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Submission Deadline 11:59 PM Sunday Night
email secretary@dptc-nm.org with your submission
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Democratic Party of Torrance County Newsletter
January 26, 2026
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Good morning fellow Democrats, Antifa members and passionate activists!
This week I want to discuss the symbiotic relationship between three distinct, yet interrelated groups. Although these three groups are closely related by common goals, their activities are, by law and by Democratic Party rules, considered separate.
The first group consists of the elected officials who identify as “Democrats”. They exist on the federal, state and local levels. It’s their role to support and enact policies that align with the positions of their constituents. Anyone who has ever taken a “civics” or “government” class in school has at least some understanding of their function.
The second group consists of components within the formal party structure. The party has three roles. The first role is in the process of selecting candidates for public office by electing delegates to county, state, and national conventions. The second role is to support and assist our party’s nominees for the various positions on the ballot once the primary process is completed. Finally, the party’s caucuses, which are an extension of the party’s formal structure, are tasked with doing their best to influence the decisions made by our elected officials once they’re in office.
The third group consists of activist organizations, such as MoveOn.org, Indivisible and others, and sometimes just private individuals. These are the brave souls who stand on street corners or take to the streets en masse to protest for various causes or in opposition to what they perceive as problems or injustices within the government at all levels.
Because these three groups operate independently of each other, there are inevitably times when the scheduling of events conflict with each other. February 14th is one such time. March 7th is another. Our biennial DPTC Pre-Primary Convention this coming February and the DPNM Convention in March both conflict with the weekly protest at noon every Saturday in Moriarty. These conflicts are unfortunate, but unavoidable. For those protesters who want to be delegates to the state convention but still want to protest on 2/14 there is a workaround. Contact me for details if that’s you! But there is no workaround for the state convention on 3/7. For the DPTC, we will promote and support the weekly protests, but the party’s priority will always be its obligations as described above.
Bill
STAND UP, PUSH BACK AND KEEP ON FIGHTING IN WHATEVER MANNER SUITS YOU BEST!
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TRUMP LIES ABOUT EVERYTHING!
Refute the Republican Rhetoric
By Bill Peifer
On Wednesday, Trump delivered a 72-minute address to many of the world’s leaders at the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland. I haven’t seen an official count of how many lies he told in those 72 minutes, although a quick count while reading the transcript shows at least 50. While that may seem like a lot, it’s less than one-a-minute, so it’s far short of his record.
In true Trump style, he began by praising himself, lying about his many accomplishments that never happened and claiming that Biden and the very same world leaders that he was addressing were the cause of all the world’s woes. Only Trump would try to win friends by insulting everyone in the room with him!
After about 25 minutes he suddenly shifted into the topic that everyone in the room really wanted to hear him talk about, namely his demands that he be allowed to annex Greenland, to have it become a wholly “owned” territory of the United States, and that he would impose more tariffs on anyone who wouldn’t go along with him just doing it, by force if necessary. Fortunately, with the “framework of a deal” (like a concept of a plan) worked out with the NATO Secretary General, Trump has since taken military force off the table, at least for the time being.
Along with other absurdities, like referring to Greenland as “Iceland” four times, the big lie of the week was his claim that the United States used to “own” Greenland, after Denmark abandoned it during World War II, and that we gave it back to Denmark after the war. This lie has been reiterated by conservative media outlets and even at least two of Trump’s cabinet members, so let’s set the record straight before more of our MAGA adversaries start repeating that lie! The U.S. never “owned” Greenland.
In the early days of WWII, even before the United States was technically involved in the war, Germany had invaded and occupied Denmark but had left the existing Danish government in place as a Nazi-aligned puppet. Germany hadn’t tried to occupy Greenland, so a year after the occupation of Denmark, Greenlanders invoked a 1925 agreement with Denmark to declare themselves to be a semi-autonomous territory, establishing their own government. Meanwhile, the Danish ambassador to the U.S., Henrik Kauffmann worked with President Roosevelt to have Greenland declared to be a “protectorate” of the United States. As a protectorate, our Coast Guard patrolled Greenlandic waters, and we eventually also built a few small bases there to use as refueling stops for military flights to England. After the war, those bases and a few others became part of ours and NATO’s presence in Greenland, but post-war the status of “protectorate” went away, and Greenlanders chose to remain a semi-autonomous territory of Denmark.
So, our “Trump Lie” for the week is his statement that we used to “own” Greenland, or that we “administered” it during the war and generously gave it back to Denmark once the war was over. And, just to set the record straight, neither the people of Greenland, nor the people of Iceland as he said in his speech, call him “DADDY”!
| | | | Help Us, Help Bethel Feed our Neighbors! | | |
Drop off Non-Perishable Food Items
at the DPTC Office:
Tuesday, Wednesday or Saturday
12 Noon to 4PM
or
United Country Farm & Home Realty
200 Central Avenue, Moriarty
or
Donate Cash!
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https://secure.actblue.com/donate/dptc-bethel
Donations made through that special page will NOT be used to fund party activities. Every dollar that we get, and every dollar that gets matched, will go to Bethel*.
*Minus any donation processing fees.
