Eleanor Chávez, NM State Representative-District 13

Letter to My Constituents & Supporters

2008-08-14T11:36:00.000-07:00

Dear Constituents & Supporters,

I wanted to take the time, once I had a chance to read over the lawsuit and meet with my counsel, to reach out to my supporters and all of the constituents of House District 13.

I consider it a tremendous privilege to have been elected by a considerable margin, nearly 8%, to represent the people of House District 13. It was the people of my community that elected me and it will be the people who I will represent. I am committed to bringing the perspectives and issues of the community to the Roundhouse, and will do everything I can to address the needs of our neighborhoods.

This campaign was won by going door to door and talking about the issues that are important to you. Based on my conversations with over 1,000 people in HD13, I know that quality affordable healthcare, good jobs with good pay, full funding for our public schools, and road and infrastructure improvements are what matter most to the people of HD13. The people’s priorities are and will always be my priorities.

The lawsuit that was filed by my former opponent, Daniel P. Silva, to attempt to nullify the election results amounts to nothing more than sour grapes. The claims against me are completely false and outlandish.

Again, I am humbled that you have elected me and excited to represent the best interests of our community in Santa Fe.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to call or email me.
505-831-6834
eleanorchavez@gmail.com

Your public servant,

Eleanor Chavez.

Celebration!

2008-07-09T12:15:00.000-07:00

Celebration/Fundraiser for

Eleanor Chavez State Representative District 13

Supporters, Volunteers, and Donors:
Thanks to all the hard work and support of everyone who participated in the campaign to elect Eleanor Chavez as State Representative!!
Many of you celebrated with us on June 3rd once the polls closed and we confirmed our victory.

To thank all of our family, friends, volunteers, donors, and supporters, we would like to celebrate again.
Please join us on Friday July 25th from 6-8pm at Eleanor's house.
1307 Del Mastro sw Albuquerque, NM 87121

Please join us in congratulating our new State Representative, to support her candidacy, to hear about her next steps and to recognize the hard work of our grassroots campaign.

If you have any questions please respond to this email or if you can't join us please consider donating on Act Blue.

WE DID IT! GANAMOS!!!!

2008-06-04T16:24:00.000-07:00

WE WON!

Thank you for your vote! Many thanks to Campaign Manager Tomás Garduño, Volunteer Coordinator Celia Fraire, and the tireless volunteers who worked to make this dream a reality!

The day began at 6:30am with an overview of the plan to get our folks to the polls...

Tomas going over the plan.

Our first vote of the day, Eleanor going to the polls at 7am!

Eleanor outside of Carlos Rey Elementary, cheering people on to vote for her at the polls.

Volunteers working hard to remind people to get out and vote for Eleanor.

A few last phone calls before the polls close.

Supporters Chanting, "Ain't No Power like the Power of the People, Cause the Power of the People Don't Stop," at the Victory Party after finding out that WE WON!!!

Eleanor talking to reporters after the win was official. "Quite down you guys, it's a reporter".

The Campaign Team (Robby Rodriguez, Celia Fraire, Tomas Garduno, Eleanor Chavez and Debi Saylor Pierce) Celebrating!

Only five days left until Election Day!

2008-05-29T16:28:00.000-07:00

CAMPAIGN SUPPORTERS
ELEANOR CHAVEZ FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 13
VOLUNTEER UPDATE
There are only five days left until Election Day! Thanks to all of our volunteers who have helped us get through this campaign and will help us get through the next four days!!! I hope you can find some time to dedicate to making more contacts and gaining more votes for Eleanor.

Here is the schedule for our last four days!
Saturday May 31st 9am-8pm
Sunday June 1st 11am-9pm
Monday June 2nd 9am-2pm

ELECTION DAY TUESDAY JUNE 3RD 7AM-7PM
VICTORY PARTY 7PM @ ELEANOR'S HOUSE
1307 Del Mastro sw Albuquerque, NM 87121

