Progressive Leadership for New Mexico

If you're looking for a different kind of leader who represents real change, Don Wiviott is your candidate. Yesterday, the Journal North profiled Don and wrote:

Don Wiviott says he's offering voters a roll-up-your-sleeves, can-do spirit honed over three decades in business.

The "green" builder made his name in Santa Fe with The Lofts, a live/work development off Cerrillos Road that incorporates environmentally friendly features such as the reuse of gray water.

"I've spent 30 years solving problems," Wiviott said. The businessman earned a degree in government and environmental studies from Dartmouth College and a masters in business administration from Harvard University.

Don Wiviott has dedicated his life to protecting the environment and he knows that conservation and business aren't in opposition to one another. It takes leadership and vision to build a successful business that puts the environment first - and, that's exactly what Don Wiviott has done and it's why he'll command respect on Capitol Hill. The article continues:

"I am not a political insider," Wiviott, 52, said. "You're not going to see huge checks from corporate lobbyists or huge checks from corporate (political action committees)..."

Joseph Wilson agrees. The former ambassador and husband of Valerie Plame Wilson, a CIA agent outed by the Bush White House, endorsed Wiviott in March.

"Sending another career politician to Washington isn't going to change anything," said Wilson, who moved to Santa Fe last year. "That's why I'm so excited about Don Wiviott."

On June 3rd, New Mexicans have an opportunity to send a new kind of leader to Washington - one who isn't beholden to the lobbyists or the special interests. Don Wiviott will be a representative for the people of northern New Mexico.

The Los Alamos Monitor editorial board praised Don Wiviott for his experience and maturity. The board was divided between Don's candidacy and one of our opponents for the endorsement. The Monitor:

The Monitor editorial board was not unanimous in its recommendations, and that will be noted when pertinent. And we will not comment on uncontested races. In the race for the U.S. House seat in the Third District, the board was divided between Don Wiviott and Harry Montoya in the Democratic primary. Both men have strong backgrounds, with a lot of maturity behind them. They have dealt with issues of business and government and have a broad breath of experience.

New Mexico needs a member of Congress who will command respect in Washington. Don Wiviott has built a successful green business and will be taken seriously as a leader on this and other issues. Northern New Mexico needs that kind of experience working for us in Congress to make sure Washington doesn't forget about hard working, middle class people here in New Mexico.

Don Wiviott isn't a career politician that takes money from lobbyists and does their bidding in Washington. He is a progressive leader who will change Washington.

The courageous central Albuquerque UAW Retired Workers Council rejected the pressures from the politics as usual gang and endorsed Don's campaign because they know that Don Wiviott is the only candidate in this race who refuses to take contributions from corporate PACs and will truly stand up for workers. Elva Santos:

Let’s not vote for more of the same when we go to the polls in November. We must all vote for the candidate who remembers that we, the working men and women of America, are the backbone of this great country. As a former member of the Laborers' International Union, Don Wiviott has the best understanding of the needs and concerns of organized labor.

Don Wiviott graciously accepted the endorsement and committed to standing up for working families:

I am honored to have received the support of this Council, an organization that has advanced the cause of working men and women across New Mexico. In Congress, I will be a strong advocate for organized labor and will put the interests of working families first.

Today's must read is a profile of Don in The New Mexico Independent. Don talks about his passion for protecting the environment, ending the war and improving our economy. And, veteran New Mexico pollster Brian Sanderoff concludes that Don has a great chance to win. The Independent:

All things being equal, the edge would go to a Hispanic candidate in the 3rd Congressional District, Sanderoff said.

"Here not all things are equal," Sanderoff added. "Wiviott is going to spend more than $1 million. That allows him to be considered as a serious candidate."

U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, who is giving up the seat to run for U.S. Senate, also has shown that the "district is not out of reach for an Anglo."

"You've got two Hispanic candidates, (Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry) Montoya and (Ben Ray) Lujan. And even if Montoya even peels off half a percent, that could be the margin of victory and defeat," Sanderoff said.

It is with that in mind that Wiviott is pressing ahead with his campaign.

Don Wiviott can win this race because Don has a passion for the issues and a vision for changing America. As the Independent reported, this election is incredibly important because northern New Mexico has an opportunity to elect a leader who will work with our next Democratic President to bring fundamental change to Washington.

Don talked about being a green builder and how business and environmentalism aren't opposing forces:

Wiviott himself is a businessman. He opened The Lofts, a “green” housing and business area in Santa Fe.

The Lofts, Wiviott says, have “always been energy efficient. It’s always been low-water utilization. We now recycle gray water , so we’re not flushing 70% of our potable water down the toilet.”

For him, environmentalism was never about some grand save-the-world vision. “There were no labels for it, no one was a green builder cause there was no label for it,” Wiviott said. “We would build sustainable non-toxic housing, water-friendly housing, energy-efficient walkable communities just cause it made sense.”

Don highlighted his ideas for improving our economy and lowering food prices:

The economy is listed among the top concern of voters in many polls. And, like on so many issues, Wiviott can bring it back to the environment.

