please share this with your friends and neighbors!