Editor’s Note: Normally, the Sun does not respond to letters to editor unless there is either an actual misstatement of fact or an implied misstatement directed at our work. This letter from Representative Susan Herrera (D-41) implies Rep. Joseph Sanchez directed our recent editorial criticizing her for blocking a Sanchez plan to help economic development in Rio Arriba County. Rep. Sanchez is an investor in the Sun’s parent company, El Rito Media, LLC., but does not direct what we write. We are fully capable of independent thinking and deciding by ourselves who deserves criticism.
This letter is in response to the Editorial on “Los Alamos Builds Fences that Need to be Torn Down. Representative Joseph Sanchez never does his own writing, he always has someone else do it for him. So let me set the record straight, first about the GRT issue and then about my record as a legislator.
Rep. Sanchez along with Ron Lovato, former Governor of Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo, pushed a 2019 GRT modification legislation (House Memorial 63). I thought it was bad legislation then, I think it’s bad legislation now. I voted against this bill in 2019 because it sets a chaotic, divisive scenario for our state. If Rio Arriba County can be entitled to tax revenue from Los Alamos simply because it is a poor county, should Mora County be entitled to a portion of Rio Arriba’s GRT revenue because it is poorer? It just doesn’t make sense.
Sanchez has used the GRT issue as a reason for backing my opponent in the 2022 election and in an attack against me during that campaign. I won in 2018 by a margin of 13% running against a 25-year incumbent. In 2022 I won by 20%. So, I think the citizens of District 41 including Rio Arriba and Espanola are aware of my record and my service within our community.
I was at the “so called” negotiation meeting with Representative Joseph Sanchez, Ron Lovato, Bryan Ortiz, Representative Chris Chandler, Los Alamos County Manager Steve Lynn, Denise Derkacs, the Chair of the Los Alamos County Council and Danielle Duran, legislative liaison for Los Alamos County. I guess my first reaction to this “negotiation” was why the only representatives for Rio Arriba were Rep. Joseph Sanchez and Ron Lovato. There were no current Rio Arriba County commissioners, no city council representation from the City of Espanola. I thought it arrogant that a Representative with 5 precincts in Rio Arriba and a member of Ohkay Owingeh took it upon themselves to act as the representatives for Rio Arriba County. And there was simply no negotiation on the table, it was simply their way or the highway.
Do I think this GRT issue is the most important facing the citizens of District 41? No. The most important issue is WATER. I have worked diligently over the past four years to bring meaningful change to the creation of water infrastructure in the rural, unincorporated parts of our state. I was also named Chair of the NM Legislature House Committee on Agriculture, Acequias and Water Resources in 2023, a high honor for a legislator with four years of experience. This 2023 session I cosponsored two major bills proposed by the Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham’s Water Task Force. This was a task force composed of 6 state agencies and led by State Engineer Mike Hamman that worked over the interim to create an action plan to address the 50-year state water plan in response to climate change and drought. Chair Patty Lundstrom appointed me to the Task Force Legislative Working Group in recognition of my work on water issues. As a Co-sponsor it was my job to get two priority bills through 2 committees of the House and lead the debate on the House floor. I did so. The Regional Water System Resiliency bill (Senate Bill 1), and the Water Security Planning Act (Senate Bill 337) passed on the House floor this year and were signed into law. What, I ask you, what were Joseph Sanchez’ legislative accomplishments this year?
Issues Facing District 41
Water
The Water Security Planning Act gives the state the authority to structure a comprehensive water plan for the state. The Regional Water System Resiliency Act will allow mutual domestic water systems to combine systems at the local level to create economies of scale. District 41, my district, has the most mutual domestic water associations (MDWAs) in the state Most are run by volunteers, and it is an aging volunteer workforce. We have worked with the New Mexico Finance Authority to set up new guidelines for the Water Trust Board an added $100 million in the recent budget to help small mutual domestic water systems form a regional partnership. We have done so in an effort to take advantage of federal dollars that will come into the state of New Mexico and will be able to use the water trust board funding as a match for federal dollars. I will be holding workshops to help our MDWAs work this process.
