Around the Roundhouse

Michael Perry grew up in Roswell with an interesting aspiration for a child — he wanted to be a game warden. One of his grandfathers was a director with the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish and took Perry quail hunting all over the state. After studying wildlife science at New Mexico State University, Perry followed in his grandfather’s footsteps and served as a game warden for the department for more than two decades. Perry now has a new goal — to become the New Mexico state land commissioner. Formerly an assistant commissioner over state lands at the State Land Office, Perry is the Republican nominee for state land commissioner. He is running against Democrat Juan de Jesus Sanchez III to succeed outgoing State Land Commissioner Stephanie Garcia Richard. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Perry joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to share his positions on policy issues facing the State Land Office and to discuss the path that led him to this point. Chacón begins the episode by asking Perry about his stance on the withdrawal of state lands from mining leases around Chaco Culture National Historical Park initiated by Garcia Richard. He also asks Perry about his thoughts on Garcia Richard’s denial of an application to run a portion of a natural gas pipeline for Project Jupiter through state trust land. Perry then responds to a question about a proposal to increase oil and gas bonding on state lands. Questions then turn to Perry’s campaign and how he plans to break a long drought of Republicans in statewide races. Perry says his decades of experience with the state Department of Game and Fish and the State Land Office give him an edge over his younger opponent. The interview ends with questions about Perry’s roots in New Mexico, his professional background and his passion for the state.

New Mexico is the only state in the country with an unpaid Legislature, but that could change come November. Voters in the upcoming general election will consider a constitutional amendment that would pave the way for state lawmakers to receive a salary for the first time in New Mexico’s history. Retired state government attorney Clifford Rees served House Democrats as a technical expert on the proposed amendment during the 30-day legislative session earlier this year and is a proponent of efforts to modernize the Legislature. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Rees joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to share his insight on the amendment, discuss the potential amount legislators would receive and talk about what he thinks may have held up past efforts to pay legislators. Rees worked for four different state agencies as an attorney, spending the bulk of his career at the New Mexico Department of Health before retiring as general counsel of the state Department of Finance and Administration in 2005. He has volunteered his time and expertise over the last four years to research and speak on the process to modernize the New Mexico Legislature. While legislators don’t receive a salary, they do receive per diem for meeting attendance, mileage reimbursements and pensions. Rees discusses how their pensions work and says that the constitutional amendment to pay legislators a salary would have no impact on their pensions. Rees argues that paying lawmakers would expand the pool of people who are able to serve and says proponents of the amendment need to make the case that constituents as well as legislators would benefit by its passage.

In the same interview where he discussed his friendly interactions with current Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham, Republican state Sen. Jay Block’s words regarding the Democratic candidate running to replace her weren’t quite as cordial. A strong backer of GOP candidate Gregg Hull, Block said “my dog would make a better governor than Deb Haaland, by far,” while speaking with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón in the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast. The senator from District 12, which represents Rio Rancho and northwest Albuquerque, Block touted Hull’s tenure as mayor of Rio Rancho and said he would “bring a lot of common sense to the office of governor.” Block was critical of Haaland’s policy positions and how she has handled her campaign. He said he was optimistic about Hull’s chances despite Haaland's large lead in campaign contributions. Block’s tune wasn’t all negative when opining about New Mexico Democrats. Addressing the state of leadership in the Senate, Block said Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth did a “phenomenal job” in his position. He said Wirth, who recently announced he is relinquishing the role of majority leader, was willing to work with Republicans and was able to calm the chamber when dealing with contentious issues. Block also praised Democratic Lt. Gov. Howie Morales, who he said has “been incredible for the Senate for eight years” and “has really gained the respect of both sides.” He shared his thoughts on the upcoming meeting of the Democratic Party of New Mexico’s State Central Committee, which will choose a new candidate for lieutenant governor after New Mexico Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver, who won the nomination in the June primary, dropped out due to unspecified health concerns. Later in the episode, Block speaks about his current level of support for President Donald Trump. He also shares what legislation he plans to bring forth for the 2027 60-day session, including a renewed push for a New Mexico version of DOGE — the Department of Government Efficiency.

The world’s first detonation of a nuclear weapon took place on July 16, 1945, in the Jornada del Muerto desert southeast of Socorro, New Mexico. In the decades since the Trinity Test explosion, thousands of New Mexicans have been plagued by illness and cancers related to their over-exposure to radiation. 
 The Radiation Exposure Compensation Act was passed in 1990 to provide payments to individuals who developed cancers and other serious diseases due to exposure to radiation for nuclear testing, but it wasn’t until last year that New Mexicans residents became eligible to receive compensation. On the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Tina Cordova speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss her decades of work with the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium to fight for compensation and acknowledgment for New Mexico’s downwinders. Cordova, who co-founded the organization with the late Fred Tyler in 2005, has made it her life’s work to advocate for New Mexicans who have suffered negative health effects due to radiation exposure from nuclear testing. Since New Mexicans became eligible to receive claims under RECA last year, Cordova said about 4,000 people have applied for compensation and about 500 claims of $100,000 have been paid out. She said it is estimated that there could be 50,000 eligible claimants in the state. Democratic U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez of New Mexico recently announced a bill that would expand RECA. The proposed measure would extend the deadline to apply for claims, broaden the locations for eligible claimants, increase the amount of compensation for each claimant from $100,000 to $150,000, and broaden the list of qualifying cancers. 
 Cordova shares her perspective on how the story of New Mexico’s downwinders has gained traction over the years and speaks on the work that is still ahead. She also talks about why she felt it took so long for New Mexicans to become eligible for compensation through RECA. Visit trinitydownwinders.com for assistance on how to apply for RECA compensation. Cordova will be involved in a couple of upcoming events related to the Trinity Test. At 2 p.m. on Sunday, July 19, she will be among the speakers at an interfaith remembrance of the Trinity Test with Archbishop John Wester at St. Michael’s High School in Santa Fe. At 8 p.m. on Saturday, July 25, the Tularosa Basin Downwinders Consortium will hold its annual candlelight vigil at Tularosa Veterans Memorial Park to pay tribute to those who have died due to the negative impact of exposure to radiation.

A local who was elected Santa Fe County sheriff in 2018, Adan Mendoza’s eventful two-term tenure has included efforts to improve staffing, managing the department through the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple stints under the national media microscope. Mendoza’s time in office will concluded at the end of the year when he will likely be succeeded by current Santa Fe police Chief Paul Joye, who won the Democratic primary in June and faces no Republican challenger in the November general election. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Mendoza joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to reflect on his time in office, discuss his department’s involvement in the Rust case, offer his thoughts on his likely successor and share his plans for the future. Mendoza, who has worked in law enforcement for 27 years, begins by discussing efforts to modernize the department’s policies. He also talks about the use of artificial intelligence in law enforcement. Asked how the department has been able to improve its staffing levels and retention, Mendoza points to implementing a “4/8/40” work schedule that gives employees full-time pay for working four eight-hour days each week, allowing for an extra eight hours of administrative leave to devote to their mental or physical well-being. Mendoza then shares his support for Joye, who he endorsed in the primary race for county sheriff, and discusses his own future. He said he’s interested in the role of Santa Fe’s police chief and will be applying for the position. Chacón later asks Mendoza to offer his thoughts on the recent story that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration knowingly allowed New Mexico to be flooded with fentanyl. Mendoza is then asked about his time in the national spotlight as his department worked the case for the on-set shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the discovery of the bodies of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, at their Santa Fe home. Chacón brings up a judge’s dismissal of the involuntary manslaughter case of Alec Baldwin, largely over a box of ammunition that was entered into evidence under a different case number than all other evidence related to the shooting of Hutchins. Mendoza said he bears responsibility for the handling of the evidence since it took place under his department. Mendoza is finally asked what he will miss the most and least when he moves on from his sheriff’s role, and shares thanks to the community for the chance to serve.

