Alamogordo Public Land Rally

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Members of the Democratic Party of Otero County (DPOC) gathered at the Southeast corner of Tenth Street and White Sands Boulevard to protest in favor of keeping public lands public through the efforts of the United States Forest Service.

An organization called "Stand By Me For Liberty" was joined by a local group of ranchers and Republicans speaking out against the United States Forest Service on the Northwest corner of White Sands Boulevard and Tenth Street.

There were many colorful signs carried by both groups espousing their arguments for and against. Also supporting the DPOC group was Democrat Merrie Lee Soules who is running for Congress against Republican incumbent Steve Pearce. Merrie Lee strongly believes we need to protect our public lands not only for New Mexico, but for the entire nation.

Also attending was Democratic State Senator Bill Soules (Merrie Lee's brother) who was instrumental in helping get the Organ Mountains designated as the Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument. He had the honor of going to Washington and meeting with President Obama when this designation was made. Soules said, "I'm hoping the general public will pay close attention and the public will choose the federal government role as protecting this legacy for all of us, not just a few, but for the many."

Rancher Jeff Swanson said, "I believe if these lands are transferred to the states and counties, they will soon be privatized and sold. They will go to rich corporations, they will go to rich global investors and the American public will be locked out. I think it is crucial to protect our national heritage by fully funding the U.S. Forest Service, the Department of Interior, the BLM, the local fire agencies including the fire departments, county and state fire departments - so that we have the resources to care for this land."

Nadia Sikes, DPOC Chair, creating another sign

Denise Lang, running for State Representative New Mexico House District 51 with her campaign dog

Karen Hutchison carrying on with her protest

Rancher and Democratic activist Jeff Swanson

Donna Swanson expressing her views

Rosanna Heath doing her bit to save our public lands

Nadia Sikes with her newly created sign

Another shot of Rosanna

L to R: Unknown lady, Denise Lang and Merrie Lee Soules

Merrie Lee Soules addresses the DPOC rally

Merrie Lee continuing her address to the group

State Senator David Soules addressing the group

I will say it was hot out there, but we had fun. A lot of car horns were honked in solidarity and I saw many "thumbs up" as people drove by. When I got home I went to the couch for the rest of the afternoon!

This is all I have to say for now.

2016 Democratic State Convention in Albuquerque, New Mexico

June 25, 2016

One more meeting to go to find out who is going to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania the end of July, 2016. Doug and Carla drove to Albuquerque on Friday, June 24, 2016 and stayed in a motel to make sure they would be at the convention timely.

There was quite a crowd in attendance as you can imagine. Once the Pledge of Allegiance was said and the National Anthem was sung, announcements were made, speeches ensued and Bernie supporters went to a separate room from the Hillary supporters for the voting process. I will say that some of the Bernie supporters were quite rude for no reason. The loud remarks they were making were not regarding anything that could possibly be solved in this setting. One needs to choose their battles carefully to be successful.

Unfortunately, I was not successful in my bid for delegate to the Democratic National Convention, but I met a lot of really nice people and had a great time. Several people told me if they had been voting for the hat, I would have won!

We left right after the convention was over and headed back to Alamogordo in time to attend the play auditions at the Rohovec Theatre on the Hill at NMSU-A.

Carla Kerr just arriving at the convention

Carla in conversation with the "fashion police"

Deb Haaland, Chair of the Democratic Party of New Mexico

Nancy Denker from Bernalillo County, New Mexico with her very well-behaved parrot

Gentleman introducing Deb Haaland

Merrie Lee Soules, Candidate for U.S. Congress from New Mexico Congressional District 2

Remarks by New Mexico State Auditor Tim Keller on behalf of Maggie Toulouse Oliver, candidate for Secretary of State

Guest Remarks from State Senate Majority Leader Michael Sanchez

Joe Kabourek explaining voting procedures

Carla Kerr letting everyone know she is running for delegate to the Democratic National Convention

Carla standing in line waiting to cast her votes

Joe Kabourek (center) holding a ballot, calling out "Kerr" as they count the votes

I'm not saying I wouldn't try this again in four years, but I'm certainly not getting any younger and it will definitely depend on my physical and mental condition. The people I met were wonderful and I had a great time. The excitement was electrifying and makes me want to try it one more time!

Congratulations to Donna Swanson on being elected a delegate for Bernie Sanders. I know she will have a grand time in Philadelphia.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for all the photos.

This is all I have to say for now.

CD2 Democratic Convention in Las Cruces, New Mexico

June 25, 2016

The Congressional District 2 Democratic Convention in Las Cruces, New Mexico was quite an experience. Many people were in attendance and campaigning to be delegates to the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania taking place the last week of July, 2016.

Merrie Lee Soules, running for Congress from Congressional District 2 was there with her big RV passing out t shirts, buttons and water. Maggie Toulouse Oliver, running for Secretary of State, was unable to come, but her staff was in attendance with really cute signs, taking pictures of everyone who would hold up a sign.

Donna Swanson, her husband, Jeff, Carla Kerr and husband, Doug were there from Alamogordo, New Mexico along with CD2 officer Stephanie DuBois also from Alamogordo. It was also good to see the sisters from Mescalero, New Mexico, Donalyn Torres and Myrna Torres there.

