Progressive Leadership for New Mexico

All across New Mexico, polls are open and it's time to vote. Polls close tonight at 7 pm.

NEED TO KNOW WHERE TO VOTE? FIND YOUR POLLING PLACE NOW!

In this race, the stakes couldn't be higher. We have a clear choice between politics as usual and real progressive change. A vote for Don Wiviott is a vote for real progressive change.

Today, Ben Ray Lujan, the candidate made and funded by the special interests said he is going to say "enough" to their influence. Don't believe it. He's accepted tens of thousands of dollars from corporate PACs and the fat cat lobbyists that represent them. Maybe that's why he told the Santa Fe New Mexican that he opposes banning political contributions from PACs. In Congress, Ben Ray Lujan will just be another career politician who takes big contributions from corporate lobbyists and interests.

Don Wiviott is the new kind of progressive leader we need. He isn't beholden to the PACs and the lobbyists. He's a leader who is committed to doing everything possible to end the war in Iraq and he's committed to fighting the big corporate stranglehold on our government. Don Wiviott is a fighter for our progressive values and we can trust him to stand up for New Mexico families in Congress.

If you care as much about the need to bring progressive change to Washington as I do, I hope you'll head to the polls and vote for Don Wiviott. And then, pick up the phone and call your friends and family. Make sure they vote for Don Wiviott - the real progressive change New Mexico needs in Congress.

When the polls close at 7 pm, please come by Campaign HQ, 1964 Cerrillos Rd, Santa Fe, for our victory celebration.

Thanks so much for your help and support.

This is it. Months of hard work comes down to the next few hours. Polls open at 7 am on Tuesday, June 3rd and are open until 7 pm all across New Mexico.

Now is the time to send a message that people are more powerful than the special interests. The choice that faces New Mexicans in the Third District is clear: it's a choice between politics as usual and real progressive change.

A vote for Ben Ray Lujan is a vote for politics as usual. It's a vote for a blackjack dealer turned career politician who owes much of his political success to his father and his lobbyist friends. It's a vote for a candidate who has taken tens of thousands of dollars from corporate PACs and registered lobbyists. It's a vote for more the same, not real change.

A vote for Don Wiviott is a vote for real progressive change. It's a vote for a well qualified political outsider who understands the issues and takes strong progressive positions. It's a vote for a leader who rejects contributions from corporate PACs and lobbyists and who will stand up for us in Congress. And, it's a vote for a leader who is ready to do everything possible to bring an end to the disastrous war in Iraq.

If you're ready for real change in Washington, I urge you to vote for Don Wiviott and encourage your friends and family to do so as well. Please, visit our website and send an email to everyone you know and encourage them to cast their ballot for Don Wiviott - a progressive leader who will change Washington.

REMIND YOUR FRIENDS & FAMILY TO VOTE WIVIOTT!

If you don't know where to vote, you can visit the Secretary of State's VoterView website. That's where you can find your polling station and more information on voting.

All across New Mexico, Democrats are standing up for Don Wiviott, the progressive choice for Congress. In their endorsement, the Farmington Daily Times writes: "Wiviott may not have an extensive political background, but he appears to be a progressive candidate who has strong ideas about how to move New Mexico and the country forward... In a crowded race for the Democratic Party's choice for the 3rd Congressional District, Wiviott is the preferred candidate."

The Las Vegas Optic concurred. In their endorsement of Don Wiviott, they write, "Don Wiviott... has proven himself both worthy and capable... his experience as an environmentally friendly builder in Santa Fe gives him firsthand knowledge about the ways in which our nation can establish energy independence and effectively address climate change... Wiviott would also represent northern New Mexico's interests regarding other regional and national issues. Ending the war in Iraq quickly and responsibly; providing quality, affordable health care and reforming the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan; overhauling No Child Left Behind; increasing the federal minimum wage; and more funding for the Veterans Administration are all positions in his platform... And unlike the established frontrunner, Wiviott is highly qualified for the job."

After the polls close, I hope you'll join us for our victory celebration at Campaign Headquarters, 1964 Cerrillos Road, Santa Fe. The festivities began at 7 pm sharp. I'll see you there.

Thank you for your time and support.

