Wow! I just finished reading Roger’s open letter to the people of Raton and New Mexico, and I could not agree more with what he said.
When I was preparing to leave the Marines, I was offered a signing bonus and a choice of duty station. I told the career planner they could keep their money if they could guarantee me a position in New Mexico and promise not to move me for four years. Of course, the Marine Corps could not offer that—and that was the point. I came home because I love New Mexico.
I love the small towns of New Mexico. I love Grants, Raton, Silver City, Bloomfield, and all the other small communities across our state. We are different in small towns. We think differently, act differently, and do things differently. When we see our neighbors in need, we help without looking for a payout. We help because another human being needs us.
People who move here from other places sometimes see us as loud, arrogant, or threatening because we do not allow someone else’s feelings to dictate our rights.
When I served as mayor, I received so many death threats during the COVID-19 pandemic that I felt compelled to carry a firearm for my protection. I still lawfully carry one today—not to threaten anyone, but to protect myself or another person facing an imminent threat.
I watched government officials in our state and our small towns impose some of the most extreme restrictions a free constitutional republic has endured, all under the justification of COVID-19. I began questioning those policies when people were told they could participate in Black Lives Matter protests but could not attend an outdoor church service.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration locked us down, told us we could not attend church, restricted gatherings with our families, and prevented many people from being with loved ones during the final moments of their lives.
Now, in Grants, New Mexico, our city leaders have passed an ordinance that takes away the community’s opportunity to vote for mayor, city council, and municipal judge on the schedule voters expected. The ordinance extends certain terms of office by 22 months—nearly two years—without a direct vote of the people.
How is that consistent with the basic principles of our constitutional republic: the right to vote, the right to self-government, the right to nominate candidates, and the right to remove elected officials through an election? Someone needs to explain how this is constitutional.
The pandemic showed how far government officials were willing to go in restricting people’s movements, actions, and constitutional rights. Now, one small town’s expected election has been delayed, affecting the people’s most basic right in a representative republic—the right to vote.
More than one person has told me I should let this fight go before I end up in a grave. We all end up in a grave someday. But, as Roger said, this is not about me. It is about something much bigger than any one person. It is about our beloved state of New Mexico and our fundamental, God-given constitutional rights.
Those rights include freedom of speech, the lawful right to carry a firearm for protection, the right to vote, and the right to choose our representative government.
I find it deeply troubling that state law could allow three members of a city council to delay an entire community’s election and extend terms of office by 22 months without a direct vote of the people.
Mr. Ivey-Soto, Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, and every member of the New Mexico Legislature who supported this election legislation should carefully examine what it has done to communities across our state. Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver and every official who supported applying this law to small, home-rule communities should be held accountable by the voters. No government official should treat the people’s constitutional rights as an experiment to determine how much power can be exercised without their consent.
For those who may wonder, I met Roger while working at the penitentiary during a riot in Estancia. I was a member of the Western New Mexico Correctional Facility’s tactical team and was sent to help regain control of the Torrance County prison during what were then called the Cuban riots.
I met Roger inside a flooded, trash-filled prison. I quickly learned that Roger was someone who would stand beside you, regardless of the problem or the number of people standing against you.
Inside a penitentiary, you learn which officers work with integrity, honesty, and intestinal fortitude to maintain the safest environment possible under extremely difficult circumstances. Like him or not, Mr. Roger Rael is one of those people.
As I continue searching for the proper way to appeal these constitutional concerns to the New Mexico Supreme Court, I will stand beside like-minded individuals who know that our God-given constitutional rights are not up for compromise.
I have said it before, and I will say it again:
“My God-given constitutional rights do not end where your feelings begin.”
Have a wonderful day.
