Roosevelt approves measure opposing redistricting

Roosevelt County Commissioners Tuesday approved a resolution objecting to the state's recent congressional redistricting.

Two weeks ago the commissioners voted to join a lawsuit against the redistricting but discovered an obstacle.

"We could not find a good-faith point to enter the lawsuit," county attorney Randy Knudsen told the commissioners. "There are not enough facts to go forward with a legal challenge."

The resolution outlined objections to the redistricting bill, called "Senate Bill 1."

The resolution states in part, "Whereas, the Roosevelt County commission agrees with the plaintiffs that Senate Bill 1 is a creature of partisan gerrymandering of such proportion that it violates not only the plaintiffs rights under the New Mexico constitution equal protection clause it also unconstitutionally dilutes the plaintiffs votes under the New Mexico Constitution Article II, Section 18, and also unconstitutionally dilutes the votes of registered voters within Roosevelt County."

District 2 Commissioner Rodney Savage had a look at the resolution.

"I have read the resolution," Savage said. "My constituents are highly in favor of this resolution. It's pushing back against unfair practices."

District 1 Commissioner Dennis Lopez said he was not comfortable voting for the resolution and was the lone "no" vote on the matter.

In other business commissioners held a public hearing on adding a point about specified fencing to the county's cannabis ordinance.

District four commissioner Tina Dixon said she'd like to see the county's cannabis ordinance dropped entirely. Such a move, discussed by Curry County commissioners at their last regular session, would get the county out of the cannabis enforcement business.

Roosevelt County emergency management and planning manager Johnny Montiel told the commissioners he wants the county to keep its ordinance.

"By doing something locally we can directly help our citizens," Montiel said. "If left to the state, enforcement would be difficult."

On another matter, Savage nominated Roosevelt County Realtor and cattleman Charles Bennett to represent the county at sessions of the Eastern New Mexico University chancellor search group. The vote for Bennett to represent the county was unanimous.

While commissioners were in executive session Bennett spoke with The News and spoke of the importance of making a good choice for chancellor of the university.

"This hire is critical," Bennett said. "Because of what's happened to Eastern over the past two years with COVID. The student enrollment needs to come back up."