SANTA FE - On the surface, they seem similar: Two Democrats who have been state land commissioner before want to do the job again.

Jim Baca and Ray Powell agree they want the public to know more about the Land Office, but each has a different idea when it comes to running the office.

Democratic voters get to choose between the candidates June 6. The winner faces incumbent Republican Pat Lyons on Nov. 7.

The Land Office oversees all state land, and the commissioner reviews applications to lease or buy land or timber.

The office also manages 9 million acres of surface land and 13 million acres of oil, gas and mineral leases. Twenty-two entities, including public schools and universities, benefit from money generated by state land. The job pays $90,000.

If elected, Baca would ask voters to change the state Constitution so land could be permanently protected from development. Now, he says, land can be protected by one commissioner, but his or his successor could change that decision.

A former Albuquerque mayor who was commissioner from 1991-93, Baca also wants to create a board that would have veto authority over decisions made by the commissioner.

"There's a lot of land trades going on that people don't know about," he said.

Baca, 60, isn't sure how many people he'd like to have on the board but emphasized he wants a group of people to have oversight on the commissioner.

Powell, too, says more people should know about decisions the office makes.

He'd focus on community involvement in land decisions, much like he said he did when he was in office from 1993 to 2002.

"You have so much autonomy in that office, it could be months before anyone figures out anything you've done," said Powell, a 56-year-old veterinarian.

He also wants to get the state focused on energy sources such as solar and wind, something he said voters are talking about across the state.

"People are interested in renewable energy," he said.

The biggest difference between Baca and Powell might be their personalities.

"I'm not a `go-along-to-get-along' guy," Baca said, suggesting he won't be afraid to take on President Bush's land use policies in the West.

Powell said he plans to "work hard to bring people together."

Overall, Powell said he's disappointed with the lack of interest in this year's primary.

"I've never seen an election with so much disinterest," he said.