CD3 on TV: All 6 Dems
At KNME's University Blvd. studio, the two weeks beginning on May 12 were an exercise in corralling cat-like candidates to appear jointly with their fellow congressional aspirants. The idea was to give viewers and northern New Mexico voters a chance to take their measure of six Democratic men side-by-side. Due to table space limitations, KNME producer Kevin McDonald wanted to assemble two segments of three candidates each.
Well, two particular candidates -- Santa Fe builder Don Wiviott and PRC Commissioner Ben Ray Lujan -- put the kabash on that. It's all subject to interpretation, of course, but the reasons ran the gamut from chronic scheduling conflicts to a claim of food poisoning an hour before recording (yes, you read that correctly) to an upfront refusal from one candidate to appear along side another.
But in the end, I was able to sit down with each of the Democrats vying for the 3rd Congressional District nomination.
One noteworthy behind-the-scenes event: Regarding the much publicized Farmington exchange between Lujan and ex-Indian Affairs Department Sec. Benny Shendo Jr., both candidates did meet briefly in between their separate Friday morning interviews in the KNME front lobby. Lujan left immediately after talking with Shendo. And later, when asked about his conversation with Lujan, Shendo declined to give any details.
In case you missed the original broadcast of New Mexico In Focus Friday evening at 7:00 p.m., check out the interviews with all of the candidates below.
Santa Fe County Commissioner Harry Montoya, Dixon attorney Rudy Martin and Santa Fe attorney Jon Adams square off.
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