Consultant, pollster Donisthorpe dies at 56
Remembered as ‘pillar of political community’ with encyclopedic grasp
Bruce Donisthorpe, a Republican consultant and pollster, a longtime aide to the late Congressman Joe Skeen and communications director for former Gov. Garrey Carruthers, has died at age 56.
Donisthorpe died Sunday night in his Albuquerque home from an apparent heart attack, said Joe Monahan, a political blogger and friend of Donisthorpe.
“Bruce had a wide circle of friends on both sides of the [political] aisle,” Monahan said. “He loved New Mexico and its politics. He was a real pillar of the political community. He had such a vast institutional knowledge. Legislators from both sides loved to pick his brain.”
Others said Donisthorpe possessed both a good-natured demeanor and an encyclopedic knowledge of state politics and government.
Donisthorpe was “one of the smartest guys in New Mexico,” said Brian Sanderoff, a pollster from Albuquerque, and a friend for 25 years. He “knew more about state politics, government and elections than anyone I’ve ever encountered.”
Even though Donisthorpe was involved in many campaigns, Sanderoff said, “He didn’t look at the dark side or try to tear people down.”
Carruthers, a Republican who was governor from 1987 to 1991, in a written statement Monday said he and his wife Kathy “considered Bruce as a friend, a loyal supporter and remember how much he cared for New Mexico. He involved himself in many projects that have been of benefit to the people of our state, but I particularly remember his involvement in literacy efforts. He was a lifelong student of the body politic in which he has been a central figure for many years. I am proud to have known him and very sorry to hear of his untimely passing.” Carruthers now is president of New Mexico State University.
State Republican Chairwoman Debbie Maestas also praised Donisthorpe in a statement Monday. “We are deeply saddened to learn of Bruce’s passing. He has worked extensively with [the state party], as well as several candi-
dates statewide, for many years, and he and his valuable insight on the political environment in New Mexico will be dearly missed. Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and loved ones in this difficult time.”
Donisthorpe was born into a political family. His mother is former state Sen. Christine Donisthorpe, R-Bloomfield. She was appointed to fill vacant Senate seat in 1979 and then elected for four terms.
Bruce Donisthorpe received a bachelor’s and master’s degree in speech communication from The University of New Mexico.
He went to work for Carruthers in 1987. In 1989 Donisthorpe joined the staff of Skeen, who represented the state’s Second Congressional District in Southern New Mexico. He was Skeen’s legislative director and associate staffer for the House Appropriations Committee.
Donisthorpe returned to New Mexico in 2001, establishing his polling and consulting company, BWD Global, in Albuquerque.
Memorial announcements were pending Monday.