Albuquerque Journal

Newly Elected Legislators May Chart Different Course
By Dan Boyd, Journal Capitol Bureau

SANTA FE — New faces could mean new directions when the New Mexico Legislature convenes in January.
        However, a budget downturn that will likely limit spending and force decisions on how to reduce state expenditures could temper a wave of change that swept a host of incumbents out of office.
        While plenty of legislative veterans will return to Santa Fe when lawmakers convene for a 60-day session, an influx of 17 new members elected in November is expected by some observers to give rise to more progressive or liberal-leaning policies.
        Fourteen of the 17 newcomers are Democrats, and they will strengthen existing Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.
        The new lawmakers, 10 of whom will serve in the House, are expected to push for ethics reform, a new school funding formula and a more broad-based health care system, among other changes.
        "I would expect those people to rally for change," said Lonna Atkeson, a political science professor at the University of New Mexico. "I mean, they won for a reason."
        The new members of the Legislature include: a health care union leader, Eleanor Chavez; several individuals with extensive nonprofit organization experience, including Eric Griego and Tim Keller; an assistant school superintendent, Dennis Roch; a county commissioner, Jack Thomas; the owner of an insurance agency, John Sapien; and a former regional director for the New Mexico Parent Teacher Association, Karen Giannini.
        Stephen Fischmann, a Democrat and a retired Levi Strauss executive who ousted Sen. Leonard Lee Rawson, R-Las Cruces, in Senate District 37, said the wide range of backgrounds could come in handy in the tough economic times.
        "I think the tendency has been to say when resources are limited, we can't do things," said Fischmann, who identified shedding tax breaks and incentives that benefit special interest groups as one cost-saving possibility.
        "I don't think that being fiscally conservative means you can't try new things. I think the voters want us to try new things."
        A new governor could also be in store, adding the possibility of more new thinking.
        If Gov. Bill Richardson is named U.S. commerce secretary by President-elect Barack Obama, as has been widely reported, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish would become New Mexico's first female governor.
        Some current lawmakers thought changes in membership could lead to an overhaul of the old guard in the Senate, where Democrats now outnumber Republicans by a 27-15 margin. The Senate Democrats were scheduled to hold a closed-door vote on leadership positions today.
        The numbers of what party activists call progressive Democrats have been on the upswing. In the June primary elections, for instance, five incumbent, and mostly moderate, Democrats were toppled. And some of the newly elected Democrats might not feel strong allegiances to the established party leadership in the Legislature.
        "It's a new day in the New Mexico state Legislature and specifically in the state Senate," said Sen. Cisco McSorley, D-Albuquerque. "We have a number of first-year senators who will be active in choosing leadership and who I think were given a clarion call for reform."
        Rep. Mimi Stewart, D-Albuquerque, said passing a new school funding formula will be a necessity for the new-look Legislature, even if it necessitates cuts to other areas.
        "We are in crisis in the funding of our public schools and if we don't do anything they have a court case against us," Stewart said.
        Richardson has said he still intends to seek approval for a universal health care plan that would cost millions to implement, but political observers say such proposals would likely require a tax increase.
        "You can't really expand policies and programs if you don't have the resources to do that," Atkeson said.
        Veteran leaders say sweeping changes won't occur overnight.
        House Speaker Ben Lujan, D-Santa Fe, said the increased Democratic margins will make a difference in the makeup of committees, but he downplayed suggestions that the Legislature will be more liberal.
        "I think the actual makeup of the House of Representatives will be progressive, but a lot of our members are moderate," Lujan said. "We will be very frugal in making sure we spend the money where it needs to be spent."
        While the new legislators may provide the impetus to make reforms, the veterans don't expect them to play a major role in shaping next year's budget.
        "We're going to rely on some of us who've been around a little while," Stewart said.
        Budgetary concerns aside, the increased Democratic majorities in both the Senate and the House of Representatives — where Democrats now hold a 45-25 edge — could make things easier for the executive branch, Atkeson said. With narrower party margins, a coalition of Senate Republicans and moderate Democrats has occasionally been able to stymie the governor in recent years.
        For Republicans, the defeats suffered could mean a change in the standard operating procedure.
        "The Republican position appears to be more difficult and maybe it's one that calls for reassessment of our role," said Sen. Rod Adair, R-Roswell. "We will have to be prepared to be a positive voice that can articulate a more logical or better reasoned public policy goal."
        The Legislature will convene for a 60-day session on Jan. 20.
        Legislature by party — 2009
        House of Representatives: 45 Democrats — 25 Republicans (Previously 42-28)
        Senate: 27 Democrats — 15 Republicans (Previously 24-18)
        The new faces
        New members of the Legislature, by district, with names, party affiliation and hometown. Outgoing incumbents' names and party affiliations follow.
        SENATE
        Senate District 4 — George Munoz, D-Gallup; (Lidio Rainaldi-D)
        Senate District 9 — John Sapien, D-Corrales; (Steve Komadina-R)
        Senate District 15 (Sen. Tim Eichenberg, D-Albuquerque; (Diane Snyder-R)
        Senate District 14 — Eric Griego, D-Albuquerque; (James Taylor-D)
        Senate District 17 — Tim Keller, D-Albuquerque; (Shannon Robinson-D)
        Senate District 23 — Sander Rue, R-Albuquerque; (Joseph Carraro-R)
        Senate District 37 — Stephen Fischmann, D-Las Cruces; (Leonard Lee Rawson-R)
        HOUSE
        House District 5 — Sandra Jeff, D-Crownpoint; (John Pena-D)
        House District 6 — Eliseo Alcon, D-Milan; (George Hanosh-D)
        House District 13 — Eleanor Chavez, D-Albuquerque; (Daniel Silva-D
        House District 15 — Bill O'Neill, D-Albuquerque; (Teresa Zanetti-R)
        House District 23 — Benjamin Rodefer, D-Corrales; (Eric Youngberg-R)
        House District 30 — Karen Giannini, D-Albuquerque; (Justine Fox-Young-R)
        House District 47 — Brian Egolf, D-Santa Fe; (Peter Wirth-D)
        House District 57 — Dennis Kintigh, R-Roswell; (Dan Foley-R)
        House District 60 — Jack Thomas, D-Rio Rancho; (Tom Swisstack-D)
        House District 67 — Dennis Roch, R-Tucumcari; (Brian Moore-R)