Heath Haussamen, who by now should be a household name among political junkies, again has the goods on Don Wiviott, a developer who had been running a longshot bid for Senate for a good portion of the year:
Wiviott said Udall is a friend, in addition to being his congressman. He will defer to him in the Senate race, but said he plans, in running for Udall’s House seat, to stay in the fight to end the Iraq war, protect the environment and improve the education system.“You have to have the courage of your convictions. That’s why I started in this. That’s why I remain in it,” Wiviott said. “I’m committed to either raise or spend whatever it takes to win (the House race).”
Wiviott will be joining a potentially crowded field for the nomination for the Dem-leaning seat. Other names mentioned as possible candidates include Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya, Sheriff Greg Solano, State Auditor Hector Balderas, ex-state Rep. Patsy Trujillo, Espanola Mayor Joseph Maestas, state Public Regulation Commissioner Ben Ray Lujan, and New Mexico Highlands Regent Javier Gonzales.
That’s a long list of possibilities. Whatever the case, the next nominee for this D+5.5 district should be suitably progressive. While I was never convinced that Wiviott, a political neophyte, had the necessary gravitas for the Senate race, he’ll deserve a long look — along with the other candidates — for the House nomination.
Race Tracker: NM-03
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and came away impressed. Of course, with the environment as my biggest issue, and Wiviott’s career as a green developer, I may be biased. 🙂
… and that’s a better and more realistic way for him to work his way up to a Senate seat in NM. The more time he’s served in Congress, the more likely his chances to one day become part of the Club of 100. Jeff Bingaman says he wants to retire rather than run for another term, right? I realize that might be soon, and some think too soon for Wiviott to run for Bingaman’s seat, but it would still give him more time to build a record than running for Domenici’s seat, you must admit.