April 4

ACCIDENT

9:47 am – Officer dispatched to 2300 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WANTED

10:38 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 20th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

STOLEN

11:40 am- Officer dispatched to 1200 block of S. 18th St. in reference to a stolen vehicle.

SUSPICIOUS

1:17 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to a suspicious trespass.

BATTERY

2:08 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to battery.

ALARM

3:54 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of N. 13th St. in reference to a burglary alarm.

WELFARE

3:55 pm – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DOMESTIC

7:52 pm – Officer dispatched to 300 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

LARCENY

8:06 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to larceny.

SUSPICIOUS

8:32 pm – Officer dispatched to Lolita Ct. and Bowman Dr. in reference to a suspicious person.

April 5

SHOTS FIRED

12:52 am – Officer dispatched to S. 26th St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to shots fired in the area.

FRAUD

8:29 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to fraud.

ALARM

9:05 am – Officer dispatched to 2500 block of W. Main St. in reference to a hold up alarm.

WELFARE

9:20 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of Mahone Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

GRAFFIT

9:53 am – Officer dispatched to S. 3rd St. and W. Park Ave. in reference to graffiti.

12:47 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to graffiti.

UNWANTED

12:14 pm – Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

ARMED

1:19 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 4th St. and W. Dallas Ave. in reference to an armed subject.

SUSPICIOUS

1:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 200 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

DOMESTIC

6:16 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 26th St. in reference to physical domestic.

WELFARE

7:22 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 7th St. and W. JJ Clarke Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

ACCIDENT

9:21 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Yucca Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

SUSPICIOUS

11:52 p m- Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Main St. in reference to suspicious trespass.

April 6

Arrest

Fredrick Carlos Molina arrested for failure to appear.

Louis Ortiz III Duran arrested for contempt of court.

DOMESTIC

1:11 am – Officer dispatched to 3100 block of W. Dallas Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

GRAFFITI

8:11 am – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Missouri in reference to graffiti.

8:14 am – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Missouri in reference to graffiti.

9:38 am – Officer dispatched to S 20th St. and W. Grand Ave. in reference to graffiti.

SUSPICIOUS

8:21 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Carper Dr. in reference to a suspicious person.

WELFARE

11:07 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of S. 1st St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

DISTURBANCE

12:58 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 N. 10th St. in reference to disturbance.

GRAFFITI

1:52 pm – Officer dispatched to 1600 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to graffiti.

WELFARE

3:09 pm- Officer dispatched to 2700 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

WANTED

4:29 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference toa wanted subject.

DOMESTIC

4:34 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

DISTURBANCE

6:07 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to disturbance.

FIGHT

7:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of Champ Clark Dr. in reference to a fight.

April 7

Arrest

Johnny Lee Sisk arrested for criminal trespass.

ACCIDENT

12:15 am – Officer dispatched to N. 1st St. and W. Kemp Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WELFARE

2:12 am – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

7:44 am- Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. Roselawn Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

HARASSMENT

8:12 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to harassment.

FRAUD

8:18 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to fraud.

GRAFFITI

9:02 am – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Chisum Ave. in reference to graffiti.

10:08 am – Officer dispatched to 900 block of N. 13th St. in reference to graffiti.

WELFARE

10:13 am – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of W. Menefee Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

10:45 am – Officer dispatched to 400 block of W. Main St. in reference to a suspicious person.

HARASSAMENT

11:54 am – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. Paris St. in reference to harassment.

DOMESTIC

11:54 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Main St. in reference to physical domestic.

GRAFITTI

12:05 pm -Officer dispatched to N. 1st St. and W. Main St. in reference to graffiti.

DISTURBANCE

12:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of Menefee Ave. in reference to disturbance.

1:27 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Main St. in reference to disturbance.

SUSPICIOUS

2:13 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 10th St. and W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

ACCIDENT

2:26 pm – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Ray Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

OVERDOSE

4:00 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richardson Ave. in reference to an overdose.

SUSPICIOUS

5:03 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 4th St. and W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

April 8

Arrest

Rori Calandra Ann Moore arrested for disorderly conduct.

FIGHT

8:13 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to a fight.

DOMESTIC

9:22 am – Officer dispatched to 3100 block of W. Dallas Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

GRAFFITI

10:54 am – Officer dispatched to S. 20th St. and W. Richardson Ave. in reference to graffiti.