In an email to supporters, Ben Ray Lujan's campaign manager asked why so many in the establishment supports his candidacy. The answer is because Ben Ray Lujan represents more of the same whereas Don Wiviott represents real progressive change.

Don Wiviott is the only candidate who is willing to do everything it takes to bring our troops home and bring an end to this disastrous war in Iraq. Ben Ray Lujan won't.

Don Wiviott rejects contributions from corporate PACs and lobbyists. Ben Ray Lujan has taken thousands from well heeled influence peddlers and their big corporate clients.

On Tuesday, New Mexico voters will have an important choice to make between real progressive change and old time politics as usual. If you're sick and tired of politicians owned by the lobbyists and special interests that fund their campaigns, I hope you'll join thousands of other New Mexicans and cast your ballot for Don Wiviott, a leader who will bring real progressive change to Washington.

Today, the Farmington Daily Times endorsed Don Wiviott for Congress. They write:

The Daily Times supports Don Wiviott among Democrats as a potential replacement to Udall, who has served the district since 1999.

Wiviott may not have an extensive political background, but he appears to be a progressive candidate who has strong ideas about how to move New Mexico and the country forward...

Wiviott is not a career politician. Rather, he is someone who may be able to bring fresh solutions to Washington.

Read the full endorsement and understand why Don Wiviott is the right person to represent Farmington and all of New Mexico's Third District in Congress.

Last year, I announced that I was going to run against Senator Pete Domenici. I made that announcement not because I am a career politician but because it was the right thing to do.

When Senator Domenici announced his retirement and Tom Udall declared his candidacy, I stepped aside because I have deep respect for Congressman Udall as well as the excellent work he has done on our behalf in Congress. At that time, I decided to run for his Congressional seat because Washington needs more Tom Udall Democrats who are not afraid to stand up for our progressive values.

My opponent, Ben Ray Lujan, is a career politician who owes his job and his livelihood to his powerful father, corporate lobbyists, special interest PACs and fellow career politicians. This is a man who on his website bragged about serving on an important health care commission, and yet did not bother to attend 13 out of 14 meetings. This is the same man that secured a $90,000 a year state job without a college degree and with his only experience being that of a casino card dealer. This is a man who went on lavish taxpayer funded trips to Reno, San Diego and Miami. Furthermore, this is a man who has accepted tens of thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from corporate lobbyists and corporate PACs.

It is clear that a vote for Ben Ray Lujan is a vote for politics as usual.

I am running for Congress to shake things up in Washington and bring real change. On the issues that matter, there are tremendous difference between Ben Ray Lujan and myself. I want Congress to do everything in their power to bring an end to the Iraq war. And, that includes putting a squeeze on funding. Ben Ray Lujan doesn't. I want Congress to curb the influence of high powered lobbyists and special interests by banning contributions from corporate PACs. The corporate lobbyist and PAC supported candidate, Ben Ray Lujan, does not agree.

In Congress, I will stand up for our shared progressive values and represent the people of northern New Mexico - not the special interests and the corporate lobbyists.

I am a green builder and I will work to combat catastrophic climate change and shift America toward energy independence.

As a lifelong environmentalist, I will work to protect the land and crack down on polluting corporations.

I will fight to bring good paying jobs to northern New Mexico and also turn our economy around.

I will work to make sure that all New Mexicans have high quality, affordable health care.

I will radically reform No Child Left Behind and advocate for universal early childhood education.

I will make sure that Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid are protected.

I will protect our civil liberties and oppose assaults on our Constitutional rights.

I will stand up for our veterans and make sure that they have the health and education resources they deserve.

And, I will work tirelessly to end the disastrous war in Iraq and bring our fighting men and women back home.

In the end, this election is a choice between real change and politics as usual. A vote for me is a vote for a progressive Democrat who will stand up to the special interests and put New Mexicans first. A vote for Ben Ray Lujan is a vote for more of the same - a vote for a career politician that is beholden to the lobbyists and special interests that bankrolled his campaign.

Please, pass this blog post along. Help me cut through sound byte politics and get the word out to voters across northern New Mexico. Forward this blog post to your friends and family and encourage them to support my campaign for real change this Tuesday.

Thanks so much for your time.

