Nunez Intends to Run Again, as an Independent

Andy Nunez

In the entire New Mexico legislature Andy Nunez stands alone as an island of true independence. When asked during his appearance on News New Mexico Thursday morning, Nunez confirmed his intention to seek re-election in 2012, this time as an Independent. In the Land of Enchantment, Democrats have dominated and Republicans have played second fiddle for several generations. Independents are derisively defined as "decline to state" on their voter registration cards. Those of us like Nunez who "decline to state" are treated as non-entities. The good news for New Mexico's independent thinkers is Andy Nunez is hardly a non-entity. Rapidly becoming a folk hero if not a true hero, Nunez has been perhaps the major news maker in the state in 2011. When he refused to cave in to the marching orders of heavy-handed speaker Ben Lujan in the pressure-packed Speaker of the House vote on the opening day on the 2011 legislative session, Nunez was punished like a truculent school boy rather than respected as a seasoned legislator. You can hear the entire interview with Nunez on News New Mexico by clicking here: Personally I am thinking about writing a song about Nunez before the end of the 60-day session.

Nunez Intends to Run Again, as an Independent