CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY CHAIR
Henry Roybal (Male/Man)
I am proud to have been asked to throw my name in the hat for chair of the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County. My parents Henry and Amelia Roybal and I are life-long residents of Santa Fe County and I have been involved with the community throughout my life. I have been a member of DPSFC since 1988. I termed out on December 31st as Santa Fe County Commissioner for District 1 after 8 years in office, including several where I served as chair or vice chair. Commission District 1 is a very diverse district as it is the northern part of Santa Fe County which includes the northern portion of the city of Santa Fe and the southern portion of the city of Espanola and all rural communities between them. This district also includes the pueblos of Tesuque, Pojoaque, Nambe, San Ildefonso and some land of Santa Clara. As I move on from that phase of my life, I wish to give back to DPSFC as Party Chair and continue to make Santa Fe County proud. My experience on the Board of County Commissioners as well as my participation on multiple statewide and regional boards and commissions will help me in the role of chair. I have presided over meetings on all kinds of issues – some of them very contentious and I feel my calm demeanor and cooperative attitude will fit in well with the County Committee. My first act as party chair would be to meet with the various wards to listen to any ideas or concerns the members have and discern what goals they would like to achieve going forward. Then I would assemble a team to discuss and prioritize those goals and formulate a plan to achieve those goals going forwards. I believe that in order to remain vibrant, any organization including DPSFC has to remain vibrant by keeping current members interested while at the same time recruiting new members who will bring new energy and ideas. My goal would be to have everyone believe they can make a difference in the future of the County party and the nation as a whole. As the new chair, I would follow on from the capable and successful leadership of outgoing chair Bernadette Vadurro by keeping the party in shape with a sound financial footing. I have run three campaigns of my own, two at the county level and one at the state level so I understand the ins and outs of proving support and assistance to Democratic candidates. Both these campaigns and being on the County Commission have helped me set up a strong network on contacts throughout the state and county. I believe I can help to recruit new volunteers in the county and provide the leadership and encouragement our Democratic candidates need. I have worked with many DPSFC members in many capacities over the years including when I coached youth sports programs in the Pojoaque Valley.
Christ Mechels (Male/Man)
I am reluctantly running for Chair of the Santa Fe County Democratic Party. I am 83 years of age and had hoped to support someone who shares my concerns. Failing that I nominate myself. My history, in Los Alamos and Tesuque, is one of involvement in the community. At Los Alamos, I was the Vice President of the Unitarians, LACACIS (a nuclear arms control group), a member of the Transportation Board, and a Toast Master. I formed, by request, a meditation group, and led a weekly Philosophy Group. My LANL career was as a Technical Staff Member in the Computing Division, where, with other duties involving Super Computing, I developed the LANL Software Management Plan, as the Computing Division Quality Manager. Since my retirement, at age 55, in 1994 I have been very active in local issues, including serving as the Vice President of CLER (Citizens for LANL Employee Rights). I have, since 2013, in response to the killing of Jeanette Anaya in Santa Fe by the NMSP, been active in seeking reform of the New Mexico police policies and training, mostly at the Law Enforcement Academy Board which governs police training in New Mexico. My two current concerns are with DPNM Rules, which had been in violation of the Election Code since 2001, and OMA (Open Meetings Act) violations by our Santa Fe County Board of Commissioners, dating back to 2013. My interest as Chair would be to investigate what role the Party can play, in addition to supporting Democratic candidates, in supporting the “Rule of Law” in our County and State The Party has a role in holding candidates running under our banner to the goals of our Party. I think this role has been neglected and is important in restoring the law in our state. Party oversight could make a major difference. The Rule of Law, stripped of all technicalities, means that the government in all its actions is bound by rules fixed and announced beforehand—rules which make it possible to foresee with fair certainty how the authority will use its coercive powers in given circumstances and to plan one’s individual affairs on the basis of this knowledge. Going forward, I believe that our Party, as the dominant party in New Mexico, has a special role to play, in supporting, and demanding, the “Rule of Law”. We cannot address New Mexico’s many problems without reforms, and our party CAN make a difference. I further believe that if we, you and I, become more active, we can energize the Democratic Party, and attract those who, like us, wish to re-establish the law in our state as the basis for improving State governance. Passing laws has little effect if laws aren’t followed
CANDIDATES FOR COUNTY VICE CHAIR
David Thompson (Male/Man)
I’m running for re-election as Vice-Chair of the county Democratic Party. I believe I’ve been able to contribute significantly over the last two years and I’m willing to continue in the role. Politics has always been my passion. I’ve been active in political campaigns for progressive candidates and causes since the early ‘60’s, and during that time I’ve done just about everything you can do in campaigns, from knocking on doors and putting up signs, to raising money, to canvass organizing, to chairing and managing campaigns. I was also co-chair, and one of the key organizers, of the Santa Fe Living Wage Network, and I’m very proud of the broad, community-based campaign that gave us what was then the highest minimum wage in the nation. I joined the Democratic Party in 2016, because Bernie Sanders’ campaign made me begin to see the Democratic Party as a real vehicle for change. And I’ve stayed involved. For the last four years I’ve served as chair of one of the more active wards, Ward 4C. There I’ve helped organize door-to-door canvassing every (non-COVID) year since 2017. In 2020, I organized the phoning and texting for the county party’s pre-primary campaign. And over the last two General Election campaigns, I’ve built a large texting organization, with several team leaders leading several dozen texters in texting all over the state. (And I’m proud that several of those team leaders have since stepped up to leadership roles within the county party). I also organized texting for Neomi Martinez-Parra’s and Katy Duhigg’s State Senate campaigns, and we’re currently texting here in Santa Fe County to get Democrats out to ward meetings. I see myself as primarily an organizer, getting people involved and getting them out there talking to people. That’s kind of work I’ve done over the last two years, and that I expect to continue – bringing people in, training them, and encouraging them to take on new roles – roles that maybe go a little beyond their comfort levels. We have a lot of work to do if we’re going to continue to have the kind of success we’ve had recently. There are communities that have strongly supported us that aren’t as engaged as they should be, or as they have in the past. Those communities include: 1. Youth – we’ve made some efforts to reach young independent voters, but we need to keep reaching out, and not just during election campaigns. 2. Low-Turnout Areas – turnout in working class communities around the county is nowhere near as high as elsewhere. I think we need to consider how to better engage with potential voters in these communities 3. Rural Areas – we need to learn from leaders in rural areas in this county and elsewhere who’ve done effective organizing, and support and expand on those efforts. To conclude: it takes many people, working together, to build a better future for the people of Santa Fe County and beyond. I believe I can contribute to that work.
