Government Affairs

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OUR FREEDOM OF SPEECH WILL NOT BE MUZZELED BY BULLIES

 From the Desk of the Executive Director 

I would like to know who has selected Progressive Voter Alliance (PVA) members, Ernie Bean and Greg Lennes to be the attack dogs whose targets are the construction community and myself the source of all the problems in this area? 

We have been attacked because we have taken positions on candidates and issues that they disagree with, like voters rights, creating jobs and bring our economy out of the toilet. We have defended private property rights and been scolded in letters to the editor by these people. 

We created a PAC to help fund candidates who want to run for office. Then complaints were filed with the City by these people accusing us of doing things illegally. We were found by the City to have violated no laws, yet we never received an apology from our accusers. 

The Building community as a whole employed over 10,000 people three years ago, now we are down to about 6,000 and because we are trying to improve upon this situation, these people come at us like vicious dogs, demanding that I be fired. I can only assume this is because we raised money for candidates and took opposing positions to theirs. Evidently their bully's view is that all opposing voices should be silenced. 

We have not attacked them in any way. Why are they making local politics as ugly as national politics? 

When we brought in a nationally acclaimed economist to explain the impact and contribution of construction on the community, he was attacked by these people. They did everything to soil his reputation. They did this without looking at his presentation. 

When the Chamber and the Wilderness Alliance were asking to look at alternatives to the proposed wilderness designations they were attacked by this same group. When we joined that coalition, our concerns were based on public safety. Why were we attacked? Why do these members of the PVA spew hatred and aggression when all we want is a safe community? 

I have never met these two men, so if they have an issue, why don't they talk to us like civilized people do and try to work out our differences rather than taking cheap shots with half truths in letters to the editor? 

The members of this organization are your neighbors. They hire your friends and neighbors to work for them or they buy the building materials from the stores that keep Las Cruces growing. In doing so, they pay tens of millions of dollars every year in wages and taxes. 

We are the people that finance your home, do your accounting, fix your toilet and mow your grass. We are the companies that sponsor your child's sport teams, build parks at no charge for the community, help those in need and give generously to all so many of the non profit agencies that help so many in need every year. 

Our members don't seek publicity or fame, They do these things because this is their community and because they are really good people. 

We are about to begin another round of elections. We will endorse and we will fund both Democrats and Republicans. We will take stands on issues some people don't like and there will be more hate letters to the editor and in Sound Off about us-not from us. We will still be there. We are not going away, I am not going away. It is our right to have free speech without fear of retaliation. 

Last year, only 10 per cent of the people of Las Cruces voted. That is a tragedy. The good citizens of Las Cruces should be embarrassed by the dismal voter turnout.

If you are not registered to vote, get registered and when the primary comes on June 1^st, exercise your privilege to vote and let those that spew their hate at our industry know that our voices will be heard in public and at the ballot box. 

United, we are a powerful voice. 

Dave Roewe

ANOTHER ELECTION IS COMING IT'S TIME TO GET PREPARED

From the Desk of the Executive Director

2010 is going to be a year of significant change in Las Cruces as well as around the State in the world of politics.

If you watch national politics, (which is hard not to do right now) the predictions are that  conservative candidates  are expected to change the face of the US Senate and House and may even change who is in control. Harry Teague's seat in Congress is a target of the Republicans and should be a hotly contested race.

If the conservative wave becomes reality, not only will Congress change, but  that conservative vote often follows in state and local elections as well.

We will have a new Governor, Lt Governor and every seat in the State House is up for election. The PRC race has 5 or 6 candidates already we will have at  least one new County Commissioner as Oscar Butler is not able to run for re-election.

Last Fall, of the 51,265 registered voters in the City of Las Cruces, 5,475 took the time to cast a ballot. That is  a 10.68% voter turnout, which is  an embarrassment .

The school bond turnout we just voted on  is equally as poor.

It is time to turn this apathy around. I don't care who you vote for, what party they are or what they stand for, just get out and  vote.

I have a stack of voter registration forms that we need to get in the hands of your employee's and their family. Get them registered and keep them informed on the issues and who is going to be working to bring jobs to this county.

They key is that you as a business owner or manager have got to be part of this team also. Encourage them by your example, remind them of when they need to vote, remind the people you do business with and remind your neighbors and friends.

The filing day for all offices is March 16^th and the Primary Election is June 1^st. It's coming up fast.

You vote is important, don't  waste it.

Dave Roewe