Democracy for New Mexico

Native American Voters Alliance Hosts Candidate Forum This Saturday

From Sage Council, NAVA:
The Native American Voters Alliance (NAVA) is hosting a candidate forum this Saturday, October 14, at the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center (2401 12th Street NW) in Albuquerque from 6 to 8 PM. Speaking will be candidates from the 1st Congressional District race (Heather Wilson v. Patricia Madrid), the Attorney General race (Gary King v. Jim Bibb), the Secretary of State race (Vickie Perea v. Mary Herrera), the Land Commissioner race (Jim Baca v. Pat Lyons) and the State Treasurer race (James Lewis v. Demesia Padilla).

To Tax or Not to Tax: a Forum on the Bernalillo County Quality of Life Initiative

From the League of Women Voters of Albuquerque/Bernalillo County:

You're invited to a forum to learn more about the Quality of Life gross receipts tax proposed by Bernalillo County on Saturday, October 14, at 9:00 AM, at the Courtyards at Cutler Clubhouse, at 2403 San Mateo NE. There will be coffee and refreshments at 9:00 AM, and the forum will start at 9:30 AM.

On November 7, voters will be asked to approve the Quality of Life Gross Receipts Tax. Proceeds from this tax would be dedicated to cultural programs and activities. It has been the subject of much community debate.

Please join us for the first installment in LWV/ABC's new Voter Education Series, where the pros and cons of this tax will be discussed.

JUDY ANDERSON, member of the Quality of Life Campaign's Executive Committee, will speak in favor of the tax with "The Quality of Life Initiative 2006."

QUENTIN CHANDLER, Vice President of Business Advocacy and Government Relations at the Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce, will speak on the other side of the issue. His presentation is entitled "If We Support the Quality of Life Initiative, Let's Get It Right."

Editor's Note: Thanks to Michelle Meaders for the heads up on this.

Santa Fe Benefit for Gary King Campaign 10/13

Please Join Hosts
John Howard  *  Javier Gonzales
Nancy Long  *  John Pound
Bernie Logue y Perea  *  Eduardo Martinez
Maryellen Duprel
In Welcoming & Supporting
Gary King, Candidate for Attorney General
Friday, October 13th, 2006
5:30 – 7:00 PM
At The Gerald Peters Gallery
1011 Paseo De Peralta
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Sponsor $500.00  Patron  $250.00  Ticket  $100.00.
RSVP:  Chris Khoury – (505) 237-0103

Gov. Richardson & Lt. Gov. Denish Host Benefit for Hector Balderas and Mary Herrera Campaigns 10/13

October 13th

Governor Bill Richardson and Lt. Governor Diane Denish

Invite you To A Reception In Support of Hector Balderas Candidate for State Auditor

And

Mary Herrera Candidate for Secretary of State

Friday October 13, 2006 5:30 – 7:00 p.m.

At 10445 4th Street NW Albuquerque (Across from El Pinto Restaurant)

Suggested Contribution Levels:

Sponsors - $2,000 ($1,000 per campaign)

Supporters - $1,000 ($500 per campaign)

Guests - $500 ($250 per campaign)

Contributions should be made payable to:

Committee to Elect Hector Balderas and Committee to Elect Mary Herrera

Checks can be sent to: PO Box 30561 Albuquerque, NM 87190

RSVP to 385-5900

Paid for by the Committee to Elect Diane Denish – Ted Martinez, Chair

Today: Madeleine Albright, Patricia Madrid to Discuss Intelligence Failures, Need for Change

Attorney General Patricia Madrid, the Democratic challenger in the NM-01 congressional race, and former U.N. Ambassador and U.S. Secretary of State Madeleine Albright will today discuss the intelligence failures that led us to war and the need to take national security in a new direction to make America safer.

The event will take place at the American Legion Post 72, 5107 Central NW (just east of Old Coors), at 4:00 PM, Monday, October 9 (TODAY). The public is invited to attend. Click for map.

10/12: HANM Community Meeting on Behavioral Health

UPDATE: Per Marvin Moss, this is also a joint meeting with the Democratic Party of Bernalillo County, which replaces this month's Third Thursday meeting.

HEALTH ACTION NEW MEXICO COMMUNITY MEETING
Thursday, October 12th, 6:30-8:00 PM
COMPASS BANK BLDG.
2444 Louisiana NE (south of Menaul)
NMSU Offices, First Floor Foyer- enter in back

“NM Behavioral Health Services ... How Does it Work? Does It Work?”

Presenters: State Behavioral Health Collaborative, Karen Meador; HSD Value Options of New Mexico, Pam Galbreth; CEO Bernalillo County Local Collaborative, Peter Cubra

Join us! Everyone Welcome.

