Elect an entrepreneur

Party: Republican
District: New Mexico, 3rd
Incumbent: Tom Udall (D) (running for Senate)
Challengers: Ben Ray Lujan (D), Carol Miller (Independent)
daneast4congress.com
Outcome: Lost

Dan East is the first to admit that he's running a challenging campaign.

"It's an uphill battle," he says of the district that includes New Mexico's capital, Santa Fe, and has been rated as "Safe Democratic" by Congressional Quarterly. It doesn't help that he's running against the son of the state House speaker.

Nonetheless, the owner of Albuquerque-based Cone Construction Corp. hopes he will appeal to voters looking to send a representative to Congress this year who isn't a career politician.

"As a small businessman, I understand how difficult it is to make ends meet today. I relate back to the citizens of this district because I am one," says East, 50, who has never run for public office before. If elected, he plans a short stay in Washington - just long enough to make a difference.

"I have a job. I don't need another one," he says.

As a Congressman, East would propose a cost-benefit analysis of all national energy programs in order to understand what is and isn't working. He also plans to push for more investment in the country's aging infrastructure of roads, bridges and water systems.

East isn't too worried about the prospect of being a freshman on Capitol Hill. His experience serving on the board of the National Utility Contractors Association - he is currently senior vice-president - has given him some insight into the workings of Washington. Plus, he plans to draw on the skills he's learned running his company.

"As the owner of a small business, you're thrown curve balls daily," he says. "You have to be able to make decisions quickly, stand up for them, and make them work."

If he wins the election, East plans to sell his company to his employees. If not, he'll stay on but continue to exert some influence in Washington through his NUCA work.

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