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Tuesday, January 06, 2009
New Mexico Delegates Sworn in for 111th Congress
Associated Press
It was a symbolic and historic moment Tuesday as Democrat Tom Udall succeeded longtime Sen. Pete Domenici, the Republican who defined an era in New Mexico politics before retiring after six terms.
Udall, a former New Mexico congressman and attorney general, was sworn in as a U.S. senator in Washington, D.C., filling the seat held since 1973 by Domenici, who ended his career after being diagnosed with an incurable brain disease.
Udall said replacing Domenici was humbling.
"He is a real New Mexico giant," Udall said. "I'm just going to work as hard as I can to make sure New Mexico is protected and we move forward with our economy."
Udall was escorted into the Senate chamber for the inauguration by Domenici and Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M., who with Domenici's retirement became the senior member of New Mexico's congressional delegation.
"That was a very nice bipartisan touch," Udall said. "I enjoyed that. Both of them were very welcoming."
Udall later was joined at a public ceremony by his father, former Interior Secretary Stewart Udall. The elder Udall, who turns 89 later this month, rarely travels far from his Santa Fe home.
"He traveled back here for several days to be part of the swearing in, and it's been very special having him here," Udall said. "He's been greeted with open arms by so many senators and government officials."
New Mexico's delegation turned all-Democratic for the first time since 1968 after the House swearing in of freshmen Reps. Martin Heinrich, Ben Ray Lujan and Harry Teague.
Heinrich was named to the Armed Services Committee, an attractive assignment for him because his Albuquerque-area district includes Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Laboratories.
Lujan, of Nambe, was appointed to the Homeland Security Committee, which he said will help him work to aid programs and missions at Los Alamos National Laboratory and Cannon Air Force Base near Clovis.
Teague, an oilfield services business owner in Hobbs, was selected for the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, which his office called "one of the most powerful committees" in the House.
"We must have a voice for southern New Mexicans as we develop the economic recovery and infrastructure package that is so vital to the people of my district and to the health of our nation," Teague said.
Udall identified his priority in the Senate as improving the national economy. He is hoping to land a seat on the influential Senate Appropriations Committee but acknowledged it is a long shot.
"It is a stretch at this point, in these first two years" to secure an Appropriations Committee slot, Udall said. "But I feel confident I'm going to get some good committee assignments that will represent New Mexico's interest and also give me a chance to help our country."
Senate committee appointments are expected later this week.
Democrats once held a firm grip on the state's congressional delegation, winning every election for a House seat from the 1930s until 1968.
Until Heinrich defeated Republican Darren White in November, no Democrat had won in the Albuquerque-area 1st District since the state switched 40 years ago to electing its House members by congressional district rather than at-large.
Teague also broke a 28-year GOP hold on the 2nd District in southern New Mexico, defeating Republican Ed Tinsley in the general election.
Lujan's 3rd District seat in northern New Mexico has been Democratic-held every term except one since it was created in 1983. It previously was held by Udall and Gov. Bill Richardson.
Copyright ©2009 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
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