New Mexico in Focus; 1016; Vision Maker Enviornment, NM Supreme Court Candidates, Highlights from CD3 Candidate Conversation

>> FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE NELITTA E. WALKER FUND FOR KNME TV, THE KNME TV ENDOWMENT FUND AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU. >> THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY NEW MEXICO PBS FOR A PRESENTATION OF VISION MAKER MEDIA WITH MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. >> THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO INFOCUS, WHY THE ENVIRONMENT IS A KEY ISSUE FOR SOME NATIVE >> NATIONALLY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HEAR A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OR SEEING ANYBODY FIGHT FOR US, THE LAND, OR THE WATER. >> WE GET TO KNOW TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING TO SERVE ON THE NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT. NEW MEXICO INFOCUS STARTS NOW. THANKS FOR JOINING US FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS. LATER THIS HOUR THE LINE DISCUSSES THE OUTCOME THIS WEEK IN THE COURT CASE AGAINST

KEITH SANDY AND DOMINIQUE PEREZ. THE APD OFFICERS SHOT AND KILLED JAMES BOYD IN 2014. WE'LL ALSO TALK ABOUT THE OUTCOMES OF SPECIAL SESSION AND HOW LOCAL LEADERS REACT TO THE LATEST NEWS ON THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGNS. BUT, FIRST, THE LATEST STORY IN OUR SERIES THIS YEAR ON NATIVE AMERICAN VOTERS. CORRESPONDENT ANTONIA GONZALES TAKES US AROUND THE STATE TO HEAR ABOUT ISSUES IMPORTANT FOR VOTERS. THIS WEEK TRAVEL, WE TRAVEL TO THE NAVAJO NATION TO LEARN HOW SOME YOUNG LEADERS WORK TO PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT AND HUMAN HEALTH AND HOW THEY SEE THOSE ISSUES AS PART OF VOTING AND CIVIC ENGAGEMENT. >> URANIUM MINING IS A PRACTICE THAT CANNOT BE REVERSED. WASTE THAT IS CREATED IS RADIOACTIVE AND REMAINS RADIOACTIVE FOR MILLIONS OF YEARS. THIS AREA RIGHT HERE IS KNOWN AS SECTION 8. GRASS ROOTS GROUPS ARE

CONTINUING TO FIGHT DEVELOPMENT WHICH THEY SEE AS HARMFUL TO PEOPLE ON THE NAVAJO NATION. LEONA MORGAN IS ONE OF THOSE WHO SPENT YEARS FIGHTING URANIUM MINING ON NAVAJO LAND. >> THIS PARTICULAR AREA IS VERY SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT IS COMPANY HAD ACQUIRED PERMITS TO DO LEACH MINING IN 1989 AND THAT WAS CHALLENGED BY SEVERAL INDIVIDUALS, COMMUNITIES AND ORGANIZATIONS. SO, THIS SITE, IN PARTICULAR, IS REALLY SIGNIFICANT FOR ME BECAUSE THE WORK I DID WAS TO BASICALLY MAKE SURE THAT IT STAYS THE WAY IT IS. WHEN THEY DO THIS MINING, THEY CANNOT CLEAN THE WATER AFTER IT IS DONE. NO LAND AQUIFER HAS EVER BEEN FULLY RESTORED TO PRE-MINING CONDITIONS AFTER MINING. WE ARE CONCERNED ABOUT OUR WATER QUALITY AND QUANTITY, BUT ALSO WHAT ARE THE IMPACTS TO FUTURE GENERATIONS AND ACCESS TO SAFE DRINKING WATER. >> SO, THIS IS HRI CURRENTLY

URI'S PROCESSING FACILITY AND INSIDE THIS CHAIN LINK FENCE, THIS WHOLE AREA IS THEIR PRIVATE LAND. SO, IF THEY DID START IN CHURCH ROCK, THIS WOULD BE THE SITE WHERE THEY PROCESS IT INTO YELLOW CAKE AND SO RIGHT HERE, WE ARE STANDING OUTSIDE OF A FACILITY THAT NEVER OPERATED AT FULL CAPACITY. >> TELL US A LITTLE BIT ABOUT HOW YOU FEEL PERSONALLY BEING A NAVAJO INDIGENOUS WOMAN AND TAKING ON THIS FIGHT? >> OUR CULTURE, IT IS MATRILINEAL SOCIETY, SO A LOT OF THE MAJOR DECISIONS, YOU KNOW, TRADITIONALLY, WERE MADE BY WOMEN. AND, NOT AS IT IS TODAY, IN THE HETERO-PATRIARCHAL SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES. IT WASN'T THAT WAY TRADITIONALLY. FOR ME, I FEEL COMFORTABLE DOING THIS WORK BECAUSE I FEEL THAT I HAVE THE ABILITY FOR MY CULTURE TO ACT AS A STRONG

VOICE AND TO, YOU KNOW, BE A DECISION MAKER WHEN PEOPLE ARE DOING STRATEGY OR ORGANIZING, WHEN THE GOVERNMENT IS PROPOSING SOMETHING, WHEN THE STATE OR OUR TRIBE ARE UP TO NO GOOD. IT IS PRETTY MUCH, I FEEL LIKE, NOT JUST WOMEN, IT IS EVERYBODY'S JOB TO TALK TO ELECTED OFFICIALS AND ESPECIALLY THE DEPARTMENTS THAT OVERSEE AND PERMIT SITES LIKE THIS. >> WHEN, WE LOOK AT VOTING AND WE ARE LOOKING AT COMING INTO A U.S. PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION, HOW WOULD YOU RATE URANIUM MINING AS ONE OF THE ISSUES WHEN IT COMES TO CHOOSING A CANDIDATE? >> A LOT OF PEOPLE I KNOW DO NOT VOTE AND THAT IS BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, THE TAKING OF THIS LAND WAS DONE SO VERY VIOLENTLY AND SO IT IS BASICALLY LIKE, SUBMITTING, TO THE OPPRESSOR. THE AMERICAN IMPERIALIST SYSTEM HAS CREATED MILITARY BASES, HAS THIS HUGE ARSENAL OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS AND RIGHT NOW WHOEVER YOU VOTE FOR BESIDES BEING SUBJUGATING

YOURSELF TO THE OPPRESSOR, YOU'RE ALSO VOTING FOR A CANDIDATE WHO IS GOING TO BE CHARGED WITH PROTECTING OR DEFENDING THIS NATION AND THAT IS DONE LARGELY THROUGH NUCLEAR WEAPONS. AND THE LARGER ISSUE IS HOW DO WE STOP NUCLEAR WEAPONS? SO, FOR ME, EITHER CANDIDATE IS NOT GOING TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW, FOR US AS INDIGENOUS PEOPLE LIVING IN A LAND WHERE THERE IS URANIUM MINING. I AM A SUPER VOTER, I VOTE IN DIFFERENT ELECTIONS. NOT BECAUSE I SUPPORT ANY POLITICAL CANDIDATE, NOT BECAUSE I SUPPORT ANY POLITICAL PARTY, BUT BECAUSE OFTENTIMES THE ISSUES THAT WE ARE WORKING ON WILL GO TO THE BALLOT AS MAYBE A BOND ISSUE OR MAYBE, YOU KNOW, A CERTAIN JUDGE MIGHT BE UP FOR ELECTION AND SO THERE IS A LOT OF OTHER THINGS THAT PLAY WHEN IT COMES TO THE ELECTIONS. IT IS PLAYING THEIR GAME. IT IS BEING A GOOD INDIAN AS IT WERE, PUTTING ON A SUIT OR

DRESSING -- NOT HOW YOUR GRANDMOTHER DRESSED BUT GOING INTO THESE FOREIGN SPACES AND USING THE OPPRESSOR'S LANGUAGE AND HAVING A LOT OF THINGS ON PAPER AND THESE ARE NOT TRADITIONAL MESSAGES THAT OUR PEOPLE HAD. TO BALANCE THAT, IT IS ALSO IMPORTANT TO HAVE YOUR PROTECTION PRAYERS, HAVE YOUR CEREMONY, YOU KNOW, HAVE THAT CULTURAL BACKING, BECAUSE THERE HAS TO BE A BALANCE. IT CAN'T JUST BE ALL IN THIS WESTERN STYLE. AS AN INDIGENOUS PERSON WE HAVE TO USE ALL THE TOOLS IN OUR TOOL BOX. SO, ONE OF THOSE IS VOTING, ATTENDING MEETINGS, GOING TO CEREMONIES AND THEN, YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE TIME AND ENERGY, GOING TO MARCH, GOING TO PROTEST. BUT, IT IS NOT ONE OR THE OTHER. IT IS -- IT HAS TO BE A MIXTURE OF ALL STRATEGIES. >> THIS WEEK, JURORS COULD NOT REACH AGREEMENT IN THE CASE OF KEITH SANDY AND DOMINIQUE PEREZ WHO SHOT AND KILLED JAMES BOYD WHILE ON DUTY AS APD OFFICERS IN 2014.

NOW MR. SANDY AND MR. PEREZ FACED CHARGES OF MURDER, SECOND DEGREE SPECIFICALLY. A MISTRIAL MEANS THE CASE CAN BE TRIED AGAIN BUT THAT WOULD BERNALILLO COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY, BECAUSE THE CURRENT DA, MS. BRANDENBURG, IS NOT RUNNING FOR REELECTION. I AM JOINED BY TOM GARRITY, FROM THE GARRITY GROUP PR. MERRITT ALLEN IS HERE FROM FOX OPTIMA LLC, CHRISTINE SIERRA, RETIRED UNM POLITICAL SCIENCE PROFESSOR AND RUSSELL CONTRERAS, REPORTER WITH THE ASSOCIATED PRESS. >> RUSSELL, YOU'RE ON THE SCENE THIS WEEK. SOME OF THE TOP OBSERVATIONS YOU MADE IN AND AROUND THE COURTHOUSE AFTER THE VERDICT. WHAT WAS THE SENSE? >> THE SENSE IS THAT A LOT OF FOLKS BELIEVE THIS IS WHAT WE WERE GOING TO GET; A HUNG JURY. THE FACT THAT WE HAD THREE PUSHING FOR GUILTY VERDICT WAS A SURPRISE TO A LOT OF FOLKS. EVEN THE ACTIVISTS THOUGHT THREE WAS SOMETHING THEY DIDN'T ANTICIPATE. THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN MORE THAN THOSE THREE? >> THEY THOUGHT THE FACT THEY GOT THREE TO BEGIN WITH AT ALL. >> NO KIDDING. >> THAT WAS IN SENSE A VICTORY, IN SOME SENSE.