Ben Ray Luján’s campaign rhetoric highlights his belief in "standing up" for the people of the New Mexico, but a closer examination of reality shows that Luján has done nothing more than "stand down" to the corporate interests bankrolling his campaign with tens of thousands in contributions from lobbyists and special interests.

RHETORIC: "It is important to stand up to special interest groups." – Ben Ray Luján ["Luján says he'll stand up to special interests", Portales News Tribune, 5/5/08]

REALITY: "…While state-registered lobbyists have pumped about $34,000 into his campaign coffers." [Abq Journal, 4/24/08]

RHETORIC: "It’s becoming very, very clear which candidate has a proven record of standing up for the people of New Mexico." [Standing up for New Mexico Blog, Ben Ray Luján Website, 5/19/08]

REALITY: With as many as 2 million Americans at risk of losing their homes, Lujan took $2,500 from the American Banking Association – the lobbying arm of big banks opposed to both mortgage reform and protecting consumers from credit card abuse. They strongly supported the disastrous 2005 bankruptcy bill that made it harder for hard working people to work their way out of debt. ["People for Ben" FEC Filing]

RHETORIC: "…Ben R. Luján is the only candidate with a record of standing up to corporations" [Standing up for New Mexico Blog, Ben Ray Lujan Website, 5/13/08]

REALITY: Luján accepted thousands of dollars from the Geo Group and Corrections Corps Pac, two big corporations well known for privatizing prisons and taking away union jobs. ["People for Ben" FEC Filing]

REALITY: Luján voted to give energy company PNM a $34 million boost in profits by raising energy rates on over 400,000 New Mexicans. In a time when consumers are struggling to afford record high-energy bills, Luján still sided with corporate profits over hardworking New Mexicans’ energy bills. [Abq Journal, 4/25/08]

RHETORIC: "Ben R. Luján is the only candidate in this race with a proven progressive environmental record." [Standing up for New Mexico Blog, Ben Ray Luján Website, 5/15/08]

REALITY: Luján took $2,500 from Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold, a mining company with a disastrous environmental record. It should come as no surprise that they contributed to Ben Ray Lujan's campaign. ["People for Ben" FEC Filing]

That candidate has taken tens of thousands from corporate political action committees (PACs) and lobbyists as of April 1st. Don Wiviott didn't take any PAC money.

Let's take a closer look at some of the PACs that contributed to one of our opponents:

GEO Group PAC ($2,300). Florida's Geo Group specializes in running private prisons and nursing homes. They have had a contract with the New Mexico Department of Health since 2005 to run Fort Bayard Medical Center in Silver City and they employ three registered lobbyists in Santa Fe. Yes, that Fort Bayard, described by KRQE as "one of America's worst" nursing homes, and they described the abuse that took place there as "disgraceful, shameful and horrifying." Yet, the Geo Group still has the contract and now they're giving money to Ben Ray Lujan.

Freeport-McMoran Copper & Gold ($2,500). Freeport-McMoran operates the El Chino and Tyrone mines near Silver City. They're open pit copper mines and the company has seven registered lobbyists in Santa Fe. It should come as no surprise that they contributed to Ben Ray Lujan's campaign.

American Bankers Association ($2,500). The ABA represents the interests of wealthy bankers. They strongly supported the disastrous 2005 bankruptcy bill that made it harder for hard working people to work their way out of debt. It's a bill that puts money in the pockets of rich bankers. The ABA has invested in Ben Ray Lujan.

Corrections Corp. of America ($1,000). The Corrections Corp. of America is a private prisons company with a long standing contract with the New Mexico Department of Corrections to run the New Mexico Women's Correctional Facility in Grants. They have one registered lobbyist representing their interests in Santa Fe. And, they've contributed to Ben Ray Lujan.

Why are all these special interests investing so much money in this race? Because they're trying to exert their influence over the political process.

If you're tired of politicians that do the bidding of the lobbyists and the special interests, cast your vote for Don Wiviott, a man who isn't bought and paid for by lobbyists and the special interests. Don Wiviott will be a progressive leader that will represent you and your interests in Washington - not those of the fatcat lobbyists and their corporate PACs.

Now, more than ever, it's clear that New Mexicans have a choice between politics as usual and real change. And, a vote for real change is a vote for Don Wiviott.

In less than one week, New Mexicans will go to the polls and make an important choice between politics as usual and real change.

