Union activist to run for governor in 2010
Santa Fe New Mexican 10/30/2007
A longtime union activist and Grant County Democratic Party chairman announced Tuesday that he plans to run for governor in 2010.
Carlos Provencio, 53, of Bayard said he's running on a platform of establishing a single-payer, government-run health insurance system, supporting development of new technologies to reduce carbon emissions and strengthening collective bargaining.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish has said she will run for governor in 2010 — though in recent weeks she also has mulled a bid for the seat of retiring U.S. Sen. Pete Domenici, R-N.M.
"I like Diane," Provencio said. But he said he's disappointed Denish supports the health insurance plan unveiled last week by Gov. Bill Richardson. That plan keeps private companies as the main providers of health insurance.
Provencio said he graduated from The College of Santa Fe in 1976 with a degree in social work. He lists his occupation as "community organizer" and says he was involved with unionizing workers at Western New Mexico University in Silver City.
Democrat announces his run for governor
Silver City Daily Press
Bayard resident Carlos Provencio has announced his candidacy for the 2010 governor’s race. Provencio, Democrat and self- described "people’s candidate", has been a community organizer in New Mexico, Arizona, Washington, D. C., and California, where he worked with Caesar Chavez to “coordinate the grape boycott for the United Farm Workers," according to a press release. Since his return to Grant County, the Hurley native has worked to unionize maintenance workers at Western New Mexico University and employees of the Southwest Solid Waste Authority. "This is my home, and I’m here to stay," Provencio told the Daily Press.
Beginning in 2008, however, he plans to travel to each of New Mexico’s 33 counties as part of his campaign. He supports a singlepayer health insurance system for New Mexicans. "Governor Richardson’s plan is good," Provencio said, "but still includes insurance companies."
Instead, he favors the New Mexico Health Security Act, which, he noted, has been endorsed by municipalities and local governments across the state, including the town of Silver City and Grant County. Economic development is high on Provencio’s priority list. He said he hopes to provide jobs through promotion of carbon emission-reducing technologies. "Why can’t New Mexico be in the forefront?" he asked. "It makes sense to have sustainable energy."
Provencio’s experience in organizing workers at WNMU convinced him of the necessity to change the way the state’s college and university boards of regents are selected, he said. Instead of being appointed by the governor, Provencio wants to see regents elected directly by the people, to provide greater accountability, he said.
Provencio will not accept corporate campaign donations. He said he will "do grass- roots work for other Democrats," and support whoever is nominated. "We will have a united front," he said. The Democratic primary will be held in June 2010.
Silver native casts his eye on top spot
Sun News Report, The Associated Press
BAYARD Carlos Provencio, a longtime union activist and former Grant County Democratic Party chairman, will seek the party's nomination for governor in 2010.
Carlos Provencio said Wednesday he's running on a platform of campaign reform, community-based incentives for economic development, establishing a single-payer, government-run health insurance system and strengthening collective bargaining.
Lt. Gov. Diane Denish also has announced she will seek the party's nomination for governor in 2010.
Provencio, 53, of Bayard, recently resigned as the county's Democratic chairman to run for governor. He said he could have continued in the post, but that "it's not fair for me to use that."
"I want to free my time so I can go to all 33 counties, and I will do that," he said. "I will do door-to-door-type campaigning. I want to listen to all New Mexicans to see what they see that their needs are."
He said he will not accept corporate funding for his campaign.
"The public no longer has influence on our elected officials when big corporate interests provide funding," Provencio said.
"I see myself as a people's candidate and someone who's not going to sell out to big corporations," he said.
Provencio, a native of Silver City, holds a bachelor's degree in social work from the College of Santa Fe. His resume lists graduate work in theology at the Berkeley Theological Union and religious education at Seattle University, social work at New Mexico State University and organizational development at California Institute for Integral Studies in San Francisco