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Submission Deadline 11:59 PM Sunday Night
email [email protected] with your submission
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“For all its imperfections, America is still the beacon to the world,
an ideal to be realized, a promise to be kept.” President Joseph Biden
| Democratic Party of Torrance County Newsletter May 15, 2023 | |
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Good Morning Fellow Democrats:
Hope all are well. I want to use my space today to talk a little about grass roots politics and why they are as important in an "off-election" year as they are in a Congressional or Presidential election year. As Tip O’Neill liked to say, “All politics is local”. (Most of you won’t admit that you remember Tip because that would give away your age.) But if you think about what he meant by that, you realize that what motivates us most as human beings – including how we vote – is what directly affects us. The kitchen table issues. In national and even state politics, the issues tend to be broader and may or may not be as relevant or motivating to the average woman/man. Issues such as the debt ceiling, handling of classified documents, funding the military etc. are what we listen to on the major news networks and they are, of course, important to all of us. But when it comes right down to getting the average Jane or Joe fired up and ready to sign a petition or try to recall a politician, it is an issue such as the safety of their children in school, local crime, zoning matters, potholes … And who is it that makes the decisions that most affect our daily lives. It’s the school board members, the city councilors, the mayors, the county commissioners. Those are the elections that impact our lives daily. And that’s why we, as citizens, have to stay involved, even in what we call "off-election" years.
We have municipal elections coming up later this year. It is important that we elect people who share our concerns about the quality of education our children receive, the protection of our natural resources (water), the quality of health care in our communities, the roads, local crime, and stopping the spread of deadly drugs such as fentanyl.
Grassroots organizing is a way to mobilize that starts from the ground up – everyday people organize to address issues in their community and advocate for change. I have seen this type of organization in our community in my many years here. People came together to protest and change the location of the prison; they came together to protest and advocate for various schools which were facing closure in the community; they came together to create ordinances in our cities and county, including an animal control ordinance that was very controversial at the time.
As a party, we can contribute to organizing locally – but it takes commitment – it takes time – and it takes effort. We need your help and support, whether it is in terms of time, effort, or dollars to make our community the type of place we want it to be. Now, in an off year, is the time to get on board. If it’s one hour, one day, or a greater commitment, we need you. Contact one of the officers and let us know you’re willing to help. Let’s turn this county around!!!
Dennis Wallin
Chair, DPTC
[email protected]
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US Rep. Melanie Stansbury needs your input! | |
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Every five years, Congress passes the Farm Bill -a crucial piece of legislation for our communities. New Mexico is a farming and ranching powerhouse, and I want to hear from YOU about what you want to see in the Farm Bill.
Visit my website at stansbury.house.gov or call us at (505) 346-6781 to leave your feedback!
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From Our County Commissoner | |
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The May 10th Torrance County Commission meeting was long, contentious, and informative. Mayor Nathan Dial of Estancia, and Bobby Ortiz, EMWT Regional Water Association (EMWT) board member debated the state of EMWT for quite a while. Mayor Dial had found EMWT to be an entity not in good standing with the New Mexico Secretary of State’s office for failing to file the required corporate filings. Mayor Dial also pointed out a number of discrepancies in corporate paperwork on record with the SOS office.
All of this came to a head as a result of the likelihood of Republican’s clawing back American Relief Plan Act (ARPA) money as part of a deal on the debt limit talks. The GOP wants to take back money from depressed areas like Torrance County based on ideology, not good monetary policy. Torrance County received 4.8 million dollars in ARPA funding for infrastructure improvements like roads, EMS equipment, and buildings. Those funds have a deadline for use of the end of fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2026. Now those funds are in danger of being lost to the county.
As a result, the commissioners main goal on May 10 was encumbering ARPA funding in order to protect it from Republicans political grandstanding. EMWT figured prominently in earmarking those funds as the people of McIntosh have no reliable source of water. However, the problems with EMWT made allocating money directly to EMWT a poor option. Working with the County Manager and the County Attorney, the commissioners voted to allocate money to Torrance County for the purchase of water permits for the McIntosh phase of EMWT’s project. In this way, Torrance County retains control of the water permits and a legal destination for the ARPA funds is created.
I believe this is the best of both worlds. Torrance County will control the water in its possession and capitalism, rather than government mandate, will change the way water is being used in the Estancia Basin.
Sam Schropp
Torrance County Commission District 3
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BOYS & GIRLS CLUB SUMMER 23
June 5 - July 28
Summer Plans? Do you want to participate in Sports, STEM activities, go on Field Trips, Music and Art, Breakfast and Lunch, Snacks and more? Boys & Girls Club has just what you need. K-8th Grade $25 participation fee all the rest is FREE!!
Join the Summer Club
Moriarty Middle School K-8th Grade
June 5th - July 28th from 7 AM - 6 PM
Click here for Information Flyer
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Commission and Council Meetings | |
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Torrance County Commission
Meeting April 26, 2023, 9 AM
205 S. Ninth Street, Estancia, NM
meeting is available via Zoom
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Moriarty
City Council
2nd & 4th Wednesday
Moriarty Civic Center
201 Broadway Street
7:30 PM
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Estancia
Board of Trustees
1st & 3rd Monday
Estancia Town Hall
513 Williams Avenue
6:15 PM
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Mountainair
City Council
1st & 3rd Tuesday
Council Meeting Room
107 1/2 N. Roosevelt
5:30 PM
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Claunch/Pinto Soil & Water Conservation District
June 2nd, 8 AM
1206 NM 55, Mountainair
ZOOM Meeting ONLY
Click here for more information
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East Torrance
Soil & Water Conservation District
May 17th, 6 PM
715 S 5th St, Estancia
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Edgewood
Soil & Water Conservation District
June 1st, 10 AM
2506 US 66, Moriarty
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Your Democratic Party of Torrance County Executive Committee | |
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DPTC Chair - Dennis Wallin – [email protected]
DPTC Vice Chair - Ann Schropp – [email protected]
DPTC Secretary - Millie Peifer – [email protected]
DPTC Treasurer - Bill Peifer – [email protected]
Ward Chairs
DPTC Ward A (Pcts 1,2,7,14 & 16) – Scott Corwin –505-985-8575 [email protected]
DPTC Ward B (Pcts 5,13,17, 20 & 21) – Vacant
DPTC Ward C (Pcts 3,4,8,9,10,11 & 12) – Jason Quintana – [email protected]
DPTC Ward D (Pcts 6,15,18,19 & 22) – Bill Peifer – [email protected]
Don't know your precinct? Click here.
Democratic Party of Torrance County Website: DPTC-NM.org
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Please DONATE to the
Democratic Party of Torrance County!
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OR
You can mail a check to:
Democratic Party of Torrance County
PO Box 2206, Moriarty NM 87035
(make check payable to Democratic Party of Torrance County)
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