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Is it time to get political? YES.
Meet Reopen NM rally attendee (and Sheriff of Sierra County, NM) Glenn Hamilton! Pictured here holding a sign that says this public safety official won't trade his 'FREEDOM' for your safety.
This one wasn't hard. His name is right on his shirt.
Meet Reopen NM rally attendee (and Sheriff of Sierra County, NM) Glenn Hamilton! Pictured here holding a sign that says this public safety official won't trade his 'FREEDOM' for your safety.
This one wasn't hard. His name is right on his shirt.
But there's important background here.
Glenn is a member of Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace's New Mexico Sheriff's Association (NMSA), a far-right collection of the scariest law enforcement officials in our state.
Glenn is a member of Cibola County Sheriff Tony Mace's New Mexico Sheriff's Association (NMSA), a far-right collection of the scariest law enforcement officials in our state.
The NMSA parrots a lot of Constitutional Sheriffs and Peace Officers Association (CSPOA) talking points on the authority of Sheriffs, as seen in this post by NMSA Chairman and Cibola County Sheriff Joe Exot-- Sorry, Tony Mace (also pictured).
TL;DR, they believe county sheriffs answer to no one but themselves.
They believe no court, legislature, executive, or agency -- from county commission all the way up to the President, Congress, and Supreme Court -- can tell a Sheriff what to do.
They believe no court, legislature, executive, or agency -- from county commission all the way up to the President, Congress, and Supreme Court -- can tell a Sheriff what to do.
They believe the "Sheriff is the CEO of all the courts in his/her county and can easily strike down any court ruling or verdict as he sees fit if he deems it to be unconstitutional."
They believe "The Sheriff has more power in his County than the President of the United States of America. The Office of Sheriff holds "Supreme Authority" over the land and especially in his/her own county."
It's just feudalism repackaged with Sheriffs as nobles.
The worst part? Most of our county sheriffs in New Mexico, and in most western states, are believers.
We'll do more on the NMSA and CSPOA at a later date. So we'll leave you with this for now:
The worst part? Most of our county sheriffs in New Mexico, and in most western states, are believers.
We'll do more on the NMSA and CSPOA at a later date. So we'll leave you with this for now:
https://twitter.com/LCRWnews/status/1258192125021188097?s=20
Hamilton deputized an entire church congregation, making them all law enforcement, exempt from NM's COVID-19 emergency orders re: gatherings larger than 5.
He also said it might help "Should riot conditions start existing, should civil disobedience"
Hamilton deputized an entire church congregation, making them all law enforcement, exempt from NM's COVID-19 emergency orders re: gatherings larger than 5.
He also said it might help "Should riot conditions start existing, should civil disobedience"
Cool.
There were some other political figures present as well who are worth noting here.
Zoom out from the NMCG and there, on the left in the blue shirt, is Brett Kokinadis, candidate for NM Congressional District 1 against Deb Haaland.
Zoom out from the NMCG and there, on the left in the blue shirt, is Brett Kokinadis, candidate for NM Congressional District 1 against Deb Haaland.
Brett claims to have organized this whole thing, as seen in this post on his candidate Facebook page.
Worth noting that despite living in the 3rd Congressional District, in Santa Fe, Brett is running to represent Albuquerque in the 1st Congressional District, as a Republican.
Worth noting that despite living in the 3rd Congressional District, in Santa Fe, Brett is running to represent Albuquerque in the 1st Congressional District, as a Republican.
Oh, you want some background on Brett? I got you.
Brett moved here from Los Angeles, and got his start in #nmpol by running New Mexico Democrats for Democracy, a PAC supporting failed 2018 Dem Gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca. That name will come up again.
Brett moved here from Los Angeles, and got his start in #nmpol by running New Mexico Democrats for Democracy, a PAC supporting failed 2018 Dem Gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca. That name will come up again.
Two other faces familiar to folks in ABQ were present at the Reopen NM rally in Santa Fe: Dinah Vargas (GOP candidate for NM House District 10) and Stella Padilla (GOP candidate-turned-dropout for NM HD 11).
Stella and Dinah are inseparable, and used to be local activists in ABQ. In 2017, Stella launched a failed campaign for mayor of ABQ, with Dinah as her campaign manager. She didn't even make it onto the ballot.
Stella dropped out of the mayoral race.
But not before a murder took place in her office: https://www.abqjournal.com/1084890/man-arrested-in-late-night-homicide-in-nw-abq.html
But not before a murder took place in her office: https://www.abqjournal.com/1084890/man-arrested-in-late-night-homicide-in-nw-abq.html
So after dropping out, Stella and Dinah went to work on.... failed Dem Gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca's race!
After Jeff lost, they moved on to work for... Republican Gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce!
After Pearce lost, they moved on to work for...
After Jeff lost, they moved on to work for... Republican Gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce!
After Pearce lost, they moved on to work for...
The New Mexico GOP!
Stella and Dinah contracted with the NMGOP and Bernalillo County GOP. Their work included two deranged Facebook Live videos where they trespassed on a housing facility for asylum seekers and harassed unhoused folks: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/nm-gopers-kicked-out-of-temporary-asylum-seeker-housing-after-unauthorized-filming
Stella and Dinah contracted with the NMGOP and Bernalillo County GOP. Their work included two deranged Facebook Live videos where they trespassed on a housing facility for asylum seekers and harassed unhoused folks: https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/nm-gopers-kicked-out-of-temporary-asylum-seeker-housing-after-unauthorized-filming
Stella has now dropped out of the NM HD11 race and endorsed Adrian Trujillo, pictured here being driven around the Reopen caravan by Stella herself.
Finally, honorary mention to Harry Montoya, Republican candidate for the 3rd Congressional District (lol good luck), who was there handing out his stickers. Some of which were sported by the local Proud Boys.
