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Wednesday, June 02, 2010
Powell vs. Rush for Land Boss
By Susan Montoya Bryan
Associated Press
Former New Mexico Land Commissioner Ray Powell will face a young and eager Republican farmer and rancher as he tries to win back his old job after defeating two challengers in Tuesday's Democratic primary.
Powell, who served as land commissioner from 1993 to 2002, ran against Public Regulation Commission member Sandy Jones of Sierra County and Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya. Unofficial returns show Powell had nearly 41 percent of the vote with 94 percent of precincts reporting. Montoya had 34 percent and Jones nearly 25 percent.
In the Republican primary, 36-year-old Matthew Rush of Roosevelt County defeated former Bernalillo County GOP Executive Director Bob Cornelius with nearly 66 percent of the vote with 94 percent of precincts reporting.
Rush got a hug from his 2 1/2-year-old nephew Tuesday night shortly after learning he had been called the winner in the primary by The Associated Press. He said he was going to celebrate with his family, but it would be back to the campaign trail today.
"I think it is time for us to get some new blood into politics in New Mexico, and I think it is time for us, in my generation, to start standing up and taking responsibility for our state," Rush said in a telephone interview with the AP.
As for Powell, he plans to go full speed ahead until November. He said his goal is to return ethics and transparency to the state Land Office.
"I don't need any on-the-job training. I can start on Day One," Powell said.
Incumbent Land Commissioner Patrick Lyons, a Republican, cannot run again because of term limits.
Many contend the person in charge of the Land Office is one of the most powerful people in state government, wielding control over more than 13 million acres of mineral estate with the potential to bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to New Mexico's coffers each year.
Copyright ©2010 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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