Taos County Election 2014

The Candidates and the Campaigns

Since voter apathy seems to characterize the statewide democratic race for Governor, turnout in democratic Taos County will probably be light in the primary on June Third. Both republicans and democrats in Taos County have been turned off by Gov. Martinez’s positions on education, water issues, and the attempt to intervene in the local mayoral election on behalf of a politically bankrupt incumbent. The Governor seems more interested in serving southern New Mexico and of out-of-state interests than Taosenos, who aren’t used to being ignored at the state level. But no single democrat has come forward to ignite the imagination of local democrats.

Despite the campaign signs and numbers of candidates, Taos County elections have generated more whispers than shouts in comparison to the recent mayoral race in the Town of Taos. Yet there is a sociological shift taking shape in local politics, due to an emphasis on issues more so than personalities and ethnic background. Again, the recent Town of Taos elections can be seen as a harbinger of change. In the Town, voters, fed up with the failed policies of incumbents, elected enlightened and public oriented citizens to reinstitute good government.

When several Anglos got elected to office two years ago, the change suggested more about “vote-splitting” and less about demographics or attitudes. Though Jeff McElroy, Jeff Shannon, and Tom Blankenhorn had paid their dues in community and ran good campaigns, they ultimately exploited competition among Native Taosenos, who split their votes among candidates. McElroy also benefitted from the extended geographic nature of the Eighth Judicial District, as did Sarah Backus, who ran a good campaign against a weak opponent in the same judicial district. The latter two also enjoyed a restrictive advantage since a law degree is necessary to qualify a candidate to run for district judge. Though Native Taosenos also voted for the winners, the world did not end with the election of these damn gringos.

County Commission

Due to what turns out to be a weak field in County Commission District One and Five respectively, Jim Fambro and Candyce O’Donnell have a real shot at winning commission seats. Jim went to high school in Taos and has served most notably as fire chief. Candyce has been the local TV videographer at county commission meetings for 25 or more years. Both Fambro and O’ Donnell are considered longtime community members more interested in public service than in personal movida making. Like the successful candidates for town council and mayor, Fambro and O’Donnell will have to campaign hard to win.

TCSO

More interestingly, the sheriff’s race will be won on the ground by the best campaigner, who also manages to “get out the vote” for his or her election. Due to vote-splitting among the current crop of deputies running for sheriff, former Judge Betty Martinez-Gonzales is considered the favorite among Native Taosenos, due to her long service and popularity.

But, now, candidate Jerry Hogrefe, a longtime former marshal of Red River and interim Town chief of police, is gaining support, not only among Anglos but among Taosenos, who either dislike Judge Betty or say they want a sheriff with the standard training and certifications associated with the job. Despite her critics, Judge Betty was much respected as a 29-year magistrate judge. By electing a woman as sheriff, Taosenos would lay another hoary prejudice against women in general and female Hispanics in particular, to rest.

Judge Betty brings more knowledge of community, the place and people, to the job than any other candidate. While Hogrefe’s resume is impressive, he has also been part of a system that has played fast and loose with the civil rights of defendants at the Town of Taos, defendants, who have been subsequently abused by the DA’s office and some judges. Due to the peculiar and special character of the local culture, Judge Betty appears to be the wiser transitional figure or bridge to the future. But then I’m biased by the record.

Assessor’s Race and Probate Judge

Apparently, Deputy Assessor Bobbi DeHerrera is the candidate with the best qualifications and most experience for the job of Taos County Assessor. She’s smart and willing.  Voters should support candidate for Probate Judge, Paloma Roma. Ms. Roma is 30-years old and recently graduated from law school and passed the bar. She continues as a Mayordoma on her ditch and keeps the livestock in shape on the family farm in Lower Las Colonias. Both of the above put qualifications first and personality second though both are personable.

Editor’s Note: Despite much hand wringing by do-gooders, well-meaning nonprofits, and allusions to the symptoms associated with drugs and drink, i.e. burglary, murder, and crime in general, little mention is made about social justice in Taos. The County Commissioners built a modern prison so that “we could take care of own” inmates here in the community but there’s more to social justice than steel bars and band-aids.

I understand that larger social forces in America are at work in Taos: poverty, onerous drug laws, poor public schools, a lack of economic opportunity, and isolation. But local abuses such as selective prosecution and politicized law enforcement tend to perpetrate a parasitic and growing jail, judicial, and ancillary probation culture. Lots of folks make a living on the backs of the unfortunate. Meanwhile the political community at large ignores issues of social justice, a very real tragedy of human proportions here in El Norte.