Against Hypocrisy, For Substance: Why Otero County Deserves Grace Nagamine in House District 51

Guest Commentary by Rene Sepulveda

My name is Rene Sepulveda. I am the son of Coach Bob Sepulveda, a lifelong Alamogordo product, former award winning NCAA Division I coach, entrepreneur, and someone who has spent decades invested in this community’s young people, its institutions, and its future. I serve as board chair of KALH Radio and Alamogordo Town News

I write this as a neighbor who is tired of watching politics reward performance over substance.

With early voting underway and Election Day on November 3, the race for New Mexico House District 51 has clarified itself.

Radical and out of touch Rep. John Block has chosen the personal route. Independent challenger Grace Nagamine has chosen the numbers.

That contrast is not abstract. It is documented.

While Block has spent the closing stretch attacking his opponent on social media and in campaign messaging—and declining interviews with Anthony Lucero nor to participate in our community forum to discuss his actual record—Nagamine released a ten-page, footnoted oil-and-gas fiscal policy brief.

It is built on the state’s own data from the New Mexico Tax Research Institute and consensus revenue estimates

The core facts from Nagamine are straightforward:

• Oil and gas generated $13 billion in state and local revenue in FY25, including 48.6% of the General Fund.

• Roughly $3.1 billion was saved into permanent funds under the existing savings framework.

• That revenue stream supports an estimated $61.9 million for Otero County education and $25.8 million for Alamogordo Public Schools.

District 51 produces no oil or gas

Nagamine’s brief correctly notes that this does not matter. The industry’s contribution to the General Fund underwrites education, infrastructure, and services here regardless

Her five commitments are specific: maintain responsible production under clear standards, defend the Senate Bill 26 cap that routes windfall revenue into permanent funds rather than new recurring spending, protect the principal of those funds, push for Otero’s share of capital outlay and trust distributions (water, roads, Holloman-related needs, schools), and require plain-language annual reporting of what is spent versus saved.

That is the work of a candidate who has lived the district’s realities—homelessness, domestic violence, caregiving, CNA work, founding Royal Angels for children with special needs, and decades of local service.

She is a lifelong Alamogordo resident with military family ties.
He is a carpetbagger.

She has answered with policy papers, draft legislation, and specific conditions on issues like data centers (closed-loop water, independent power, noise mitigation). 

Block’s Piñon Post has done much of the talking on data centers while he has remained largely silent in his own name on issues that are sensitive to voters.

The hypocrisy is harder to ignore when set against Block’s own words.

I’ve read information and entries in court documents, pleas, etc allegedly originating from him, that allegedly contain admissions, allegedly in his own words, that admit to his ex partner he was “selfish, hurtful, uncaring, and venomous; that he prioritized his campaign and Piñon Post over the relationship; that he looked at gay pornography and “did not respond correctly” when confronted; that he was “quick to fight back, give attitude, and be stubborn; and that he said untrue and harmful things, including words wishing death and claiming he did not love his partner.”

Are these the words of a Christian, that he alleges to be? Is that the traditional family values he claims to represent? Is that true conservative values?

All the while according to court records he wanted sealed he and his former partner went to counseling in which, allegedly there were allegations of infidelity and possibly much worse.

And of course, again according to court records,  Rep John Block attempted to force his ex partner, per the court records, to sign an Non- Disclosure Agreement in an effort to protect his image and his reputation as an elected and very public official. 

He allegedly suggested that he had “not fought for the relationship, only for himself and his goals.” He allegedly offered a day planner of promised progress and allegedly stated he understood he might “not deserve forgiveness.”

Voters can judge for themselves the gap between that private accounting that is available to review via court records that may now be sealed, but some of which are in the public domain via Lea and Eddie County Exposed.

And then, look at his public posture of moral superiority, and personal attacks on Nagamine. Blocks own insight is a whole and uniquely different perspective of who the real Rep. John Block is and is character and lack of moral superiority that he so desperately professes. 

A candidate who goes personal in the final days while his own record includes an ongoing civil property dispute with his former partner, questions about PAC money flowing through entities he controls, and a pattern of declining direct engagement on the issues invites scrutiny.

Good Character is not based solely on what is said on a stage with a friendly audience or on a social media page while blocking those he disagrees with or via an incited mailer or letter placed on a doorstep. 

Nagamine is not running as a party loyalist

She is running as an independent focused on infrastructure, child welfare, military families, seniors, water, and the fiscal sustainability that funds those priorities.

She carries the Sierra Club Rio Grande Chapter endorsement while supporting responsible oil and gas production paired with systematic saving.

That is not contradiction; it is prioritization based on life experience of budgeting and living life and struggles of reality. 

Otero County and Alamogordo have long been shaped by people who show up for the work—coaches, caregivers, small-business owners, military families, and neighbors who measure progress in results rather than rhetoric.

My father, Coach Bob’s legacy was built on consistent effort, accountability, and putting athletes first.

The same standard should apply to representation, not party politics but true representation of the needs of the people you represent and hearing from and engaging with even those you disagree with and may dislike and not even share the same values. Representation means nothing if one is not open to listening, engaging and understanding diverse perspectives from all ideologies, religions, races, ethnicities, cultures and economic classes. 

Grace Nagamine has put the numbers and the policy on the table for debate and consideration. Grace has shared her flaws, mistakes and vulnerabilities. 

John Block has put personal attacks on the table and hidden his true character and flaws in the closet of hypocrisy, pretending to be morally superior all the while hiding behind a closet backed by NDA’s, lawsuits and threats of lawsuits to anyone who questions or challenges him as a public figure living on the taxpayers money.

Voters in House District 51 have the information they need. Early voting continues through October 31. The choice is between substance with Nagamine or spectacle, hatred, hypocrisy and self- importance and self righteousness of John Block. 

The choice is clear it’s time to burn down the incumbency, send the carpetbagger packing and exit him stage left from the spotlight that he so desperately craves and needs for validation. 

Let’s promote John Block to citizen and elect a true visionary that represents the people- Grace Nagamine: 

This commentary is the personal viewpoint of Rene Sepulveda who is a former NCAA coach, entrepreneur, and community advocate in Alamogordo. He is the son of Coach Bob Sepulveda and serves in leadership roles with multiple organizations and the fitness Community. The Sepulveda commentary is an opinion piece and may or may not represent the viewpoint of others of this platform or entity. He states if you are offended by the words expressed- grow the F—k up and put your big girl panties on.