Does APD Have Their Man In Political Shootings? Just Maybe And Nerves Remain Frayed; Speculation On Motive, Plus: From Chihuahua To The Capitol; Newest Legislator Appointed By BernCo Commission

Keller and Medina

The 112 legislators prepping for the legislative session that kicks off January 17 may be breathing only a bit easier today after APD reported they have a suspect in custody on unrelated charges who was possibly involved in shooting incidents at the homes or offices of six ABQ elected officials. 

No suspect has been charged and while it could very well be that the cops have their man, the announcement from Mayor Keller and Chief Medina came up short in the reassurance department. More details are needed to lower the anxiety level and to prevent calls for higher security at the Roundhouse.

Medina is saying only that the suspect is being held on unrelated charges, that he is a man under 50, that a firearm involved in the shooting has been recovered and that search warrants continue to be executed but kept under wraps as the investigation continues. As we said, not completely reassuring and raising the question of whether political pressure is being felt and whether any information should have been released until Medina was on firmer ground. 

The urgency of closing the case was brought home anew Monday when it was revealed that the downtown home of ABQ state Rep. Javier Martinez, soon to become the Speaker of the House, was shot up in early December when some of the other shootings took place. 

The homes or offices targeted by the shootings are all those of Hispanic Democrats--BernCo Commissioner Adriann Barboa, now former Commissioner Debbie O'Malley, state Sen. Linda Lopez, Rep. Martinez, state Sen. Moe Maestas and Attorney General Raul Torrez. 

Speculation is rampant over a motive, with a racial attack or hate crime near the top of list and perhaps an association with the kind of politics that prompted the infamous Jan. 6 riot at the nation's capitol. 

But there is reason to be cautious in presuming anything. Last year when four ABQ Muslim men were killed by an apparent serial killer speculators thought the attacks might be racially and/or politically motivated. But  a Muslim man who knew the victims and had an interpersonal conflict with two of them was arrested.

NEW LEGISLATOR

Yanira Gurrola

The full name of the newest state representative is Flor Yanira Gurrola Valenzuela but if you run into her at the Roundhouse just call her Yanira, say her friends. And, they add, she favors Gurrola as her last name.

The Democrat was appointed Monday by the Bernalillo County Commission to fill the vacancy left when Rep. Moe Maestas was appointed by the commission to the state senate seat of Jacob Candelaria who had resigned. 

Gurrola turns ABQ westside House District 16 in a more progressive direction and she increases the number of women in the 70 member state House to 38. 

Gurrola, 48, spent much of her career as a bilingual and math teacher at Washington Middle School and is currently a professional development coordinator for Dual Language Education New Mexico. A Mexican immigrant, Gurrola said she sees her appointment as an opportunity to give voice to the low-income and immigrant populations she has worked with in Albuquerque. “(There are) kids who no matter how good they are at school or the dreams they have, sometimes they don’t have opportunities when they finish school,” she said in an interview after Monday’s virtual meeting. “That’s in my mind right now. I’m shaped by them.” 

Blog readers are not surprised by her appointment that came after much political tussling. We broke the news December 19 that the commission was lining up behind Gurrola. 

We spoke with the new lawmaker after her appointment. She relayed that she is a devout Catholic who came to ABQ from Chihuahua in 2000 as part of her missionary work in disadvantaged locales such as BernCo's Pajarito Mesa. That work enhanced her passion for educating youth, a passion that led her into teaching and which she hopes to follow up on in Santa Fe. 

She earned a Masters in Education from the College of Santa Fe and has owned a home in her district for 14 years. 

Soon to be speaker Rep. Javier Martinez should be helpful to the freshman rep. He is the son of Mexican immigrants.

THE PROGRESSIVE COMMISSION 

Chairwoman Baca

That commission is now decidedly progressive for the first time in memory. Republican Walt Benson and moderate Dem Commissioner Michael Quezada voted against Gurrola. They favored moderate Dem Melissa Duarte who had a temporary two week appointment to the seat. New Dem progressive commissioners Barbara Baca and Eric Olivas joined with Dem progressive Adriann Barboa to give Gurrola the win. 

Six applicants applied for the vacancy. Gurrola will be up for election in 2024 and told us she plans on seeking election. 

The appointment is one of the first important decisions by the newly progressive commission. ABQ attorney and political analyst David Buchholtz has predicted there will be many more in the months ahead. 

The commission Monday also selected leadership for the coming year:

District 1 Commissioner Barbara Baca is the new chair of the Bernalillo County Commission. District 3 Commissioner Adriann Barboa is the new vice chair. Baca and Barboa will serve in their respective leadership capacities for the 2023 calendar year. Commission Chair Baca was elected on a 5 to 0 vote. Commission Vice Chair Barboa was elected on a 5 to 0 vote.

This is the home of New Mexico Politics. 

E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com)

Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.  

(c)NM POLITICS WITH JOE MONAHAN 2023