Adrian Hedden
El Rito Media

Vice President Kamala Harris and former-President Donald Trump squared off in their first televised debate as candidates for the U.S. Presidency Tuesday night, drawing reactions from both sides of the aisle in New Mexico.

The debate centered on key issues such as healthcare, immigration and the economy as Harris lashed out at Trump for “leaving a mess” for her and President Joe Biden in 2021 when the administration took office.

Trump criticized his opponent’s policies as leaving America in worse shape today than it was when Trump left office.

It was the second debate of the ongoing election cycle, leading up to the Nov. 5 General Election, but the first time Harris and Trump have debated after Biden dropped out of the race earlier this year.

New Mexico Democratic Party spokesman Daniel Garcia said Trump looked “totally inept” during the debate, criticizing the former President for using “revisionist history” in his answers and making “absurd, egotistical claims.”

“Trump displayed what we already know – he’s emotionally and mentally unfit to be president,” Garcia said following the debate. “It is alarming that someone who demonstrated the level of immaturity we saw tonight wants to lead the United States.”

New Mexico Republican Party Chairman Steve Pearce said the economic policies of Trump were stronger than Harris’ and would lead to lower prices for New Mexico consumers.

“Both sides executed their points pretty well, but it’s going to come down to will voters believe the utopia Kamala Harris is selling them or what they see,” Pearce said. “Times are very tough right now and they are about to get tougher. I’m talking to people every day, restaurant owners, and small businesses that may have to close because they can’t afford the rent anymore.”

On New Mexico’s nation-leading oil and gas industry, Pearce said it was clear Trump would support the state’s key economic driver credited with bringing more than $13 billion in state revenue last year.

He was critical of Harris for past remarks Pearce said showed she supported banning fracking, then changing her stance at the debate.

“Trump made it clear that he would protect New Mexico’s oil and gas industry, which accounts for thousands of jobs and almost 50 percent of our state’s budget. Harris had a more confusing stance,” Pearce said.

“She twisted herself into a pretzel trying to explain how she supports fracking despite previously saying she wants to ban it, while also saying that her values have not changed.”

Energy was a weak point in the Democratic nominee’s performance, said Daniel Turner, executive director of Power the Future, an oil and gas advocacy group and lobbyist in New Mexico.

“Kamala Harris was allowed to stay vague on her policy flip-flops, offering zero reasons for her alleged change of heart on fracking and electric vehicles,” Turner said. “That’s why we should all be suspicious of what Kamala Harris says, but never doubt what she’s done.”

Cassidy DiPaola with environmental advocacy group Fossil Free Media said Harris’ pledge to address climate change would aid the nation in a transition to less-polluting forms of energy.

“These contrasting approaches will shape U.S. energy policy, climate action, and global standing,” DiPaola said. “While Harris’ focus on clean energy investments could accelerate America’s energy transition, Trump’s fossil fuel-centric plan risks leaving the U.S. behind.”

Adrian Hedden can be reached at 734-972-6855, achedden@currentargus.com or @AdrianHedden on the social media platform X.

By Mike Smith
Carlsbad Current-Argus

Eddy County joined five other counties in eastern and southeastern New Mexico opposing a proposed expansion of a West Texas wildlife refuge.

Sept. 3 the Eddy County Board of County Commissioners passed a resolution supporting Roosevelt County, Curry County, Lea County, Chaves County and De Baca County resisting a potential expansion by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge.

The resolution served as a signed statement by the county, voicing its opinion on the subject, with no bearing on state or federal regulations.

Located south of Muleshoe, Texas, the Refuge sits on 6,440 acres and is part of the National Wildlife Refuge System, according to a USFWS website.

In April of this year, USFWS announced a final protection plan seeking expansion of the Refuge to 700,000 acres, per a USFWS news release.

“Within this new limited acquisition boundary, the Service would work with willing sellers to expand conservation through fee title and easement acquisitions,” read the news release.

Former Eddy County Commissioner Lewis Derrick is the vice president of the Coalition of Arizona/New Mexico Counties, an organization consisting of five counties in Arizona and nine in New Mexico.

Derrick said the association worked to get public and private entities to stop the proposed expansion.

He said it would impact counties in eastern New Mexico and western Texas.

“Be careful of conservation easements. They call it voluntary, and I call it extortion,” Derrick said.

“They can throw a lot of money at different things and pretty soon you’re closed in an area where if people do agree and you don’t agree, voluntary kind of goes out the window.”

USFWS noted the potential Muleshoe expansion was part of the America the Beautiful Initiative enacted by the Biden-Harris Administration.

A closer look at the America the Beautiful Initiative

Three years ago, President Joe Biden issued an Executive Order, “Tackling the Climate Crisis at Home and Abroad.”

It directed the U.S. Department of Interior (DOI) to partner with other federal agencies to collaborate and create a conservation plan, according to the DOI website.

“President Biden has issued a call to action that we work together to conserve, connect, and restore at least 30 percent of our lands and waters by 2030 for the sake of our economy, our health, and our well-being,” the DOI website stated.

USFWS partnered with DOI identifying a conservation strategy and limited acquisition boundary that would support sandhill crane, pronghorn, and lesser prairie chicken along with other wildlife relying on grasslands and wetlands.

In its press release, USFWS stated expansion of the Muleshoe National Wildlife Refuge would enhance lakes, grasslands, and wetlands for existing habitat.

Following the vote, Eddy County planned to send a copy of its resolution opposing the project to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Although not directly affected, Eddy County stated in its resolution citizens in New Mexico’s rural counties depend on private and public land usage, “for their livelihoods.”

“This will destroy agriculture and they’ll eventually take the water rights away,” said District 3 Commissioner Fred Beard.

The federal government does not have authority to claim water rights without approval from the State of New Mexico, said Maggie Fitzgerald, spokesperson for the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer.

“If the Federal expansion needs water rights, then the federal government will need to acquire those rights under the same process that any other party, public or private, would need to follow,” she said in an email.

“That would include submitting applications to the New Mexico Office of the State Engineer for any change in place or purpose of use of the water.”

Mike Smith can be reached by phone at 575-308-8734 or email at msmith@currentargus.com.

Photos by:  Danny Scott

Two local Artesia students recently took home awards at the New Mexico State Fair.