Latest news with #GovernorLujanGrisham
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Lt. Gov. Howie Morales announces he will not run for governor
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – With only one year left in his term, Lieutenant Governor Howie Morales has announced his next steps following his time in office. He made a formal announcement on Sunday, stating that he will not be seeking a bid for the governorship next year after serving alongside Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for seven years. 'After careful consideration and extensive communication with my family and supporters across the state, I have made the decision not to run for governor this election cycle. I am grateful for the time I've been able to serve in the executive as lieutenant governor,' said Morales. Morales has been the lieutenant governor since 2019, when he and Governor Lujan Grisham won the election and were subsequently re-elected in 2022. Before joining the executive branch, Morales served as a state senator representing western New Mexico from 2008 to 2019. Governor declares state of emergency due to severe drought in New Mexico One of the main reasons Morales cited for his decision not to run for governor was his family. 'My son is in eighth grade, and my daughter is going to be a junior in high school. I am very involved in their activities; I coach their teams, and we do homework at night—all those type of things that really are valuable to me. Running a statewide campaign really takes a lot of time, a lot of demands that would take me away from them. And I want to make sure that I can focus that time with them because you never get those years back.' Regarding his future plans, Morales reassured that he is not retiring. There was previously speculation that he might seek the presidency of Western New Mexico University, and he stated that option remains on the table. Over the next year, Morales plans to work with state leaders to address critical issues facing New Mexico, particularly regarding crime and the expansion of mental health resources. Democratic prosecutor in crime-torn Albuquerque launches bid for New Mexico governor With only one year left as lieutenant governor, Morales emphasized that much work still lies ahead. 'Why not focus more on mental health, behavioral health opportunities? Why not have more access for housing? These are the type of things that we're going to continue to work on, as well as addressing public safety. I think that's a concern to people across the state. And we're going to continue to work together with the legislature to come up with some solutions,' says Morales. While Morales may not be pursuing a new elected office this election cycle, he encourages those in public service to remember why they run for office and to keep the voices of New Mexico as their primary focus. Prior to his public office, Morales was an educator in Silver City. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
New Mexico governor establishes taskforce to mitigate drought and wildfire risks
NEW MEXICO (KRQE) – New Mexico is currently experiencing some of the worst droughtconditions ever recorded, which could result in the loss of up to 25% of the available water supply over the next 50 years. 'In a water-short state like New Mexico, every drop counts,' said Tanya Trujillo, State Engineer and Water Policy Advocate. Story continues below Crime: Albuquerque business owner faces murder charge for shooting fleeing shoplifter News: Las Vegas deputy charged with aggravated battery and robbery Business: A downtown Albuquerque shoe shine parlor is still serving patrons after nearly a century Events: What's happening around New Mexico May 30-June 5? Kirtland Air Fiesta and more The State of New Mexico is declaring a state of emergency, due to the on going drought the state is facing. 'We've had diminished snowfall in our mountains over the past winter, which will mean we'll have lower levels of water in our rivers and lakes and water to serve our community this year,' continued Trujillo. According to the National Drought Monitor, 84% of the state is experiencing drought conditions, with no improvement in sight. Trujillo told KRQE News 13 that the order passed by Governor Lujan Grisham recognizes the urgent need to take action to conserve water and mitigate fire threats, 'This year we've seen some of the lowest snowpack levels in recorded history. And that translates to some of the lowest levels in our rivers and streams. And so we're really emphasizing the need to take action now.' According to the order, the drought task force will work on three main tasks: spreading information across the state to help conservative water, provide recommendations for municipalities to lower the fire threat, and provide funding where needed. 'We need to be thinking about creative ways of using that existing water, developing new water sources, and really working together to emphasize what we need to do going forward,' emphasized Trujillo. The task force has until July 31 to recommend those short-term measures. To read the order, click this link. For a current list of statewide fire restrictions, click this link. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