WELFARE

1:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Chisum Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

2:00 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 8th St. and W. Dallas Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

ACCIDENT

4:41 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 20th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

DOMESTIC

8:03 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of W. Washington Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

ACCIDENT

8:17 pm – Officer dispatched to 900 block of S. 13th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WELFARE

9:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

9:30 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of N. 1st St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

BATTERY

10:02 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to battery.

April 9

Arrest

Jordan B Coddington arrested for criminal trespass.

WELFARE

12:45 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. JJ Clarke Dr. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

ALARM

3:23 am – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of N. 1st St. in reference to burglary alarm.

BURGLARY

8:43 am – Officer dispatched to 300 block of N. 1st St. in reference to an auto burglary.

FRAUD

3:00 pm -Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to fraud.

RECKLESS

3:31 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 16th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

WELFARE

3:38 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Merchant Ave. in reference to the welfare of a child.

THREATS

4:19 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Richardson Ave. and S. 1st St. in reference to threats.

RECKLESS

4:30 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 4th ST. and W. Runyan Ave. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

DOMESTIC

7:17 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Alvarado Ave. in reference to verbal domestic.

April 10

Arrest

Sammy Rodriguez JR. arrested for battery, assault against a healthcare personnel, aggravated battery upon a police officer great bodily harm with hands, feet, fists, resisting, evading obstructing an officer.

Jesse Ray Barraza arrested for assault against a household member, criminal damage to property of household member.

Kendra Chantel Davis arrested for municipal failure to pay.

D’Mario Ray Chavarria was arrested for battery against a household member, false imprisonment, interference with communications, destroying, removing.

Jacob Jay Midrid arrested for battery against a household member.

SHOTS FIRED

12:30 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Carper Dr. in reference to shot fired in the area.

SUSPICIOUS

5:14 am – Officer dispatched to 2200 block of W. Mann Ave. in reference to a suspicious person.

WELFARE

11:26 am – Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

GRAFFITI

12:55 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 14th St. and W. Bullock Ave. in reference to graffiti.

1:57 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Bush Ave. in reference to graffiti.

2:29 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of W. Bush Ave. in reference to graffiti.

2:32 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 14th St. and W. Bullock Ave. in reference to graffiti.

ACCIDENT

3:28 pm -Officer dispatched to N. 13th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

4:56 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

HARASSMENT

3:50 pm -Officer dispatched to 1800 block of W. Centre Ave. in reference to harassment.

ARMED SUBJECT

7:46 pm – Officer dispatched to 2600 block of W. Main St. in reference to an armed subject.

FIGHT

11:33 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 8th St. in reference to a fight.

WELFARE

12:17 am -Officer dispatched to 1100 block of W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to the welfare of a child.

April 11

DISTURBANCE

12:25 am -Officer dispatched to 600 block of N. 8th St. in reference to disturbance.

DOMESTIC

8:22 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. Roselawn Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

ACCIDENT

9:22 am – Officer dispatched to Bowman Dr. and W. Richey Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

9:35 am – Officer dispatched to W. Main St. and N. 4th St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

GRAFFITI

10:27 am – Officer dispatched to 2700 block of W. Grand Ave. in reference to graffiti.

SUSPICIOUS

1:20 pm – Officer dispatched to 2900 Browning Ave. in reference to suspicious prowler.

WANTED

1:35 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 1st St. W. Runyan Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

GRAFFITI

3:26 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 12th St. and W. Grand Ave. in reference to graffiti.

3:39 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 12th St. and W. Missouri Ave. in reference to graffiti.

LOUD

4:36 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bullock St. in reference to loud music.

INCORRIGIBLE

5:28 pm – Officer dispatched to 1400 block of Colt Ave. in reference to incorrigible child.

RECKLESS

7:28 pm – Officer dispatched to 1700 block of S. 26th St. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

WANTED

7:49 pm – Officer dispatched to 100 block of N. Osborn Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

SUSPICIOUS

9:28 pm – Officer dispatched to 600 block of S. 10th St. in reference to a suspicious person.

10:14 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of Carper Dr. in reference to suspicious vehicle.

10:51 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

BATTERY

10:18 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Clayton Ave. in reference to battery.

April 12

OVERDOSE

12:17 am – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to an overdose.

LOUD

12:24 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to loud music.

SUSPICIOUS

12:42 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

BATTERY

1:13 am – Officer dispatched to 1000 block of N. 15th St. in reference to battery.

