Font ResizeAs an independent voter for most of my adult life, I'd like to extend an enthusiastic invitation to state Rep. Andy Nu ez - join the nonparty.
Nu ez, who has represented District 36 (the Hatch area) since 2001 as a Democrat, said Friday that he is seriously considering a switch to independent. Should he follow through with that threat, he would become the first New Mexico legislator not belonging to the Republican or Democratic party since the early days of statehood, and the only independent legislator in state history.
According to the Legislative Council Service, there have been a grand total of seven state legislators who did not have a "D" or "R" after their names, all within the first decade of statehood. There was one Socialist and six members of the ironically named Progressive Republican Party. One can only imagine the internal conflicts in that caucus.
Nu ez is responding to a snub from Speaker of the House Ben Lujan, who stripped him of his chairmanship on the Water and Natural Resources Committee after he had backed Joseph Cervantes in an aborted bid to oust Lujan as speaker. That may not be the best basis on which to make such a decision, but Nu ez would make a perfect independent. He's already established a voting record that often strays across party lines, and has made it clear this year that he will not support the agenda of the Democratic leadership.
"I've always voted how I wanted to, and that's not going to change. I've never voted down party lines,"
And, while his switch would certainly be unique in New Mexico politics, he would be joining independents like Joe Lieberman and Bernie Sanders in the U.S. Senate. According to the Independent Political Report website, there are now independents serving in 11 different state legislatures, with nine of them elected in November.
This was the second time Las Cruces-area lawmakers felt the wrath of Lujan after attempting to unseat the wily speaker. Joseph Cervantes lost his Judiciary Committee chairmanship four years ago after backing a bid by Grants Rep. Kenny Martinez to take over for Lujan. Rep. Mary Helen Garcia also had her wrist slapped that year for backing Martinez, losing her spot on the House Appropriations and Finance Committee.
This time, Garcia benefited from the bloodless coup attempt. Nu ez had been the only committee chairman from southern New Mexico. In order to maintain at least one chairmanship south of I-25, Lujan named Garcia chairwoman of the Voters and Elections Committee.
Nu ez said he would take some time to weigh his options before making a decision.
New Mexico election laws make it difficult for anyone not affiliated with the Republican or Democratic parties to break through, but Nu ez has a chance to be a trailblazer. Instead of being one of dozens of Democrats in the Legislature, he could become the champion for independents throughout the state.
Walter Rubel has been a newsman for more than 25 years and is managing editor of the Sun-News. He can be reached at wrubel@lcsun-news.com.