Thanks to all of our volunteers!!! Be sure to congratulate them on their victory when you see them around!!!
REY GARDUNO, ILSA GARDUNO, LOUIS HEAD, SYLVIANA D'OUVILLE, RUTH CONTRERAS, LEVERETT MILLEN, TOMASITA GONZALES, DEBBIE SANCHEZ, ROSA PADILLA, DIANA VALDEZ, SARAH ATTLESON, SHANE YOUTZ, ROBBY RODRIGUEZ, MONICA CORDOVA, SYLVIANA ESQUIBEL, DANNY ESQUIBEL, EMMA SANDOVAL, ROSINA ROIBAL, SANDRA MONTES, MONICA BACA, JESUS RODRIGUEZ, MATT LOPEZ, JESSICA LOPEZ, JOAQUIN CHAVEZ, NICOLE COLLINS, JOAQUIN LUJAN, MARJORIE CHILDRESS, ERICA RODRIGUEZ, MICHAEL MONTOYA, JAVIER BENAVIDEZ, ERIC SCHMEIDER, BRUCE MARMY, GREG FRAZIER, BILLY QUINTANA, STEVE MOORE, VICKIE PLEVIN, DIANE ATKINS, JULIAN MOYA, CASANDRA STEWART, SAVIANA MOYA, JOANN BEJAR, VICTORIA RODRIGUEZ, BINESHI ALBERT, NEZ EVANS, STEVE MOORE, RUBEN GONZALES, ERMELINDA MILLER, ALISHA LOZANO, SIMON MIRANDA, ALBERT CORDOVA, ALMA OLIVAS, FERNANDO BEJAR, ROBERTO CONTRERAS, CORINA CHAVEZ, ROBERTO ROIBAL, JANET SAMUELSON, HERNAN GONZALEZ

If you have any questions or need to sign up please contact volunteer coordinator

Celia Fraire (505)401-4609 cfraire1@gmail.com

Only 10 More Days 'Till Election Day!!!!!!!!!

2008-05-23T22:10:00.000-07:00

VOLUNTEER UPDATE
Ten more days to go!!! We're down to the last days until the election after two months of an uphill battle of challenging a 22 year incumbent (Dan Silva, boo!!). When we began the campaign two months ago a survey was conducted that showed us we were behind Dan in name recognition. Recently, through a blind survey, our numbers told us that we have gained support but are still a few percentage points behind Dan. Our numbers have changed from that time until now because our volunteers have been tirelessly knocking on doors and being received with nothing but support for Eleanor. But the best part about it is that every person we talk to can change those percentage points and mean the difference between a win and a loss. The better part about it is that you can help make that difference. Every hour of your time that you contribute to the campaign helps us turn the undecided's into yes's and the yes's into early and absentee voters. If you've ever needed an opportunity to volunteer now's the time!! Please see the schedule below and volunteer accordingly.

Doorknocking and Phonebanking

Saturday May 24th 10-2pm
Sunday May 25th 12-4pm
Monday May 26th 5-8pm
Tuesday May 27th 5-8pm
Wednesday May 28th 5-8pm – Phonebanking
Thursday May 29th 5-8pm

GOTV begins
Saturday May 31st 9am-8pm
Sunday June 1st 11-9pm
Monday June 2nd 9am-9pm
Tuesday June 3rd 7am-7pm Election Day!!

QUESTIONS? NEED TO SIGN UP? Please contact volunteer coordinator Celia Fraire (505)401-4609 http://us.mc501.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=Cfraire1@gmail.com

CAMPAIGN SUPPORTERS: VOLUNTEER UPDATE

2008-05-16T12:50:00.000-07:00

ELEANOR CHAVEZ FOR STATE REPRESENTATIVE DISTRICT 13

Only three more weeks to go!!!!

Thanks to all of our supporters who have volunteered their time so far to reach the voters in District 13 through doorknocking and phonebanking.

With limited time left we need our volunteers to commit at least eight hours to the campaign in order to guarantee our victory on June 3rd!!!

Here is the doorknocking and phonebanking schedule for the upcoming week of May 17th through May 22nd:

Saturday May 17th 10-2pm
Sunday May 18th 12-4pm
Monday May 19th 5-8pm
Tuesday May 20th 5-8pm
Wednesday May 21st 5-8pm phonebanking
Thursday May 22nd 5-8pm

Please find a time above when you are available to volunteer.
Please meet at campaign headquarters, Eleanor's house, 1307 Del Mastro sw Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121

QUESTIONS? NEED TO SIGN UP?
Please contact volunteer coordinator Celia Fraire (505)401-4609cfraire1@gmail.com

Santa Fe Progressives for Eleanor Chavez Fundraiser

2008-05-04T14:17:00.000-07:00

Santa Fe Progressives invite you to a Community Fundraiser to benefit Eleanor’s Campaign. Please join us!

Friday, May 9th, 5:00 to 7:30pm Cafe Castro, 2811 Cerrillos Road

Light Hors D'oeurves, Cash Bar $50 Suggested Contribution (all donations accepted)

Please RSVP to 505-385-1469

Organized by: Corina Chavez, Cam & Susan Duncan, & Robby Rodriguez

Co-Sponsored by: Mayor David Coss, City Councilor Miguel Chavez, Sandy Buffet, David Crocker, Marcela Diaz, Tobe Bott-Lyons, Doug Meiklejohn, Sandra Wechsler, Alan Hamilton, Celia Fraire, John Fogarty, Lucy Boulanger, and Robin Gould. Paid for by the Committee to elect Eleanor Chavez.

Yardsigns are in!

