New Mexico News
| Judge Candidates Battle Indifference |
| Posted by () on May 21 2008 at 6:34 PM |
When Clyde DeMersseman ascended to the Metro Court bench the first time, he likely never guessed how brief his tenure was going to be behind the black robe.
He was appointed in August 2005, campaigned as a Republican for the subsequent bipartisan election as all new judges must, lost that election to a Democratic opponent in November 2006 and thus his judgeship a month later.
It was a disappointing loss, and one that caused DeMersseman to question the reasonableness of the judicial selection process.
"Why do we have a partisan race to begin with? Why do we label judicial candidates?" he asked. "Any decent judge is going to be middle of the road. They have to see both sides. They shouldn't be partisan."
DeMersseman, as it turns out, got a second chance, returning to the bench in February 2007 after Gov. Bill Richardson again appointed him.
This time, DeMersseman is running as a Democrat. He offers other reasons for changing parties last March, but it doesn't hurt that he's chosen the party of the majority in Bernalillo County.
In a bottom-of-the-ticket race where voters tend to simply choose their party, that could mean the difference to DeMersseman.
Or not.
In this go-round, he faces two Democratic opponents— Christina Argyres and Edward L. Benavidez— in the upcoming June primary.
This time, being in the party of the majority may not be enough.
But what will be?
"Metro Court judges are last on the ballot. We tend to have the least people interested in finding out who we are," said Benavidez, an Albuquerque attorney with 16 years of experience in law.
Having endured two unsuccessful runs for a Metro Court judgeship, Benavidez knows a thing or two about the problems of getting his name out there and the votes in.
"A lot of it has to do with resources that I do not have," he said. "You're limited on funds so you can't reach out as easily."
Most people don't know who has real experience in the judiciary unless they've had contact with the system, the candidates said.
"That's why it's all the more important to get out there to meet people and go places," said Argyres, an Albuquerque attorney for nine years who tried to make the bench in 2004 through the gubernatorial appointment route.
"Each of us brings something different to this race," Argyres said. "It's up to us to let voters know what that difference is."
The three candidates said they don't think recent scandals will bring their race much more attention. Those included the ousting of Metro Court Judge J. Wayne Griego in March for ticket fixing and the arrest days earlier of former state District Judge W. John Brennan on assault charges involving his reported mistress.
"It doesn't make it easier," DeMersseman said. "But any group is going to have bad apples, but there are a lot of us who do good work."
Clyde DeMersseman (incumbent)
POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Albuquerque
AGE: 41
EDUCATION: B.A., political science, University of Colorado, 1989; juris doctorate, University of Denver, 1994.
OCCUPATION: Judge. Metro Court judge, 2005-present; private practice, 1998-2005; assistant district attorney, 1994-98; acting deputy district attorney, 1996; supervising University of New Mexico Clinical Law program attorney, 1996.
FAMILY: Wife, Rebecca Branch, twin son and daughter.
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: Metro Court judge (appointed twice), 2005-present; Supreme Court Metro Court rules committee, 2006-present; Albuquerque Police Department task force on domestic violence, 1996; Albuquerque DWI Planning Council, 1996.
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Selection by the bipartisan Judicial Selection Committee and appointment as judge by Gov. Bill Richardson.
MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: The birth of our twin children and being involved in their daily lives.
Edward L. Benavidez
POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Albuquerque
AGE: 45
EDUCATION: B.A., political science, New Mexico State University, 1985; juris doctorate, Thomas M. Cooley Law School, 1990.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer. Private practice, 2008-present; assistant public defender, 2006-07; assistant district attorney, 2004-06; private practice, 1994-2004; assistant public defender, 1992-94.
FAMILY: Wife, Kimberly Brusuelas; one daughter, two stepdaughters.
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: Bernalillo County Teen Court Judge volunteer, 1998; New Mexico Summer Youth Employment Program coordinator, 1981-84.
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Ensuring that our constitutional rights are upheld and protected as a prosecutor and defense attorney.
MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Being able to run for office and having a Web site at www.electbenavidez.com.
Christina Argyres
POLITICAL PARTY: Democrat
PLACE OF RESIDENCE: Albuquerque
AGE: 40
EDUCATION: B.A., University of New Mexico, 1990; A.L.M., Harvard University, 1993; juris doctorate, Ohio Northern School of Law, 1997.
OCCUPATION: Lawyer. Private practice, 2002-present; public defender, 2000-2002; U.S. Attorney's Office, 1999-2000.
FAMILY: Niece; three nephews; six dogs.
POLITICAL/GOVERNMENT EXPERIENCE: None.
MAJOR PROFESSIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Successfully owning and operating my law office and providing quality legal counsel to all.
MAJOR PERSONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS: Training and competing in my first marathon. I am now training for my first triathlon.
Comments
Add Comment