I Am Entitled and Its Mine For The Asking

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According to the New Mexico Political Report, just days after the election, attention is already turning to the 2018 New Mexico Governor’s race. US Senator Tom Udall, who was just re-elected two years ago to a six year term, and Congresswoman Mitchell Lujan Grisham, who just got re-elected, are now saying they want to run for Governor. By all accounts, Udall and Lujan Grisham are doing a good job in Washington and going up the seniority ladder in Congress that is so important to a small state like New Mexico.

I never believe elected officials who say “people are urging me to run” for another office when they have not even finished the term they have been elected and agreed to serve. It is that sense of selfishness and self entitlement that they have that really bugs me. It is like they are saying, “I got the job I always told you I wanted, but now I am not satisfied and want another job and I get to choose whatever I want to be elected to because of who I am”.

When an already elected official gives up a position held and is elected to, the filled position becomes at risk. Example: If US Senator Tom Udall runs for Governor and wins, he will appoint his successor who will be vulnerable. If Congresswoman Mitchell Lujan Grisham runs for Governor, she gives up a house seat and a Republican like Richard Berry would have good chance of taking it back for the Republicans. State Auditor Tim Keller is now running for Mayor without finishing even half a term and if he is elected Mayor, Governor Martinez will appoint his successor.

It is the domino effect that these people do not care about, just as long as they get the job they think they want.

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About

Pete Dinelli was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is of Italian and Hispanic descent. He is a 1970 graduate of Del Norte High School, a 1974 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a 1977 graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. Pete has a 40 year history of community involvement and service as an elected and appointed official and as a practicing attorney in Albuquerque. Pete and his wife Betty Case Dinelli have been married since 1984 and they have two adult sons, Mark, who is an attorney and George, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Pete has been a licensed New Mexico attorney since 1978. Pete has over 27 years of municipal and state government service. Pete’s service to Albuquerque has been extensive. He has been an elected Albuquerque City Councilor, serving as Vice President. He has served as a Worker’s Compensation Judge with Statewide jurisdiction. Pete has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has served as a Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney and as a Deputy City Attorney. For eight years, Pete was employed with the City of Albuquerque both as a Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer overseeing the city departments of police, fire, 911 emergency call center and the emergency operations center. While with the City of Albuquerque Legal Department, Pete served as Director of the Safe City Strike Force and Interim Director of the 911 Emergency Operations Center. Pete’s community involvement includes being a past President of the Albuquerque Kiwanis Club, past President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board, and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.