DOMESTIC

1:37 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to physical domestic.

WELFARE

2:25 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 13th St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

SUSPICIOUS

4:29 am – Officer dispatched to 600 block of S. 2nd St. in reference to suspicious activity.

6:04 am – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Main St. in reference to suspicious trespass.

GRAFFITI

9:37 am – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Bullock Ave. in reference to graffiti.

10:36 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to graffiti.

10:42 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to graffiti.

11:11 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to graffiti.

11:11 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to graffiti.

11:12 am – Officer dispatched to 700 block of N. 10th St. in reference to graffiti.

STOLEN

3:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Missouri Ave. in reference to a stolen vehicle.

HARASSMENT

6:12 pm – Officer dispatched to 500 block of W. Texas Ave. in reference to harassment.

SUSPICIOUS

9:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 1300 block of N. 4th St.  in reference to a suspicious vehicle.

LOUD

11:09 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to loud music.

April 13

Arrest

Kaula Deanna Alvarado arrested for DWI.

Jamie Guadalupe Cordova arrested for municipal failure to appear.

Conrad Michael Hernandez arrested for registration and certificate of title nonrepairable vehicle, driving on roadways laned for traffic, seat belts, aggravated DWI of intoxicating liquor or drugs, resisting evading obstructing an officer.

Joseph R. Jimenez arrested for failure to appear, battery against a household member, resisting, evading, obstructing an officer, concealing identity.

UNATTENDED

12:09 am – Officer dispatched to 1500 block of Zydeco Pl. in reference to an unattended death.

UNWANTED

5:55 am – Officer dispatched to 200 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to an unwanted subject.

GRAFFITI

9:54 am – Officer dispatched to 800 block of W. Champ Clark Dr. in reference to graffiti.

11:20 am – Officer dispatched to S. 11th St. and W. Grand Ave. in reference to graffiti.

LARCENY

2:31 pm – Officer dispatched to 2200 block of W. Main St. in reference to larceny.

WANTED

3:23 pm – Officer dispatched to 700 block of n. 10th St. in reference to a wanted subject.

DWI

3:42 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 8th St. and W. Hank Ave. in reference to a DWI.

SUSPICIOUS

3:53 pm – Officer dispatched to 800 block of S. 1st St. in reference to a suspicious person.

HARASSMENT

4:20 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Richey Ave. in reference to harassment.

ACCIDENT

4:22 pm – Officer dispatched to 1900 block of W. Quay Ave. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

RECKLESS

4:28 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 20th St. and W. Hermosa Dr. in reference to a reckless vehicle.

WELFARE

4:46 pm – Officer dispatched to W. Missouri Ave. and S. 1st St. in reference to the welfare of an adult.

ACCIDENT

5:27 pm – Officer dispatched to N. 10th St. and W. Main St. in reference to a motor vehicle accident.

WANTED

5:42 pm – Officer dispatched to 1200 block of W. Mann Ave. in reference to a wanted subject.

BURGLARY

8:37 pm – Officer dispatched to 80 block of S. 1st St. in reference to an auto burglary.

DWI

11:06 pm – Officer dispatched to S. 1st St. and E. Grand Ave. in reference to a DWI.

Editor’s note: Check back with the Artesia Daily Press online and in print for an update on the verdict and full coverage of the debate in the New Mexico Supreme Court.

New Mexico Rep. Rebecca Dow’s name will appear on the ballot for the June 2 Primary Election, after a New Mexico Supreme Court ruling issued Tuesday, April 21.

The high court issued the unanimous ruling with little explanation amid questions for the validity of Dow’s 122 nominating petition signatures.

Chief Justice Julie Vargas handed down the verdict after an hour-long recess Tuesday morning, following an hour of debate.

Dow’s ability to run for reelection to the New Mexico State House came down to a list of addresses, or lack thereof.

At issue was the format Dow, a Republican, submitted her nominating petition signatures required for her to be added to the ballot in the primary, and their alleged lack of home addresses for each signer.

She would be unopposed to retake her seat in the State House, representing District 38, which covers portions of Dona Ana, Socorro and Sierra counties.

No Democratic candidate has filed to run in that party’s primary election, according to the New Mexico Secretary of State.

After Dow filed for her candidacy on the March 10 signing day, a challenge of the signatures was filed in Third Judicial District Court on March 19 by former Democratic Rep. Tara Jaramillo, who served the District 38 post from 2022 to 2025.

