Today was an exciting day for Benny Shendo, Jr. supporters at the Star Center in Rio Rancho where the Democratic Party of New Mexico held its annual Pre-Primary Convention. Benny gave what most in attendance agreed was the most intelligent and the most inspiring speech of the day, emphasizing his campaign's main message: "The people of northern New Mexico deserve a strong voice in Washington, DC that represents all of us, not just the well-connected few."Todd Doherty, campaign manager for Benny Shendo, Jr, and David Gomez, former Santa Fe Democratic Party Chair, gave nominating statements for Benny. Doherty spoke about Benny being the most qualified candidate to represent all of us, whether Native, Hispanic, Anglo, African-American or Asian. Dave Gomez told how Benny left a prestigious job at Stanford University in order to save the little school that had served his home village of Jemez for almost one hundred years when its funding was cut.
At the end of the day, when the speeches were over and the votes counted, Benny Shendo, Jr. was in the top tier of the race, an encouraging outcome since it was a public vote of party insiders. "It was exciting to see a number of delegates switch over to Benny, even though they risked reprisal from the party powers, " stated Doherty. "And many people told us that while they had to vote for the insider candidates today, they were switching to Benny for the actual primary election on June 3rd now that they had had a chance to see and hear him speak."