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CALL
NOTICE OF DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF TORRANCE COUNTY
ELECTION OF DELEGATES TO THE PRE-PRIMARY CONVENTION
In accordance with DPNM rules, calls are hereby issued for the Democratic Party of Torrance County Ward Meetings at 11 AM, and the Pre-Primary Convention at 12 PM, on February 14, 2026, at the DPTC Office, 1701 West Route 66, Suite 5, Moriarty NM. Lunch Provided.
PURPOSE OF COUNTY CONVENTION is to elect the delegates and alternates to the Democratic Party of New Mexico Pre-Primary Convention, March 6, 2026.
DONE THIS January 14, 2026,
FOR THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF TORRANCE COUNTY, BY:
Myra Oden, County Chair Democratic Party of Torrance County.
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EVERY SATURDAY - 12 PM - 1 PM
Save Democracy! Protest - Moriarty
Corner of Rt. 41 & 66
THIS A RECURING EVENT - EVERY SATURDAY
EVERY SUNDAY - 10:30 - 11:30 AM
Solidarity Sundays Protest - Tijeras
Corner of Old 66 and Rt. 337
THIS A RECURING EVENT - EVERY SUNDAY
WALK OUT AMERICA - 2PM Tuesday, January 20, 2026.
Albuquerque:
5301-5499 Ponderosa Ave NE
The Intersection of MLK & UNIVERSITY BLVD NE
or Virtually
DPTC WARD MEETINGS AND PRE-PRIMARY CONVENTION 11AM - 1PM Saturday, February 14, 2026
See Below for details.
DENIM & DIAMONDS FUNDRAISING DINNER
4PM - 8PM Sunday, April 19, 2026
Moriarty Civic Center 202 E. Broadway, Moriarty
See Below for Details
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Donate to the Billboard Fund!
We want to put several billboards on I 40! We need $10,000 to do this!
More information will be coming.
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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Our Office!
Still Looking for Help!
Did you know that we have an office in Moriarty? It is in the same shopping center as Moriarty Foods. Stop by some time and check it out. We are CLOSED for the Holidays and will reopen January 3, 2026.
We are currently looking for a volunteer to take the Tuesday and Saturday shift - If you would like to help email Millie.
Help Wanted!
The DPTC has a need for a Certified Licensed Electrician. We have some minor issues in our office that we would like to have addressed. If you can help email Millie.
| | Electronic Signature on Candidates Petitions! | | You have probably received emails asking for your electronic signature on petitions from various candidates. Here is a link to do just that. It is easy and keeps track of who's petition you've already signed! CLICK HERE | | |
Looking for Democrats to run in 2026
With the 2025 non-partisan elections behind us, the DPTC is now looking at the 2026 Torrance County elections. These elections are partisan, but in the recent past there have only been Republicans on the ballot for the General Election since it’s been difficult to persuade Democrats to run in a county where it’s perceived that only Republicans can win. Because of this perception, there have been times when Democrats want to run, but feel that they have to change their party affiliation to “Republican” to get elected. In 2026 we’d like to change this perception, but we need brave Democrats to step up and “put their hats in the ring”. Here are the positions that will be up for election in 2026 along with the estimated annual salary:
County Commissioner District 1 – Pays $27,570.
County Commissioner District 2 – Pays $27,570.
Sheriff – Pays $72,164.
Assessor – Pays $70,031.
Probate Judge – Pays $24,180.
Magistrate Judge – Pays $79,537
All of the salaries shown are the current salaries which will likely go up slightly with a “cost of living” increase at the first of the year. The DPTC stands ready to assist you as much as possible, should you choose to step up and run for one of these positions! Contact Bill Peifer if you have any interest in running.
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| This is an independent group protest. By participating in a protest each individual agrees to respect the principles of non-violence and acknowledges that they are personally responsible for their actions and safety. | |
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Torrance County is currently accepting applications for a Deputy County Mgr, Bureau of Elections Admin Clerk, Equipment Operator, a DWI Coordinator, a 911 Dispatcher, and a Dispatch Admin Assistant.
Click Here for more information.
- Moriarty is accepting applications for a Police Officer and a Maintenance Worker.
Click Here for more information
- Mountainair is accepting applications for a Certified Police Officer.
Click Here for more information.
| | Commission, Council and Board Meetings | |
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Torrance County Commission
Meeting January 28, 2026 9AM
205 S. Ninth Street, Estancia, NM
meeting is available via Zoom
Click Here for 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
1st Friday, 8 AM
1206 NM 55, Mountainair
ZOOM Meeting ONLY
Click here for more information
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East Torrance
Soil & Water Conservation District
3rd Wednesday, 6 PM
715 S 5th St, Estancia
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Central Tri-County
Soil & Water Conservation District
1st Thursday, 10 AM
2506 US 66, Moriarty
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Estancia Municipal Schoolboard
2nd Monday, 6 PM
300 N 9th St, Estancia
Van Stone Room 02/03
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Moriarty-Edgewood Schoolboard
3rd Tuesday, 6 PM
MESD Board Room
2422 E. NM-333 Moriarty
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Mountainair Public Schoolboard
4th Tuesday, 6 PM
Central Office
512 North Ross, Mountainair
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Vaughn Municipal Schoolboard
3rd Wednesday, 6 PM
District Office
101 East 4th Street, Vaughn
| | Your Democratic Party of Torrance County Executive Committee | | |
DPTC Chair - Myra Oden- chair@dptc-nm.org
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) - Ronnie Ray - imronnieray@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) - Available. Interested? Email Myra Oden.
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
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