WHAT A LOT OF ACTIVISTS THAT WANTED WAS JUST THE POLICE TO STAND TRIAL, FOR SOME ACCOUNTABILITY. THEY FELT THAT WAS A VICTORY IN ITSELF BUT A HUNG JURY WAS POPULAR THE BELIEF AMONG REPORTERS. I JUST DON'T SEE HOW THIS CAN GO EITHER WAY. THERE SEEMS TO BE SOME CONFLICTION AND BECAUSE WE HAVE SUCH A DIVISIVE DISCUSSION AROUND IT, THAT A HUNG JURY SEEMED LIKE TO BE PROBABLY THE MOST PROBABLE OUTCOME WE COULD EXPECT. >> DID THAT SURPRISE YOU, THAT 9 OUT OF THOSE 12 SAID NO? >> I THINK IT WOULD BE VERY HARD TO GET A MAJOR FELONY OUT OF BAD POLICING, BECAUSE I THINK A HOMELESS CAMPER WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA AND ESSENTIALLY A FREE-LANCE SWAT TEAM, BECAUSE THEY GUYS WERE OFF DUTY, THAT IS AN EXCESSIVE RESPONSE. BEING PART OF THAT AND THE POLICY THAT ALLOWED THAT TO HAPPEN IS PROBLEMATIC. BEING ONE OF THE PEOPLE WHO SHOT THE TRIGGER IN THAT HEIGHTENED SENSE OF ANXIETY AND EXCITEMENT, I DON'T KNOW IF THAT WARRANTS A MAJOR

FELONY CONVICTION. >> WAS IT A REACH TO FAR FOR MS. BRANDENBURG, THESE CHARGES? >> NO, I THINK GIVEN THE AND ALSO PUTTING THIS IN THE LARGER CONTEXT OF OUTRAGE AND CONFLICT IN MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY, WITH SHOOTINGS BY POLICE AND KILLINGS, I THINK THERE WAS INDEED A LOT OF PRESSURE TO GO FORWARD. >> WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT THE IDEA THAT RUSSELL BROUGHT UP, THAT THIS IS ALMOST ACQUITTAL AT SOME POINT, HAVING A HUNG JURY. IT ALMOST MEANS, LIKE, SOMEONE WAS PROVEN RIGHT HERE? DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF THAT? >> WELL, IT IS A LACK OF A CONVICTION. AND IT SEEMS TO ME THAT THE POLICE OFFICERS WERE ACQUITTED. EVEN THOUGH OFFICIALLY THEY WEREN'T. WHAT I THINK NOW NEEDS TO HAPPEN IS IT WILL BE UP TO THE NEXT DISTRICT ATTORNEY TO FIGURE OUT IF THERE IS A RETRIAL. WHAT WE HAVE TO DO AS POLICY MAKERS, LEADERS IN THE COMMUNITY AND COMMUNITY AS A

WHOLE IS FIGURE OUT WHERE WE IMPROVE THINGS, HOW WE IMPROVE THINGS AND I THINK AGAIN AT THE LOCAL LEVEL THERE ARE SOME POSSIBILITIES. BERNALILLO COUNTY HAS NOW A BEHAVIORAL HEALTH TASKFORCE AND SOME MONEY DEVOTED TO DOING SOMETHING. ON THE ONE HAND WE HAVE EXCESSIVE POLICE FORCE AS AN ISSUE AND ON THE OTHER HAND WE HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ILLNESS AS AN ISSUE. SOMEHOW, WE HAVE TO GRASP THESE TWO DOMAINS AND FIGURE OUT A WAY OF SOLVING PROBLEMS AND STOPPING THE CONFLICT THAT ENDS UP IN TRAGEDY. >> INTERESTING. TOM ON THE IDEA OF BRINGING THIS TO TRIAL AGAIN, TRYING TO RETRY THIS WHOLE THING, WE HAVE HAD STATEMENTS FROM THE MAYOR, FROM APD FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE SAYING, LOOK, LET'S JUST MOVE ON. WE DON'T WANT TO START THAT WAR AGAIN. WE PUT IT TO BED, MOVE ON. WHAT IS TO BE GAINED BEYOND LEGALITIES OF TRYING THIS AGAIN. WOULD THE COMMUNITY SUPPORT THAT IDEA OR IS IT A SMALL PART OF THE COMMUNITY? WHAT IS YOUR SENSE? >> I THINK THE COMMUNITY GOT WHAT IT NEEDED OUT OF THIS

FIRST TRIAL. SECOND TRIAL, I REALLY THINK IT IS MORE OF A MATTER OF EXERCISE TO SAY, LET'S TAKE IT THROUGH FRUITION TO SEE IF WE GET CONVICTION OR ACQUITTAL ON EITHER SIDE. >> WOULD YOU BLAME ANYBODY IF THEY STILL WANTED TO GO DOWN THAT ROAD, IF THE NEXT DA, YOU KNOW, HOW CAREERS GO. DA IS AN INTERESTING THING. YOU COULD MAKE A LOT OF HAY WITH THIS. >> I WAS THINKING ABOUT THAT. IF YOU'RE THE INCOMING DISTRICT ATTORNEY, YOU DON'T WANT -- YOU'RE GOING TO NEED TO ADDRESS THIS ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. AND YOU WANT SOMEBODY ELSE'S DECISION OR SOMEBODY ELSE'S TRIAL TO REALLY EFFECT, WHICH IT WILL, YOUR FIRST 100 DAYS OF TRYING TO ESTABLISH NEW LEADERSHIP. FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE, THOUGH, I THINK THAT THERE WON'T BE AS STRONG A CRY FOR A RETRIAL. HERE IS THE REASON WHY. I THINK RANDI MCGINN REALLY PUT IT INTO VERY SIMPLE TERMS. ALBUQUERQUE GOT THE TRUTH. SHE DIDN'T SAY THAT EXACTLY. BUT SHE SAID SOMETHING ALONG THOSE LINES AND HERE IS WHAT, WHY THAT IS IMPORTANT. WHEN YOU LOOK AT HOW A NEW SITUATION DEVELOPS, INITIALLY,

YOU HAVE SPECULATION AND ACCUSATION. YOU KNOW, THAT IS REALLY WHERE THIS WHOLE THING HAS BEEN FOR THE LAST TWO YEARS. BASICALLY, AT THAT ACCUSATION PHASE. WELL, THE TRIAL PROVIDED A LOT OF INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED. WHAT IS THE STRATEGY. HOW IS IT THAT WE HAVE 17 OFFICERS OUT THERE TO TAKE CARE OF A CAMPING CHARGE. SO, WHAT HAPPENED IS THAT NEWS BOTTLE, YOU HAD FACTS REPLACE SPECULATION, ACCUSATION AND CLUE, SO, FROM A COMMUNITY PERSPECTIVE, I THINK, PEOPLE HAVE ENOUGH INFORMATION TO MOVE ON. WHETHER OR NOT THERE IS ENOUGH INFORMATION FOR LITIGATORS TO MOVE ON, I GUESS THE NEW DISTRICT ATTORNEY WILL DETERMINE THAT. >> INTERESTING, THAT LAST POINT. PICK UP ON THAT, RUSSELL, THE NEW DA COMING IN, LIKE TOM MENTIONED SOME CHOICES, BUT FOR MS. BRANDENBURG GOING OUT, WHAT DOES THIS MEAN? SHE HUNG A LOT IN RANDI MCGINN AND OTHERS AS WELL. WHAT DOES THIS MEAN TO ACTUALLY LOSE THIS ONE, SO TO SPEAK. >> THIS IS ALSO AN INDICTMENT OF THE OFFICERS, AN INDICTMENT OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN 2014, NOT 2016 OR 2017, AND AT

THIS TIME, NOW, WE ARE UNDER DOJ AGREEMENTS, CONSENT DECREES, GOING THROUGH REFORMS. SO ALL THOSE CONCERNS ABOUT 700 ROUNDS OR WHATEVER ROUNDS, SURROUNDING THE MAN WITH TWO KNIVES, THAT IS AN INDICTMENT OF THE POLICE FORCE TWO YEARS AGO. NOW WE ARE IN A DIFFERENT PHASE. THEY ARE GOING THROUGH REFORM AND THIS IS PUTTING PRESSURE ON THOSE REFORMS TO GO THROUGH. A LOT OF RESISTANCE, BUT I THINK WE HAVE TO PUT THAT IN CONTEXT. NOW WE'RE LOOKING AT A DIFFERENT POLICE FORCE, THIS YEAR AND NEXT. >> DOES IT HASTEN THOSE REFORMS IN ANY APPRECIABLE WAY. OUR MONITOR HAD TOUGH WORDS LATELY ABOUT THE PACE OF REFORM. DOES THIS HELP PUSH THAT APPRECIABLY FURTHER DOWN THE ROAD? >> I THINK WHAT THIS COULD DO IS THE ACTIVISTS PROTESTING THIS WEEK RIGHT AFTER THE MISTRIAL, IF THEY START GOING TO MEETINGS AND PRESSURING THESE REFORMS, THEN WE HAVE A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. RIGHT NOW FOR POLICY, IT IS FOR US, PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED. NOT A LOT OF COMMUNITY ACTIVISM AND THIS COULD BE A GAME CHANGER FOR THEM. >> MERRITT, THERE IS ANGST OUT THERE IN FACEBOOK AND OTHER

