Letters to the Editor
Ruling still doesn’t solve problems
Editor:
Recent developments in Las Cruces serve to confirm for many of us that judges in New Mexico are a wholesale commodity. Businessman Edgar Lopez is (alleged) to be the “bagman” who collects envelopes stuffed with money to buy judgeships from former Gov. Bill Richardson. The question hanging concerns where else is there a bagman collecting bribes for New Mexico officials? We all know it was not a problem isolated to Las Cruces. Present Gov. Susan Martinez knows this, too.
Here, in Socorro, last week we got some exposure to a judge that was imported from Quay County to sit over a case involving the Socorro Electric Coop’s Trustees suing their own members. Whatever the reasons for Judge Mitchell being nominated to his seat, many of us are grateful he was able to judge the case on its merits. He ruled the trustees had to implement the requirements of bylaws duly voted in by the membership. Thanks, Judge Mitchell. However, that doesn’t solve the problem.
It might not have been the same result had we been subject to a different judge. Local politics and connections seem to trump law enforcement in Socorro, on occasion. If I had assaulted someone in the courthouse I suspect I’d be in jail right now. If I was videotaped committing arson or stealing copper, I suspect I’d be in jail. If I’d locked a young woman in the trunk of a car and left her to die, I suspect I’d be in jail. If I’d been pulled over by the police for DWI on numerous occasions, while driving a company car, I suspect I’d have been jailed, fired, and lost my driving privileges. Of course, I’m not a contributor to anyone’s political campaign — mayor, sheriff, district attorney, nor judge.
The SEC Board Trustees, with a few exceptions, appear to conspire to operate the co-op for their own financial gain and violate the legal wishes of their membership. This is not cause for any investigations by the law enforcement community and these conspirators have numerous supporters in the local community who are willing to accost members seeking reforms. Accost with violence.
No one defends illegal activity, or allows it to continue unchecked, unless they have a vested interest themselves. Who will defend SEC members?
The major electricity customers of the co-op (NM Tech, city of Socorro, Socorro County, the VLA, WSMR, etc.) have remained resoundingly silent about the co-op’s misadventures and profligate ways. They must be satisfied with a co-op that’s unable to meet its obligations and is under fire from various positions. Ask yourselves why. What’s their gain?
Judge Mitchell ruled that all actions by the board of trustees not in compliance with the Open Meetings Act since April, 2010, have been invalidated. The board’s attorney, Dennis Francish, will no doubt advise the trustees to ignore this admonition … Having the members drag them back into court pleases Francish mightily, I’m sure. And, there are now (people) coming out of the shadows to allegedly assault co-op members seeking reform.
Who will defend SEC members? If local officials won’t … what recourse will remain for us? It’s not a pretty picture nor a desirable prospect.
Herbert Myers, Socorro
Coverage of co-op appreciated
Editor:
The reporting on the court case and Judge Mitchell’s work was excellent. The reporting on the filing of the assault complaint against Xavier Cortez and the information provided on the last SEC illegal board meeting was most enlightening for us owners not in attendance at either function.
Thank goodness you feel responsible for representing those of us who cannot be squeezed into a board meeting room or cannot attend for reasons of distance, timing, etc., although we all understand we need to be involved.
When will the revised/new bylaws be published?
How do we determine when it is that the SEC board will comply with the new bylaws?
Why is Mr. Bustamante so opposed to providing the compliance to the bylaws we voted for?
Who do we look to for enforcement of the rules/laws (other than Mr. Wagner)?
Why am I sending this to you rather than the SEC?
Please keep up the great work you are doing for your readers.
Jim Rushing, Socorro