IN FOCUS IS PROVIDED BY VIEWERS LIKE YOU.

Gene: THIS WEEK ON NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS, WATER SUPPLY DRYING UP, THE CHANGES ONE RIO GRANDE ENGINEER SAYS MUST BE MADE TO COUNTER THE DROUGHT.

Casuga: I THINK WE HAVE ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE ON THIS RIVER TO NOT JUST WEATHER IT BUT HOPEFULLY TO THRIVE, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE.

Gene: PLUS RECAPPING THE KEY PRIMARY RACES AND WHAT THOSE RESULTS COULD MEAN HEADING INTO THE GENERAL ELECTRICS.

NEW MEXICO IN FOCUS STARTS NOW.

THANKS FOR JOINING US THIS WEEK, I'M YOUR HOST, GENE GRANT.

WATER SUPPLIES IN THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE ARE DWINDLING WITH WARNINGS THAT SOON DOWNSTREAM FARMERS MIGHT NOT HAVE ACCESS TO THE WATER THEY NEED.

IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE SHOW, ENVIRONMENT REPORTER LAURA PASKUS TALKS TO A CHIEF ENGINEER IN THAT AREA TO ASK WHY THE SITUATION HAS BECOME SO DIRE.

AS WE COPE WITH THE EFFECTS OF EXCEPTIONAL DROUGHT, WE ARE BRACING FOR THE POSSIBILITY OF FLOODING.

BURN SCARS LEFT IN THE PATH OF SOME OF THE LARGEST FIRES IN STATE HISTORY HAVE CREATED A SERIOUS RISK.

WE'LL TALK ABOUT PREPARATIONS WITH THE LINE OPINION PANEL AT THE BOTTOM OF THE HOUR.

START WITH A FOCUS ON YOUR VOTE.

ONE IN FOUR ELIGIBLE NEW MEXICO VOTERS CAST A BALLOT ON PRIMARY TUESDAY.

SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DIVISIO TALKS WITH COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO ABOUT CHANGES THAT EXPANDED VOTING ACCESS THIS YEAR AND, OF COURSE, POLITICAL ANALYSIS ON TUESDAY'S RESULTS.

LET'S GET TO THE LINE.

GREAT GROUP TO TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON PRIMARY ELECTION DAY.

WELCOME BACK TO FORMER NEW MEXICO STATE SENATOR DEDE FELDMAN, FORMER STATE REPRESENTATIVE AND HOUSE MINORITY WHIP AT THE TIME DANIEL FOLEY JOINS US AGAIN AND FINALLY MY MAN DAVE MULRYAN FOUNDER OF EVERYBODY VOTES NEW MEXICO.

WE LIKE TO HAVE DAVE ON AFTER ELECTION.

WE'LL TOUCH ON AS MANY OF THE BIG RACES AS WE CAN AND LATER IN THE SHOW WE'LL FOCUS OUR ATTENTION AHEAD TO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

THE HEADLINE AFTER THE PRIMARY WAS FORMER WEATHERMAN MARK RONCHETTI BIG WIN, TAKING THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR.

DANIEL, LET ME START WITH YOU.

HOW DID HE PULL OFF SUCH AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY CONSIDERING HE GOT 58% OF THE VOTE WITH A FAIRLY CROWDED FIELD?

Dan: MULTIPLE THINGS TO TALK ABOUT.

FIRST OF ALL, GENE, YOU KNOW I ALWAYS TAKE SHOTS AT YOU AND WE ARE GOOD FRIENDS.

DO YOU INTRODUCE U.S.

SENATOR BEN RAY LUJAN AS FORMER BLACK JACK DEALER, FORMER BEN RAY LUJAN?

I THINK PEOPLE AREN'T BUYING THE MYTH THAT HE IS JUST WEATHERMAN RONCHETTI, RIGHT?

THAT WAS A BIG PUSH AND I THINK HE DID A GOOD JOB OF GETTING OUT AROUND THE STATE AND LETTING PEOPLE SEE, MAYBE THE WEATHERMAN ISN'T JUST A WEATHERMAN.

AND I THINK WHAT IS INTERESTING WAS TO SEE ALL THIS TALK NATIONALLY ABOUT EVERYBODY RUNNING TOWARDS PRESIDENT TRUMP AND BEING A TRUMP GUY AND EVERYBODY -- THERE IS A LOT OF MEDIA TALK ABOUT EVERYBODY IN NEW MEXICO ON THIS TRUMP BANDWAGON ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE AND YET CLEARLY MARK RONCHETTI WAS ABLE TO STRADDLE THAT FENCE.

HE WASN'T ANTI-TRUMP BUT WASN'T ALL IN WITH TRUMP.

HE WON AN OVERWHELMING VICTORY.

I THINK HE HAD A DOMINANT PERFORMANCE IN THE PRIMARY AND I THINK, MORE IMPORTANTLY, HERE IS THE KEY, WE HEAR ABOUT ALL THE FIGHTS THAT ARE GOING ON THAT PRIMARIES CAUSE, BUT WHAT HAPPENED WITH RONCHETTI IS HE RAN 10 ADS DURING THE PRIMARY.

10 TV ADS.

SEVEN OF THOSE WERE GENERAL ELECTION ADS.

FOUR OF THOSE SEVEN WERE CONTRAST ADS WITH MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM.

SO I THINK WHILE EVERYBODY ELSE WAS TRYING TO POSITION, I THINK THERE IS A LOT TO BE SAID FOR SHOWING UP AND ASSUMING YOU'RE THE NOMINEE.

I DO THINK ONE OF THE BIG TAKE AWAYS AS WE WERE TALKING OFF CAMERA, I'LL BRING IT UP HERE, HOW IN THE WORLD DOES THE GUY NOT EVEN GET ON THE BALLOT IN THE REPUBLICAN PREPRIMARY CONVENTION AND THEN GET 58% OF THE VOTE IN THE PRIMARY.

IT SHOWS YOU, ONE, THE PARTY IS FLAWED AND DISFUNCTIONAL, AND, TWO, THIS WHOLE PREPRIMARY CONVENTION THING IS TIME TO GO.

YOU CAN'T HAVE SIX, SEVEN HUNDRED PEOPLE MAKING DECISIONS FOR 300,000 PEOPLE IN NEW MEXICO.

THEY CLEARLY ARE NOT REPRESENTATIVE OF THE MAJORITY OF THE PEOPLE IN THE PARTY BECAUSE THIS GUY -- HE DIDN'T EVEN GATHER ENOUGH VOTES TO GET ON THERE.

THANK GOD THERE IS A WAY TO GET ON THERE AND HE GOT ON THERE AND OVERWHELMINGLY WON IN THE PRIMARY.

I THINK HE IS POSITIONED VERY WELL GOING INTO THE GENERAL ELECTION.

AND I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE THAT THINKS THAT.

I WOULD SAY, YOU KNOW, LITERALLY TODAY OR YESTERDAY, YESTERDAY I THINK, THE RGA WAS UP WITH ADS AGAINST GOVERNOR GRISHAM.

I CAN'T REMEMBER ANOTHER TIME WITHIN A DAY OR TWO OF THE ELECTION THAT THE PEOPLE ARE GOING AFTER, ESPECIALLY ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE, WAS UP THIS EARLY WITH THE CANDIDATE SO THEY MUST FEEL REALLY GOOD ABOUT RONCHETTI'S CHANCES.

Gene: I HAVE TO AGREE.

I HADN'T THOUGHT ABOUT IT THAT WAY.

IT IS A GOOD POINT.

LET'S TALK ABOUT REBECCA DOW, SENATOR FELDMAN.

I HAVE TO PERSONALLY CONFESS, I WAS A LITTLE SHOCKED SHE ONLY GATHERED 15% OF THE VOTE AND I HAVE BEEN TALKING ABOUT THIS WITH A LOT OF PEOPLE.

A LOT OF FOLKS COME DOWN TO THE IDEA THAT SHE SORT OF HURT HERSELF WITH THE WAY SHE CAME OUT OF THE GATES, HER ADS, ALL THAT KIND THING, SO STRONG AGAINST RONCHETTI.

IN YOUR OPINION, WHAT WENT WRONG THERE FOR THE REPRESENTATIVE?

SOMETHING DIDN'T QUITE TAKE HOLD WITH THE ELECTORATE ON THE REPUBLICAN SIDE HERE.

Dede: WELL, I THINK SHE WAS OVERWHELMED BY RONCHETTI CELEBRITY, HIS FAME, HIS -- HE IS WELL-KNOWN TO NEW MEXICANS AND LEGISLATORS ALWAYS THINK THEY ARE BETTER KNOWN THAN THEY REALLY ARE.

AND THEN HER ADVERTISEMENT ON HORSEBACK ABOUT IMMIGRANTS, THEY WERE PRETTY DARK AND PRETTY THREATENING ABOUT HOW THE SKY WAS FALLING.

AND, THEN, YOU KNOW, SHE GOT ATTACKED TREMENDOUSLY BY RONCHETTI.

THIS WAS A BIG SURPRISE TO ME HOW SOMEBODY WHO WAS LIKE 25, MAYBE MORE, POINTS AHEAD, WOULD DO A VERY HARD CHARGING NEGATIVE CAMPAIGN AGAINST DOW, BASICALLY SAYING SHE HARBORED SEXUAL PREDATORS IN HER BUSINESS.

AND IT WAS A THREAT TO PRESCHOOL CHILDREN.

THAT WAS PRETTY UNNECESSARY, I THOUGHT, ON THE PART OF RONCHETTI.

AND, YOU KNOW, ALL THOSE ADS THAT DAN MENTIONED, YEAH, THERE ARE A LOT OF ADS BUT MOST OF THEM WERE NEGATIVE.

THEY WERE EITHER NEGATIVE AGAINST MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM OR NEGATIVE AND VERY NEGATIVE AGAINST DOW.

SO, I THINK THAT SHE HAD TO USE SOME OF HER MONEY TO RESPOND TO THAT SEXUAL PREDATOR HARBORER AD AND THAT IS ALWAYS A WASTE.

Gene: INTERESTING POINT.

I FORGOT ABOUT THAT IN THE SCRUM OF ALL THESE ADS.

DAVE MULRYAN, I WANT TO BUTTON DOWN THIS AND MOVE ON TO THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S RACE BUT IN YOUR SENSE OF WHERE MR. TRUMP FITS INTO THE DIALOGUE.

DAN MENTIONED THIS.