Even before legislation was passed to form New Mexico’s “truth commission” to investigate the activities and potential crimes of Jeffrey Epstein in the state, Marianna Anaya said she spent time digging through the publicly released files related to the financier and convicted sex offender. With a background in advocacy for sexual assault survivors, the Albuquerque state representative said a pitfall in the past was that people didn’t listen to survivors, thinking allegations were “too out of this world to believe.” With what’s been learned through the Epstein files, Anaya said “the things that happened to survivors are so horrific that there’s nothing that’s off the table.” In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast,” Anaya joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Clara Bates to discuss how she became one of the four members of the bipartisan truth commission, the progress of the panel so far, and the breadth of potential crimes committed in the state related to the Epstein case. Anaya shares her history as an organizer, activist and lobbyist, and how decision to run for the state House came in the spur of the moment following a narrow defeat of paid family and medical leave legislation she had been supporting. The Democrat then speaks on her involvement in the truth commission, and how her advocacy for victims of sexual assault has informed her work on the panel. She says she’s proud of the work of the bipartisan commission, which she said has avoided making their work political and has remained focused on seeking justice for survivors. Bates asks Anaya about The New Mexican’s recent reporting on Epstein having a private ambulance at Zorro Ranch and possibly a dental office. Anaya said there has been testimony from survivors that some woke up in medical settings in New Mexico. She then goes over the types of potential crimes committed in the state related to Epstein, including sex trafficking, medical crimes and financial crimes. Anaya is also asked about the one year the commission has to come up with a full report for the Epstein investigation. She said members have never thought one year was enough time, and that she hopes the Legislature will be able to extend the life of the commission at the end of the year.

State Sen. David Gallegos won a three-man race for the Republican nomination for lieutenant governor earlier this month and will be the running mate for gubernatorial candidate Gregg Hull on the GOP ticket in November’s general election. A longtime resident of the town of Eunice in the Permian Basin, Gallegos said if he and Hull win he’d use the office to bolster the voices of rural New Mexicans. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Gallegos joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to chat about the governor’s race, lay out his priorities and discuss his position on President Donald Trump’s policies. Gallegos, who worked for 30 years in the natural gas industry and is now a manager for his family’s construction company, said he is developing a good relationship with Hull, the former mayor of Rio Rancho. He said the two bring a balance to the GOP ticket, with Hull offering a perspective on urban New Mexico and Gallegos bringing an understanding of a rural way of life. Gallegos offers his perspective the situation regarding the Democratic ticket, which saw Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver recently suspend her campaign for lieutenant governor due to health issues. A handful of people are now vying to step in and be the running mate for Deb Haaland. Chacón later questions Gallegos about strife among the state’s Republican Party leadership, and how it impacts the party’s candidates. Gallegos also shares his thoughts on Trump, saying New Mexico Democrats have prevented the state from receiving federal funds due to being uncooperative with the administration’s policies.

Senate Majority Leader Peter Wirth, D-Santa Fe, made headlines Tuesday with the announcement that he will not seek reelection in 2028 for a sixth term in the Senate and that he will relinquish his position as floor leader. “An important part of leadership is knowing when to hand the baton to the next generation,” Wirth said Wednesday in an interview with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Wirth joins Chacón to discuss his decision to step away from the Senate (after serving out his remaining two years) and talk about his legacy over 22 years in the Legislature. In the interview, Chacón asks Wirth about what it takes to serve in the role of floor leader, a position Wirth has held since 2016. He also asks Wirth about the toll the position has taken over the years, and if he knows of any legislators who may be lining up to step into the role. Wirth then discusses what he has planned for the future, after he serves out his remaining time in office, and is asked if he could see himself returning to politics at some point. Chacón asks Wirth about legislation he is most proud of during his more than two decades in the Senate. Wirth also asks about the state’s large investments in programs like early childhood education and behavioral health, and when New Mexico may see a return on investment.

All eyes will be on the midterm elections come November as control of Congress is up for grabs, and a national spotlight will once again be on New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District. Republican Greg Cunningham is vying to unseat incumbent Democrat Gabe Vasquez, who defeated Yvette Herrell in tightly contested races in 2022 and 2024. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Cunningham joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the high-profile race, his professional background and his positions on issues impacting New Mexicans. He shares how he decided to join the U.S. Marine Corps and what drew him to become a member of the Albuquerque Police Department. Chacón asks Cunningham about his thoughts on some of President Donald Trump’s policies, including the creation of a military border zone along the U.S.-Mexico border. Cunningham also talks about Trump’s tariffs and tax policies, and his views on the war with Iran. Cunningham is asked to share his thoughts on Vasquez’s performance during his two terms in office, and explains how he differs from the incumbent. He also discusses the importance of the race and the money that’s expected to pour in to support the two candidates.

From slinging newspapers, to shipping solar cells for the International Space Station, to leading the third-largest city in New Mexico, Gregg Hull’s professional experiences in the state have run the gamut. The former three-term mayor of Rio Rancho is now eyeing New Mexico’s highest office. Hull secured the Republican nomination for governor with a double-digit victory in Tuesday’s primary election and will face Democratic nominee Deb Haaland in November’s general election. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Hull joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss his primary win and what his priorities are for the state as he pursues the governor’s seat. Hull says he plans to have his campaign focus on the issues rather than on attacks of his opponent. Public safety, affordability, education and roads are some of his top priorities, he said. Facing an opponent who has higher name recognition as a former congresswoman and interior secretary, Hull says he plans to continue to travel across the state to connect with voters and listen to the issues they are facing in their communities. In speaking about his time as mayor as Rio Rancho, Hull talks about how the growing city has addressed water issues through an aquifer recharge plan that he hopes more commutes along the Rio Grande adopt. Chacón asks Hull about if he will seek an endorsement from President Donald Trump, and how he plans to appeal to independents and Democrats who voted for Sam Bregman, who Haaland defeated in the Democratic primary. Hull also speaks about why he feels he outperformed his primary opponents in Northern New Mexico, and how he thinks he can carry that momentum.

A self-described “America First” candidate for U.S. Senate, Larry Marker first has some work to do to get on November’s general election ballot. The Republican with roots in Hobbs and Roswell needs to get at least 2,531 voters to write his name on the June 2 primary ballot to advance as his party’s official candidate. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Marker joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss his views on policy and share thoughts on the state of the Republican Party in New Mexico, which has had challenges putting forth candidates in statewide races. With a professional background in oil and gas production, farming, ranching, manufacturing and construction, Marker says one of his priorities is loosening regulations that he says are hurting small businesses. Marker goes on to share his thoughts on Donald Trump, saying he agrees with many of the president’s policies, including those involving immigration, but that he isn’t sure if he’d get along with Trump on a personal level. Chacón also asks Marker about his feelings toward incumbent Sen. Ben Ray Luján, who is seeking his second term. Marker says he thinks Luján is leaning too hard into the “welfare-type programs” and not doing enough to support a capitalist agenda that promotes economic opportunities. Marker is also asked his position on abortion, and how he feels his stance could impact his electability.

