Today joyous news for progressives in New Mexico, Pajama Pete Domenici is retiring! Now comes the mad dash for contenders for his seat. I am going to make my case for Tom Udall, Congressman from the 3rd district of New Mexico. He would be a fantastic US Senator, and progressives need to get on board with drafting him to run for the seat.
So I got an email today announcing there is a draft page already underway at Act Blue with some very nice bio information. Here is the info that was sent to me...
Winning an astonishing 75% of the vote in the 2006 general election , Tom was elected to a fifth term in the United States House of Representatives and continues to have the honor of serving the people of New Mexico's Third Congressional District. The overwhelming support of his constituents is well-deserved.
During his tenure in Congress, Tom Udall has earned a reputation as a courageous and principled legislator who is not afraid to stand up for what is right. At the same time, he is known for reaching across party lines to find common ground, for being an effective and thoughtful advocate for his constituents and for exercising the kind of bold leadership we need in these troubled times.
Nothing more clearly demonstrates Tom's dedication to his district than the dozens of town hall meetings he has hosted around the state to hear from his constituents and to learn how he can better serve them. New Mexico's Third is a district of great range - geographically larger than the state of Pennsylvania - and diversity - a true tri-cultural mosaic. His town hall visits, he says, remind him of where he came from, why he is in Washington and who sent him there. Tom Udall is deeply committed to representing the interests of his constituents and to putting New Mexico values on the national agenda.
Tom Udall comes from a family distinguished for its devotion to public service. His father, Stewart Udall, was elected four times to Congress before being appointed Secretary of the Interior by Presidents Kennedy and Johnson. Tom's Uncle Morris ("Mo") Udall not only served in Congress for 30 years but also was a major presidential contender in 1976. Representative Mark Udall (D-CO) and Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR) are Tom's cousins, and current Members of Congress.
Tom Udall graduated from Prescott College in 1970. In 1975 he graduated from Cambridge University in England with a Bachelor of Laws degree. That fall, he enrolled in the University of New Mexico Law School and graduated with a Juris Doctor in 1977. After graduating, Tom was Law Clerk to Chief Justice Oliver Seth of the U.S. Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals. Following his clerkship, Tom's legal career included appointment as Assistant US Attorney in the criminal division; appointment as Chief Counsel to the Department of Health and Environment; and partnership in the Miller Law Firm, which has offices in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces and Farmington. Tom is married to Jill Z. Cooper and they have a daughter, Amanda. Tom and Jill live in Santa Fe. Amanda and her husband, James Noel, live in Corrales.
All together, the work and achievements of Tom Udall have changed the face of New Mexico for the better. Throughout his career, Tom has been a leader in the most critical issues facing our state and country. He will continue to use his common-sense style to forge bipartisan solutions to meet the challenges of the 21st Century.
I would like to add that I have known Tom Udall and his family personally since 1988. When people say to me, "Oh I hate politics, all politicians lie, and are corrupt and greedy." I respond with Tom Udall as my example of a real, honest, decent public servant and steward of progressive causes. Tom is a great, decent, humble man, and I admire him greatly, and it is my love for him, his wife, and daughter Amanda that inspire this diary. I believe Tom will make the best US Senator in the history of US Senators. He is an amazing and wonderful person. Please join me in this draft movement, and go to the Draft Tom Udall Act Blue Page and drop some cash in the coffers...We need him in the Senate!