PLACES AT THE FACT THERE WAS PROTEST, ANYWAY. JURY HAD SPOKEN. LET'S MOVE ON. THERE WAS A LOT OF THAT. WONDERING ABOUT YOUR SENSE OF WHERE THAT BOTTLE STILL IS? IS IT STILL PRETTY PRESSURIZED, AS YOU SEE IT? JUST A COUPLE OF DAYS, IT IS GOING TO SORT OF DISSIPATE AFTER A LITTLE BIT OF TIME. >> WELL, I THINK -- I AGREE WITH MUCH OF WHAT TOM SAID. WE HAVE GOTTEN THE FACTS OUT. WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED. TO RUSSELL'S POINT, THAT WAS BAD POLICING. WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2014 WAS NOT OKAY. WE HAVE A NEW DA. SECRET GRAND JURY WE HOPE IS OVER. YOU KNOW. THAT WAS A BIG STEP FORWARD. THE PRESSURE PUT ON THE EXISTING DA TO STOP THE SECRET GRAND JURY PROCEDURE, WHERE EVERY SINGLE POLICING WAS CONSIDERED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. THIS IS A BIG CHANGE, SO, THIS PROCESS THAT HAS HAPPENED, THE MOVE TOWARD MORE TRANSPARENCY, THE RELEASE OF VIDEO, BODY CAMERA VIDEO, EVERYTHING IS -- EVERYTHING IS MOVING FORWARD,

SO, I FEEL THAT THE BOTTLE ABOUT TO EXPLODE, AS YOU'RE PUTTING IT, THAT IS BASED ON, I THINK, A LOT OF NATIONAL NEWS ACROSS THE COUNTRY, AND FEAR THAT IS BUILT UP ON SOCIAL MEDIA, IN GENERAL, ABOUT POLICE VIOLENCE. ALBUQUERQUE, CERTAINLY, SADLY, HELPED PUT THIS ON THE MAP BUT WE MOVED LARGELY PAST THAT. I HOPE THAT OUR LOCAL ACTIVISTS CAN SEE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN WHAT IS BEEN THE CASE LOCALLY TO WHAT IS HAPPENING NATIONALLY. >> MR. SANDY AND PEREZ WILL BE ABLE TO GET JOBS BACK AT THIS POINT AND IT COULD HAPPEN. IT COULD HAPPEN. HOW COULD THE COMMUNITY -- CERTAIN SEGMENTS OF THE COMMUNITY WILL FIND THAT DISTASTEFUL TO HAVE THE MEN BACK IN UNIFORM. >> I DON'T WANT TO REALLY FOCUS ON THE MOMENT IN TIME WHERE THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS ARE THE FOCUS OF WHAT HAS HAPPENED BECAUSE IT REALLY IS SOMETHING MUCH BEYOND THEM. AND, I THINK IT IS AN INDICTMENT OF A CULTURE, OF AN ORGANIZATIONAL CULTURE IN LAW

ENFORCEMENT THAT DOES DOVETAIL WITH THE STORY NATIONALLY. IT SEEMS TO ME THAT WHAT WE ARE GOING TO HAVE STILL IS MAJOR FEELINGS AMONG SOME SEGMENTS OF OUR COMMUNITY AND I AM THINKING OF POOR PEOPLE, PEOPLE WHO FEEL VULNERABLE, RACIAL MINORITIES OR IN THE CASE OF NEW MEXICO, IT MAY BE THE HISPANICS ESPECIALLY, BUT PEOPLE WHO FEEL THAT THEY ARE THROWAWAYS OR THAT THEY DON'T HAVE POWER TO STAND UP TO POWER. AND SO, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT A VULNERABLE INDIVIDUAL, MR. BOYD. HE WAS WHITE, NOT A RACIAL MINORITY, BUT, THERE ARE PARALLELS WITH THESE STORIES IN MULTIPLE COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE COUNTRY THAT WE ARE LOOKING AT POWER IN TERMS OF POLICE AND LAW ENFORCEMENT VERSUS THE POWERLESS AND VULNERABLE OF WHATEVER DIMENSION THEY ARE.

AND THAT IS A REAL IMPORTANT AND ONGOING CONFLICT TO ADDRESS IN OUR COUNTRY. >> GOOD POINT. WHEN WE COME BACK TO THE LINE WE TALK ABOUT LOCAL REACTIONS TO LATEST NEWS FROM THE PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TRAIL BUT FIRST WE GO BACK TO THE NAVAJO NATION FOR THE SECOND PART IN OUR COVERAGE THIS WEEK OF NATIVE VOTERS WHO HAVE THE ENVIRONMENT AT THE TOP OF THEIR PRIORITIES THIS YEAR IN THE ELECTION. >> WHEN FIRST FOUNDED, IT WAS A URANIUM SITE. IT IS STILL HERE. YOU KNOW. IT IS STILL WITHIN THE HEART OF OUR COMMUNITY. AND, THAT ITSELF IS LEAKING OFF THE RADIATION. IN MORE RECENT TIMES FARMERS RANCHERS HAVE BEEN IMPACTED BY CONTAMINATION OF THEIR MAIN WATER SOURCE, THE SAN JUAN RIVER AFTER MILLIONS OF GALLONS OF MINING WASTE SPILLED INTO WATER IN COLORADO WHICH TRAVELED DOWN TO THE NAVAJO NATION. >> TELL US ABOUT THE WORK THAT THESE GROUPS DID AFTER THE GOLD KING MINE INCIDENT LAST

YEAR IN AUGUST OF 2015. THAT WE DID WAS WITH -- MORE WITH THE FARMERS. YOU KNOW, THESE FARMERS HAVE TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF HARVESTING, TRUCKLOADS OF VEGETABLES AND SO IT WOULD START OUT LIKE THAT. BUT, LAST YEAR, THE DIFFERENCE WAS THERE WAS NO HARVEST AND THAT WAS THE SAD PART FOR US, WAS, YOU KNOW, SEEING THE ELDERLY CRYING TO THEIR FIELDS BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING TO HARVEST. BEING ABLE TO WALK UP TO YOUR RIVER AND NOT TOUCH IT AND SIGNS UP SAYING, YOU KNOW, DON'T GO INTO THE WATER, WATER CONTAMINATED, WATER POISON, THAT REALLY STRUCK HOME. EVERYBODY SAYS, WATER IS LIFE AND WE REALLY GOT TO TAKE CARE OF MOTHER EARTH AND THAT IS WHY I REALLY ADVOCATED FOR THE YOUTH TO GO ABOUT WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY AND, YOU KNOW, GET IN TOUCH WITH ELDERS, LEARN THEIR SONGS AND STORIES AND TEACHINGS, NOT ONLY ABOUT JUST

THE CULTURAL LIVES BUT THE FARMS. >> WE LOOK AT LIFE IS A CORN PLANT. SO WHEN YOU GROW FROM A SMALL CORN, WE ARE NURTURED FROM THE IT STARTS OUT SWEET, THEN OVER TIME WE WHITHER, BUT OUR CORN, JUST KEEPS GOING FOR GENERATIONS AND GENERATIONS. ALL OUR STORIES WE HAVE PLANTS, OUR STORIES WE ALL COME FROM A PLANT. FARMING IS INVALUABLE TO OUR CULTURE, PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT IT IS BASED ON. >> TAKING CARE OF THE ENVIRONMENT AND PROTECTING TRADITIONAL WAYS OF LIFE ARE SOME OF THE REASONS THE YOUNG PEOPLE ARE ADVOCATING FOR GETTING OUT THE NATIVE VOTE THIS YEAR. >> SO, THAT IS WHY I AM REALLY BIG LOCALLY, YOU KNOW, WORKING WITH MY CANDIDATES LOCALLY AND HELPING THEM AND SUPPORTING THEM. NATIONALLY, YOU KNOW, I DON'T HEAR A LOT OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES OR SEEING ANYBODY FIGHT FOR US, THE LAND OR THE WATER. >> I WASN'T REALLY INTO POLITICS BUT I AM STARTING WITH MY BROTHER WAS TALKING

ABOUT IT WITH EVERYONE AND MAKING GOOD POINTS. WE NEED TO GET OUT THERE AND WE CAN'T JUST MAKE DIFFERENCES HERE ON OUR OWN. WE NEED HELP AND WE CAN -- THE ONLY WAY TO GET HELP IS IF WE STAND UP AND SPEAK ABOUT WHAT WE NEED. I WILL VOTE THIS YEAR. >> YOU KNOW, YOUR VOTE DOES COUNT IN NUMBERS, PEOPLE WILL LISTEN. SO, THAT IS WHY I SAY, GET OUT AND VOTE BECAUSE NUMBERS COUNT . >> WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE. THIS WEEK, GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ ANNOUNCED SHE WILL NOT SUPPORT THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE, DONALD TRUMP. THIS YEAR MARTINEZ IS CURRENTLY THE HEAD OF THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNORS ASSOCIATION AND, TOM, THE GOVERNOR HAS CRITICIZED MR. TRUMP IN THE PAST BUT DIDN'T SAY SHE WAS DEFINITELY NOT SUPPORTING HIM UNTIL THIS WEEK. SHE JUST GOT TIPPED OVER THE EDGE. YOUR REACTION WITH THAT? EARLY WAY TO COME OUT? SHE SET IT UP BY NOT BEING SUPPORTIVE PREVIOUSLY. >> WELL, YEAH, WHEN THE ANNOUNCEMENT CAME OUT, I

WASN'T SURPRISED. NEVER BEEN ONE OF HIS BIG FANS AND ANY INVOLVEMENT THAT SHE HAS HAD JUST FROM OBSERVERS PERSPECTIVE HAS BEEN AS RELUCTANT GOVERNOR BECAUSE OF HER POWER AND POSITION. I AM NOT REALLY -- YOU KNOW -- INTERESTED IN WHETHER OR NOT -- YOU KNOW -- WHO IS SUPPORTING MR. TRUMP. BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, HOW DOES THE GOVERNOR NOW, SINCE SHE HAS ALREADY SAID SHE IS NOT SUPPORTING ANY OF THE THREE MAJOR CANDIDATES, AS FAR AS GOVERNOR JOHNSON OR HILLARY CLINTON, YOU KNOW, HOW DO YOU MOTIVATE THAT BASE AND TURN THAT FOCUS BACK TO THE STATE RACES? AND, I THINK WE SAW SOME OF THAT NOW STARTING TO COME OUT THE CLOSER WE GET TO THE GENERAL ELECTION. >> GOOD POINT, CHRISTINE, I SAY AGAIN, SOMETIMES SOME POLITICIANS REALIZE IT IS A LONG GAME AND IF YOU SWING BACK AND FORTH, WITH THE WINDS, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS WEEK, WE HAD A LOT OF REPUBLICANS AGAST AT MR. TRUMP AND THEY SUDDENLY CAME BACK 40 HOURS LATER AND SAID, HEY, WE ARE MOVING ON, WE HAVE AN ELECTION TO WIN. IT IS A TRICKY THING.

