College Dems: Don't procrastinate at polls

Gubernatorial candidate Diane Denish and Congressman Martin Heinrich will speak at today’s Early Vote Rally.
Hosted by College Democrats, the rally takes place at noon outside the SUB and will stress the importance of early voting, College Democrats member Alex Bazan said.

“The election is going to be a nail-biter to the end. I think that students could play a big role like they did in the ’08 election,” she said. “If they get out and vote, it could really change how this race ends.”

Chris Cervini, Denish’s deputy campaign manager, said Denish is working to show how important college voters are to her. He said Denish wants to help New Mexicans get affordable education by cutting the number of UNM vice presidents.
“She is really going to be pushing a strong get-out-to-vote message because, frankly, it’s important for college students — taking that money, that administrative bloat, and putting it directly back into the classrooms,” Cervini said. “She is a supporter of the University’s academic mission.”

Donald Gluck, president of UNM Conservative Republicans, said Republicans believe in individual achievement and excellence in education.
“Republicans will do more with less. We welcome the opportunity to prove this,” he said.

College Democrats President Ray Suelzer said the Nov. 2 election is important for many reasons. The next governor, he said, will set education policy, and a Democrat-controlled Congress will set the tone for policy for the next two years.

“When students vote, it means they are more likely to be listened to when policy is made,” Ray Suelzer said. “The Democratic Congress has done more for our generation than any Congress in recent history.”

Gluck said Democrats have controlled the state’s legislature for nearly 70 years, except two short intermissions. He said under continued Democratic leadership, New Mexico would continue to be a poor state.

“New Mexico has a large budget deficit, is rife with public corruption, has high unemployment and reduced drilling for oil and gas,” Gluck said. “Monopoly control has led to corruption and incompetence.”

Suelzer said he hopes Democrats continue to control Congress because they can accomplish more during President Obama’s term. He said if Denish is elected governor, she will consider the college students’ concerns during the policy-making process.
“I think that a Republican Congress will block any progress to move this country forward,” he said.