New Mexico’s 2nd Congressional District has been one of the most hotly contested seats in the country, drawing a national spotlight in recent races to fill one of the state’s three seats in the U.S. House of Representatives. Amanda López Askin says she experienced that increased attention firsthand shortly after she took over as county clerk in Doña Ana County, the district’s most populous county, just before the 2018 election. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, López Askin speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about how she has been dealing with election deniers since 2018 when Democrat Xochitl Torres Small edged Republican Yvette Herrell to win the seat, and why she thinks her time running elections in Doña Ana County has prepared her as she seeks her party’s nomination for New Mexico secretary of state in the June 2 Democratic primary. She is running against Santa Fe County Clerk Katharine Clark as the two vie to succeed Maggie Toulouse Oliver. Born and raised in Las Cruces, López Askin begins the episode by discussing her background and what led her to decide to run for secretary of state. Before becoming a county clerk, she worked in the mental health field and advocacy in adolescent health and suicide prevention. She also talks about her experience being involved in the local animal rescue community and fostering over 200 dogs, which she said has earned her the nickname of “the Dog Lady” in her community. Chacón asks López Askin about her position on the Republican-backed SAVE Act, and she addresses some misinformation she feels is put forth in discussions about the legislation. López Askin also is asked about criticism over not having results the same night as an election. She responded that “there is no such thing as late election results, there’s accurate results,” adding that she prioritizes “accuracy over expediency” and communicating with the public.

A U.S. Air Force veteran and the first African American elected to the New Mexico Senate, Harold Pope Jr. is pursuing a new avenue of leadership as he seeks his party’s nomination for lieutenant governor. The Albuquerque Democrat is running for statewide office for the first time in a race against Secretary of State Maggie Toulouse Oliver in the June primary. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Pope joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to share why he decided to run for the position and offer an explanation of how he would approach the role. Pope, who says he recognizes he is an underdog in the race, feels he has a good shot to win and said he will “listen to what people want” and not just whatever his party puts forth when it comes to supporting legislation at the Roundhouse. In a position that is often in the shadow of the governor, Pope also said he would like to take on a more prominent role than past lieutenant governors. Born and raised in Pueblo, Colo., Pope shares his story of entering the Air Force after high school and speaks on his family’s background, which has Northern New Mexico ties. He also talks about his current pursuit of a doctorate in education from Vanderbilt University, which he feels will help him in his position as vice chair of the Senate Education Committee.

Earlier this week, the New Mexico Supreme Court ruled in favor of state Rep. Rebecca Dow when it reversed a state district court ruling that had disqualified Dow’s nominating petitions and would have kept the Republican from Truth or Consequences off the ballot in the June primary. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Dow joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to share her thoughts on the case, the ruling and her hopes for her party in the 2026 election. Dow discusses issues with the secretary of state’s nominating petitions online platform and her view that there should be changes to the nominating petitions filing process. She also addresses the party politics she feels were behind the complaint filed against her. Unopposed in the Republican primary for the House seat, Dow says she expects her race against Democratic challenger David Mooney to be one of the most competitive in the state. She then talks about what she wants to continue to pursue if elected to a fifth term, including reform of the state’s Children, Youth and Families Department and giving a voice to rural New Mexicans. Dow also shares her thoughts on the governor’s race, expressing optimism about all three of the Republican candidates.

Katharine Clark’s third day in office as Santa Fe County clerk was January 6, 2021, the day the U.S. Capitol was attacked by supporters of Donald Trump in an effort to overturn the presidential election. Clark said the election denialism spurred by Trump has defined an era of being an election official as those who administer elections have had to battle a barrage of misinformation. Calling overreach by the executive branch the biggest threat to New Mexico elections, Clark said she is running to be New Mexico’s secretary of state to fight back against Trump and preserve ballot access. She’s running in the Democratic primary against Doña Ana County Clerk Amanda López Askin. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Clark spoke with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about her record as Santa Fe County clerk and what her plans would be if she succeeds Maggie Toulouse Oliver as secretary of state. Chacón first questions Clark about a complaint filed in March that Clark had violated the state’s election code by releasing absentee and early voting data before polls closed in four recent elections. Clark said the Secretary of State’s Office results website, where county clerks upload their county’s voting data, doesn’t release results until after polls close. Clark then talks about the efforts she’s taken as county clerk to fight against Trump and executive overreach. She also discusses voter ID at the polls and what she considers confusion over the Republican-backed SAVE Act, which she calls “the most unreasonable bill I’ve ever heard about for elections.” Clark shares information about her background, including time growing up in Spain as part of a military family and what she gained while starting her career as a union organizer.

Stephanie Garcia Richard took over as New Mexico state land commissioner in 2019 and later that year put an end to a decades-long lease that allowed Jeffrey Epstein to use over 1,200 acres of state land around his Zorro Ranch property south of Santa Fe. Epstein, though his company Cypress Inc., leased the land for livestock grazing, but the State Land Office canceled those leases in part on suspicion that they had been obtained through “illegitimate means for purposes other than ranching or agriculture,” Garcia Richard said of the cancellation. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Garcia Richard speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about the failings that allowed the sex offender and financier to lease state land and what her office has done to try to ensure something like that will never happen again. Garcia Richard begins the interview by discussing what the State Land Office is, and the many legitimate grazing lease agreements it has with ranchers throughout the state. She said there were people in state and federal government, including the King family and the late Gov. Bill Richardson, who played a role in protecting Epstein and his use of the state land. She also said the State Land Office had lacked a culture of due diligence and wasn’t making sure some of its lessees were in compliance with their agreements. Chacón goes on to ask Garcia Richard about the Trump administration’s recently announced plans to end protections in the 10-mile buffer zone surrounding Chaco Canyon National Historical Park. She shares her concerns about the move, saying “this is a disaster, plain and simple,” and discusses what efforts her office is taking to try to disrupt what the Trump administration is attempting to do. Garcia Richard also talks about the construction of a border wall as it relates to state land. She said the Trump administration has continually been breaking laws along the border, both environmental and regarding the acknowledgment of land status. With her final term as state land commissioner months away, Garcia Richard also speaks on the office’s accomplishments during her time in office, and shares what her priorities are for the duration of her term.

A 13th generation New Mexican with a 5-month-old daughter, Juan De Jesus Sanchez III says he’s running for state land commissioner with an eye toward the future. The farmer and conservation advocate who lives in Valencia County was the first candidate to announce an intention to succeed Stephanie Garcia Richard as leader of the State Land Office and he received the most votes from delegates at last month’s Democratic Party of New Mexico’s preprimary convention. He's running in the primary against state Rep. Matthew McQueen of Galisteo and Jonas Moya, a former state director of the Farm Service Agency. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Sanchez joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to share his background and discuss what his priorities would be if elected to office. Sanchez has spent years working with water as a former natural resource specialist for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and a technical advisor for the New Mexico Acequia Commission. He said he’s “trying to bring more of a long-term vision” to the State Land Office and wants to “protect areas that are sacred and special to us.” Chacón asks Sanchez about his thoughts on greater oversight of leases to private land owners considering Jeffrey Epstein was allowed to lease public land through the State Land Office for grazing purposes until the agency canceled the leases in 2019, when Epstein was indicted in New York and arrested on charges of child sex trafficking. Sanchez, a former political director and deputy campaign manager for U.S. Sen. Martin Heinrich, speaks about how he plans to balance the pursuit of revenue while considering environmental stewardship. He also talks about wanting to decentralize the State Land Office and ensure there are jobs throughout the state by working with universities to open satellite offices that would allow the department to have employees on the ground across New Mexico.

