Another independent candidate jumps into CD3 race

Posted 3/27/2008 08:01:00 AM

A second independent candidate is making a bid to replace Tom Udall in the U.S. House of Representatives.

Ron Simmons, 62, told the Santa Fe New Mexican that he’s in the race. And he has set up a campaign Web site.

“I know I’m unknown, but I’m serious,” he told the newspaper.

Simmons, of Santa Fe, said he was a lifelong Democrat until he left the party earlier this year because he was upset with the superdelegate system in the presidential race.

He joins independent Carol Miller and six Democrats and two Republicans in seeking to take Udall’s place in the House.

Independents in the Third Congressional District have to gather almost 6,000 signatures of registered voters by June 4 to appear on the ballot.

Simmons states on his Web site that he supports “national budget priority for education, health care and renewable energy development; economic policies that support wage-earners and small businesses; return of all U.S. troops from Iraq and return of sovereignty to Iraq; civilian aid, non-violent mediation and support for self-determination as strategies to resolve terror; one person, one vote; elimination of all money from politics except limited contributions by individuals to election campaigns; a balanced budget; (and) enforcing or creating policies that protect our environment.”