By Lynn Janes

On October 22, 2026, Representative Luis Terrazas had a tele-town hall, and people had the opportunity to ask any questions they had. Mike Morones served as a moderator.

Terrazas started with a little background of himself. He wanted people to know he was humbled to be their representative and was born and raised in the area. "This is my community. I don't do this job for a title." He loves the community, and he will always support the community, hospitals, schools and university. More importantly small businesses and mine workers. He said he would always stand for the veterans and law enforcement. The constitution will always be important, and he will firmly stand with the second amendment.

Terrazas spoke to the data centers and what they will be doing to the communities. It will be important to know everything that will be going on with them. "This is a real concern of mine." He had written a letter to the commission to put a temporary moratorium on them. They did pass a moratorium on them to gather more information. "Our natural resources need to be protected."

Morones told people how to dial in and ask a question.

What are you going to do about the high prices?

Several years back Terrazas said there had been some rhetoric that states didn't have anything to do with inflation. He said they actually do. Some legislation that comes to them that will hurt people on fixed incomes and others through inflation. When regulations increase, costs increase. A lot of talk has addressed affordable housing but on the other hand they add regulations that create more cost for that housing. "We want to make sure people have a roof over their heads, but we need to recognize that half of the people have some kind of assistance." He deals with a lot of people on social security or some kind of fixed income. Legislation comes across his desk that will increase costs to the people and be burdensome. Not every regulation will be a problem, but sometimes overregulating happens. It will cost businesses, and they will pass that on to their consumers.

Terrazas brought up a bill he had voted against a few years back that passed and would cost the people 40 cents more a gallon for gas. Today's gas prices in part have gone up because of this bill. "I will continue to support legislation that reduces taxes and puts money back in people's pockets." He had recently come from a tax committee meeting and had talked about how they could help people struggling to pay bills and what they could do immediately.

How can we continue to support our mining industry?

Terrazas pointed out something many didn't know. New Mexico has been very high in environmental standards, more than most states. "We are one of the strictest in extraction-of-mineral regulations." That would be anything taken from the ground such as copper, oil and gas. Grant County produces copper and no one else does in New Mexico. It provides a lot of jobs for the residents. These people have mortgages, eat in the restaurants and have families. The mines produce but also pay taxes and also put money back into the community. They have been vital to the community. He remembered when he was growing up. When the mines had problems you would not see cars on the streets and things closed down. He spoke to the nonprofit organizations pushing against mining. He said they had to have balance by not destroying the environment but also retaining jobs. "This is a mining community, but we must always stay in balance." Shutting down the mines would hurt the families that live off that mine and the small businesses in the community that need it, and it would include the schools and the county.

What have you done to support the veterans?

He started by saying his daughter came to him and his wife at 17 and asked them to sign to let her join the military. She wanted to serve her country. It had been hard for them to accept at first, but he supports his kids and what they want to do. She didn't want to go to college. She now has become a Staff Sergeant in the Air Force and has become a dental tech. "I have worked with a lot of veterans and worked to reduce their property taxes whether they are a veteran, active duty or disabled. It had taken a few sessions to make it happen. Additionally, he sponsored a bill that passed for veterans to have free state park passes. It will be good for mental health to get out in the parks.

Morones asked Terrazas what he would like to say to any voter in his district that might be undecided.

He wanted to remind them this community has been his home, where he raised his family and built his business. "I am going to support my community." He has supported the hospital and Western New Mexico University (WNMU). Terrazas graduated from WNMU. Terrazas wants to keep the kids here and provide them with opportunities. He has been working to have a vocational school here, so they have alternatives.

"We need a strong hospital." He had been able, with the help of Senator Gabriel Ramos, to secure $5 million for Gila Regional Medical Center to purchase a new CT scanner for the cancer center and the year before had secured $5.7 million. He has been supporting large amounts of funding for rural health care and had voted against medical malpractice legislation in 2021 that increased insurance for doctors causing them to leave. He had worked on changing that legislation to keep more doctors.

Terrazas said sometimes people have been confused on where he votes on legislation. He votes in Santa Fe and not Washington D.C. He wanted people to know that he has an office at First American Bank and people were welcome to come talk. It has been the first time a representative has had an office in Grant County. "I appreciate everyone who attended and thank you for the opportunity."

"We have to keep working on helping veterans, health care and having safe communities."

Morones said they still had a little time and had another question. How can we enhance our roads and infrastructure?

Terrazas had asked for a report from District 1 engineers, and this district goes all the way to Arizona. The report said they had spent $970 million. Part of that had been used to start the expansion of Highway 180. Terrazas has been involved in securing of the funding and the resurfacing of a lot of state roads. He has supported millions for the roads, but it still has not been enough, but he will continue to fight for more to repair roads.

He said if people wanted to know more, they should  visit his website www.luisterrazas4newmexico.com .

The town hall was paid for by the committee to elect Luis Terrazas