WHAT WAS YOUR SENSE OF HOW MS. DOW APPROACHED THAT IN TRYING TO USE THAT AS A HAMMER AGAINST MR. RONCHETTI?

Dave: LET'S GO BIGGER HERE.

I THINK THE BIG STORY OUT OF DOW, RONCHETTI, TRUMP REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S RACE, IT IS THAT EVERYBODY WAS WRONG, YOU KNOW, LIKE NOBODY REALLY HAD A GOOD FEEL FORM THE ELECTORATE, EXCEPT OF COURSE DAN WAS RIGHT, HE WARNED US.

WE KNEW THAT.

BUT I THINK THAT TRUMP IS JUST THIS WILD CARD.

HE IS A THREE-DIMENSIONAL WILD CARD.

WE NEVER KNOW WHICH WAY IT CAN GO.

YOU CAN WIN BY HITCHING YOUR STAR TO HIM.

YOU CAN WIN BY IGNORING HIM.

WE JUST DON'T KNOW.

HE IS JUST SUCH A WILD CARD BUT I THINK THAT THERE IS A MISUNDERSTANDING AND MISCALCULATION THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY DOESN'T UNDERSTAND THEIR ELECTORATE, YOU KNOW.

IN GENERAL, THE PUNDITS, ALL OF US DON'T SEEM TO UNDERSTAND THE ELECTORATE AND THE ELECTORATE DECIDES WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO AND DO IT.

THEY DON'T CARE WHAT WE THINK.

THEY DON'T CARE WHAT ANYONE THINKS.

I THINK IT IS FASCINATING.

I DON'T KNOW HOW YOU POLITIC OR YOU CAMPAIGN AND FIGURE THAT IN.

I HAVE NO IDEA.

IF I KNEW I WOULD TELL EVERYBODY, BUT I DON'T.

Gene: IF ANYBODY DOES, LET US KNOW.

SENATOR FELDMAN BERNALILLO COUNTY DA RAUL TORREZ WINS THE DEMOCRATIC NOMINATION FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

KNOCK ON HIM WAS, OF COURSE, CRIME IN ALBUQUERQUE, THE BIG KNOCK, BUT VOTERS DON'T SEEM TO BLAME HIM KIND OF THE SAME WAY MAYOR KELLER WASN'T NECESSARILY BLAMED FOR CRIME HERE TOO.

ARE PEOPLE RIGHT TO BE NOT BLAMING INDIVIDUALS FOR THESE CRIME ISSUES?

IT IS COMPLEX CERTAINLY BUT IN POLITICS USUALLY SOMEONE PAYS SOMEWHERE.

NOT THIS TIME AROUND.

WHAT WAS YOUR SENSE OF IT?

Dede: I THINK VOTERS ARE BECOMING A LITTLE BIT MORE SOPHISTICATED WHEN IT COMES TO CRIME, AT LEAST DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.

THEY KNOW, AS TIM KELLER SAID, THERE'S A LOT OF MOVING PARTS HERE.

BUT, REMEMBER, THE VOTERS DID ELECT THE PROSECUTOR.

THEY DID ELECT THE PROSECUTOR SO EVEN THOUGH HE WAS ATTACKED FOR BEING A BAD PROSECUTOR, GIVEN THE CHOICE BETWEEN A PROSECUTOR AND AN INSIDER, SO TO SPEAK, WHICH IS THE WAY RAUL TORREZ TRIED TO PORTRAY BRIAN COLON, THEY PICKED THE PROSECUTOR.

I THINK IT IS MISGUIDED THERE BECAUSE THE ATTORNEY GENERAL IS NOT A PROSECUTOR.

THAT IS NOT THE JOB OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

THE ATTORNEY GENERAL REALLY IS MUCH MORE OF AN ADMINISTRATOR, CONCERNED WITH ETHICS, TRANSPARENCY, CIVIL LAW, RATHER THAN CRIMINAL LAW AND IT IS REALLY THE COURT AND THE DA'S THAT PLAY MUCH MORE IN THAT ARENA.

Gene: DAN, REAL QUICK.

IF YOU WOULD.

Dan: GO AHEAD.

Gene: I WANT TO GET YOUR THOUGHTS ON WHAT DEDE MENTIONED BUT I HAVE ANOTHER SUBJECT I WANT TO PUT TO YOU AS WELL.

Dan: GIVE ME THE SUBJECT.

I'LL WORK ON IT.

Gene: MR. COLON, WHAT DID HE DO WRONG THERE?

Dan: I MEAN, I THINK IN POLITICS, AS WE ALL KNOW, IT IS ALWAYS DEATH OF A THOUSAND CUTS.

IT IS RARELY, I MEAN, SHORT OF MURDER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, IT IS RARELY THAT IS THE ONE THING.

I THINK WHAT HURT HIM WAS NOT GIVING GROUND WHEN THAT FATHER CAME ON AND SAID STOP USING MY SON IN YOUR ADS.

I THINK THAT REALLY TOUCHED A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I WOULD THINK.

AND NOT ONLY DID HE NOT TAKE IT OUT, IT GOT BROUGHT UP IN THE DEBATE AND HE TOOK A HARD LINE STANCE AND SAID I AM GOING TO DO IT ANYWAY.

I THOUGHT IT WAS INTERESTING TO SEE RAUL, WHO, BY MY STANDARD, IS A FAIRLY PROGRESSIVE INDIVIDUAL.

I WOULD PUT HIM IN THE PROGRESSIVE CAMP OF THE DEMOCRAT PARTY.

HE BEAT BRIAN COLON IN PLACES LIKE CHAVES COUNTY.

PROGRESSIVES DON'T NORMALLY DO WELL IN PLACES LIKE CHAVES COUNTY, EVEN AMONG DEMOCRATS AND RAUL, HE SEEMED TO REALLY GET IT TOGETHER.

TO DEDE'S POINT, REGARDLESS OF WHAT YOU THINK THE AG'S JOB IS, PEOPLE BELIEVE HE IS TOP COP AND RESPONSIBLE FOR FIXING CRIME.

AND IT IS CLEAR, WHETHER YOU'RE A BAD PROSECUTOR OR A GOOD PROSECUTOR, HAVING PROSECUTORIAL EXPERIENCE OVER POLITICAL EXPERIENCE MEANS SOMETHING WHEN YOU ARE RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL.

WHAT I DO THINK MOVING FORWARD IS I DO THINK THIS PRIMARY OPENS UP AN OPPORTUNITY FOR POTENTIALLY THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE RUNNING FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL IN NEW MEXICO.

Gene: THAT IS GOING TO BE INTERESTING.

DAVE, REAL QUICK, A GROUP BACKED BY FORMER GOP CHAIR HARVEY YATES BANK ROLLED A LOT OF MODERATE DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES FROM THE STATE HOUSE.

HOPING TO TAKE SOME OF THESE PROGRESSIVE OPTIONS OFF THE TABLE FOR THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, I WOULD IMAGINE.

MANY OF THOSE CANDIDATE LOST.

WHAT DOES THAT SAY TO YOU, THAT LACK OF SUCCESS?

Dave: MONEY CAN'T BUY YOU LOVE OR VOTES.

I MEAN, YOU KNOW IN SOME WAYS AND I THINK THAT JUST THROWING MONEY AT A PROBLEM, ALTHOUGH, IF YOU'RE THROWING IT MY WAY IT IS FINE, BUT IT TENDS NOT TO WORK.

YOU KNOW.

PEOPLE REALLY AREN'T FOOLED, YOU KNOW.

I LIKE THE IDEA.

I THINK THAT MODERATION IN SOME WAYS IS A GOOD THING.

THIS ISN'T THE WAY TO DO IT.

YOU KNOW.

AS WE LEARNED.

SO, I THINK AS A STRATEGY IT MAKES SENSE, BUT, I DON'T KNOW, YOU CANNOT THROW MONEY AT IT AND HELP IT ALONG BECAUSE IT TENDS NOT TO.

Dan: YOU ALWAYS HAVE TO QUESTION WHY THE FORMER REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE MAN IS PLAYING AROUND IN DEMOCRAT PRIMARIES, RIGHT?

IS IT REALLY BECAUSE YOU CARE ABOUT THE LEVEL OF DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATES BEING ELECTED OR IS IT BECAUSE IT REALLY HELPS YOU IN YOUR BUSINESS?

I WOULD ARGUE IN SOME CASES IT IS THE LATTER.

Gene: GOOD POINTS THERE.

Dede: I JUST WANT TO SAY THAT THE PROGRESSIVES THAT HE WAS ATTACKING AND THAT HE FUNDED RATHER, THESE WERE BASICALLY THREE WOMEN FROM UP NORTH, PROGRESSIVE INCUMBENTS, AND THEY WERE INCUMBENTS, AND THEY WON AS INCUMBENTS USUALLY DO, THEY WERE ALSO FUNDED AND WERE PART OF THIS SPEAKERS RACE IN THE HOUSE AND FUNDED BY PATRICIA LUNDSTROM, WHO IS WANTING TO MOVE UP THERE.

Gene: GOOD POINTS.

GLAD YOU GOT THAT IN.

THANK YOU TO THE LINE OPINION PANEL.

MEET YOU ALL BACK HERE IN LESS THAN 15 -- 10 MINUTES ACTUALLY TO TALK ABOUT THE GENERAL ELECTION.

RIGHT NOW LET'S SEND THINGS OVER TO SENIOR PRODUCER LOU DIVIZIO.

HE CAUGHT UP WITH MARIO JIMENEZ, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR AT COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO AND ASKED HOW ELECTION DAY WENT ACROSS THE STATE.

Lou: JOINING ME TODAY VIA ZOOM, MARIO JIMENEZ, CAMPAIGN DIRECTOR AT COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO, A NONPARTISAN GROUP WITH A STATED GOAL OF ADVOCATING FOR THE CORE VALUES OF DEMOCRACY IN OUR STATE, THINGS LIKE ELECTION ACCESS, INTEGRITY AND CREATING A REPRESENTATIVE GOVERNMENT.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US TODAY MARIO.

Jimenez: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, LOU.

APPRECIATE IT.

Lou: OF COURSE.

NOW, YOUR GROUP HAD POLL WATCHERS AT VARIOUS VOTING LOCATIONS ACROSS THE STATE ON ELECTION DAY.

WHAT CAN YOU REPORT FROM WHAT THEY SAW?

