Richard Lass: Independent Leadership for PRC

Meet and Greet Saturday at Osteria

2008-07-22T19:56:00.004-06:00

You are invited to an open house
at Osteria, 58 South Federal Place

Saturday, July 26, from 2:00 til 4:00 PM
to meet Public Regulation Commissioner
candidate Rick Lass.

Rick will be speaking about the importance of the
Public Regulation Commission
in our lives and why it is critical that we elect
an independent commissioner
who will protect the interests of consumers,
small business owners and working people.

this is not a fundraiser!

snacks will be provided
cash bar

Hosted by:
Bernie Logue y Perea
Charlotte Roybal
Leslie Lakind
Evalyn Bemis
Magita Story
David Bacon

Richard Lass Certified as Candidate and Qualified for Public Financing in PRC Race

2008-07-06T20:34:00.000-06:00

On July 1, 2008, Richard Lass for Public Regulation Commission District 3 received notice from the NM Secretary of State’s office that Rick had been officially certified as a candidate and had also qualified for public financing for the general election.

Rick commented, while campaigning in Santa Fe, Rio Rancho, Los Alamos and Las Vegas over the holiday weekend, “The rubber stamp approach of the Public Regulation Commission has just served everyday New Mexicans the largest rate hike in history. Not only will our residential rates be going through the roof, but businesses and local governments will also see outrageous increases, essentially a triple hit to New Mexicans that will damage our local economies just so Wall Street investors can get richer. This is why we need a truly Independent voice that actually represents the people of New Mexico on the Public Regulation Commission.”

Rick thanks the many volunteers who gathered over 3,300 petition signatures in just ten days and the 500 people who gave $5 contributions to assure that the campaign could use public financing— almost twice the numbers required— and is looking forward to facing his opponent in debates throughout the district about the importance of making sure that our Public Regulation Commission is Independent enough to fulfill its obligation to protect all New Mexicans from abuse of corporate power.

Massive Volunteer Effort Collects More Than Double Required Signatures!

2008-06-24T18:20:00.012-06:00

At 4:09 pm today, Rick Lass and a broad coalition of supporters filed more than twice the required number of signatures to get on the ballot for the 3rd District PRC seat. Additionally, the campaign collected 500 five-dollar contributions, almost twice the requisite number needed to qualify for public financing.

"The most exciting part," commented campaign spokesperson Todd Doherty, "is that we collected almost double the required signatures and contributions in only ten days. And we had an amazing diversity of volunteers out collecting throughout the district. This is clearly a campaign with support from a wide range of political and citizens groups."

Doherty attributed the rapid and wide-spread mobilization to the high-level of dissatisfaction among voters with the Democratic nominee. “A clear majority voted for someone more qualified than Jerome Block, Jr.” Doherty added, “Also a factor was how well-known and well-respected in the community Richard Lass is for his efforts on behalf of small business, environmental causes like renewable energy, and voting reform. His advocacy at the legislature for measures like repealing the food tax and his years of work helping organize the Santa Fe Independent Business Alliance all mean there are a lot of people who know he’ll be an effective Commissioner, willing to take on the big utilities on behalf of the people who pay the bills.”

Rick has been a long-time advocate for more fairness in the electoral process, so it's only fitting that he's now running in one of the few races that uses a pool of public financing to level the playing field, and to help keep big moneyed special interests out of buying influence with campaign contributions.

Rick laid out the key to his campaign: “For too long, these big corporations have been given a free ride by the Commission. I will be an unwavering advocate for ratepayers, small businesses, and our local economies.” He described the massive volunteer effort that gathered the signatures and contributions, in record time, that will qualify his campaign for public financing as “an extraordinary outpouring of volunteer activism.”

Candidate Lass Joins 2nd Annual 'Giving Fest'

2008-06-22T22:12:00.010-06:00

Rick Lass and several campaign supporters took a break from collecting signatures and $5 contributions to join in with community members at the 2nd Annual Festival of Giving at DeVargas Park today in Santa Fe.

The festival, sponsored by Spiritual Progressives and Warehouse21, tickled community members' "giving bones" by providing a venue for any and all to give and receive from a wide range of items and experiences.

Rick commented, "This is exactly the kind of thing that makes Northern New Mexico such a great place," Rick commented. "It's fun to see all the booths set up and NOT selling things, but giving things. It really makes you think about how small shifts in the way we do and think about our interacting with markets and each other could make big differences in the quality of our lives."

Rick added, "I was particularly excited to see how all the electrical power to the P.A. on the stage came from a solar powered generator unit provided by the New Mexico Solar Energy Association (pictured at right). That's an example of the future we could be building now, with available technology, to get us off of our costly dependence on fossil fuels and other non-renewable sources such as nuclear." The solar power kept the sound coming strong all afternoon, even during a period of dark clowds and brief rain.

Richard Lass Confers with Local Energy Expert

2008-06-21T17:51:00.001-06:00

Rick discussed renewable energy options with New Mexico energy expert and founder of Local Energy Mark Sardella today. The two have a history of working on community-based issues in Northern New Mexico.

Lass remarked, "I expect to be a very active voice for expanding our renewable energy standards as a Public Regulation Commission member. And long-standing relationships with nationally respected leaders like Mark Sardella will be an important part of that work."

Mark Sardella commented, "Rick is no stranger to the energy issues we face nationally and here in New Mexico particularly. He’s been swimming in these waters for a long time, and he’s well aware of the power he will have as a commissioner to affect positive change through a broad range of channels, including by educating and advocating right now, during his campaign."

Democrats, Republicans, Independents, Progressives and Greens Unite to Urge Rick Lass to Run

2008-06-20T18:36:00.005-06:00

On June 3^rd, a majority of Democrats voted to nominate a candidate for PRC who was both qualified and who was independent enough to hold big utilities and insurance companies accountable. The next morning, Northern New Mexicans woke up to find that the candidates in the race who fit that description had split the vote, and the least qualified candidate and the one least likely to stand up to the regulated industries wound up as the only candidate on the November ballot. Progressive groups including members of Progressive Democrats of America and the Green Party called urgent meetings and in a matter of days respected community leader, Richard Lass, was asked to run as an Independent Green Party candidate.

“If any of the qualified candidates had won the Democratic nomination, I wouldn’t be running,” said Lass. “Voters deserve more than one choice in November. And it’s especially a problem when Jerome Block Jr.’s only significant qualification is that both his father and his grandfather were on the Commission for years. What goes on at the Public Regulation Commission has a major impact on our lives. What we don’t need is three generations of business as usual on the PRC.”