WHEN GOVERNOR MARTINEZ BACKED AWAY AND SAID SHE IS NOT GOING BE FOR THE GUY, SHOULD WE GIVE HER A LOT OF CREDIT HERE? ONE OF THE FIRST PEOPLE TO SAY THIS. >> I GIVE HER A LOT OF CREDIT AND A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE STATE, YOU SAID THAT SHE HAD REJECTION OF TRUMP. WELL, TRUMP DID A REALLY GOOD JOB OF SETTING IT UP HIMSELF. ESPECIALLY WHEN HE COMES TO OUR STATE AND HE DENIGRATES THE GOVERNOR. I MEAN, EVEN DEMOCRATS GOT OFFENDED BY THAT AND CERTAINLY A NUMBER OF HISPANIC PEOPLE WERE OFFENDED BY THAT. SO, BUT THIS IS AN ELECTION THAT WE HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE. AND, THE POINT ABOUT WHAT ARE THE CONSEQUENCES OF THIS NON-ENDORSEMENT, NONVOTING FOR TRUMP, AMONG REPUBLICANS, IS A MAJOR ISSUE. >> RIGHT. >> NOW WE KNOW THAT THE YOUNG PEOPLE, YOUNG REPUBLICANS ACROSS THE STATE, ON SEVERAL CAMPUSES, AS WELL AS OUR OWN UNM COLLEGE REPUBLICANS ARE SAYING NO TO TRUMP. THEY ARE GOING WITH GARY JOHNSON. SO THE CONSEQUENCES ARE THAT HILLARY CLINTON IS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO EVEN BETTER

IN THIS STATE. OR, MAYBE GARY JOHNSON WILL FIND HIMSELF IN A PRETTY GOOD POSITION TO GIVE RIVAL TO HILLARY CLINTON, SO, IT OPENS UP A LOT OF POSSIBILITIES. >> MERRITT, THAT HAS SERIOUS CONSEQUENCES, THAT IDEA OF WHAT CHRISTINE IS TALKING ABOUT, GARY JOHNSON BEING A SPOILER. >> WITHOUT JOHNSON, YOU CAN LOOK AT NEW MEXICO AS A STATE WITHOUT A CANDIDATE. OUR STATE AND CALL THE GOVERNOR OF THIS STATE OF HIS PARTY, EVERYTHING BUT THE CHILD OF GOD. WE HAD THE OTHER CANDIDATE, THE OPPOSITION CANDIDATE, IN LEAKED EMAILS, HER STAFF MAKING REALLY UNPLEASANT REFERENCES TO HISPANICS AND GOVERNOR RICHARDSON. SO, THEY ARE NOT REALLY FOR US EXCEPT FOR OUR VOTES AND TO WIN. THERE IS NOT INTEREST THERE. YOU DRIVE AROUND NORTHEAST HEIGHTS, HIGHLY REPUBLICAN AREA. JOHNSON SIGNS OUTNUMBER TRUMP

10 TO 1. SO, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY, I THINK, IT WOULD BE HARD -- I THINK IT WOULD BE HARD FOR JOHNSON TO OVERCOME HILLARY'S SUPPORTERS AND GET ALL THE DEMOCRAT VOTES. WERE IT TO HAPPEN, WERE HILLARY TO WIN ALL HER MUST WIN STATES, WERE THE STARS TO BE ALIGNED ON TUESDAY, ALL THIS, THERE IS A POSSIBILITY THAT THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE COULD BE DIVIDED EVENLY BETWEEN TRUMP AND CLINTON WITH OUR FIVE VOTES GOING TO JOHNSON AND IT WOULD GO TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND PAUL RYAN WOULD BE IN POSITION TO DECIDE WHO HE WOULD RATHER WORK WITH IN THE WHITE HOUSE. NEW MEXICO HAS MORE PLAY, I THINK, THAN IT HAS IN PREVIOUS ELECTIONS BUT I DO THINK IT IS A LONG SHOT. >> IT IS SORT OF JUST ADD WATER AND WE ARE AN INSTANT SWING STATE. WE WERE NOT A SWING STATE FOR THE LONGEST TIME AND WE WAKE UP ONE DAY AND TO MERRITT'S POINT, SILVER HAS BEEN SAYING, AS MERRITT CLUED US ALL IN A COUPLE OF DAYS AGO, THIS COULD BE IMPACTFUL FOR THE ENTIRE RACE OR THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

>> IT COULD BE, BUT THE FACT THAT THE CANDIDATES STILL AREN'T COMING HERE THIS LATE, ALSO SHOWS THEY HAVE EITHER THINK IT IS COMPETITIVE. WE MAY TALK ABOUT IT BUT HILLARY DOESN'T SHOW ANY INTEREST IN COMING HERE, DONALD TRUMP, AFTER HE CAME IN MAY, CREATED A RIOT, HAS NOT DECIDED TO COME BACK HERE. I THINK THE ONLY ONE WHO VISITED RECENTLY WAS GARY JOHNSON. HE IS STILL HERE, THIS IS HIS HOME STATE. THE FACT THAT THIS IS STILL GOING AROUND, THEY ARE PUTTING RESOURCES TOWARDS OHIO AND FLORIDA AND VIRGINIA UNTIL RECENTLY WHERE TRUMP HAS PULLED OUT. >> WOULD YOU ANTICIPATE A LAST MINUTE PUSH HERE? WE HAVE THREE-AND-A-HALF WEEKS TO GO, PLENTY OF TIME FOR THESE FOLKS TO LAND HERE. WOULDN'T IT BE PRUDENT TO SHORE UP YOUR INTEREST HERE. >> IF THE RACE TIGHTENS DEFINITELY BECAUSE THE FACT THAT IF YOU WERE TO WIN NEW MEXICO, WITH LARGEST PERCENTAGE OF HISPANIC VOTES, PUT THAT IN YOUR BACK POCKET, THAT CAN CARRY YOU. BUT UNTIL THE RACE TIGHTENS, WE'LL SEE LIKE IN 2012, WHERE WE ARE WRITING THIS OFF, WE HAVE OTHER PLACES TO GO WHERE THERE IS MORE LUCRATIVE ELECTORAL VOTES TO GO FOR. ONLY COME HERE IF RACE IS TIGHT.

>> TOM, OBVIOUSLY AS WE SIT HERE, THE GRAY ELEPHANT OVER THE ENTIRE COUNTRY IS WHAT IS GOING ON WITH MR. TRUMP AND THE ALLEGATIONS FROM LOTS OF WOMEN AT THIS POINT THAT HAVE BEEN COMING OUT, AND YOU SEE IT STARTED TO SHOW UP, THE AFFECT OF THIS SHOWS UP IN SOME STATES WHERE NUMBER FOR WOMEN'S SUPPORT FOR MR. TRUMP IS DROPPING PRECIPITOUSLY. WE DON'T KNOW WHAT IS UP WITH NEW MEXICO RIGHT NOW. SO ALL WE CAN DO IS MAKE A COUPLE OF PREDICTIONS. YOUR SENSE OF WHAT THE NATIONAL STUFF GOING ON, HOW IT AFFECTS NEW MEXICO AND WOMEN VOTERS HERE. >> I THINK THAT THE INITIAL IMPACT IS A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON TRUMP AND HIS EFFORTS TO, YOU KNOW, REALLY WIN VOTERS, ESPECIALLY FEMALE VOTERS IN NEW MEXICO. THAT IS RIGHT NOW. I MEAN, THIS HAS BEEN ONE OF THE MORE VOLATILE, THE MOST VOLATILE ELECTION CYCLE WE HAVE SEEN, SO, WHAT IS OFFENDING PEOPLE RIGHT NOW MIGHT NOT -- THERE MIGHT BE SOMETHING ELSE THAT TAKES THE ATTENTION A WEEK FROM NOW OR TWO WEEKS FROM NOW. SO, YOU KNOW, WHAT HE -- EVERYTHING THAT IS COMING OUT

IS A LOT OF US SAY IS UNRECOVERABLE. BUT, THIS IS REALLY IN A TYPICAL ELECTION CYCLE, YEAH, IT WOULD BE UNRECOVERABLE. THIS IS NOT A TYPICAL ELECTION. THAT IS AN INTERESTING POINT. >> TO ADD A LITTLE HUMOR, SILVER ALSO POSTED AN ELECTORAL COLLEGE MAP AND HE SAID -- THE TITLE WAS, IF NO WOMEN VOTED FOR MR. TRUMP, WHAT THE MAP WOULD LOOK LIKE, AND, OF COURSE, IT LOOKED SOLIDLY BLUE AND THAT REALLY DRIVES THE POINT HOME THAT THE WOMEN'S VOTE AND GENDER GAP IS REALLY DRIVING THIS ELECTION RIGHT NOW. BUT, LET ME MENTION THAT BEYOND PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS OR PRESIDENTIAL POLITICS PERMEATING OUR NEW MEXICO POLITICS AND THE CONCERNS OF REPUBLICAN PARTY HAVE FROM THE GOVERNOR ON DOWN, AMONG THE REPUBLICANS IS HOW DO THEY STAY WITH THEIR MAJORITY IN THE STATE HOUSE, AND DEMOCRATS WANT TO HOLD ON TO THE MAJORITY IN THE STATE SENATE BUT TAKE OVER AGAIN IN THE HOUSE.