Mary Jane Parks (Female/Woman)
Hello Democrats! I am a lifelong environmental, peace, and political activist. I am currently serving the party as the 2nd Vice Chair of DPSFC and previously have been elected Ward Chair for two terms. I have led the party’s efforts to oversee the 2022 elections by organizing poll challengers, helping organize fundraising, plan events, and conduct get out vote projects across the county. As an energy executive for more than 30 years, I have worked in publicly owned utilities and private start-up renewable energy companies in the ocean wave and offshore wind sectors. I led efforts to install the first FERC-licensed wave energy power plant in the United States in 2007, and as an early change agent for public utilities, in 1996, I built the first solar-powered electric car recharging station on a new construction building in California. I am currently working as Senior Advisor at the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission where I conduct ratepayer advocacy in community solar, transportation electrification, and other renewable energy programs and policies that build net zero carbon and clean energy initiatives. A 1986 graduate of Occidental College, I also earned a master’s degree in organizational management at the University of Chicago. I am a lifelong volunteer helping to support human services, environmental, and peace and justice causes: In the 1980s, I was a member of WAND. In 1990, I represented my church in a Peace Discussion with American, Ukrainian, Japanese, and Russian citizens. I have canvassed for Democratic candidates in every election since 1984. Today, I support homeless and shelter care, foster care and adoption services, regenerative farming, public education, youth swimming, and theater organizations. I ran the data system for several state swimming championships. I have sewed costumes for many local community theater productions! My husband Don Moseley, who speaks Greek and Navajo, and our 18-year-old son have lived in Santa Fe for 15 years. Don previously lived in Farmington for 30 years. I am eager to help serve the Santa Fe County Democratic Party in our continued efforts to grow, get out the vote across diverse parts of the county, lead fundraising for Democratic candidates, educate new voters, and lead poll challenger efforts to witness free and fair elections. “I really enjoy working with the hard-working, diverse, and talented groups and people in New Mexico. Democracy wins when citizens vote. I’m glad to be working with my fellow Democrats to help vote in our Democratic candidates.”
Letitia Montoya (Female/Woman)
Thank you for the opportunity to share my reasons for running for the position of Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County in New Mexico. First and foremost, I am Letitia Montoya, and I am deeply committed to the values and principles of the Democratic Party. I believe that the Democratic Party represents the best hope for ensuring that every person in our county, state, and country has access to the opportunities they need to thrive. From expanding access to quality healthcare and education to protecting our environment and fighting for social justice, the Democratic Party is committed to creating a more just and equitable society for all. As someone who has been involved in Democratic politics for many years, I believe that I have the skills and experience necessary to make a meaningful contribution to the work of the Santa Fe County Democratic Party. I have a deep understanding of the political landscape in our county and state, and I have worked closely with Democratic candidates and elected officials at all levels of government. If elected as Vice Chair of the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County, I, Letitia Montoya, will work tirelessly to help build a stronger, more effective party organization. I will be a vocal advocate for our party’s values and priorities, and I will work to mobilize voters and volunteers to support Democratic candidates and causes. One of my top priorities as Vice Chair will be to help build a more inclusive and diverse party. I believe that the Democratic Party must be a big tent that welcomes people from all walks of life, regardless of their background or identity. I, Letitia Montoya, will work to ensure that our party is a place where everyone feels welcome and valued, and where we celebrate the diversity that makes our county and state so special. Another key priority for me will be to help build stronger relationships between the Santa Fe County Democratic Party and other progressive organizations and advocacy groups in our community. By working together, we can amplify our collective voices and achieve a greater impact on the issues that matter most to our community. Finally, I, Letitia Montoya, am running for this office because I believe that we need strong, effective leadership at all levels of government in order to address the many challenges facing our county, state, and country. From climate change and healthcare reform to economic inequality and social justice, we need leaders who are willing to roll up their sleeves and get to work on behalf of the people they serve. I am Letitia Montoya, and I am ready to be that kind of leader. I believe that the Democratic Party of Santa Fe County can play a crucial role in building a better future for all of us. I humbly ask for your support and your vote in the upcoming election. Thank you.