The District Court ruled in favor of Jaramillo, removing Dow from the ballot. The Supreme Court reversed this decision, ordering Dow’s name be returned.

In her appeal of Dow’s candidacy certification, Jaramillo argued the use of screenshots of Dow’s 122 signatures, taken from a computer and filed to verify her candidacy, were insufficient to allow her to run.

Jaramillo contended the petition lacked required information such as the addresses of those who signed in support of the incumbent, Dow’s home address and what specific office she is running for.

Dow was first elected to the seat in 2016 and reelected every two years since except in 2022 when she vacated the seat to run unsuccessfully for governor.

Jaramillo won the seat that year but then lost to a returning Dow in 2024. Jaramillo did not sign on to run in this year’s election.

Aside from her seat in the House, where Republicans are outnumbered 44-26, Dow is also the chair of the New Mexico Republican House Caucus, a role she was selected for after defeating Jaramillo in the 2024 election.

The Democratic Party also controls the State Senate and Governor’s Office.

During Tuesday’s Supreme Court hearing, attorneys for  Dow and Sierra County Clerk Amy Whitehead, who initially validated Dow’s signatures and is the defendant in Jaramillo’s appeal, attempted to paint the controversy as an attempt to circumvent voters and remove a powerful Republican from office.

Wheeler Cowperthwaite
For the Artesia Daily Press

An employee at Christus Health was charged March 30 with making a bomb threat to her employer in 2024

Margaret Cojo, 42, was already awaiting trial for her alleged role in a bomb scare last year at Ruidoso High School, when police accused her of an earlier call on Aug. 15, 2024 to Christus Health’s finance department located inside Southwest Heritage Bank in Alamogordo.

Cojo of Mescalero made her first appearance on April 13 in Alamogordo Magistrate Court on a single charge of making a bomb scare, filed by Alamogordo Police detective Sgt. Mark Esquero.

Making a bomb scare is a fourth-degree felony with a maximum sentence of 18 months.

Esquero wrote in a statement of probable cause to charge Cojo that the call came into the Christus Health that a bomb was in the hospital’s finance department, which is on the second floor of the Southwest Heritage Bank building. When security officers tried to get more information, the caller hung up.

In a press release, the Alamogordo Police Department wrote that the charges are the result of “an extensive investigation” and that officers followed multiple search warrants to cell phone providers.

Bank evacuated during scare

Police evacuated the building and restricted traffic on nearby roads on the day of the alleged threat, a process that lasted three hours. After searching the building, they found no bomb. Then officers tried to track down the number for the 1 minute and 14-second call, Esquero wrote.

While the caller used a phone application to block caller ID, AT&T could see the number that placed the call. Through a “law enforcement search engine,” the number came back to Cojo. They then realized the number was the same one she allegedly used to make a bomb threat to Ruidoso High School.

Esquero also learned that Cojo had been working at Christus Health in the finance and insurance department, located in the Southwest Heritage Bank building, the same location where the bomb threat was reported. She resigned via email days after the threat and never picked up her personal property from the office, he wrote.

Later, Esquero got records back from AT&T that “verified the account used an application to disguise her cell phone number calling Christus Health at the time of Christus Health receiving the bomb threat call,” he wrote.

Bomb scare at Ruidoso High School

On April 15, 2025, Ruidoso Police Det. Sgt. Seth Carruth charged Cojo with making a bomb scare and tampering with evidence, following the March 4, 2025 bomb threat called into Ruidoso High School.

Carruth wrote in an affidavit for an arrest warrant that they found the number that made the call from Windstream and it came back to Cojo. Officers went to interview her, where she confirmed her number and admitted to making a phone call to the school, but denied making any threats. She also allegedly admitted to deleting her call logs.

Carruth then filed search warrants for call logs to AT&T and presented his evidence to prosecutors, who agreed on the tampering with evidence and making a bomb scare charge, he wrote.

In the 2025 case, Cojo was bound over on charges of making a bomb scare and tampering with evidence on June 23, 2025, following a preliminary hearing. She is awaiting trial.

Adrian Hedden
Artesia Daily Press
achedden@elritomedia.com

Rio Ranch Mayor seeking GOP nomination for governor

Rio Rancho Mayor Gregg Hull brought his campaign for the Republican gubernatorial nomination to Artesia this week, touting his record of supporting new industries in his community.

