State Rep. Andy Nuñez seeks re-election as independent

State Rep. Andy Nuñez seeks re-election as independent

Sun-News report

LAS CRUCES — State Rep. Andy Nuñez of Hatch announced he’s seeking re-election to his District 36 seat.

The 76-year-old former Democrat won’t appear on the June 5 primary election ballot because he switched his registration to independent in 2011. But he’ll appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot.
Nuñez said he’s fielded inquiries from people wondering whether he’ll run again.

Over the years, he’s been a member of the House agriculture panel, both during the legislative sessions and in the interim periods. However, outgoing Speaker of the House Ben Lujan removed Nuñez from the committee that meets during the session, after a political battle between them.

Lujan, who announced in January he’s got lung cancer, has said he won’t seek re-election.

“We’re going to have a change in Santa Fe, now that the leadership is gone,” Nuñez said. “I want to see the ag and water committee get back on track. To me, it was a do-nothing committee last year.”

Nuñez said he believes he’s one of the few — if not the only — independent to seek election to the New Mexico House.

Nuñez, also a Hatch trustee, has been a state representative since 2001, according to the New Mexico Legislature website.

With a redistricting in place, District 36 dropped the Picacho Hills area and Rodey, but gained some more area in Las Cruces downtown and Radium Springs, Nuñez said.