Virgil “The Voice” Wins and Dad Deliberates
(Cerro) At the Charles Cisneros VFW Hall in Cerro on Thursday, May 9, supporters of KCEC Trustee Virgil Martinez gathered to celebrate the No. 1 vote getter in the Coop election. Of 581 votes cast in Questa, Virgil received 68% or 394; a second incumbent, Bobby Ortega, received 339 or 58%; and Marty Martinez 295, 51%, and he finished out of the running. In a heartfelt speech, Virgil thanked his family and his supporters, noting how poor so many of his constituents are. He also introduced a supporter, who drove all the way from Denver to cast his vote.
In 2002, I attended a similar celebration for Virgil’s victory in the county commission race and saw Mr. Vox Populi, the voice of the people, at work as host and gracious winner, seating folks, helping them with their platos, bringing them cups of coffee and soft drinks. Last night’s frito pies were finished off with about the best red chile I’ve had in years: I skipped desert and went back for seconds. I don’t remember the cook’s name but she can cook red chile like nobody’s business.
In The Taos News of May 9-15 by J.R. Logan, “Candidates share thoughts before Kit Carson elections,” you can get a pretty good grasp of the character and the challenges at the Coop. I highly recommend the piece. In simple language Virgil states the problems: “They’re out of control. There’s been a lot of bad management at the co-op…A lot of lies have been told to people and there’s no reason to lie to get something done.”
Despite the enthusiasm generated by Virgil’s victory, the re-election of Bobby Ortega means the status quo prevails at the Coop. According to an election observer, CEO Luis Reyes was as nervous as a cat among dogs at the Questa election. Bobby’s win, however, means Luis’s policy of “borrow and spend” can continue. Regardless of what happens in District one, Taos on Tuesday May 14, the die is cast and the current majority will rule—meaning more losses in Propane and more ratepayer and taxpayer subsidies for Luis’s folly at the Command Center.
Incumbent Trustee Manuel Medina is expected to win in Taos, and, unfortunately, Manuel supports the Ortega—Reyes cabal. In Logan’s Taos News piece, the trustee says how he is “looking for this (Tri-State) fight for years. I believe that Tri-State has made a lot of promises that they didn’t keep.” Yeah, and how much is the Coop spending on attorneys for this battle? Million dollars?
Manuel also says, “As for the command center that was to be built for Kit Carson alone. At the time, the city and the county wanted in. But now, all of a sudden, that’s not the case. I think people forget about a lot of things that happen.” Well, Manuel, I think you have either forgotten or believe in another one of the myths generated by Luis.
Both the town and the county repeatedly treated Luis’s proposals regarding the Command Center with skepticism. Despite his entreaties, they refused to buy a pig in a poke. The KCEC CEO would never give either the town or county a firm figure regarding operating costs for the command center. Luis was rebuffed time and again by Mayor Duran and the town council, the town manager Gus Cordova, the county commission, and county manager Sammy Pacheco. They politely replied that it might be a good idea they also said they needed to understand the protocols and operating costs—none of which were forthcoming until late 2012 or early 2013—ten years after the project began. And the protocols are still not in place.
When I first started covering the Coop more than ten years ago, I admired Manuel’s attention to detail, how much the Coop paid for tires and gas, truck repairs, etc. I still like Manuel and his campaign manager, Teresa. But Manuel, like the majority of the board members, has lost his way at the Coop. In Virgil’s words, “They’re out of control.”
Dad Speaks
(Taos) At the District Court emergency hearing on Thursday, May 18, the Town of Taos attorney Brian James asked Judge John Paternoster to clarify his previous court order regarding the judicial supervision of town intern Jeff Northrup. Mr. Northrup is prohibited from making contact with Mayor Darren Cordova and his family, personally or at their places of business. Northrup is allowed to attend public meetings of the town. Now Mr. Northrup wants to attend the Mother’s Day event: a public event sponsored and paid for by the town and county to the tune of $11,000, which takes place at a county park but under the auspices of contractor DMC Broadcasting. Mayor Darren Cordova owns DMC broadcasting.
The wise man from Raton, a former D.A., the current district judge, John Paternoster, expressed his chagrin and disappointment, regarding the ongoing issues, at the hearing, saying, “Since I’ve become the Dad of these two separate and distinct families,” he had decided to hear the emergency request. Referring to his 20 something years in El Norte as both a transient and part-time Taoseno, implying some familiarity with the local culture, the judge acknowledged James’ quotation of an email from Jeff Northrup, who referred to potential trouble if he attended the event. On the other hand, Mr. James, repeatedly emphasized his lack of familiarity with the local culture by repeatedly mispronouncing “Cordova” i.e. putting the stress on the last syllable.
Northrup alerted town officials via email to let them know of his plans. According to Northrup at last year’s event, he was denounced from the stage by the Mayor’s brother, Daniel, and escorted from the premises by the Mayor’s cops. Northrup and witnesses claim he was doing nothing but carrying his ubiquitous camera, a companion that accompanies him as silent bodyguard.
Both James and Paternoster acknowledged that they were stepping gingerly around constitutional issues regarding public places and the right to peacefully assemble. Paternoster referred to his attempt to come up with a “uniquely Taos type remedy” that included the cultural background of El Norte, a backdrop that draws folks to Taos: freedom, diversity, energy, acceptance, and tolerance. (Caveat: With rare exceptions, Taos tolerance tends to go out the window if outsiders get involved in local politics.)
At the same time the Judge acknowledged the sacrosanct character of Taosenos and the Mothers Day fiesta. He apparently took his cue from Northrup’s attorney Justin Lea, who mentioned the schedule of bands and, specifically, the Cordova clan’s scheduled performance as musicians among others, and suggested Northrup could restrict himself from attendance during said Cordova performance. The judge, whose demeanor resembles Ben Franklin, deliberated as if he were channeling Solomon.
Dad said Northrup could attend the concert, sans signs or camera, but must vacate the grounds when the Cordova family performed and also maintain an appropriate distance from family members during his attendance. Dad noted that while Northrup was on probation for a prior criminal trespass conviction involving the same family, he also must realize that his liberties are restricted, pending a potential appeal. In a cautionary note, Dad noted that Northrup might not be familiar with all the members of the Cordova family but certainly they knew what he looked like. Dad made it clear that given the spirit of the event, he wanted everyone to “quiet down.”
Peace be with you, Father, er, Dad.