Hull was elected to his third term as mayor of Sandoval County’s biggest city in 2022 and is one of two candidates vying for front-runner status in the June 2 primary.

The primary winner will take on the Democrats’ nominee in the general election Nov. 3 when New Mexicans will choose a successor to outgoing Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, a Democrat who is serving her second term and is prevented by term limits from seeking reelection.

Hull, 59, addressed a Tuesday, April 14, gathering of about 10 residents and government leaders at Artesia coffee shop Kith and Kin, citing increases in Rio Rancho’s local industries such as aerospace and manufacturing.

He pointed specifically to California-based aerospace company Castelion, which earlier this year began construction of a missile manufacturing plant about three miles outside the city’s limits. The plant is a $220 million project expected to create 300 jobs and $650 million in economic impact over the next decade, according to the company’s website.

Before he was elected, Hull said, “The business climate in Rio Rancho was just horrible. When I started complaining about it, people started saying I should do something about it. I realized it’s just like running a small business.”

Hull will likely face his strongest opposition from Doug Turner, a Taos resident and owner of Albuquerque-based public relations firm Agenda Global. At the party’s preprimary convention held March 7 in Ruidoso, Turner earned support from 167 delegates, about 24%, while Hull was preferred by 430 delegates, or 55% of those available.

To qualify for the ballot, candidates must receive at least 20% of available delegates at the preprimary or submit petitions with total signatures equal to 2% of voters registered for the last election.

Duke Rodriguez, chief executive officer of cannabis company Ultra Health, secured the needed signatures and will also appear on the ballot in the Republican gubernatorial primary.

The GOP nominee will face either Congresswoman Deb Haaland, who served as interior secretary under former President Joe Biden, or Bernalillo County District Attorney Sam Bregman in the general election. Haaland and Bregman won positions on the primary ballot during the Democrats’ preprimary convention March 7 in Mescalero.

Despite Hull’s strong showing at the GOP preprimary convention, Turner maintains he has more support among Republican voters. Citing campaign finance data from the New Mexico Secretary of State, Turner said he had raised $500,000 for his 12-week campaign compared to the $475,000 raised by Hull in about a year since announcing his candidacy.

“New Mexicans are fired up, and they’re putting their money behind the candidate who will deliver results,” Turner said in a Monday, April 13, statement. “Our campaign is igniting a powerful coalition that stretches from our largest cities to our smallest communities.”

‘We’re fighting for our lives’

With an eye toward winning primary votes in deep-red southeast New Mexico, Hull voiced support for the region’s oil and gas industry. He said that even four hours away in a city of more than 115,000 people, Rio Rancho benefits economically from production in the rural Permian Basin region.

Lujan Grisham and the state’s Democratic-controlled Legislature, Hull said, have created policies that are overly burdensome to New Mexico energy industries such as oil and gas.

“Without energy we would have been dead in the water,” Hull said. “That’s where we get our money. Santa Fe has shut down so much throughout the state and they have preempted so many communities.”

Hull said he was opposed to a recent building code amendment enacted by the state’s Construction Industries Division requiring electric vehicle chargers in all new buildings in New Mexico.

In Artesia, the rule was estimated to increase the cost of an upcoming city recreation center by up to $285,000, according to the Artesia Recreation Center Foundation, a nonprofit created to help fund the project.

The foundation sued the state last year, hoping to reverse the new rule. The lawsuit was dismissed in March by Fifth Judicial District Judge David Finger, a decision since appealed in New Mexico Supreme Court.

“These are state initiatives that we’ve got to get them to stop doing,” Hull said of the EV requirement. “We don’t need it.”

Attendees questioned Hull about the political-philosophical divide separating northern and southern New Mexico. Rio Rancho is just 17 miles from Albuquerque and less than 60 miles from Santa Fe, heavily Democratic areas and centers of resistance to the continued growth of the oil and gas industry that southern New Mexico communities need to survive.

“We have a lot of problems from up in that part of the state,” said state Sen. David Gallegos (R-41) of Eunice, who is seeking the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor. “You can do whatever you need to do, but they (the state) won’t sign off on it.”

Hull said Rio Rancho is an exception to the rural-urban divide.

“You haven’t seen that in Rio Rancho,” Hull said, citing the Castelion missile plant project as an example of the city’s support for industrial and business development. “We’re a cherry tomato in a bowl of blueberries. We’re fighting for our lives.”