Roswell Daily Record
Vol. 124, No. 23 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
January 27, 2015
Pearce encouraging right-to-work state law BY JEFF TUCKER RECORD STAFF WRITER
The only Republican member of New Mexico’s congressional delegation says right-to-work legislation is the most important measure state lawmakers should adopt during the 2015 legislative session. “I think it’s important, the whole idea of a right-towork state,” U.S. Rep. Steve Pearce said during an interview with the Daily Record Friday. “I think a lot of economic activity is moving in that direction.” Pearce, R-Hobbs, who served alongside New Mexi-
co House Speaker Don T ripp in the New Mexico House of Representatives in the late ’90s, said he has spoken with Tripp two or three times since November’s general election. Pearce was first elected to the New Mexico House in 1996. Tripp, who last week of ficially became the House’s first Republican Speaker since 1954, was first elected to the New Mexico House in 1998. “I have just the highest confidence in his leadership,” Pearce said. State Rep. Candy Spence Ezzell, R-Roswell, and two other Republican lawmakers in the New Mexico
House have introduced legislation that would protect both private-sector and public-sector workers in New Mexico from being forced to join a union, or to contribute to one, as a condition of employment. Supporters say states with similar protections are doing better than states without right-to-work laws. Colorado, California and New Mexico are the only three Southwestern states that lack right-to-work laws. Ezzell, who says right-towork is a matter of fairness and competitiveness, has introduced right-to-work legislation every year since
her first election to the New Mexico House in 2004, although the bills have never made it out of Democrat-controlled committees. Democrat lawmakers typically oppose right-to-work legislation. Ezzell says she believes New Mexico’s lack of a right-to-work law is one reason Tesla Motors did not locate a $5 billion battery plant in New Mexico. The Palo Alto, Calif.based manufacturer of electric cars in September chose Nevada for its battery plant that will employ an estimated 6,500 workers, spurning New Mexico and three other states that had
Sneakers in Senate to promote healthy living Submitted Photo
State Sen. Cliff Pirtle of Roswell, far left, shows off his tennis shoes to New Mexico Military Institute students visiting the Senate Chambers today. He points out that he is wearing tennis shoes to promote cancer awareness and to promote healthy living during the “Coaches Versus Cancer and Suits and Sneakers Day” in the State Senate. Sen. Pirtle co-sponsored Senate Memorial 15 to honor cancer patients, survivors and their families and to remember those who have been lost to cancer. With Pirtle are New Mexico Military Institute cadets Haydn Maloney, Gavin Maloney, Samantha Ikard, Lillyette Romero, Drake Williams and Allen Romero.
Carl’s Jr. opens in Roswell STAFF REPORT
Timothy P. Howsare Photo
Opening day at Carl’s Jr. was as busy as a beehive.
is Regalado’s first Carl’s Jr. restaurant, with plans to open additional New Mexico locations in Carlsbad and
Hobbs, according to a
federal search warrant on his suitcase and found a package containing more than a gross kilogram of heroin. Mendez Bojorquez subsequently was indicted on Dec. 16, 2014, and charged with possession of a mixture and substance containing a detectable amount of heroin.
intent to distribute a mixture and substance containing a detectible amount of heroin. In his plea agreement, Mendez Bojorquez admitted that he had heroin in his suitcase when he was encountered by law enforcement officers at the Greyhound Bus Station on Dec. 8. Mendez Bojorquez will be in federal custody pending his sentencing hearing, which has
released statement.
See CARL’S, Page A3
Ariz. man pleads guilty to heroin trafficking charge
ALBUQUERQUE — David Mendez Bojorquez, 59, of Phoenix, Ariz., pleaded guilty this morning in federal court to a heroin trafficking charge under a plea agreement with the U.S. Attorney’s Office. Mendez Bojorquez was arrested on Dec. 8, 2014, at the Greyhound Bus Station in Albuquerque, N.M., after DEA agents and task force officers executed a
During today’s change of plea hearing, Mendez Bojorquez pled guilty to a felony information charging him with possession with
HIGH 64 LOW 34
TODAY’S FORECAST
See DRUGS, Page A3
• JANE THOMPSON • TESSA LEE SALLEE • RUSSELL CARLETON DEKAY • PAUL FREDRICK WILLEMS
co needs a right-to-work law to be competitive with neighboring states. Rightto-work laws have been adopted in 24 states, including Texas, Oklahoma, Arizona and Utah.
The sixth-term congressman said he is willing to lobby his former Santa Fe colleagues to get right-towork legislation through the Republican-controlled New Mexico House and the Democrat-controlled state Senate, so that Republican Gov. Susana Martinez may sign a bill.