With 24 years of experience in the FBI and well over 30 years in law enforcement, New Mexico state Rep. Bill Hall has spent much of his life in the pursuit of justice. Now, the retired FBI agent is part his home state’s investigation into criminal acts of abuse that took place at Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch south of Santa Fe. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Hall joins Santa Fe New Mexican senior politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to offer insight on the progress the so-called Epstein “truth commission” has made thus far, what it’s next steps are and what hurdles the committee faces as it seeks to uncover what happened at Zorro Ranch. One of four members of the bipartisan commission, which was formed during New Mexico’s recent legislative session, Hall said he admires his state for “stepping up” to take on a massive fact-finding mission aimed at pursuing allegations of abuse that were never fully investigated while Epstein was alive. In the episode, Hall address the challenges of investigating such a sprawling case with allegations of criminal activity and corruption that took place many years ago. "This is a big endeavor. I don't know how it'll look over time, but we're willing to take the challenge on,” he said.

U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury has been a vocal critic of U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi and the U.S. Department of Justice over the handling of millions of files related to the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking investigation. This week, she joined U.S. Rep Summer Lee in filing articles of impeachment against Bondi, saying Bondi and the Department of Justice have failed survivors, obstructed justice, lied to the courts, and defied Congress and the law. On Friday, Stansbury spoke with Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about the DOJ’s “complete and total mismanagement” of the Epstein case and what she said is "very truly a cover-up” of information in the case and a failure to prosecute crimes. The New Mexico Democrat said she believes there’s a “complete obstruction of justice in the case” and a continuing effort to shield President Donald Trump, who is named thousands of times in the files. She discusses the Department of Justice’s failure to comply with the Epstein Transparency Files Transparency Act, which was signed into law in November and mandates that the DOJ release all unclassified records regarding Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. Stansbury shares why she and fellow Democrats on the House Oversight Committee on Thursday walked out of a closed-door briefing on the Epstein files by Justice Department leaders, saying Bondi refused to commit to honor a subpoena and testify under oath over the Epstein files. Chacón asks Stansbury if we’ll reach a point where Trump is deposed. Noting she supported former President Bill Clinton being deposed, she said “Congress is conducting an investigation into the most extensive sexual criminal enterprise in American history. You don’t get a pass just because you’re a former president or a current president.” Stansbury goes on to describe some of the alleged crimes committed at Epstein’s Zorro Ranch near Stanley, New Mexico. She mentioned a lawsuit filed against Epstein by a man who claimed he was invited to a party at the ranch and was drugged and raped along with other young men. Chacón also asks Stansbury about the Department of Homeland Security partial shutdown and her thoughts on the likelihood of the passage of the SAVE Act.

Jonas Moya has a lot of work to do and not a lot of time to do it. Over the weekend, the Democratic Party of New Mexico held its pre-primary convention where party delegates voted to designate candidates for the June ballot. Candidates needed to receive at least 20% of the vote to earn a spot on the ballot. Those who failed to meet the threshold need to submit additional petition signatures by next week to run in the primary. As a Democratic candidate for state land commissioner, Moya received about 7% of the vote at the convention. On Thursday, Moya said he needs about 1,700 more signatures to qualify for the primary. On the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón speaks with Moya about why he’s decided to keep fighting to stay in the race and discuss what his priorities would be if he were to be elected state land commissioner. A fourth-generation rancher from Tucumcari, Moya is a former Joe Biden-appointed state director of the Farm Service Agency. He talks about his experience working in the agency and his other relevant experience. Moya shares what he would focus on if elected, including addressing an incoming “tidal wave” of retirees at the State Land Office, building and diversifying revenue streams, and using state land for affordable housing projects. He also talks about how he would address dumping on state land.

Albuquerque-based radio host Eddy Aragon has spent several years looking into what went on at Jeffrey Epstein’s Zorro Ranch and has received calls from listeners who he says have provided insight about the workings of the property south of Santa Fe. In 2019, Aragon received an anonymous email alleging the bodies of two foreign girls were buried near Epstein’s property. “Both died by strangulation during rough, fetish sex,” the anonymous email said. The writer claimed to be a former staff member at the ranch. Aragon forwarded the email to the FBI, and the email is among the millions of documents released in the Epstein files. Aragon, who hosts “The Rock of Talk” on KIVA 1600 AM, spoke with Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón on the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast to discuss his history with the Epstein case. He talks about how the public’s curiosity spurred his early interest in the case. He also expresses his frustration with the lack of attention Epstein’s wrongdoings received from state officials and the media until the release of the Epstein files. Aragon says he knows who the sender of the anonymous email is and that he relayed that information to an FBI agent. He also claims to know who many of the people who were employed at the ranch were and their relationships with each other. Aragon shares his thoughts on the new Epstein “truth commission” that was formed during the state’s recent 30-day legislative session to investigate what went on with the ranch. “We need to get this stain off of our state of New Mexico,” he said.

An opportunity to connect with survivors of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein prior to the State of the Union address Tuesday had a powerful impact on Andrea Romero, a New Mexico state representative who co-sponsored a resolution to create a so-called “truth commission” to investigate Epstein’s activities at Zorro Ranch in southern Santa Fe County. The Santa Fe Democrat, who was a guest of U.S. Rep. Melanie Stansbury at the State of the Union, shared her experience in the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, saying the survivors told her that out of Epstein’s operations in various states, “New Mexico was basically the worst.” During the episode, Romero speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about the formation of the Epstein “truth commission,” its mission, its members and how it plans to operate as it creates its reports over the next year. “This isn’t about politics, it’s about bringing justice to survivors,” Romero said. Romero also discusses the recently completed legislative session and two pieces of contentious legislation she co-sponsored — the Clear Horizons Act and a bill that would have banned the sale of some “extremely dangerous weapons” in New Mexico. Both bills failed to pass.

The 2026 30-day legislative session came to a close Thursday with Democrats largely touting it as a success following an overhaul of the state's medical malpractice law, the funding of universal child care and more.  One of the bigger news items to come out of the final full day of the session was an omnibus tax package with 1% raises for state employees. Rep. Derrick Lente and other House Democrats helped get the raises across the finish line after they had been previously removed from the budget in the Senate.  In the latest episode of "Around the Roundhouse," Lente joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to talk about how it took a creative solution to reinstate the raises for state employees. Lente, who chairs the House Tax committee, also shares his thoughts on the power of the Senate Finance Committee, which had previously stripped the raises. Chacón also asks Lente about his position on a measure that will go before voters to determine whether state legislators will receive a salary, how he feels about what lawmakers accomplished during the session, and how he decompresses at the end of a session.

