Hull's campaign finances show support beyond Rio Rancho

RIO RANCHO — Rio Rancho voted to elect Gregg Hull as mayor three times, but his financial disclosure show most of his monetary support for his gubernatorial bid is coming from outside the city.

Hull, who teased his announcement for the state’s highest elected office in a news release April 15, raked in $87,334 from contributors in Albuquerque — $52,719 more than contributors from Rio Rancho, according to his first bi-annual report of expenditures and contributions filed with New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver.

In cities excluding Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, Hull raised $86,995, a sum that also far exceeds money provided from his hometown. The report shows four states (New Mexico, Arizona, Texas and California) and 17 cities gave money to Hull’s campaign.

A breakdown of Hull’s campaign contributions by state and city shows Roswell came in third, with $22,125; Las Cruces came in fourth, with $21,100; Corrales came in fifth, with $17,000; and Los Lunas came in sixth, with $11,000. The other city contributors gave four figures or less. Two different contributors in Albuquerque gave just $1 and $2.

By comparison, however, Hull has $34,000 more in contributions from his hometown than Democrat Deb Haaland, the former U.S. Interior secretary and Sandoval County native who is considered the frontrunner in the race.

All told, Hull raised exactly $206,144 between Jan. 1 and April 7, the timeframe covered in the first bi-annual report. Hull’s campaign branded the amount of contributions as “impressive” as he continues to meet with constituents before making an official announcement about his candidacy on June 2, exactly a year away from the gubernatorial primary. A Republican challenger has yet to enter the race. Hull also has not announced whether he intends to run for a fourth term as mayor.

A look at Hull’s top campaign contributors shows retired business owner Nancy Nunnally gave the biggest contribution, at $12,400. The other top contributors, all giving $11,000, included Roswell auto dealership owner Tom Krumland and his wife; Royal Jones Trucking and Young Guns Construction. Hull gave his campaign $500.

Hull’s contributors thus far include public officials, including Torrance County Sheriff David Frazee, who donated $1,000, and Elephant Butte Mayor Phillip Mortensen, who donated just $25. Mortensen said he had no comment in an email to the Observer. Frazee did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

John Trujillo, owner/operator of Young Guns Construction, said in an interview he and his employees chipped in funds to contribute to the campaign. He said the housing units in Rio Rancho that Young Guns built pushed the Albuquerque-based business off to a good start.

Trujillo, a 37-year-old father of five children, credited Hull for the city’s economic growth and its education system.

“As a young, native New Mexican, I truly believe that ... (Hull) has New Mexico’s best interests at heart,” Trujillo said.

Nunnally, who knows Hull personally, called Hull an “upstanding mayor” that she would miss if he won the race for governor. She called Hull a man of integrity who has done “a lot” for the city and also credited him for his business acumen.

“He’s had the experience of governing, whereas if you have a senator running, they’re kind of going in blind and relying on other people,” Nunnally said.

She laughed when asked about the notion of other Republicans challenging Hull in the primary.

“There’s no one else I could even imagine,” Nunnally said, adding she is not happy with the Republican Party of New Mexico.

In a prepared statement responding the Observer’s questions about Hull’s candidacy, Ash Soular, communications director for the Republican Party of New Mexico, said the party “proudly supports all Republican candidates in the upcoming election,” adding it is impartial during the primary, per party bylaws.

“We expect additional Republican candidates to announce for governor in the near future, but we will not get ahead of any announcements,” Soular wrote in an email.

Trujillo said he would keep an open mind about any other Republicans who might enter the race for governor.

“I do plan at looking at all sides and all points of view,” he said. “I encourage (others) to ... do what’s best for them them. It’s always what’s best for you and the ones you love.”