“If we get it through the
City considers splitting Yucca funding with Boys & Girls Club State funding earmarked for improvements to the Yucca Recreation Center could be spread out between Yucca and the Roswell Boys & Girls Club, the city’s Building and Lands Committee was told on Monday. “We have sought a reauthorization of that funding, with $250,000 going to the Yucca, and $150,000 will go to address needs at the Boys & Girls Club,” said Elizabeth Stark-Rankins, support services administrator. Another $100,000 will be distributed to the Boys & Girls Club to go toward creating a splash pad there, she said. A splash pad or spray pool is a recreation area, often located in a public park, for water play that has little or no standing water. The $500,000 was originally meant to go to the Yucca Recreational Center in 2014 for a new roof and
The coaches versus cancer program is a nationwide collaboration between the American Cancer Society and the National Association of Basketball Coaches, leveraging the personal experiences, community leadership and professional excellence of coaches nationwide to increase cancer awareness and promote healthy living through year-round awareness efforts, fundraising activities and advocacy programs. Jan. 26 was declared “Coaches Versus Cancer and Suits and Sneakers Day” in the Senate.
U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
been vying for the plant. Pearce agreed the lack of a right-to-work law in New Mexico was probably a factor in Tesla’s decision. “I suspect that, that is a big reason why they didn’t come here,” Pearce said. “They didn’t say it, but look where they went.” Nevada is a right-to-work state. In addition to giving workers the freedom to choose whether to join a union or financially contribute to one, supporters say the legislation would also make New Mexico’s business climate more competitive. Pearce agreed New Mexi-
BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD CITY EDITOR
The three seniors and three freshmen from NMMI were at the Capitol to thank the New Mexico Legislature for giving them their Knowles Legislative Scholarships. These students were chosen by their applications, essays and letters of recommendation for the scholarship named after Richard T. Knowles, an Army Distinguished Service Medal recipient.
Carl’s Jr. opened in time for lunch Monday at 737 N. Main St. in Roswell. Customers were lined up from the counter to the entrance to order from the dozens of delicacies on the fast-food restaurant’s menu. The new restaurant is operated by New Mexicobased franchisee Teo Regalado, who has more than 17 years experience as a restaurant franchisee. His company, Hoppers Management Inc, currently operates six IHOP restaurants in New Mexico. The new Roswell location
TUESDAY
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See WORK, Page A3
a new HVAC system, but problems with the facility, including a lack of accessibility for the disabled, made city officials hold off on spending the money on the Yucca building, which is nearly a century old. “This is on hold until the status of a potential new recreation center is determined,” Stark-Rankins said. The reauthorization requests to the state, if approved, will allow the city to keep the $500,000 and use it for the two youth centers. Stark-Rankins also said there is a donor who has contributed $100,000 toward a splash pad at the Boys & Girls Club. The $250,000 for the Yucca will be used to either address the immediate needs at the center or for the construction of a new center. The reauthorization requests must be approved by the state Legislature before any can proceed, Stark-Rankins said. See SPLIT, Page A3
Committee hears cemetery board report BY RANDAL SEYLER RECORD CITY EDITOR
The Building and Lands Committee received an update on the South Park Cemetery Advisory Board from Parks Director Tim Williams during Monday’s meeting, but no members of the cemetery board attended the meeting. During last week’s cemetery board meeting, President Jake Trujillo and Secretary Rita KaneDoerhoefer expressed concern over returning to the Building and Lands Committee based on the treatment T rujillo and former city sexton Mike Kirk received from the committee members and city councilors Caleb Grant and Jeanine Corn Best. Williams presented new cemetery board by-laws to the building committee for their approval. “The changes in the bylaws were not really necessary, when we looked at the statutes,” Williams said. The membership of the cemetery board has been decreased from seven to five members to conform with the state ordinance.
• TONYA FULLER • JESSIE ESPINOSA MARTINEZ • SHIRLEY ANN SHAW
TODAY’S OBITUARIES PAGE A6
Grant asked if there had been progress on the rules and regulations for the Gen. Douglas L. McBride Veterans Cemetery. Part of the conflict between the committee members and the cemetery board in previous meetings was related to the proposed rules for the veterans cemetery. “We are working on a Memorandum of Understanding between the cemetery board and the veterans cemetery board to make the process clear,” Williams said. “We are also conducting a study of pricing to see where we fall in the industry, trying to determine if what we are charging is too much or not enough.” Williams, who is now also over the South Park Cemetery as well as the city’s many parks, said that he is also looking into ways to improve the ef ficiency of the South Park Cemetery operations, including software and a method to better track employee work hours. “We are also working on a maintenance plan for the equipment out there,” Williams said.
CLASSIFIEDS ..........B5 COMICS .................B4 ENTERTAINMENT .....A8 FINANCIAL ..............B3
“From the beginning, the veterans cemetery board was not a policy making board,” said Councilor Jason Perry. “They are more concerned with the financial end and raising money for improvements of the cemetery.” Best said that the veterans board has established a foundation to develop financing for the veterans cemetery. The state Legislature had earmarked $250,000 for improvements at the veterans cemetery, but none of that money has been spent yet, Williams said. “We are working on a master plan for the cemetery before we start spending any of the money,” he said. Williams also noted that veterans cemetery board president Jim Bloodhart has joined the city’s cemetery board as a member. “I would also like to see a member of the cemetery board start attending the veterans board meetings to have some representation.” City Editor Randal Seyler may be contacted at 622-7710, ext. 311, or reporter02@rdrnews.com.
INDEX GENERAL ...............A2
HOROSCOPES .........A8 LOTTERIES .............A3
OPINION .................A4
SPORTS .................B1
WEATHER ..............A8