SO, WE'RE SEEING THAT AGAIN THE WAY IN WHICH THE POWER DYNAMIC IS GOING AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET WILL HAVE CONSEQUENCES TO WHO TURNS OUT TO VOTE, IF THERE IS ANY CROSS-OVER VOTING, AND THERE USUALLY ISN'T THAT MUCH, BUT IN A TIGHT ELECTION, IT COULD MEAN THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN WHETHER A DEMOCRATIC STATE LEGISLATOR WINS OVER A REPUBLICAN. >> MERRITT, PICK UP ON THAT. DOWN TICKET STUFF IS NO JOKE, DECISIONS TO BE MADE BY EVERYONE RUNNING. >> I THINK THAT IS A HUGE RISK AND I THINK WE HAVE SEEN THAT PLAY OUT WITH THE NEW MEXICO COLLEGE OF REPUBLICANS DISAVOWING TRUMP. THE ISSUE OF SEXUAL ASSAULT ON CAMPUS HAS GONE NATIONWIDE AND MANY HIGH PROFILE CASES AND I DON'T THINK THERE IS ANY WAY THAT YOU COULD BACK A CANDIDATE ON A UNIVERSITY CAMPUS WITH THE RECORD THAT TRUMP HAS. SO, CERTAINLY, I THINK FOR, ESPECIALLY ON CAMPUS AND FIRST TIME VOTERS AND MILLENNIAL VOTERS, I SEE REPUBLICANS, AND I THINK TRUMP, I THINK -- I

COULD SAY YOU'RE PRO SEXUAL ASSAULT. I COULD THINK YOU WANT TO BUILD A WALL AND MAKE MEXICO PAY FOR IT. HE HAS VERY FRINGY, FRINGE, FRINGE, OUT THERE VIEWS, THAT ARE NOT THE MAINSTREAM OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY, EITHER RIGHT, CENTER, WHAT HAVE YOU. >> BUT, HE IS THE BRAND. AND I DON'T KNOW THAT REPUBLICANS CAN AFFORD THAT BRAND IN A DOWN TICKET. >> SOME GOP FOLKS, STATE PARTY GOP, IS STILL STICKING WITH HIM, SUPPORTING HIM RIGHT DOWN TO THE END. EVERYBODY HAS A LINE. IF YOU'RE A YOUNG REPUBLICAN ON CAMPUS, YOU HAVE A VERY DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW ABOUT THE WORLD, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN, AS OPPOSED TO YOU'RE 65 LIVING IN SOME OTHER PART OF OUR STATE. DO YOU EXPECT THAT TO CONTINUE? I COULDN'T IMAGINE PEOPLE COMPLETELY ABANDONING THIS MAN AT THIS POINT. >> THE LEADERSHIP EVEN HAVE HAD CONFERENCE CALLS THAT SAY WE ARE STILL SUPPORTING TRUMP SO THEY GET THEIR CUES FROM NATIONAL LEADERSHIP OF THE RNC. THERE IS ALSO A BELIEF THAT

FOLKS THAT HAVE ABANDONED TRUMP, NEW YORK TIMES ARTICLE, SOME ARE COMING BACK BECAUSE THEY SEE THEIR BASES RESPONDING. THEY HAVE A SELF-INTEREST TO SHOW SOME TEPID SUPPORT, QUOTE, THE REPUBLICAN NOMINEE AND NOT NECESSARILY COME STRONG AT HIM AND TRY TO SAY, I AM GOING TO FOCUS ON OUR LARGER GOALS AS A PARTY. >> GOING BACK TO THE PREVIOUS QUESTION I ASKED, I IMAGINE A SCENARIO WHERE MR. TRUMP DOES COME HERE TO STUMP. WHO SHOWS UP TO SUPPORT HIM ON THE CLASSIC BACKGROUND, THE LOCAL OFFICIALS. THAT ALWAYS HAPPENS WITH A PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE. YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? THAT COULD BE A DIFFICULTY FOR SOME PEOPLE. >> IT IS HARD TO SAY. TRIPP DIDN'T SHOW UP THE LAST TIME. NORA ESPINOSA DID SHOW UP. MARTINEZ DIDN'T GO ANYWHERE NEAR IT. THAT DOESN'T CHANGE MUCH. IF I WERE TO CALL ANY REPUBLICAN IN LEADERSHIP IN THE HOUSE OR SENATE, THEY WILL SAY, NO COMMENT AND THEN, TALK OFF THE RECORD AND GIVE ME A DIFFERENT TAKE. >> INTERESTING, CHRISTINE, I HEARD LAST NIGHT, I BELIEVE IT IS ABOUT 30% OF THE ELECTORATE

RIGHT NOW IS WOMEN THIS CYCLE. 30% OF VOTERS IS GOING TO BE A WOMEN'S VOTE AND THAT NUMBER IS GOING TO KEEP GROWING. WHERE DOES GOP GO FROM HERE WHEN IT COMES TO THE WOMEN'S VOTE, BECAUSE, THE FURTHER YOU FALL BEHIND, THE MORE DIFFICULT IT IS TO CATCH UP NEXT CYCLE. WHAT HAPPENS FOR GOP WITHOUT FEMALE VOTE? >> THEY LOSE. AGAIN, IT IS AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF AN ELECTORAL WINNING COALITION AND SO THEY ARE -- THEIR MELT DOWN IN THE PARTY IS REALLY AFFECTING THE FUTURE OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE AND IT IS NOT JUST WITH WOMEN. AGAIN, I TAUGHT THIS IN MY POLITICS CLASSES AT UNM, BUT, THAT REPUBLICAN SELF STUDY, THE AUTOPSY, SO-CALLED, TOLD THE REPUBLICAN PARTY WHAT THEY NEEDED TO DO TO GO FORWARD AND TO BUILD A WINNING COALITION

AND THAT INCLUDED NOT ONLY WOMEN, BUT HISPANICS, AFRICAN AMERICAN, A BURGEONING ASIAN AMERICAN VOTE, AND THEY JUST HAVE NOT PAID ATTENTION TO THAT. WITH TRUMP AT TOP OF THE TICKET, IT DOES NOT LOOK GOOD FOR THE FUTURE. >> PART OF THAT, I HAVE GOT TO SAY SOMETHING, BUT WE HAVE TO MOVE ON. THE IDEA THAT THERE IS GOING TO BE MORE OF THESE THINGS COMING OUT AS IT GOES ALONG. THERE CAN BE NO DOUBT MORE REVELATIONS ABOUT MR. TRUMP ARE OUT THERE PUTTING GOP FOLKS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION. WE'LL COME BACK TO THE LINE, BUT NOW, LET'S GO TO GWYNETH DOLAND WHO SAT DOWN RECENTLY WITH TWO CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT THIS YEAR. >> JUDGE MICHAEL VIGIL, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US AND JUSTICE JUDITH NAKAMURA, THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. SOME PEOPLE WATCHING THIS WILL YOUR PERSONAL VIEWS ON ABORTION OR THE DEATH PENALTY OR TRANSGENDER BATHROOMS. BUT, IT IS UNETHICAL FOR JUDGES TO ANSWER QUESTIONS LIKE THAT. BECAUSE, THEIR JOB IS TO INTERPRET THE LAW AND NOT ACCORDING TO THEIR PERSONAL

OPINIONS. SO, TODAY WE ARE JUST GOING TO TRY TO HELP YOU TO GET TO KNOW THEM A LITTLE BETTER. EVERYBODY KNOWS THAT FOR LAWYERS, JUDGE VIGIL, WORKING IN PRIVATE PRACTICE PROBABLY PAYS A LOT BETTER THAN BEING A JUDGE. SO, YOU WORKED IN PRIVATE PRACTICE FOR 24 YEARS, YOU WERE -- YOU DID A LOT OF CRIMINAL DEFENSE, PERSONAL INJURY, MEDICAL MALPRACTICE WORK BEFORE JOINING THE COURT OF APPEALS. WHY DID YOU DECIDE TO BE A JUDGE? >> IT GOES BACK TO MY FIRST JOB WAS WORKING IN THE NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT BUILDING APPEALS, WHICH I WAS THERE FOR THREE YEARS, AND YOU WALK IN THAT BUILDING AND IT IS A BEAUTIFUL BUILDING. IT IS AN OLD BUILDING AND YOU WALK IN AND YOU'RE JUST IN AWE OF WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT BUILDING AND WHAT THE JUDGES DO FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. IT IS KIND OF LIKE SOMETHING THAT YOU ASPIRE TO WANT TO BE, TO TRY AND BECOME. AND, IT IS SOMETHING THAT WAS

IN THE BACK OF MY MIND FOR MANY YEARS AND AN OPENING CAME AND I TALKED TO SOME FAMILY AND FRIENDS AND I WAS ENCOURAGED TO APPLY. SO, I DECIDED I WANTED TO PUT THE UNIQUE BACKGROUND THAT I HAD TO WORK FOR THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. >> JUSTICE NAKAMURA YOU WORKED IN POLITICS FOR A WHILE IN THE BEGINNING OF YOUR CAREER. YOU WORKED ON PRESIDENT REAGAN'S INAUGURATION COMMITTEE, FOR SENATOR PETE DOMENICI, AND YOU WERE A POLITICAL DIRECTOR FOR THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY. WHAT MADE YOU DECIDE TO GET OUT OF POLITICS AND BECOME A JUDGE? >> WELL, YOU KNOW, WHEN I WAS INVOLVED IN POLITICS, SOMEONE SAID TO ME, WISER THAN I, THIS SCHOOL. YOU DON'T HAVE TO PRACTICE LAW BUT IT WILL TEACH YOU HOW TO THINK AND A CAREER YOU CAN USE THROUGHOUT YOUR LIFE. I WENT TO LAW SCHOOL, GOT OUT OF LAW SCHOOL WITH WAY TOO MUCH STUDENT LOAN, SO I HAD TO PRACTICE LAW AFTER ALL. AFTER PRACTICING LAW FOR A

