Ben R. Lujan

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Ben Ray Luján
New Mexico
Public Regulation Commissioner
District 3.
In office
2005 – 2008
Preceded by Jerome D. Block Sr.
Succeeded by Jerome D. Block Jr.
Political party Democratic
Residence Santa Fe
Religion Catholic
Website [1]

Ben Ray Luján is a New Mexico Politician, he was born and raised in northern New Mexico.

Lujan is the chairman of the Public Regulation Commission (PRC) for the State of New Mexico, representing PRC District 3. He is the son of New Mexico House of Representatives Speaker Ben Lujan. On December 14 2007, Lujan announced he would be running for New Mexico's 3rd congressional district. [2]

Contents

[edit] Public Regulation Commissioner

Lujan was elected to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission on November 2, 2004. He represents PRC District 3 which encompasses North Eastern, North Central and Central New Mexico. Lujan was first elected as Chairman of the PRC, by his fellow Commissioners, in 2005 and was re-elected to the Chairmanship in 2006, and again in 2007. Commissioner Lujan will complete his first term on the PRC on December 31, 2008. [3]

[edit] Political issues

[edit] Renewable energy

Lujan is a strong supporter of renewable energy. He is dedicated to increasing the use of energy efficiency measures to reduce costs to customers and to protect New Mexico's natural resources and environment. Lujan has been a strong proponent of increasing the Renewable Portfolio Standard and has encouraged utilities to diversify their renewable use to include solar, biomass and energy efficiency. [4]

[edit] Global warming

Luján joined public officials in California, Oregon, and Washington to promote regional solutions to global warming. Together, they signed the Joint Action Framework on Climate Change to implement regional solutions. [5]

[edit] Health Care

While at the PRC, Luján initiated an investigation into the denial practices by the health insurance industry and, with his fellow Commissioners, developed legislation to close loopholes that had allowed insurance companies to deny individuals. [6]

[edit] Candidate for congress

Luján is the leading candidate to replace Rep. Tom Udall in New Mexico's 3rd Congressional District. In the March Pre-Primary Convention, he received 40 percent of the vote, with the remainder split amongst five other candidates.

On June 3, 2008 Lujan overwhelming won the democratic primary race to succeed Rep. Tom Udall. Lujan will face Republican Dan East and Independent Carol Miller in the general election. The third district is overwhelming democratic and Lujan is favored to win the general election in November, becoming the first native New Mexican to represent the third district in Congress.

Lujan beat out six other Democrats and his nearest rival, developer Don Wiviott by 16%, in a contentious race in which Wiviott spent $1.5 million, outspending Lujan by 2-1.

[edit] Endorsements

[7]

[edit] Education

[edit] Professional experience

  • Public Regulation Commissioner, Chairman
  • Director Administrative Services and Chief Financial officer for the New Mexico Cultural Affairs Department
  • Deputy State Treasurer
  • Current NMPRC Commissioner & Chairman [9]

[edit] Committees and commissions

  • Current Santa Fe County Extraterritorial Zoning Commissioner
  • New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority Board
  • New Mexico State Capitol Building Planning Commission
  • New Mexico Statuary Hall [10]


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http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Lujan-has-strong-lead-over-Wiviott-in-3rd-District-race