8-12-2024 5:15pm

Otero County Will Not Have a Vote in the Replacement of Candidate Dr Jon Hill Per DPNM Rules

Chris Edwards Editor

Some Otero County Democrats have voiced a concern that Otero County voices are being left out of the process to select a replacement for Dr. Jon Hill

2nd Life Media AlamogordoTownNews.org and streaming KALHRadio.org was the first news outlet to break the news that Dr. Hill withdrew his bid, last week in seeking election to represent New Mexico District 53. In our coverage he said he fell ill after his Democratic primary win for the southern New Mexico house seat in June.

“As a cancer survivor, I know that these symptoms are not normal,” he wrote in a statement announcing the end of his campaign on Friday. “While we are waiting on an official diagnosis, I have come to the realization that I cannot effectively communicate with my supporters and our communities.”

He followed up those comments in an interview with Anthony Lucero on KALHRadio.org which can be heard at https://youtu.be/08o5vKfCV5M?si=yeardKUXOw8AbRMg

Dr. Hill will now have to be replaced by the New Mexico Democratic Party, who have already begun taking names for a replacement to challenge Republican candidate Elizabeth Winterrowd in the general election.

Dr. Hill will now have to be replaced by the New Mexico Democratic Party.

In the next step, Democratic party members of the State Central Committee will consider and approve a replacement later this month. Any member of the party living in District 53 can put forward their name for consideration and can present at the Aug. 22 meeting, said Daniel Garcia, a spokesperson for the Democratic Party of New Mexico. But there is a rub. The voting is not going to be done by all Democratic central committee members of the counties straddling the district.

District 53 spans most of eastern Doña Ana County to the southern border and includes a portion of Otero County. The district includes portions of Las Cruces and Anthony. It encompasses many small rural communities such as Chaparral, Butterfield Park and Organ. Note: Chaparral though unincorporated is the fastest growing community in the state of New Mexico and could usurp Alamogordo in borh population and the seat of power within a decade once incorporated as a city.

There are seven members of the State Central Committee who will be able to vote for the replacement Democratic candidate but there is a rub not a single one of the 7 individuals is from Otero County. The issue of concern by members of the Otero County Representatives to the State Central Committee is now SCC members are elected and represent the county at large. Otero County has 7 SCC members. All 7 serve at large and none live in the District in Question.

Some Otero County Democratic representatives believe that all the central committee members in each county should have a vote. The only official democratic voice in Otero Ccounty is via state Central Committee Members as the local DPOC chapter are still suspended by the state from any official activities at the county leval due to an ongoing investigation into local leadership with mediation ongoing.

As it stands today current rules have SCC members in each county elected at large. This representation gap can happen in any/every county...a representation gap versus the districting system for state reps and state senators. One idea to fix the system that has been floated by local Democrats is that in the future "make SCC selection using a districting system, not at large. "

A question to Democratic Party Leaders, "did the former DPOC leadership or SCC members know that this was a possibility ? Were they aware of the rules? Did DPNM inform you encourage you and encourage you to choose SCC members from various state rep and state senate districts?"

Stephanie DuBois, Democratic activist speaks to Anthony Lucero of Alamogordo Town News streaming KALHRadio.org edition concerning replacement of Dr. Hill and Democrats not being very democratic...

https://youtu.be/k_0wQKGwigs?si=TBjXWZ2a9s_LucI7

On August 22, 2024 the public will be notified if the candidate Dr. Hill recommended, Sarah Silva or some other candidate will run as the Democratic nominee against Republican Elizabeth Winterrowd in the general election. Stay tuned to AlamogordoTownNews.org and KALHradio.org for further updates.