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Cervantes and MLG |
The first one will be in the backyard of Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Cervantes who has been a key player in stopping the crimes bills she has proposed. Will he come under public fire from the Governor or those in attendance?
The Guv's office says:
Ensuring the safety and security of every New Mexican remains my top
priority. The town hall in Las Cruces this Thursday is an
opportunity to hear directly from New Mexicans grappling with the
state's crime problem and collaborate as a community on effective
strategies to enhance public safety statewide. . . Additional town hall events focused on public safety will be taking
place around the state in the near future.
That public town hall is set for this Thursday at 5:30 p.m. at the Las Cruces
Convention Center. It will stream on the
Governor’s Facebook page. Additional town halls will be at EspaƱola and ABQ.
While showing that she still has public support for her swerve to the right on crime, the Governor's problem remains a legislature that has spoken overwhelmingly against her current approach.
The town halls may help her shore up public opinion which often warms to a tough on crime message but they will do little to persuade legislators to reverse course.
And if she calls them back for another special session before the November election she would get the same response as she did at the first one--lawmakers adjourning without considering her bills.
The Governor had months to rally public opinion for her agenda and succeeded with conservative business groups and the newspaper but not with her own Democrats who hold the keys to the Roundhouse.
This second effort is not going to change that but reshaping her bills through quiet conversations and compromise with lawmakers before the 60 day session starts in January might have the desired effect.
This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.