TUCUMCARI - A Democratic candidate for governor made his pitch in Tucumcari last Wednesday. While Republican gubernatorial candidates have been regulars in Quay County in recent years, locals struggled to remember the last time a Democrat campaigned here.
Bill Richardson was a regular during his two terms in office and campaigned in GOP-heavy Tucumcari during his successful re-election bid in 2006.
But Richard Primrose, a Republican, and Warren Frost, a Democrat, said they couldn't remember a Dem candidate for governor campaigning in town since then, and that includes current Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham.
"That's sad in some respects," Bregman said.
"I think if someone wants to run for governor, you need to make sure you visit every single part of this beautiful, wonderful state.
"Every single New Mexican matters ... whether or not they're a Democrat, Republican, independent, it doesn't matter to me. I want to get out and visit with folks and see how we can better the lives of people. That's the job of the governor, right?"
Bregman, the district attorney in Bernalillo County, said he's positioning himself as "a moderate Democrat" who is "pro-business" and, especially, "tough on crime."
"I want to focus on reducing crime in this entire state," he said. "That's a hugely important issue. Maybe it's not the front-page story every day in Tucumcari, but it is the front-page story far too often in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Las Cruces.
"So I want to focus on (New Mexico) no longer being first in crime, but maybe be 50th in crime when it comes to this country. I want to focus on not being 50th in education, but maybe first. Those are issues that I think everybody can relate to. I think anybody that's lived here for any time at all realizes that New Mexico is not living up to its potential."
Announced candidates few so far
Former Las Cruces mayor Ken Miyagishima also has filed for the Democratic nomination for governor, but Bregman's strongest opponent in the primary probably is Deb Haaland, the former U.S. Secretary of the Interior and former U.S. congresswoman.
"Deb Haaland is a very nice person," Bregman said.
No Republican candidate for governor has officially filed, though Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull said in April he would run.
An email to Hull requesting comment was not answered.
"It's a free country. Anybody is allowed to run," Bregman said when asked about possible opponents.
"I do know this: Whoever is running, I look forward to debating whoever that might be. But we gotta focus on the primary. I got to get through that to be able to get in the general."
Before the interview, Bregman toured Mesalands' wind-energy, fine arts, farrier and nursing programs. He peppered MCC President Allen Moss with questions about the college.
Afterward, Bregman said of the tour: "It was educational, and it was great. I'm happy to be out here."
Bregman said Wednesday's visit was part of campaign stops in Santa Rosa and Clayton. The next day, he said he would go back to his DA job.
'Alex Bregman's dad'
Despite Bregman holding a high profile as district attorney in the Albuquerque metro and as a gubernatorial candidate, he said there is no doubt he is the second-best-known Bregman.
First would be his son, Major League Baseball third baseman Alex Bregman, a two-time All-Star and former MVP candidate who won two World Series titles with the Houston Astros and now is playing for the Boston Red Sox.
Sam Bregman pulled out his phone and checked: His son that morning had 787,000 followers on Instagram. The elder Bregman's work and candidate accounts each had fewer than 2,000.
"I'm known throughout the state as Alex Bregman's dad," he said. "He is a New Mexico superstar ... no doubt about it.
"Obviously, I'm so proud of my son and all three of my children and my three grandchildren ... and one more on the way."