Jimenez: WELL, IN ADDITION TO THAT, ONE OF THE BIG THINGS WE RAN WAS OUR 866 VOTER PROTECTION HOT LINE WHERE WE RECEIVE PHONE CALLS FROM THROUGHOUT THE STATE, VOTERS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, CONCERNED CITIZENS THROUGHOUT THE STATE, REGARDING THE ELECTION, HOW IT WAS TAKING PLACE OR ANY QUESTIONS.

FOR A PRIMARY ELECTION, THIS PARTICULAR ONE, IT DID GO RELATIVELY SMOOTH.

WE DIDN'T HEAR ANY MAJOR ISSUES.

THE MAJORITY OF PHONE CALLS WE RECEIVED THAT WAS NEEDED THROUGHOUT THE ELECTION WAS SIMPLY FINDING OUT HOW TO RETURN ABSENTEE BALLOTS, WHERE AN INDIVIDUAL CAN GO VOTE AND THE DETAILS OF OUR NEWLY IMPLEMENTED SAME DAY REGISTRATION.

Lou: WOULD YOU SAY THAT HOT LINE WAS SUCCESSFUL AND DID IT HELP PEOPLE FIND INFORMATION THEY NEEDED TO GET TO THE POLLS AND DO THEIR DUTY.

Jimenez: I WOULD SAY SO, YES, SIR.

IN ADDITION TO OUR HOT LINE, WE DID COLLABORATE WITH A LOT OF OTHER NONPARTISAN ORGANIZATIONS, HERE IN NEW MEXICO, AND ONE OF THOSE THAT I WOULD LIKE TO HIGHLIGHT IS NAVA, NATIVE AMERICAN VOTING PROJECT, WHO REALLY HELPED US GET OUT OUR 866 HOT LINE NUMBER IN THE NATIVE AMERICAN COMMUNITIES.

AS YOU MAY REMEMBER IN OUR LAST PRIMARY ELECTION, IT WAS DURING THE HIGH TIMES OF COVID, SO, THOSE COMMUNITIES WERE DEFINITELY, IN MANY WAYS, DISENFRANCHISED DUE TO POLLING PLACES CLOSING.

SO WE REALLY WANTED TO FOCUS EFFORTS ON THOSE COMMUNITIES AND MAKE SURE THEY DID HAVE ACCESS TO A BALLOT SO THEY.

CAN CAST THEIR VOTE.

Lou: OVERALL WE SAW, ACCORDING TO THE SECRETARY OF STATE'S OFFICE, 25% TURNOUT FOR PRIMARY ELECTION.

HOW DOES THAT NUMBER COMPARE FOR WHAT YOU EXPECTED, WHAT YOU WOULD HOPE TO SEE FOR A MIDTERM PRIMARY?

Jimenez: THOSE NUMBERS OF 25% ACTUALLY DOES TRACK WITH HISTORICAL NUMBERS IN A GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION.

FOR THIS PARTICULAR GUBERNATORIAL ELECTION WE DID HAVE ONE OF THE MAJOR PARTIES HAVE AN UNCONTESTED GUBERNATORIAL RACE.

THAT ALSO LED TO NOT HAVING A MUCH HIGHER TURNOUT.

THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL PRESIDENTIAL -- THE LAST GUBERNATORIAL PRIMARY SAW JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE OF 27% BUT EVEN THEN THAT WAS ONLY 1000 MORE VOTERS THAN WHAT WE RECEIVED IN YESTERDAY'S ELECTION.

Lou: OKAY.

BEING REALISTIC, OBVIOUSLY, 100% IS IDEAL, BUT WHAT WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IDEALLY FROM A TURNOUT NUMBER AND HOW DO WE GET THERE OTHER THAN WHAT YOU GUYS ARE ALREADY DOING WITH THE VOTING HOTLINES AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

Jimenez: WE WOULD LOVE TO SEE 60%.

A MINIMUM OF 60% OF ELECTIONS SHOWS ENGAGEMENT OF VOTERS OF THE RESIDENTS OF NEW MEXICO, BUT I THINK ANOTHER ASPECT OF LOW TURNOUT THAT WE NEED TO LOOK AT WHEN WE ARE LOOKING AT THESE TYPES OF ELECTIONS IS THE INDIVIDUALS WHO ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE.

IF YOU LOOK UP AND DOWN THE BALLOT ACROSS ALL THREE MAJOR PARTIES THAT WERE PARTICIPATING IN YESTERDAY'S ELECTION, THERE IS QUITE A FEW RACES UNCONTESTED.

SO A LOT OF THESE RACES ARE NOT GOING TO BE DECIDED UNTIL THE GENERAL ELECTIONS WITH THE EXCEPTION OF SOME OF THEM THAT HAVE ONLY PRIMARY CONTESTANTS AND WE'LL NOT BE SEEING ANY GENERAL ELECTION OPPONENTS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE CONTINUE TO ENCOURAGE INDIVIDUALS TO RUN FOR OFFICE AND ENCOURAGE OTHER VOTERS TO, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGE THE INCUMBENTS TO DO A BETTER JOB.

WITH MORE CANDIDATES, WE ARE GOING TO SEE HIGHER TURNOUT.

Lou: SURE.

YOU MENTIONED THE RECENT UPDATE IN THE VOTING PROCEDURES THAT YOU HELPED COMMUNICATE TO PEOPLE LIKE THE SAME DAY REGISTRATION, EXPANDED ABSENTEE VOTING AVAILABLE.

IN TERMS OF HOW THOSE THINGS WENT THIS YEAR, WOULD YOU SAY THOSE WERE POSITIVE AND SUCCESSFUL STEPS FOR OUR VOTING PROCEDURE?

Jimenez: I THINK THEY WERE TREMENDOUSLY SUCCESSFUL.

JUST LOOKING AT THE NUMBERS FROM YESTERDAY'S ELECTION, WE HAD JUST A LITTLE OVER 10,000 NEW MEXICANS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE NEWLY IMPLEMENTED SAME DAY REGISTRATION.

NOW, THIS WAS A PROCESS THAT WAS TAKING PLACE THROUGHOUT THE EARLY VOTING PROCESS, SO, MANY OF THESE INDIVIDUALS REGISTERED THROUGHOUT THE EARLY VOTING PROCESS AS WELL AS ELECTION DAY.

AND SO IT WAS THE EXACT NUMBER IS 10,038 AND WE SAW A LARGE NUMBER OF THOSE INDIVIDUALS TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THAT FOR NOT ONLY THE DEMOCRATIC AS WELL AS THE REPUBLICAN PRIMARY ELECTION YESTERDAY.

SO, MANY OF THESE PEOPLE MAY HAVE BEEN AFFILIATED WITH A MINOR PARTY, SUCH AS GREEN PARTY OR INDEPENDENT, DECLINE TO STATE OR THESE ARE INDIVIDUALS WHO LEGITIMATELY REGISTERED FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME AND DECIDED TO VOTE IN A PRIMARY ELECTION.

THE BIGGEST HIGHLIGHT OF YESTERDAY'S ELECTION ITSELF WAS THAT WE SAW WE HAD 10,000 NEW MEXICANS WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS PRIMARY ELECTION WHO OTHERWISE WOULD HAVE STAYED HOME OR NOT VOTED OR SHOWED UP TO THE POLLS AND NOT QUALIFIED TO CAST THEIR BALLOT.

Lou: THOSE ARE GOOD NUMBERS THERE FOR SURE.

YOUR GROUP HAS ANOTHER STATED GOAL OF REDUCING INFLUENCE OF MONEY IN POLITICS.

GOP NOMINATION FOR GOVERNOR BROUGHT IN MILLIONS, DEMOCRATIC RACE FOR ATTORNEY GENERAL WITH JUST TWO CANDIDATES, MORE THAN A MILLION COMBINED WAS SPENT JUST IN THE PRIMARY.

FOR PEOPLE TO UNDERSTAND, IS THIS SIMPLY AN ISSUE OF THE BIG TOTALS?

IS IT HOW THE MONEY IS SPENT OR IS IT WHERE THE MONEY IS COMING FROM?

I GUESS WHAT I AM ASKING IS WHY SHOULD VOTERS CARE ABOUT THESE BIG FUNDRAISING TOTALS?

Jiminez: I THINK IT IS A COMBINATION OF ALL THOSE THINGS YOU JUST MENTIONED.

YOU KNOW, MONEY IN POLITICS REALLY DOES DETER YOUR AVERAGE INDIVIDUAL FROM WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE POLITICAL PROCESS AND RUN FOR OFFICE.

NEW MEXICO, FOR EXAMPLE, DOES HAVE AN UNPAID LEGISLATURE AND WAS CREATED AS A CITIZEN LEGISLATURE.

HOWEVER, WHEN YOU'RE POURING MILLIONS OF DOLLARS INTO A RACE FOR A SINGLE CANDIDATE, YOU'RE REALLY DETERRING OTHER INDIVIDUALS FROM PARTICIPATING IN THAT ELECTORAL PROCESS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN WE ARE TALKING ABOUT THE BIG PARTY INFLUENCES.

A LOT OF TIMES THAT CANDIDATE IS CHOSEN BEFORE THE ELECTION DAY EVEN BEGINS.

YOU KNOW, YOU'RE SEEING PARTY POLITICIANS AND SEEING BIG CORPORATIONS POURING MONEY INTO THAT CANDIDATE THEY WANT AND THAT IS HOW THEY ARE TELLING VOTERS, THIS IS THE PERSON WE WANT TO HAVE IN THE COMING ELECTION.

PLEASE GO VOTE FOR THEM.

IT IS IMPORTANT THAT WE DO THE BEST WE CAN TO ELIMINATE MONEY IN POLITICS SO WE CAN HAVE AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD ACROSS ALL CANDIDATES, IN ALL PARTIES, IN ALL RACES.

Lou: THANK YOU FOR JOINING US AGAIN TODAY.

MARIO JIMENEZ, COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO.

ONE FINAL QUESTION FOR YOU BEFORE WE LEAVE.

FACTORING EVERYTHING IN THAT WE JUST TALKED ABOUT, HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY RIGHT NOW IN NEW MEXICO?

Jimenez: YOU KNOW, THE STATE OF DEMOCRACY HERE IN NEW MEXICO I WOULD DEFINITELY DESCRIBE US AS A LEADER IN DEMOCRACY.

