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.
A bill looking to add a third term for elected county officials cleared its first hurdle on Wednesday. Supporters say New Mexico has one of the most constrictive term limits on county officials in the nation.
Senate Joint Resolution 5 cleared the Senate Rules Committee on Wednesday and now heads to the Judiciary Committee. The measure brought by Sen. Pete Campos, D-Las Vegas, would change the state’s constitution if it clears several more hurdles.
Supporters argue that counties need to retain quality people in positions to keep services strong. Right now, county officials are limited to two terms of four years each. In the rural parts of the state qualified people are harder to come by, supporters add.
The bill still has many hurdles before it would become law, including passage in the Senate, then the House, and then before voters in November. If that happens, county officials completing their second term would not be allowed to run again right away.
According to supporters only three other states, (Alaska, Florida and West Virginia) have the same term limits as New Mexico. Two others (Colorado and Nevada) have the same term limits as SJR 5 would impose. And the other 44 states have no term limits on county officials at all.
