Democratic Candidates List and Some Helpful Voting Info

If you’ve already voted, please share this information with your friends and family who haven’t. If you have not voted yet, it’s time to make a plan. You can study a sample ballot in Democratic Party Headquarters at 405 Main Street. There should also be a pamphlet there explaining the ballot measures that are on side 2 of the ballot. Party HQ hours are Friday and Saturday 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Tuesdays 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and sometimes additional hours when a volunteer is available. (Look for the OPEN sign outside the door for those extra, unscheduled hours.)

If you use reading glasses, remember to bring them with you when you vote. There is some small print on the ballot, and you have to read with care, since party affiliation is not presented in a fixed order—i.e. not always “Democrat, Republican, Libertarian” or “Republican, Libertarian, Democrat,” etc. Rather, it varies with the office.

Democratic Candidates List:

Executive and Legislative:

Governor: Michelle Lujan Grisham

Lt. Governor: Howie Morales

Attorney General: Raul Torrez

Land Commissioner: Stephanie Garcia Richard

State Treasurer: Laura Montoya

State Auditor: Joseph Maestas

Secretary of State: Maggie Toulouse Oliver

US Congressional District 2: Gabe Vasquez

NM House District 38 Representative: Tara Jaramillo

­­Sierra County Sheriff: Michael Lanford

(Note: there is not a Democrat running for NM house district 49)

Judges

New Mexico Supreme Court: Michael Vigil, Julie Vargas, Briana Zamora,

New Mexico Appeals Court:Jane Yohalem, Gerald Baca, Katherine Wray

NM 7th District: Roscoe Woods

(Note: Some of the judges above are not party-affiliated, but they have our support.)

Thanks for being a voter! Spread the word!

October Meeting Agenda and Request for Election Observers

The state Democratic Party recommends we beef up our monitoring of the November election. They suggest we have poll challengers for early voting as well as at individual polling places on Election Day. They also suggest having someone observe the counting of absentee ballots and the certification of elections. A small local group of people has continued to raise objections to the about the election to the County Clerk’s office, which could be an indication of controversy in the upcoming election here in Sierra County. Contact Suzanne at 630-334-9329 (text preferred) or tmya@yahoo.com if you can volunteer. The state party and/or the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee will provide training. 

One county indicated that people (presumably election deniers/conspiracy theorists) were canvassing voters who had requested mail-in ballots. You don’t have to answer questions from people asking you about voting by mail.

Agenda for October Meeting

Wednesday 10/19, 5:30 pm at 405 Main St. T or C

Pledge of Allegiance
New Mexico State Pledge: I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico, the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among United cultures

Guest Speakers: State Auditor, Brian Colón
Thank you to Brian for his service to New Mexico – Members

T or C City Manager Bruce Swingle will talk about ballot measure on fundraising for infrastructure

Approval of August minutes – Sid Bryan

Treasurer’s Report – Suzanne Carlstedt

Add a signatory to bank account – Suzanne Carlstedt

Report on September special events  -Sid Bryan

Thank You’s for Many Helpers – Suzanne Carlstedt

This is it: the home stretch of the 2022 campaign. Make your plan to vote. AND how can you help get out the vote?  – Frances Gonzales, Rick Lass

Poll challengers and observers wanted – Suzanne Carlstedt

Approval of spending for campaign  ad(s) – Barbara Pearlman 

Ballot initiative on education spending – Barbara Pearlman

Donation request – please use envelopes and fill them out – Sid Bryan

Member input

Motion to adjourn

Don’t Forget! Special Event Wednesday September 21!

5:30 p.m.at the Pelican Spa courtyard, 306 S Pershing, T or C.. This special event replaces our usual monthly meeting. Guest speakers include:

  • Laura Montoya, candidate for State Treasurer
  • Stephanie Garcia Richard, Commissioner of Public Lands, running for reelection
  • Gabe Vasquez, candidate for CD2
  • Tara Jaramillo, candidate for NM House District 38
  • Michael Lanford, candidate for Sierra County Sheriff.

Free food and beverages. Food from La Baracca.

Phone Banking and Canvassing in T or C this Saturday

Meet Rick Lass at Democratic Party Headquarters at 405 Main St. T or C at noon Saturday Sept. 17 for an afternoon of voter outreach. Never knocked on doors or called voters before? Take the plunge. Rick is an experienced trainer and can have you prepared and confident for your first venture. It’s normal to be a little scared the first time you do this, but it gets easier, and the possibility of Republicans winning because we don’t get out the vote is a whole lot scarier.

People are friendly here. You may even have fun canvassing and calling!

Tara Jaramillo Meet and Greet. Volunteer Help Wanted. Donations welcome, too.

Volunteers needed in party headquarters, especially on Saturdays. Talk to voters and hand out campaign signs and information. Contact Suzanne at 630-334-9329 if you can help. We try to split the hours between 2 shifts: 11-1:30 or 1:30-4. 

Volunteers needed to make phone calls and knock on doors to get out the vote. Contact Rick Lass at 505-920-0540 if you can help. Rick will give you instructions and provide phone banking or door knocking lists. You can make calls from home and on your schedule. We have only a short time left to reach potential voters. Turnout will make the difference in this election. If you haven’t volunteered yet in this election cycle, now is the time.

Based on few responses received from members, we are not planning to have a booth at the county fair this year. We will pursue setting up a booth at Elephant Days October 14-16 (we may do 2 days instead of 3 depending on volunteers).

