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Alamogordo N M- Every election season we hear that “this one matters.
Today, for Alamogordo and Otero County, it really does. The people we send to Santa Fe and the decisions on our ballot will shape our roads, our water, our schools, and whether our town keeps waiting for a future that never arrives.
Voting is the one moment when every resident has the same voice: the retiree on a fixed income, the young family at Holloman, the small-business owner downtown. It costs nothing but a little time, and nobody can take it from you except you, by staying home.
If you haven’t voted early, please make time today.
Voting locations
And the early numbers say this community is paying attention. Statewide Independents and Democrats are voting at a higher rate than in 2022, and total votes cast so far already exceed 2022, the last off-year election.
Will that trend continue? That’s up to you. Let’s make it happen today, on Election Day.
Start with the facts
Before you mark your ballot, we encourage you to read the nonpartisan Alamogordo Town News Voter Guide, which lays out both sides of each issue without telling you what to think. It’s built for voters who want to decide for themselves.
Read the nonpartisan voter guide here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/15T7BLUbtTV_4abE6xiCmFr8K-FZF6U5W/view?usp=drivesdk
Where we stand
Our news coverage stays neutral.
Our editorial page does not!
Here are the positions of Alamogordo Town News on key races and issues, and why:
State Senate District 33 — Liam Griffin: He has already shown up for this region, with largely unpaid legal work for families hit by the Ruidoso floods and 16 years practicing law. Rex Wilson is a serious, decent candidate, but voters, not an appointment, should choose who holds this seat.
Otero County Commission — No endorsement: Our editorial board split. Some members back Republican Jonathan Emery for his law enforcement record; others back independent Evan Lambert for his independence and his focus on housing, wages and transparency. Read both cases and decide.
Amendment 1 (governor’s vetoes) — YES: Bills should not die silently. Governors should explain their vetoes in writing.•
Amendment 2 (school election timing) — NO: It removes the constitutional wall that keeps school elections off the partisan ballot and could open the door to partisan school board races.
Amendment 3 (university regents) — YES: Governors would pick regents from a qualified nominating committee list, with Senate confirmation still required.
Amendment 4 (legislator pay) — NO: A paycheck without defined duties or accountability, and one that favors incumbents over challengers.
Bond Questions 1, 2 and 3 — YES: Senior facilities including vehicles for Otero County senior centers, library materials, and campus improvements including NMSU-Alamogordo, all while keeping the bond tax rate flat.
County LEDA gross receipts tax — NO: New money should not come before a spending plan, and the county’s audit findings and budget gap call for caution.
You may agree with us or you may not. Either way, show up.
House District 51: Why we stand with Grace Nagamine
We have been unapologetic in our support for Grace Nagamine in House District 51, and we stand by it today.
In our view, Rep. John Block has treated this seat as a stepping stone, using the position to build his own résumé as a political opportunist rather than to deliver for the people of Alamogordo
Representation is more than press releases and partisan point-scoring. It means showing up for the community you serve with authenticity, practicing ethical leadership, and conducting yourself in an open collaborative and bipartisan manner when listening to constituents in a way young people in this district can look up to
In our judgment, Rep. Block has fallen short every step of the way, blocking opposing voices and fighting dirty not the issues. We feel he makes a mockery of religion with his life choices and how he conducts himself and does not represent the best of Alamogordo with positivity and compassion.
Grace Nagamine offers something Alamogordo hasn’t had in a long time: a truly independent voice.
A lifelong Alamogordo resident, mother, grandmother, and founder of the humanitarian organization Royal Angels, she is running as an independent, owing nothing to party bosses or the political establishment. Her loyalty is to her neighbors, not to a caucus or a career ladder.
For decades, Alamogordo has been stuck in stagnation while the same political machinery promised change and delivered more of the same. Breaking that cycle requires someone willing to work across lines, listen first, and measure success by what gets done for this town. That is why we believe Grace Nagamine is exactly what Alamogordo needs now.
Your vote, your town
Whatever your choices, make them. Read the guide, weigh the arguments, and cast your ballot today.
Alamogordo’s future isn’t decided in Santa Fe or by party insiders. It’s decided by the people who show up.
Further reading
For the full reasoning behind our positions, read our earlier coverage and commentary:
• Endorsement: Alamogordo Needs a Leader Again at the Roundhouse, Grace Nagamine Is That Leader
• Endorsement: For Senate District 33, Liam Griffin Has Already Shown Up
• Otero County Commission: Emery vs. Lambert
• Our Ballot Question Recommendations: Yes to Transparency, No to a Paycheck Without Accountability
• Keep Our Schools Off the Partisan Ballot: Why We Recommend No on Amendment 2
Chris Edwards is a journalist with 2nd Life Media / Alamogordo Town News. The views expressed are those of the editorial board.
More News from Alamogordo
- Otero County Commission: Emery vs. Lambert A split decision: two outsiders, two very different roads to the same seat
- Nagamine Makes Positive Closing Appeal in House District 51 Video Nagamine ends on a positive message as her opponent John Block hangs to Cunningham coattails for a lift in credibility…