I MEAN, DURING THE LAST ELECTION THROUGHOUT THE PANDEMIC WE SAW MANY STATES IMPLEMENT REFORMS THAT ARE ALREADY IN PLACE HERE IN NEW MEXICO SUCH AS NO EXCUSE ABSENTEE.

SUCH AS VOTING CONVENIENCE CENTERS, SAME DAY REGISTRATION, EXPANSION OF EARLY VOTING.

THESE ARE ALL METHODS OF PROVIDING ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX THAT NEW MEXICO HAS IMPLEMENTED AND CONTINUES TO LOOK FORWARD IN IMPLEMENTING FORWARD THINKING DEMOCRACY TO PROVIDE ACCESS TO THE BALLOT BOX.

SO, SHORT TERM, I SEE NEW MEXICO AND HAVE ALWAYS FELT NEW MEXICO IS A LEADER IN DEMOCRACY.

AND OTHER STATES SHOULD REALLY TAKE A LOOK AT NEW MEXICO AS AN EXAMPLE.

Lou: MARIO JIMENEZ, COMMON CAUSE NEW MEXICO, THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

Jimenez: THANK FOR HAVING ME.

APPRECIATE IT.

Casuga: WE JUST FACED ALMOST A PERFECT STORM.

EXTREME DROUGHT, INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS TO BE FIXED AND THEN THE DEBT UNDER THE RIO GRANDE COMPACT AFFECTING THIS MIDDLE VALLEY.

IT IS ALL COMING TO A HEAD AT ONE TIME.

Gene: WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

WE ARE DONE DISSECTING THE PRIMARY.

TIME TO MOVE ON TO THE GENERAL.

THE RACE FOR GOVERNOR IS THE BIG ONE AND THREE U.S. HOUSE SEATS ARE ALSO UP FOR A VOTE.

STICKING WITH THE GOVERNOR'S RACE RIGHT NOW, MARK RONCHETTI RAN AWAY WITH THE REPUBLICAN NOMINATION AND SEEMS TO HAVE A MOTIVATED CORE GROUP BEHIND HIM.

DANIEL, SHOULD DEMOCRATS BE WORRIED?

Dan: I THINK THEY SHOULD BE REAL WORRIED.

THEY SHOULD BE REAL WORRIED.

YOU KNOW IF YOU LOOK AT TURNOUTS IN THE PRIMARY OVER THE LAST 10, 15 YEARS, DEMOCRATS ARE VASTLY DROPPING OFF.

IN 2000, THEY HAD OVER 200,000 VOTES IN THE PRIMARY THAT WERE CAST.

IN THIS ELECTION THEY HAD ABOUT, LOOKS LIKES, THEY ARE AROUND 130 TO 140 VOTES CAST, REPUBLICANS BELL WEATHER FOR US WAS THE PRIMARY 2010, BETWEEN WEH AND MARTINEZ.

WE HAD A LITTLE OVER 122,000 AND LOOKS LIKE IN 2022, WE ARE GOING TO HIT OR EXCEED THAT NUMBER.

WHAT THAT MEANS TO ME IS THERE SEEMS TO BE ENERGY IN THE REPUBLICAN BASE TO GET OUT AND GET INVOLVED.

THERE DOESN'T SEEM TO BE AS MUCH ENERGY IN THE DEMOCRAT BASE TO GET INVOLVED AND THE REASON I THINK IT IS EVEN MORE OF AN EXAMPLE IS LOTS OF TIMES IN NEW MEXICO IT IS HARD TO TAKE THIS INFORMATION IN A PRIMARY FOR DEMOCRATS, BECAUSE DEMOCRATS RARELY HAVE HIGHLY CONTESTED PRIMARIES.

THEY ARE IN CHARGE, THEY PRETTY MUCH ARE RUNNING AS INCUMBENT, BUT THEY HAD THAT THIS YEAR.

YOU HAD A PRETTY CONTESTED TOP OF THE TICKET PRIMARY DEMOCRAT PRIMARY FOR AG AND IT DIDN'T SEEM TO ENERGIZE INDIVIDUALS AS MUCH AS YOU WOULD THINK IT WOULD.

THE RONCHETTI SITUATION, I MEAN, TO COME OUT WITH 58% OF THE VOTE IN A PRIMARY, TO COME OUT WITH 58% OF THE VOTE IN A FIVE-PERSON RACE IS PRETTY DADGUM IMPRESSIVE.

THAT IS A RARITY, SO, YOU PULL THIS -- SO IT SHOWS YOU CLEARLY HE HAS SUPPORT OF REPUBLICANS, THE REPUBLICAN ESTABLISHMENT BEHIND HIM.

HE IS GOING TO WIND UP GETTING SUPPORT -- CONTRARY TO WHAT SOME BLOGGERS WANT TO SAY, YOU HAVE SEEN GREG ZANETTI IS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING MARK RONCHETTI.

AND I THINK REBECCA DOW IS GOING TO SUPPORT RONCHETTI.

YOU WILL SEE ALL ENERGY FROM REPUBLICANS BECAUSE I THINK THEY SEE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR A VICTORY AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET THIS YEAR.

I THINK THINGS -- LIKE WE SAID EARLIER, IT IS JUST STAMPED WITH AT THE VERY END.

YOU TELL ME THE LAST TIME THAT THE REPUBLICAN GOVERNOR'S CAMPAIGN -- GOVERNOR ASSOCIATION CAME IN TWO DAYS AFTER AN ELECTION, A PRIMARY, TO TAKE ON A CHALLENGER IN NEW MEXICO AND DUMPED MONEY TO DO BY TV.

THEY GOT TO SEE SOMETHING OUT THERE AS WELL.

Gene: GOOD REMINDER HERE, MR. RONCHETTI WAS WITHIN SIX POINTS OF BEN RAY LUJAN'S SENATE RACE, WASN'T AS IF HE GOT WIPED OUT THERE.

SENATOR FELDMAN, INTERESTINGLY THE MONEY ADVANTAGE, WE GOT TO GET RIGHT TO THIS.

GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM HAS OVER THREE MILLION IN THE BANK.

MR. RONCHETTI SPENT DOWN TO ONE, DOES HE HAVE TIME TO MAKE UP THAT KIND OF MONEY, GIVEN WHAT DAN WAS SAYING WITH OUTSIDE HELP AS WELL OR IS THE GOVERNOR INSULATED JUST STRICTLY FROM THE MONEY.

CAN SHE SPEND HER OPPONENT DOWN AT THIS POINT STARTING EARLY AND OFTEN.

Dede: THAT IS PRECISELY WHY THIS OUTSIDE MONEY FROM THE NATIONAL REPUBLICANS ARE POURING IN RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY SEE THAT RONCHETTI HAS ONLY 500,000 IN HIS ACCOUNT AND THEY ARE GOING TO MAKE UP THE DIFFERENCE.

AND THEY DO SMELL BLOOD.

I AGREE WITH DAN.

BUT, THIS IS NOT -- THE WHOLE THING ABOUT THE REPUBLICANS BEING ENERGIZED THIS YEAR WHEREAS THE DEMOCRATS ARE NOT, I THINK THAT IS REALLY TRUE NATIONWIDE.

IT IS A TYPICAL OFF YEAR ELECTION DURING THE MIDDLE OF THE PRESIDENTIAL TERM.

AND, FOR ME, LOOKING AT THE PRIMARY TURNOUT THIS YEAR AND SAYING, OH, THE REPUBLICANS ARE ON THE UPSWING AND DEMOCRATS ARE NOT PARTICIPATING AS MUCH, OF COURSE.

THEY DID NOT HAVE A CONTEST AT THE TOP OF THE TICKET.

AND THAT IS WHAT PEOPLE GLOM ON TO, NOT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S RACE, NOT -- WHO IS GOING TO TURN OUT FOR THE TREASURER'S RACE OR THE AUDITOR'S RACE.

IT IS THE GOVERNOR THAT CAPTURES THE ATTENTION.

YES, THE NATIONAL POLLS AND PUNDITS STILL CALL THIS GOVERNOR'S RACE, LEAN DEMOCRATIC.

IT LEANS DEMOCRATIC.

IT'S NOT A CERTAIN DEMOCRATIC SEAT AND THAT IS GOING TO GALVANIZE THE DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS THE REPUBLICANS AND, OF COURSE, THE RACE IN THE SECOND CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WHERE THERE IS AN OPPORTUNITY TO FLIP A REPUBLICAN SEAT IN THE HOUSE IS GOING TO GARNER SOME NATIONAL ATTENTION AS WELL FROM THE DEMOCRATS.

SO, I THINK BOTH SIDES ARE GOING TO HAVE PLENTY OF MONEY AND THE MONEY WILL FLOW INTO NEW MEXICO EVEN IF -- NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS IN OTHER STATES, BECAUSE IN NEW MEXICO WE'RE A CHEAP DATE.

CAN YOU BUY A LOT.

YOU CAN BUY A LOT OF ADVERTISING.

IF YOU'RE THE REPUBLICAN NATIONAL COMMITTEE OR IF YOU'RE THE HOUSE MAJORITY COMMITTEE.

SO, IT IS GOING TO COME.

Gene: DAVE, I'M INTERESTED IN YOUR THOUGHTS ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE, OF COURSE.

WHAT DOES GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM HAVE TO DO TO SHORE UP HER VULNERABILITIES, PUT IT THAT WAY.

Dave: LET MY SING A SONG.

I THINK IF WE HEAR OF ONE PARTY DEMOCRATS OR REPUBLICANS AT ALL THE LEVELS SAYING, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A BIG PUSH TO REGISTER VOTERS, WE ARE GOING TO MAKE A BIG PUSH TO GET OUT THERE AND TRY AND ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, I THINK MICHELLE LUJAN GRISHAM HAS DONE TREMENDOUS THINGS FOR THE STATE.

SHE BROUGHT IN NEARLY 20 BILLION IN FEDERAL MONEY, BUT LIKE EVERYTHING, EVERYBODY ONLY REMEMBERS WHAT YOU DID FOR THEM YESTERDAY, YOU KNOW, THAT IS WHAT SHE IS GOING TO HAVE TO RUN ON.

BUT IF WE HEAR -- Gene: THERE IS A LOT OF CONSTITUENCIES OUT THERE, DAVE, THAT ARE NOT TOO CRAZY ABOUT HOW SHE HANDLED THE PANDEMIC, HOW BUSINESSES SUFFERED HERE.

THERE IS A LOT OF VULNERABILITY, IT WOULD SEEM.

