Carl Trujillo rages against the “machine”

Carl Trujillo really, really wants everyone to know that he is the outsider candidate in New Mexico’s House District 46. In a press release and blog post, Trujillo railed against a debate sponsored by what he called the “Political Machine” of the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County.

“We and our supporters have witnessed firsthand the way Democratic Party rules are bent or ignored, standards of fairness violated, and bias is exercised to give preferential treatment to Machine candidates over candidates of the people and the values that the Democratic Party purports to stand for,” Trujillo wrote. “Your invitation to participate in a forum arranged, moderated, scheduled and formatted by the Democratic Party Machine is just such an abuse.”

Trujillo included the invitation sent to him by Richard D. Ellenberg, the chair of the county party.

I would like to invite you to two forums, on in Tesuque area and one here at headquarters. I am looking at the week of April 23 Mon-Thur. Please let me know if you have any conflicts. Subject to your impute, the time will be 6-7:30; questions presented to a moderator in writing in advance or at the forum. 3 minute opening. Then the same question to each candidate, rotating who goes first. 2 minute answer. I might add a 1 minute rebuttal each to make it more of a debate format. No closing.

Trujillo came within 85 votes of knocking off Speaker of the House Ben Lujan in 2010 in the Democratic primary in the same district.

Lujan is not running for re-election because of health issues.

Trujillo almost pulled off the huge upset by running as an outsider against what he said was the party machine — now Trujillo is using the same tactics in his race against Santa Fe mayor David Coss. And not making many friends among Democratic Party officials in the process.