by Michael Davidson

On July 9, 2024 I was unsure what to expect from a town hall full of Santa Fe politicians and officials. Then again, itʼs not every day that the entire administrative branch of your State shows up in your community, so I felt compelled to attend. If nothing else, seeing a Democratic governor wade into a 70% Republican county might make for some great entertainment. The evening started with an introduction by the new ENMU President, Dr. James Johnston, followed by Portales Mayor Mike Miller.

Governor Grisham then stepped to the podium and introduced her 28 staff members, which left me pondering, “Who is running our State?” She delivered a rather predictable speech about how much we meant to her and expressed a desire to be challenged. Grisham emphasized that she was a champion of our university and appreciated the opportunity to meet and speak with everyone, highlighting how they gleaned some great ideas from the community. She also complimented the State Legislators for their important roles.

Cabinet Secretary Wayne Propst, an alumnus who served as the 1987 Student Body President, was recognized next. We learned about Grisham’s early years, where she served as a department head for three governors. She shared a story about the Peñasco, NM Senior Center, noting that the government had failed the community. Her message emphasized the importance of recognizing both what the government is doing well and where improvements are needed.

Public comments were led off by Linda Sumption. She noted that this year the State had the largest budget it has ever had. Sumption mentioned that Portales is in need of many public projects, citing issues with our streets, sanitation department, swimming pool, and parks. She also highlighted the need for a spay and neuter program because of the large number of homeless animals.

She asked how resources come into a community and county like ours, mentioning rumors she had heard: “we didnʼt apply for them so they are not coming,” “we applied for them but they were rejected,” and “the monies were allocated but never spent.” Her question was, “How do these funds come to us, or why donʼt they come to us?”

Governor Grisham responded that this was a good question. She stated that those were not just rumors, but actual issues. Some funding from the federal government requires communities to apply for grants. She pointed out that other funds, such as money to increase police presence and provide retention bonuses, are readily available from the State. The application process is straightforward, and the funds are available immediately. She expressed her shock that some communities donʼt apply for these available resources.

The Governor acknowledged that the State does “sweep” unspent funds and reallocates them. She also mentioned that the State not only has a large budget but also boasts “one of, if not the highest,” reserve accounts in the country.

Additionally, billions of dollars are available for capital projects and infrastructure improvements, including roads, water, and sewer systems, from the federal government. She noted that they typically follow what local leaders request.

Governor Grisham stated that she received over $12 billion in community requests in 2023 and was allocated approximately $150 million. She encouraged local leaders to be bold about expressing their community’s needs.

Lifelong resident Alan Carter spoke next. Alan mentioned that his top priority was water and asked if it was possible to speed up the red tape and bypass some regulations, stating that we are in trouble. The Governor answered “yes” and explained that they had met with Texico and were well aware that water tables had dropped and many wells were dry. She urged communities to “front-load” with federal money, mentioning that she had $100 million available right now for water-related problems and that people weren’t applying for it. She emphasized that it is essentially a grant.

Shawn Carter spoke next, wondering why educator health insurance went up 15% while teacher raises increased by only 3%. The Governor responded by explaining that when they give teachers raises, they must give raises to everyone in the State as well. She further stated that the State has been paying insurance companies far too much money. She mentioned that the State is interested in becoming self-insured to completely bypass the insurance companies.

Another resident spoke about the dumpsters having holes in them. The Governor asked Mayor Miller how much it would cost to replace all the dumpsters in Portales. After calculating the expense, she turned to her staff and said, “You guys are going to fund that and get everyone in Portales new trash cans right now.” I do believe she thought we used the rollout style bins rather than the 3 cubic yard bins, but nevertheless, it was a large gesture.

The Governor then mentioned that she was launching a new campaign about littering and that she had secured some funds to reward communities for cleaning up. She emphasized the importance of enforcing littering laws. Additionally, she stated that the State has money available for parks to improve bathrooms and sidewalks.

The Governor stated that people love Portales and acknowledged that it frustrates residents when things are not up to standard. She challenged the Mayor to meet halfway by increasing the number of sanitation workers.

Additionally, she urged the Mayor and the ENMU President to arrange a meeting with the top 5 or 10 Secretaries responsible for community building, economic development, and infrastructure. She suggested that they collaborate to develop a plan and provide a clear estimate of the costs, so we avoid coming back to address the same issues in the future.

