Rey's Most Recent Press Advisory

Thursday, August 30th, 2007
For Immediate Release

Contacts: Tomás Garduño, Campaign Manager, 301-6671

MARTIN HEINRICH ENDORSES REY GARDUÑO FOR CITY COUNCIL
In a Highly Contested Race, Popular Current City Councilor Martin Heinrich Supports Rey Garduño to Represent District 6 Constituents; Garduño Introduces Campaign Team

ALBUQUERQUE (August 30, 2007) – Over the weekend, voters in District 6 learned that well liked current city councilor Martin Heinrich has officially endorsed Rey Garduño, a long standing community advocate and small businessman, for the council seat he’s vacating to run for Congress.

“Rey is running on a progressive agenda to address important issues like public safety, transportation and planned growth. These are things that matter to me and to the constituents in District 6. I think he’ll do a fantastic job on the council and that’s why I’m supporting him,” says Martin Heinrich, current city councilor.

Rey has lived in District 6 for over 30 years. He has raised his family in District 6, was involved in his son’s schools and ran two local businesses. Rey has spent a lifetime helping to make our community a better place to live and raise our families. Rey is endorsed by progressive leaders from our district and throughout Albuquerque because he has the experience we need and the proven leadership we can trust.

“Rey is passionate about equality and proven in his service to Albuquerque. Rey is my choice for city council because he is independent and I know he’ll do what he believes is right for our community.” adds Martin Heinrich.

“It’s an honor to receive Martin’s endorsement and support. I have a deep interest in making our community a better place to live and raise our families. I share Martin’s values and will continue the work he’s been doing for our neighborhoods,” said Rey Garduño.

Rey has assembled a first rate team to include the following people:

§ Tomás Garduño, Campaign Manager. Tomás took time from his job as a community organizer to manage the campaign. Tomás is also Rey’s son.

§ Joaquín Lujan, Field Director. Joaquín has been a community organizer for over 35 years with many years experience in running voter outreach programs.

§ Sally Hill Davis, Campaign Treasurer. Sally was former executive director of Common Cause, where Sally and Rey worked side by side to pass the Public Financing Law that Rey is running under.

“My parents taught me to have a real commitment to community and family. I'm so fortunate to have the support of my family, including my son, Tomás. My wife Ilsa and I have always stressed the importance of community service in our family. Tomas has really followed in our footsteps. Tomás has taken time off from his job as a community organizer to manage my campaign, and I couldn't be more proud, both as a candidate and a father," said Rey Garduño.
##

Alibi Article: The Pave It or Save It Election. A Must Read

Read the Article below or link directly to it here:

http://alibi.com/index.php?story=20243&scn=news

The Pave It or Save It Election?

