Tonight We Celebrate!!!

A personal message from Benny Shendo, Jr:

Tonight while the votes are still being cast and counted, whether we win, lose or draw, we will celebrate! All are welcome to join us at the Senior Center in Jemez Pueblo starting at 6:45 pm.

We are celebrating the hard-earned results of a six-month, genuine grass-roots campaign, with lots of hard work from staff and volunteers from all across Northern New Mexico.

And I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for your support, your trust, and your hard work!

We are celebrating the success of bringing thousands of northern New Mexicans into the political process, many of whom had previously felt completely disenfranchised, with no participation, no representation and no voice.

• Thousands who agreed with us when we said “Northern New Mexico deserves a strong PROGRESSIVE voice in Washington DC, that represents ALL of us, not just the well-connected few.”
• Thousands who agreed with the Santa Fe Reporter when it endorsed our campaign, saying, “electing people based on their political connections and/or money is destroying our country.”
• Thousands who agreed it is time that we were all more accepting of the diverse mix of cultures we are so fortunate to have here in New Mexico, and less accepting of hypocrisy and insider dealings of elected leaders.

We are celebrating the first major steps we have taken toward building a strong and lasting political coalition between the Native American communities and the Progressive Movement here in Northern New Mexico. And we will continue to build and strengthen this coalition in the months and years to come, working in partnership with active progressive organizations like Progressive Democrats of America, which had the courage to endorse our campaign.

We are celebrating making history by running the first campaign in the history of New Mexico to put a Native American on the ballot for national office!

We are celebrating the lessons we all learned on the campaign trail—both myself as a candidate, but also the communities, groups and individuals that supported our campaign through thick and thin.

And finally, we are celebrating the beginning of the general election season where we continue to work to make sure that the progressive issues: Fighting Global Warming, Ending the Occupation in Iraq, Health Care for All, and Election Reform all stay front and center in the conversation leading to real change in November.

Again, Thank you!

Benny J. Shendo, Jr.

It's TIME TO VOTE!!!!

Today is the big day. Tuesday, June 3^rd. It’s time to GET OUT AND VOTE!!! And make sure all of your friends, family and neighbors vote too!!

You must vote tomorrow. Don’t be like the woman who told us today that she can’t wait to vote for Benny Shendo, Jr. in November!

Do you know where your polling place is? It may be different from what you expect, so go to https://voterview.state.nm.us/VoterView/PollingPlaceSearch.do to be double sure.

WARNING NOTE: be sure to select the 4^th option down on the scroll-down menu for which election. It’s the one that reads “ 06/03/2008 PRIMARY 2008”. The 3^rd option which reads “06/03/2008 2008 PRIMARY ELECTION” does NOT work!!

Progressive Democrats of America endorses Benny Shendo, Jr!!!

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The chapter of Progressive Democrats of America that covers the 3^rd Congressional District of New Mexico has endorsed Benny Shendo, Jr. as the true progressive in Democratic primary race for the congressional seat that Tom Udall will be vacating to run for Senate. Progressive Democrats of America (www.PDAmerica.org) is considered one of the most active and influential progressive organizations in the country, working both inside and outside the Democratic Party.

Progressive Democrats of Northern New Mexico said in an email announcement today that it was agreeing with the Taos Horse Fly newspaper, which said “Progressives should vote for Benny Shendo, Jr.” and the Santa Fe Reporter which endorsed Shendo last week, saying that, “electing people based on their political connections and/or money is destroying our country.”

Endorsement committee felt that Shendo was clearly the most genuinely progressive candidate in the race and that his positions on the Iraq Occupation (cut funding to get out now), Healthcare for all (single payer, ala the Conyers Bill), as well environment, equal rights for all were most in-line with the national organization’s progressive platform.

The group's official press release stated: “Benny Shendo, Jr. brings his native values to his candidacy, and the Native American’s were in many ways the original progressives, living in sustainable harmony with the land and respecting all people and creatures on this fragile planet. And we were particularly impressed with Benny’s qualifications and record of accomplishment . For example, he will bring a much needed perspective from his national and international relations work as a Kellogg fellow”.