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Horse Fly, Taos, New Mexico
Congress
The Third Congressional District features Democrats Ben Ray Lujan and his dad, the Speaker of the House, against the rest. But if you see Don Wiviott on TV and can say his name, you see the gap closing between the two leading contenders. Benny Shendo of Jemez Pueblo is vying for third place along with Santa Fe Commissioner Harry Montoya; Udall's former aide, Jon Adams; and Rudy Martin from Dixon. For progressives, there's hope after Tom, there's Carol Miller, an independent with the mind of a wonk and the heart of a nurse.
On Friday, April 4, 2008, Ms. Miller, an Ojo Sarco resident, frequent Washington D.C. consultant, and health care and economic development specialist, sat down with the pesky pundit in his sumptuous digs next to Radio Shack adjacent to Taos’s Uptown Post Office. Miller, who ran on the Green Party ticket ten years ago, says she needs 5,779 signatures but will submit 10,000 to be safe to get on the ballot. Miller explained to Horse Fly that it is unlikely that the Democratic party winner will secure more than 40 % of the votes in June. In a district with 55,000 Independent, Republican, and dissatisfied Democratic voters. Miller says she’s got a legitimate shot at Congress. Miller, a grass-roots and social activist, says she’s willing to work with the opposition in Congress. In a humorous aside, she said that she was the only Reagan and Clinton appointee in Washington, where she generally spends one-third of her time.
As for issues, Miller says, “Why is New Mexico the worst place [state] to raise a child?” She points out that we compete with Mississippi for the last place each year in most categories. Commenting on Los Alamos, Miller notes the remediation per the Hanford Superfund site in Washington State could provide an example as a way for bomb builders to learn new skills. Miller mentions how Americans without health care are 50% more likely to die at a younger age than those with health care. The rural health care economic development specialist refers to upstate New Mexico as the “Poverty Industrial Complex.” She explains how Washington and Santa Fe create programs that absorb 80% of the allocated funds for the administrative costs - little left for those at the bottom. She’s a firm supporter of PILT (Payments in Lieu of Taxes), which are crucial to counties for the maintenance of roads and emergency services.
