Berry's House seat goes to former rival

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The Bernalillo County Commission Tuesday night chose retired Air Force Col. Jim White to the state House seat formerly held by Albuquerque's new mayor.

White will serve the remaining year of Mayor-elect Richard Berry's term. If he wants to keep the seat, he'll have to run for it next year.

White was Berry's opponent in the 2006 Republican primary for the House District 20 seat. Berry went on to win that election and the 2008 contest but resigned the seat on Monday.

White takes office just in time for the special session of the Legislature convening Saturday to deal with the budget crisis spawned by a revenue shortfall currently pegged at more than $600 million for the current fiscal year.