By Laura Sanchez
It's no secret the local blogosphere gets delirious over political gossip. It's also no secret Mayor Martin Chavez and several city councilors butt heads regularly over development projects. In this year's Council elections, the two non-secrets have collided for a perfect storm of speculation over who's backing whom to push through what. Four women who never previously ran for office are seeking Council seats in the even-numbered districts. They all have connections to Mayor Martin Chavez' administration.
Local blogger Coco recently sparked a Web-storm by posting a critique on http://www.dukecityfix.com/ of District 6 candidate Joanie Griffin, Chavez' 2005 press secretary. According to Coco, Griffin's website implies that she has been endorsed by both current District 6 councilor Martin Heinrich and Gov. Bill Richardson. However, Heinrich, who is running for Congress, formally endorsed competing candidate Rey Garduño, and Richardson's quote seemed to be simply a compliment on Griffin's PR skills. Griffin runs a public relations firm and the local dating service It's Just Lunch. She changed her registration from Republican to Democrat this spring before running in the heavily Democratic district.
Another Marty-centric news spasm erupted when Chavez headlined a fundraiser for District 2 candidate Katherine Martinez. Martinez, a relative newcomer to the city, is challenging Council President Debbie O'Malley, perhaps the legislator least likely to rubber-stamp Chavez' bills. Martinez is the director of Government/Community Affairs for the Home Builders Association of Central New Mexico. Chavez appointed Martinez to his Green Ribbon Task Force on energy-efficient building, and she has consulted on affordable housing.
In Districts 8 and 4, the connection runs through ABQ Ride Director, former councilor and wrangler of Republican votes for Marty, Greg Payne. Trudy Jones is running unopposed for the District 8 seat to be vacated by Craig Loy. Jones is a vice-president of the very large commercial real estate firm Grubb & Ellis. In 2002 then-councilor Payne appointed Jones to the Planned Growth Strategy (PGS) task force. The 19-member PGS task force was supposed to have four members from the real estate/development community and nine members representing neighborhood associations, one from each Council district. Controversy arose when Chavez and Council allies selected real estate or development people such as Jones for the neighborhood association slots.
Payne popped up again in the District 4 campaign of Paulette de'Pascal when the long, bizarre "Captain, First Mate and Honey Bee" e-mail had the city's political junkies rolling on the floor. The July 14 e-mail was purportedly sent to the wrong address by community activist and Chavez ally Sandra P. Richardson, then leaked to blogger Mario Burgos.
Richardson chastises de'Pascal for acting "like a honey bee, flitting from person to person, seeking their advice and opinion." Richardson obsessively repeats the demand that de'Pascal communicate plans and strategy only through First Mate Richardson to Captain Greg, "the ONLY person to whom [sic] you seek political advice ... THE strategist ... He's 'gold' for this campaign." Payne, who has managed dozens of political campaigns, denies involvement.
None of this is illegal, unless Chavez and Payne are campaigning on city time. In fact, it seems the usual political circus, except the candidates sing in unison regarding the issue of growth, according to a July 6 New Mexico Business Weekly article.
Griffin characterizes the current Council as anti-growth, although she puts in a plug for "smart growth" as opposed to Phoenix-style sprawl. Martinez says it's time for a change in the City Council and wants to see more collaboration between city government and the development industry. Jones says Albuquerque is "a very anti-business city right now" and thinks the Council "should be more proactive, rather than fighting growth." de'Pascal expressed concern that the Council is in a "stalemate" with the mayor. Certainly, no growth equals stagnation. However, the city's political fracture line has long run between protecting current residents' quality of life versus boosting profits by attracting new residents.
A 2003 effort by the development community to elect four councilors failed in all contested races, so this year's campaign may only be Mayor Marty's pipe dream. The outlines of that dream are pretty clear: All four administration candidates win. Councilor Don Harris loses his District 9 recall election and Marty appoints a replacement. Those five, combined with current, mayorally loyal councilors Sally Mayer and Ken Sanchez, give Marty a 7-2 lock on almost every Council vote.

Come See Rey in Action! Come to a Candidate Forum!

Please come and see Rey in action! If you are a supporter, we need you to be there and cheer Rey on. If you are undecided, come and listen to what Rey has to say, you’ll leave a supporter!

Albuquerque & District 6 City Council Candidate Forums

Thursday, September 6, 6-8pm: ABQ-United Candidates Forum (SWOP, SAGE Council, 1000 Friends of NM, League of Young Voters) if you can't make it to the forum listen online: http://albuquerque.indyvoter.org/ - South Broadway Cultural Center, 1025 Broadway SE

Sunday, September 9, 2-4 pm: Forum at The Source - 1111 Carlisle Blvd SE

Tuesday, September 18, 6:30 pm: Forum hosted by the Southeast Heights Neighborhood Association - Bandelier Elementary School, 3309 Pershing SE

Wednesday, September 19, 7-9 pm: Forum hosted by Albuquerque Vecinos United - Highland Senior Center, 131 Monroe NE

Sunday, September 23, 2-4 pm: Forum by Sixth District Coalition of Neighborhood Associations and La Mesa Community Improvement Association - Highland Senior Center, 131 Monroe NE

Thursday, September 27, 6-8pm: We The People Forum hosted by The League of Women Voters and airing on cable channel 27 or http://www.cabq.gov/govtv/index.html

Our First Mailer Hits 1,000's of Households in District 6

The Rey Garduño for City Council Campaign's first Mail Piece hits Voter's doors on Saturday!

The mail piece talks to Rey's proven service to Albuquerque and let's voters know that just about every progressive public official endorses Rey for City Council. If you haven't already received it, look in your mailboxes!