img 9067Linda Pecotte is named Grant County Republican of the Year, awarded by Rhonda Billings of the Grant County Federated Republican Women.

Photos and article by Mary Alice Murphy

The Republican Party of Grant County hosted a Make America Great Again dinner at the Grant County Veterans Memorial Business and Conference Center on Oct. 6, 2018.

img 9073Candy Luhrsen, also of the GCFRW, announced the Woman of the Year award, which went to Lequita Lett. "Don and I have often gone to Lequita for advice."

The first candidate to speak was Yvette Herrell, who is running to replace Congressman Steve Pearce, who is a candidate for New Mexico governor.

Herrell is vying for the U.S. second congressional district seat.

"I want to thank all the veterans who are here for serving our country," she began. "This has been the scariest, funniest, craziest race. When I win, the first vote won't be for Nancy Pelosi as the leader of the House.

"I am running on a platform of God, life and guns," Herrell said. "It is one of the top targeted races in the U.S. More than $5 million has been spent on ads against me. We have to trust in God for our veterans, for our kids and for our future."

She said she lets the trash talk roll off her. When the Republican Party named her as one of the young guns, it opened up the race.

"We will be out funded by at least 2-1," Herrell said. "The Democrats have money, money and money. Hillary and Nancy are raising money for my opponent. So much is at stake, but this state is worth fighting for."

She said the candidate for New Mexico lieutenant governor, Michelle Garcia Holmes, is pro-life and pro-gun. "Pearce will be to New Mexico what Trump is to America. He is putting people above politics and party."

img 9079Luhrsen also presented certificates of appreciation to Linda Beattie and Carol Lutz.

Mick Rich said when he was thinking about running for senator against Martin Heinrich, once he made his decision, he went all in on his campaign.

"Every time I come back to Silver City, everyone is always nice," Rich said. "I'm excited about the race. I intend to be the next U.S. Senator for New Mexico. I moved here 40 years ago and fell in love with the people of New Mexico. For 35 years, I have been a building contractor. I am an advocate for vocational education and apprenticeships. I am a Catholic Christian and believe in the sanctity of life from beginning to end. When Heinrich got elected, he moved to Silver Springs, Maryland, so he didn't have to deal with the problems in his home state. New Mexico's crime and unemployment rates are dismal. People are not going to move here or stay here with the crime rate. The state also has one of the lowest high school graduation rates. Our current senator has abandoned us in New Mexico. When I get to Washington, D.C., I will focus on jobs and education for our kids. I pledge to serve two terms and that's it. I support President Trump, his policies and him. What he has done is great for New Mexico. We need a senator who will stand with us and for us once and for all."

He said before he made his decision to become a candidate, he went around the state and visited with Republicans and they told him they would support him. "Then I asked Democrats. When I said I was considering running against Heinrich, they said they would support me. Heinrich has not done a TV or newspaper interview in years. He has no ground game. Volunteers make the difference. Heinrich and (Gary) Johnson believe in open borders, sanctuary cities and both are pro-choice, not pro-life."

Gavin Clarkson is running for Secretary of State. "When you think of the Secretary of State in New Mexico, you think about elections. But that's not all the position does. It also manages small businesses. I'm running on a platform of jobs. I am a business professor and have taught vocational education courses. New Mexico State University tried to fire me. They couldn't take a Christian, pro-life, pro-gun, Republican professor. I have a non-partisan vision. My opponent is leading the charge off the cliff to the far left. My vision is for our kids, so they can stay here and raise our grandchildren. We do need to make sure elections are open and fair. I wrote the amicus brief that the Supreme Court used to slap down her one-party choice on the ballots."

Billy Billings spoke on behalf of Patrick Lyons, who is running for commissioner of public lands. "The permanent land grant fund was set up in 1912, upon statehood. It is New Mexico's savings account. It had $22 billion in it now, and it generates $638 million a year for New Mexico schools. Copper mines produce $1 million in revenue to the state every day. Beef cattle once provided $50 million a year, but that level is way down. Many Democrats are realizing that their party has left them. Lyons is opposed to raising the permanent land grant fund. His opponent, Stephanie Richard wants to raid it. She has also taken a stand against the oil and gas industry and wants more regulation on it. The liberal progressives want to shut the state down. Richard also introduced anti-gun legislation."

Don Luhrsen, Republican Party of Grant County chairman, read a statement from Wayne Johnson, incumbent auditor. "For the past 10 months, I have been looking out for your taxpayer dollars. There is no lack of corruption in our state. I am fighting every day against those who want to waste your money. I do not answer to the governor or the Legislature. I report and answer to you."

