Campaign Worker Brutally Attacked

David Bloys - News for Public Officials

October 19, 2006

From her hospital bed, GOP campaign worker Paige McKenzie whispered through broken teeth and jaws wired shut to describe the man who attacked her.

McKenzie was the spokeswoman for New Mexico Republican gubernatorial candidate John Dendahl’s campaign until she was attacked the evening of October 4, 2006 in a bank parking lot.

According to Dendahl, who faces Democratic Gov. Bill Richardson in the Nov. 7 election., McKenzie was driving to her home north of Albuquerque around 9 p.m. when she got a flat tire and pulled into a bank parking lot in Bernalillo to change her tire. She was attacked with a tire iron in the parking lot while changing the tire

According to a report in  NewsMax.com, Paige’s brother Patrick McKenzie said that the flat tire had "apparently been slashed.”

County Sheriff Darren White described the attack as "really horrible. She’s lucky to be alive.”

McKenzie suffered broken cheekbones and a broken chin. She had several teeth knocked out and needed her jaw wired shut, Dendahl said. She will face several operations to repair her broken face.

On Friday, McKenzie, who was in serious condition at the University of New Mexico Hospital but was able to speak briefly to police officers.

According to Bernalillo Chief Fred Radosevich, McKenzie described her assailant as a Hispanic male in his late 20's who weighs between 175 and 180 pounds and has no facial hair.

Police have no motive and are processing evidence collected Thursday from her vehicle. Radosevich told reporters  with   Albuquerque Tribune that McKenzie was not sexually assaulted and nothing appears to have been taken from her vehicle.

According to KRQE NEWS-13 McKenzie's condition  has been upgraded from serious to satisfactory as of Monday.

An account to help McKenzie pay her medical bills has been set up at First Community Bank in Albuquerque. If you would like to help you can send your donation to the bank at P.O. Box 3686 in Albuquerque, 87190.

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