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email secretary@dptc-nm.org with your submission

“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 

February 24, 2025

Good Morning Democrats:

What are the limits of Presidential powers? We have been and will continue to hear this question debated for quite some time now. And, frankly, the question has no firm answer. The power of the executive has been constantly evolving throughout our country’s history and has been constantly debated from day one of the formation of our Constitution. The scope of that evolution is beyond what I have the space to address in this blog. There are many articles and law reviews written by those with much more expertise than I. I will provide some basic information and thoughts here and you can further research as you desire. What I do know is that we are living historical times regarding the testing of the balance of power proposed by our founding fathers. I also know that the branches of government are historically aligned in favor of increasing the powers of the current administration. Never before in our history have the legislative and judicial arms of our government been in such seeming lock-step with the executive branch.

We know that the President is required to take an oath to preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States. We know that he is the Commander in Chief of the military; that he can grant reprieves and pardons for Federal crimes; make treaties, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate; nominate Ambassadors, Federal judges, including the Supreme Court, subject to the advice and consent of the Senate; and veto proposed legislation passed by Congress. Those powers are express powers from the Constitution. The remaining powers and those that will be subject to judicial determination are those that may be implied in that revered document. 

We believe, although not as certain as in the past, that the President cannot:

• Make laws – which brings us to the question of Executive Orders and the extent of their legality, which will depend on the subject and proposed procedures;
• Declare war, without the consent of congress – what is going to happen in Ukraine and the Middle East;
• Decide how federal money will be spent – USAID, FEMA, …..;
• Interpret laws – reserved for the Courts;
• Choose Cabinet members or judiciary without the consent of the Senate – we’ve seen this play out in recent weeks when Congress has essentially abdicated its common sense and the best interests of the country to approve some highly questionable candidates – Kennedy, Patel, Gabbard …

To some extent, we, as a country have been here before. The presidencies of Jackson, Lincoln (yes, he suspended habeus corpus and jailed suspected disloyalists), Theodore Roosevelt, and Wilson all paved the way for FDR to expand the power of the executive far beyond the fears of the antifederalists in the day of the foundation of our country. And while these Presidents and others believed in a strong executive, none has ever carried those beliefs to the extent that we currently are facing.

We know that the legislative branch doesn’t have the backbone to limit this administration. Can we rely on the Courts? I don’t know. As a lawyer, I have spent nearly 50 years believing that the judiciary was our saving grace in the times of abuses by governmental entities. I hope those years haven’t been a fantasy.

We live in historical times, my friends. We must continue to resist where we can. We must organize for the upcoming elections. We must do a better job of identifying and addressing the issues that affect the citizens of this country and not get so hung up on our personal beliefs that we can’t identify those issues.

Please come to our ward/precinct meeting and County Central Committee meeting on March 8th (see below for time and location). Please support the Economic Blackout on February 28th. We must resist however we can. 

STAND UP! PUSH BACK! VOTE! 

Dennis

DPTC News

THE CALL

In accordance with DPNM rules, calls are hereby issued for the Democratic Party of Torrance County Ward/Precinct Meetings at 11 AM, and the County Central Committee (CCC) Meeting at 1 PM, on March 8, 2025 at East Torrance Soil and Water Conservation District, 701 10th Street, Estancia, NM. Lunch Provided. Purpose of the meetings are to elect Precinct, Ward and County Officers and additional CCC members. More info at www.dptc-nm.org

Community News

Police or ICE are at my home!

How to reduce risk to yourself

Stay calm and keep the door closed. Opening the door does not give them permission to come inside, but it is safer to speak to ICE through the door.

Your rights

· You have the right to remain silent, even if officer has a warrant.

· You do not have to let police or immigration agents into your home unless they have certain kinds of warrants.

If police have an arrest warrant, they are legally allowed to enter the home of the person on the warrant if they believe that person is inside. But a warrant of removal/deportation (Form I-205) does not allow officers to enter a home without consent.

What to do when the police or ICE arrive

·   Ask if they are immigration agents and what they are there for.

