The Democratic Party of Otero County’s State Delegate Selection Process As DPOC Suspension Continues

As has been reported by AlamogordoTownNews.com and KRAZY KALH Radio the Democratic Party of Otero County’s local chapter was suspended from any operations or organizational politicking  last summer as a result on an ongoing investigation into members of leadership of the local chapter. The party suspension continues into a 7th month.

The state Democratic Party attempted to assist the then chairwoman Brianna Martinez in bringing party unity and teaching the local party how to host civil meetings and move the party forward with virtual meetings from a divisive election of a new chairperson. The chaos was such that an email circulated from a state DPNM leader that the local leadership was not to hold any further meetings until all leadership and ward leaders went through formal training on Roberts Rules of Order.

The effort of Sean Ward state executive director failed with continued chaos and the decision was made to “cease all operations” pending investigations.  The local operations were drawn down, the headquarters was closed and the municipal and school board elections were hosted with one party the Republican Party machine in full operations and driving successful wins all the while the organization formerly known as DPOC was suspended in action.

Some random Democratic leaders assisted candidates as they could but the organized party effort in the County was dead and the results of the school board election a loss by all Democratic and Independent members was the result.

The local operation is still suspended as is the operations in 4 other counties around the state which leads to the question of how will Otero County and those counties be represented at the state Democratic Convention this year. KALHRadio.org and AlamogordoTownNews.com sent multiple inquiries to DPNM asking what the process would be and now it has finally been determined and released to eligible Democrats in Otero County.

The local party is still suspended. Members of the State Central Committee or anyone that held dual roles will participate in their role as a state central committee member. Local delegates will be selected per a process of a Virtual Pre Convention per below…

Ms. Jessica Velasquez, the Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico (DPNM), has issued the official CALL to the DPNM 2024 State Pre-Primary Nominating Convention for Saturday, March 9th, 2024.

The virtual Otero County Democrats’ 2024 County Pre-Primary Convention will be called to order at 6pm on Thursday, February 22, 2024. A zoom link will be provided at a later date.

Because this will be a “pass through” (aka “certifying”) pre-primary convention, the convention electors will certify the ward-elected delegates to be Otero county’s state-convention delegates.

CALL TO VIRTUAL WARD ELECTIONS OF STATE-CONVENTION DELEGATES

This message is the official CALL to Virtual Ward meetings/elections to elect state-convention delegates, to be held as follows:

Ward 1: Called to order on Monday, February 12 at 11am, to elect 1 state-convention delegate from CD-1 and 1 state-convention delegate from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 2: Called to order on Monday, February 12 at 11am, to elect 1 state-convention delegate from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 3: Called to order on Tuesday, February 13 at 11am, to elect 1 state-convention delegate from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 4: Called to order on Tuesday, February 13 at 11am, to elect 1 state-convention delegate from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 5: Called to order on Tuesday, February 13 at 2pm, to elect 1 state-convention delegate from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 6: Called to order on Thursday, February 15 at 11am, to elect 1 state-convention delegate from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 7: Called to order on Thursday, February 15 at 11am, to elect 2 state-convention delegates from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 8: Called to order on Thursday, February 15 at 2pm, to elect 1 state-convention delegate from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 9: Called to order on Friday, February 16 at 11am, to elect 2 state-convention delegates from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

Ward 10: Called to order on Friday, February 16 at 11am, to elect 2 state-convention delegates from CD-2. ZOOM Link to be provided later. On-line pre-registration opens on February 1, 2024.

CLICK HERE to SIGN UP (pre-register) for your Ward Meeting/Election

All county residents who were registered Democrats in Otero County by January 12, 2024 are eligible to vote in their ward elections, after they sign up (pre-register) for the ward meeting or late-register during the ward meeting.

• Each person’s verification of status for ward elections will be conducted during the pre-registration period in the days before the ward meeting. Late registrations will be verified before ballots are sent.

NOTE: Ward members who do not sign up / register will not be able to vote in the ward elections.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

If you have any questions, please contact DPNM Internal Party Affairs at PartyAffairs@nmDemocrats.org

Thus is the process under the guidance and oversight of the state party.

Specific to the investigation, sources within the state, claim it is concluded and the judicial council is to review the findings and make a recommendation to leadership at the state level a go forward plan or what to do about Otero and the other 4 counties under review and investigation. Things have looked bleak for Democrat Party of Otero County. Optics of the party, are the optics of a local party in crises, with the  order to cease all operations, meetings and gatherings and committee meetings on August 29th which continues. The state hosting a Virtual Pre convention speaks volumes as to the continued state of the Union of DPOC which is concerning to some local Democrats who have announced their intention to run in the upcoming general election possibly with the background noise of a local party still in chaos. 

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