Professional Leadership
The other issue facing District 41 is a lack of professional leadership and constant political change. In my 4½ years of representation, I have worked with 3 different County Managers and a continual change in the commission members in Rio Arriba County. In Espanola I have worked with two mayors, new changes in council membership and 4 different City Managers. I have learned not to take part in municipal elections, but I try to work diligently with the elected leadership that my constituents have chosen. In the 2022 legislative session I worked with a team of legislators to create a grant writing program within the North Central Council of Governments. We created a fund from legislative Jr. money of $300,000 to provide grantwriters to local governments applying for state and federal grants. Today, not even a year into operation the COG has applied for $99.6 million in grants and to date, $8.6 million has been awarded. This session, I worked to create a permanent fund for New Mexico COGs within the Department of Finance and Administration to expand this grant writing service statewide to our seven regional COGs.
Poverty & GRT
Of course the overriding issue is poverty. In 2021 I led the fight to permanently end the predatory loan practices in our state which allowed companies to charge 175% interest rate ruining lives in the north. When I ran the LANL Foundation, I worked hard to create jobs that you could build a life on. A job with a decent, competitive salary, good health benefits and a retirement plan. I find our major institutions in the North, including the Hospital, the Casinos and the Laboratory continue to reduce costs at the expense of workers. While Casinos build monuments to gambling, they pay workers minimum wage salaries and no benefits. The Laboratory farms out custodial work to contractors who also pay minimum wages with no benefits and Presbyterian Hospital does the same. We need to create a work environment in this state that protects and supports our working class. It’s interesting that while Ron Lovato wants Los Alamos to give up their GRT, the Pueblo, while given the sole right to conduct gambling, pays no GRT, nor do they pay GRT or property taxes on vacant properties that they are buying up in the City of Espanola, thus reducing the local tax revenue.
And I would like to respond to the comment that “ Herrera refused to help their fellow Democrat Sanchez and turned their backs on economically struggling New Mexicans who want real leadership”.
My Legislative Record
I created and sponsor and cosponsor bills that have a direct impact on District 41. I try to do about five bills a year and concentrate on getting them passed. So my major bills this year were:
—SB1. Regional Water System Resiliency PASSED
—SB337. Water Security Planning Act PASSED
—HB 311. CSG Grant Writing Assistance included in House Bill 2, the Appropriations Budget PASSED
—HB127. Education Assistant Salary Increase to a minimum of $25,000 a year PASSED within HB2
—HB 399. 5 member County Commission Board. I got HB 399 passed in the House which would have created a five member County Commission within the counties of Rio Arriba, Otero and McKinley and it made it through Senate Judiciary but DIED in Senate Finance
—SB214. Rural Library Endowment Fund Didn’t pass but $15 million added to the endowment in HB2
—HM51. Study Public School Funding Formula PASSED
—HB 526. Water Project Fund Projects PASSED
—SB 176. Acequia Fund for Disaster Response, I was asked by Senator Pete Campos, the sponsor to lead the debate on the House Floor PASSED
When you examine a House legislator’s record you look for legislation which they carry as the main sponsor or main cosponsor in the Senate. If they are a second or third legislator on record, it probably means that they weren’t the major lead, but supported the legislation. I looked up Representative Joseph Sanchez 2023 session record as the main sponsor of legislation.
—HM 36. National Lab Regional Tax Distribution DIED
—HM 84. Importance of Water in Taos and Questa PASSED
So, in answer to the editorial stating that I “ought to consider the needs of Valley citizens who elected me over the whims of my old pals in Los Alamos”. I would say that the needs of District 41 are my only priority. In questioning my “real leadership” role as the District 41 Representative, I would like to seriously understand your definition of “real leadership”. My record speaks for itself and I’m proud of it. I wish I could say the same for Representative Sanchez.
— Representative Susan Herrera (D-41)