With just over a week left in New Mexico’s 30-day legislative session, a handful of bills have been passed and signed into law but there’s still a lot up in the air for lawmakers. Some of the bills passed so far have had bipartisan support, but others have faced strong opposition by the Republican minority in both chambers. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, House Minority Leader Gail Armstrong joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to offer her take on the good, the bad and the ugly of the session so far. The Magdalena Republican starts with sharing her support for the interstate compacts for doctors and social workers, and the medical malpractice reform bill that is still working its way through the Legislature. Armstrong also discusses her opposition to the passage of House Bill 9, a bill to ban local governments in New Mexico from contracting with the federal government to detain undocumented immigrants and others with pending civil immigration cases. She later talks about Senate Bill 17, a gun control bill Republicans have called unconstitutional. Chacón asks Armstrong about Republicans’ hopes of picking up seats in the Legislature in the upcoming election. She discusses what it’s been like being in the minority party, saying “we’re really sick and tired of being pushed around” and that better balance is needed in the Roundhouse. Armstrong ends the podcast by talking about her House district, which is the largest in the state and very rural. “I probably have more cows and elk than I do people. I kind of like it like that,” she says.

New Mexico made national headlines last year with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s announcement that it would be the first state in the country to offer child care to all families at no cost. Elizabeth Groginsky, secretary of the state Early Childhood Education and Care Department, was at the governor’s side during the news conference and has been a key figure in the landmark initiative. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Groginsky joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the progress of the program since the September announcement, the national recognition the initiative has received and the challenges ahead. The governor’s push to remove all income limits to the child care assistance program is one of the most discussed issues during the current 30-day legislative session as lawmakers hash out a budget for the coming fiscal year. Groginsky speaks on her department’s desire for fully funding the program and on concerns regarding child care provider capacity. To learn more about applying for universal child care and to access a child care finder, visit https://www.nmececd.org/child-care-assistance/.

Cristina Parajón’s first day at the Roundhouse as a lawmaker got off to a bit of an awkward start when the  sergeant-at-arms initially wouldn’t let her in her seat in the House chamber because he thought she looked too young to be a legislator. With some notable early legislative successes, the now 28-year-old is relishing the opportunity to have a seat at the table and is making a name for herself at the Capitol. The Albuquerque Democrat, who is the youngest woman serving in the Legislature, helped pass a bill last year that allows semi-open primaries in New Mexico. It allows voters who don’t state a party affiliation to cast a ballot in a Democratic or Republican primary without changing their registration. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Parajón joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss her path to the Roundhouse, her early legislative victories and her priorities for the current 30-day session. Born to a Nicaraguan father and a Taiwanese-American mother who are both medical professionals, Parajón took an interest in health care access and housing issues at an early age. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Harvard, a master’s degree in business and economics, and is now in her second year of law school. Parajón was appointed to represent House District 25 in 2023 and won the seat in an election the following year. Chacón asks her about the legislation she’s helped pass thus far and how she views the opportunity to be a voice for younger generations of New Mexicans. Parajón also discusses some of her priorities for the current session, including a constitutional amendment to pay legislators a base salary and a bill that would continue a pet food manufacturer fee that helps fund statewide spay and neuter programs.

During his years serving in the Legislature, state Sen. Jeff Steinborn has championed and passed a wide variety of legislation including the creation of an independent ethics commission, setting campaign contribution limits and banning the storage of high-level nuclear waste in New Mexico. This year, some of the bills Steinborn is working to pass bills involve increasing lobbyist transparency and holding data center microgrids in the state to renewable energy standards. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast the Las Cruces Democrat joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the first week of the 30-day legislative session and offer insight into some of the bills he’s championing. Steinborn, a member of the Legislative Finance Committee, speaks on Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s plan to provide universal child care to New Mexico residents and if he thinks the state can fully fund it. Steinborn also talks about the reintroduction of a lobbyist transparency bill, House Bill 35, that would require lobbyists to report when they lobby on a bill and if they were for it or against it. It would also require reporting if a lobbyist was involved in the creation of a bill prior to a session. In 2025, the lobbyist transparency bill Steinborn co-sponsored passed the Legislature but was vetoed by the governor. Steinborn goes over why the governor said she vetoed the bill and discusses the changed that were made for the new bill. Another major piece of legislation Steinborn is pushing for is a microgrid oversight act that would require new microgrids creating self-generated power to adhere to the same renewable energy mix required of publicly owned utilities. Currently, Steinborn said microgrids that power data centers are not required to generate any power through renewable sources. He said 40 percent of energy generated by public utilities in the state today must come from renewable sources. Steinborn discusses how the proposed legislation could impact Project Jupiter, a massive data center project in Doña Ana County, and other projects in New Mexico.

Residents in communities across New Mexico have felt the impact of a physician shortage that has led to patients facing long wait times and a struggle to schedule appointments. A bipartisan group of state legislators has been working to help improve access to health care through the Interstate Medical Licensure Compact, which would allow fully licensed physicians in one member state to obtain licenses more quickly in other member states. State Sen. Linda Trujillo, D-Santa Fe, is a lead on the bill that will be introduced as the 30-day legislative session opens next week. She joins the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast to speak with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about the importance of the bill, the changes that have been made since last year, and her level of confidence that the bill will reach the governor’s desk. Trujillo discusses other bills she’s been working on, including legislation that deals with nontraditional health care options being included in health coverage plans, a bill addressing human trafficking and a juvenile justice bill. Chacón asks Trujillo, a member of the Legislative Finance Committee, if she anticipates a battle over child care funding between legislators and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham. The LFC’s budget plan that was released last week didn’t fully fund the governor’s free universal child care initiative. Trujillo also talks about how she preps for the legislative session, what the transition has been like going from the House to the Senate, and how her background as superintendent of the New Mexico Regulation and Licensing Department has helped her now that she’s back in the Legislature.

New Mexico’s 30-day legislative session is less than two weeks away and the Legislative Finance Committee just released its budget proposal for fiscal year 2027. The committee’s $11.1 billion spending plan is similar to Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s but doesn’t fully fund the governor’s free universal child care initiative. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Rep. Nathan Small, the LFC chair, joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the committee’s budget proposal. He delves into how the committee develops its budget recommendations, highlights its priorities, and talks about the key differences between the LFC’s plan and the governor’s. Small, a Democrat from Las Cruces, also discusses his upbringing in El Cerro Mission, his connection with the outdoors, and how he views the responsibility of being the LFC chair. 

Duke Rodriguez officially launched his candidacy for governor of New Mexico earlier this month by making the announcement in newspaper advertisements across the state. A former state human services Cabinet secretary who is now among New Mexico's most successful cannabis entrepreneurs, Rodriguez is the latest of three Republicans to announce a run for the highest office in the state. In this week’s episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Rodriguez joins Santa Fe New Mexican senior state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to explain why he has decided to run for governor, respond to questions about his residency in New Mexico and discuss his personal and professional background. Chacón questions Rodriguez on his voting history in New Mexico and Arizona. He also asks Rodriguez if he voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, and to share his thoughts on the president’s second term in office. Rodriguez, the president and CEO of the Ultra Health cannabis firm, speaks to what led him to enter the cannabis industry. He also discusses how he plans to finance his campaign with the Republican primary just over five months away.

Shel Neymark helped found the Embed Valley Library in Dixon in 1992 and, over the years, has seen it become a cornerstone of the small community. It’s a place to not only check out books, but also serves as a gathering place and a link to connect residents with resources that support their well-being. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Neymark joins Santa Fe New Mexican state government reporter Clara Bates to discuss his continued work to provide New Mexico’s rural libraries with the funding they need to continue their important work. Neymark is director of New Mexico Rural Library Initiative, which advocates on behalf of roughly 60 libraries in small villages and tribal communities throughout the state. He plans to push for $29.5 million in the coming legislative session to fully fund the Rural Library Endowment, which was established with his advocacy in the 2019 session to help keep rural libraries afloat. Neymark says the services rural libraries provide to their communities are more vital than ever amid the recent federal funding cuts. He talks about the limited financial resources libraries are operating with and shares his outlook on the prospects of an increase for the endowment in the upcoming session. Learn more about the New Mexico Rural Library Initiative at www.nmrurallibraryinitiative.org.

