Diane Denish
Encyclopedia
Diane Daniels Denish is an American
politician
, who was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
. She was elected in 2002, running on the same ticket as Governor Bill Richardson, and was re-elected in 2006. Denish is the first woman to hold that post.
There was early speculation that Denish would run in the 2008 election
for the New Mexico
Senate seat vacated by Pete Domenici
, but she ruled out running. She ran for governor in 2010, but was defeated by Susana Martinez
on November 2, 2010.
. Her father, Jack Daniels
, was a prominent New Mexico politician and the brother of Bill Daniels
. She earned her BA from the University of New Mexico
in 1971. Prior to entering politics, she owned and operated The Target Group, a small business specializing in market research and fund-raising for nonprofit organizations. Denish enjoys cooking in her leisure time.
, as well as Chair of New Mexico First and Chair of the New Mexico Community Foundation.
Denish has been appointed by three New Mexico Governors to serve in numerous capacities, including as a member of the Board of Regents at New Mexico Tech University
, as Chair of the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women, and as a member of the National Advisory Board of the Small Business Administration
under President Bill Clinton
. In 1998, she was the Lieutenant Governor candidate on the ticket with Martin Chavez
, losing the race 54%-45% to then Governor Gary Johnson
.
In her capacity as Lieutenant Governor
, Denish has supported legislation to increase microlending
funds and place tighter regulations on payday lenders
. She also supported legislation to establish voluntary pre-kindergarten
enrollment for all New Mexico four-year-olds and legislation to combat methamphetamine
manufacturers and dealers who target children.
She serves as the President of the New Mexico Senate
, Chair of the Children's Cabinet, Chair of the Mortgage Finance Authority, Chair of the Insure New Mexico! Council, Chair of the Health Care for New Mexicans Council, and Co-Chair of the New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism.
of over $1 million. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and was the Democratic
nominee for Governor of New Mexico.
Denish was defeated in the general election on November 2, 2010 by Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez
, who became New Mexico's first elected female governor, and as well as the first elected Hispanic
woman to become governor in U.S. history.
The Denish vs. Martinez race and the simultaneous Jari Askins
vs. Mary Fallin
race in Oklahoma were only the third and fourth cases of woman vs. woman gubernatorial races in U.S. history.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
, who was the 30th Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico is an official in the state of New Mexico that ranks just below the Governor of New Mexico. The current lieutenant governor is John Sanchez.- Partial list of Lieutenant Governors of New Mexico :...
. She was elected in 2002, running on the same ticket as Governor Bill Richardson, and was re-elected in 2006. Denish is the first woman to hold that post.
There was early speculation that Denish would run in the 2008 election
United States Senate election in New Mexico, 2008
The 2008 United States Senate election in New Mexico was held on November 4, 2008. Incumbent Republican U.S. Senator Pete Domenici decided to retire instead of seeking a seventh term. All three of New Mexico's U.S. Representatives chose to retire from the U.S. House of Representatives in order to...
for the New Mexico
New Mexico
New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...
Senate seat vacated by Pete Domenici
Pete Domenici
Pietro Vichi "Pete" Domenici is an American Republican politician, who served six terms as a United States Senator from New Mexico, from 1973 to 2009, the longest tenure in the state's history....
, but she ruled out running. She ran for governor in 2010, but was defeated by Susana Martinez
Susana Martinez
Susana Martinez is the 31st and current governor of New Mexico.A Republican, Martinez is the first female governor of New Mexico, as well as the first female Hispanic governor in the United States. She was formerly the district attorney for the 3rd Judicial District of the U.S. state of New Mexico...
on November 2, 2010.
Personal life
Diane Denish was born March 7, 1949, in Hobbs, New MexicoHobbs, New Mexico
Hobbs is a city in Lea County, New Mexico, United States. The population was 28,657 at the 2000 census.Hobbs is the principal city of the Hobbs, New Mexico Micropolitan Statistical Area, which includes all of Lea County.-Geography:...
. Her father, Jack Daniels
Jack Daniels (politician)
Jack Daniels was a Democratic New Mexico state representative. He ran unsuccessfully for the governorship in 1970, and for the United States Senate in 1972....
, was a prominent New Mexico politician and the brother of Bill Daniels
Bill Daniels
Robert W. "Bill" Daniels was a pioneer in the cable television industry, commonly known as the "Father of Cable Television". He was an owner of the Los Angeles Lakers and a founder of the United States Football League ....
. She earned her BA from the University of New Mexico
University of New Mexico
The University of New Mexico at Albuquerque is a public research university located in Albuquerque, New Mexico, in the United States. It is the state's flagship research institution...
in 1971. Prior to entering politics, she owned and operated The Target Group, a small business specializing in market research and fund-raising for nonprofit organizations. Denish enjoys cooking in her leisure time.
Political career
Denish has served as Chair of the New Mexico Democratic PartyDemocratic Party of New Mexico
The Democratic Party of New Mexico is the local branch of the United States Democratic Party in the state of New Mexico, headquartered in Albuquerque. The party is led by Chairman Javier Gonzales and Vice-Chair Annadelle Sanchez.-Historical development:...
, as well as Chair of New Mexico First and Chair of the New Mexico Community Foundation.
Denish has been appointed by three New Mexico Governors to serve in numerous capacities, including as a member of the Board of Regents at New Mexico Tech University
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology is a university located in Socorro, New Mexico....
