Tom Wright
Retiring Representative Susan Herrera’s (D-41) comments about Monica Salazar and Debbie Rodella raised the hackles of both candidates. It was not that she endorsed their opponents, but it was the way she did it with what candidates called untruths and partisan remarks. Herrera’s comments Thursday, May 28, printed in The Santa Fe New Mexican regarding Salazar and her previous comments about Rodella were misleading and untrue. Salazar and Rodella said it was not that she endorsed their opponents, but it was the way she did it.
Thursday’s Santa Fe New Mexican published Herrera’s endorsement of Rio Arriba County Sheriff Lorenzo Aguilar by blistering one of his opponents, Salazar, for what she called her “constant pattern of behavior” for failure to follow orders. The New Mexican story was titled “Debunked Rumors Fly in race for Sheriff of Rio Arriba. The key word here is “debunked,” chosen by the paper. It means unproven and false. Salazar served nearly three years as Rio Arriba County Undersheriff for Sherrif Billy Merrifield who died in office 13 months ago. She was sworn in as sheriff for one day before the county commissioners appointed Major Lorenzo Aguilar to the sheriff’s post. Considering Salazar has an undergraduate and master’s degree in criminal justice and has served most of her 19 years in law enforcement in command positions, I believe she, a woman, was demoted as sheriff in favor of a man who had less experience.
Herrera could not substantiate to the Santa Fe New Mexican some of the comments she made regarding Salazar, which is most inappropriate. An elected official should not express disapproval based on falsehoods and rumors.
District 41 includes portions of Rio Arriba, Santa Fe and Taos Counties.
Representative Herrera endorsed Yolanda “Pancha” Jaramillo to take her place in New Mexico House District 41 over Rodella who had represented the district for 26 years. She was defeated in the 2017 primary by Herrera. According to Herrera, the official sin committed by Rodella while in office was cooperating with Republicans and passing bipartisan legislation. What a novel thought: legislative cooperation. In 2017, cooperation with the other side swayed the voters of District 41.
On Thursday, both Salazar and Rodella responded to Representative Herrera’s comments. Both said Herrera had the right to endorse anyone of her choice, but they believe making false accusations was most inappropriate and beneath her office. Both candidates also said cooperation between all parties in the state is their most important objective, regardless of political affiliation.
Tom Wright is a Santa Fe columnist and El Rito Media investor.