Economists with the state of New Mexico delivered what Rep. Nathan Small, chair of the Legislative Finance Committee, called a “very sobering" revenue forecast to lawmakers Monday, with projections of total new money being revised down to $105.7 million from an August projection of $484.8 million. For a state that has been awash in new money in recent years, the latest forecast pointed to a change in momentum. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Legislative Finance Committee Director Charles Sallee speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to provide more information on the downward revenue projections. Sallee, who has worked with the Legislative Finance Committee since 2005, said that while the projections are directionally bad, the state still has “enormous capacity to do good for New Mexicans.” Sallee addresses the reasons behind the downward revisions of the revenue forecast and contextualizes the projected revenues compared to prior years. Sallee also discusses how the state’s trust fund strategy helps support the general fund in an environment with lower oil prices and a dip in revenues. Chacón asks Sallee if there’s a possibility of lawmakers deciding to raise taxes, and asks what his advice to lawmakers is heading into the upcoming 30-day legislative session.

While running a business coaching firm with her husband in Albuquerque, Nicole Tobiassen said she often hears complaints from her clients that it’s becoming harder and harder to be a business owner in New Mexico. Part of her coaching involves encouraging clients to be part of the solution, advice she said she took to heart when making the decision to run for public office. A rare Republican representing Albuquerque in the state Senate, the first-term legislator is a member of the Senate Finance Committee, the Legislative Finance Committee and now on a new public safety task force convened by Republican lawmakers that plans to push a suite of anti-crime bills during the upcoming 30-day session that begins in January. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Tobiassen joins Santa Fe New Mexican senior politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to discuss the purpose of the new task force and what it hopes to accomplish. Tobiassen shares what came out of the first meeting of the public safety task force earlier this week in Albuquerque, noting bipartisan representation among the presenters. She said the goal is to offer common sense solutions to public safety issues that serve the better good. Republicans are greatly outnumbered in the Legislature, and Tobiassen spoke on the expected challenges of getting public safety bills heard in the upcoming session. Some public safety priorities she mentioned include increasing penalties for felons in possession of a firearm, bail reform and revisiting the juvenile code. The Democratic legislators and Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham have not seen eye to eye on public safety legislation the governor has endorsed. Tobiassen spoke on that dynamic and how the Republican legislators and the governor have been more aligned when it comes to public safety. Tobiassen also discusses the crime issues in Albuquerque, saying “here in Albuquerque, we lock up our laundry detergent, our deodorant, our toothpaste. Go to Walmart or Target, it’s all locked up. We lock up simple necessities that cost dollars, but we don’t lock up the repeat offenders, the repeat violent offenders.”

A fresh face in state politics, Cam Crawford was elected vice chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico in April and is working to build momentum for Democrats in an already blue state. On the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, the 20-something firefighter and substitute teacher joined Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak about his background and his goals for the party. The son of a police officer and a nurse, Crawford said he visited New Mexico as a teen and knew he wanted to live in the state. Crawford now works as a full-time firefighter for Santa Fe County and is a substitute teacher with Santa Fe Public Schools. He also serves on the city of Santa Fe’s public safety committee. Crawford speaks with Chacón about what drove him to public service and how it informs his politics. He also offers his perspective on the struggles in the state’s public education system, saying “Our teachers are not OK.” Chacón questions Crawford about friction within state Democratic Party leadership that occurred not long after the election of Sara Attleson as state party chair and Crawford as the vice chair. Julie Rochman, who was elected treasurer, abruptly resigned the month after the election, citing a culture of exclusion. Crawford shared his perspective of the matter and said the party is united in its goals. One of those goals, Crawford said, is to win back young voters. Crawford noted that the Democratic Party has lost some younger voters in recent years and said one of his priorities is to work to bring them back. So far, he’s held town halls on the campuses of the University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University. Crawford said he also wants to make sure the party has a presence in each one of the state’s 33 counties and to articulate its agenda to support working families.

The Republican Party has been dormant in Rio Arriba County for years, with Democratic candidates frequently running unopposed in local races and the number of registered Democrats dwarfing the number of Republicans in the county by well over a 2-to-1 margin. A former Democrat is looking to change that. Patricia Salazar was born and raised a Democrat but registered as a Republican about two years ago. She showed up to a party meeting Saturday in Chama just looking to connect with other Republicans and ended up leaving as the Rio Arriba County Republican Party chairwoman. On the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Salazar joined Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to share her perspective on being a Republican in the Democratic stronghold and speak about her goals in her new position. Salazar said there are many people in the county who have Republican values but have been registered as Democrats so they can vote in primaries, since the victor often runs unopposed. She said she hopes to encourage more Republicans to challenge Democrats in local elections and to raise the number of registered Republicans in the county. She doesn’t expect the change to come without great effort. “It’s going to be a long, hard battle,” she said. Salazar also discussed her political identity and what it’s like to be a Republican in such a blue county. She discussed the experience of telling her parents, lifelong Democrats, that she was taking on a GOP leadership role and spoke about how she doesn’t want anyone to be embarrassed to admit that they’re Republican in Rio Arriba County anymore.

Michael Garcia earned a decisive victory in Santa Fe’s crowded mayoral race Tuesday night and has made a commitment to voters to improve transparency and accountability at City Hall. He’s already making moves to prepare to take the reins, putting in place members of a transition team and discussing priorities for his first months on the job. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Garcia speaks with Santa Fe New Mexican senior politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón about what the past couple of days have been like since his win and the pressure to deliver on his promises to Santa Feans, and deliver quickly. Garcia talks about who he has chosen so far for his transition team as he prepares to succeed two-term Mayor Alan Webber. He says some of his early priorities will include increasing resources to add more police officers and to restore the city’s parks department, and improving Santa Fe's Planning and Land Use Department. Chacón asks Garcia what he feels made him stand out from other candidates to voters and how he plans to deal with the brighter spotlight that he will face as the city’s top official. Garcia also discusses his approach to leadership, emphasizing a desire for holistic decision making that brings all viewpoints to the table.

New Mexico has the highest rate of SNAP participation in the country, with over 450,000 people receiving support through the federally funded food assistance program. The federal government has told states the benefits will run out in November if the federal shutdown persists, leaving local and state leaders bracing for the impact of a potential freeze of the program if a resolution isn’t achieved before Nov. 1. On the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón speaks with Jason Riggs, advocacy and public policy director for Roadrunner Food Bank in Albuquerque, who discusses the reliance of the state on SNAP benefits, the impact a stoppage of the program would have, and what food banks and communities are doing to attempt to fill in the gaps in food assistance. Riggs says the SNAP program can provide nine times the amount of meals that the entire nationwide food bank network can, making it an essential safety net for millions of people. That’s not a gap food banks can make up, even with ramping up their efforts, Riggs says. “We’re gearing up for an absolute public health crisis,” he said about the potential freeze of the SNAP program. Riggs discusses what the state is doing to try to support residents who rely on food assistance and how communities, faith-based organizations and restaurants are stepping up their efforts to help out. For people in need of help, Riggs says to call the Roadrunner Food Bank’s food assistance hotline at 505-349-5340 or go to www.rrfb.org and click “Find Help” to use a food finder tool that works for the entire state.