·   Ask the agent or officer to show you a badge or identification through the window or peephole.

·   Ask if they have a warrant signed by a judge. If they say they do, ask them to slide it under the door or hold it up to a window so you can inspect it.

·   Don’t lie or produce any false documents. Don’t sign anything without speaking with a lawyer first.

·   Do not open your door unless ICE shows you a judicial search or arrest warrant naming a person in your residence and/or areas to be searched at your address. If they don’t produce a warrant, keep the door closed. State: “I do not consent to your entry.”

·   If agents force their way in, do not resist. If you wish to exercise your rights, state: “I do not consent to your entry or to your search of these premises. I am exercising my right to remain silent. I wish to speak with a lawyer as soon as possible.”

·   If you are on probation with a search condition, law enforcement is allowed to enter your home.

Resources in New Mexico to help your friends and neighbors

Somos Un Pueblo Unido 505-424-7832

Santa Fe Dreamers 505-490-2789

Catholic Charities Albuquerque 505-539-0274

Although non-citizens do not have a right to an attorney, they may hire one or seek one for free to advise them at the following: 

NMILC NM Immigration Law Center 505-247-1023

UNM School of Law Clinic 505-277-5265   

Job Opportunities

• Torrance County is currently accepting applications for a Compliance Officer, a Facilities Maintenance, a Tax Specialist, a Grants Admin, a Sheriff's Deputy, a CSA, a 911 Operator, an Equipment Operator, and an EMT/Fire Fighter.

Click Here for more information.

• Estancia is accepting applications for an EMT Firefighter.

Click Here for more information.

• Moriarty is accepting applications for a Facilities Service Coordinator.

Click Here for more information

• Mountainair is accepting applications for a Certified Police Officer.

Click Here for more information.

Moriarty

City Council

2nd & 4th Wednesday

Moriarty Civic Center

201 Broadway Street

7:30 PM

Estancia

Board of Trustees

1st & 3rd Monday

Estancia Town Hall

513 Williams Avenue

6:15 PM

Mountainair

City Council

1st & 3rd Tuesday  

Council Meeting Room

107 1/2 N. Roosevelt

5:30 PM

Claunch/Pinto Soil & Water Conservation District

1st Friday, 8 AM

1206 NM 55, Mountainair

ZOOM Meeting ONLY

Click here for more information

East Torrance

Soil & Water Conservation District

3rd Wednesday, 6 PM

715 S 5th St, Estancia

Central Tri-County

Soil & Water Conservation District

1st Thursday, 10 AM

2506 US 66, Moriarty

Estancia Municipal Schoolboard

2nd Monday, 6 PM

300 N 9th St, Estancia

Van Stone Room 02/03

Moriarty-Edgewood Schoolboard

3rd Tuesday, 6 PM

MESD Board Room

2422 E. NM-333 Moriarty

Mountainair Public Schoolboard

4th Tuesday, 6 PM

Central Office

512 North Ross

Vaughn Municipal Schoolboard

3rd Wednesday, 6 PM

District Office

101 East 4th Street

Your Democratic Party of Torrance County Executive Committee

DPTC Chair - Dennis Wallin - wallin@spencelawyers.com

DPTC Vice Chair - Bill Peifer - wpeifer@peifercomputing.net

DPTC Secretary - Millie Peifer - secretary@dptc-nm.org

DPTC Treasurer - Bill Peifer -  wpeifer@peifercomputing.net

Ward Chairs

DPTC Ward A (Pcts 1,2,7,14 & 16) - Augustine Montoya - anm4nm@gmail.com 

DPTC Ward B (Pcts 5,13,17, 20 & 21) - Jonathan Pedersen - jpgencon@hotmail.com

DPTC Ward C (Pcts 3,4,8,9,10,11 & 12) - Jason Quintana - jasoncq2415@gmail.com

DPTC Ward D (Pcts 6,15,18,19 & 22) - Bill Peifer - wpeifer@peifercomputing.net

Don't know your precinct? Click here.

Democratic Party of Torrance County Website: DPTC-NM.org

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)