Bill Stacey raised the issue of increasing pay for emergency personnel and acquiring new trash trucks, noting that Portales’ sanitation equipment is nearly at the end of its service life. He also offered to help the City train individuals for their CDL as a way to support his community. The Governor responded that she had not seen any formal request from the community for new trash trucks. She mentioned that if such a request was submitted, she would advocate for it. She added that they were currently working on raises and retention bonuses for firefighters and had allocated $150 million in raises for police, primarily for State Police, since that falls within her control. However, retention grants were available for County Sheriffs and Mayors to match, and these were not being utilized. She urged them to apply for these grants.

The Governor emphasized that without taking care of first responders, improving communities would be challenging. She expressed her full support, stating she was “all in 1000%.” She noted that they were currently focusing on firefighter issues and announced that now Educators, Police Officers, Firefighters, Correction Officers, and EMTs could retire at 40 and return to work while receiving both their pension and salary, as part of efforts to attract workers.

Jim Kenny from the Environmental Department responded to Mr. Stacey, informing him about a rare grant program for both public and private entities called the ‘Diesel Reduction Act.’ This program funds projects that convert to compressed gas, and there is currently funding available for such projects.

Mr. Stacey asked if this program offered new trucks if they transitioned to green technology. Mr. Kenny confirmed, explaining that the Federal program provides support if a diesel engine is replaced with a non-diesel engine.

Deborah Martin pointed out that taxing military retirement is driving experienced retirees to move to states like Texas and Florida, where military retirement income is tax-free. The Governor replied that taxes on military retirement had been reduced and eliminated for Social Security recipients. She encouraged voting for bond measures in November aimed at reducing property taxes for military retirees.

Stephanie Schardin Clarke from the Taxation & Revenue Department added that legislators have exempted the first $30,000 of military retirement benefits. She also mentioned that one ballot measure would raise the property tax exemption from $4,000 to $10,000 per household, and for disabled veterans, the exemption would match their degree of disability (e.g., a 50% disability would yield a 50% exemption).

The Governor stated that New Mexico is:

  • The Governor stated that New Mexico is:
  •  One of the top 5 states economically.
  •  One of the top 5 states in tax reform.
  •  One of the top 10 states for new residents.
  •  Number one for wage growth.
  •  Has the highest per capita number of men and women, and families, dedicated to serving their country.

Payton Santianes asked the Governor about tackling crime in New Mexico and Portales. The Governor expressed deep concern, noting that despite repeated requests for tougher crime measures since 2019, none have passed. Her administration has invested over $2 billion in law enforcement and training. She announced a special session next week due to legislative inaction and revealed that 16,000 cases have been dismissed since 2017, including 6,000 involving serious felonies. Retail theft is often not prosecuted, and some offenders have appeared before a judge up to 34 times. The Governor urged residents to support measures against repeat offenders to address the revolving door of crime.

Randy Dunson said he was glad for other senior centers, but ours has fallen through the cracks. He mentioned ceiling tiles falling down, needing a new floor, and the fire system needing upgrading. He asked for some help to get the center going again.

The Governor responded, “How about if I do this? Portales will be a priority on the Senior Capital list. Itʼs done. I will send someone from aging to help you do the paperwork.”

Ms. Grisham reflected on one of our community members, Delores Penrod, and what a strong influence she was, saying we need more Delores Penrods, which brought much applause. The Governor said she was unhappy with where senior care was. She has a new team, and they are going to come out here and make Delores Penrod proud.

JD Jones emphasized that many individuals struggling with substance abuse could be helped through early prevention, as many coping mechanisms are learned from a young age. She stated their goal is to get into schools to prevent drug and alcohol abuse and asked, “What can you do to help these small communities? New Mexico has one of the highest rates of drug overdoses. What are you going to do for the kids in Curry, Quay, and Roosevelt Counties?”

The Governor directed Secretary Armijo and Secretary Allen to assist in implementing intervention programs in homes, daycares, schools, and early childhood education to support parents. Secretary Armijo mentioned existing programs that address these issues and introduced a new initiative, the Rural Healthcare Delivery Fund, focusing on New Mexico’s youth. She noted that $12 million in grants had been allocated to mental health services in Roosevelt and Curry Counties.

