From the County Chair – April 2024 – Let’s Talk About the Elephant in our County
Sandoval County District Four Commissioner David Heil and Rio Rancho Mayor Greg Hull think that “We have a good thing going.” They believe that the citizens of Rio Rancho should ignore the poor roads, the unplanned growth, overuse of water, and raping of the land. Why? Because they are in charge, and they want Rio Rancho Voters to keep them in charge. They think they are doing a great job.
Never mind that in spite of David Heil clearly stating that he had no concerns [emphasis added] about the 2020 election nor the upcoming 2024 election (see below), he, along with the other republican commissioners, continue to fan the flames of the Sandoval County Election Conspiracy Theorists (CTs). Those CTs were used as an excuse to limit people’s access to voting throughout our county. (See below for portions of David Heil’s testimony in the Democratic Party of San Felipe vs. the Sandoval County Commission lawsuit concerning the redistricting plan approved by the republicans on the County Commission).
In all fairness, the CTs are relentless. They attend every Commission meeting and recite their skewed statistics from nebulous sources that wouldn’t pass the smell test of a developmental composition class in a community college. Either it is a lack of effort or more likely, it is a lack of experience determining opinion from fact and how to suss out questionable “statistics” from unreliable sources.
The County Commission catered to the CTs and held a public “working session” wherein Commissioner Meek said that it was perfectly reasonable to limit the drop boxes in our county (decreased from eight to two) and to limit the time people would have access to drop boxes to Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. So that is what happened.
Drop boxes are not open on the weekends when most people don’t work. Those people who work non-standard hours, who leave work at seven a.m., go home, eat, sleep, and leave for work again at six, will not have access to a drop box and the Commission thinks this is okay. Why? Because republicans want to limit voting in our county. Why? Because democrats out-number republicans in Sandoval County (43,708 Democrats and 35,044 republicans).
Limiting voting happens throughout our county. Municipal races are held in March instead of November. Why? Because fewer people will vote. Mayor Hull has a vested interest in fewer people voting. Why? Because Hull thinks “We have a good thing going” with him in charge.
Watch what happens this year. Republicans will, like in the previous elections, knock on Democrats’ doors, not identify their party, leave their campaign literature, chat you up, and ask for your vote. If they don’t disclose their political affiliation, they may present as people who share your values, but they do not. This is why municipal candidates insist that even though they are registered republicans, “it just doesn’t matter” because the municipal races are “non-partisan.”
No. They certainly are not.
There is no such thing as a non-partisan race. The municipal candidates run races based on partisan values. Have your doubts about that? Just visit their websites to see for yourself.
This November’s elections are going to be interesting to say the least. Unofficial voter estimates for Rio Rancho in particular show 26,247 Democrats and 27,282 republicans. The difference is narrowing each election. The tally is so close, that if Rio Rancho follows the nation-wide trend of carrying the Decline to State voters at 60%, we can begin to see some real change if, and only if, Democrats turn out to vote. Talk to your friends and family. Encourage them to vote. Make a plan to vote together.
I have been collecting names of people who are volunteering to be poll watchers and workers. County Clerk Anne Brady Romero and Deputy County Clerk Joey Dominguez will be our special guest speakers at our First Friday luncheon on April 5th. They will be explaining how to become a poll watcher and maybe even a poll worker. I encourage all of you who have even thought about volunteering, to do so. If not as a poll worker, then perhaps you would like to person the office for two hours a week? You can help a favorite candidate when you canvas, phone bank, text, or donate. Together we can and will move mountains.
Second Saturday on April 13th will feature Gary Tripp, the only Democrat on the Rio Rancho School Board. He will discuss the importance of running (and hopefully winning) school board races in our county.
Our Coffee Klatch on April 27th will be a special welcome from Ward D in Corrales – a “Welcome to Corrales” hosted by Ward D.
I look forward to seeing you all there.
Stay strong and stay blue.
Alexandria Piland, DPSC Chair
