ALBUQUERQUE--A political conservation group says it might have been silenced, but it is not backing off its campaign to oust U.S. Rep. Heather Wilson. "We'll go back on the air with a new ad immediately," said Gregory Green, campaign coordinator for the League of Conservation Voters.

Four Albuquerque television stations stopped airing a 30-second spot produced by the environmental group after attorneys for the Wilson campaign complained. The ad targets Wilson for what [LCV] claims is her support of using federal money for uranium mining. It shows two Crownpoint residents and an Albuquerque doctor who suggest Wilson's support of the mining industry - and the industry's campaign support for her - can be linked to 400 deaths from radiation exposure.

Green said today that [LCV] stands behind the material in the ad. But he said [LCV] wants to avoid a legal fight over the issue with Wilson. "It's extremely important to note that she silenced this community and she is using her attorneys to do so," Green said. The new ad will focus on Wilson's record on other environmental issues, Green said. "Albuquerque is not a radical environmental area. But Wilson is not a moderate. She is an extremist when it comes to the environment. I don't think the public knows that."

The League of Conservation Voters has endorsed Romero. But Geise said he had no knowledge that [LCV] would air the ad. The ad states that it isn't authorized by a candidate or campaign. [LCV] is a national environmental group for political action based in Washington, D.C., with chapters in each state. The New Mexico chapter is based in Santa Fe.

[Excerpt - Albuquerque Tribune]