Benefit for Moe Maestas for State Rep. Campaign 10/11

October 11th

Please Join Co-Hosts
Lori Bencoe • Kris Bogardus • Bill Carpenter
Brian S. Colón • Phil Gaddy • Dusti Harvey
David Jaramillo • Kathy Love • Ron Morgan
Feliz Rael • David Stout • Pat Sullivan
Mia Touchet • Gabrielle Valdez • Ray Vargas
To Support
Antonio “Moe” Maestas
State Representative, District 16
2025 San Pedro Drive NE
Wednesday, October 11, 2006
5:30 – 7:00 p.m.
Suggested Contribution: $100 per person
Payable To: Committee to Elect Maestas
RSVP (505) 254-9090
Authorized by Antonio “Moe” Maestas for State Representative, Chris Catechis, Treasurer

You're Invited: BBQ with Gov. Richardson & Dem Candidates This Sunday

The Democratic Party of Santa Fe County, in conjunction with AFSCME Local 477, invites you to a BBQ with Governor Bill Richardson in support of the entire Democratic ticket. Candidates who have confirmed they will attend include Sen. Jeff Bingaman, Rep. Tom Udall, Gov. Bill Richardson, Lt. Gov. Diane Denish, Attorney General candidate Gary King, State Treasurer candidate James Lewis, Secretary of State candidate Mary Herrera, State Auditor candidate Hector Balderas and many more.

Sunday, October 8th
Capella Vieja Ranch Ranch in La Cienga
11 AM to 3 PM
I-25 to Exit 271 and follow signs
Live Entertainment, Games, Plenty of Food
Click for flyer (pdf)

For more information call Minnie Gallegos at 505-471-1744.

League of Independent Voters Presents 'Heather Wilson Is a Joke!'

Borrowed from m-pyre:
Join the League of Independent Voters for a hillarious night of comedy, as we poke fun at our "favorite" NM District 1 Congresswoman (Heather Wilson). All proceeds of this fundraiser event will work towards building community power through local politics. Oh, and the evening's host will be none other than "Pleather Wilson" him-uh, i mean herself...

Saturday October 7th 2006, 8:00-9:30 PM
Gorilla Tango Comedy Theatre
519 Central (Downtown Abq, NM)
$20 Presales available now! Buy online- www.gorillatango.com.
See flyer below the fold.

(Click on image for larger version.)

Michael Weinstein to Discuss 'With God On Our Side' at Page One

(Click on image for larger version.)

“With God on Our Side is the story of one man’s willingness to stand up for the Constitution of the United States. Arrayed against Mikey Weinstein are those who would transform the United States military, our most revered institution, into a force of evangelical crusaders, intolerant of the diversity of our society and willfully subversive of our national security interests. It is an important call to arms for all who love our country and the principles for which it stands.” —Ambassador Joseph C. Wilson IV, author of The Politics of Truth

“U.S. Air Force Academy graduate Mikey Weinstein’s struggle to keep his beloved school—and the U.S. military—a secular institution has meaning for all of us. Wherever you are on America’s religious and political spectrums, you’ll find With God on Our Side a challenging and provocative read.” —Ray Suarez, author of The Holy Vote: The Politics of Faith in America, and senior correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer

“No one I know is more willing than Mikey Weinstein to take on such a tough, unpopular issue that goes to the very heart of one of our nation’s most important and long cherished principles. Read this book to understand why we should all share Mikey’s concern.” —Robert T. Herres, General, USAF (Retired), former vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

The book's inside flap has this to say:

"One of the most elite educational institutions in the world, the Air Force Academy has, from its inception, attracted the best and the brightest, producing leaders not only in the military but throughout American society.

"In recent years, however, the Academy has also been producing a cadre of zealous evangelical Christians intent on creating a fundamentalist power base at the highest levels of our country.

"With God on Our Side is shocking exposé of life inside the United States Air Force Academy and the systematic program of indoctrination sanctioned, coordinated, and carried out by fundamentalist Christians within the U.S. military.

"It is also the story of Michael L. Weinstein, a proud Academy graduate and the father of two graduates and a current cadet, who single-handedly brought to light the evangelicals’ utter disregard of the constitutional principle of separation of church and state that is so essential to the nation’s military mission. Weinstein’s war would pit him and his small band of fellow graduates, cadets, and concerned citizens against a program of Christian fundamentalist indoctrination that could transform our fighting men and women into “right-thinking” warriors more befitting a theocracy. In the process, he would come face to face with religious bigotry and at its most extreme and fight an unrelenting battle to save his beloved Academy, the ideals it stood for, and the very future of the country.

"An important book at a critical time in our nation’s history, With God on Our Side is the story of one man’s courageous struggle to thwart a creeping evangelism permeating America’s military and to prevent a taxpayer-funded theocracy in which only the true believers have power."

Click to read more about Weinstein. The goals and activities of the organization he founded to confront the military on its religious intolerance are discussed at the website of the Military Religious Freedom Foundation.