Lyons to run for new office

Freedom New Mexico

Clovis native Patrick Lyons isn’t ready for his career in public service to end next year.

Lyons, a 1972 graduate of Clovis High School, is hoping he can parlay his final year as state land commissioner into a successful run to the Public Regulation Commission.

As he is term-limited, Lyons will spend 2010’s election season running for the District 2 PRC seat occupied by David King — who is also term-limited.

“It deals a lot with businesses,” Lyons said of the PRC. “I like creating jobs. That’s what fuels the economy — private business. I think it’s a good fit for me.”

Lyons announced his candidacy in May, and so far has no Republican primary challengers.

“We’re really going to start campaigning hard after the legislative session to avoid conflicts,” Lyons said, “But we’re getting signatures right now.”

A former state senator of 10 years, Lyons is one of two candidates for the seat. Democrat Stephanie DuBois, who ran against King in 2006, announced her candidacy in September.

In his final year at the land office, Lyons said he hopes to be able to work more on using public lands to bring in revenues for the state’s beneficiaries — mostly education.

“We’re proud of two things,” Lyons said. “We’ve run this land office on a flat budget for the last four years, and we’ve made record revenues. We’re doing it in a responsible, financial way.”