By Michael Olson
Las Cruces, NM – DISTRICT 36 MAY BE THE SOUTHERN NEW MEXICO'S MOST HOTLY CONTESTED RACE. SPANNING THE WIDELY RANGING INCOMES OF PICACHO HILLS AND EAST LAS CRUCES, THIS CONTEST IS A REMATCH. AS MICHAEL OLSON REPORTS, THE DISTRICT IS EVENLY DIVIDED BETWEEN DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS
DEMOCRAT INCUMBENT ANDY NUNEZ WAS ELECTED TO THE SEAT IN 2000 BY A MARGIN OF ONLY 34 VOTES.
ONLY 94 VOTES SEPARATED NUNEZ FROM HIS REPUBLICAN OPPONENT IN 2002. MARY THOMPSON WAS HIS OPPONENT THEN, AS SHE IS NOW. THOMPSON HELD THE SAME SEAT THROUGHOUT THE EIGHTIES.
THE TWO SHARE SIMILAR POSITIONS ON LOCAL ISSUES FACING THEIR DISTRICT. HOWEVER, THOMPSON DIFFERS WITH NUNEZ ON STATE SPENDING.