Rebecca Dow, incumbent for New Mexico House District 38, said unless the state creates a better economy, "we will remain in poverty. Rules and regulations are in the way. We have to get government out of the way. When government gets in the way, it makes a mess. The government has gone way too far. People who are voting have never read the platforms of the Republican or Democrat parties. My opponent is endorsed by Planned Parenthood. I am endorsed by Right to Life. She is endorsed by the anti-gun organizations. And she is for the red flag bill that allows anyone to report that a person is a threat. If a person is reported as a red flag, law enforcement will take your weapons from you, from the whole household. We have to stop this now. My opponent is for education, but against the extraction industry. I love the extractive industries, because they are taking care of our educators and our kids. I am pro-life; I support the Second Amendment; and I support the extractive industries. And most of all, I don't want her to be my representative."

Lee Cotter is the Republican running for New Mexico House District 39. "I graduated high school in Las Cruces and got my engineering degree at NMSU. Running for office is the most difficult thing I've done. New Mexico is in trouble. The Democrats have been controlling New Mexico for the past 85 years. What have you got to lose, voting Republican? You will get lower taxes, smaller government and will be getting rid of a lot of regulation. It's really hard to get rid of regulations, but it needs to be done. We need four more Republicans in the House. Being in the Legislature is an outrageous privilege. We need to make changes."

He said when he was a college student, he got his contractor's license and put himself through school. "I'm a second-generation college graduate. I started my own business and making payroll when I was 19 and got my MBA at the University of Arizona."

Cotter said he would support getting rid of Obamacare and supporting a better option for health care insurance.

He said he rents apartments and houses. Many people have to leave because they cannot pay their rent. People can't get by on 20 hours a month. Everybody has to have two jobs. He pointed out the differences between Arizona and New Mexico, which became states within one month of the other. "Arizona has three, four or five times the population and New Mexico is 50th in everything. This election will really matter."

Scott Terry spoke on behalf of Ben Hall, who is running for Public Regulations Commission. "If you have ever met the guy Hall is running against, well, we need to make sure that guy does not get on the PRC."

Will Perkins, running to keep the Sixth Judicial District Judge position for which he was appointed, said the election will determine "how long I keep the job."

"Judges have become pseudo-legislators," Perkins alleged. "What a judge does is follow the law. As the Sixth Judicial District judge, I will listen to facts and determine what the facts are and apply the law to them. We have to give the opportunity to everyone to be heard. Yes, I may have to spend time studying the law as it pertains to a particular case. I have to decide what the law dictates. I will listen to everyone, treat everyone fairly. Sometimes the laws are crappy, but I can't say I don't want to follow them."

Ray Tavizon, running to become Grant County Sheriff, said his wife had been the backbone of his race. "I have been an officer since 1985. I have no college degree. I learned from the school of hard knocks. People have made up stories about me. Every case is not perfect. The Sheriff's Department is in a bad way. It has lost the respect of many people. My difference as a candidate is that I have 10 years in administration. I know how to do budgets and manage personnel. I will be glad to work with the County Commission. A lot of experienced officers are about to retire, so we will have a lot of new officers. New Mexico is rated 51st for its crime rate, including Washington, D.C. We have an obsolete way of reporting. We have a lot of property crimes and a lot of drug problems. My opponent is part of the D.A.R.E. program. I'm for the program, but it doesn't work, according to proven statistics from the federal government."

He said too many doctors are giving painkillers to patients, who then sell the drugs.

"I work for you," Tavizon said. "People want to bring back respect to the office. I can go out on the street and ask businesses what they need. I'm getting positive feedback. I will give you back a Sheriff's Department you will be proud of."

Sheila Hudman, candidate for County Commission District 1, was introduced by Terry. "Where are things happening in this county? Santa Clara. And here is the village clerk, Sheila Hudman, who is getting those things done along with the mayor."

"I don't need on the job training," Hudman said. "I know how government works. I can understand what the county manager needs. I believe in improving the quality of life, so people of proud of where they live. I've put in $5 million in grants into Santa Clara. They have been used for infrastructure, plumbing. Now we're working on the quality of life improvements, like the community park and the splash park. Fort Bayard is the lifeline of Grant County and Santa Clara. We need to take it over and develop it as a tourist attraction.

"When I first started as clerk, there was only a mom-and-pop candy store in town," Hudman continued. "Then Dollar General built on Santa Clara property. There are now three commercial buildings rented. I want people to be proud of where they live and have job security."

Ty Bays, candidate for County Commission District 2, started his talk by saying: "I hate politics. After the last election, we got progressive Democrats who are radical environmentalists, who are transplants, who don't like mining or ranching and want to close forest roads. My opponent seems to think that government creates jobs. I want to take care of Grant County. I support the bond for roads. Our funding has dropped since Richardson took our funding for his choo-choo-train. If we get our sheriff elected, we can get more done. I live in North Hurley and almost every day on my way home, I see drug deals. We need some change. I need you to talk to five Democrats and ask them to vote for me."

Terry put in a plug for voters to support the county's $4 million bond for roads and its $4 million bond for infrastructure and repairs.

The awards were announced after all candidates had spoken.

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