Journal Essentially Endorses Two Democrats In Congressional Primary

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The Albuquerque Journal issued its long anticipated endorsement in the Democratic primary’s First Congressional District to replace Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham who is running for Governor.

The full editorial can be read here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/1175043/journal-recommends-martine-zfor-cd1-democratic-primary.html

There are 6 Democrats running for the First Congressional District seat:

Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis
Former Democratic Party Chair Debra Haaland
Former UNM Law School Associate Dean Antonette Sedillo Lopez
Immigration and tax attorney Damian Lara
Former United States Attorney for the District of New Mexico Damon Martinez
Albuquerque businessman Paul Moya

The Albuquerque Journal endorsed Damon Martinez and then mentioned Paul Moya and totally ignored the other four candidates.

Democrats really need to sit up and take notice of the editorial endorsement by the Albuquerque Journal for not only endorsing their preferred candidate but also mentioning another qualified candidate.

The Albuquerque Journal has essentially endorsed two Democrats in the primary.

I cannot recall the Journal in a congressional race ever mentioning two Democratic candidates in the same editorial and in glowing terms no less.

Most Progressive Democrats would also say the Journal endorsement means very little to them, but there are times the Journal editors do get it right.

Both Damon Martinez and Paul Moya can take great comfort from the editorial and what was said about them.

DAMON MARTINEZ

Damon Martinez has indeed pick upped considerable momentum according to recent polls, with one poll suggesting he is now second, and the editorial did a solid summary of his impressive record of public service.

Damon Martinez is an Albuquerque native who earned a bachelor’s degree, Master of Business Administration and law degree from the University of New Mexico, and served as New Mexico’s U.S. attorney from 2014 to 2017 until he was fired by Donald Trump and has been an officer in the U.S. Armed Forces for 15 years, enlisting after the Sept. 11 attacks.

Martinez worked in Congress for former US Senator Jeff Bingaman and then former US Representative and now US Senator Tom Udall, serving as Bingaman’s legislative assistant and later as Udall’s legislative directorand for those reasons knows how the system works and would be able to hit the ground running if elected to Congress.

PAUL MOYA

Paul Moya is also a New Mexico native, he speaks fluent Spanish, and for being just 30 years old and running for the first time he is highly educated and highly accomplished in his own right.

Paul Moya has a bachelor’s degree in finance from the University of Notre Dame, and a master’s degree in education policy and management from Harvard Graduate School of Education. Mr. Moya started his own company, Millennial Labs, a business strategy consulting firm, when he couldn’t find a job in New Mexico after graduation.

Paul Moya has made positive impression at all the forums and debates and does stand out amongst them all.

THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY’S FUTURE

Both of these men represent real progressive leadership the Democratic Party so desperately needs on a national level in the age of Donald Trump.

Both Damon Martinez and Paul Moya have demonstrated they are smart, reasonable and fully committed to Democratic core values and who will take on Donald Trump.

Both men have a bright political future, should they choose to continue pursuing elected office should either of them not prevail in the primary.

The congressional race is too close to call given the amount of money being spent so Democrats need to pay attention.

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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.