We are spending down a major portion of our treasury to make donations to several candidates who are visiting with our members and to provide food for our September 21 event with Gabe Vasquez, Laura Montoya, Tara Jaramillo and Michael Lanford. If you haven’t made a donation to our party in a while, September would be a good time to do so, at our September 21 event or online though the Act Blue donation link on the home page of this site.   

A meet and greet with Tara Jaramillo, candidate for NM House District 38, will be held on Sunday Sept. 11 from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at the Point Blanc Winery, 820 N. Cedar St. T or C. Hosted by David Senn and Sandy Whitehead. Tara is a businesswoman, entrepreneur, and longtime advocate for families.

UPDATED September Events!

Labor Day  Monday September 5

Even more candidates than previously announced will be joining us. A free showing of Salt of the Earth at El Cortez theater in T or C at noon will be followed by a reception, refreshments, and fall campaign kickoff at Democratic Party campaign headquarters at 405 Main Street. Gabe Vasquez, candidate for Congressional District 2, will be there, as will Raul Torrez, candidate for Attorney General, Tara Jaramillo, candidate for NM House District 38, and Michael Lanford, candidate for Sierra County Sheriff.

Wednesday September 21

This special event replaces our usual monthly meeting. Meet Laura Montoya, candidate for State Treasurer,  and Gabe Vasquez, Tara Jaramillo, and Michael Lanford. 5:30 at the Pelican Spa courtyard, 306 S Pershing, T or C. Free food and beverages.

September Events and Volunteer Opportunities

Democratic Candidate Events

Labor Day  Monday September 5

Free showing of Salt of the Earth at El Cortez theater in T or C at noon, followed by reception and fall campaign kickoff at Democratic Party campaign headquarters at 405 Main.  Free food and beverages. Tara Jaramillo, candidate for NM House District 38 and Michael Lanford, candidate for Sierra County Sheriff, will be there.

Not familiar with this pro-labor movie? https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_of_the_Earth_(1954_film)

Wednesday September 21

Meeting with Gabe Vasquez, our candidate for Congress, 5:30 at Pelican Spa courtyard, 306 S Pershing. Other candidates are expected as well. Free food and beverages.

Voter Outreach

Low turnout among Democrats led to Yvette Herrell’s election. Let’s not let that happen again. We need to motivate and engage the Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents who don’t always vote. Volunteer with the coordinated campaign to elect Democrats up and down the ballot. Contact Rick Lass, 505-920-0540, rick@nmdemocrats.org.

Volunteer with Gabe Vasquez’s campaign. Contact Frances Gonzales, 575-956-8942, frances@nmdemocrats.org

Can you volunteer for Elephant Days or the County Fair?

The Sierra County Fair runs from Wed. Oct. 5 through Sun. Oct. 9. Our booths there have typically been indoors.

Elephant Days is an all-day outdoor event Sat. Oct. 15 and Sun. Oct. 16.

We would need volunteers to take shifts staffing our table(s). Voter registrars appreciated but not required.

If we have enough volunteers to make our presence at both or either of these events feasible, we’ll work out the details. Please respond to sierracountydems@gmail.com if interested in either and say what days or hours you’d be available. You may list options, as in “I could do the morning of Oct. x or the afternoon of Oct. y, but not both” or “I’m flexible for any morning of the fair,” etc.

Thank you!

August Meeting Agenda; September Events

The August meeting will take place on Wednesday the 17th at 5:30 p.m. at 405 Main Street, Truth or Consequences.

Agenda August 17, 2022

Pledge of Allegiance

New Mexico State Pledge: I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico, the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures.

Approval of July Minutes – Sid Bryan

Treasurers Report – Sid Bryan

Guest Speaker(s) TBA

County Commission Meeting – Barbara and Suzanne

Labor Day Event – Sid Bryan

September 21 Event with Gabe Vasquez – Sid Bryan and Frances Gonzales

Silent Auction Postponed – Sid Bryan

Possible October Events: Elephant Days and County Fair – Discuss and vote – Suzanne Carlstedt

Member Input

Motion to Adjourn

Save these dates in September!

Labor Day, Monday Sept. 5—Special candidate event

Wednesday Sept. 21 Candidates will be speaking at our meeting.

Stay tuned for details.

July 2022 Meeting

The meeting will be held on Wednesday the 20th at 405 Main St. Truth or Consequences from 5:30 to 7:00 p.m.

Agenda

Pledge of Allegiance

NM State Pledge: I salute the flag of the State of New Mexico, the Zia symbol of perfect friendship among united cultures.

Introductions and welcome to newcomers 

Guest Speaker: Shelly Trujillo, Sierra County Clerk, on election integrity, voting equipment, voter statistics in Sierra County, voter registration training and helping at the polls. She was originally scheduled for July. She will speak to us in August instead.

Approval of June minutes – Sid Bryan

Treasurers Report – Sid Bryan

Report on Event in Hillsboro with Gabe Vasquez – Barbara Pearlman

CD2 Organizer – Frances Gonzales

Update on School Board – Barbara Pearlman 

Silent Auction Fundraiser September 10 – Sid Bryan 

Staffing Party Headquarters- Suzanne Carlstedt

October Events: County Fair 10/6-8

Elephant Days 10/14-16 – Cathy Berger (vote on our participation, discuss preliminary plans)

Member Input

Motion to Adjourn

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