PERIOD OF TIME, I REALIZED THAT I DIDN'T ENJOY IT. AND I REALIZED PART OF WHY I DIDN'T ENJOY THE PRACTICE OF LAW WAS BECAUSE I DIDN'T LIKE SOME OF WHAT I SAW IN TERMS OF HOW JUDGES BEHAVED. IT HAS COME A LONG WAY BECAUSE OF COMMISSIONS LIKE JUDICIAL STANDARD AND JUDICIAL PERFORMANCE AND I THINK JUDGES BEHAVIORS HAS IMPROVED GREATLY, BUT BACK THEN I SAW JUDGES I FELT THAT WEREN'T BEING PARTICULARLY RESPECTFUL TO THE INSTITUTION, TO THE LITIGANTS AND TO THEIR COLLEAGUES. AND I FELT THEY DIDN'T DO MUCH TO MOVE THE CASES ALONG. AND THEY WEREN'T FOLLOWING THE RULES IN THE LAW, SO, FEELING FAIRLY FRUSTRATED ABOUT THAT, I DECIDED TO RUN FOR JUDGE, VOWING NEVER TO REPEAT THE BEHAVIORS THAT I THOUGHT WERE INAPPROPRIATE. >> YOU'RE IN A POLITICAL CAMPAIGN NOW. YOU BOTH HAD TO RAISE SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY BUT THE RACE IS PUBLICLY FUNDED. ACCORDING TO NEW MEXICO IN-DEPTH, YOU TWO HAVE RESERVED MORE LOCAL TV AD TIME THIS YEAR THAN ANY OTHER CANDIDATES SO FAR. JUDGE VIGIL, YOU SCHEDULED

MORE THAN 120,000 IN ADS AND JUSTICE NAKAMURA ABOUT 90,000. THAT IS A LOT OF MONEY. WHAT IS AT STAKE HERE, JUDGE VIGIL? >> IN TERMS OF THE ELECTION, WHAT IS AT STAKE? WHAT IS AT STAKE IS WHO IS GOING TO OCCUPY THE FIFTH SEAT ON THE NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT, WHICH IS THE HIGHEST AND LAST COURT OF REVIEW IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. AND, I INTEND TO LET THE PEOPLE IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO KNOW WHO I AM AND WHAT I STAND FOR AND THE BEST WAY TO GET THAT MESSAGE OUT, I THINK, IS THROUGH TELEVISION AND RADIO BECAUSE YOU CAN ONLY -- YOU KNOW -- IT IS A BIG STATE. YOU CAN ONLY DRIVE SO MUCH MILES. THERE IS SO MANY MILES AND SO MANY HOURS IN THE DAY AND WE BOTH STILL HAVE JOBS TO DO AND SO TO ME, THAT IS AN EFFICIENT WAY FOR THE PEOPLE TO TAKE A LOOK AT MY MESSAGE, WHO I AM, AND MAKE THEIR DECISION. >> I HAVE SEEN PICTURES OF BOTH OF YOU ONLINE, OUT AT PARADES AND FAIRS AND COMMUNITY MEETINGS AND THINGS

LIKE THAT. YOU KNOW, NOT ALL STATES REQUIRE JUDGES TO RUN IN A PARTISAN ELECTION. DO YOU FEEL LIKE THIS PROCESS TAKES SOME OF YOUR TIME AND ATTENTION AWAY FROM YOUR JOB. >> OF COURSE IT DOES. YOU KNOW, THE JUDGE IS EXACTLY RIGHT, THIS IS A VERY DIFFICULT PROCESS, BECAUSE WE HAVE JOBS WHERE WE ARE ALL WORKING MORE THAN 40 HOURS A WEEK ALREADY. AND, BY THE WAY, THAT 200,000 THAT WE RECEIVED SOUNDS LIKE A LOT OF MONEY. YOU NEED TO KEEP IN MIND THE LAST GOVERNORS RACE THAT RAN IN THE SAME TERRITORY WE DID AS WELL WAS MORE THAN 10 MILLION SPENT. WE HAVE VERY LITTLE MONEY TO REACH A WHOLE LOT OF FOLKS. IT TAKES TIME FROM OUR JOBS AND I THINK EVERYONE IS TRYING TO REACH AS MANY VOTERS AS WE CAN, AS EFFICIENTLY AS POSSIBLE. I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE, GOTTEN OUT THERE AND WALKED IN PARADES AND MET PEOPLE THROUGHOUT THE STATE. IT HAS BEEN ENJOYABLE DOING THAT, BUT JUDGE VIGIL AND I WERE JUST SPEAKING, I THINK W ARE BH ADFOTH PROCESS E >> , U' T OY REPUBLIN COW BUT, U E AR FEMALE MY, Y CREATEDHEE

NOMINATED TO THE COURT. IS THAT DIVERSITY IMPORTANT TO YOU? >> DIVERSITY IS ALWAYS IMPORTANT. IT IS IMPORTANT THAT YOU HAVE PEOPLE IN GOVERNMENT ON YOUR COMMUNITY. AND, CERTAINLY, IF YOU'RE A REFLECTION OF YOUR COMMUNITY PEOPLE BELIEVE THAT YOU UNDERSTAND THE IMPACT OF YOUR DECISIONS ON THEM. IT IS SPECIAL TO BE PART OF THE FIRST FEMALE MAJORITY. THROUGHOUT THE STATE AS I TRAVEL, I HAVE GRANDMAS AND MOMS SAYING, YOU CAN BE LIKE HER, YOU CAN GO TO THE COURT AND WE CAN TAKE PICTURES TOGETHER AND THEY POST THEM. YEAH, IT HAS BEEN SPECIAL TO ME TO BE PART OF THE FIRST FEMALE MAJORITY AND I AM TRYING TO KEEP IT. SORRY. >> HOW WOULD YOU CONTRIBUTE TO DIVERSITY ON THE COURT IN THE WAY THAT JUSTICE NAKAMURA WAS TALKING ABOUT, REPRESENTING THE COMMUNITY. >> I BRING A VERY UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO THE DECISIONS THAT I RENDER ON THE NEW MEXICO COURT OF APPEALS. FOR 27 YEARS BEFORE I BECAME A JUDGE. I LITIGATED JUST ABOUT EVERY

KIND OF CASE THERE IS OVER THE COURSE OF 24 YEARS PLUS MY THREE YEARS ON THE COURT OF APPEALS. I, DURING THAT -- CIVIL CASES, CRIMINAL CASES, JURY CASES, NONJURY CASES. WHEN SOMEBODY LOSES A CASE THEY WANT TO APPEAL, SO, WHEN I FIRST APPLIED FOR THE NEW MEXICO COURT OF APPEALS, I LEARNED, TO MY SURPRISE, THAT I HAD OVER 50 PRECEDENT SETTING CASES ON THE BOOKS WHERE I WAS THE LAWYER THAT ARGUED THE CASE TO THE NEW MEXICO COURT OF APPEALS, SUPREME COURT AND FEDERAL COURT, COVERING A VAST SPECTRUM OF THE LAW. THE OTHER THING THAT I BRING TO THE TABLE IS I HAVE BEEN ON THE NEW MEXICO COURT OF APPEALS NOW 13 YEARS, GOING ON 14. I AM NOW THE CHIEF JUDGE. I HAVE SAT ON OVER 3,000 APPEALS, COVERING ALL AREAS OF THE LAW. AND, I WROTE OVER 1000 OPINIONS FOR THE COURT. SO, THAT IS A DIVERSITY OF EXPERIENCE AND BACKGROUND THAT

I BRING TO THE -- THAT I HOPE TO BRING TO THE NEW MEXICO SUPREME COURT. >> JUSTICE NAKAMURA, YOU'RE CHIEF JUDGE IN BERNALILLO COUNTY METRO COURT AND YOU SERVED FOR TWO YEARS IN DISTRICT COURT BEFORE GOVERNOR SUSANA MARTINEZ NAMED YOU TO STATE SUPREME COURT. HOW DID THAT EXPERIENCE IN METRO AND DISTRICT COURT PREPARE YOU FOR THE HIGHEST COURT? >> I THINK IT HAS PREPARED ME IN A NUMBER OF WAYS. THE SUPREME COURT HAS TWO VERY DISTINCT IMPORTANT ROLES. IN ADDITION TO HEARING CASES AND RENDERING OPINIONS, THE COURT ALSO HAS SUPERVISORY AUTHORITY OVER THE COURTS OF THE STATE. WE MANAGE THE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, SO, OBVIOUSLY BEING CHIEF JUDGE OF THE LARGEST BUSIEST COURT IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO, BEING SELECTIVE MY COLLEAGUES FOR CONSECUTIVE TERMS IN MANAGING THAT COURT, WITH 22 MILLION BUDGET, OVER 300 EMPLOYEES IS IMPORTANT MANAGEMENT EXPERIENCE TO BRING TO THE HIGHEST COURT THAT SUPERVISES THE COURTS THROUGHOUT THE STATE BECAUSE I HAVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH RESPECT TO DECISIONS, MAKING DECISIONS AND HOW TO STREAMLINE THE COURT SYSTEM AND CREATE

EFFICIENCIES IN THAT PARTICULAR COURT, EXPERIENCE THAT I COULD BRING TO THE COURT STATE-WIDE. ADDITIONALLY, ON THE METRO AS WELL AS DISTRICT COURT, I SERVED IN THE CRIMINAL BENCH. 65% OF THE CASES THE COURT HEARS IN THE SUPREME COURT ARE CRIMINAL CASES AND I HAVE HANDS-ON EXPERIENCE WITH DECISIONS SUPREME COURT MAKES WITH RESPECT TO THE RULES IMPLEMENTED FOR THE COURT, I KNOW FIRSTHAND HOW THOSE RULES IMPACT THE TRIAL JUDGES WHO ARE MAKING THE IMPORTANT DAY-TO-DAY DECISIONS. >> JUDGE VIGIL, I THINK YOU TALKED ABOUT THIS IN YOUR LAST ANSWER TALKING ABOUT THE DIVERSITY OF CASES YOU HAVE HANDLED, BUT IS THERE SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU THINK WOULD CONTRIBUTE TO YOUR LEADERSHIP ON THE COURT? >> PART OF MY CAMPAIGN IS PREMISED ON THE IDEA THAT (SPEAKING SPANISH) A WISH TO BE THE JUDGE OF THE PEOPLE ON THE SUPREME COURT OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. I BRING A HEART TO THE DECISIONS THAT I MAKE, PREMISED ON THE FACT THAT I

