‘We the people’
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Scott Ford
Voting. It is a privilege and a right, something all American citizens get to do. It is the citizens’ way of telling the country, state, county, or city who they want in office.
Or is it?
Sometimes I wonder if the voters pay attention to who are running and what their platforms are for office. I sometimes think a lot of people just vote for the most popular candidate. Then a couple of years into the winning candidate’s term, I start hearing the complaining and bickering about that candidate. I even hear it from those who voted for the winning candidate. Why? I mean if you are one of the few who actually studied and researched the person you voted for and then they do a 180 on you, sure, you have every right to complain and bicker. But if you are one of the ones who voted just because everyone else was jumping off that bridge, then you probably have no right to complain or bicker.
Learn about each of the incumbents and their opposing candidates. Find out where they stand on matters that concern and affect your family and friends. Gain knowledge prior to elections and use your vote as a powerful tool of freedom to decide who will run our county and city for the next few years.
Once these new positions are filled our job as citizens does not stop. We must hold each elected official accountable for their actions. We must make them understand that they are there for us and if they fail to do the job, we, as citizens, will act.
There are actions that exist to remove elected officials, such as:
New Mexico statutes provide circumstances under which a person may be removed from office (§10-4-2 NMSA). They are as follows:
• Conviction of any felony or of any misdemeanor involving moral turpitude
• Failure, neglect, or refusal to discharge the duties of the office or failure, neglect, or refusal to discharge any duty devolving upon the officer by virtue of his office
• Knowingly demanding or receiving illegal fees
• Failure to account for money coming into the hands of such an officer
• Gross incompetence or gross negligence in discharge of the duties of the office
• Any other act or acts which in the opinion of the court or jury amount to corruption in office or gross immorality rendering the incumbent unfit to fill the office.
• To be removed from office, a local official must either be indicted by a grand jury and found guilty at trial or recalled by the voters. Recall occurs when a petition is signed by one third or more of the voters who voted when that person was elected to office. The allegations supporting the petition must be examined and probable cause found by the district court. Following the court’s determination of probable cause, a recall election will be held. If the recall election is successful, the office is declared vacant (NM Const. Art. X, Sec. 9).
When it comes down to it, it is our job as citizens to keep our elected officials in check, to know what they are doing and how they are doing it. Get involved and make a difference. Our future belongs to us and it is up to us to ensure the individuals in the elected positions are working for us. After all, they are our public servants.
Happy reading Cibola!