Ken Miyagishima has run in 14 elections and won 11 of them, including being voted mayor of Las Cruces for four consecutive terms that he served from 2007-2023. The self-described political moderate has an uphill battle to translate his election success to the statewide level as he faces two candidates in the Democratic primary for New Mexico governor who have greater name recognition and far more campaign funds. But Miyagishima says he still likes his chances. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” Santa Fe New Mexican senior state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón speaks with Miyagishima about background, his priorities for the state and how he plans to break through to voters against two more well-known candidates in Deb Haaland and Sam Bregman. Miyagishima discusses his upbringing in a military family, how the Vietnam War got him started in politics and his 30 years serving in public office. He then talks about the need for medical malpractice reform in New Mexico and what he calls a crisis of a lack of medical professionals in the state. He shares what he would do to improve the situation, including pushing for punitive damage caps, working on interstate compact agreements and forgiving a greater amount of student loans for doctors. Miyagishima touches on some of his other ideas, including a plan he says could reduce the price of new homes in New Mexico by 25% through utilizing the nonviolent state prison population in apprenticeships, as well as his public safety plan that would involve the creation of a new unit — the New Mexico Metro Police — to assist larger cities with local policing. Miyagishima also talks about what he feels sets him apart from his two opponents, how he would plan to approach border issues under the Trump administration, and his aim to replicate Las Cruces’ Community of Hope framework to address homelessness across the state.

New Mexico’s No. 1 ranking in MIT’s Election Performance Index that was released last year is something state election officials have proudly touted, but many are working to improve the state’s elections even further. Observe New Mexico Elections (ONME) is a nonpartisan observation effort that does work to increase trust and transparency in the state’s elections. Supported by The Carter Center, the organization trains and deploys nonpartisan election observers in precincts throughout New Mexico to report on how election laws and procedures are followed. Findings from the observations are then compiled to assess the overall quality of elections in the state. Carmen Lopez, co-lead for ONME, joins “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss the organization’s mission and work. She said ONME communicates with the secretary of state’s office and county clerks about any issues of concern that are observed so they can be improved, including to ensure people with disabilities have access to the polls and to see that counties provide language access to voters. Lopez said ONME will have about 165 observers in 11 municipalities, including Santa Fe, for municipal elections. There will be trainings for observers Oct. 25 and 26, and those interested can learn more by visiting observenmelections.org or emailing Lopez at carmen.lopez@observenmelections.org.

Letitia Montoya says collecting stray shopping carts dispersed throughout a city is a great way to understand a community and its issues. That’s what she’s been doing with her husband, Michael Segura, since June of 2023 through their company, Nebula Advisers LLC. The company is contracted by the city to collect and return stray carts to grocers and retailers. In the process, Montoya says she interacts with people from all walks of life, from members of the homeless population to business owners and shoppers. The experience, Montoya says, has greatly informed her campaign for mayor and her plan for the city. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” she discusses what she’s learned from her work and what she hopes to accomplish if elected mayor. Her priorities, she said, include increasing affordable housing, helping the homeless population and increasing wages for city employees. During the interview, Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón questions Montoya on a wide range of topics. He asks her to explain the two bankruptcy filings she and her husband have made in the last 16 years, and what she would say to voters who may have concerns about electing someone who has filed for bankruptcy. He also asks her to explain her plans for increasing the amount of affordable housing in the city, how she would address homelessness and how the city could afford to increase wages for its employees to the degree she hopes. Montoya also shares her thoughts on what should happen with the Soldiers’ Monument on the Plaza.

Jeanne O’Dean was the last candidate to enter the race for Santa Fe mayor and lacks the name recognition of others who are running, but she hopes her background in “disruptive innovation” resonates with voters enough to send her to City Hall. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” host Daniel J. Chacón speaks with O’Dean about her plans for the city and asks her why she feels the electorate should choose her. O’Dean talks about initiatives she hopes to accomplish, including building 1,000 affordable adobe homes, through the backing of significant philanthropic funding. Chacón presses O’Dean about the sources of the funding, which she says she is unable to reveal. O’Dean discusses the struggles she had with black mold prior to the time she announced her candidacy for mayor and says the city needs to do more to address black mold and fungus through inspections. She also talks about her own struggles with finding housing in Santa Fe and her experiences with Casa Familia and Consuelo’s Place. Born and raised in Iowa, O’Dean talks about her upbringing in the Hawkeye State. She also discusses her work in consulting and education that she says has taken her around the world. O’Dean ends the episode by addressing issues she has with some businesses around the Santa Fe Plaza and shares her plans for the Soldiers’ Monument.

Tarin Nix has had a taste of winning in New Mexico as a political consultant, including guiding Stephanie Garcia Richard to successful campaigns for the state House and, later, for state land commissioner. Now serving as the deputy commissioner of public affairs for the State Land Office, Nix is vying to win her own race in a crowded field of candidates running to be Santa Fe’s next mayor. Nix joins Santa Fe New Mexican state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón on the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to share her vision for the city and discuss what she feels sets her apart from the other candidates. Nix said she’s spent many hours combing through city records and understanding ordinances and statues. In her research, she said she has found that the city is not following many of its own laws and ordinances. While she said she wants to cut red tape to help the city accomplish key objectives such as building more affordable housing, she said she is also committed to making sure the city is following its own laws. Nix shares some of the top priories that she has outlined for the first 30 days if she is elected mayor. She also offers her thoughts on addressing the city’s housing shortage, fixing problems at City Hall, tackling wastewater issues, and more. The daughter of two teachers, Nix discusses her background, what drew her to New Mexico and why she loves Santa Fe. She also talks about her experience building coalitions and the accomplishments she's most proud of in her time at the State Land Office.

Oscar Rodriguez is a former finance director for the city of Santa Fe who has spent 30 years of his career in the public sector. He says his experiences serving in city management in communities large and small have given him the skills needed to be mayor of Santa Fe.  Rodriguez joins Santa Fe New Mexican politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak about his background and share his views on issues impacting the city in the latest of a series of interviews with Santa Fe mayoral candidates on the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast. An enrolled member of the Lipan Apache tribe, Rodriguez grew up in the Permian Basin and was the first in his family to go to college, earning a bachelor’s degree from Harvard and a master’s degree with a specialization in city management from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Since 2016, he has served as the CFO for the New Mexico Finance Authority, where he said he manages $3.5 billion in assets.  Chacón asks Rodriguez how he plans to compete in a mayoral race while lacking the name recognition and visibility of some of the other candidates. Rodriguez also speaks on how he’s been balancing his job as New Mexico Finance Authority CFO with campaigning for mayor.  Rodriguez shares how the city’s shortcomings in basic services spurred him to run for office. He lists improving the quality of the city’s services among his top priorities, along with addressing the lack of affordable housing in Santa Fe. Rodriguez also discusses his plans to improve public safety and how he would address homelessness in the city.  As former finance director in the Javier Gonzalez administration, Rodriguez shares how how would handle annual audits if elected mayor. He also discusses what he would like to do with the Soldiers’ Monument on the Santa Fe Plaza, offering a plan that he admits has its critics.