Dave: NATIONAL DEMOCRATS ARE NOT HELPING WITH THIS IDEA OF DEFUNDING THE POLICE AND YOU KNOW LOTS OF ISSUES THAT -- YOU KNOW -- WHEN PEOPLE FEEL THREATENED BY CRIME THEY ARE NOT HAPPY.

I WAS IN NEW YORK IN '92 AND YOU KNOW WHEN RUDY GIULIANI WAS RUNNING AS LAW AND ORDER CANDIDATE FOR MAYOR, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IT IS NEW YORK.

IT IS LIKE THE HEART OF LIBERALISM AND ALL OF US ARE LISTENING TO RUDY GOING, I AM TIRED OF PEOPLE URINATING ON THE SIDEWALK.

WE ARE ALL LIKE, YEAH, I AM TIRED OF THAT TOO AND EVERYBODY VOTED FOR HIM.

SO, ALL DEMOCRATS HAVE TO BE CAREFUL BUT I THINK SHE HAS GOT A PRETTY STRONG TEAM.

SHE HAS A LOT OF MONEY.

SHE IS A GOOD POLITICIAN.

I THINK SHE CAN PULL IT OFF BUT WE'LL SEE.

YOU NEVER KNOW.

THE ELECTORATE SEEMS RESTLESS.

THE ELECTORATE SEEMS UNKNOWABLE WHICH IS NEVER A GOOD THING FOR THE INCUMBENT.

Dan: REMEMBER THIS, GENE, IN THE LAST 40 YEARS, NEW MEXICO HAS ONLY ELECTED A GOVERNOR IN THE SAME PARTY AS THE WHITE HOUSE ONCE.

CARRUTHERS IN 1986.

SO, THIS A GREAT ENVIRONMENT FOR THE REPUBLICAN CANDIDATE TO BE RUNNING AGAINST AN INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT WITH A DEMOCRAT AS THE PRESIDENT FROM STATISTICAL, HISTORICAL STATISTICAL PERSPECTIVE, IN THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO.

I THINK THAT IT IS CLEAR THAT WITH RONCHETTI 58% IN A FIVE-PERSON RACE IN THE PRIMARY WITH DOMINANT PERFORMANCE I THINK HE IS WELL POSITIONED HEADING INTO THE GENERAL.

Gene: SENATOR FELDMAN, I WANT TO RETOUCH ON SOMETHING YOU MENTIONED IN PASSING A SECOND AGO IN LOOKING AHEAD TO THREE U.S. HOUSE RACES.

THE MOST INTRIGUING TO ME WILL BE THE NEWLY MINTED CD2 OF COURSE.

DEFENDED BY REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT YVETTE HERRELL.

A LOT OF THAT SEAT ABUTS CD1 UP HERE IN ALBUQUERQUE AREA.

WHAT DOES THAT DO TO CAMPAIGNING, CONFUSION.

THERE IS A LOT OF DIFFERENT FACTORS GOING ON HERE.

Dede: YES.

THIS IS A WHOLE NEW BALLGAME NOW FOR CD2 BECAUSE IT INCLUDES THE SOUTH VALLEY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND PARTS OF THE WESTSIDE.

IT WILL TILT MORE DEMOCRATIC THIS YEAR AS A RESULT OF REDISTRICTING.

SO, IT IS GOING TO BE MORE OF A RACE AND ALSO I THINK REPRESENTATIVE OR CONGRESSWOMAN HERRELL HAS PROVEN HERSELF TO BE REALLY RIGHT WING AND MADE A LOT OF STATEMENTS THAT WILL NOT SIT WELL WITH HER NEW CONSTITUENTS.

AND SO I THINK THAT UNLESS SHE GETS UP HERE AND STARTS REALLY CAMPAIGNING LIKE CRAZY AND I HAVE SEEN HER MAYBE ONCE IN THIS AREA, SHE IS GOING TO HAVE QUITE A CHALLENGE FROM GABE VASQUEZ WHO IS WELL-KNOWN IN THE SOUTH AND WAS A CITY COUNCILOR IN LAS CRUCES AND IS A VERY ENERGIC CAMPAIGNER.

SO, WE'LL SEE WHAT HAPPENS THERE.

BUT THAT IS CERTAINLY GOING TO BE A RACE THAT TURNS OUT DEMOCRATIC VOTERS.

AND THAT WILL, OF COURSE, HAVE AN IMPACT ON THE GOVERNOR'S RACE AS WELL.

JUST AS THIS TIME HAVING NO CONTEST AT THE TOP OF THE DEMOCRATIC TICKET, DEPRESSED DEMOCRATIC TURNOUT SOMEWHAT IN THIS PRIMARY, I THINK HAVING THIS HOT RACE IN THE SOUTH IS REALLY GOING TO HELP THE DEMOCRATS.

Gene: GOOD POINT THERE.

DAVE, THE OTHER TWO U.S. HOUSE RACES ARE CLOSE TO HIM, DISTRICT 1, INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT MELODY STANSBURY TAKES ON REPUBLICAN MICHELLE GARCIA HOLMES AGAIN.

IN DISTRICT 3 INCUMBENT DEMOCRAT TERESA LEGER FERNANDEZ FACES ALEXIS MARTINEZ JOHNSON, FAMILIAR NAMES IN OPPOSITION THERE, BUT THE OBVIOUS QUESTION, ARE THOSE SAFE SEATS FOR DEMOCRATS OR ARE ALL THAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT HERE MAKE IT A LITTLE BIT DIFFERENT THAN SAFE.

Dave: WELL, I MEAN, YOU KNOW, DEFINE SAFE SEAT.

YOU KNOW.

ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

BUT, ALSO, DON'T FORGET ALL THREE OF THESE DISTRICTS ARE NEW AND I KNOW IT WAS VERY MUCH LOOKED AT THAT THE DEMOCRATS IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE WERE IN CHARGE AND THOUGHT WE CAN FIX THIS, BUT, YOU KNOW, LIKE SOMETIMES YOU DO -- WITH THE BEST INTENTIONS, YOU CAUSE THINGS THAT YOU WEREN'T EXPECTING AND SO, AGAIN, I THINK TURNOUT IS GOING TO BE KEY.

I MEAN, WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT LIKE, YOU KNOW, UP NORTH IN THERESA LEDGER, HER DISTRICT, THEY HAVE BEEN DISLOCATED ON A MASSIVE SCALE.

I DON'T KNOW IF IT AFFECTS ONE OR TWO OR THREE POINTS OR 10 MINUTES, THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE BEEN DISLODGED BECAUSE OF THESE FIRES.

SO WE DON'T KNOW AND THE NO.

3 THING IS IT IS NEW BUT, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ASK THE AVERAGE PERSON, THEY HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THEIR CONGRESSIONAL BOUNDARIES LOOK LIKE.

YOU KNOW.

Gene: I AM GETTING THAT FEEDBACK FROM A LOT OF PEOPLE RIGHT NOW, ESPECIALLY THE SOUTH VALLEY AREA THAT DEDE MENTIONED.

THERE IS A LOT OF CROSS-OVER.

IT IS NEWS TO A LOT OF PEOPLE AT THIS POINT.

Dan: I THINK, GENE, THERE IS GOING TO BE A COUPLE THINGS ON THE CONGRESSIONAL RACES.

ONE IS I THINK SENATOR JOSEPH CERVANTES GOT HIS WISH AND SINCE I WAS IN THE LEGISLATURE, HE HAS BEEN TALKING ABOUT MAKING ALL THE DISTRICTS MORE COMPETITIVE AND ALL THE DISTRICTS ARE MORE COMPETITIVE NOW.

THE REPUBLICAN ONE IS A LITTLE MORE COMPETITIVE FOR D'S.

NOW I STILL THINK IT IS A LEANING REPUBLICAN SEAT, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT IS THE FIRST CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT, NO, THE THIRD ONE IS MORE COMPETITIVE FOR R'S NOW THAN IT WAS IN THE PAST.

I THINK A COUPLE THINGS TO BE SAID ABOUT THESE UPCOMING CONGRESSIONAL RACES, DEDE IS RIGHT, THERE WILL BE A PUSH BY DEMOCRATS BUT REPUBLICANS AREN'T GOING TO SLEEP AT THE WHEEL.

YOU'LL SEE SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO, AND IF THEY HAVE DONE ANYTHING TO ENERGIZE SOUTHEASTERN NEW MEXICO, THERE IS A REASON WHY THOSE OF WHO DIDN'T LIVE HERE REFER TO THIS AS THE EMERALD CITY.

AND SO WHEN YOU START SAYING, HEY LISTEN, WE ARE GOING TO LET PEOPLE FROM ALBUQUERQUE DECIDE WHO REPRESENTS ROSWELL, YOU'LL GET MORE PEOPLE TO TURN OUT AND THERE MAY BE PARTY THAT CROSS PARTY LINES OR GEOGRAPHIC LINES TO SUPPORT KEEPING SOMEBODY CLOSE TO HOME.

Gene: INTERESTING POINTS THERE.

WE'LL BE KEEP AN EYE ON CAMPAIGN SEASON IN THE COMING WEEKS AND MONTHS AHEAD OF THE GENERAL ELECTION, OF COURSE.

THANK YOU ONCE AGAIN TO THE LINE OPINION PANELISTS.

SEE YOU BACK AT THE VIRTUAL ROUNDTABLE ONE FINAL TIME IN LESS THAN 15 MINUTES BUT FIRST AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION BETWEEN ENVIRONMENT REPORTER LAURA PASKUS AND CHIEF ENGINEER AT THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT.

AS JASON CASUGA PUTS IT, THE OUTLOOK FOR WATER SUPPLY FROM THE RIVER IS BLEAK.

Laura: JASON CASUGA, THANKS FOR JOINING ME TODAY.

Casuga: THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, LAURA.

APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

Laura: WE ARE TALKING SECOND WEEK IN JUNE SO EARLY JUNE, HOW DO THINGS LOOK FOR WATER SUPPLIES ON THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE RIGHT NOW?

Casuga: THAT IS A TOUGH QUESTION AND I WISH I HAD BETTER NEWS BUT IT'S NOT LOOKING VERY GOOD.

AS WE ARE ENDING -- AS WE BEGAN MAY WE HAD QUITE A BIT OF WATER, SPRING RUNOFF WAS COMING DOWN BUT I DON'T THINK FOLKS REALIZE IS IT WAS COMING DOWN EARLY WHICH MEANT IT WOULD END EARLY AND WE ARE SEEING THAT PROCESS OF THE AMOUNT OF THE NATIVE WATER THAT WE AVAILABLE TO US IN THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE COMING TO AN END.

