Wednesday, December 20, 2023MLG's Stern Gun Measures Jump Start '24 State House Races; Las Cruces Area Contest One To Watch As GOP Looks To Take Advantage Of Rural Firestorm Over Gun Control
Take a look at the hit piece posted here by GOP state rep candidate Kimberly Skaggs who is challenging Dem state Rep. Nathan Small in District 36 in the Las Cruces area. In a fund-raising pitch accompanying the photo she declared: This is America...a country built on freedom, on rights, on the ability to protect ourselves and our families. But some politicians want to take that right away. They say they're doing it for our safety. But, in places where they are elected, crime is on the rise. They say they represent you, but who will protect your family when the police can't arrive in time? That's the kind of negative to expect in multiple districts as MLG has given the Republicans move to maneuver with independents and conservative Democrats. Her hyper-controversial executive order in September declaring a public health emergency in Bernalillo County that banned the carrying of concealed weapons set off a firestorm whose embers remain red hot. The Guv has repeatedly renewed the order, but it is very watered down because the first version was blocked in court. And she fanned the gun control flames again this month, promoting a new assault weapons ban to the legislature for the '24 session. While popular in progressive ABQ and Santa Fe the impact of those decisions has yet to be seen in swing legislative districts. In 2022 Skaggs, a prominent GOP activist whose family owns a water well drilling business, gave Small a real scare by losing by just four points--52 to 48. Small, who is now one of the most powerful state lawmakers having risen to the chairmanship of the House Appropriations Committee, is a well-known progressive but on guns he has laid low and now Skaggs is going to try to smoke him out. Small is married to former southern NM US Rep. Xochitl Torres Small whose campaign commercials featured her out hunting with a shotgun. She lost her seat to Republican Yvette Herrell in 2020 after serving one term. Top Democratic law enforcement officers in Bernalillo County abandoned MLG on her gun ban, publicly criticizing it. They included BernCo DA Sam Bregman, Sheriff John Allen and APD chief Harold Medina. State Attorney General Raul Torrez refused to defend the Governor in court over the order It would not be surprising to see Small and other Dem contenders follow suit (Las Cruces Sen. Joe Cervantes already has) as Republicans look to energize voters on guns and as MLG gives them the best ammo they've ever had. P.S. Is the Governor's executive order on guns the top story of 2023 in New Mexico?. . . Yes. MAKING A SAINT It was an early Christmas for the Board of Directors of ABQ's CHI St. Joseph's Children when earlier this month they were acknowledged by Pope Francis during an audience in Rome
Elena Aguilar of San Idelfonso Pueblo, dressed in traditional Native American attire, presented Pope Francis with the prayer to Sister Blandina who began some of the first public schools and hospitals in New Mexico, including St. Vincent Hospital in Santa Fe and St. Joseph’s Hospital in Albuquerque. The board members were promoting her for sainthood "seeking divine intervention for (Blandina's) canonization who is revered for her tireless efforts in social services." Getting the Pope's attention seems like a good first step. This is the Home of New Mexico Politics E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com |
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