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Saturday, July 18, 2009
GOP Gov. Race Adds a Hopeful, Loses Another
By Rene Romo And Sean Olson
Journal Staff Writers
The Republican field for governor took new form Friday, with District Attorney Susana Martinez announcing her candidacy in southern New Mexico and longtime Albuquerque conservative activist Greg Zanetti withdrawing his.
Zanetti was the first Republican to announce as a possible candidate. Since then, other Republicans who have said they will consider seeking the June 2010 nomination for governor include former Republican Party of New Mexico Chairman Allen Weh, Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, former U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson, public relations firm owner Doug Turner and, now, Martinez.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish is running on the Democratic side, and state Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez of Belen has said he is considering a bid.
Zanetti, a New Mexico National Guard brigadier general who was stationed as deputy commander at Guantanamo Bay in 2008, decided he doesn't want to spend more time away from his family, his campaign manager said.
"I missed a number of important family events," Zanetti said in a prepared statement. "I have concluded that another year away from my family is just not acceptable."
Touting her experience as chief prosecutor in the 3rd Judicial District, in Doña Ana County, for the past 12 years, Martinez said she would fight for clean government while focusing on education and making the state more business-friendly.
"As the chief law enforcement officer of this county, I have fought corruption and crime, and public safety is my Number One priority," said Martinez, who is married to Doña Ana County Undersheriff Chuck Franco. "Without that, we cannot have good choices, fair play. And we will remove pay to play in this state."
Martinez, 50, made her announcement in front of more than 100 people at Roberto's restaurant, a Las Cruces landmark owned by Democrat Roberto Estrada, who has made a name making giant enchiladas at the city's annual Whole Enchilada Fiesta. She was introduced by 12-year-old Trevor Wax, whose 15-year-old sister, Ashley Wax, was fatally shot by her then-16-year-old ex-boyfriend in February 2005.
Martinez's supporters have said that she has proven bipartisan appeal, winning four terms as DA in a county where Democrats outnumber Republican voters. Martinez was a registered Democrat before switching to the Republican Party before her first campaign.
Several Democrats were in the crowd for her announcement Friday, including Arturo Uribe — a community activist from Mesquite — and former Doña Ana County Commissioner Oscar Vasquez-Butler.
"You can't keep a good person down," said Vasquez-Butler, who said he has not yet given Martinez his support but is "open-minded."
Martinez's announcement was sprinkled with comments about recent criminal convictions of several high-profile New Mexico Democrats and pay-to-play inquiries clouding the administration of Gov. Bill Richardson in Santa Fe.
"I want to treat everyone the same, regardless of who you give money to or who you don't give money to," Martinez said.
Martinez said she and Denish, a Democrat, would be the first women in New Mexico's history to face off for the Governor's Office if they each wins her party's nomination, but she also downplayed the scenario.
"I hate to think it has any ramifications. It is what it is," Martinez said. "We are going to move forward and state our positions. Hopefully, the voters can look beyond that and really make a decision based on what we stand for."
Zanetti made his decision to drop from the governor race Wednesday, campaign manager Greg Graves said Friday.
"This was beginning to feel like another deployment," Graves said of the campaign trail prospect for Zanetti.
Zanetti, a financial adviser in private life and a former Bernalillo County Republican chairman, began traveling New Mexico and exploring the possibility of running for the Republican nomination six months ago.
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