Sanctuary city ordinance tabled

CLOVIS -- City commissioners voted Thursday to table a controversial ordinance that would have banned abortion clinics in the city, an ordinance that would fly in the face of New Mexico's statute that allows abortion.

An audience of 190 watched as Commissioner Lauren Rowley made a motion to table the measure. The motion was seconded by Commissioner George Jones.

The vote to table was 7 to 1 with Commissioner David W. Bryant the lone "no" vote.

Proponents have said they want Clovis to become a "sanctuary city for the unborn."

Concerns over possible lawsuits and the cost of such drove the tabling of the ordinance, commissioners said.

The evening began with a line of people who wanted to be in the audience that started to form over an hour before the meeting.

Commissioners allowed 16 community residents to speak on the proposed ordinance -- eight who favored passage, eight who opposed.

Mark Lee Dickson, the east Texan who spurred the "sanctuary city movement" was among the speakers, saying he is now a resident of Clovis.

Dickson challenged the commission with "For the sake of your residents please pass this ordinance." Later in the meeting he was ordered to leave the room after shouting "I'll pay the bill" when state Rep. Martin Zamora was speaking about concerns the ordinance would lead to a lawsuit.

Clovis Registered Nurse Jessy Kidd was among those opposing the ordinance, telling commissioners, "Rape and incest happens here, I've seen it." Kidd said anti-abortion laws "disproportionately affect poor people."

Longtime Clovis Dr. Stephen Haynes and state Rep. Randy Crowder also spoke to commissioners, both concerned the ordinance would not hold up if challenged in court.

After hearing speakers, city commissioners spent 24 minutes talking about the measure before the vote.

Commissioner Megan Palla told the crowd she wants to "do our due diligence" before considering whether to adopt the ordinance. "I don't have the answer tonight," she said.

Palla said adopting the ordinance "will put us in a legal posture we don't understand.

"I want to be clear," she said. "I am pro-life. I take offense that [a member of the audience] would say my private life does not match my public life.

"Twenty-eight days ago there was a group of individuals who came to town (led by Dickson) to urge we pass this ordinance. Then an emergency meeting was called while two commissioners were not here. I want to get the fear and emotion off the table."

Palla said commissioners talked with seven "highly regarded attorneys. All seven of the attorneys told me the same thing [about the ordinance]: You need to use caution."

Commissioner Jones agreed with Palla.

"So many attorneys are telling us to wait. I'm pro-life as well but we have to get this right."

Commissioner David Bryant responded by text as to why he was the lone "no" vote.

Bryant wrote,"I voted 'no' because there is no getting this right, no matter how hard we try. We will still be sued by someone. Its that kind of topic. To delay is just to appease others. I've made my stance and have heard from all sides, so it's now a matter of standing for how you believe after hearing from constitutes. A life is priceless and I will stand behind that."

Mayor Pro-tem Chris Bryant said Friday the issue is not over, but won't likely be decided this year.

"We will wait after we see what happens after the election and legislative session, then we can get it right," he said.

The ordinance as written may be viewed on the internet by going to the link: http://cloviscitynm.iqm2.com/Citizens/Default.aspx.