I am writing today to announce the closure of the New Mexico Independent. After three and a half years of operation in New Mexico, the board of the American Independent News Network, has decided to shift publication of its news…
While environmental activists played their part yesterday during demonstrations at the capitol building, going so far as to dress up as solar panels and to sing the tune of “You Are My Sunshine,” their counterparts, the anti-cap-and-trade contingency who has…
Roughly one quarter of University of New Mexico students are unimpressed with the state’s flagship public school, according to a survey that questioned college students about their higher education experiences.
State Rep. Janice Arnold-Jones, R-Albuquerque, the only current member of the Legislature to attend Wednesday night’s forum for mayoral candidates, said there would have been a more interesting discussion had her colleague Rep. R.J. Berry, R-Albuquerque, been able to take part.
Berry was out of town on a long-scheduled trip, his campaign manager told union members gathered at the AFSCME union hall.
Arnold-Jones said she came for two reasons. First, “I work out with [former] Gov. Dave Cargo and he would have kicked my butt if I hadn’t come tonight,” she said. Cargo, a liberal Republican, served as governor of New Mexico from 1967-1971.
Secondly, she wanted to come in support of her friend and colleague, R.J. Berry. She defended his absence, saying that his trip had been planned a year ago. “What do you do? He knew the mayor wouldn’t come…”
The mayor didn’t come to the forum because he has not officially announced his candidacy, said his representative, Butch Kaiser.
“In fact, he is, for all intents and purposes, on the ballot,” Arnold-Jones, said, “So I don’t know… I wish he’d been here.”
Chavez has qualified for public financing and collected enough signatures and donations to be on the ballot. He also sued for the ability to run for a third term, but has not made an official announcement that he’s running for reelection.
Berry would have offered a different perspective to the forum, Arnold-Jones said, because he runs a construction company that has both union and non-union employees. ” I think there would have been a better discussion about [privatization of public services] if he’d been here. This was not much of a debate,” she said.
Romero has characterized himself as an even-tempered consensus-maker, in contrast with Chavez, whom he blames for conflict between the mayor’s office and the City Council.
Arnold-Jones also served in the Legislature with Romero, the former president pro tem of the body.
“I’ve had the privilege of working with both of them and their demeanor is quite similar. Absolutely respectful of individuals, that’s their approach. Thoughtful,” she elaborated.
“As Sen. Romero left the Legislature and moved on I would say he’s become even more proactive about working towards consensus. And that’s exactly how R.J. works, so I was looking to find other differences [at the forum].”
She didn’t find many of those differences on display tonight, but said she was sure they would become apparent as the campaign progresses.
