Shendo Signs Hit the Street!!!

Large "Benny Shendo, Jr. FOR ALL OF US" signs have been springing up along roadsides in northern New Mexico for the past few weeks and the smaller "yard" signs will be distributed this week!

"Since candidate signs have a way of 'disappearing' we're putting up our signs in a strategic manner coordinated with campaign actions," explained campaign manager, Todd Doherty (pictured at left). "We started with the large 4 foot by 8 foot road signs along the route of the first leg of the "Running with Benny" run that we did last week throughout northwestern New Mexico. Next the big signs will go up in the northeastern side of the 3rd Congressional District. Then we'll hit the population centers like Santa Fe."

It's time to show your support! Call the campaign office at (505) 867-9150 or email info@BennyShendoJr.com to get signs for your yard (and bumper stickers for your car)!

Benny Meets with NM School Board Members and Students

This week Benny Shendo, Jr. participated in a series of meetings of New Mexico school board members and students, all of whom are concerned about the "adequate yearly progress" scores required by State law. They questioned whether the scores accurately reflect the progress of students from non-mainstream cultural backgrounds.

"This trend in recent years toward 'one size fits all' testing is not taking our public education in the right direction," Benny remarked. "In the global-economy marketplace that will make up our children's future, one of our greatest assets is our rich mix of cultures here in New Mexico. We need our public education to respect that great diversity and be culturally sensitive and relevant to our young people, so that they can move forward with pride in who they are, where they come from and their place in the world."

Benny Takes a Break with Old Friends and Mentors

Benny Shendo, Jr. took a break from the campaign trail today to get together with some old friends for a round of golf. One of Benny's inspirational role models, Olympic Gold Medallist Billy Mills (pictured here with Benny), was on hand to share in a little R&R and fundraising.

"Billy is an inspiration to me personally not only as an athletic competitor, but even more as a community leader and public servant," Benny pointed out. While many know about Billy Mills's historic "come-from-behind" victory at the 1964 Olympics, which remains the only American win in the men's 10,000 meter race, few know about his contributions to Native American youth empowerment over the years.




Mills expressed strong support for Benny Shendo, Jr. whom he has known for years. "It's not every day that we have a leader of any ethnic origin with the character and qualifications that Benny has. The fact that he's an Indian kid from the reservation who has risen up to achieve that, is just an added bonus. He will bring the values that he was raised with, with him to Washington."

Benny Shendo, Jr. and "Posse" finish 7-day Run!

Benny Shendo, Jr. and a contingent of over 60 supporters finished the first round of their "Running with Benny" tour of over 100 communities in northern New Mexico today at the Star Center in Rio Rancho.

Benny carried a hand-crafted, leather satchel which held the messages of hope and concern he collected from people along his route.







The "Running with Benny" team was greeted by crowds of well-wishers and received lots of celebratory hugs upon their return. After posing for a group photo, Benny addressed the crowd inside the Star Center to roaring applause.

"Running with Benny" hits Santa Fe

The "Running with Benny" team reached Santa Fe today, logging in over 600 miles and connecting over 100 communities since departing from Rio Rancho six days ago.

Santa Feans cheered as the runners streamed onto the Plaza and did two laps around the historical center of Santa Fe. The second lap was for news photographers who had missed the first lap! One of the photos appeared on the front page of the next morning's Albuquerque Journal North.

"Running with Benny" Connects over 100 Communities, and Counting!

Today, the "I'm Running with Benny, because He's Running for ALL of Us" road crew marked Algodones as the 100th community that they have traveled through as they make their way around northern New Mexico delivering Benny Shendo, Jr.'s message of progressive change to all people of the 3rd Congressional District, not just to the well-connected few.

The Run and Bike trek, which began last Saturday morning at the Rio Rancho High School track field, has traveled through numerous chapters, pueblos, villages, towns and cities in Benny Shendo, Jr.'s quest to connect with everyone he will represent in Congress. Benny explained, "As a young competitor, I grew up running in these communities. Before that, I would travel to the farthest ends of New Mexico with my grandfather as he traded bread and hay for sheep in Torreon and sheep for blankets in Shiprock. And of course, as Secretary of Indian Affairs, I worked with many of these chapters, pueblos and villages, helping them move forward with infrastructure, public health, education, economic development and clean, sustainable energy projects."

