Ten Rules for Civil Discourse: Lessons the State GOP Chair Might Consider

In a region where civic leadership should be rooted in collaboration and clarity, recent public behavior by State Republican Chair Amy Barela has raised serious concerns. Her increasingly personal attacks against Mayor Susan Payne—once a colleague in local governance—have shifted the tone from principled disagreement to an unethical level hostility toward a fellow Republican by a party leader. A leader should set an example of tolerance to expand the tent. 

The result? A fractured political landscape where trust is eroded and progress is stalled.

As Barela’s rhetoric intensifies, it’s worth revisiting ten timeless rules of civil discourse—rules that could guide any public servant, especially one entrusted with statewide leadership.

 1. Lead with Respect, Not Ridicule

Barela’s public comments have veered from critique to contempt. In one Facebook post shared under the alias “Justamy Junkyarddog,” she wrote:

“I am so glad to rid of a mayor that votes to kill the unborn. This is not the view of the community.”

Such language not only misrepresents Mayor Payne’s record but weaponizes moral outrage to vilify rather than engage.

 2. Debate Ideas, Not Identities

Rather than challenge specific policies, Barela has repeatedly attacked Payne’s character and competence. She accused the mayor of “many many many many many more inabilities to run a city,” offering no substantive critique, nor has she provided any examples of country policies that shechas led that set an example of good governance the Mayor could learn from. 

3. Build Bridges, Not Barricades

Barela once campaigned on promises of transparency, collaboration and cooperation. But since ascending to state party leadership, she has made it “personal in attacks against the city manager, Mayor Susan Payne, and anyone that opposes her worldview”  This shift has strained city-county collaboration and undermined collaboration and shared governance.

 4. Honor the Charter

Alamogordo’s municipal charter and the county charter each mandates nonpartisan leadership. Barela’s attempts to politicize city events and cast Mayor Payne as ideologically extreme violate the spirit of that charter and alienate constituents across the spectrum.

 5. Embrace Complexity

Public safety, reproductive rights, and civic engagement are nuanced issues. Barela’s reductionist framing—labeling Payne as someone who “votes to kill the unborn”—ignores the legal, ethical, and procedural realities of municipal governance and compliance to state laws. 

 6. Speak for All, Not Just the Base

As state chair, Barela represents Republicans statewide. Her rhetoric, however, reflects a narrow ideological faction rather than the full diversity of her party. She has been scolded by state Republican CC Members for dividing the party into factions and splitting the Southern Counties from their Northern more moderate constituents. Her refusal to engage with Mayor Payne on shared concerns—like mental health and public safety—limits her effectiveness and diminishes her few local successes. 

 7. Practice Restraint on Social Media

Barela’s use of social media aliases and inflammatory posts has drawn criticism from constituents and civic leaders alike. Margaret Wood, a local resident, responded to one such post by saying:

“In the scheme of things we should all strive to be kind… I don’t see this as being kind at all.”

Kindness isn’t weakness—it’s leadership.

8. Stay Fact-Based

Effective discourse requires evidence. Barela’s accusations against Payne lack documentation and often contradict public records. Her claim that Payne texts during public comment periods, for example, was challenged by others who noted that such behavior would only be subject to IPRA if conducted on a city-issued device.

 9. Model the Behavior You Expect

If Barela expects civility from others, she must embody it herself and set an example of tolerance amongst an array of diverse opinions and personalities. Her shift from collaborative commissioner to combative chairwoman sends mixed signals to local officials and constituents and has caused divisions and boycotts by SCC leaders at the state level of the Republican Party. 

10. Leave Room for Growth

Every leader evolves. The question is whether that evolution serves the public good. Barela’s trajectory offers a chance to recalibrate—and recommit to the principles that first earned her public trust. But that trust is waning fast. 

Editor’s Note: This story is part of an ongoing series examining civic leadership, ethical governance, and the role of discourse in shaping New Mexico’s future. For full coverage of recent city-county tensions, visit Politics of Leadership: Amy Barela vs. Susan Payne and Chair Barela’s Town Hall Response. 

Here are three key sources that document State Republican Chair Amy Barela’s role in causing discord both with Alamogordo Mayor Susan Payne and among members of the Republican State Central Committee (SCC):

 1. Barela’s Personal Attacks on Mayor Susan Payne

In a detailed report from 2nd Life Media, Barela is described as having “made it personal in attacks against the city manager, Mayor Susan Payne and anyone that opposes her worldview.” The article outlines how Barela’s shift from collaborative commissioner to combative state chair has led to visible fractures between city and county governments. Her rhetoric has intensified, especially on social media, where she has accused Payne of supporting abortion and being unfit to run the city—without offering substantive policy critiques.

Read the full analysis in Politics of Leadership: Amy Barela vs. Susan Payne 

 2. Barela’s SCC Conflicts and Power Consolidation

In Grant County Beat, columnist Mick Rich reports on Barela’s divisive leadership within the Republican Party of New Mexico. At the July 2025 SCC meeting in Farmington, Barela admitted that members refused to unite around her, calling her names and challenging her authority. She used her platform to dismiss dissenting voices and pushed for rules that consolidated power in southeast and northwest counties—alienating SCC members from other regions.

See the full critique in Going, Going, Gone: How RPNM Is Losing New Mexico 

 3. Barela’s Response to Bipartisan Civic Events

When Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham visited Alamogordo for a public safety town hall—standing alongside Mayor Payne—Barela issued a statement that subtly undermined the event’s bipartisan intent. While acknowledging the Governor’s engagement, Barela framed the visit as politically ineffective and used the moment to reinforce partisan divides, despite the forum’s focus on nonpartisan issues like mental health and crime reform.

 Coverage available in Governor Comes to Alamogordo: Barela Responds

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