Merrie Lee Soules

Merrie Lee Soules' RV parked in background while her staff hands out freebies to attendees

Donalyn Torres from Mescalero

Donna and Jeff Swanson

Jeff Swanson with Carla Kerr

Bernie delegate Donna and Hillary delegate Carla

L to R: Delegate Priscilla Chavez, Jeff, Delegate Carla Kerr and CD2 officer Stephanie DuBois

Priscilla and Carla

Stephen Jones, CD2 officer

#ImWithMaggie Carla Kerr is definitely with Maggie

Delegate Steve Duffy

Carla soliciting votes from attendees

DNC Committeewoman Joni Guttierrez is definitely a fireball, with Stephanie looking on

Merrie Lee Soules speaking to the attendees

The convention was a lot of fun and Carla met some wonderful people interested in making our government work for all of the people, not for just a few. Now, it is onward and upward to Albuquerque. Carla filed as a candidate for Delegate-At-Large to the Democratic National Convention in high hopes of being elected at the Democratic State Convention in Albuquerque on Saturday, June 25, 2016.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for the great pictures.

This is all I have to say for now.

Democratic Party Pre-Primary State Convention in Isleta Pueblo, New Mexico

Saturday, March 12, 2016

My husband, Doug, and I (Delegates) actually drove to Albuquerque, New Mexico on Friday to a hotel because the block of rooms for the convention at the Isleta Resort and Casino was already filled. We then went to the convention area to check-in and verify our credentials at 6:30 PM. We were going to attend the reception held by Congressman Ben Ray Lujan, but the lines were long and the area so crowded, we decided to dine elsewhere.

On Saturday morning we ate breakfast at an IHOP and got to the convention in time to caucus for Hillary Clinton for president before heading to our assigned area (Otero County) for the convention. The Chairwoman of the Democratic Party of the State of New Mexico (DPNM), Debra Haaland served as the facilitator and she did a great job of keeping the meeting moving along. Thank goodness she did because there were numerous speakers and much business to handle as well.

Governor Edward Paul Torres, Sr. of the Isleta Pueblo gave the welcoming speech and offered a prayer in the Isleta Tiwa language which was quite melodious. There were special addresses by Attorney General Hector Balderas, State Auditor Tim Keller, State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg, State Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla and House Minority Leader Brian Egolf.

Report of the Credentials Committee was given by Martin Suazo, Chair, Judicial Council and Reading of the Call was by Neomi Martinez-Parra, Secretary DPNM.

Candidate Nominations and Speeches were as follows: Secretary of State: Maggie Toulouse Oliver, New Mexico Supreme Court: Michael Vigil, New Mexico Court of Appeals: Julie Vargas, US House of Representatives CD l: Michelle Lujan Grisham, CD 2: Merrie Lee Soules, CD 3: Ben R. Lujan.

Introduction to Keynote Speaker Juan Sanchez, Vice Chairman, DPNM, Keynote Speech to Delegates Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut.

Video Address to Delegates given by Secretary Hillary Clinton and a video address given by Senator Bernie Sanders.

Report of the Platform & Resolutions Committee made by Chair John Dyrcz. The voting on this Democratic Party Platform was made by having each delegate vote yes or no on a small ballot and then take it out to the lobby and place it in a yes or no cardboard box. There was much discussion about this Platform as people lined up to give  pros and cons opinions. The results of the voting was NO by three votes.  Sometime during the lengthy counting of the votes Debra Haaland adjourned the convention.

It was an interesting experience and we are glad we took part in this great American tradition.

Otero County New Mexico Delegate Carla Kerr

Merrie Lee Soules Campaign Bus. She is running for U.S. Representative from New Mexico CD 2

Giving some New Mexico flavor to the convention were these excellent Mariachis

Hillary supporters getting ready to make a lot of noise

This lady was selling her Dump the tRUMP buttons

Attorney General Hector Balderas backing Hillary Clinton

Carla managed to get a Hillary poster

Carla visiting with Doc DuBois, a beloved WWII Pearl Harbor survivor and Otero County Delegate

Hope Swanson, first time voter and granddaughter of Donna & Jeff Swanson

Otero County Delegates AJ, Carla and Linda Barker

Otero County Delegates, Donna, Hope and Stephanie DuBois

A shot of the crowd assimilating for the convention. There were over 1300 attendees

Debra Haaland, Chairwoman, DPNM convening the convention

Pam Cordova, President, New Mexico Federation of Democratic Women leading the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and Zack Quintero, President, Young Democrats of New Mexico leads the Pledge to the New Mexican Flag

Attorney General Hector Balderas addresses Delegates

State Auditor Tim Keller addresses Delegates

State Treasurer Tim Eichenberg addresses Delegates

State Senate Majority Whip Michael Padilla addresses Delegates

House Minority Leader Brian Egolf addresses Delegates

Martin Suazo, Chair, Judicial Council reports on the Credentials Committee

Neomi Martinez-Parra, Secretary, DPNM gives the Reading of the Call

Maggie Toulouse Oliver, Candidate for Secretary of State

Michael Vigil, Candidate for New Mexico Supreme Court

Julie Vargas, Candidate for New Mexico Court of Appeals

Michelle Lujan Grisham incumbent for House of Representatives CD 1

Merrie Lee Soules running for U.S.House of Representatives CD 2

Ben R. Lujan incumbent US House of Representatives CD 3

Juan Sanchez, Vice Chairman, DPNM introducing Keynote Speaker

Governor Dannel P. Malloy, Connecticut gives Keynote Speech to Delegates

We returned to the hotel and took a well deserved nap. Then we went to our favorite Hibachi Restaurant for dinner and it was delicious.

Thanks to Douglas A. Kerr, Photography for taking all the pictures and processing them to go in my blog. I do apologize for not taking a shot of him but he is always behind the camera and it just didn't occur to me.

This is all I have to say for now.