Candidate vies for congressional seat

Ben R. Lujan, chairman of the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission, hosted a luncheon Friday to garner support for his bid for the District 3 U.S. representative seat.

As a member of the Commission, Lujan said he has held corporations to their promises, and protected New Mexico consumers.

In fact, the commission filed suit against one corporation forcing it to follow through with its economc reinvestment plans, Lujan said.

Lujan said he supports New Mexico’s leadership role in energy and its future role as a leader in renewable energy, such the wind farms in Quay County.

On other issues, Lujan said:

l “We need to make sure health care becomes an opportunity for everyone.”

l “There should be mandatory funding for veterans to make sure they are going to be taken care of.”

Lujan also said he understands the issues that concern New Mexicans from agriculture to economic development to immigration to the war in Iraq.

Lujan picked up the edorsement of former U.S. Rep. Tom Morris of Quay County.

Lujan is one of six Democratic candidates seeking the seat currently held by U.S. Rep. Tom Udall. Udall has said he will run for the Senate seat held by the U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, who is retiring for health reasons.

The other candidates are Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya, former New Mexico assistant attorney general Jon Adams, New Mexico attorney Rudy Martin, former state indian affairs secretary Bennie Shendo Jr. and Santa Fe businessman Don Wiviott.