Kim, Great White Owl Murillo

Alamogordo's Progress Will Not Wait: A Call to Principled Public Service

By Kim, Great White Owl Murillo
Founder & CEO, The Academy for The New Humanity

Following my comments at the recent City Council meeting, Commissioner Bennett extended a personal invitation for me to submit further questions regarding the critical City Manager search and other matters of transparency. True to my commitment to open dialogue, accountability, and my Christian faith, I sent a detailed email, invoking the spirit of Ho'oponopono, and outlining specific concerns shared by many citizens.

Despite his invitation and the seriousness of the issues raised – from alleged insider advocacy for Mr. Robert Stockwell to questions of conflicts of interest and the chilling effect on citizens speaking truth – Commissioner Bennett has chosen not to respond.

This silence, following a direct invitation for dialogue, speaks volumes. It unfortunately reinforces the very concerns I voiced regarding a profound lack of accountability and disrespect for citizens' grievances. The pattern of deflection and strategic silence creates an environment where vital community dialogue is stifled, and public trust erodes.

Commissioner Bennett was elected for a four-year term, and that term carries with it a profound responsibility to serve all citizens with integrity and transparency. While I will continue to advocate for principled public service from him throughout his term, and for all our elected officials, I want to be unequivocally clear:

The progress of our district, and indeed the future of Alamogordo, will not wait.

We have a visionary Mayor, Mayor McDonald, whose "Vision of Possibility" we voted for and see being fulfilled every day. We have an outstanding, proven leader in Dr. Stephanie Hernandez, whose qualifications, ethics, and demonstrated ability to steer our city through crises are undeniable. Citizens expect and deserve a top-caliber leader in the most powerful position in city government.

This commitment to principled leadership and genuine community engagement was powerfully reinforced for me during the recent Alamogordo District 5 candidate forum, hosted by Mayor McDonald. All candidates demonstrated heart and love for our city, but one individual truly stood out: Shelley Dowhanik-Baron. Her qualifications, experience, and hopes for Alamogordo align precisely with how we, the people, envision our city's prosperity. She encourages active citizen involvement and accountability for every commissioner, even welcoming informal discussions while out walking her dog, Shadow. This is the leadership for today and our future, and I wholeheartedly support her appointment to the city commission.

My work, inspired by my father Dr. Gilbert Jesus Murillo’s legacy, and driven by my lifelong commitment to Visionary Practice and Regenerative Leadership, is about tangible action and citizen empowerment. Whether it is building community commons, leading the Jail Ministry, or advocating for transparent leadership, the work of building a thriving Alamogordo continues.

Commissioner Bennett has a choice to actively engage and serve our community's highest good. He can choose to join the dedicated citizens and leaders who are working tirelessly to move Alamogordo forward. He can choose to reflect on his intent for public service and address the concerns of his constituents with the accountability they deserve. But his position, or the lack of active engagement from it, will not impede our collective momentum.

He can watch from the sidelines, but I, and many other committed citizens and emerging leaders like Shelley Dowhanik-Baron, are not waiting. We are here, sleeves rolled up, and we are moving forward to make Alamogordo the gem of the desert.

Shalom.

Kim, Great White Owl Murillo
Founder & CEO, The Academy for The New Humanity