Thomas to run for Swisstack's seat
Walters expected to challenge Papponi in GOP primary

By Eric Maddy
The SCORE

Sandoval County commissioner Jack Thomas announced Monday he will seek the seat in the New Mexico House of Representatives currently being held by recently-elected Rio Rancho mayor Tom Swisstack.

Thomas officially put the end to weeks of speculation at the Sandoval County Democratic Club meeting Monday night.

Thomas said Tuesday he plans to finish his second term on the Sandoval County Commission where he is term-limited and cannot run again. That term expires Dec. 31; the term of office for the Legislature begins Jan. 1, 2009.

That leaves Swisstack holding both jobs until the end of the year, which is appears to be OK with the New Mexico Attorney General's office. Swisstack had requested an AG's opinion on the issue on Dec. 20, and an advisory letter from the AG's office to Swisstack dated Jan. 10 says there is nothing preventing him from holding both positions based on a 1977 AG's opinion.

The six-sentence response from Zachary A. Shandler, an assistant attorney general and deputy director in he civil division, reads as follows:

"Dear Rep. Swisstack:

"We received your letter dated Dec. 20, 2007, requesting an Attorney General Opinion regarding whether a member of the sate legislature may continue o serve as a state legislator if that member is subsequently elected as the mayor of the City of Rio Rancho. Attorney General King asked me to respond to your request.

"It is not necessary to handle your inquiry because Attorney General Opinion 77-26 is still current. However, I suggest you contact the Rio Rancho City Attorney regarding any relevant ordinances on the topic.

"I regret that we cannot assist your as requested. However, if I may provide further information or clarification on our conclusion in this regard, please contact me."

Meanwhile, Glenn Walters, who ran unsuccessfully against Swisstack in 2004, said he is "seriously considering" making another bid for the House 60 seat. Walters, who spoke by cell phone after getting off a plane from China where he represented the city as part of a New Mexico Chamber of Commerce delegation, said he would attend the Republican state convention this weekend and could have an announcement as soon as Monday.

Former Jemez Valley school superintendent Paula Papponi announced late last year that she is running for the seat.

After Wednesday’s city council meeting, Swisstack said supported Thomas’ candidacy.

“Commissioner Thomas would make a good representative for our district,” Swisstack said. “He's shown his support of community and of our city.

“He's shown he can accomplish things and he's built bridges to help people work in a positive direction. I think that's been successful over the last six years in particular.”

Thomas said he is running for the seat to follow through on projects he’s been involved with at the county level.

“We've got a lot of big projects going on, and I think I can be an asset at the state level to continue to push for water and transpiration, especially mass transportation as gas prices go up,” he said. “I think there are a lot of things that can be done. I've got a lot of knowledge at the county level and the city level. I understand what's needed in Rio Rancho.

“If we could do manufacturing and bring jobs to the area, whether it’s in Sandoval County or Rio Rancho, it would change he dynamics of people driving. We’re better off. I have an interest in that. I started doing things like the Northwest Lop, industrial parks we’ve set aside, an airport – all the things we’ve done here I can get to the state and try o push those through. I want to take on these tasks to complete the ones I’ve started on.

“We've worked hand-in-hand with the state and the cities in Sandoval County. You have o form partnerships to accomplish anything. When I go up there the first thing I’m going to try to do is form partnerships throughout the state. We need to understand what helps New Mexico.”

Thomas cited he example of the Spaceport in the southern part of the state.

“It helps New Mexico. It helps with jobs and that’s what we’re looking for,” he said. “Jobs are probably the most important things that people in the world have. I know it was my most important thing. I had to have a job to eat, to have a home, feed a family, have health insurance, everything. Jobs that pay well are really important.”

On the health care issue that put many legislators and Gov. Bill Richardson on opposite sides during the last session, Thomas said, “People talk about 'we don't want to pay for everybody.’ But they're already paying for everybody. They're just paying at the highest price possible.

“If you try to implement some kind of program at the lower level where you do preemptive tests then you don't have to follow up later.”

Thomas, who retired in 2002 after 25 years as a foreman for the Public Service Company of New Mexico, also served more than three years on the Rio Rancho City Council. He and his wife Patty, a current Rio Rancho City Councilor and former Sandoval County Commissioner, have been married for 45 years and lived in the same house in the city for the past 31 years.

“I’ve grow up with this area,” he said. “I came when there were 5,000 people and now there are 80,000. I’ve seen he changes that have happened.

“I think I’m a pretty good fit for this because of my background, my tremendous interest in accomplishing tasks I think I can finish off with partnerships with the state, cities and the county.”