At the last Bernalillo County Commission Meeting, June 27th, one of my fellow commissioners introduced an Administrative Resolution establishing the process by which the county will design an elections ordinance to provide voluntary public financing for qualifying county candidates which was approved by four commissioners. Walt Benson is a Bernalillo County Commissioner representing District 4. […]
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Posted inRio Rancho
Showdown at City Hall: Residents prepare for June 25 vote on gas station
By Tristen Critchfield A proposed gas station in Rio Rancho has been met with strong opposition from residents of a nearby neighborhood. Now, many of those residents are distributing flyers and gathering signatures on a petition to stop a proposed Maverik convenience store ahead of a Governing Body vote on June 25. Neighbors filed the […]
Posted inElections & Politics
Opinion: Continuing to deliver for the East Mountains
Dear Neighbors: During my tenure in office, we’ve delivered big wins for the rural East Mountains; while making strong progress on issues like public safety, behavioral health and housing across the region. For the first time, we’ve dedicated county funding for East Mountain roads and increased the length of roads rehabilitated. We repaired from 11 miles a year […]
Posted inOpinion & Analysis
Opinion: Why is the Sandoval County Tax Assessor race silent?
By State Representative Kathleen Cates — This election season, Sandoval County residents have had real chances to hear from the people asking for their votes. We sat down with candidates for Sheriff. We heard from candidates for Governor and the State Legislature. Those conversations mattered, not just because of what was said, but because showing […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Opinion: Applauding Heinrich for bi-partisan permitting reform work
My friend and colleague Rep. Meredith Dixon (D-Bernalillo) recently penned an opinion piece urging support for the federal SPEED Act. I applaud her and join her. The SPEED Act is permitting reform legislation with real potential to un-cuff a myriad of environmental projects across New Mexico, including in my district right here in Albuquerque. Equally […]
Posted inOpinion & Analysis
Opinion: SPEED Act Would be a Left/Right Win
By Paul J. Gessing — Federal legislation known as the Standardizing Permitting and Expediting Economic Development (SPEED Act) would make needed improvements to America’s antiquated federal permitting system for energy projects. While Sen. Heinrich and the Rio Grande Foundation may not agree on exactly what types of projects need to be improved, we all agree […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov.
Heinrich’s permitting reform negotiations are the key to unlocking stuck projects across New Mexico
In 2023 Senator Martin Heinrich addressed a systematic failure in government efficiency. Heinrich’s FASTER ACT represented a modernized iteration of the FAST ACT which was crafted to expedite surface transmission projects nationwide and certainly sought to alleviate the multi- year bureaucratic redundancy that stalled the Sun Zia Transmission line which represented a $20 billion dollar […]
Posted inNM.news
Opinion: Former Sheriff Phil Snekeker makes his pitch for BernCo sheriff in Dem. primary
My name is Philip A. Snedeker. I am a candidate for the office of Bernalillo County Sheriff. I will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the office, in the Primary Election, in June of 2026. I grew up in Southern New Mexico, in the Town of Silver City. I attended local rarea schools. I earned […]
Posted inNM.news
Opinion: New Mexico’s disability laws get important updates, and more still needed
By State Representative Kathleen Cates — In 2023, New Mexico unanimously passed HB 131, becoming the first state in the country to mandate private insurers to cover prosthetics and orthotics. Since then, 11 other states have filed similar laws. State Rep. Kathleen Cates was first elected in 2022 to represent State House District 44 […]
Posted inOpinion & Analysis
Commentary: Ethical rules apply to judges and judicial candidates in New Mexico
Karl Refisteck is the director of New Mexico’s Administrative Office of the Courts, which oversees operations of the state’s court system. By Karl Reifsteck, Administrative Office of the Courts — The founders of our nation viewed a fair, impartial, and independent judiciary as a cornerstone for the government they envisioned 250 years ago when breaking […]
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