West Side Forum

Capitalism Has No Place in Healthcare Jerry Ortiz y Pino,NM Senator, District 12  This nation’s sputtering, inept response to the Covid-19 pandemic has sparked a mountain of self-analysis from academic and political observers of the health care policy world.  Why were we so unprepared to deal with the virus when other nations responded both faster and more effectively? The answer, I believe, is tightly-linked to the other questions about the sad state of our health care that fill pages of space in journals and political…

Message From The ChairBy Flora Lucero On the eve of New Mexico’s Primary Election, I honor the Democratic candidates who have stepped up to run for elected office. Thank you for working to earn the support of your communities. As Democrats, I trust that you wish to serve and represent your communities’ interests, and I will do my best to support you in that endeavor. And to all Bernalillo Democrats, today we cross the threshold from Primary to General Election. With that turning point,…

Heroes in Our Midst By Lance Chilton On May 25, we celebrated Memorial Day and the heroes who helped us to victory over aggressors in Europe just more than 100 years ago and then again over the fascists of Europe and the Pacific in the Second World War. On that day I was in Gallup, observing and working alongside other heroes hard at work in a fight against another aggressive enemy, the coronavirus. As you may know, the coronavirus (SARS-Cov-2) has hit the Navajo…

As announced in the May 11 newsletter, Chair Ellen Coplen is stepping down to become Chair of the WSD Communications Committee. In order to elect a new Chair, we are calling for nominations among the membership. If you are a current WSD member (dues paid for 2020) and you would like to nominate a candidate, please submit your nomination (Name, qualifications and desire) to chair@westsidedems.org by May 25. We will email the names and information submitted by the nominated candidates to the WSD membership…

Rayellen Smith; Activist with a Big Heart & a Big Skill Set Rayellen Smith West Side Democrat Rayellen Smith has always been at the forefront of a movement that helps others.  After the 2016 Presidential election, she paired her organizing talents with her despair and was elected as the President of Indivisible Nob Hill shortly after merging with her own Indivisible group. Indivisible Nob Hill is progressive, activist non-partisan political organization that now boasts more than 180 dues paying members and more than 1200…

As announced in the May 11 newsletter, Chair Ellen Coplen is stepping down to become Chair of the WSD Communications Committee. In order to elect a new Chair, we are calling for nominations among the membership. If you are a current WSD member (dues paid for 2020) and you would like to nominate a candidate, please submit your nomination (Name, qualifications and desire) to chair@westsidedems.org by May 25.  We will email the names and information submitted by the nominated candidates to the WSD membership by June 1; then conduct an…

State Representative District 13 Profiles Patricia Roybal Caballero Edwina Cisneros House District 13 is on Albuquerque’s West Mesa. Democrat Patricia Roybal Caballero has represented this district since 2013. She is being challenged in the June 2 primary by Democrat Edwina Cisneros. The winner will face Republican Kayla Marshall in the general election. Ms. Roybal Caballero is a retired community and economic developer. She has also worked as a public administrator. Ms. Cisneros is a business management specialist at Sandia Labs. She is working on…

Public Regulation Commission Candidate Profile Brian Harris candidate for PRC District 3 Joseph Maestas candidate for PRC District 3 Two Democrats from Santa Fe are running for PRC commissioner from District 3, to replace two term commissioner Valerie Espinoza. PRC District 3 covers parts of Albuquerque’s westside and northcentral New Mexico. This includes Santa Fe, Espanola and Taos. Brian Harris is an attorney who has spent his career working on behalf of ratepayers. Currently he is on leave from his position as Advisor to…

State Rep. Damon Ely State Rep. Damon Ely, who is running for re-election NM House District 23, will meet over (virtual) coffee with voters in his Bernalillo and Sandoval Counties district. The first session will be May 30. "I will be holding coffee meetings with every ward and precinct in the near future. It is really important to me to hear how this pandemic is affecting every constituent, and how I as a legislator can support them. I couldn't think of a better way…

During this extremely difficult time, we are learning that American heroes can be found throughout our community.  Alton Casaus, owner of the Taylor’d Ranch Barber Shop is one.  The coronavirus pandemic forced him to close his barber shop and release his employees.  He lost his income, and assumed teaching duties for his two children, ages 10 and 4, when their school closed and classes moved online. His wife also brought her job home because of the pandemic. Alton is a master barber who has…