AND THE MIDDLE RIO GRANDE CONSERVANCY DISTRICT THIS WEEK STARTED OR LATE LAST WEEK STARTED RELEASE OF OUR SAN JUAN CHAMA WATER TO AUGMENT NATIVE FLOW, WHICH IS VERY EARLY ON WHEN WE HAVE TO START DOING THAT.

SO I WOULD SAY THE WATER SITUATION, UNFORTUNATELY, IS LOOKING PRETTY BLEAK.

Laura: SO, WHAT CAN FARMERS EXPECT, YOU THINK, IN THE COMING WEEKS?

Casuga: SO, WE ARE GOING TO FACE GENERALLY A DOWNWARD TREND ON AMOUNT OF WATER WE CAN DIVERT TO THE POINT WE WON'T DIVERT ANYTHING ELSE.

WE ARE GOING TO REACH A POINT IN TIME WHERE WATER DELIVERY TO NON-PUEBLO FARMERS WILL KICK IN AND WE'LL ONLY BE DELIVERING WHAT WE CALL PRIOR AND PARAMOUNT MOUNT WATER TO TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND SHORT OF GETTING RAIN, THE AMOUNT OF WATER THAT MANY NON-TRIBAL FARMERS CAN EXPECT IS GOING TO BE VERY LITTLE, IN SOME CASES NONE.

Laura: MRGCD HELD A SPECIAL MEETING AT THE END OF MAY AND I HEARD YOU SAY IN THE MEETING MULTIPLE TIMES THAT IF IRRIGATION DELIVERIES ARE STOPPED IN THE COMING WEEKS, THAT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THE DISTRICT HAS ENDED THE IRRIGATION SEASON, IT MEANS THAT THERE IS NO WATER.

CAN YOU ELABORATE ON THAT?

Casuga: SO, OFTENTIMES, I THINK, WHEN WE ARE TALKING IN OUR BOARD MEETINGS, PEOPLE GET THIS IDEA THAT WE AT THE MRGCD ARE LITERALLY TURNING OFF THE FAUCET, IF YOU WILL.

IN THIS INSTANCE, WE ARE NOT.

MRGCD WILL BE OPEN FOR BUSINESS AND IF WE HAVE WATER TO ROUTE AND MOVE TO FARMERS WE WILL DO THAT.

THE PROBLEM IS WE ARE JUST RUNNING OUT OF THE PRECIOUS RESOURCE THAT WE ROUTE TO FARMERS.

SO, WITHOUT RAIN, I EXPECT MAYBE AS EARLY AS THE 15TH OF THIS MONTH TO HAVE VERY LITTLE TO NO WATER TO DIVERT AND TO DELIVER TO OUR NON-PUEBLO AGRICULTURAL COMMUNITY RIGHT NOW AND THAT WILL STAY THAT WAY UNTIL WE GET RAIN AND IF WE GET RAIN.

IF WE GET A SUBSTANTIAL AMOUNT OF RAIN WHERE WE CAN DIVERT THAT AND ROUTE IT TO FARMERS, WE WILL DO THAT.

IN THAT SENSE, WE ARE OPEN FOR BUSINESS WE JUST DON'T HAVE THE RESOURCE TO DELIVER TO FOLKS.

Laura: I KNOW THAT FARMERS IN THE DISTRICT UNDERSTAND THIS, BUT I JUST KIND OF WANTED TO LAY OUT FOR THE AUDIENCE, LIKE, THE RIO GRANDE ISN'T NECESSARILY LIKE JUST A NATURALLY FLOWING RIVER ANYMORE.

THERE IS A SERIES OF RESERVOIRS AND DIVERSIONS AND THE WATER MOVES FROM PLACE TO PLACE, AND DIFFERENT STATES, DIFFERENT ENTITIES HAVE DIFFERENT WATER RIGHTS THAT CAN BE HELD IN DIFFERENT RESERVOIRS.

WHERE DOES THE MRGCD STORE ITS WATER AND WHAT IS THE STATUS OF THAT STORED WATER RIGHT NOW?

Casuga: HISTORICALLY MRGCD STORED ITS WATER AT EL VADO DAM.

EL VADO DAM IS OWNED AND OPERATED BY THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION AND MRGCD IS THE NONFEDERAL PARTNER WITH RECLAMATION WITH EL VADO.

WE MAY O & M FOR IT BUT BUREAU OF RECLAMATIONS MANAGES IT AND DOES ALL OPERATIONS.

EL VADO DAM IS CURRENTLY GOING THROUGH A REHABILITATION UNDER THE BUREAU OF RECLAMATION SAFETY OF DAMS PROGRAMS SO IT IS NOT AVAILABLE TO US TO STORE NATIVE WATER.

AND, SO, WITHOUT HAVING THE ABILITY TO STORE WATER, WE TRULY ARE WHAT WE CALL A RUN OF THE RIVER SYSTEM.

WE ARE BEHOLDING NO WHAT IS PRODUCED IN THE UPPER ELEVATIONS FROM A SNOWPACK STANDPOINT OR FROM THE AMOUNT OF RAIN THAT WE GET.

AND WE HAVE NO REAL ABILITY TO SUPPLEMENT THAT THROUGH NATIVE STORAGE.

ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I THINK IS WORTH MENTIONING THERE IS THAT NEW MEXICO IS CURRENTLY IN DEBT UNDER THE RIO GRANDE COMPACT WHICH ALSO LIMITS OUR ABILITY TO STORE AND WOULD LIMIT OUR ABILITY TO STORE EVEN IF EL VADO WAS FUNCTIONING.

SO, WE JUST FACED THE ALMOST PERFECT STORM, EXTREME DROUGHT, AN INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS TO BE FIXED AND THEN THE DEBT UNDER THE RIO GRANDE COMPACT AFFECTING THE MIDDLE VALLEY.

I MEAN, IT IS ALL COMING TO A HEAD AT ONE TIME.

Laura: WE HAVE SEEN THE RIVER IN STEADY DECLINE FOR DECADES AND WE HAVE SEEN TEMPERATURES RISING FOR DECADES.

IT FEELS TO ME LIKE THIS YEAR SHOULDN'T BE A HUGE SURPRISE TO PEOPLE AND YET IT FEELS LIKE A CRISIS.

DO YOU KNOW LIKE HOW ARE FARMERS PLANNING TO ADAPT TO THIS YEAR?

Casuga: LAURA, I THINK IT IS DIFFERENT ACROSS THE BOARD.

I HAVE SEEN SOME OF THE FARMING COMMUNITIES ADAPT AND ADAPT PREVIOUSLY AS WE HAD KIND OF SIGNS OF WHAT WAS COMING, DRYER YEARS, BUT REALISTICALLY WHAT I TELL OUR TEAM AT MRGCD, I DON'T THINK ANYBODY HAS FACED WHAT WE ARE FACING FROM A MANAGEMENT STANDPOINT THIS YEAR.

NOT HAVING EL VADO DAM, THE EXTENT OF BEING IN COMPACT DEBT THAT WE ARE AND THEN THE CONDITIONS THAT WE HAVE RELATED TO THE DROUGHT.

RIGHT.

SO, I THINK WHAT THE DROUGHT IS GOING TO DO, AND I SAY THE DROUGHT BECAUSE EVEN IF WE GET THE INFRASTRUCTURE FIXED AND WE GET MORE IN COMPLIANCE WITH OUR COMPACT DEBT, I DO THINK WE ARE GOING TO FACE A HYDROLOGIC REALITY WHERE WE ARE PRODUCING -- THE SYSTEM IS PRODUCING LESS WATER.

SO, I THINK THAT WE HAVE ENOUGH INFRASTRUCTURE ON THIS RIVER TO NOT JUST WEATHER IT BUT HOPEFULLY TO THRIVE, BUT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE, BOTH ON THE FARMING SIDE, LOOKING AT THE EFFICIENCY OPERATION WITHIN AN INDIVIDUAL FARMER'S FIELD.

MRGCD IS DOING THAT SAME THING NOW AS WE LOOK AT OUR SYSTEM.

HOW CAN WE MOVE WATER MORE EFFICIENTLY AND GET IT TO FARMS MORE EFFICIENTLY.

AND THEN ANY TYPE OF INFRASTRUCTURE FARMERS NEED TO INVEST IN FOR DROUGHT RESILIENCY.

I KNOW MANY FARMERS HAVE INVESTED IN DROUGHT RESILIENCY WELLS THAT THEY CAN SUPPLEMENT WHEN THE DISTRICT CAN'T MAKE DELIVERIES.

AND I THINK FOLKS ARE GOING TO HAVE TO TAKE A MORE REALISTIC LOOK AT THAT AS THEY GO FORWARD BECAUSE I EXPECT THAT WE WILL CONTINUE TO FACE A VERY DIFFICULT HYDROLOGIC REALITY FOR SOME TIME.

I HOPE IT IS DIFFERENT AND MY WISH IS THAT IT IS DIFFERENT.

I JUST DON'T THINK THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING AND I DON'T THINK IT IS GOING TO BE A TREND THAT TURNS AROUND VERY QUICKLY.

Laura: ARE THERE CONCERNS THAT AS PEOPLE CAN'T GET SURFACE WATER THAT THEY START DRILLING MORE WELLS AND USING GROUNDWATER AND COULD WE POTENTIALLY KIND OF END UP IN A SITUATION LIKE IN THE LOWER RIO GRANDE WHERE THERE IS COMPACT ISSUES BETWEEN TEXAS AND NEW MEXICO BECAUSE OF THAT GROUNDWATER PUMPING?

Casuga: YEAH, LAURA, I THINK THAT AS WE -- AS I LOOK DOWN ON THAT LOWER SECTION AND THE IMPLICATIONS DOWN THERE AND THEN LOOK AT THE MIDDLE VALLEY, I THINK IT IS RIGHT TO BE CONCERNED WITH PUMPING.

AND TO A DEGREE, I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE AS NEW MEXICANS WILL HAVE TO DO IS PUT IN SYSTEMS, I THINK, TO MONITOR THAT PUMPING TO ESSENTIALLY TAKE THAT BULL BY THE HORNS.