HAVE GONE TO COURT WITH PEOPLE SITTING NEXT TO ME THAT THEIR LIVES DEPEND ON WHAT I DO FOR THEM AS AN ATTORNEY. AND SO, NOW THAT I HAVE BEEN AN APPELLATE COURT JUDGE FOR THIS PERIOD OF TIME, I KNOW HOW THOSE DECISIONS WE MAKE AFFECT PEOPLES' LIVES. AND, A CASE OR DECISION YOU MAKE MAY AFFECT THE CHILDREN, THE SPOUSE, THE FAMILIES, NOT JUST THE PARTIES. WE'RE MAKING DECISIONS THAT HAVE PRECEDENCE FOR ALL OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. SO, AS A CONSEQUENCE OF THAT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT I HAVE SAID IS THAT JUSTICE IS NOT ONLY ABOUT LAWS BUT ABOUT LIVES. >> JUSTICE NAKAMURA AND JUDGE VIGIL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING WITH US TODAY. >> THANKS FOR HAVING US. >> BACK AT THE TABLE WITH THIS WEEK'S LINE OPINION PANELISTS. LAWMAKERS WRAPPED UP A SPECIAL LEGISLATIVE SESSION LAST

THURSDAY AFTER WE TAPED OUR SHOW AND A BILL TO ADDRESS BUDGET DEFICIT PASSED, SIGNED BY THE GOVERNOR. THE HOUSE PASSED A PROPOSAL TO BRING BACK THE DEATH PENALTY IN SOME CASES, AS WELL, BUT THAT ISSUE WAS NOT TAKEN UP IN THE SENATE. CHRISTINE, WE ARE ALREADY SEEING POLITICAL MAILERS TIED TO THAT VOTE GOING OUT. IT TOOK, WHAT 48 HOURS, PARTICULARLY IN THE DEATH PENALTY LEGISLATION. I DON'T THINK ANYONE AT THE TABLE IS TERRIBLY SURPRISED. WHAT IS YOUR TAKE ON WHAT IS GOING FORWARD, THIS INTERIM BETWEEN THE SPECIAL AND REGULAR SESSION COMING UP, WHAT IS GOING TO HAPPEN BETWEEN? >> THIS WAS DEFINITELY A POWER PLAY BY THE MARTINEZ TO USE THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR TO SET THE AGENDA FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION WHICH IN MY OPINION SHOULD HAVE FOCUSED ON THE FISCAL CRISIS IN THE STATE AND THAT WAS ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH. ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT 50,000 PER DAY IN TERMS OF COST AND PUBLIC DOLLARS GOING TO THAT. BUT, IT WAS VERY CLEAR TO ME AS A POLITICAL SCIENTIST THAT SHE WANTED TO MAKE THE DEATH PENALTY AND OTHER BILLS WEDGE

ISSUES TO HAVE REPUBLICANS RUN AGAINST DEMOCRATS WHO WERE NOT IN FAVOR OF THE DEATH PENALTY OR COULD BE CHARGED WITH SOFT ON CRIME, SO, IT WAS -- I THINK JOHN ARTHUR SMITH CALLED IT IRRESPONSIBLE IN THE SENSE THAT LEADERSHIP WAS NOT SHOWN EVEN IN THE MARTINEZ ADMINISTRATION COMING OUT WITH A STRONG GUIDELINES ON HOW TO SAVE THE BUDGET, HOW TO WORK WITH THE BUDGET, BUT, INSTEAD, EVEN ADDING TO THE AGENDA WITH THIS DEATH PENALTY ISSUE. IT WAS NOT GOING TO BE SOLVED OVERNIGHT IN AN ALL-NIGHT SESSION. IT TOOK YEARS AND LOTS OF DECISION MAKING ARENAS AND INPUT, PUBLIC INPUT, INTEREST GROUP INPUT, CATHOLIC CHURCH, ALL OF THIS, IN SUCH A MAJOR DECISION. IT TOOK YEARS TO COME TO A CONCLUSION TO REPEAL THE DEATH PENALTY AND SO, I THINK THAT IT IS VERY PREDICTABLE. IT WAS DESIGNED TO PRODUCE POLITICAL MAILERS FOR THE

REPUBLICANS. THAT IS NOT A SURPRISE. >> SOME OF THE MAILERS ARE IN FACT TALKING ABOUT VOTES THAT WERE SORT OF TAKEN, SORT OF NOT TAKEN. PEOPLE ARE BEING TARRED WITH THIS THING WITH A BIG BRUSH. THEY MAY NOT HAVE ACTUALLY -- DO YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? IS THAT AN EFFECTIVE STRATEGY IN THIS CULTURE AND IN THIS CLIMATE WE HAVE RIGHT NOW? >> I DON'T THINK MOST VOTERS ARE GOING UP TO THE NEW MEXICO CHECKING VOTES. FIRST OF ALL. SECOND, YEAH, I MEAN, AS CHRISTINE VERY CLEARLY POINTED OUT, THIS WAS AN OPPORTUNITY AND IT WAS SUCCESSFUL, I THINK, FOR THE SENATE DEMOCRATS AND HOUSE DEMOCRATS TO HAND THE STATE REPUBLICAN PARTY ALL THE EMOTIONAL BLACKMAIL THEY NEED FOR THE REST OF THIS CAMPAIGN SESSION. SO, IN A WAY, WE HAVE THE NUMBERS THAT 2/3 OF NEW MEXICANS SUPPORT THE DEATH PENALTY. IT IS PERHAPS A HELPFUL DIFFERENTIATOR IN THE SITUATION OF THE REPUBLICAN TOP TICKET DISASTER. SO, I FOUND IT NOT SURPRISING

AT ALL. WHAT I DO FIND IRONIC IS THE POINT OF THE SPECIAL SESSION WHICH WAS THE BUDGET, AS A RESULT OF OUR LOWER REVENUES AND BUDGET CUTS, I THINK OUR ABILITY TO ACTUALLY COMPETENTLY ENACT THE DEATH PENALTY HAS BEEN COMPROMISED BECAUSE HOBBS HAD TO CLOSE THEIR PUBLIC DEFENDERS OFFICE. SO IF WE CAN'T EVEN GET PROSECUTORIAL AND DEFENSE SUPPORT AROUND BASIC CASES, HOW ARE WE GOING TO SUPPORT DEATH PENALTY CASES? >> GOOD POINT. THEY WERE SENT THERE, THEY MEANING THE LEGISLATURE, WERE SENT TO FIX BUDGET WOES AND WHAT SEEMED TO HAVE HAPPENED, RUSSELL, IS WE HAVE NOW EMPTIED ANY KIND OF RESERVES WE MIGHT HAVE HAD AT OUR DISPOSAL, ALL GONE, TOBACCO MONEY, INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS, THAT WORD SWEEPING. THINGS WERE SWEPT FROM ONE PILE OF MONEY TO ANOTHER THING OVER HERE. WHERE DO WE GO FROM HERE? WE HAVE DONE A STOP GAP MEASURE. DO WE HAVE THE STUFF TO GET SERIOUS ABOUT THIS? >> NOW, THERE NEEDS TO BE LEADERSHIP TO COME AND SAY, WE NEED REVENUES, SOMEHOW, SOME OTHERS. ESPECIALLY WHEN YOU HAVE AGING

INFRASTRUCTURE, WE HAVE AGING WATER INFRASTRUCTURE. OUR COPS ARE NOT GETTING PAID AT A HIGHER RATE. WE HAVE ALL SORTS OF THINGS AND EVEN THIS WEEK, THE UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO SAYS THEY MAY HAVE TO CUT SPORTS. NOW IT IS HITTING THE BONE. NOW PEOPLE REALIZE, NOW WE ARE COMING UP HERE ESPECIALLY WITH BASKETBALL SEASON COMING UP AND FOLKS ARE THINKING ABOUT ATHLETES. NOW YOU'RE TAKING FOOD OFF MY TABLE. THAT IS A DIFFERENT DISCUSSION. SO, EVEN IF THEY SEE MAILERS ABOUT THE DEATH PENALTY, IF YOU HAD STRONG DEMOCRATIC RESPONSE, YOU CAN SAY, WAIT A MINUTE, THERE ARE RESPONSIBILITIES. YOU MAY HAVE TO PAY MORE FOR YOUR GAS OR MORE FOR OTHER THINGS AND YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET THAT NEW I PHONE BECAUSE YOU NEED MORE WATER INFRASTRUCTURE OR ELSE YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE WATER. >> THAT IDEA OF THAT LEADERSHIP AND COMING OUT THERE, YOU KNOW, SAYING, YES, ACTUALLY, I DID VOTE AGAINST THE DEATH PENAL, WHATEVER. BECAUSE WE HAVE BIGGER ISSUES TO DEAL WITH AS A MATTER OF FACT. IS THAT A WINNING STRATEGY FOR SOME DEMOCRATS? >> IT IS A WINNING STRATEGY FOR DEMOCRATS TO SAY FOR THE SPECIAL SESSION, AS FAR AS

WENT UP TO SANTA FE ESPECIALLY THOSE IN THE SENATE, THEY TOOK CARE OF BUSINESS AND THEY SHUT DOWN SHOP. I THOUGHT THAT WAS A REALLY AND STRATEGIC MOVE. REALLY THE ONLY MOVE THAT THE SENATE COULD ACTUALLY MAKE WITHOUT GETTING EMBROILED IN ALL THAT SUBSEQUENT -- >> THEY GOT THEMSELVES A COUPLE OF SUPERMAJORITY VOTES TO MAKE THINGS HAPPEN NOW. >> ABSOLUTELY, AND I THINK THE BIGGEST TAKE AWAY FOR ME HAS BEEN SENATOR JOHN ARTHUR SMITH, HE GOES FROM GOING TO BE THE DR. NO TO DR. TELL IT LIKE IT IS. AND HIS POST COMMENT -- HIS COMMENTS AFTER THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION THAT THIS IS A FAILED ADMINISTRATION IN RELATION TO JOB CREATION AND FISCAL MANAGEMENT, THAT JUMPED OUT IN JUST BROAD TERMS. SO, RUSSELL SAYS, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE NEED NOW IS LEADERSHIP. THAT IS WHAT A LOT OF THE LEGISLATURE HAS BEEN SAYING. AND, US IN THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, WHEN WE LOOK AT, YOU KNOW, WHERE HAS THE LEADERSHIP BEEN TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BECAUSE THAT IS THE ONLY WAY YOU'RE ABLE TO

