More Than a Wingman: Doors May Open for Kilmer’s New Mexico Gov Run

Lisa Derrick Saturday February 7, 2009 6:25 pm

For the past several months, Val Kilmer’s name has been bandied about as a candidate for New Mexico’s governor. In September, the current governor, who’d just come off the presidential campaign, Bill Richardson commented:

I like the idea. Val Kilmer is a New Mexican, he was Batman. You know there have been successful actors going into politics…I haven’t talked to him about it, I don’t know how serious he is, but you know if he jumps in a race he’s got name ID, so it can’t be discounted.

In November, Kilmer spoke with Cindy Adams, saying:

There’s sort of a rumor around that I’m maybe thinking about running to be governor of New Mexico? Well, it’s sort of true. It’s been my home 25 years. I really love my state. Poor, hardworking, decent people – Native Americans, carpenters, artists, expats mixed in with hundreds of the world’s smartest physicists at Los Alamos. I’ve always thought of myself as functioning as a candidate for them. The media interests me and it’s influenced politicians since the ’60s, and I’m approaching this as a worthy serious endeavor. I would be very comfortable in my position as a representative for the people.

So why all the buzz now? Well, Bill Richardson has termed out, and Kilmer tossed his hat in the ring with splash, giving a "sounding it out" interview with the Associated Press where he said he’s looking for ways to be

contributive.

And while he hasn’t made a decison yet, Kilmer says

If I run, I’m going to be the next governor.

And really, who can argue with Batman or the voice of Kitt the talking car?

macaquerman | Saturday February 7, 2009 09:38 pm 1

Considering the results California has had with governance by actor, who could argue?

Margot | Sunday February 8, 2009 04:43 am 2

Well, he’s got a pulse. That’s about it.

puppethead | Sunday February 8, 2009 09:27 am 3

No offense macaquerman, but I don’t understand why people bash actors as politicians. Aren’t they just as qualified as anyone? From a purely mechanics-of-politics standpoint, they are highly skilled at stagecraft and are trained at persuading people with their voices. Seems not too dissimilar to lawyering to me. And we have way too many lawyers in government.

Sure, their celebrity can give them an advantage. But I’d take someone like Kilmer over some self-financed millionaire corporatist any day. Just because Californians have bad judgement doesn’t mean everyone does. In Minnesota we did pretty well with Jesse Ventura, much better than the current governor.

macaquerman | Sunday February 8, 2009 10:51 am 4

In response to puppethead @ 3

No offense taken. I hold a tremendous animus toward the Reagan administration and it colors my view of the question.
If being serious, I would have to say that actors have every bit the right to office that any citizen does.
However, I can’t think that training as an actor is the kind of training that is consistent with the best interests of the citizenry.
Training in logical and analytical thought seems preferable to training in ability to project a range of emotion.

Teddy Partridge | Sunday February 8, 2009 11:09 am 5

Oh, my.

**fans self**

Thank you, Lisa