BECAUSE I THINK THAT IS WHAT IT IS GOING TO TAKE BECAUSE IT IS THE SAME CUP OF WATER, RIGHT?

I WAS EXPLAINING THIS TO A DIFFERENT INDIVIDUAL THE OTHER DAY.

IMAGINE A CUP OF WATER WITH A STRAW IN IT, SURFACE WATER DRINKS UP FROM THE TOP, PUMPING JUST DRINKS IT FROM THE BOTTOM, RIGHT?

SO IT IS THE SAME CUP AND I THINK WE HAVE TO BE MINDFUL OF THAT.

I DO THINK THERE IS A RIGHT BALANCE WE CAN GET TO BUT ON THE MRGCD SIDE WE DON'T MANAGE WELLS.

THAT COMES FROM THE OFFICE OF THE STATE ENGINEER.

OUR GAME IS PRIMARILY IN SURFACE WATER, RIGHT, FROM A DELIVERY STANDPOINT.

SO, THERE IS, I THINK, NEEDS TO BE COLLABORATION AND COORDINATION, GET A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF THE AMOUNT OF PUMPING THAT IS ALREADY GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE VALLEY THAT MAYBE WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

WHICH I THINK THERE IS QUITE A BIT OF PUMPING GOING ON IN THE MIDDLE VALLEY THAT WE DON'T KNOW ABOUT AND START SLOWING BUT SURELY BRINGING THAT INTO AN UNDERSTANDING AND REGULATING THAT.

BUT I THINK NOTHING CAN BE OFF THE BOARD RIGHT NOW.

I THINK THE DROUGHT IS GOING TO BE A GREAT EQUALIZER IN THIS AND CAUSE US TO CONTINUE TO LOOK AT THESE THINGS AND GET BETTER.

I SAW DROUGHT AND I MEAN JUST OUR HYDROLOGIC REALITY RIGHT NOW BECAUSE DROUGHT SOMETIMES IMPLIES THAT IT IS COMING AND GOING.

I DON'T KNOW IF THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING.

SO, I THINK THE RIGHT TERM IS OUR CURRENT HYDROLOGIC REALITY AND IT MAY BE THIS WAY FOR SOME TIME.

Laura: I DON'T WANT TO SCARE PEOPLE BUT I WANT TO UNDERSCORE THE SERIOUSNESS OF THIS YEAR.

SO, JASON, ANY FINAL WORDS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, THE OUTLOOK FOR THE SUMMER?

Casuga: I DON'T KNOW AND IT MAY SCARE FOLKS BUT THAT IS NOT MY INTENT.

MY INTENT IN MY JOB IS TO SPEAK THE TRUTH AND BE TRANSPARENT.

I THINK PEOPLE DESERVE TO KNOW HOW DIFFICULT IT IS GOING TO BE.

HOPEFULLY, LAURA, I AM HOPING BY OPPORTUNITIES LIKE THIS AND OTHER TIMES I HAVE BEEN ABLE TO TALK WITH THE MEDIA, IS THAT WE CAN GET THE MESSAGE OUT THERE.

I STILL THINK THERE IS A LOT OF FOLKS IN THE MIDDLE VALLEY THAT ARE NOT IN TUNE FROM A WATER SITUATION ON WHAT WE ARE FACING, NOT JUST IN THE MIDDLE VALLEY BUT IN NEW MEXICO AS A WHOLE.

WHAT WE ARE FACING, THE COMMUNITY NEEDS TO UNDERSTAND IS NOT EXCLUSIVE TO NEW MEXICO.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE GREATER PART OF THE SOUTHWEST FROM A DROUGHT WATCH STANDPOINT, WE ARE EITHER IN EXCEPTIONAL TO SEVERE DROUGHT.

THAT IS A REALITY FOR THE WHOLE SOUTHWEST.

WHAT WE ARE DEALING WITH IN THE MIDDLE VALLEY IS THE SAME, JUST ON A DIFFERENT SCALE TO WHAT THEY ARE DEALING WITH ON THE COLORADO RIVER.

AND, SO, WHAT I WANT TO TELL FOLKS IN THE COMMUNITY IS THAT I THINK THERE IS A PATH FORWARD BUT I DO THINK THAT THE CONVERSATION ON DROUGHT, HOW WE MANAGE OUR WATER, I THINK, THE CONVERSATIONS WE NEED TO HAVE AMONG OUR FEDERAL AGENCIES AND SOME OF THE OVERLAPPING AUTHORITIES THAT LIMIT, I THINK, THE USEFULNESS OF INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE, HAS TO BE AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION GOING FORWARD BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW THAT THIS RIVER NEEDS MORE INFRASTRUCTURE.

IT NEEDS TO MAKE USE OF THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT WE HAVE AND THE MORE PEOPLE THAT KNOW ABOUT THIS ISSUE, I THINK, THEN, CAN BEGIN TO INFLUENCE, I THINK, SOME OF THESE CHANGES FROM AUTHORITIES TO LAWS, IF LAWS NEED TO BE CHANGED, AND PARTNERSHIPS THAT NEED TO BE HAD, BUT THAT STARTS BY KEEPING THE COMMUNITY INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WE FACE.

AND I WILL SAY THAT I AM GETTING MORE AND MORE CALLS NOW FROM FOLKS THAT ARE JUST NOT EVEN IN THE BENEFITED AREA OF THE DISTRICT TRYING TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE COMMUNITIES THAT THEY ARE HISTORICALLY GOING TO, LIKE IF THEY VISIT CORRALES OR THE BOSQUE, OR THEY GO NORTH A LITTLE BIT AND LIKE TO HIKE ALONG THE RIVER, RIGHT, THE MORE FOLKS THAT GET INVOLVED, I THINK, CAN HELP TURN THESE CONVERSATIONS AS WE DEAL WITH THESE INFRASTRUCTURE ISSUES, THESE AUTHORITIES, AND HOPEFULLY GET ALL OF US WATER MANAGEMENT AGENCIES GENERALLY MARCHING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

Laura: THANKS SO MUCH FOR TALKING WITH ME.

Casuga: APPRECIATE THE OPPORTUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Gene: WELCOME BACK TO THE LINE OPINION PANEL FOR THE FINAL DISCUSSION THIS WEEK.

AFTER A SCALDING HOT WEEK ACROSS THE STATE, WE COULD BE GETTING RAIN SOON, MONSOON, AS THE WORD IS KNOWN.

THAT'S AS WE WORK THROUGH A HISTORIC FIRE SEASON, THE LARGEST EVER IN STATE HISTORY ALREADY.

NOW, WHEN DO WE NEED TO SHIFT OUR CONCERN TO THE THREAT OF FLOODING ON THOSE FIRE-DAMAGED LANDS.

SENATOR FELDMAN, LET ME START WITH YOU.

YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT OF FIRES HERE.

SHOULD WE BE CONCERNED RIGHT NOW?

Dede: YES.

THUNDERSTORMS ARE NOT A BLESSING.

NOT ONLY CAN THEY LIGHT NEW FIRES BUT BECAUSE OF THE CALF AND HERMIT'S PEAK FIRE BURNED SO HOT AND ON SUCH STEEP SLOPES THE SOIL IS JUST PARCHED AND, SO, THERE IS A GREAT DANGER THAT THE ASH WILL RUN OFF DOWN INTO THE ACEQUIAS, DOWN INTO THE RESERVOIRS LIKE STORY LAKE NEAR LAS VEGAS, AND REALLY CLOG UP THE SYSTEM.

I REMEMBER HOW AFTER THE CONCHAS FIRE, THE JEMEZ RIVER RAN BLACK AND THE RIO GRANDE WAS BLACK AS WELL.

I THINK THAT COULD WELL HAPPEN AS A RESULT OF FLASH FLOODING AND REMEMBER ALSO HOW THE DIXON ORCHARDS WERE DESTROYED AFTER THAT FIRE AND THAT FIRE WAS REALLY, REALLY HOT TOO.

AND SO, IT REALLY JUST TOOK OUT BRIDGES ON THE SANTA CLARA RESERVATION AND UP NEAR COCHITI AND IT WAS A REAL DISASTER THAT IT TOOK YEARS TO RECOVER FROM THAT AS WELL.

Gene: EXACTLY RIGHT.

DAVE, WE EXPECT A VISIT FROM PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN IN THE NEXT FEW DAYS.

WE KNOW HE IS GOING TO SANTA FE TO MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR BUT WE DON'T KNOW YET IF HE IS GOING TO SURVEY THE DAMAGE FIRSTHAND.

THAT IS KIND OF A TYPICAL PRESIDENTIAL VISIT.

HOW IMPORTANT IS IT FOR HIM TO SEE THE CATASTROPHE WITH HIS OWN EYES WHEN IT COMES TO POLICY AND THINGS LIKE THAT?

Dave: WELL, I THINK, YOU KNOW, SO MUCH OF BEING PRESIDENT THESE DAYS IS VISUAL, YOU KNOW, IT IS THE PICTURE.

IT IS THE TV SPOT.

IT GETS COVERED ON THE NEWS.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO SHOW UP.

I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK HE OBVIOUSLY KNOWS THE GOVERNOR AND I THINK HE IS HERE IN SUPPORT OF THE GOVERNOR.

BUT ON A VERY REAL THING, I THINK IF A PRESIDENT SHOWS UP AND SEES THE AMOUNT OF DAMAGE, IT DOESN'T HURT FOR WHEN HE PUTS HIS FINGER ON THE SCALE TO FIGURE OUT HOW MUCH MONEY SHOULD BE SENT IN.

FROM THE REPORTS THAT WE ARE GETTING, THERE IS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF DAMAGE UP NORTH, YOU KNOW, THE BIGGEST WILDFIRE IN THE HISTORY OF THE STATE IS NOT TO BE TAKEN LIGHTLY.

AND SO I THINK IT IS IMPORTANT IF THE PRESIDENT SHOWS UP AND HE SEES THE DAMAGE AND IT MAKES IT HELPFUL TO GET MORE MONEY.

MONEY WON'T SOLVE ALL THE PROBLEMS BUT IT WON'T HURT EITHER.

AND WHEN WE START HAVING THESE DISASTERS LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE'S LIVELIHOOD OF TAKING WOOD OUT OF THE FOREST ARE NOW GONE.

WE HAVE A POTENTIALLY VERY THREATENING FLOOD SEASON COMING.

SO, NOTHING IS GOOD HERE.

