CIBOLA COUNTY - Dr. J.R. Damron and former Albuquerque City Manager Lawrence Rael have recently announced their candidacy for Lt. Governor of New Mexico - Damron a Republican and Rael a Democrat.

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Damron

    Dr. Damron is a radiologist from Santa Fe providing diagnostic radiology services to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical Center, Santa Fe Imaging Center, Los Alamos Medical Center and the Santa Fe Indian Health Hospital. He has practiced medicine in Santa Fe since 1984.

Damron has received several local and national awards, including the Capitol Dome award and the Physician's Award for Outstanding Service from the American Cancer Society. He has also received several awards and appointments from the National Republican Congressional Committee: Republican of the Year in 2006, Physicians Advisory Board, 2006 Physician of the Year and 2008 Presidential Commission. He serves on the New Mexico Cancer Council and on other state-supporting committees and task forces.

    Community service has always been an important aspect of Dr. Damron's commitment to society. He served as vice president of the St. Vincent Hospital Foundation, Board of Directors of the First National Bank of Santa Fe, member of Rotary International Service Club and an Elder at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Santa Fe. He has also coached a women's city softball team in Santa Fe. Dr. Damron served on the National Board of the American Cancer society and has chaired several national committees for the ACS. He also served as president of the New Mexico Division of the ACS and was a camp counselor at Camp Enchantment, a statewide camp for children with cancer.

    Dr. Damron's wife, Barbara, is an oncology nurse with a PhD in psychology. They have two children, Matt, 21, and Allie. The family lives in Santa Fe.

    Damron said, “We must bring the best and brightest minds from the public and private sector together to address the deficiencies in our tax system, duplicative business incentives and outdated business programs to give our New Mexico small businesses a change to compete their way out of this terrible recession.”

    See more about Dr. Damron at www.damronforltgovernor.com.

Rael

    Lawrence Rael is a lifelong New Mexican. Born in Santa Fe, Rael was raised in the rural town of Sile. He graduated from Bernalillo High School in 1976 and earned his bachelor's degree in sociology from the University of New Mexico and later earned a master's degree in Public Administration with a concentration in public finance.

    Rael's journey in public service began at an early age when assisting in community service projects in his hometown. The experience led him to work for state government and in 1984 he became the Deputy Secretary of Transportation under Governor Tony Anaya.

    After working for Sen. Jeff Bingaman in Washington, in 1990, Rael returned to New Mexico and served as the Chief Administrative Officer of the City of Albuquerque. He is the longest serving individual to hold the position, serving through 12 years and three different administrations. In 2002 Lawrence left the city to become Executive Director of the Mid-Region Council of Governments. The MRCOG manages regional transportation, agriculture, workforce development, employment growth, land-use, water and economic development programs.

    His most visible accomplishments while CAO of Albuquerque and director of MRCOG are: expansion of the Albuquerque Airport and Convention Center; development of the International Balloon Fiesta; education and family-oriented facilities including the Explora Science Center, the Albuquerque Aquarium and Botanic Gardens, and the Isotopes Baseball Park; and transportation infrastructure, including managing the planning and construction of the award-winning Rail Runner Express commuter rail line.

    As CAO, Rael was responsible for a budget of $1 billion and 9,000 employees. Despite being involved in government for many years, “This is my first time running for an elected position,” Rael said.

    “When I look at the future of New Mexico, I bring to the table knowledge and qualifications. It is working with people and building a better New Mexico.” Rael said the two greatest challenges facing New Mexico are the educational system and the economy, specifically jobs. “We need to challenge the educational system - we need to be more creative,” he said about education. And as far as the economy, he said, “Grow the pie. Find ways to create more jobs, invest and expand what we already have.”

    Lawrence lives in Los Ranchos with his wife, Kim, and their three children.