Balance of power in NM House could shift for first time in 60 years

10/28/2014

Updated: 10/27/2014 10:16 PM | Created: 10/27/2014 9:58 PM
By: Ryan Luby, KOB Eyewitness News 4

If New Mexico House Republicans gain three seats next Tuesday, they'll take control of the state's House for the first time since 1953.

Stuck in the middle of that battle are races like the one in District 30 in northeast Albuquerque, between Republican incumbent Nate Gentry and Democrat Bob Coffey.

Gentry, an attorney, is seemingly within striking distance for the Democrats.  In the last few days, organizations like ProgressNow New Mexico have blasted Gentry for various criminal misdoings over the past decade.

"I was warned by my Democrat friends that if you dare to take on the entrenched establishment up in Santa Fe, there's going to be a price to pay," Gentry said on Monday.

ProgressNow dredged up Gentry's DWI from 2002, for failing to appear in court on the case, and a case of unlawful fishing from 2012.  http://noonnate.wordpress.com/

Gentry said he regrets the decisions he made years ago, acknowledging he was much younger at the time.  Further, he said he willingly cooperated with authorities in connection to the unlawful fishing case for which he received a deferred sentence.

"I've been very upfront with the voters of this district about the mistakes I've made, and they've chosen to send me up to Santa Fe anyway," Gentry said.

He said he rightfully wants to focus on critical political issues.  Specifically, he champions efforts to grow jobs and diversify the private sector.  He also wants to continue efforts to reform the state's education system.

Opponent Coffey said jobs and education are the critical issues for him as well.  However, Coffey, a teacher at Highland High School, described the latest education reform efforts as punitive to teachers.  On jobs, Coffey said he wants to raise the minimum wage and support a think tank that could study New Mexico's job growth issues.

Coffey said his campaign didn't have a role in developing the attacks against Gentry.

"We have no control over those ads, and those groups putting out those ads," he said.

However, he's not ignoring the message the attacks are casting on his opponent.

"I think if the record shows a pattern of behavior that is reckless, then the public needs to know," Coffey said.

source