One issue where Wiviott speaks passionately is how to make the price of food lower. And one way, Wiviott says, is by growing and buying locally.

“We could be growing locally, we could be growing more of our food locally so there’s not that fuel cost embedded in it.”

So it was no surprise that Wiviott attended a meeting in Farmington Saturday that addressed that exact issue.

“I believe there are local solutions to global problems,” Wiviott told the group at the meeting.

And, Don talked about his plan to bring the war in Iraq to a responsible end.

Ending the war in Iraq has become a big part of Wiviott’s campaign. Wiviott is the only candidate in New Mexico to endorse the Responsible Plan to End the War in Iraq. The plan, spearheaded by Washington Democrat Darcy Burner, has over fifty people signed on to the plan.

“When you look at the Iraq Study Group plan, this incorporates a lot of what their recommendations were, and that was a bipartisan plan to get out of Iraq,” Wiviott says. “So the foundation of this plan goes back to the Iraq Study Group plan.”

Wiviott sees more good coming from ending the war in Iraq than just ending a war.

NMI: So what do we need to do about it?

DW: First of all, stop spending $300 million a day in Iraq. That’s number one. You got to balance the books, you got to balance the federal books.

Don also addressed a common criticism of his campaign with a passionate, principled and progressive answer:

It was because he was a businessman that Wiviott has the money to lend to his campaign. As of this printing, Wiviott has loaned his campaign $990,000. Much of that money has gone towards television ads, but Wiviott argues against those who criticize the large loans of money.

“What could be more important in my lifetime than ending the war, fixing the economy, improving health care and providing education for our kids?” Wiviott asks with emotion. He leans forward in his chair. “The issues that we’ve been talking about, the economy, the environment, the war, health care, education, what’s the price tag on fixing those things?”

Don Wiviott is the real deal. He isn't beholden to the special interests. And, he has a progressive vision for America. He's exactly the kind of leader we need fighting for us in Washington.

We can't change Washington unless we take on the special interests. That's why I'm the only candidate that doesn't take money from corporate lobbyists and special interests PACs. Watch my new ad and then make an investment in my campaign to keep it on the air!

THWART THE LOBBYISTS. KEEP THIS AD ON THE AIR. CONTRIBUTE NOW!

A big reason that there isn't quality, affordable health care for all New Mexicans is because the insurance companies and their well heeled army of lobbyists stand in our way. They use campaign contributions to peddle their influence and stop good legislation that would make sure that hard working New Mexicans can have access to health care.

Washington doesn't need another career politician beholden to lobbyists and special interests for campaign cash. We need more representatives who represent the people that elected them - not the lobbyists who fund their campaigns. That's why I'm standing up to lobbyists and corporate interests by refusing to take their money. I won't be beholden to their influence - I'll represent the people and honor our shared progressive values.

I need your help to get the word out that a vote for my candidacy is a vote for quality, affordable health care and against the influence of lobbyists. Hundreds of small contributions from regular people can thwart the special interests and keep this TV ad on the air. Please, contribute $25, $75, $250 or more today.

THWART THE LOBBYISTS. KEEP THIS AD ON THE AIR. CONTRIBUTE NOW!

Thanks so much for your continued support.

Don's Earth Day BBQ was a big success with lots of good company and good food. Check out the highlights!

In March, Don shocked the political establishment by winning a strong second at the State Pre-Primary Convention. Don isn't the candidate of the party insiders - he's the kind of leader who isn't afraid to stand up and fight for our progressive values. And, he's generating a lot of excitement across northern New Mexico.

Check out the convention highlights!

Over the past 48 hours, our website has been experiencing some technical difficulties. Our apologies for the downtime.

If you tried to sign up, volunteer, request a vote by mail ballot or anything else over the last 48 hours, it may not have gone through. Our apologies - it won't happen again!

Tomorrow, Don Wiviott will be in Gallup and Farmington for meet and greets. This is your opportunity to meet Don and talk about the issues that matter to you. We hope you can attend! The details are as follows:

Gallup Meet & Greet
Saturday, May 3, 11 am
McKinley County Courthouse - Council Chambers
207 West Hill Ave., Gallup
click here for a map

Farmington Meet & Greet
Saturday, May 3, 5 pm
Farmington Museum
3041 E. Main St., Farmington
click here for a map

Don Wiviott will be talking about his commitment to ending the war in Iraq and to bringing progressive leadership, in the tradition of Tom Udall, to Washington.

If you're not registered to vote as a Democrat living in New Mexico's Third Congressional District by May 6th, you will not be able to vote in the primary. That primary will very likely determine the next member of Congress from northern New Mexico!

The first vote-by-mail ballots will also be sent out on May 6th. Avoid the hassle and the lines on Election Day and vote from the comfort of your own home! Visit our website to request your voter registration form and/or your vote by mail application today.

1) GET REGISTERED!

2) GET A VOTE BY MAIL BALLOT!

My campaign is having a big canvass this Saturday, May 3rd in Santa Fe. Please click here sign up to volunteer or call 505-820-2008 if you can help!