GENERATE AND MAKE UP SOME OF THESE REVENUES SO THE STATE CAN BE MADE WHOLE AGAIN. THERE HAS BEEN NO LEADERSHIP AND NOW THERE IS A NEW LEADER IN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT BUT, REALLY, IT IS PROBABLY JUST TOO LATE IN THE GAME. >> CHRISTINE, WHAT TOM IS SAYING, TAKE YOUR SHOT, YOU DO YOUR THING, BUT AFTER THAT YOU HAVE TO COME BACK TO REALITY AND DEAL WITH THE BUDGET, YOU KNOW. >> ALSO, IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT GOVERNOR MARTINEZ' POPULARITY IS FALLING, IS SLIPPING. NOW, THAT IS A NORMAL TREND WITH AN ELECTED OFFICIAL WHO IS IN FOR TWO TERMS BUT I CAN NOT SEPARATE THAT OUT FROM PEOPLE SEEING THE TERRIBLE PARALYSIS OF OUR STATE ECONOMICALLY. AND SURELY PEOPLE, IT IS NOT REALLY DIFFICULT TO FIGURE OUT THAT ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, SUSTAINABILITY, NEW JOBS, NEW ECONOMIC ENDEAVORS, MUST BE PUT FORWARD FOR LOTS OF BOATS

TO RISE IN THIS SINKING SITUATION. >> WELL SAID. GOOD POINT. THAT IS ALL THE TIME WE HAVE THIS WEEK, NEW MEXICO PBS TEAMED UP WITH OTHER PUBLIC RADIO AND TV OUTLETS FOR CANDIDATES CONVERSATION WITH REPRESENTATIVE BEN RAY LUJAN FROM DISTRICT 3 AND OPPONENT MICHAEL ROMERO. YOU CAN FIND A LINK TO THE FULL HOUR ON THE WEBSITE NEWMEXICOINFOCUS.ORG. HERE IS A PREVIEW. >> WHAT DOES PUBLIC SERVICE MEAN TO YOU? >> THE OTHER DAY I TOLD MY WIFE, I DIDN'T REALIZE THIS BUT I HAVE ALWAYS SERVED. I STARTED IN THE AIR FORCE. AND THEN AS A POLICE OFFICER FOR 24-AND-A-HALF YEARS. NEVER ABUSED ANYBODY'S RIGHTS. I ALWAYS -- HOW CAN I PUT IT -- I ALWAYS TREATED EVERYONE AS AN EQUAL. I LIVED BY THE GOLDEN RULE BECAUSE MY RIGHTS COULD BE VIOLATED ALSO. SO, I ALWAYS FOLLOWED BY THAT. I NEVER GOT IN TROUBLE, I NEVER IMAGINED I WOULD OR WORK TOWARDS IT, BUT, I DID A GOOD JOB AS A POLICE OFFICER. I ENJOYED IT.

I DON'T MISS IT THOUGH. BUT I DID SERVE MY COUNTRY FOR OVER 26-AND-A-HALF YEARS IN ONE FORM OR ANOTHER AND NOW I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO DO IT AGAIN. >> REPRESENTATIVE LUJAN, SAME QUESTION TO YOU, WHAT DOES PUBLIC SERVICE MEAN TO YOU? MEANS BRINGING A VOICE FOR THE VOICELESS, STANDING UP TO INJUSTICE. IN THE FAMILY THAT I WAS RAISED, IT MEANT GIVING BACK, WHETHER IT WAS THROUGH YOUR LOCAL CHURCH, OR PICKING UP GARBAGE ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD OR MAYBE MOWING SOMEONE'S LAWN WHEN THEY NEEDED THE HELP. IT MEANT STANDING UP WHEN THERE WAS SOMETHING GOING ON THAT WAS PLAGUING A COMMUNITY AND MAKING SURE THAT YOU WOULD NOT STOP UNTIL YOU'RE ABLE TO HELP SOLVE THAT PROBLEM. THAT IS WHAT IS IMPORTANT WHEN YOU'RE ENTRUSTED, ESPECIALLY, TO SERVE AS A REPRESENTATIVE. IS YOU'RE ENTRUSTED WITH THAT VOICE, AND A VOTE. TO BE ABLE TO STAND UP FOR YOUR COMMUNITY AND BE ABLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE. BUT, ALWAYS MAKING SURE, AS I WAS REMINDED BY MY FATHER, THAT WHEN YOU CAST THAT VOTE, YOU HAVE ALSO TO GO HOME TO BE ABLE TO EXPLAIN THAT VOTE.

THERE IS GOING TO BE CONSTITUENTS THAT SUPPORT YOU AND OPPOSE YOU, BUT YOU REPRESENT EVERYONE AND YOU HAVE TO BE WILLING AND ABLE AND OPEN TO BE ABLE TO RESPOND TO THEM. >> WE ARE GOING TO STICK WITH YOU FOR THIS NEXT QUESTION FIRST. FACEBOOK RECENTLY ANNOUNCED PLANS TO BUILD A DATA CENTER IN LOS LUNAS, BUT THE PACKAGE THAT LEADERS PUT TOGETHER TO BRING THEM HERE INCLUDES MASSIVE TAX BREAKS AND SOME CONCERNS ABOUT WATER. IS THIS FACEBOOK DEAL THE KIND OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT THAT WE NEED IN NEW MEXICO? WHY OR WHY NOT? >> LOOK, WITH NEW MEXICO'S UNEMPLOYMENT BEING THE SECOND HIGHEST IN THE COUNTRY, 6.6%, THE NATIONAL UNEMPLOYMENT LEVEL IS NOW AT 5%. ALTHOUGH IT HAS DROPPED BY MORE THAN HALF SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE GREAT MORE OPPORTUNITIES IN NEW MEXICO. WHETHER IT IS BRINGING ADDED VALUE TO AGRICULTURE, TO HELP OUR FARMERS AND PRODUCERS, OUR RANCHERS OR IT MEANS GROWING THE TAX SECTOR, I DO BELIEVE THAT BRINGING FACEBOOK TO NEW MEXICO WAS AN IMPORTANT

PROJECT TO BE ABLE TO HELP CREATE OPPORTUNITIES AND, LOOK, THERE NEEDS TO BE A THOROUGH CONVERSATION ASSOCIATED WITH ALL THE IMPACTS BUT THE POSITIVE IMPACT OF BEING ABLE TO ATTRACT SOMEONE LIKE FACEBOOK HELPS ATTRACT OTHER ENTITIES, MAYBE IN THE TECH CENTER WITH DATA CENTERS IN OTHER AREAS TO NEW MEXICO TO PUT PEOPLE TO WORK. IT IS POSITIVE BUT WE HAVE TO KEEP OUR EYE ON EVERYTHING TO MAKE SURE IT BEST REPRESENTS NEW MEXICO. I BELIEVE THIS WAS A GOOD MOVE. >> MR. ROMERO, SAME QUESTION FOR YOU. >> WELL, PEOPLE NEED JOBS. WE NEED TO WORK WHERE WE CAN PROVIDE FOR OUR FAMILY, BUY A HOE, BUY A VEHICLE, PUT GAS IN THE VEHICLE. UP NORTH IN QUESTA, THE MINE THAT I WORKED IN RECENTLY WAS CLOSED BECAUSE ENVIRONMENTALIST GROUPS SAID THAT WE WERE POLLUTING THE WATER. THERE IS 400 PLUS FAMILIES NOW QUESTA WILL END UP DYING ONE OF THESE DAYS. THERE IS A FEW PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN EMPLOYED BECAUSE OF THE CLEAN-UP AND RECLAIMING THE MINE, BUT, WE NEED TO BRING MORE OF THOSE JOBS TO

NEW MEXICO BECAUSE WE CAN CONTINUE TO CLAIM WE ARE WILLING TO POLLUTE THE WATER, BUT WHERE DO PEOPLE EARN THEIR MONEY TO LIVE? WE HAVE TO BE REALISTIC ABOUT ALL THOSE THINGS AND, IN TURN, THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT NEEDS TO GIVE US MOST OF OUR LAND BACK SO WE CAN DO THOSE THINGS OURSELVES. INSTEAD OF BLOCKING THEM AND CREATING MORE WILDERNESS, I MEAN, PEOPLE UP NORTH THEY DON'T HAVE WORK. ESPECIALLY UP NORTH. I BELIEVE THE NEW FACTORY THAT FACEBOOK OR CENTER FOR FACEBOOK IS BUILDING IS IN THE SECOND DISTRICT. IT IS NOT EVEN IN THE THIRD DISTRICT. WE NEED JOBS IN THE THIRD DISTRICTS. AND THAT IS THE JOB THAT I WILL BE DOING TO BRING THOSE JOBS TO THE THIRD DISTRICT. >> I AM GENE GRANT, THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS AND AS ALWAYS APPRECIATE YOUR TIME AND EFFORT TO STAY INFORMED AND ENGAGED. SEE YOU NEXT WEEK, INFOCUS. >> THIS PROGRAM IS PRODUCED BY

NEW MEXICO PBS FOR A PRESENTATION OF VISION MAKER MEDIA WITH MAJOR FUNDING PROVIDED BY THE CORPORATION FOR PUBLIC BROADCASTING. FUNDING FOR NEW MEXICO INFOCUS PROVIDED BY THE MCCUNE CHARITABLE FOUNDATION, THE NELITTA E. WALKER FUND FOR KNME-TV AND THE KNME-TV ENDOWMENT FUND AND VIEWERS LIKE YOU.