2008-04-26T23:33:00.000-07:00

Eleanor's yardsigns are in. Contact us if you want to put one in YOUR yard.

eleanorchavez@gmail.com or 967-1337

Who is Dan Silva?

2008-04-18T14:39:00.000-07:00

Some important information that we found about Eleanor's opponent: Dan Silva.

Editorial, 03/01/2007 -- Take me out of the ball game ...

There was a time -- or was there? -- when citizens elected to Congress and our state legislatures came up with all their own proposals for laws. Whether from suggestions popping up at cracker-barrel sessions with the folks at the general store back home, from huddles with fellow senators or representatives, or even from old-movie style, middle-of-the-night brainstorms, our politicians would introduce bills for a better America; a better New Mexico; a better Santa Fe ...
Today, more likely than not, bills are crafted not by the lawmakers who have their names on them, but by lawyers whose full-time job is drafting the gobbledygook that goes into modern legislation, then plugging in language to the benefit of their corporate bosses -- and the detriment of nearly everyone else.
Then those lawyers, along with disgraced or otherwise rejected politicians, take a legislator to lunch – or dinner, and drinks. This bill, representative, would be of great benefit to your constituents -- as you can see from the high-minded language in its title. Surely you'd like to be remembered as sponsor of this great initiative, or that great reform (or whatever guise we want to give it ) ...

Take -- please -- the Administrative Accountability Act: House Bill 685. Who in the world is against holding bureaucrats accountable?Not Rep. Dan Silva, that's for sure; the Albuquerque Democrat got snookered into putting his name on it, thinking -- or at least saying -- he was striking a blow for small business against our state's governmental regulators.But this is a bogus bill, aimed at benefiting enviro-villains such as the copper companies and the gas and oil guys.It would expose whistle-blowers -- folks like those who exposed the corruption in the state treasurer's offices. Who would dare call attention to environmental depredation or health and safety hazards if it means not being able to feed the kids next month? Yet this bill would restrict inspections by our state's Oil Conservation Division, hastening health hazards and promoting pollution.

Worst of all, it would take away state agencies' rulemaking authority on the smallest matters -- making an already thin-stretched Legislature write a law for every regulation. Oil spills? Truck sizes? Mine contamination? To do something about it would take a full-blown run through the Roundhouse.

All this and more from your -- or part of Albuquerque's -- friendly representative, Dan Silva, and whoever might support his bill ...
Now Silva's the featured fella on radio commercials portraying a baseball game -- with Big Oil, Big Tobacco, the pharmaceutical lobby and other heavy hitters at bat. Then the announcer names Silva as a pinch-hitter -- against the good people of New Mexico.He comes off as a stooge for President Bush and his corporate sponsors, who back in the 1970s cooked up an organization called the American Legislative Exchange Council. The group churns out bills making mischief with state governments already shorthanded in their attempts to rein in environmental pillage, assaults on America's health and legal thievery from consumers. Silva's bill is the work of ALEC.The ads assailing Silva are paid for by yet another nationwide operation, called the League of Young Voters -- but with whose money, who knows. They're brutal. We don't know how safe Silva's seat is, but if they were to be replayed in the fall of 2008, the town drunk would have a chance to beat him, barring a brilliant spate of lawmaking that would give voters pause about his expendability.
If he's smart, and Roundhouse veterans say he certainly is, Silva will find some friendly colleagues to kill this bill -- maybe by amending it to the point that it's unrecognizable to its real authors, thus allowing Silva to act perplexed and maybe even vote against it. Stranger things have happened, here and in most lawmaking bodies.

Matanza for Eleanor Chavez: Saturday, April 19th 3-6pm

2008-04-17T22:07:00.000-07:00

Please join us this Saturday, April 19th from 3-6pm at the La Vega House (803 La Vega SW) for a:

Matanza for

$20.00-$50.00 (Sliding Scale)

Music * Food * Drink

Sponsored by Joaquín Luján

for more info call 505-400-6545 or just stop by!

Directions to 803 La Vega SW: From NE: Cesar Chavez/Bridge West Across the River to La Vega, South on La Vega to address
From SW: Bridge East to La Vega, South on La Vega to address

Conservation Voters New Mexico & Democracy for New Mexico Endorse Eleanor

2008-04-14T19:30:00.000-07:00

We just recently secured these two key endorsements for our candidacy. The momentum is building and the feel in the community is very positive. In the last week we have had our Campaign Kick-off on Sunday, April 6th; had a fundraiser at Scalo on Friday, April 11th; Sent out our first Mailer on Saturday, April 12th; and kicked off our door knocking campaign on Sunday, April 13th! If you haven't already, please volunteer or make a donation on actblue.

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Check out the article on Democracy for New Mexico.

Below are some pictures from the Campaign Kick-off and a Fundraiser held at Scalo on Friday.

