**PRESS RELEASE**
For Immediate Release: Contact:
April 8, 2010 Patricia French
505-480-1335
AFSCME Kicks Off The 2010 Election Season With The Endorsement Of
Lt. Governor Diane Denish For Governor
AFSCME also backs other strong supporters of working families
Albuquerque, NM – The American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Employees, which represents over 12,000 city, county, state, and university employees along with home-based childcare providers has endorsed Lt. Governor Diane Denish for Governor of New Mexico.
On Wednesday evening, AFSCME New Mexico’s PEOPLE (political action) Committee voted unanimously to endorse Lt. Governor Denish because she has the needed experience, vision, and dedication to fight for hard working families and to lead our state as the next Governor of New Mexico.
For statewide office AFSCME endorsed James Lewis for Treasurer, Mary Herrera for Secretary of State, Hector Balderas for Auditor, and Ray Powell for Land Commissioner.
For the New Mexico House of Representatives AFSCME endorsed Speaker Ben Lujan for District 46, Irvin Harrison for District 5, Elias Barela for District 8, Eleanor Chavez for District 13, Miguel Garcia for District 14, Bill O’Neill for District 15, Mimi Stewart for District 21, Ben Rodefer for District 23, Stephanie Richard for District 43, Brian Egolf for District 47, Luciano “Lucky” Varela for District 48, and Jack Thomas for District 60.
AFSCME also endorsed Judge Robert Robles for Court of Appeals position 1, Judge Linda Vanzi for Court of Appeals position 2, and Shannon Bacon for District Court Judge.
AFSCME will continue to meet with candidates running for office at all levels of government around the state and will have more endorsements in the near future.