YES, HE SHOULD SHOW UP AND SHOULD SAY, BASICALLY, HERE IS MY CHECKBOOK, I AM SIGNING A VERY BIG CHECK FOR YOU GUYS.

LET ME KNOW WHAT ELSE YOU NEED, AND I'LL BE HERE FOR YOU.

THAT WOULD BE MY SUGGESTION.

Gene: LET ME STAY WITH YOU, DAVE, ON THAT VERY POINT.

THERE IS A LOT OF ISSUES NOW ABOUT WHO SHOULD PAY FOR THE DAMAGE, ALL THAT KIND OF THING.

SHOULD THE PRESIDENT -- Dan: YOU MEAN THE PEOPLE WHO SET THE FIRE SHOULD PAY FOR THE DAMAGE.

Gene: SHOULD THE PRESIDENT BE PREPARED TO SAY FLAT OUT, WE ARE GOING TO SOLVE THIS FINANCIALLY, MAYBE SURROUND HIMSELF WITH SOME FAMILIES THAT HAVE BEEN AFFECTED.

Dave: YES, HE SHOULD BE PREPARED BECAUSE FIRE POLICY, IT DOESN'T MATTER IF IT IS NEW MEXICO OR CALIFORNIA OR WHEREVER WE LOOK, FIRE POLICY JUST SIMPLY DOESN'T WORK.

IT HASN'T WORKED IN THE LAST 50 YEARS.

SOME PEOPLE WOULD SAY THE LAST 100 YEARS, I DON'T KNOW.

I AM NOT EXPERT ON FIRE POLICY BUT WE ARE DEALING WITH -- IF WE ARE DEALING WITH CLIMATE CHANGE, WE ARE GOING TO HAVE MORE FIRES.

I THINK THIS IS ONE OF THOSE AREAS WHERE PEOPLE NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHO YOU VOTE FOR AND WHO YOU ELECT MATTERS BECAUSE THIS IS THE KIND OF PROBLEM THAT GOVERNMENT SHOULD UNDERTAKE.

WE NEED NEW IDEAS AND NEW POLICIES AND NEW WAYS TO SORT OF ATTACK THESE PROBLEMS.

SO, WHO YOU VOTE FOR REALLY DOES MATTER.

Gene: THAT IS THE OPPORTUNITY, DAVE, IS HAVE THE PRESIDENT LOOK AT A CAMERA AND OUR STATE RIGHT IN THE EYE AND SAY WE ARE GOING IN A NEW DIRECTION ABOUT HOW WE FIGHT THESE FIRES.

DANIEL, AS MENTIONED A LITTLE BIT EARLIER, OF COURSE, LARGEST FIRE SEASON EVER IN NEW MEXICO.

TWO OF THE LARGEST FIRES IN STATE HISTORY.

HOW CAN WE FIND MORE URGENCY ON THIS ISSUE?

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE?

Dan: I HAVE SAID FOR YEARS, GET THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OUT OF MANAGING THE FORESTS AND TURN IT OVER TO PEOPLE THAT ARE SUCCESSFUL IN MANAGING THE FORESTS.

YOU CAN GO ANYWHERE IN NEW MEXICO AND YOU CAN SEE THE LINE BETWEEN THE NATIVES AND -- NATIVE RESERVATION LAND AND NATIONAL FOREST THAT ABUT EACH OTHER.

YOU GO ON THE RESERVATION, UNBELIEVABLY WELL KEPT VERSUS THE FOREST AND WE ARE NOT EVEN UTILIZING THE INDIVIDUALS THAT HAVE THE BEST KNOWLEDGE TO TAKE CARE OF THE FOREST ACROSS OUR STATE.

I THINK THIS COULD POTENTIALLY -- THE PRESIDENTIAL VISIT COULD POTENTIALLY BE A PROBLEM FOR DEMOCRATS IN NEW MEXICO ONLY BECAUSE YOU HAVE A FIRE IN A NORTHERN PART OF NEW MEXICO THAT WAS LIT BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS, BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, AND NOW THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT IS GOING TO SHOW UP AND THERE IS GOING TO BE OPTICS WITH THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT SAYING -- SO, YOU MAY WIND UP FINDING ALL THE DEMOCRAT CANDIDATES FOR OFFICE ARE IN WASHINGTON, D.C. ON THE SAME DAY RAISING MONEY AS THE PRESIDENT IS VISITING.

THERE MAY NOT BE A LOT OF PEOPLE FROM NEW MEXICO THAT WANT TO BE SEEN RIGHT NOW WITH THE PERCEPTION OF THE FEDS BEING THE ONES THAT STARTED THE FIRE, BUT WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING.

I AM HOPING AT SOME POINT, I DON'T CARE WHAT PARTY FIGURES OUT THAT THE GOVERNMENT'S ANSWER TO MANAGING AND CONSERVING FEDERAL LAND IS AN UNABATED FAILURE AND NEEDS TO BE CHANGED.

Gene: SENATOR FELDMAN, IF I AM ON THE PRESIDENT'S TEAM, I AM SAYING THIS IS AN EMPATHY VISIT.

WE ARE GOING TO TALK WITH FAMILIES, SURROUND HIM WITH FAMILIES, NOT WITH OFFICIAL U.S. FOREST SERVICE PEOPLE BECAUSE THEY ARE SORT OF THE BAD GUYS RIGHT NOW, AS DAN MENTIONED.

I AM CURIOUS HOW YOU THINK IT SHOULD GO WITH A PRESIDENTIAL VISIT OF THIS TYPE.

Dede: WELL, YOU KNOW, POLITICIANS FROM WASHINGTON CAN STEP IN IT WHEN IT COMES TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO.

DATING BACK TO WHEN, I THINK IT WAS JOHN KENNEDY, WHO CAME TO NORTHERN NEW MEXICO DURING HIS PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN AND REALLY LAUDED THE MON-DRAGONS, INSTEAD OF THE MONDRAGONS AND WAS IMMEDIATELY SEEN AS AN OUTSIDER.

NOW, JOE BIDEN HAS BEEN TO NEW MEXICO BEFORE AND KNOWS NEW MEXICO A LITTLE BIT BETTER.

BUT, HE HAS TO BE VERY AWARE OF THE CULTURAL ASPECT OF THIS FIRE AND OF THIS PART OF THE COUNTRY WHICH IS QUITE UNIQUE, VERY DIFFERENT FROM CALIFORNIA WHERE HE HAS VISITED FIRES BEFORE OR OTHER PLACES.

AND BE VERY COGNIZANT OF THE HISTORY OF PROTESTS, AS DAN HAS MENTIONED, AGAINST THE FOREST SERVICE AND AGAINST -- AND IT IS A TRADITION IN NORTHERN NEW MEXICO TO BE AGAINST THE FIRE SERVICE EVER SINCE THE TIERRA AMARILLA RAID.

AND SO HE WOULD DO WELL, I THINK, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT, TO ACKNOWLEDGE THAT MISTAKES HAVE BEEN MADE AND THAT HE IS GOING TO BE SEARCHING FOR SOLUTIONS AND WORKING WITH THE ACEQUIAS AND THE LOCAL RESIDENTS TO REBUILD AND RESTORE WHAT IS A TREASURE OF NEW MEXICO THAT HAS BEEN DESTROYED.

IT IS THE HEART OF NEW MEXICO, AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED.

Gene: HE IS WALKING INTO A LOT OF ANGER.

IT IS GOING TO TAKE ALL THE POLITICAL PROWESS THAT HE HAS HERE.

THANKS AGAIN TO THE LINE PANEL AS ALWAYS THIS WEEK.

BE SURE TO LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT ANY OF THE TOPICS THE LINE COVER ON OUR FACEBOOK, TWITTER OR INSTAGRAM PAGES.

I WANT TO CIRCLE BACK TO THE PANEL DISCUSSION ON THE FLOODING WORRY WE ARE FACING WITH OUR UPCOMING MONSOON SEASON BY LOOKING BACK AT 2011 AND THE MESS WITH THE BELOVED DIXON APPLE FARM AND FLOODING DAMAGE THEY SUFFERED AFTER THE LOS CONCHAS FIRE BACK THEN.

WE HAVE LINKED TO SOME DRAMATIC CELL PHONE FOOTAGE ON OUR SOCIAL MEDIA PAGES.

THAT FOOTAGE WAS RECORDED BY A MEMBER OF COCHITI PUEBLO.

IT IS JOLTING.

WHILE IT MAY BE WATER, IT DOESN'T LOOK LIKE IT SINCE THE BURNED ASH MADE IT LOOK LIKE SOME SORT OF BOILING BLACK DEATH AS IT RIPS THROUGH THE ORCHARD.

I WAS ALSO STRUCK THEN AT THE WORDS OF THEN LAND COMMISSIONER RAY POWELL, WHO NEGOTIATED THE SALE OF THE DEVASTATED LAND TO THE STATE AND THE ADJACENT PUEBLO, FOLLOWING THE FLOODING.

WHEN MR. POWELL SAID, QUOTE, WITH THE CONTINUED FLOOD RISK, IT IS GOING TO BE A DECADE OR DECADES BEFORE ANYTHING CAN BE DONE WITH THE ORCHARD, END QUOTE.

KEEP IN MIND THE ORCHARD WAS 8800 ACRES LARGE AND IT WAS GONE IN SHORT ORDER.

IT WAS ALWAYS THE SANTA CLARA FLOOD PUEBLO FLOOD AND THE FRIJOLES CANYON FLOOD IN AUGUST OF THAT YEAR AS WELL.

MR. POWELL'S WORDS SHOULD BE FRONT AND CENTER IN OUR THOUGHTS AS PLANNING TO MITIGATE THE HARM OF FLOOD OF ASH LADEN WATER AND WHAT IT CAN CAUSE.

IT COST THE FAMILY THEIR BUSINESS.

IT CERTAINLY COST ALL OF US LOSING AN ANNUAL FAMILY FALL TRADITION.

IT MAY BE TIME TO PUT SOME SERIOUS RESOURCES INTO GETTING IN FRONT OF THE CURVE ON FLOODING AND PREDICTED BURN AREAS AT THE SAME RATE AS FIGHTING THE FIRES THEMSELVES.

BURN SCARS HEAL CERTAINLY BUT WATER DAMAGE TO THIS SCALE IS AN EQUALLY SERIOUS PROBLEM FOR OUR STATE.

THANKS AGAIN FOR JOINING US AND STAYING INFORMED AND ENGAGED.

SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK, IN FOCUS.

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