CAMPAIGN KICK-OFF

FUNDRAISER

Eleanor highlighted on Democracy for New Mexico!

2008-04-03T14:59:00.000-07:00

Democracy for New Mexico
An information clearinghouse for the grassroots: Progressive : Active : Inclusive

Check out the link, and while you're there check out all the other great posts that the folks at Democracy for New Mexico have on their blog!

UFCW and NM Federation of Labor endorse Eleanor Chávez!

2008-03-28T09:31:00.000-07:00

Eleanor received two key endorsements recently from the United Food and Commerical Workers Union (UFCW) and the New Mexico Federation of Labor. We expect these to be the first of many endorsements that Eleanor's campaign will receive because of Eleanor's long history of service to her community. Join UFCW and NM Federation of Labor in supporting Eleanor's campaign for State Representative by donating to her campaign.

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March 18, 2008

Eleanor Chavez

Candidate, State Representative District 13

1307 Del Mastro SW

Albuquerque, NM 87121

Re: Letter of Endorsement

Dear Ms. Chavez:

Thank you for recognizing United Food and Commercial Workers Local, 1564 of New Mexico. We have a storied history of being strong advocates for working families in New Mexico, and as such, appreciated your efforts on behalf of Union members. We recognize there are true friends of labor, and you are a friend of labor. We are confident that you will continue your fight on behalf of working families.

The Local Union's Executive Board looks to help candidates who pledge to assist working families. We are pleased to announce that your Candidacy for State Representative District 13 was unamimously endorsed by the Local Union's Executive Board, and we will contribute $250.00 to your campaign.

We look forward to assisting your campaign.

Sincerely,

Danny Esquibel

President

We're on the Ballot! Now it's time to give to the campaign

2008-03-24T17:56:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends,

In early February several colleagues in the social justice and labor community urged me to consider a run for the State House of Representatives, District 13. After much thought and discussion with my family, I've decided to accept the challenge.

Since the early 70's I have worked to make the world we live in a better place. While attending the University of Washington I worked with student farm worker boycott committees, worked to ensure that Chicano programs were not dismantled, and worked against funding cuts of childcare services to low income student parents.

I am currently the director for the National Union of Hospital and Health Care Employees District 1199NM. We represent health care workers in Las Vegas, Taos, Los Alamos, Santa Fe and Albuquerque, New Mexico. In our recent contract negotiations at University of New Mexico Hospital we were successful in a living wage campaign where no worker will receive less than $1.00 per hour wage increase! Good paying jobs with benefits are essential to our ability to raise our families and we all know the right of workers to organize and negotiate over wages, benefits and working conditions must be protected.

As the health care crisis deepens I believe systemic reform is the only answer. Since the early 90's I have worked with other activists to pass legislation that would ensure all New Mexicans have health insurance. For over three years I have chaired the Health Security for New Mexicans Campaign, a coalition of 135 organizations dedicated to the passage of the Health Security Act.

For over 20 years I have been a member the SouthWest Organizing Project, one of the strongest grassroots organizations in the state. With other SWOP members I participated in voter registration drives, community surveys, and campaigns to educate our communities about the impact of toxic dumping. I served on the board of SWOP for many years and remain an active member.

The time has come for me to offer my services as House Representative from District 13. Growing up in New Mexico I learned early that justice is something that we have to struggle for and work towards. I want to bring a voice for working people to the Roundhouse. My opponent is a 20 year incumbent who has sold out to polluters, developers and insurance industry lobbyists. This Democratic primary race is one of the hottest in the state and the winner will face no opposition in the general election.

In order to win, we are building a strong, aggressive, grassroots campaign. We have gathered enough nominating petition signatures to secure a place on the ballot for the June 3rd primary. We have also secured the number one slot on the ballot for the District 13 race. We have built a solid campaign team and we have designed a plan to win. But we need your help to ensure a victory on June 3rd. We will need thousands of fliers, 100s of yard signs and many hours of walking to knock on doors and talk about the issues with our neighbors.

I am humbly asking those, like you, who share my commitment to justice to support my campaign now. In order to get this campaign off to a running start we need to raise $50,000 in the next two months—half of that by the end of March. That's a big task but we can do it if people like you pledge your support.
Your gift of $25, $50, $100, $250, $500 or $1,000 will help me raise the vital "early seed money" I need to successfully launch this campaign. You can make donations on-line at http://actblue.com/entity/fundraisers/19143 or you can mail checks to the Eleanor Chávez for District 13 Campaign to 1307 Del Mastro SW Albuquerque, New Mexico 87121. If you would like to volunteer I can be reached at eleanorchavez@gmail.com or call the campaign at 967-1337.

Thank you in advance for your generous support!

Sincerely,

Eleanor Chávez