Senate president could be elected Sunday

Democrats will caucus; 5 members may start day in contention

Democrats in the state Senate will meet Sunday in a session that could determine who becomes president pro tem of the chamber.

Five of the 25 Democratic senators could enter the day as contenders for the leadership job.

They are Sens. Mary Kay Papen of Las Cruces, Howie Morales of Silver City, Carlos Cisneros of Questa, Pete Campos of Las Vegas and Linda Lopez of Albuquerque.

Papen, 80, right, said Democrats and Republicans had encouraged her to seek the Senate presidency.

But bipartisan efforts could work against her if Democrats decide to elect the president without any involvement from Republicans.

Republicans in the Senate number 17. They can be frozen out of the selection process for Senate president if at least 22 Democrats unite behind one candidate.

Morales, 39, is pushing for that to happen. Lopez and Cisneros also want a consensus candidate. Campos has been tight-lipped, saying in one interview only that he had an interest in the job.

The sitting president pro tem, Democrat Tim Jennings of Roswell, lost his bid for re-election to the Senate.

The president pro tem plays a key role in determining Senate committee assignments. In turn, committees decide whether bills advance to the full Senate or die.

An even more powerful job than Senate president is that of  majority leader. That position is held by Sen. Michael Sanchez, D-Belen.

Sanchez, 62, said in an interview this month that he was comfortable as majority leader and wanted to continue in that role. The majority leader can single-handedly kill a bill, as he decides which measures will receive a vote on the Senate floor.

Republican Gov. Susana Martinez used her political committees to try to defeat Sanchez in the general election. But he won with ease, and likely will continue as majority leader.

Comments

[Diane Denish]

Milan: It's not the President, it is the Pro-tem. The President of the Senate is the Lt. Governor.
Just a technicality but one worth noting.

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OUR REPLY:
Dear Madam Lieutenant Governor,

Thanks for your note. I am aware of the distinction, which is why my lead paragraph says: "Democrats in the state Senate will meet Sunday in a session that could determine who becomes president pro tem of the chamber."

But using pro tem in every succeeding reference strangles the story. The concept is similar to saying "agent" on subsequent references to FBI special agent in charge of the Albuquerque field office.

Thank you for reading and for your commitment to exactness.