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.

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.