Campaign manager, Todd Doherty, adds, "While other candidates often disappear in Washington once they are elected, Benny Shendo, Jr. is a man of the people, a man who will stay with the people, with all the people of northern New Mexico, listening to all of them, representing all of them. This is where his heart is, out in the communities of northern New Mexico, where he grew up, where he has deep roots and strong relationships, where he loves to be and will be, staying in touch with all the people of his District."

The trek has created a lot of excitement in big population centers where nightly rallies are being held, and also in the smallest villages where crowds gather to cheer the runners on and provide food and refreshments. In one tiny community store, folks exclaimed, "Candidates never come here. They think we don't matter, but we do."



The weather has ranged from warm and sunny to cold and stormy, but the Shendo runners have pushed on, using bicycles relay-style for some of the long stretches between communities. "Some of these communities don't have paved roads, and when it snows or rains, people have trouble getting children to schools, seniors to their services, or emergency responders can't get out to people's homes. And that's one of the many things we need to change," Benny added via a scratchy cell phone connection on a quick break between legs, "I know these roads intimately. I've run them and biked them my whole life."

Gallup "Running with Benny" Rally Huge Success!

The "Running with Benny" team arrived in Gallup this evening where they were greeted by a very excited crowd of supporters for a rally complete with local talent performances, great food and a full color guard presentation by the 911 Young Warriors.








The event was MC'd by Cheryl Walker, whose sister Sherelle and 6-year-old daughter Jordyn (pictured with Benny below) performed a heartening sign-language dance.

Local volunteers served up a hearty feast for the runners, after which Benny Shendo, Jr. shared a few remarks of thanks and spoke on one of the themes of his campaign: the importance of coming together to heal our divided nation so that we can move forward and truly address the many challenges we are now facing.

Benny Shendo, Jr. and Supporters Kick Off "Running with Benny" throughout Northern New Mexico

Carloads of supporters arrived at sunrise to kick off the "I'm Running with Benny Shendo, Jr. because He's Running for All of Us" Run and Bike through northern New Mexico, at the Rio Rancho High School track field this morning.

"I expected to be the first one at the site, but Benny was already there, ready to run," said campaign manager, Todd Doherty. "And the energy of all those people cheering was very exciting. It was early Saturday morning, but there was no need for coffee!"

This Run and Bike through over 100 communities will present a real challenge for the lifelong competitive runner. Benny has been running 4 to 8 miles a day in the past few weeks and cycling many more, so he's in good shape and ready to take on the challenge.

The route on this first Run and Bike will take the runners and bikers throughout the western part of northern New Mexico from Rio Rancho, out to Gallup, up to Farmington, over to Taos, down through Santa Fe, finishing up in Rio Rancho on the seventh day.

Benny Shendo, Jr. shared a few words about the Run with the crowd of supporters. "I grew up running and competing in these communities, so what better way for me to take my message of real progressive change to the streets? And to connect these communities and to hear from the people what their priorities are for me to take to Washington, that's why I'm running."






Kick-off events and end-of-day rallies are planned for each of the seven days and will feature local food and performers. Another Run is planned for the eastern part of the 3rd Congressional District in the coming weeks.

Benny Goes Hollywood!!!

Benny Shendo, Jr. met with New Mexico motion picture production workers today on the set of the Toby Keith movie that's shooting south of Santa Fe.

Benny explained that his interest in the movies is more than just as a fan, "Film production is a significant contributor to the economy of our state, not just with the jobs and on-location expenditures of each major motion picture that shoots here, but by sharing our spectacular landscapes with the rest of the world. Through the power of movies, our tourism industry is enhanced as well."

Shendo added, "Provided it is done properly, with respect for our sensitive environment and for the diverse cultures of the people who make their homes here, film production is a welcome part of our world-renowned artistic and cultural community."

New Mexico has been host to the production of many noteworthy movies over the years, including the 2008 Academy Award Winner for Best Picture, "No Country for Old Men."