, as Chair of the New Mexico Commission on the Status of Women, and as a member of the National Advisory Board of the Small Business Administration
Small Business Administration
The Small Business Administration is a United States government agency that provides support to entrepreneurs and small businesses. The mission of the Small Business Administration is "to maintain and strengthen the nation's economy by enabling the establishment and viability of small businesses...
under President Bill Clinton
Bill Clinton
William Jefferson "Bill" Clinton is an American politician who served as the 42nd President of the United States from 1993 to 2001. Inaugurated at age 46, he was the third-youngest president. He took office at the end of the Cold War, and was the first president of the baby boomer generation...
. In 1998, she was the Lieutenant Governor candidate on the ticket with Martin Chavez
Martin Chavez
Martin Joseph Chávez Chávez is a former three-term mayor of Albuquerque, New Mexico and New Mexico State Senator. He currently serves as the Executive Director of ICLEI Local Governments for Sustainability USA. and Chairman of the Advisory Board for the Center for Green Schools at U.S. Green...
, losing the race 54%-45% to then Governor Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson
Gary Johnson may refer to:*Gary Johnson , former Governor of New Mexico and candidate for President in 2012*Gary Johnson , American politician, Wisconsin State Assembly...
.
In her capacity as Lieutenant Governor
Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico
Lieutenant Governor of New Mexico is an official in the state of New Mexico that ranks just below the Governor of New Mexico. The current lieutenant governor is John Sanchez.- Partial list of Lieutenant Governors of New Mexico :...
, Denish has supported legislation to increase microlending
Microcredit
Microcredit is the extension of very small loans to those in poverty designed to spur entrepreneurship. These individuals lack collateral, steady employment and a verifiable credit history and therefore cannot meet even the most minimal qualifications to gain access to traditional credit...
funds and place tighter regulations on payday lenders
Payday loan
A payday loan is a small, short-term loan that is intended to cover a borrower's expenses until his or her next payday. The loans are also sometimes referred to as cash advances, though that term can also refer to cash provided against a prearranged line of credit such as a credit card...
. She also supported legislation to establish voluntary pre-kindergarten
Early childhood education
Early childhood education is the formal teaching and care of young children by people other than their family or in settings outside of the home. 'Early childhood' is usually defined as before the age of normal schooling - five years in most nations, though the U.S...
enrollment for all New Mexico four-year-olds and legislation to combat methamphetamine
Methamphetamine
Methamphetamine is a psychostimulant of the phenethylamine and amphetamine class of psychoactive drugs...
manufacturers and dealers who target children.
She serves as the President of the New Mexico Senate
New Mexico Senate
The New Mexico Senate is the upper house of the New Mexico State Legislature. The Senate consists of 42 members, with each senator representing an equal amount of single-member constituent districts across the state. All senatorial districts are divided to contain a population on average of 43,300...
, Chair of the Children's Cabinet, Chair of the Mortgage Finance Authority, Chair of the Insure New Mexico! Council, Chair of the Health Care for New Mexicans Council, and Co-Chair of the New Mexico Commission for Community Volunteerism.
2010 New Mexico gubernatorial bid
Denish began preparing for her gubernatorial bid early and in 2007 had already amassed a war chestWar chest
In arms and armor, a war chest is a container for the personal weapons and protective gear of a citizen-soldier, kept in the household, and is the origin of the term.-In politics:...
of over $1 million. She ran unopposed in the Democratic primary and was the Democratic
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
nominee for Governor of New Mexico.
Denish was defeated in the general election on November 2, 2010 by Doña Ana County District Attorney Susana Martinez
Susana Martinez
Susana Martinez is the 31st and current governor of New Mexico.A Republican, Martinez is the first female governor of New Mexico, as well as the first female Hispanic governor in the United States. She was formerly the district attorney for the 3rd Judicial District of the U.S. state of New Mexico...
, who became New Mexico's first elected female governor, and as well as the first elected Hispanic
Hispanic
Hispanic is a term that originally denoted a relationship to Hispania, which is to say the Iberian Peninsula: Andorra, Gibraltar, Portugal and Spain. During the Modern Era, Hispanic sometimes takes on a more limited meaning, particularly in the United States, where the term means a person of ...
woman to become governor in U.S. history.
The Denish vs. Martinez race and the simultaneous Jari Askins
Jari Askins
Jari Askins is an American lawyer and Democratic politician from the US state of Oklahoma. She was the 15th Lieutenant Governor of Oklahoma, being the second female and the first Democratic female to hold that position....
vs. Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin
Mary Fallin is the 27th and current Governor of the U.S. state of Oklahoma. She was a U.S. Representative for from 2007 until 2011....
race in Oklahoma were only the third and fourth cases of woman vs. woman gubernatorial races in U.S. history.
Awards
Denish has received the PNM Entrepreneur Advocate of the Year Award (2006), the Leadership New Mexico Distinguished Alumnus Award (2006), the Reverend Martin Luther King, Jr., Community Service Award (2005), the Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce Excellence in Education Award (2005), the WIPP Women Impacting Public Policy New Mexico Legislative Leadership Award (2004), the Hispanic Women’s Council Las Primeras Award, and the National Child Health Advocate Award (2005).External links
- New Mexico Office of the Lieutenant Governor Diane Denish official state site
- Diane Denish for Governor official campaign site