A spokesperson for the National Guard described their Counter Drug Support Program, which aims to educate students about the myths and misinformation found on social media regarding drugs, as well as provide information about what these drugs are and their effects. The program starts at the elementary level, focusing on building resilience and teaching students how to handle peer pressure. It also includes educating parents about the challenges their children face. He stated that they even have a mock room where parents can observe how students are introduced to gateway drugs and how the situation can worsen over time.

The Governor asked if anyone had heard of the National Guard Challenge Program. She announced, “If you want one here, you got one. It will be in place by next summer.” This program focuses on high-risk youth and others, and the results have shown that these kids become interested in pursuing more productive paths.

Tate Turnbough reported positive results from the grants they received from the State to open new clinics in Clovis, Tucumcari, and Hobbs. He stated that mental health is a crisis, emphasizing that crime and addiction often begin with mental health issues. Prior to receiving the grants, they had only two psychiatric providers serving 3,500 patients, which was an overwhelming workload. However, thanks to the support from this administration and legislature, they now have the tools needed to help the community address and ultimately eliminate this crisis.

Krista Pietch stated that she was brought here as a daughter of the Air Force in 2005 and inquired about what the State was doing regarding PFOS and radiation contamination in various parts of New Mexico. The Governor responded by saying that while the State is held accountable in these circumstances, she wants the federal government to be held accountable as well. She emphasized the need to “screen, treat, test, clean it up, and have the feds pay for it.”

Angie Smith questioned why a referendum couldn’t be moved forward to put six laws that New Mexicans don’t want to stay on the books on a ballot and let the voters decide. The Governor responded that New Mexico is one state with a narrow constitution regarding citizen-initiated changes. It is geared towards allowing legislators to make those changes.

Valerie Shines Warmly Pacini stated that she was a licensed clinical social worker in Portales. She thanked the Governor for her work regarding behavioral health and expressed her desire to see small behavioral health facilities strengthened. Additionally, she inquired whether an agency or department could be established to provide technical assistance, support, or guidance to our local government.

Karl Terry expressed a desire for continued support for our behavioral health treatment center. The Governor responded that they were attuned to our needs and were committed to our success, viewing it as a positive partnership. She acknowledged that starting new initiatives incurs higher costs, particularly in rural areas, and expressed a commitment to having the State subsidize these services until they are self-sustaining.

Diane Crandall mentioned that her daughter-in-law, a hardworking CYFD employee, was experiencing stress due to understaffing. She inquired whether there was a plan to address the staffing shortages. The Governor responded by expressing appreciation for her daughter-in-law’s service and acknowledged the difficulty in finding qualified workers. She noted that the average vacancy rate was between 35% and 38% and stated that efforts were being made to increase pay for social workers.

Lawrence Thompson, a veteran of both law enforcement and the military, noted that he observed lower fuel prices when he travels into Texas and he mentioned that his family had relocated to Texas to access the medical services they needed and asked what could be done to help retain residents in New Mexico. The Governor responded that she did not want anyone to move away due to unmet needs. She highlighted that New Mexico is a leader in attracting former residents and experiencing inbound growth. However, she acknowledged that rural healthcare remains a significant challenge, particularly in attracting physicians and healthcare practitioners to rural areas. The high cost of medical school makes larger urban areas more appealing.

Jon Barr introduced himself as a digital film professor at ENMU and expressed enthusiasm for the film tax incentives. He noted that there had previously been a program called the Governorʼs Cup, which supported New Mexico filmmakers in telling their own stories, not just serving Hollywood interests. Secretary Roper stated that he would discuss the possibility of reinstating the Governorʼs Cup program with the appropriate parties. The Governor added that Secretary Rodrigues would be responsible for bringing the Cup Awards back.

Dina Ortega thanked the Governorʼs team for addressing the questions, noting that the Governor had answered in two hours what citizens have been asking the Council and Mayor for years. The Governor responded by praising the community, stating that it meant a lot to her staff. She emphasized her commitment to working more effectively with the Mayor, the new City Councilors, the County Manager, the County Commissioners, the Police Department, the Sheriffʼs Department, and the University. The goal is to ensure that the community feels heard and that services are delivered effectively. She acknowledged that there is room for improvement and stated that she would reach out to representatives to ensure they are receiving the support they need.

Overall, I was quite impressed with the Governor’s presentation. While we often hear many promises from politicians, I felt she was sincere and genuinely interested in our community. She took responsibility and was very apologetic for past mistakes. I left feeling hopeful that Portales might indeed receive some much-needed assistance. We shall see.