Lass v. Block: What is viability, what is qualified
In the race for New Mexico Public Regulation Commissioner (3rd Dist.), Green Rick Lass is facing off against ‘heir apparent’ Jerome Block, Jr., Democrat. The race has been very contentious (see previous coverage here and here and here and here and here) and is entering its final stages. I would claim that this is one of the top 5 or 10 races Greens should be watching nationwide this November.
The race is interesting because #1 There is no Republican in the race; #2 The Democrat has a history of illegal campaign finance activity, falsified records on his resumes, a restraining order related to gang activities, public urination, and being the son of a former long time public relations commissioner; #3 The Green, Rick Lass, has been running an effective campaign against Jerome Block and for Rick Lass; #4 This race is close close close, but might be far less so due to the fact that Block will have a Capital D for Democrat after his name on the ballot and Lass will have a G for GREEN PARTY.
In this recent piece at the Santa Fe Reporter, Dave Maass breaks down the race explicitly:
Despite months of negative publicity, Sanderoff says Democrats’ habit of straight-party voting, as well as reluctance in the north to support Green candidates, still puts Lass at a disadvantage. “What it would take [to defeat Block] is even more adverse publicity occurring from now until election day,” Sanderoff says.
That seems to be the direction Block’s opponent is moving. Lass will begin running radio ads in the second week of October. “We don’t have the exact wording written, but we’re going to point out that Jerome Block Jr. is not capable of having this job,” Lass tells SFR. “When he says the reason he continued to lie about the campaign rally is because of pressure from the local media, what’s he going to do when there’s pressure from PNM’s lobbyists and Qwest lobbyists and his father’s friends? He’s going to fold, just like he folded and failed to tell the truth to the media.”
Lass also may benefit from a boost of support from dissatisfied Democrats. Former state legislator Robert Perls, who authored the legislation to consolidate the State Corporation Commission and Public Utility Commission into the PRC (in part, to term-limit Block’s father, Jerome Block Sr., who also sat in the District 3 seat), tells SFR he officially endorses Lass.
“My concerns are, No. 1, incompetence, No. 2, undue influence from his father and No. 3, undue influence from the industries [Block] is supposed to be regulating,” Perls says.
See this story for a richer description of why New Mexico Democrats are trying to decide what is more important: party or principles. Rick Lass may not be a Democrat, but Jerome Block is having a hard time proving he has principles.
I hope that Rick will win. This is one example where the Green Party actually has quite a good chance of winning. I am mostly voting for democrats, but will vote for Rick Lass because he’s got a good chance of winning this!
I just found out that a well-educated person I know at the university voted straight party Dem because he messed up the ballot the first time and was too impatient to fill in the blanks again. I had mentioned Rick but he forgot. I fear this is what to expect on election day but am trying to keep up hope.
Straight party voting should be banned from the ballots. This should be a priority. I know we have lost thousands of votes in Wisconsin due to it.
When I pressed my State Assembly Rep (A Democrat) about this he stated that he supports straight party voting because it makes voting easier and faster for people. I guess it does if they are Democrats or Republicans.
Illinois got rid of straight party voting years ago, but there was an effort to bring it back recently. Luckily it failed. It hurts third parties and is an insult to the intelligence of voters.
Hopefully Lass will overcome that effect. Looks like he’s received some major endorsements from papers and environmental groups:
http://ricklass.net/press/endorsements/