Over the last few months, we've identified thousands of voters like you that are ready for change. And, now, it's time to make sure they get to the polls and vote for Don Wiviott.

If you have any time between now and Election Day, please, visit our website and sign up as a volunteer. We need hundreds of volunteers on Election Day, so, if you have any time, please let us know.

LESS THAN ONE WEEK LEFT - VOLUNTEER TODAY!

Our opponent is the epitome of politics as usual. Thanks to his father, he was able to secure a state job that paid $90,000 a year, but, didn't show up to 13 out of 14 meetings of a health care commission. Instead, he used taxpayer money to jet away to Reno, San Diego and Miami. This is the same politician who has taken tens of thousands of dollars from corporate PACs and special interest lobbyists.

Don Wiviott hasn't taken money from lobbyists or corporate PACs. Instead, he has the right kind of knowledge and experience to bring real change to Washington. As the Las Vegas Optic noted in their endorsement:

Don Wiviott... has proven himself both worthy and capable. He's a successful businessman whose resumé translates well to what we need in Congress. More specifically, his experience as an environmentally friendly builder in Santa Fe gives him firsthand knowledge about the ways in which our nation can establish energy independence and effectively address climate change...

It's hard to imagine a successful business owner with more experience pertinent to the needs and potential of northern New Mexico. As someone who understands how to develop and harvest green energy sources, Wiviott would represent this region's interests well as the nation moves inevitably toward renewable alternatives. That would bode well for this area, with its rich potential as a wind and solar energy provider. Plus, his knowledge of water issues could help the region in addressing its greatest natural resource challenge.

If you're ready for real change, I hope you'll help Don's campaign over the next week. There are a lot of voters that we need to remind to get out to the polls and we need your help to do it. Please, volunteer now and let's win this one for change.

LESS THAN ONE WEEK LEFT - VOLUNTEER TODAY!

Thanks once again for all your support.

Today, the Las Vegas Optic officially endorsed Don Wiviott for Congress. In reference to Don's proven leadership, they write:

Candidate Don Wiviott, however, has proven himself both worthy and capable. He’s a successful businessman whose resumé translates well to what we need in Congress. More specifically, his experience as an environmentally friendly builder in Santa Fe gives him firsthand knowledge about the ways in which our nation can establish energy independence and effectively address climate change.

As a builder, Wiviott went green in the mid-1990s, when he began building The Lofts, an energy-efficient residential and commercial development on eight acres of Santa Fe land. He also started a company in Florida that desalinates seawater into potable water. Needless to say, his success in these businesses made him a rich man, and that has served him well during this election cycle...

It’s hard to imagine a successful business owner with more experience pertinent to the needs and potential of northern New Mexico. As someone who understands how to develop and harvest green energy sources, Wiviott would represent this region’s interests well as the nation moves inevitably toward renewable alternatives. That would bode well for this area, with its rich potential as a wind and solar energy provider. Plus, his knowledge of water issues could help the region in addressing its greatest natural resource challenge.

Wiviott would also represent northern New Mexico’s interests regarding other regional and national issues. Ending the war in Iraq quickly and responsibly; providing quality, affordable health care and reforming the Medicare Part D prescription drug plan; overhauling No Child Left Behind; increasing the federal minimum wage; and more funding for the Veterans Administration are all positions in his platform.

According to the Optic, the difference between Don Wiviott and one of his opponents is clear:

What is a legitimate issue, however, is whether Luján deserves his frontrunner position in this race, given the weaknesses in his resumé and the strength of his father’s political influence. Luján’s race for the seat being vacated by Rep. Tom Udall (who’s running for Senate) came directly off the coattails of his dad, New Mexico House Speaker Ben Luján, so one must wonder if the son is worthy or capable of the position he seeks. Sure, he’s the candidate of choice for many in the Democratic leadership, but we don’t want a representative elected off of those coattails either.

Don Wiviott is ready to lead in Congress and we need to put his knowledge and experience working for us in Washington.

Today, we take pause to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country. We remember their lives, their stories and the loved ones they left behind.

In Washington, Don will honor the sacrifice of our brave fighting men and women. He will be a a strong supporter of our veterans. He will fight to increase the VA budget to make sure that the Veteran's Administration has the resources it needs to provide physical and mental health care to our veterans.