With the addition of another GOP candidate for lieutenant governor Wednesday, the Republican primary is starting to become almost as crowded as the Democratic field for the state's No. 2 post.

Sen. Kent Cravens, R-Albuquerque, joined the crowd, saying he'd restore trust in elected officials.

"The agenda coming from Santa Fe has been unhealthy for our local economy, communities, and individual prosperity," he said in a statement. "Working together we can bring government back to the people, on a personal level so that we can solve the big problems facing New Mexico."

Cravens, a senator since 2001, faces former Rep. Brian Moore of Clayton, J.R. Damron, a Santa Fe radiologist, and Bea Sheridan, an Albuquerque registered nurse.

During his time in the Legislature, Cravens has pushed anti-DWI laws, and worked for small businesses and taxpayer protection, his campaign said. He's married with three kids, and he and his wife own a marketing franchise called Alphagraphics.

"Together my wife Melanie and I have built our business from the ground up and we know first hand the challenges New Mexico businesses and families face in this tough economy. I will fight to create jobs, reduce taxes and out of control government spending," Cravens said. "In order to restore trust in our elected officials we must demand accountability and transparency at all levels of government."

Cravens is probably best known for his work on DWI legislation, something he took up after his sister-in-law and her three daughters were killed in a 1992 Christmas Eve drunken-driving crash.

"Working together we have passed and implemented the nation's most aggressive DWI reform measures leading to a 3 percent reduction in death and injury on our state's highways," Cravens said. "However, as long as people are still dying, I know there is still work to be done."

Cravens is on an announcement tour, which will include stops in Farmington, Las Cruces and Roswell among other places, his campaign said.

Contact Kate Nash at 986-3036 or knash@sfnewmexican.com. Read her blog at www.greenchilechatter.com.