The Case for Don Wiviott

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.