Luján: Happy to follow Dad, points to accomplishments on PRC

Kate Nash | The New Mexican

5/17/2008 - 5/6/08

On the campaign trail, Ben Ray Luján talks about one of the cottonwoods at the picturesque Luján residence in Nambé, using it as a symbol that tradition has a stronghold in one of Northern New Mexico's best-known families.

Luján cares for that tree, just as his dad and grandfather before him did, he says.

And just as Luján's dad, New Mexico House Speaker Ben Luján, was a laborer like his father, the son is following his father's second career as a politician, this time running for the U.S. Congress.

The idea that Ben Ray Luján is standing in his dad's shadow has been one of the main criticisms of his candidacy, something he can't seem to get away from.

The younger Luján isn't bothered by that, however, and says he appreciates his dad's support. "I'm proud of my father," he said. "I'm proud of the support I have from my family — like Gary King, who had the support of his father, Bruce, and Congressman (Tom) Udall, who had the support of his father, Secretary Udall."

Seen as a front-runner in the race to replace U.S. Rep. Tom Udall, Luján suggested others in the race wish they had the same backing he does. "I think that any of the candidates in this race would like to have the support of my father," he said.

Luján, 35, graduated from Pojoaque High School 1990. In the 18 years since, he's shot to one of the state's highest-paying elected jobs, Public Regulation Commission member. Elected in 2004, he started the $90,000-a-year job in 2005, serving as chairman from 2005 through 2007.

After high school, he took some introductory classes at The University of New Mexico. He completed his college degree last year at New Mexico Highlands University.

Along the way, he has worked as a casino dealer, in human resources at a race track, in the State Treasurer's Office under Michael Montoya and at the Cultural Affairs Department. Luján served as deputy state treasurer, but he never was implicated in the kickback scandal that led to felony convictions of Montoya and Montoya's successor, state Treasurer Robert Vigil.

It's his time on the PRC, however, that Luján points to as his qualification to be a congressman.

Luján zeros in on his work on renewable energy in particular. "Making a difference in the way that energy was going to be generated in the United States and New Mexico is one of the biggest accomplishments over at the commission," he said.

Luján, endorsed by the Sierra Club and Conservation Voters New Mexico, points to renewable energy portfolio standards adopted by the Legislature and implemented by the commission. The new regulations call for utility companies to get 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2015 and 20 percent by 2020. The commission laid out rules on how utilities should diversify their power supplies.

Critics say the standards don't go far enough and give utility companies a way out of the program if they have to increase customer rates by more than 1 percent to invest in renewables. Luján acknowledges the costs are higher than for traditional energy but expects those to drop as renewable energy becomes more popular.

Other critics, who preferred not to speak on the record, say the PRC, including Luján, should have done more to hold telecom giant Qwest accountable to the state, including trying harder to hold it in contempt of court for backing down on promises it would invest millions in New Mexico telecommunications infrastructure. The company's move angered consumers and for years tied up the company in a fight with the commission.

On the campaign trail, Luján has said he stood up to Qwest. In an interview, he also suggested he inherited the case from previous commissioners and did the best he could. "Qwest should have been held accountable throughout those years to make sure they were going to live up to their spending obligations where there could have been immediate intervention," he said.

"In 2005, that's the case that was given to the current commission, the commission elected at the time. And we moved forward to what we thought was a fair deal for the people of the state to get the investment that was promised to them, plus $15 million in refunds to consumers."

Luján's time on the commission also saw some other big cases, including the recent Public Service Company of New Mexico rate-increase case. The commission last month voted to raise rates by $34 million, about half of what the company was seeking.

"This was one of those difficult decisions to make sure that we were going to be able to have access to electricity that people need every day while making sure that the utility did not receive one penny more than they should be recovering under the laws of the state of New Mexico," Luján said.

PNM, which has seen recent downgrading in its credit rating, was upset by the move.

While Luján learned a lot about the industries the PRC regulates, some have questioned why he didn't seek more of a formal education sooner.

"I was working on it," Luján said. "Like many New Mexicans, many working people, education was important to me. It was a commitment I made to myself that I was going to get my education, and I was happy to complete my course work to get my bachelor's."

In the primary race, Luján has been outspent by his closest opponent, Don Wiviott. But Luján has raised more money from other people than Wiviott has.

Luján has raised $328,740, nearly three times the total reported by Wiviott, who has loaned his campaign most of its money.

He said he's received financial support from the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees; the Communications Workers of America; the National Education Association; and other labor groups. "We're real proud to have their support," he added.

Luján has used the Internet extensively to get out his message. He also has been the subject of blog chatter, mostly on progressive sites like Democracy For New Mexico, where some have questioned his qualifications, but others have defended him and blasted Wiviott.

Given the cost of campaigning, Luján said, he'd work toward campaign-finance reform, including exploring the idea of spending caps. That idea in the past has been shot down by the U.S. Supreme Court on First Amendment grounds.

According to Federal Election Commission records, recent contributors of $5,000 each were the International Association of Bridge, Structural, Ornamental and Reinforcing Iron Workers; the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Political Action Committee; and the United Association Political Education Committee. Some other donors of $2,300 or more include the Action Committee for Rural Electrification National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, Corrections Corporation of America Political Action Committee and the Geo Group Political Action Committee. The Geo Group, formerly Wackenhut, operates private prisons in New Mexico.

During the campaign, Luján also has received money from big contributors to Gov. Bill Richardson.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog, Green Chile Chatter, at www.sfnewmexican.com.

Ben Ray Luján

Web site: www.benrLuján.com

Age: 35

Education: Graduated from Pojoaque High School in 1990. In 2007, received bachelor's degree in business administration from New Mexico Highlands University

Career experience: Past employment includes the Pueblo of Pojoaque, where he worked jobs including as a casino dealer from 1994 to 1998, and in human resources at the Downs of Albuquerque from 2001 to 2002. Also worked as deputy state treasurer under then-Treasurer Michael Montoya in 2002. In 2003 served as the director of administrative services and chief financial officer for the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department.

Political experience: Elected in 2004 to a term on the Public Regulation Commission, which expires in December.

Personal: Single. Son of state House Speaker Ben Luján and Carmen Luján. Has one brother and two sisters. Likes mountain biking, hiking, camping and fishing.

Ever arrested? No.