Thread: GOP Martinez elected first female NM governor (10:07 p.m.)

GOP Martinez elected first female NM governor (10:07 p.m.)

By BARRY MASSEY / AP Political Writer
Posted: 11/02/2010 10:02:13 PM MDT

ALBUQUERQUE - Republican Susana Martinez won election Tuesday as governor of New Mexico, making history as the first Hispanic woman to become a state's chief executive.

Martinez, 51, defeated Democrat Diane Denish to also be elected New Mexico's first female governor. There was no incumbent in the race, with Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson barred from seeking re-election because he is finishing his second consecutive terms.

Martinez, a career prosecutor from southern New Mexico, made Richardson a central figure in the campaign. She ran as if the election was a referendum on the governor, whose popularity sank amid high unemployment and federal investigations into pay-to-play allegations. Denish has served as lieutenant governor for two terms, and was Richardson's running mate in 2002 and 2006.

Throughout the campaign, Martinez criticized policies and double-digit spending increases that took place during the "Richardson-Denish administration." Many of her ads showed a photo of Denish alongside a smiling Richardson.

"We can't afford four more years of the same," the announcer said in one ad aired late in the campaign.

The race for governor was Martinez's first bid for statewide elective office. She vowed to roll back many of Richardson's policies, including laws allowing illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses and the children of illegal immigrants to receive lottery-backed college scholarships if they graduate from a New Mexico high school. She advocated reinstating the death penalty, which was repealed in 2009.
Martinez once was a Democrat but became a Republican before successfully running in 1996 for Dona Ana County district attorney against her former boss.

She was born in El Paso, Texas, and worked as a security guard for her family's business when she was in high school. She received her law degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1986 and went to work in New Mexico as an assistant district attorney.

Denish, 61, portrayed herself as the candidate with the most experience to revive New Mexico's sputtering economy. She advocated tax credits for small businesses to create jobs, proposed to ban payday loans and expand early childhood education programs.

Before becoming lieutenant governor, Denish owned a company in Albuquerque that did market research and fundraising for non-profits. She served as chairwoman of the state Democratic Party in 1999-2001.

Denish was born in Hobbs and grew up in a political family in the Little Texas area of southeastern New Mexico. Her father, Jack Daniels, served in the New Mexico Legislature and ran unsuccessfully for governor and U.S. Senate in the early 1970s.

Check Wednesday's Las Cruces Sun-News online and in print for full election coverage.

http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_16504525

this is the same woman who came out earlier in the year and said there will be no more drivers license for illegals in NM

The race for governor was Martinez's first bid for statewide elective office. She vowed to roll back many of Richardson's policies, including laws allowing illegal immigrants to get driver's licenses and the children of illegal immigrants to receive lottery-backed college scholarships if they graduate from a New Mexico high school. She advocated reinstating the death penalty, which was repealed in 2009.

Thank you!!!

Well imagine that a Hispanic American looking out for America, wow! what a new concept.

As New Mexico resident I'm very happy that Martinez was elected. She knows through experience of living and working in Las Cruces about the many negatives that illegal immigration brings to the state and overall the country. Quite a bit of conservative Democrats voted for her in some areas of the state.

Susana Martinez represents the many proud American Hispanics who are against illegal immigration and want a safer country.

Originally Posted by stevetheroofer

Well imagine that a Hispanic American looking out for America, wow! what a new concept.

I'm a American Hispanic and I feel more American Hispanics need to step up and see how illegal immigration has destroyed this country. Luckily Susana is one of us and she cares more about the legal residents of New Mexico than her opponent Diane Denish and our current Bill Richardson do.

I'll wait and see , I'm not holding my breath

Besides , this is negated by the fact that Ol moonbeam in Calif is
going to give them licenses , dream act , amnesty state , etc

Does Calif still have a recall deal ?

Originally Posted by Justthefacts

I'll wait and see , I'm not holding my breath

Besides , this is negated by the fact that Ol moonbeam in Calif is
going to give them licenses , dream act , amnesty state , etc

Does Calif still have a recall deal ?

Yes we can still do a recall, but this time we need to recall the legislature, recalling the governor didn't work.