JoAnne Vigil Coppler has served for two Santa Fe mayors and two New Mexico governors during her career and has worked in every branch of government. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” she touts her decades of experience as what will give her the edge in her second campaign to be Santa Fe’s mayor.  Vigil Coppler finished runner-up to Alan Webber in the 2021 election and said she gained a lot from the experience that she can lean on in her current campaign. She said she feels more comfortable being herself, sharing her message and handling the demands that come with running for mayor.  The former Santa Fe city councilor said she is disappointed in the job Webber has done in office, and the state of the city prompted her to want to run again.  Vigil Coppler said the city needs to get tougher on crime, which she noted as the most important issue facing Santa Fe. She also discussed her plans for creating more affordable housing in Santa Fe and mentioned the need to streamline the permitting process that has been plagued by backlogs. When asked what needs to be done about the toppled Soldiers’ Monument in the center of the Plaza, Vigil Coppler said there needs to be action instead of continuing to delay a decision that has been drawn out for years. 

A chaotic first day as a foster parent dealing with the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department led Maralyn Beck to have a panic attack after thinking a baby had been lost due to a failure of communication by the department. Things didn’t get better from there, and the serious issues she witnessed and learned of in the months to follow led her to found a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children in foster care and empowering those who serve them. Beck, who is the executive director of the New Mexico Child First Network, has been working as an advocate to hold CYFD and New Mexico’s leaders to account over the past several years. She joins Santa Fe New Mexican senior politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón in the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to share her perspective on the state of CYFD, which she says is broken and “worse than it’s ever been” in her time dealing with the department. Beck expresses her frustration with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham in what Beck considers a further degradation of the long-troubled department in the governor’s two terms in office. She also shares her thoughts on how Teresa Casados has performed in her time as CYFD Cabinet secretary. She recounts several instances of fatalities and near fatalities of children who have been in CYFD custody. She also discusses large-scale issues that are leading to last-in-the-nation outcomes for New Mexico’s children in need, and what she thinks needs to be done to lead to improvements in child welfare services in the state.

Former Santa Fe City Councilor Ron Trujillo had an unsuccessful run for mayor in 2018, finishing second to Alan Webber. Trujillo has been a vocal critic of Webber during his two terms in office, especially concerning cultural issues and what he feels is a degradation of basic services.  Trujillo is back on the campaign trail as one of eight candidates who are looking to succeed Webber as Santa Fe’s top leader. He joined Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón for the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss his background and his stance on some of the big issues facing the city. Chacón asks Trujillo about his motivation for running for mayor a second time, and the large field of candidates who he’s competing against in the ranked-choice race. He later asks about Trujillo’s plans for affordable housing and his thoughts on initiatives to scale back the power of Santa Fe’s mayor. Trujillo also discusses what he would do as mayor regarding the toppled Plaza obelisk.   This is the third interview in Around the Roundhouse’s series of interviews with Santa Fe’s mayoral candidates, following interviews with Justin Green and Michael Garcia. 

Alisha Tafoya Lucero was appointed by Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham to be the secretary of the New Mexico Department of Corrections in 2019 and has served in that role for more than six years. In the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse,” she joins Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón to speak on her path to becoming Corrections Department secretary and the work she has done during her time in the role.  Tafoya Lucero speaks about her focus on reentry programs to help give inmates the skills and education to enter the workforce after their time in prison. She also discusses the department’s efforts to reduce recidivism and her goals moving forward.  Chacón asks Tafoya Lucero questions about the state’s work to phase out private prisons. They also touch on the topics of restricted housing in corrections facilities, providing health care to the inmate population, and efforts the department can take to reduce its liabilities.

Ray Sandoval has been involved with Burning of Zozobra since he was 6 years old and took over as event chairman for the Santa Fe spectacle in 2012. He’s been involved in a firestorm ahead of the 2025 burning due to the recent removal of 12 Siberian elm trees for safety concerns, an action that has drawn sharp criticism from some members of the community. Sandoval joined Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel J. Chacón on Wednesday in the latest episode of “Around the Roundhouse” to discuss the reasoning and process behind the removal. He talks about the timeline of events that led up to the felling of the trees and the safety issues that he says necessitated their removal for the large-scale event, which drew an estimated 65,000 people for the 100th burning last year. Chacón questions Sandoval about the messaging of the need to remove the trees, and what he may have done differently in communicating to the public. Sandoval says that he’ll live with the criticism because he believes the tree removal will make the event safer. The discussion turns to Zozobra’s budget and the attendance required to have the event make sense financially. Sandoval mentions that an endowment was started last year to help set the event up for the future. Sandoval also discusses how much longer he plans to serve as event chair, and gives some hints about what to expect for the August 29 burning.

Sam LeDoux has worked on the campaigns and political teams of some big names in New Mexico and the nation, including former Gov. Susana Martinez, the late Arizona Sen. John McCain, former Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey and former Maryland Gov. Larry Hogan. LeDoux was elected to serve on the city council of his hometown of Española in March of 2024, and he says he’s seen a lot of dysfunction in his relatively short time in local politics, particularly in the past couple of months.  LeDoux joined “Around the Roundhouse” this week to share his view on the chaos and confusion that’s taken a grip on city government.  John Ramon Vigil, the city’s mayor, has been accused of sexually assaulting a city worker and has been asked to step down or resign by several city councilors, including LeDoux. Former City Manager Eric Lujan left his position at the end of May, after Española city councilors voted 5-3 to approve a settlement that allowed him to resign but continue working in a newly created position of “special projects coordinator.” Vigil’s choice for a replacement city manager was rejected by the city council, and LeDoux says Vigil has not attended several meetings to discuss a path forward.  “Basically, there is no leadership at the city right now. Employees are very confused,” LeDoux said. “Morale is at an all-time low. The city has basically had difficulty functioning because no one knows who is calling the shots.” Amid the latest round dysfunction in Española, “Around the Roundhouse” host Daniel J. Chacón asks what it will take to turn around the city government.  Chacón then chats with LeDoux about the governor’s race and who he thinks will come out of the Democratic primary.  LeDoux, a moderate Republican, talks about what he thinks of the MAGA movement under President Donald Trump. He is also asked if he has aspirations for higher office.  Chacón closes the episode by asking LeDoux about his proposal — he popped the question during a Washington Nationals game — and upcoming wedding. 

Roger Montoya has been a stalwart in the Española Valley for decades in his effort to help lead youth on the right path by connecting them with artistic outlets. Recognized as a CNN Hero in 2019, Montoya remains deeply involved in Moving Arts Española, the nonprofit organization he co-founded 18 years ago, as he continues the mission of setting up young people in rural communities for a life of success. Montoya joined “Around the Roundhouse” on Wednesday afternoon before the premiere of “Moving Arts: Setting Hearts Ablaze,” a documentary by DocuFilms that shows the positive impact Moving Arts Española has on the community. In the interview, Santa Fe New Mexican reporter Daniel Chacón speaks with Montoya about the new film and the formula that has allowed Moving Arts to make a difference in the lives of thousands of young people who have passed through the program. Montoya discusses what inspired him to get involved in helping youth through art. He talks about the new community pilot program called PIVOT that is meant to change the trajectory of justice-involved youth. Montoya also reveals early plans for a new space for Moving Arts, which has been on a month-to-month lease in Ohkay Owingeh for the past two years. Chacón also asks Montoya about his time in the state House of Representatives. Montoya shares his trepidation about entering politics, and what he learned about life in the Legislature during his two years on the job. To learn more about Moving Arts Española and how to support the organization, visit movingartsespanola.org.