Bread New Mexico Blog: Snapshots from a Town Hall Meeting on Sunday

Today marks the start of the 30-day session of the New Mexico State Legislature. To prepare for the occasion, Sen. Cisco McSorley hosted a town hall meeting featuring brief comments from four state legislators: Reps. Gail Chasey, Christine Trujillo, Sheryl Williams Stapleton and Debbie Sariñana on Sunday afternoon, January 14, at Immanuel Presbyterian Church in Nob Hill.

The gathering was one of two town hall meetings held that afternoon. The other was hosted by Sen. Jerry Ortiz y Pino and featured Reps. Javier Martinez, Andrés Romero and Miguel Garcia.

A handful of elected officials and candidates also showed up to Sen. McSorley's town hall to offer comments, including U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (who is running for governor of New Mexico), Bernalillo County Commissioner Maggie Hart Stebbins, Bernalillo County Treasurer Nancy Bearce, State Rep. Bill McCamley from Las Cruces (who is running for State Auditor), Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis (who is running for the seat in the First Congressional District). Former Democratic Party chairs Brian Colon (who is running for State Auditor) and Debra Haaland (a candidate for the seat in the First Congressional District) were also in attendance. Three other candidates for the seat in the First Congressional District also offered brief comments: Democrats Antoinette Sedillo Lopez and Damian Lara and Libertarian Lloyd Princeton.

The audience also had the opportunity to ask a number of questions on a broad range of topics dealing with education, economic justice, the death penalty, lottery scholarships, environmental protection and other very important topics. With the room filled to capacity, and a very interested and engaged audience that asked lots of questions, the town hall went beyond its allotted time. Great to see democracy in action!

Here are other photos from the town hall.